Conference Registration Information

The Conference is Sold Out and Registration is Closed.

Regular registration included a 10-minute one-on-one with an agent or publisher for pitches, query feedback, or questions.

If you are considering a sponsorship, registrations are included in sponsorships. Program book ads must be purchased separately.

If you need accommodations, we are happy to help, please email Michael Khandelwal at michael@the-muse.org.

Conference Schedule of Events

Please note: One-on-Ones with agents/publishers will be scheduled in 10-minute blocks throughout the day. You will be notified in advance as to your slot. Please arrive 2-3 minutes early for your pitch. It is normal at a conference like this to leave a session early or enter late because of a one-on-one session.

8-9 a.m.: Gather/Registration

9-9:15 a.m.: Welcome and Opening Remarks
with Michael Khandelwal

9:15-10:15 a.m.: The Anatomy of a Query Letter
with Cassandra Clarke & Jessica Errera; Jessica Kelley, Moderator

10:15-10:30 a.m.: Networking & Browse Break

10:30-11:30 a.m.: Ready, Set, Submit: How to Know When the Writing is Ready for Submission
with Cassandra Clarke, Wendy Higgins, Becky Hilliker, & Shelly Romero; Shawn Girvan, Moderator

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Lunch and Networking Break

1-2 p.m.: Marketing 101: Find your Audience and Keep Them
with Cassandra Clarke, Miranda Dillon, Wendy Higgins, & Hannah Tonsor; Linda Dyer, Moderator

2:05-3:05 p.m.: Don’t Sign That (Yet): Legal & Financial Basics for Writers
with Carole Howland, Joe Jackson, & Tim Lockhart; Michael Khandelwal, Moderator

3:05-3:40 p.m.: Networking & Browse Break

3:40-4:40 p.m.: Pros, Cons, and Curveballs: Traditional vs Hybrid vs Indie Publishing
with Cassandra Clarke, Wendy Higgins, & Joe Jackson; Arley Sorg, Moderator

4:45-5:45 p.m.: Agents & Publishers Unplugged: Live Q&A
with Jessica Errera, Becky Hilliker, Shelly Romero, & Arley Sorg; Jessica Kelley & Michael Khandelwal, Moderators

5:45-5:55 p.m.: Closing Remarks
with Jessica Kelley & Michael Khandelwal

6-7 p.m.: Networking & Happy Hour in Hotel Bar

Conference Panels

The Anatomy of a Query Letter

Panelists: Cassandra Clarke, Jessica Errera

Query letters are challenging. For writers, they’re more than a pitch—they’re a carefully crafted dream squeezed into a few paragraphs. For agents, they’re a daily deluge of a hundred unopened doors, all searching for the one that feels just right. How do you write a query that stands out?

In this engaging one-hour panel, we’ll dig into the art and strategy of the query letter from both sides of the inbox. Our panelists will break down real queries, highlighting what works, what falls flat, and how to revise with purpose. You’ll hear both a writer’s and an agent’s take on what makes a query clear, compelling, and irresistible. Whether you're polishing your first pitch or sending out your fiftieth, join us for an insightful session full of practical tips and eye-opening examples. Bring your questions—and maybe your query!

Ready, Set, Submit: How to Know When the Writing is Ready for Submission

Panelists: Cassandra Clarke, Wendy Higgins, Becky Hilliker, Shelly Romero

Writing the book from start to finish is only the first step of finishing the work. In this publishing and craft-focused session, authors, editors, and publishing professionals will offer advice on how to get any story from “first draft” to “almost there” and “submission-ready.” They’ll discuss revision strategies for big-picture revision, scene-level choices, and final, line-by line edits. Best of all, these industry pros will get real about the common reasons they pass on promising manuscripts so you can know how to avoid those pitfalls.

Whether you’re on your second draft or your seventh, this session will help you evaluate your work with a sharper eye, providing a defined map on how to know your work is ready to fly.

Marketing 101: Find your Audience and Keep Them

Panelists: Cassandra Clarke, Miranda Dillon, Wendy Higgins, Hannah Tonsor

You wrote your book, but how do you get readers to find it? Marketing is a winding maze, and it’s hard to know what direction to take. While trends like TikTok can open doors, lasting success comes from building genuine connections and growing an audience that sticks around. But is it possible to be heard in this loud, fast-paced world?

In this learning session, a publishing marketing expert and an author will share how to balance the fast-changing marketing landscape with sustainable strategies. They’ll discuss what’s working now—newsletters, community engagement, and author collaboration—and how to embrace the trends without burning out. Whether you want to amplify your publisher’s efforts or develop your own marketing skills, this panel will give you clear, realistic tools that will help promote your work thoughtfully and confidently.

