Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2025: Full Schedule

Registration for the 2025 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is now open!
The current schedule, like much of our writing, is a work-in-progress and is subject to change.
Sched is sponsored by Reedsy.

8:30am MDT

Read & Critique Session 1

Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Fremont

Mystery/Thriller/Romance

Faculty

John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap is the Thriller Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen thrillers, including Zero Sum, Harm’s Way, White Smoke, Deadly Game, Blue Fire, Stealth Attack, Crimson Phoenix, Hellfire, Total Mayhem, Scorpion Strike, Final Target, Friendly Fire... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Brenna English-Loeb

Agent, Transatlantic Agency

Brenna English-Loeb joined Transatlantic in 2019 after working for several years at Janklow & Nesbit Associates and Writers House, where she had the pleasure of working with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors across multiple genres. Brenna grew up in beautiful Upstate... Read More →

Leticia Gomez

Editorial Director, Dafina/Kensington Books

Leticia Gomez is the Editorial Director for Dafina Books, an imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp., which focuses on high-quality fiction and non-fiction that centers on race, identity, and its impact on our experiences. Dafina’s carefully curated list is a home for dynamic stories... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

9:45am MDT

Read & Critique Session 2

Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Fremont

Womens/Romance/Historical

Faculty

Avery Flynn

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has sold more than a million books, which have been translated into multiple languages. She has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Christina Lopez

Assistant Editor, St. Martin’s Press

Christina Lopez is an associate editor at St. Martin’s Press, where she started as an intern in 2021. Her first love was romance novels, and she is thrilled that her list consists mainly of romance. However, in her time at SMP, she has worked on a wide array of books in several... Read More →

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Rosecliff Literary

Jessica Berg is a literary agent at Rosecliff Literary. She leverages her extensive background as a developmental editor to champion new and emerging authors. She is actively building her list, focusing on compelling character-driven narratives with strong voices and unique settings. Known for her collaborative approach, Jessica works... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

2:00pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 4

Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Fremont

Mystery/Thriller/Kids

Faculty

Alexandra Diaz

Author

Alexandra Diaz is the author of several award-winning books for children and teens, including The Only Road (Pura Belpré Honor and Américas Award), The Crossroads (New Mexico’s Great Read at the National Book Festival), and Santiago’s Road Home (ALA Notable Children’s Books... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Melissa Rechter

Editor and Acquisitions Manager, Crooked Lane

Editor and Acquisitions Manager Melissa Rechter joined Crooked Lane Books in 2019. She has had the pleasure of working with ITW nominees, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, as well as a myriad of talented writers.For Crooked Lane, she is looking for cozy mysteries... Read More →

Sheyla Knigge

Agent, High Line Literary Collective

Sheyla Knigge (SHAY-luh KUH-nig-gee)is a budding publishing professional who comes to the industry with a lifelong love of reading under her belt. Having worked under Victoria Marini since 2021 she has had the immense pleasure of perusing a variety of books that have gone on to do... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author

3:15pm MDT

Read & Critique Session 5

Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Fremont

SF/Horror/Fantasy

Faculty

David R. Slayton

David R. Slayton (He/Him) grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver, Colorado and writes the books he always wanted to read. His debut, White... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Caitlin McDonald

Agent, Donald Maass Literary Agency

Caitlin McDonald joined DMLA in 2015, after five years at Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents adult and young adult speculative fiction, primarily science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and related subgenres. She is also seeking graphic novels along the same lines as above. Caitlin... Read More →

Steve Saffel

Editor

STEVE SAFFEL has been an editor at Marvel Comics, Del Rey Books, Perseus Books, and Titan Entertainment, working on science fiction, fantasy, horror, and licensed fiction, with a focus on the author’s voice, pacing, clarity, career path, concept development, and creating fiction... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Fremont

Agent/Editor/Author