Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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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

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

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 →

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

Business of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

4:45pm MDT

Scrivener 102

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

Academy

Advanced techniques for the motivated writer (customization for those already using Scrivener)

In this workshop, writers already familiar with the basics of Scrivener will discover the many ways Scrivener can be configured for novels and non-fiction projects.

>Find out how to customize Scrivener to your particular needs--and if you love color, you'll be super happy.

>Take advantage of little-known elements to make your writing life easier to manage.

>Learn to plot your book with virtual index cards.

> Manage scenes (and your own motivation) with the outliner.

>Fly through revisions with features most Scrivener users have not yet discovered.

>And much more!

Faculty

Debbie Maxwell Allen

Editor, Author, Scrivener Coach

Debbie Maxwell Allen writes historical fiction–with a touch of the unexplainable–set in quirky Mediterranean locations in the 18th century. She has placed in the Zebulon Contest three times and contributed to the Fresh Starts anthology. Her debut series launches in 2024. Debbie teaches workshops on the craft of writing, productivity, and how to use Scrivener and Vellum software at local writing groups and writing conferences... Read More →

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

Writing Tools

Moderator Bailey Finn

9:45am MDT

Beat Writer’s Block and Reignite Your Creativity

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Douglas

Unblock your writing and recapture the playfulness of fiction. Maybe you just can't start. Maybe you complete a first draft only to discover that it feels like a betrayal of your vision, a pale imitation of the story you had in mind. Maybe your drive toward perfection keeps you continuously editing the same scene; you just can't get it right. Maybe you don't know where your story is going anymore, or maybe you're waiting for time to get magically freed up so that you can devote long afternoons or long days to creating your story. In this class, Stant Litore shares approaches that will help you unblock your writing and rekindle your creativity. What we forget easily is that storytelling is play!

Faculty

Stant Litore

Stant Litore is the author of Ansible, The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur (recently adapted into an Emmy-nominated episode of Love, Death, and Robots), The Zombie Bible, and Dante’s Heart. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers’ toolkits Write Wo... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

2:00pm MDT

Things No One Told Me

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

It’s an informal discussion about what I learned after my first novel was accepted for publication. Writing is the easy part, but there’s a whole world of work and experiences that follow. This one is like those old-fashioned magazine articles called, “This Happened to Me.”

Faculty

Reavis Z. Wortham

Keynote

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Writing Life

Moderator Bailey Finn

3:15pm MDT

Book Fair Business

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Congratulations! You book has been published, and you’re ready to sell at your first book fair. Whether it’s local with only a few authors or one of the major “cons” or regional events, you’ll want your work to stand out from the crowd. How do you draw attention to yourself and your book(s)? What kind of sales pitch will bring and keep customers at your table? How do you speak about your book to the general public? In this workshop, we’ll discuss the secrets of successful sales at book fairs.

Faculty

Laurie Marr Wasmund

Author, lost ranch books

Laurie Marr Wasmund holds an M.A. in literature from the University of Denver. She has been an editor, community college instructor, and national writing workshop presenter. Her short stories have appeared in literary magazines such as Cimarron Review and Weber Studies. She is... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge

Business of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn
Audience Beginner

10:15am MDT

Tell Me a Secret: How to Interview Anyone About Anything to Strengthen Your Fiction

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

El Paso

Google’s fine for the basic facts, but you’re not writing a basic story. First-person interviews help you uncover the realistic details, unexpected twists, unique perspectives, and heart that can elevate your story. Learn how to painlessly interview anyone about anything, from private investigators, to scientists, to rock stars.

Faculty

Kelley J. P. Lindberg

President, Blue Raven Services Inc.

Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes adult and YA fiction, but her writing history is littered with dozens of how-to books (including several bestsellers) and hundreds of articles. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary magazines, in anthologies including PPW’s Journeys into... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

9:45am MDT

3:15pm MDT

4:45pm MDT

9:45am MDT

2:00pm MDT

3:15pm MDT

10:15am MDT

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