Don’t Sign That (Yet): Legal & Financial Basics for Writers

Panelists: Carole Howland, Joe Jackson, Tim Lockhart

Let’s be honest: nobody starts writing because they love tax season. And publishing contracts? Most of us would rather face a blank page than decipher clauses about rights and royalties. But publishing is a business, and understanding the business side of writing doesn’t make you less of an artist—it makes you a smarter one.

In this one-hour panel, a publishing contracts lawyer and a tax professional specializing in artists will break down money, rights, deadlines, and deductions. You’ll receive clear, practical advice on how to protect your work, manage your finances, and avoid common costly mistakes. No legalese and no spreadsheet nightmares, just the education every writer needs to navigate the fine print and the bottom line.

Pros, Cons, and Curveballs: Traditional vs Hybrid vs Indie Publishing

Panelists: Cassandra Clarke, Wendy Higgins, Joe Jackson

There’s no right way to publish a book, only the path that’s right for each writer. Some writers embrace the control of self-publishing, others value the experience of traditional publishing, and many appreciate the flexibility of the hybrid model. No matter the journey, each comes with a mix of rewards, risks, and surprises.

In this panel, three authors from different publishing backgrounds will discuss their real-world experiences with traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models. Together they’ll explore what worked, what didn’t, and how their publishing decisions have shaped their careers. This honest conversation will break open the many ways books find their way into the world and offer perspective on why there’s no one-size-fits-all definition of success.

Agents & Editors Unplugged: Live Q&A

Panelists: Jessica Errera, Becky Hilliker, Shelly Romero, Arley Sorg

Ask an Agent or Publisher Anything--it’s your turn to steer the conversation! Want to know more about submission timelines, market trends, or contract red flags? Puzzled by comp titles, branding buzzwords, or how social media factors into a deal? Slip your question into our Question Box (open until 3 p.m.) so we can ask your question live in front of the panel of visiting agents. This one-hour Q&A gives you direct access to all the visiting industry insiders and allows you to hear everyone's take.

Come ready to submit your question and walk away from the day with clarity, confidence, and maybe even a few new friends.

Speaker Biographies

• Jessica Errera, Agent
• Becky Hilliker, Editor/Publisher
• Shelly Romero, Agent
• Arley Sorg, Agent
• Miranda Dillon, Editor
• Cassandra Rose Clarke, Authorr
• Wendy Higgins, Author
• Carole Howland, Accountant
• Joe Jackson, Author
• Timothy J. Lockhart, Author/Lawyer
• Hannah Tonsor, Editor
• Linda Dyer, Author/Moderator
• Shawn Girvan, Author/Moderator
• Jessica Kelley, Author/Moderator
• Michael Khandelwal, Author/Moderator

Agents & Publishers Accepting One-on-Ones

Jessica Errera has been with The Jane Rotrosen Agency since 2014. She is looking for commercial women’s fiction with a fresh and fun hook, contemporary romance, speculative and book club fiction, thrillers and suspense, the occasional historical fiction or YA project (especially graphic novels for kids/teens), and anything that might be read in a day on the beach. Jessica is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Interested in: Adult Fiction, Romance, Historical, Book Club, YA, YA Graphic Novels, Speculative, Romantasy, Women’s Fiction, Commercial Fiction.

Not interested in: Middle Grade, Picture Books, Non-fiction, Political or Eco-thrillers, or Science Fiction.

All on-on-ones openings are filled.

Panels: The Anatomy of a Query Letter; Agents & Publishers Unplugged: Live Q&A

Becky Hilliker is vice president and executive editor of Köehler Books. She found inspiration for helping writers polish and refine their work after her own experience with publishing as coauthor of 2015’s Sisters of Shiloh with HarperCollins (Mariner). Her writing has appeared in USA Today, Huffington Post, the Houston Chronicle, Military Spouse Magazine, and on Ancestry.com. Becky approaches editing with the belief that all stories have an emotional heart, regardless of genre, and she enjoys helping authors build from that guiding light. She holds a degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society and the American Copy Editors Society. After bouncing around the country (including Virginia Beach) for the past few decades, courtesy of the US Navy, she now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband and four children. In addition to managing the editorial department, Becky also acquires titles and assesses manuscripts. She works with all genres but specializes in historical fiction, memoir, and military. She will be available for one-on-one meetings and pitches.

All on-on-ones openings are filled.

