➡ Register for the VIRTUAL event:
Picture Book Creator's Conference
Are you ready to take your picture book from idea to publication? The Picture Book Creator Conference hosted by At Home Author is your exclusive opportunity to learn from the pros, connect with fellow authors, and discover actionable strategies for writing, publishing, and marketing a successful children's book.
📅 Date: Friday, January 30th, 2026
⏰ Time: 9am-4pm CST
📍 Location: Zoom
💰 Cost: $175
➕$35 per pitch
What's in Store:
6 Expert-Led Sessions
Dive into six jam-packed sessions designed specifically for aspiring picture book authors like you! We’ve broken the day into two parts, with three sessions in the morning and three in the afternoon, covering everything from story development to the ins and outs of publishing and marketing.
Each session will include:
30-minute presentation from industry experts
15 minutes for live Q&A where you can get your most pressing questions answered
15-minute breaks between sessions for quick recharges
We also have literary agents in attendance that registered participants can book a live, 10-minute pitch session with. More details below!
Schedule
🕘 Morning Sessions (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST)
⭐️ 9-9:45am CST
TBD with TBD
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TBD
⭐️ 10-10:45am CST
TBD with TBD
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TBD
⭐️ 11-11:45am CST
TBD with TBD
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TBD
🕐 Afternoon Sessions (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CST)
⭐️ 1-1:45pm CST
TBD with TBD
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TBD
⭐️ 2-2:45pm CST
TBD with TBD
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TBD
⭐️ 3-3:45pm CST
TBD with TBD
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TBD
Event Speakers
Coming Soon
Coming Soon!
Ivan Taurisano
Ivan Taurisano holds degrees in English, Creative Writing, Children’s Literature, and an MFA in Writing for Children. Ivan began his career at Sourcebooks and now works at Abrams as an Associate Editor, focusing on novelty books, board books, graphic novels, and select MG and YA titles. Ivan has worked with brands like How to Catch, Little Heroes Big Hearts, Sesame Street, Disney, Tokidoki, and Pokémon. He is passionate about stories with strong commercial hooks, compelling characters, and series potential.
Coming Soon
Coming Soon!
Killian Abuan
(Killian bio)
Annette Whipple
(Annette bio)
Coming Soon
Coming Soon!
Don’t miss this chance to jumpstart your picture book career. Whether you're just getting started or ready to publish, the Picture Book Creator Conference will give you the tools, resources, and inspiration you need to succeed!
Pitch Opportunties + Critiques!
We're fortunate to have literary agents and editors in attendance that you can pitch your manuscript to LIVE. This paid add-on is only available to registered participants, offering an exclusive opportunity to receive feedback on your project from an industry professional. While a pitch session doesn’t guarantee representation, it can help open doors for you and your picture book. Those same agents and editors are also offering written critiques for attendees as well!
Pitches - $35 each
Critiques - $75 each
Please note that paying for a pitch session is not the same as paying an agent for representation, which is never allowed in the industry. These optional add-ons are industry standard for writing conferences, but it's important to note that this doesn’t guarantee representation—it's an opportunity to get direct feedback and potentially open doors for you and your book.
Daniele Hunter - McIntosh & Otis
Daniele Hunter (she/her) is a queer, disabled junior agent in the children's department at McIntosh & Otis. She started at McIntosh & Otis in 2016 as an intern and has been there ever since! She has a BA in English with concentrations in Literary Criticism, Poetry, and Creative Writing from Drew University. Prior to agenting, she held various odd jobs in the publishing industry, from proofreading to teaching and working on literary journals. She's also a member of the American Association of Literary Agents and is on their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and co-directs their fellowship program through Literary Agents of Change. In her spare time, she reads way too quickly, sings opera, and puts her ambidexterity to good use as a knitter. She lives in New Jersey with her spouse and their cat.
In picture books, Daniele wants:
Honesty on heavy topics like grief; hopeful but not saccharine
Disability, in both fiction and nonfiction
Diverse cultures, holidays, traditions, identities
Authors, author-illustrators, or author/illustrator teams!
SEL preferred!
Non-rhyming, with human protagonists.
In general, I prefer lyrical writing, hard-hitting topics, and underrepresented voices and characters.
Amanda Carbonell - Belcastro Agency
Amanda Carbonell’s passion for all things scary came at the age of five thanks to her mother for introducing her to Buffy. Soon after, her world became consumed by books. While receiving her bachelor’s and distinction in Journalism from Western Connecticut State University, Amanda interned with ArtHouse Literary before interning with CMA, Inc. She went on to agent-apprentice with Belcastro Literary Agency before being promoted to junior agent. When she is not reading through queries and building her client list, you can find her either writing Latinx paranormal/speculative stories with her agent, spending time with her family, or watching reruns of Gilmore Girls.
In picture books, Amanda wants:
Funny rhyming picture books
Laugh-out-loud picture books with silly scenarios and standout characters
Educational board books—speech development, ASL (first words, emotions), culture, animals/pets, numbers, opposites, toys, vehicles, etc.
Picture books about culture—traditions, holidays, identity, food (especially from marginalized communities)
Disability representation
STEM books (especially with humor)
Stories that teach subtly—coping with change, emotions, grief, etc.
Books both parents and kids can adore or laugh at together
Amy Nielsen - The Purcell Agency
Amy Nielsen spent nearly twenty years sharing her love of books with young readers on the other side of the writing aisle as a youth librarian. Daily immersion in story took root, and she started penning her 2024 YA debut, Worth It, behind her checkout desk.
