Oregon BIPOC Writers Publishing Event

Literary Arts, Ooligan Press, and Portland State University’s English Department partner to present the Oregon BIPOC Writers Publishing Event. This event is designed to connect Oregon’s most talented, diverse writers to the publishers and authors seeking to hear their voices.

Pitching a Book 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (PST)
Distilling the important elements of a book into a concise and gripping pitch is a true art. In this presentation, seasoned literary agent Fiona Kenshole lays out the fundamentals of good pitching. This webinar is intended to aid writers in preparing for a pitching session with a publisher or agent later on in the day.

Demystifying Book Publishing Panel 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (PST)
So much of the process of getting published, finding an agent, navigating contracts, building an author brand, and much more are shrouded in mystery and secrecy in the book industry. This webinar brings together a wide range of Portland book industry professionals who are there for one primary purpose: to answer all the nitty-gritty questions about the industry that you’ve been itching to ask. Panelists: Denise Morales Soto (A Kids Book About), Kathryn Jurgens (Timber Press), Elizabeth DeMeo (Tin House), and Katherine D. Morgan.

Pitching Sessions with Publishers and Agents 1:00 to 2:00 PM (PST)
Sign up for a 10-minute session to pitch your work to a Portland literary agent or publisher. Slots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Click here to register for these webinars in advance. To reserve a slot for a pitching session, email Jessica at jessica@literary-arts.org. If you have any questions about registration, contact Jessica at jessica@literary-arts.org.

Note: The two webinars will take place in the same Zoom room. One link will give you access to both webinars, but you do not have to attend both webinars. You’ll need to email to register for the final event of the day, as we only have limited spots.

Katherine D. Morgan is a former assistant features editor for The Rumpus and bookseller at Powell’s Books. She is the author of the debut chapbook No Self-Respecting Woman. Her essay about the presidential election of Donald Trump is featured in the anthology Fury: Women’s Lived Experience During the Trump Era. Katherine’s work has appeared or is forthcoming at Huffington Post, Bitch Media, LitHub, The Rumpus, HelloGiggles, Willamette Week, Real Simple, and Trampset, among others. Her work has been nominated for the two Best of Net awards. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where you can find her snuggling with her cat Ramona, and crying during the series finale of Frasier.

Viveca started off as a freelance editor who joined Not a Pipe Publishing to work on a single novel and has worked her way to the top. In 2020 she was promoted to co-publisher and co-owner. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. When she’s not working, Viveca can often be found with a big mug of tea (or coffee), her face buried in a good book or video game, and her beloved cat nearby for company.

Denise Morales Soto is a book person from Utuado, Puerto Rico that is currently based in Portland, OR. She’s an editor at A Kids Book About and a freelance book designer and editor. She’s dedicated pretty much her entire life to books, which she thinks is pretty cool, and everything involved in bringing one to life. She’s been fortunate enough to work on nonfiction and fiction books across different genres and targeting diverse audiences and markets.

Elizabeth DeMeo is the Associate Editor at Tin House, where she acquires fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, and graphic literature. She holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Arkansas, where she was Managing Editor of the Arkansas International and Director of the Arkansas Writers in the Schools program. Authors she’s worked with include Raymond Antrobus, Destiny O. Birdsong, Jo Lloyd, Rachel Long, Ben Shattuck, and Bianca Stone.