Interested in: Adventure, Biography, Business, Coming of Age, Family & Relationships, Fantasy, Government, Healthcare & Medicine, History, Historical Fiction, Holidays, Humor, Literary, Memoirs/Legacy, Military, Mystery, New Age, Non-Profit, Psychology, Romance, Science Fiction, Self-Help, Short Stories, Spiritual, Sports, Supernatural, Thriller, Travel, Urban, Women, Young Adult

Panels: Ready, Set, Submit: How to Know When the Writing is Ready for Submission; Agents & Publishers Unplugged: Live Q&A

Shelly Romero (she/her) is an Associate Agent at Azantian Literary. Shelly began her publishing career in 2017 at Scholastic where she rose up the ranks from editorial assistant to associate editor, acquiring her own titles and assisting on series publishing for The Bad Guys and Goosebumps. She later joined Cake Creative as Lead Editor and was most recently a freelance editor. She graduated from Stephens College with a bachelor’s degree in English and attended the 2017 NYU Summer Publishing Institute. Shelly was selected as a 2020 Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree and is a member of Latinx in Publishing & People of Color in Publishing. Born and raised in Miami by Honduran parents, she now resides in New York City.

Interested in: middle-grade, young adult, and adult fiction novels; horror (almost all subgenres & especially for all age categories); Honduran authors; stories by Latine/x authors from Central America and the Caribbean (including Afro-Latine & Indigenous Latine stories); playing with formatting such as mixed-media & epistolary novels that give the story a “found footage” type of vibe; anything comped to Guillermo del Toro, David Cronenberg, Clive Barker, John Carpenter, or Wes Craven; Catholic horror; gothic romance; grounded fantasy (comps to: NINTH HOUSE & HELL BENT by Leigh Bardugo; THE WITCHERY by S. Isabelle; A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness; & LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn); midwestern gothic; southern gothic; vampires; Jewish stories especially if they are intersectional with BIPOC and/or queer characters; thrillers/mysteries (with non-cop protagonists); commercial fiction; slice-of-life (a la One Tree Hill, OG Gossip Girl, The Sandlot, Real Women Have Curves, What We Do in the Shadows); sci-fi; spec-fic; adult erotic fiction (especially featuring BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA characters in kink spaces); set during college and non-college bound post-high school; cults; comped to Disney Channel Original Movies; character-driven stories; multiple POVs; historical fiction (set during: Regency, Edwardian, & Victorian eras; post-WWII; 80s - 00s…but featuring BIPOC and/or queer characters); secret societies/clubs/organizations; sororities; comped to Balder’s Gate 3 or Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. If your project doesn’t quite fit in with what's listed, but is still in the vein of, please feel free to query me.

Not interested in: books over 100K words; picture books, chapter books, or graphic novels & nonfiction books; epic/high fantasy; second-world fantasy; cozy fantasy; military fantasy; historical fantasy; historical fiction set during WWII; stories with themes such as: anti-immigration; antisemitism; xenophobia; Islamophobia; segregation; stories featuring: Nazis, ICE, republicans, cops/detectives, Zionists,  military,  deportation); “clean teen”; antebellum era and/or plantation settings; novels-in-verse; cozy “horror”; stories comped to the MCU/DCU; anything AI/android related; thinly veiled billionaire antagonists; westerns; BIPOC women who are being trafficked, murdered, honor killed, etc.; super gritty dramas; comped to John Grisham, James Patterson, Colleen Hoover, Dean Koontz.

Available for on-on-ones.

Panels: Ready, Set, Submit: How to Know When the Writing is Ready for Submission; Agents & Publishers Unplugged: Live Q&A

Arley Sorg is an associate agent at kt literary. He is a two-time World Fantasy Award Finalist and a three-time Locus Award Finalist for his work as co-Editor-in-Chief at Fantasy Magazine. Arley is also a SFWA Solstice Award Recipient, a Space Cowboy Award Recipient, and a finalist for two Ignyte Awards. Arley is senior editor at Locus, book reviewer at Lightspeed, a columnist for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and an interviewer for Clarkesworld. He has taught at Cat Rambo's Wayward Wormhole, been a guest critiquer and lecturer for the Odyssey Workshop, and was the week five instructor for the 2023 Clarion West workshop, among other teaching and speaking engagements. Find him at arleysorg.com, his Twitter, Facebook, or Blue Sky.

Interested in: adult speculative titles, including science fiction, fantasy, and horror with speculative/fantastic elements, literary speculative fiction, and climate fiction

Available for on-on-ones.

Panel: Pros, Cons, and Curveballs: Traditional vs Hybrid vs Indie Publishing; Agents & Publishers Unplugged: Live Q&A

Authors and Other Speakers

Cassandra Rose Clarke's novels have been finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, and YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults. Her poetry has placed second in the Rhysling Awards, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and appeared in Strange Horizons, Star*Line, and elsewhere. Her latest novel is Forget This Ever Happened, out now from Holiday House.

