#DVpit critique giveaway
August 14-18, 2023.
We are giving away critiques from outstanding publishing professionals to marginalized creators who hope to participate in the next #DVpit event. As industry insiders, we understand that it’s not always about that 280-character pitch; your query letter and pages also have to shine! It is our hope that with a critique, you’ll be able to deliver even stronger submission materials to agents and editors who request your work during the pitch event. More than that, we hope that the extra insight will be helpful to creators as they continue to develop and improve their work beyond #DVpit.
All donors have agreed to return their critiques 2 weeks from receipt. To enter the giveaways, entrants must fill out the giveaway google form anytime between August 14 and August 18 at 6PM ET. Entries must be for completed, unpublished work. Winners will be notified via email by August 25, with instructions on how to claim their critique. Winners are required to confirm in response by Sept 1, 2023, or their critique will be forfeited. Critiques will vary by donor: some offer query critiques, first five pages critiques, or submission package critiques (i.e. query letter plus the first five pages), or feedback on art samples. Winners are not able to choose a specific donor.
Here are all the amazing donors for 2023!
Jules Arbeaux, a queer author of science fiction and fantasy, writes from the American midwest, surrounded by rescue animals and succulents.
Layne Ashlyn is a writer of SFF sapphic YA.
Deborah Bailey, an award-winning YA writer and former WriteMentor mentor and WriteTeam mentor in residence, is represented by Sera Rivers of Speilburg Literary.
After 5 years of traditional publishing experience, Ema Barnes has spent the past 2 years editing full-time and asks probing questions on both queries and manuscripts to help authors to realize their potential.
Erica Bauman is a literary agent at Aevitas Creative Management, and represents a wide variety of authors across middle grade, young adult, and upmarket adult fiction.
Amy Bishop-Wycisk is a literary agent at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, cultivating a wide-ranging list in upmarket and book club fiction, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, and select YA, with a special interest in BIPOC and AAPI voices.
Lisa Bonvissuto is an associate editor at St. Martin's Publishing Group.
Leila Boukarim is a Lebanese children's book author and freelance editor based in Berlin. stories are often influenced by her Middle Eastern upbringing, her observations as a citizen of the world, and the playfulness that arises from raising two young boys.
Bayana A. Davis is a SFF writer and content creator born and raised in Oakland, California. She has a B.A. from Mills College in English-Creative Writing and is a co-founder of Black Nerds Create. She is currently represented by Ernie Chiara.
Emily Deibert (she/her) is the author of the middle grade contemporary novel BEA MULLINS TAKES A SHOT forthcoming from Random House Children's Books in Spring 2025.
Katie Grimm is an agent at Don Congdon Associates where she represents MG, YA and adult literary fiction and non-fiction.
Kelly Esparza (she/her) is a Latinx writer and editor who writes mystery, romance, dystopian, and fantasy novels. Twitter: @Kelly_Esparza7
Carolina Florez-Cerchiaro is a Colombian journalist, international politics expert and writer represented by Janine Kamouh at WME.
Diana Gill spent more than twenty years as an executive editor in Big5 publishing, editing commercial fiction at Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and HarperCollins Publishers, including running Harper Voyager, the science fiction and fantasy imprint at HarperCollins, for twelve years.
Anna Gracia is the author of the critically acclaimed YA novel, Boys I Know.
Marissa Higgins is a lesbian journalist whose debut novel A GOOD HAPPY GIRL is due out with Catapult in April 2024.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Caroline Hung is a SFF writer of mixed Filipino and Taiwanese descent.
Sheeda Jamsheed is a San Francisco Bay Area native, first-generation Iranian–American, and writer of fantasy books for children and teens.
Terry Catasús Jennings is a Cuban American writer of Middle Grade and Picture books.
Steph B. Jones is an author and a high school English teacher. She holds a MFA in Creative Writing and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Kean University. Steph co-authored of QUILTING A LEGACY book four in THE INVINCIBLE GIRLS CLUB. You’re likely to find her doing her daughter’s hair, cheering loudly for her girls at cheer competitions, perfecting food recipes from Pinterest or somewhere with her nose buried in a book. Whenever she’s not giving her unsolicited advice on a trending topic in politics or pop culture; she’s binge-watching a classic TV show with her family, napping or bike riding on a trail on her Peloton.
