Picture Book Creator Conference

➡ 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 29th, 2027

⏰ Time: 9am-4pm CST

📍 Location: Zoom

💰 Cost: $175

Optional Add-ons:

+$35 per pitch (takes place Saturday, January 30th, 2027)

+$75 per written critique

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:

45-minute presentation from industry experts

Live Q&A opportunites where you can get your most pressing questions answered

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)

⭐️ 9am CST

So You Want to Write in Rhyme: A Brief Guide to the Meter-Verse with Renée M. LaTulippe

In this webinar, poet and teacher Renée M. LaTulippe offers a guided tour of the cosmic—and occasionally treacherous—world of writing in rhyme. She’ll explore the basics of meter, point out common pitfalls, and share techniques for making your words flow naturally. She'll also look at what successful rhyming picture books do well and consider the all-important question: Does this story actually need to rhyme?

⭐️ 10am CST

Why Picture Books Audio Is a Powerful Marketing Tool and How to Use It with Benjamin Byrd

In a crowded children's book market, professional-quality audio is the single most powerful marketing tool and author can leverage to cut through the noise and stand out. Once you have a broadcast quality audio production, it becomes a permanent, versatile asset that costs you nothing extra to deploy, giving you endless promotional possibilities.

Producer, actor, and composer Benjamin Byrd breaks down how children's authors can harness audio to supercharge their marketing. Discover how free distribution across major streaming platforms gives your work global reach at zero ongoing cost. Learn practical, creative ways to use audio tracks during school visits to captivate young audiences, as well as lead magnets and giveaways that convert curious listeners into loyal buyers. Beyond marketing Benjamin will explain how to turn your audio content into a secondary revenue stream and an effortless upsell alongside physical books.

⭐️ 11am CST

Coming Soon with _______

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🕐 Afternoon Sessions (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CST)

⭐️ 1pm CST

Design Can Make or Break Your Picture-Book-Dummy with Brian LaRossa

Learn the secrets to excellence in picture-book-dummy construction from an executive art director with over two decades of professional experience. You’ll come away with actionable ways to strengthen your picture book dummies, improving the odds that they’ll be acquired.

⭐️ 2pm CST

Coming Soon with _______

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⭐️ 3pm CST

Coming Soon with _______

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Event Speakers

Brian LaRossa

Brian LaRossa is an executive art director on the hardcover picture book team at Scholastic Inc. After hours, he teaches critical writing at The City College of New York and typography at Pratt Institute. His essays have appeared in publications such as Design Observer and AIGA’s Eye on Design. He also volunteers for We Need Diverse Books, manages his own display font foundry—which developed a typeface for Google Fonts—and writes fiction. Brian’s writing is represented by Liz Nealon, founder of Great Dog Literary.

His illustration and design work has received awards from the Type Directors Club, the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, PRINT magazine, and his conceptual poetry is included in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art. He lives and works in New York City.

Paige Hulsey

Coming soon

Benjamin Byrd

As an actor, musician, writer, and producer, Benjamin Byrd brings a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling. Operating out of a studio in Cambridge, England, he is the creative force behind Ink Pot Audio, where he specializes in producing captivating children's audiobooks.

Benjamin's work stands out for its rich production value, blending immersive sound design, bespoke original music, and dynamic voice acting to bring stories to life.

Whether he is bringing a fairytale creature to life behind the microphone or composing a whimsical theme tune, Benjamin's mission is simple: to spark children's imagination, make reading accessible to every child, and craft audio adventures families will love listening to together.

Renee LaTulipe

Renée M. LaTulippe is the author of Limelight: Curtain Up on Poetry Comics! (Charlesbridge, 2025), the poem picture book The Crab Ballet (Abrams, 2022), and much more.

Renée developed and teaches the online course The Lyrical Language Lab and provides free lessons for children’s writers on her YouTube channel. She is also the co-founder of the homeschool curricula company, Storylark Road Publishing. She has a BFA in acting/directing and an MA in English Education. Originally from upstate New York, Renée lives by the sea in Italy with her husband and three children.

Karly Dizon

Karly is an agent at Fuse Literary building KidLit and Adult universes with stories that matter. She first joined the agency in 2016 as a reader for Tricia Skinner and then promoted to Literary Assistant soon after. In 2019, she was promoted to associate agent. Karly has built a career with a strong background as a freelance editor as well as extensive experience with graphic design and marketing.

She is looking to develop long-term career authors and nurture their entire writing journey as a strong editorial agent with marketing, social media, and design support. Karly’s clients have won or been nominated for such awards as Kirkus Best Books of the Year, NCTE Notable Books List, SLJ Best Book of the Year, and Kirkus Prize Finalist.

