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From Pitch to Print: Insider Tips from Publishing Pros

Join us for a conversation with book editors and literary agents to learn about the publishing process, from pitch to print.

So you've written a book -- what comes next? Our panel of experts is here to guide you through the process, from drafting your first query letter to avoiding publishing scams, from the thrill of signing with an agent to navigating the lows of rejection. We'll demystify the process and provide helpful tips as you explore the next steps in your storytelling journey. 

This panel will take place in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room.

Melanie Figueroa is a literary agent at Root Literary with over a decade of experience in the book publishing industry and an active member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). She earned an M.S. in Creative Writing and Book Publishing from Portland State University and a B.A. in English Rhetoric and Composition with a professional certification in Technical Writing from California State University, Long Beach. Her career in publishing started as an editorial project manager and freelance editor. She joined Root Literary in 2018 as an agency coordinator and quickly transitioned into her current role as a literary agent. Her portfolio of representation spans across children’s literature and adult fiction.

Dr. Eddie Gamarra runs Gamarra Media, selling stories and building franchises across publishing and entertainment. Prior, he was VP Literary Affairs for Paramount's Nickelodeon & Awesomeness brands where he scouted & acquired books & other IP.  He was previously a Literary Manager/Producer at The Gotham Group representing screenwriters, directors, animators, authors, illustrators, & publishers. Clients included NYT best-selling storytellers as well as Oscar, Emmy, Annie, Caldecott, Newbery, & Geisel winners/nominees. As Executive Producer, he worked on THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy which grossed almost $1 Billion dollars. He also EP'd Jerry Spinelli's iconic STARGIRL for Disney+ and Jordan Peele's WENDELL & WILD for Netflix.

Jordan Hamessley joined JABberwocky as an agent in 2023 with over 15 years of publishing experience both as an agent and an editor at Penguin Young Readers (Grosset & Dunlap), Egmont USA, and Adaptive Studios. After graduating from The New School with a BFA in Musical Theater and spending time performing across the country, Jordan made the leap to publishing and loves continuing to help new stories get into the world across various mediums. She represents a list of diverse children’s fiction from picture books through YA and select adult genre and pop culture writers. She also represents a growing list of graphic novelists and illustrators. She is always looking to find stories that bring the queer experience to the children’s space across all age ranges.

Erinn Pascal is a children’s book editor with over 12 years of experience. She’s edited hundreds of picture books, chapter books, guidebooks, storybooks, novelty books, cookbooks, activity books, graphic novels, and more. The companies she’s worked for include Simon & Schuster, Disney, Scholastic, and Andrews McMeel Publishing. Licensors she’s worked with include Disney, Lucasfilm, Warner Brothers, DC Comics, Marvel, Neopets, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, and NBCUniversal.

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