RISING STAR Award

Laurie Dennison, Creative Media Agency

After earning her master’s from the University of Florida and a brief stint as an English teacher, Laurie Dennison spent over a decade as a freelance writer, ghostwriter, editor, and desktop publishing consultant before stepping into her role as an associate agent at Creative Media Agency. She served as a Pitch Wars mentor for five years, and she completed the Denver Publishing Institute in 2022. Laurie also works in the CMA film department with Paige Wheeler.

Laurie represents upmarket and commercial women's fiction, including projects with strong book club potential, romance, and suspense, and she is open to light speculative elements across genres. She loves strong character development and propulsive pacing. 

Lauren Khan, FinePrint Literary Management 

Lauren joined FinePrint Literary in 2025 as an Associate Agent following an internship at Triada US Literary Agency. She first entered the publishing world as an author. Prior to transitioning to agenting, she worked for over seven years as a corporate lawyer in New York City. Lauren brings both editorial and transactional expertise to her clients. Lauren lives with her family in her small beach hometown in Florida. She wrote her first novel while pregnant with her son and began agenting while pregnant with her daughter. A graduate of Duke University and Fordham University School of Law, she loves podcasts, long walks with her dog, and all things Nora Ephron. As a former theatre kid, Lauren is a lifelong champion of storytelling, subjecting her loved ones to her songs, stories, and plays from the moment she could talk. An avid reader across genres, Lauren is particularly interested in adult and YA commercial fiction, especially women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, and thrillers, as well as select non-fiction titles. She is an editorial agent with a strong interest in developing fulfilling and long-lasting careers for her authors.

Nadia Lynch, Talcott Notch Literary

Nadia Lynch is a Junior Literary Agent at Talcott Notch Literary, where she combines her lifelong love of books with precision and attention to detail to help guide authors through their publishing journeys.

With a bachelor’s degree in political science and a professional background as a paralegal, she brings experience in contracts and problem-solving to her work as a literary agent, blending structure with the creative energy of the literary world. Since joining Talcott Notch in 2021, Nadia has cherished the opportunity to build a career surrounded by books and storytelling. She finds joy in balancing structure with creativity in a way that feels both natural and rewarding.

Nadia is looking for historical fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, and women’s fiction. She is especially drawn to narratives that center resilient, complex female protagonists and explore authentic, layered relationships. She gravitates toward books that push boundaries and broaden perspective, and is always impressed by authors who breathe fresh life into classic tropes. In historical fiction, she seeks stories that spotlight underrepresented voices and lesser-known moments, particularly from the 20th century. In women’s fiction and romcoms, she looks for stories with emotional depth and grit woven into humor and heart.

Abby Saul, The Lark Group
Abby Saul has almost 20 years of publishing experience and is an editorial expert with a passion for fantastic reads. She founded The Lark Group after working on both the publishing and agenting side of the business, and represents bestselling, award-winning, and engrossing adult commercial and literary fiction. Her wishlist and personal library runs the gamut from literary newbies and classics, to cozy mysteries, to sappy women’s fiction, to dark and twisted thrillers.

Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore and Co.

Rebecca Strauss is an agent at DeFiore and Co. and focuses on literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, YA, pop culture and select non-fiction. In all genres, she's looking for a compelling story, clear concept, fresh voice and emotional heart—a work that grabs you from the first page. She's especially interested in emerging writers and underrepresented voices; and, she's looking to develop long term relationships.

Before joining DeFiore and Co., Rebecca was at McIntosh and Otis for seven years where she was an agent and Director of Subsidiary Rights.  Prior to M&O, she was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, and a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures. She's originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.