Coming Soon

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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!

"I am so grateful I had the opportunity to participate and pitch to agents at the Picture Book Creator Conference in January 2025. The conference offered some amazing tools to help me prepare for my pitch session. Using those tools, I pitched to one agent and she immediately asked for multiple manuscripts. A few weeks later we had THE call and I signed with her shortly after! This was all made possible by the wonderful opportunity at this conference! "

-Nicole Garnett

“One of the best parts of attending PBCC is the connections you make. I met an incredible author who helped me with several manuscripts over the last year. What started as a professional introduction quickly turned into a genuine friendship. He was one of the first people in my inbox offering congratulations and support when I landed my agent YES! It’s proof that showing up, sharing your passion, and connecting with others can open doors in the most unexpected ways.”

-Alex Waldo

Pitch Opportunities + 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 will take place on Saturday, January 30th (the day after the sessions).

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.

Kristina Sutton Lennon - Focused Artists

For Focused Artists, she has facilitated book deals with publishers, including HarperCollins, Hachette, Penguin RandomHouse, Disney Publishing, and Simon & Schuster. Kristina previously served as the Director of Media Rights at Context Literary Agency. In 2022, Publishers Weekly named her a Rising Star Watch Honoree. Kristina earned her MFA from Louisiana State University.

In picture books, Kristina wants:

Books about being a community helper
Humorous picture books such as in Mr. S, The Leaf Thief, or !Tengo Hambre! (I’m Hungry!)
Fun approaches to financial literacy and the importance of saving
Silly adventures
Heartwarming and/or goofy picture books about 4th of July, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter.

Hollie Michaels - Martin-Newens Literary Management

Hollie is a literary manager at Martin-Newens, and is building her list of amazing authors and illustrators from kidlit to adult. Hollie began her agenting career when working toward her M.A. in Creative Writing from City University of London, where she worked part time for the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency as a reader. When she returned to NYC, she joined the Gersh Agency as an assistant in the Theatrical Department.

After Hollie moved into education, while working in indie theater as a director and producer, Hollie taught theater from grades K-12 and continued teaching when she moved to CT and had kids. During that time, Hollie ventured into publishing, expanding her background from playwright to writing for kids. Hollie is the author of nine books and two more under contract.

She is the author of the chapter book series, Golda and Ezra, published by Capstone, as well as an early middle grade, The Bad News Bestie. Her youth play, Children of Hooverville, is published and widely performed by middle schools around the country. Her short comic Wimbly can be found in Kids Comics Unite anthology, Let’s Go!

In picture books, Hollie wants:

I’m open to authors and author / illustrators. I am looking for humor, dark humor, wacky humor, kids being kids, commercial fiction, nonfiction told in a fun and engaging way. I’m not the best fit for books that are didactic or lesson based.

Syrone Harvey - Belcastro Agency

As a Junior Literary Agent with the Belcastro Agency, Syrone is dedicated to supporting authors at every step of their writing journey. Her focus is on providing them with the personalized support they need to shine at every stage of their literary journey. But, Syrone's love for literature isn't just professional—it's personal. As a published children’s book author, she knows the sheer joy of crafting a story that touches the soul. To her, books aren't just objects; they're the means to transport readers to new experiences and perspectives.

With her sharp editorial eye and a keen sense for market trends, Syrone takes a patchwork quilt approach with her authors—every story is unique and one-of-a-kind. She walks the literary journey with enthusiasm, expertise, and a shared commitment to bringing exceptional stories to readers worldwide. She lives in Southern California with her husband, a chatty parrot and two ornery furbabies.

In picture books, Syrone wants:

Stories with whimsy, great imagination, that offer laugh outloud appeal, and stories that especially resonate with young readers today. Vivid storylines that keep readers pulled in, but most of all, that allow kids to see themselves through the bold characters or topics covered.

Jackie Kruzie - Focused Artists

Jackie is a literary agent with Focused Artists, representing board books through YA. A self-proclaimed book dragon, she hunts and hoards books like buried treasure and has built a career creating and sharing books as an author, librarian, and literary agent. Her work in school libraries impacts the books she chooses to represent. She loves books that spark an emotional reaction, whether that reaction is joy, surprise, curiosity, fear, or sadness, and looks for books that create lifelong readers.

In picture books, Jackie wants:

In picture books I love fast-paced read-alouds with no heavy moral, informational fiction or non-fiction about the origin of everyday items, dark humor, and anything fresh and funny that kids (and parents) will read over and over again.

Christine Goss - FinePrint Literary

Christine Goss has been agenting since 2023, moving to FinePrint in 2024. Christine is drawn to stories with high stakes and tension. If you have to say “hear me out” Christine is all ears (or eyes!).

