 In this Writing Day Workshops Q&A, award-winning author Peter Leavell opens up about the important lessons he’s learned on the writing journey. From winning major awards early in his career to navigating revision and the realities of the business side, Peter shares honest, practical wisdom that will both inspire and equip you.
With warmth and vulnerability, he speaks about handling the pressure that came with early success, reconciling what you love with what the market wants, and protecting your creative energy. You’ll also discover the core truth that still guides how he writes every single day, and how it can shift the way you approach your own work.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Andrea Blatt is now an agent at Root Literary. Andrea represents adult fiction and nonfiction. Across categories, she's looking for accessible, page-turning stories that she can't put down and that makes her feel, tackle the issues at the heart of being human, or reveal something about our world and how people create meaning within it. Andrea is proud to represent books that are New York Times bestsellers, that have been longlisted for the National Book Award, that have been translated around the world, and that have brought people joy.  It doesn’t matter how many books you’ve written or how much you’ve achieved—at some point, you’re going to deal with imposter syndrome.
Even Maya Angelou said, “I have written 11 books, but each time I think, ‘Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’” And here’s what John Steinbeck wrote in his journals while working on The Grapes of Wrath: “I’m not a writer. I’ve been fooling myself and other people. I wish I were.” Even Agatha Christie struggled with these thoughts. She said, “I don’t know whether every author feels it, but I think quite a lot do—that I am pretending to be something I am not, because, even nowadays, I do not quite feel as though I am an author.”  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Keifer Ludwig is a Literary Agent and Audio Rights Manager at BookEnds and, most importantly, a fierce advocate for his authors. He first fell in love with book publishing at 18, when he interned at a literary agency. Since, he’s worked as a bookseller, in subrights at Penguin Random House, and as a Literary Associate at New Leaf before finding his home at BookEnds. He believes in speaking truth to power and that books are one of the few things that can truly change how someone sees the world. He represents both commercial genre fiction and non-fiction. The common DNA uniting his list is stories that explore darkness with a sense of curiosity, humor and hope. He is passionate about finding underrepresented voices and stories that celebrate resistance and love. A native New Yorker and diehard Yankees/Nets fan, he is still finding ways to fall in love with the city he grew up in. He enjoys nerding out over Andor and Avatar the Last Airbender, stand-up comedy and board games, and the four most essential things in life: dogs, food, people, and books. Amen. Staring Down the Abyss: Evan Hulick on Inner Critics, Resilience, and the Long Journey to Story7/2/2026
 In the quiet trenches of a decade-long writing journey, Evan Hulick, Ph.D., has wrestled his epic fantasy manuscript—and himself—into being.
A scholar steeped in the traditions of Tolkien’s mythic architecture and Hemingway’s crystalline prose, Evan brings a rare depth to the page: the resilience of a head-on collision survivor, the empathy forged in childhood bullying, and the hard-won wisdom that love is stronger than death. In this candid Q&A, Evan opens up about silencing inner critics, embracing the loneliness of creation, and surrendering to a process that refused to be rushed. Whether you’re battling procrastination, imposter syndrome, or the long haul of a passion project, Evan’s reflections offer both honest struggle and luminous hope for every writer who dares to keep going.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Rebecca Lommers is a Junior Literary Agent with Katie Reed Literary Agency. Rebecca graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor’s in English: Creative Writing, a Music Minor, and an Editing and Publishing Certificate. She is currently attending graduate school at Eastern Washington University to receive an MFA in Fiction. She has loved books ever since she learned how to read, and she always dreamed of reading books before they were published. She is incredibly excited to work with authors to help them achieve their writing dreams. She interned with Katie Reed for two years before being promoted to junior agent. Beyond agenting, Rebecca also enjoys writing. Though she grew up writing fantasy, she now focuses on cross-genre projects. She adores developmental editing because it helps her flex similar creative muscles. Rebecca is also a musician. She has played piano since she was five-years-old and plays guitar and hand drums as well. Though she is at her happiest with a good book, getting to perform is a close second. Rebecca currently resides in Spokane, Washington.  I love pickleball! I love pickleball so much that I’ve started writing about it to celebrate that love. Let me share some of my books with you.
As of fall 2025, my new Pickleball books are out (and they make great gifts)! One is a picture book from Running Press Kids, the other a calendar from Sellers Publishing. Thank you for considering getting a copy for yourself or friends. Every sale and review truly helps. They make great holiday gifts. GOODNIGHT, PICKLEBALL got a buy from Target and is a USA Today best-selling book. Find GOODNIGHT, PICKLEBALL on Amazon here. Find GOODNIGHT, PICKLEBALL at Barnes & Noble here. You can buy it online from B&N, or use the “Find in Stores” button to see if it’s at a physical store around you. Find GOODNIGHT, PICKLEBALL at Target here. You can buy it online from Target, or click the “Pickup” button to investigate if it’s at a store around you. As of fall 2025, it’s in about 1/3 of Targets nationwide. Find GOODNIGHT, PICKLEBALL through Bookshop here (formerly called IndieBound) to support local independent bookstores, which is always an amazing thing to do. If you're feeling gung-ho and motivated, consider one of our 2026 writers conferences. We are planning many around the country and also online (where anyone can join from anywhere). See the graphic in this post for our official list of events for 2026. Our events have over 170 success stories of writers who signed with agents following meeting them at an event. That's the best proof we can offer. Go to writingdayworkshops.com to sign up now.  Jolina Petersheim on Wisdom from the Writing Journey – Enjoy the Process, Embrace the Stories6/25/2026
 Bestselling author Jolina Petersheim has built a career that spans multiple books, motherhood, and the real-life ups and downs of the publishing journey—and she’s not done yet! In this Q&A, she offers heartfelt, battle-tested wisdom every writer needs for the long haul.
From her gentle reminder to soak up each step of the process to keeping the love of story alive, her reflections are both encouraging and deeply practical. Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the trenches, Jolina’s words remind us why we write—and how to keep writing with joy and resilience.  Jackie Garcia-Morales is a mixed Puerto Rican neurodivergent professional and career changer from STEM to publishing. She began her career in trade marketing, publicity, and sales at Penguin Random House and Baker & Taylor, alongside work with boutique presses and freelance reviewing for Kirkus Indie and Publishers Weekly. She also has experience in academic and peer-reviewed publishing, including acting as editor of a nonprofit journal for clinical herbalism.
An advocate for underrepresented voices, Jackie is the NJ Ambassador for USBBY and a two-time Outstanding International Books Committee member. She is the founder of the Catalyst Creators Scholarship and co-director of The Storytellers Foundation and its Top 100-ranked, Spotify Award-winning kidlit podcast dedicated to demystifying publishing. Jackie’s career in agenting began through Writers House (WHIP). She is excited to continue as an Associate Literary Agent at Storm, as well as serve as the team's Foreign Rights Agent. Jackie brings deep empathy for creatives alongside a strategic, market-informed approach to representation. Her goal is to combine advocacy, empowerment, and business acumen to help clients build sustainable, successful creative careers. |