Cassandra graduated in 2006 from The University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in English, and two years later she completed her master’s degree in creative writing at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2010 she attended the Clarion West Writer’s Workshop in Seattle, where she was a recipient of the Susan C. Petrey Clarion Scholarship Fund.

Cassandra is represented by Stacia Decker of the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency.

View her Author Website.

Panels: The Anatomy of a Query Letter; Ready, Set, Submit: How to Know When the Writing is Ready for Submission; Marketing 101: Find your Audience and Keep Them; Pros, Cons, and Curveballs: Traditional vs. Hybrid vs. Indie Publishing

Miranda Faye Dillon is an editor and author. She was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, with a BFA in creative writing and a minor in cinema studies. She is the award-winning author of The Unshatterables, a collection of short fictional stories about family, relationships, and grief. She loves nutrition, health and wellness, coffee and wine, and traveling the world. She currently resides back home in Virginia Beach.

Panel: Marketing 101: Find your Audience and Keep Them

Wendy Higgins is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of young adult and adult genre romance, including fantasy, paranormal, Sci-Fi, mythology, and contemporary. She is a former high school English teacher who now edits full time until the muse strikes again. Wendy lives in Virginia Beach, VA.

​Wendy earned a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a master's from Radford University. Wendy is represented by Jessica Alvarez at Book Ends Literary.

View her Author Website.

Panels: Ready, Set, Submit: How to Know When the Writing is Ready for Submission; Marketing 101: Find your Audience and Keep Them; Pros, Cons, and Curveballs: Traditional vs Hybrid vs Indie Publishing

Carole Howland is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 25 years of experience in providing expert financial services to individuals and businesses. Known for her deep understanding of accounting principles and tax regulations, Carole specializes in financial planning, tax preparation, and strategic advisory. She is committed to helping clients navigate complex financial landscapes with clarity and precision. Carole is passionate about delivering personalized solutions to achieve long-term financial success.

Panel: Don’t Sign That (Yet): Legal & Financial Basics for Writers

Joe Jackson is the author of seven works of nonfiction and a novel. His last work--Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary- was released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 2016 and chronicles the life of Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk, best known for his 1932 Black Elk Speaks. The biography received the following honors: Winner of the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography; Winner of the Society of American Historians' Francis Parkman Award; Best Biography of 2016, True West magazine; Winner of the Western Writers of America 2017 Spur Award, Best Western Biography; Finalist, National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography; and One of the Best Books of 2016, The Boston Globe.

Jackson holds an MFA from the University of Arkansas and was an investigative reporter for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk for twelve years, covering criminal justice and the state's Death Row. His journalism has resulted in the acquittal of a man wrongly convicted of murder, the federal investigation of a jail in which sixteen prisoners died of medical neglect, and the recantations of two men whose testimony sent men to Death Row. He has been the writer-in-residence at the James Thurber House and the Mina Hohenberg Darden Endowed Professor of Creative Writing in the MFA creative writing program at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. His newest book, Splendid Liberators, will be released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in October 2025.

View his Author Website.

Panels: Don’t Sign That (Yet): Legal & Financial Basics for Writers; Pros, Cons, and Curveballs: Traditional vs Hybrid vs Indie Publishing

Timothy J. Lockhart is a lawyer and retired Navy Reserve captain. As a lawyer he has counseled clients about book contracts and copyright matters, and as a Navy officer he worked with the CIA, DIA, and Office of Naval Intelligence. Stark House Press has published six mystery and thriller novels by him and has tentatively scheduled his seventh for publication in February 2026.

Panels: Don’t Sign That (Yet): Legal & Financial Basics for Writers

Hannah Tonsor is an associate editor and marketing coordinator for Koehler Books. She earned her BA in English, creative writing, and digital marketing from the University of Notre Dame, where she met her husband in her first poetry class. When she isn't reading books for work or pleasure, she can be found at the gym, cooking new meals, cheering on the Irish, or spoiling her two Siamese cats, Tullamore and Seamus. She currently lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Panel: Marketing 101: Find your Audience and Keep Them

Author/Moderators

Linda Dyer is a Norfolk native whose love of music has been evident since she was a young child. A professional violinist and violist for over 45 years, has been a regular section violist with Symphonicity (formerly the Virginia Beach Symphony) for over 25 years. She is also affiliated with the South Orange (NJ) Orchestra and the Northern Neck Orchestra. She is a proud Foundation Board Member for the Governor's School for the Arts, the Underground Performing Arts Collaborative (UPAC) and Zeiders American Dream Theater. She is also a Commissioner on the Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission. A former Miss Norfolk, she is a frequent TV and radio personality and emcee working nationwide, as well as the author and Founder of Finishing Touches-Manners & More for a Changing World, a company teaching etiquette, protocol and manners class across the country since 1984. Her best-selling books and classes, Finishing Touches for Girls, Finishing Touches for Teens and Boys have been enjoyed by over 100,000 students nationwide. Linda is the Director of Engagement at The Muse Writers Center.

