Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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7:30am MDT

Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing

Friday April 17, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Join author Johnny Worthen for discoveries in eastern philosophy with their application to the life of an author with its many disappointments. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on concepts that directly speak to the writer’s journey. Classes build upon previous one, but all are welcome to each and all. There’s much to gain. Day one: Basics – the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Noble path Day two: Block – The Five Hindrances and the power of RAIN Day three: Third Person Limited – Non-Identity and the muse Each class meets in the morning before regular programming Though classes are meant as a three day seminar, attendees can come to any of them without prior or later attendance and still get useful information.

Faculty

Johnny Worthen

Award-Winning Author

Johnny Worthen grew up in the high desert snows and warm summer winds of the Wasatch Mountains. He graduated with a B.A. in English, minor in Classics and a Master's in American Studies from the University of Utah. After a series of businesses and adventures, including years abroad... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Writing Life

Audience Advanced

8:30am MDT

Emotional Resonance: Or How I Made My Dad Not Talk to Me for a Week

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Readers connect through emotion. This class explores how to use tropes, the mirror effect, self-realization, and comparison to foster emotional depth and connection. Examples will focus on popular literary and cinematic characters and why these "tricks of the trade" work so well, and how writers can use them to great effect.

Faculty

Kevin Ikenberry

Author

Kevin Ikenberry is a life-long space geek and retired Army officer. As an adult, he managed the U.S. Space Camp program, two Challenger Learning Centers, and served on active duty in space operations before Space Force was a thing. He’s an international bestselling science fiction... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Craft of Writing

Moderator Sam Knight

9:45am MDT

They Want to Hear From You!

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Pippa Grant launched her pen name with a newsletter plan, and that plan was crucial to the rise of her brand from complete unknown to Amazon Top 10 bestselling author within 16 months. This workshop is a guide on to how to attract readers to your newsletter, why you should send newsletters regularly, and how to identify newsletter content that you’ll want to write.

Faculty

Pippa Grant

Keynote

Pippa Grant wanted to write books, so she did.Before she became a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling romantic comedy author, she was a young military spouse who got into writing as self-therapy. That happened around the time she discovered reading romance novels, and the two eventually... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

Moderator Joe Lenhoff

11:00am MDT

Agent Panel

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Share an hour with our attending agents and learn about them and their agencies.

Agents & Editors

Bowen Gillings

Associate Agent, Savvy Literary

Bowen Gillings joined Savvy Literary in 2025 and has nearly a decade of experience as an author and champion of authors. Currently building his list, Bowen seeks to partner with writers who possess a sense of professionalism and a sense of humor. He loves books with a strong narrative... Read More →

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong

Literary Agent, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong is a literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency with
nearly a decade of industry experience. A life-long lover of books, Cathie enjoys
vivid memories of the exact moment she unlocked the secret code behind the
letters that, when combined, form words. Sinc... Read More →

Elisa Saphier

Agent, MacGregor & Luedeke

Elisa Saphier is an agent with MacGregor & Luedeke where she is the exception, looking for nonreligious nonfiction and upmarket genre fiction (especially mystery/thriller and romance) to balance out her mostly literary list. She represents upper middle grade through adult (fiction... Read More →

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 →

T.S. Ferguson

Azantian Literary Agency

Before joining Azantian Literary Agency, T.S. Ferguson worked for 16 years as an editor for some of the top children's and teen book publishers in the business, including Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Harlequin Teen/Inkyard Press, and JIMMY Patterson Books. He has worked... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

Moderator Sam Knight

2:00pm MDT

Editor Panel

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Share an hour with our attending editors and learn about them and their publishing companies.

Agents & Editors

Anna Michels

Senior Editorial Director, Sourcebooks

Anna Michels has been at Sourcebooks for more than thirteen years and is Senior Editorial Director of Sourcebooks nonfiction and Poisoned Pen Press. Anna is looking for a wide variety of books under the nonfiction umbrella, including history, narrative and prescriptive nonfiction... Read More →

Drue VanDuker

Assistant Editor, St. Martin's Press

Drue VanDuker is an assistant editor at St. Martin's Press, where she has worked since 2022 after graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English and a minor in Rhetoric and Writing. At SMP, she has worked across a wide range of genres, including book club... Read More →

Kelly Stone

Associate Editor, St. Martin’s Publishing Group

Kelly Stone is an associate editor at St. Martin’s Publishing Group. She joined St. Martin’s in 2021 after graduating from Cornell University with a degree in Communication. Her list consists of action-packed thrillers, rom-com/mystery mash-ups, elevated cozy mysteries, and humor-filled... Read More →

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 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

Moderator Joe Lenhoff

3:15pm MDT

Editor-Agent Sweet Spot

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

My Sourcebooks editor, Anna Michels and I will talk about that sweet spot between the editor and author when working on a novel, from ideas, to writing and acceptance, and finally, to covers and audio book talent.

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

Anna Michels

Senior Editorial Director, Sourcebooks

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

4:45pm MDT

Pitch Perfect

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

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Crafting the perfect live pitch to make the most of your one-on-one time with an agent/editor.

Agents & Editors

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong

Literary Agent, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Friday April 17, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

Moderator John Neal

9:00pm MDT

Marketing

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Unwind after a full conference day and join an open, energizing discussion all about marketing your books. This relaxed after-hours session invites authors to ask candid questions, share real experiences, and explore smart, sustainable strategies with Jenny Kate, a seasoned book-marketing expert. From building an author platform to promoting backlist titles, launching new releases, optimizing newsletters, and reaching the right readers—nothing is off-limits. Bring your challenges, your wins, and your curiosity. You’ll leave with practical insights, fresh ideas, and renewed confidence to market your books effectively in today’s competitive publishing landscape.

Faculty

Jenny Kate

Director, Pike Peak Writers Conference

Jenny Kate is a professional communicator. She has been quoted by the New York Times, CNN, FoxNews, and Time Magazine, and wrote her first novel in the second grade. She is a member of Washington Romance Writers, Sisters in Crime, and freelanced for New York literary agent Ethan Ellenberg... Read More →

Susan Mitchell

Susan Mitchell embraces folklore, ghosts and monsters. She tunes into that wavelength to write dark fiction, horror and thrillers. Her work has appeared in literary magazines and can be found in the upcoming anthology Open-Hearted Horizon from University of New Mexico Press. Originally from the East Coast, Susan calls the Southwest home and has degree in English from Northern Arizona University. She works at New Mexico PBS and served on the PBS Marketing Advisory Council. As a Multi Media Producer she has written, pr... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

7:30am MDT

8:30am MDT

9:45am MDT

11:00am MDT

2:00pm MDT

3:15pm MDT

4:45pm MDT

9:00pm MDT

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