A lot of great people will be sharing writing wisdom at Norwescon in Seattle, April 2-5 2026. And I’ll be one of them! Here’s where to find me:
Literary Agents in the Modern Publishing Landscape
Editing and Publishing
Cascade 6, Thu. 5 to 6 p.m.
Literary agents have traditionally been the first gate toward publication for authors. But in a world where so many authors self-publish, where small presses are make more of an impression, and trad publishers seem more out of reach for writers than ever before, what is an agent’s role today? What do they bring to the table, and how do they make a difference to a writer’s career? Is finding and acquiring an agent the right move for you?
Kate Ristau (M), Erik Grove, Tori Sharp, Gabrielle Harbowy, Jack Skillingstead
Negotiating Contracts in Tabletop Gaming
Cascade 11, Fri. 5 to 6 p.m.
Join freelancers in tabletop role-playing games and board games to discuss what to expect when discussing pay rates in the industry, including ceilings/floors, advances, and royalties.
Virginia Black (M), John Godek, Erin Roberts, Gabrielle Harbowy, Monte Lin
Timeless or Nostalgic?
YA
Cascade 6, Sat. 1 to 2 p.m.
Culture moves fast, so how do you decide what to keep of the “trends”? Do you make a YA character who uses Instagram or TikTok? Do you invent something completely new? Learn from panelists how to make an authentic character while preserving a timeless or nostalgic approach.
Lish McBride (M), Lily Meade, Sonja Thomas, Gabrielle Harbowy, James L. Sutter
Not Instagram Ready: YA Protagonists That Aren’t Always Perfect
YA
Cascade 7 & 8, Sun. 11 to noon
Social media is a stressful part of teens’ lives. How can you represent teens in a way that’s accurate to the social media generation, including making sure they are all diverse? How do you feature characters who aren’t always right or don’t do the trending activities?
Lily Meade (M), Sonja Thomas, James L. Sutter, Margaret Owen, Gabrielle Harbowy
Gabrielle Harbowy 