Christine is interested in romance, historical fiction, book club fiction, and fantasy. Non-fiction and graphic novels covering a specific range of topics are also of interest. Championing marginalized voices is important to Christine as she seeks to include BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and neurodivergent (and more) authors on her list.

When she’s not working, reading, or writing, she’s usually chasing her two boys, who are likely chasing her fur baby (dog).

In picture books, Christine wants:

Character driven, emotional
PBs with series potential
Humorous

Daniele Hunter - McIntosh & Otis

Daniele Hunter (she/her) is a queer, chronically ill, 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 currently agents picture books, middle grade, YA, and select adult fiction.

She has a BA in English with concentrations in Literary Criticism, Poetry, and Creative Writing from Drew University. Before 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. She’s on the board of Literary Agents of Change, and co-directs their Fellowship program.

In picture books, Daniele wants:

Picture books with human protagonists
SEL-driven or social justice-driven picture books
PBs focused on queerness, disability/chronic illness, and/or BIPOC cultures
Picture book biographies of marginalized subjects
Holiday-driven picture books about lesser-known/multicultural holidays
Any nonfiction picture books, though I’m currently taking on bios extremely sparingly

Andi Twaddle - Spencerhill Associates

Andi spent a decade giving her time and energy to a career in accounting while quietly investing her heart and soul into stories through her own writing and writing community. Now, she aims to combine her favorite aspects of both worlds in service of uplifting other writers. Her two small children give her an excuse to delight in picture books daily.

In picture books, Andi wants:

I love quirky, offbeat, and unforgettable characters.
Anything that takes the text somewhere hilariously unexpected and lets the artwork do some heavy lifting to complete the story.
Authors and author/illustrators.

Kaitlyn Sanchez - Bradford Literary Agency

Kaitlyn Sanchez (she/her) is an agent with Bradford Literary Agency and a middle school math teacher. She's also the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. In her free time, she loves to play soccer, binge-watch TV shows, and, of course, read. Especially when she's all cozied up with her husband and daughter reading together. Kaitlyn is happy to share that she has been agenting for 6 years and has sold over 70 books with her incredible clients.

In picture books, Kaitlyn wants:

Contemporary PBs that inspire
Wordless picture books like YELLOW BUTTERFLY
A fresh comedy like TELEPHONE or HOW TO COUNT TO 1
An author-illustrated PB playing with juxtaposition of words and art
Wacky and comical like ON ACCOUNT OF THE GUM

Anjanette Barr - Dunham Literary

Literary Agent Anjanette Barr lives with her family of six in Juneau Alaska, and brings twenty years of writing, editing, and educating to her client relationships. She has found that agenting is the perfect way to synthesize her interests and talents.

Anjanette holds a certificate in Literary Representation from UCLA Extension and a B.A. in Japanese Studies from William Jewell College. She represents authors and illustrators in all genres and age categories. She has been with Dunham Literary, Inc. since 2022. Member of AALA and SCBWI.

In picture books, Anjanette wants:

Wwinsome and pleasant to read aloud (Blueberries for Sal, Last Stop on Market Street, Miss Rumphius, Farmhouse, poetry by Joyce Sidman).
Humor is great when it helps tell the story (The Book with No Pictures, Good Dog Carl).
And I want to see more engaging non-fiction (Jumper)!

Morgan Hughes - FinePrint Literary Management

Morgan Hughes is an Agent at FinePrint Literary Management. Like most publishing professionals, she grew up with a strong love for reading, and she was determined from a young age to work with books. After graduating with her BA and MA in English Literature, Morgan worked as an Agency Assistant and Sub-rights Manager before joining FinePrint in 2023. Currently, she lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and German Shepherd.

In picture books, Morgan wants:

I'm looking for a wide variety of picture books, and I'm particularly hungry for something a little magic.
I'm not currently looking for Non-Fiction pbs.

Bailey Knaub - FinePrint Literary Management

Born and raised in Colorado, Bailey Knaub grew up in the mountainous farmlands of the Rocky Mountains. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Bailey worked in magazine publishing for several years, where she developed her love of slush pile reading and finding potential gems to nurture into incredible stories. Bailey previously interned at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group before joining FinePrint in 2025 as an intern, and then as an assistant to VP Lauren Bieker. Currently, Bailey is a Junior Agent at FinePrint.

In picture books, Bailey wants:

Picture Books from diverse, chronically ill, and disabled voices.
STEM-based Picture Books.
Picture Books about environmentalism or space.
Holiday Picture Books.
Cooking + Recipe Picture Books.
Picture Books with spooky themes or characters.
Magical, Supernatural or Folklore-based Picture Books.