She left the library after her youngest son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and began writing full-time. She also began working with other authors helping them to elevate their craft and go on to pursue publication deals. While she will always enjoy pursuing her own writing goals, helping other authors has become a passion. She is honored to now serve as an associate literary agent at The Purcell Agency.
In picture books, Amy wants:
- Hyperbolic, zany storylines that teach a life lesson (even subtle)
- Laugh-out-loud moments written simply to entertain
- Comps to Robert Munsch or Michael Marchenko
Bethany Jett - MacGregor & Luedeke
Bethany Jett is an associate literary agent with the C.Y.L.E. agency, as well as a multi-award-winning author, and a marketing strategist who earned top honors in her master’s program, where she earned her MFA in Communications focusing on Marketing and PR. Bethany is a military spouse (and a military mama!). She and her husband live outside of the DC area with their teenage sons and a not-at-all spoiled Pomeranian.
In picture books, Bethany wants:
- Holiday picture books
- Bilingual books
- Stories with a literary, classic feel,
- Humorous, character-driven series
- Stories where the MC has a disability but it does not define who they are.
She is not looking for:
- STEM, STEAM, SEL
- Rhyme
Elisa Houot - The Seymour Agency
Elisa Houot is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency and head of the French office. Elisa represents authors writing from Picture Books to Adult literature and is the French foreign rights agent for The Seymour Agency.
Enthusiastic about discovering new voices, Elisa lives in France with her adorable and barking companion, Muffin. Beyond anything, she thrives on helping authors build their careers. She is always on the lookout for new voices in kid-lit
In picture books, Elisa wants:
Mara Cobb - Lighthouse Literary
After earning my master's degree in English, achieving over fifty publications, and serving as the editor-in-chief for a small literary journal, I jumped into publishing, representing authors in a variety of genres. Now, as a literary manager at Lighthouse Literary, I am most excited about coming alongside fresh and seasoned writers to help them reach their full potential.
I love stories that make me laugh out loud, stories that tug at my heart, and stories that offer hope in an authentic way.
In picture books, Mara wants:
Heartwarming and hopeful
Zany, laugh-out-loud silly, with puns
Family (including unconventional families--foster care, living with grandparents, etc.)
Fresh and original concepts (no rhyming unless the rhymes are super tight!)
Bonnie Swanson -Fine Print Literary
Bonnie Swanson (the agent not the cartoon character!) is a former elementary school teacher who lives in Southern Illinois. She has a husband, three grown children, two bonus daughters, and three fur-babies who think they need to eat all the cat food. While she eagerly (and impatiently) awaits grandkids, she is lucky enough to have one granddog, Onix, and two grandkitties, Maki and Whiskey.
Bonnie represents authors who cover all the age groups from picture books through adult, many of whom have their own furry overlords or small two-legged dictators commanding their households, too.
In picture books, Bonnie wants:
- PB fiction and nonfiction
- Rhyme (but it has to be perfect)
- Child-centered with all the agency
Esty Loveing-Downes -Howland Literary
Esty holds a BFA in creative writing from Ringling College of Art + Design and is currently an MFA candidate in fiction at Queens University of Charlotte. Aside from serving as a daily editor for the Southern Review of Books, she joined the teams at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency and Tobias Literary Agency before joining the ArtHouse Literary Agency team and becoming an Associate Literary Agent.
In picture books, send heartwarming titles with a BIPOC focus like EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS and creative, imagination-friendly projects like DRAGONS LOVE TACOS.
In picture books, Esty wants:
- Creative, imagination-friendly projects like DRAGONS LOVE TACOS
- Heartwarming titles with a BIPOC focus
Carey Blankenship-Kramer - Azantian Literary
Carey Blankenship-Kramer started as a literary agent in 2023 at Belcastro Agency. She joined Azantian Literary Agency in 2025 where she represents both children's and adult fiction authors across a wide range of genres, with her priority being marginalized voices. She graduated from Berry College with a dual degree in English and Creative Writing and later received her master’s in Writing and Digital Communications from Agnes Scott College. Her debut novel, GHOST SCOUT'S HONOR, was published by Scholastic. Outside of work, you can usually find Carey spending time with her partner and their small zoo, getting way too competitive on the tennis court, playing video games, or eating candy.
In picture books, Carey wants:
- Author / illustrators.
- Stories that teach readers something without being heavy-handed, (Emotional lesson or cultural)
- Stories that focus on different cultures and types of families.
- Something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy after reading it.
- A spooky story that explores folklore from other cultures, like THE SKULL by Jon Klassen.
- Not the biggest fan of potty humor or silly stories where the focus is solely on humor.
Morgan Wilson - Belcastro Literary Agency
Morgan’s love for writing and books and was fostered from an early age by a grandmother that wrote them bedtime stories and taught them how to write poetry. As they grew this love evolved into devouring books faster than their bookshelves could keep up and writing their own stories in magical kingdoms galaxies away.
With over a decade of work in classrooms across the Midwest, Morgan wants to uplift the stories that their students needed so that everyone can see themselves on the page using magic, finding love and defeating the bad guy. They are dedicated to being an agent for change in the publishing industry and working with marginalized voices so that every child and adult can experience the joy of a book that speaks to them.
In picture books, Morgan wants:
- Underrepresented cultures, folklore, mythologies etc, and societal commentary.
- Themes of self acceptance and self love
- Conservation
- Rhyme or prose
- Authors, author/illustrators, and author/illustrator teams
Or...
Pitch sessions only available to registered participants!
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