Brian D. Kennedy is a DVpit alum and the author of A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY (Balzer + Bray).
Graci Kim is the New York Times bestselling author of the Gifted Clans trilogy: The Last Fallen Star, The Last Fallen Moon, and The Last Fallen Realm.
Michelle Kulwicki's short fiction has been both Locus Recommended and Hugo nominated, and their first full length novel, At the End of the River Styx, will be debuting in Spring of 2024 from Page Street Kids.
K.T. Lawrence is a queer YA/adult fantasy author who was a DVmentee in 2022 and got her agent through DVpit that same year.
Tiffany Liu (she/her) is a writer of Studio Ghibli-esque fantasy based in Taiwan, currently represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Lit.
Katie Mazeika can’t imagine a better job than making books. She specializes in telling stories based on real people and events and likes to highlight disabled voices and create characters that make an impression.
Meghan Maria McCullough is an Editor who has worked at Scholastic, Levine Querido, and Inkyard Press, and currently lives in NYC.
Marla Miller, a.k.a writersmama, a traditionally and indie published author, delivers workshops at 2 CA writers conferences, moderates ZOOM R&C workshops, critiques query letters on her youtube channel and keeps her fingers crossed that at least 1 of her 2 book projects will see publishing's light of day.
Rashmi P. Menon is an award-winning author, editor, and founder of an indie publishing house focused on improving diversity in the publishing industry.
Kirstie Myvett is a published children's author and cofounder of KidLit in Color.
Patricia Nelson has been a literary agent with Marsal Lyon Literary Agency since 2014. She represents middle grade, young adult, and select adult fiction.
Cat Novara is a YA science fiction and fantasy author represented by Rebecca Podos.
Mark O'Brien (he/him) has interned and assisted at five literary agencies and a publisher, and currently works in Sales at NetGalley.
Emma Pearl is a PB/MG/YA author rep'd by Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary.
Sandra Proudman is a literary associate at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency and kidlit author.
Christen Randall (she/they) is a queer, fat, neurodiverse author of joyful, nerdy, queer YA.
Michelle Rascon (she/her) is a freelance fiction editor with over seven years of experience working with successful self-publishing and querying authors.
Ryan Rose (he/him) is a bisexual author of adult SFF, debuting in 2025.
Darianne Schramm is a middle grade author, as well as a previous DV Mentee who is now repped by Jennifer Azantian.
Jordan B. Seltzer is an agented author and Registered Nurse living in coastal North Carolina where she runs a beachside ice cream store in the summers and personifies her feelings by writing YA Fantasy and Horror in the off-season.
Mohamed (Moe) Shalabi is a Palestinian-American author of literary and speculative fiction, neuroscientist, and former junior literary agent. Moe's stories are inspired by his diverse background and upbringing in the Middle East. His writing appears in multiple literary magazines such as the Nonbinary Review, Reed, and Superstition Review. His short story Palestina was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. When he's not working on his multiple manuscripts, Moe works as a full-time consultant in Washington, D.C. Moe is represented by Kat Kerr of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
Casey Sharp is an editor for a small press, championing LGBT, disabled, and ND writers in publishing.
Lisa Springer is passionate about writing thriller and horror fiction for young people.
Jen St. Jude is the author of IF TOMORROW DOESN'T COME.
Linh Su is a Vietnamese American writer who loves all things fantasy! She is represented by the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency.
Jill Tew’s debut The Dividing Sky comes out from Joy Revolution (PRH) in Fall 2024. She is represented by Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Delise Torres is the author of One Tough Cookie, foodie and humorous women’s fiction set at a cookie company.
Anna Wenner is a freelance writer and picture book author from the Midwest, currently on sub with ASH Literary Agency.
Meghan Wilson Duff (they/them) is the author of How Are You, Verity? Illustrated by Taylor Barron and released by Magination Press.
Jessica Yoon is a Korean American children's author, who enjoys writing about family, food, and being a child of multiple cultures.
Kelsea Yu is a writer, mother, and shark enthusiast whose debut novel, It’s Only a Game, will be out from Bloomsbury Children’s in 2024.