William Marasco - L. Perkins Agency

William Marasco graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2018 with a B.F.A. in Illustration. After college, he managed a handful of opportunities assisting veteran agents with query evaluation, edit letters, building pitch decks and other hands on projects learning about the industry before getting picked up by L. Perkins Agency in 2026. William is actively seeking Kidlit projects with a focus for LGBTQ+ stories, fantastical adventures with heart and hope. As a new agent, William hopes to build lasting relationships with his clients that will continue to keep the joys of reading alive.

In picture books, William wants:

Author-illustrators only
Cute whimsy, silly humor and/or fun adventures with unlikely characters
Themes about respect, curiosity, confidence, and inclusivity
Diverse voices, underrepresented cultures, and invisible disabilities
(I am NOT a fit for rhyme)

Or...

Katherine Easter Wishlist: Picture books with Christian content (can be very light)

Emily Feinberg Wishlist: Fiction and nonfiction picture books with a narrative. (no survey books)

Matt Phipps Wishlist: Hilarious, voice-driven read-alouds; joyful, lyrical books about identity; nonfiction with a fresh angle; cute animal characters; lyrical takes on surprising subjects

Alexandra Robertson Wishlist: Emotionally driven, narrative stories with strong characters, including relationships like friendships or siblings, nature-based stories, and lyrical nonfiction; occasional board books; not a strong fit for humorous texts

Rebecca Glaser Wishlist: Fiction and nonfiction picture books and board books with a “child’s-eye view,” uplifting or fanciful but not didactic; no rhyme unless you’re a master at it

Carina Licon Wishlist: Nuanced stories about difficult experiences and emotions, BIPOC and queer joy, and the fun, magical, goofy, or tender

Catherine Laudone Wishlist: Character-driven, heartfelt “modern classics” with a fresh spin, twist endings, and neurodivergent or disabled main characters; not a fit: potty humor, super meta concepts, or concept books

Clay Anderson Wishlist: Full-size picture books for the upper end of ages 3-8, prose or rhyme, faith-based (Christian) and general-market

Lily Rosen Marvin Wishlist: Intergenerational family stories (especially with a focus on food or connecting to culture); stories that center underrepresented voices; funny stories that feel true to kid humor; stories that celebrate confident and eccentric girls; nonfiction bios with a strong voice

Pitch sessions only available to registered participants!

Shulokhana is on the 0-8 team at Scholastic with a primary focus on picture books and board books. Her list includes Mac & Cheese: The Origin Story; Love, Panda; Candi the Candicorn, 5 Spooky Surprises, and more!

Maria is a former teacher, children's author, and publisher who champions book access through her nonprofit. She lives a full life with her three kids, two dogs, sweet husband, and countless stacks of books.

Asia is a Mississippi native and former children's bookseller. She has worked with award-winning and bestselling authors including George M. Johnson, Leah Johnson, Hafsah Faizal, Libba Bray, and Barbara O'Connor. In 2024, Asia was named one of five Publishers Weekly Star Watch finalists. When not reading or editing, you can find her binge watching reality TV, obsessing over Formula 1, or napping at odd hours.

Melissa is an Executive Editor at Sourcebooks. She has been a children's book editor for 22 years. Her acquisitions encompass a wide range of ages, formats, and fiction/nonfiction. When acquiring, she looks for fresh takes on familiar topics as well as the new and unusual. She is especially excited when the structure and voice of a manuscript connect strongly to the topic and themes. She also has 25 years of children's bookselling experience.

Amy is a Senior Literary Agent at Belcastro Agency and member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). Amy has her BA in Special and Elementary Education, is certified in Middle School ELA and Library Science, and has a MA in Education. She began her publishing career interning as a romance slush reader at Entangled Publishing, and multiple literary agencies such as P.S. Literary Agency. Amy joined JDLA as an associate agent in 2020, then moved to the Belcastro Agency in 2022. She represents bestselling and award-winning authors in adult fiction, children's books, and select non-fiction categories. Her clients' books have been translated into multiple languages, adapted and optioned for TV/film.

Elisa is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency. Elisa represents authors writing from Picture Books to Adult literature and is the French foreign rights agent for The Seymour Agency.

Tova Seltzer (she/her) is an assistant editor at Holiday House’s Neal Porter Books imprint, with a background in freelance editing, sensitivity reading, and bookselling. She is a lover of fresh, surprising picture books with spare, potent prose and a strong narrative arc, whether fiction or nonfiction. She is also partial to books touching on art and design, with a particular interest in interior design and architecture.