Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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The 2026 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is in the books!
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8:30am MDT

Book Cover Design...You're Not the Audience

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Douglas

A workshop on effective book cover design: what works, what doesn’t, and how covers communicate professionalism and genre promise to readers.

Agents & Editors

Casey Cowan

Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates

Casey Cowan began his career in graphic design, shaping projects across a wide range of industries for nearly two decades before finding his niche and co-founding Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates in 2013. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a successful, award-winning... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

Moderator Daemon Hunt

9:45am MDT

The Art of the Elevator Pitch

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Douglas

An editor-led workshop and deep dive into how editors pitch their books in-house—from editorial board meetings to formal sales presentations—featuring a group activity at the end of the session, "Pitch Wars," in which attendees will split into teams and role play as editors pitching a book at a seasonal Sales Launch.

Agents & Editors

Nicole Luongo

Associate Editor, Hachette Book Group

If you asked six-year-old me and present-day-me what a “perfect day” looked like, our answers would be identical: hot cocoa, a loaded bookstore gift card—with unlimited browsing time—mint chocolate chip ice cream, and an evening of uninterrupted reading. (I’m nothing if... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

11:00am MDT

This Ain’t Your Granddaddy’s Western

Friday April 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Douglas

A look at how Westerns are evolving through crossovers with crime, horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. We’ll explore the future of the genre, with examples from writers like Craig Johnson, CJ Box, and Marc Cameron, and modern media like The Mandalorian and Bone Tomahawk.

Faculty

Reavis Z. Wortham

Keynote

NYT Bestselling author, Reavis Z. Wortham, is the recipient of many awards, including two Spur Awards from the Western Writers Association, and six Will Rogers Medallions. Kirkus Reviews listed his first novel in the historical Red River series, The Rock Hole, as one of their Top... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Casey Cowan

Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates

Friday April 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

Genre-Specific

Moderator Mike Torreanno

2:00pm MDT

Why the First 10 Pages Make or Break Your Novel (with Live Editing)

Friday April 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Douglas

What agents look for in the first 10 pages (and what makes them stop)
The 5 elements your opening must establish immediately
Common pitfalls that sink submissions in the first chapter
How to hook readers without gimmicks
Live editing session: real-time critique of opening pages
Takeaway checklist to self-evaluate your own first 10 pages

Agents & Editors

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Rosecliff Literary

Jessica Berg is the founder and agency director of Rosecliff Literary, a boutique agency built on the belief that ambitious writers deserve transparency, strategy, and a seat at the table. She earned her MFA from Spalding University and brings more than a decade of experience to her... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush

3:15pm MDT

Short Stories: Good for the Novelist, Good for the Career, Good for the Soul

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Douglas

Short stories are an oft overlooked gateway to many advantageous things in a writer's career. I will offer up some really good reasons to consider publishing a few: making new connections, learning new genres, experimenting with (and improving) writing styles, and more.

Faculty

Sam Knight

Author/Publisher, Knight Writing Press

Sam Knight is the owner/publisher of Knight Writing Press and author of six children’s books, four novels, and over 80 short stories, including three co-authored with Kevin J. Anderson. Though he has written in many cool worlds, such as Planet of the Apes, Wayward Pines, and... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Lin Faloon
Audience Beginner

4:45pm MDT

Middles and Try-Fail Cycles

Friday April 17, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT

Douglas

Middles are often seen as the sagging portion of any story line, when in reality most of any piece of writing is spent in the middle. In this workshop, we learn how to set up and depict interesting try-fail cycles for your characters.

Faculty

Mary Robinette Kowal

Keynote

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winning alternate history novel The Calculating Stars, the first book in the Lady Astronaut series which continues in 2025 with The Martian Contingency. She is also the author of The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Pam McCutcheon

8:30am MDT

9:45am MDT

11:00am MDT

2:00pm MDT

3:15pm MDT

4:45pm MDT

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