Panel: Marketing 101: Find your Audience and Keep Them

Shawn Girvan received his MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College and an MA in Digital Communications Management from Syracuse University. His work has appeared in The Pitkin Review, Wraparound South, West Texas Literary Review, and elsewhere. He has also produced a critically acclaimed documentary film, has owned a wedding videography business, and studied and performed improvisation at the Second City and IO Theaters in Chicago. Shawn is the Adult Program Director at The Muse Writers Center.

Panels:Ready, Set, Submit: How to Know When the Writing is Ready for Submission

Jessica Grace Kelley began writing novels after two years as a book blogger at allthewayya and lifegonewrite.com. She is an alumna of Author Mentor Match, and her manuscripts have won several awards and contests, including the YA Molly Award, the Emma Merritt Award, and the Authors.me Contest. She is represented by literary agent Christa Heschke at McIntosh and Otis and is currently working on her fourth fantasy novel. When she’s not buried in books, Jessica serves as the Youth Program Director at The Muse Writers Center, where she oversees all youth programming, including classes, events, community partnerships, and the high school internship program. She especially enjoys working with teens and is the founding instructor of the Teen Writers Fellowship, where she continues to teach fiction and has mentored hundreds of young writers over the years..

Panels: The Anatomy of a Query Letter; Agents & Publishers Unplugged: Live Q&A; Closing Remarks

Michael Khandelwal is co-founder of The Muse Writers Center, a nationally recognized literary center in Norfolk, Virginia. An award-winning writer and teacher, he writes poetry, fiction, editorials, profiles, and feature articles, which have appeared in Rattle, Coastal Virginia Magazine, Alt Daily and elsewhere. He teaches poetry and fiction workshops for The Muse and creates programs, events, and classes that grow literary excellence in the Hampton Roads area. A Virginia Beach native, Michael attended The University of Southern California as an undergraduate and graduate student (MPW with three theses: fiction, poetry, screenplay) and has studied under poets and writers including Shana Alexander, Shelly Berman, Betty Friedan, William Matthews, James Ragan, John Rechy, Gay Talese, and Yevgeny Yevtushenko. In Los Angeles, he also worked in film and on the radio while teaching neuroscience at USC and poetry writing, drama, and acting in the city. He is a former content management specialist for The American Council on Education, is the past President of the 2008 Electoral College of Virginia, and a is past member of the Norfolk Electoral Board and the Norfolk Arts Commission.

Panels: Welcome and Opening Remarks; Don’t Sign That (Yet): Legal & Financial Basics for Writers; Agents & Publishers Unplugged: Live Q&A; Closing Remarks

Become a Conference Sponsor

Why Sponsor?

Sponsorships help keep ticket prices affordable, fund scholarships, and fuel The Muse Writers Centers Community Outreach and Youth Programs while providing sponsors a tax deduction (as allowed by law).

Your Impact

From wounded veterans rebuilding their voices to empowering youth in crisis, our Outreach and Youth Programs pair writing and wellness to support people facing trauma, homelessness, severe illness, bereavement, loss, and seniors in memory care.

Sponsorship Levels

Silver and Gold-level sponsorships bundle a full conference ticket and exhibitor table, eliminating the need for a separate registration. Choose your sponsorship below and donate today.

Coffee Station Sponsorship: $250

• Sponsor thank you/logo on signage at Coffee Station
• Sponsor thank you/logo in printed program
• Sponsor thank you/logo on conference signage
• Sponsor thank you during conference announcements
• Opportunity to add coupon/insert to attendee bags

Happy Hour Snack Sponsorship: $250

• Sponsor thank you/logo on signage at Happy Hour
• Sponsor thank you/logo in printed program
• Sponsor thank you/logo on conference signage
• Sponsor thank you during conference announcements
• Opportunity to add coupon/insert to attendee bags

Silver Conference Sponsorship: $500

• 1 Ticket to The Muse Writers Conference
• Reserved seating area in main programming room
• Opportunity to pitch to up to two agents (if requested)
• 1/4 page program book ad (if requested)
• Recognition on conference website
• Sponsor thank you/logo in printed program
• Sponsor thank you/logo on conference signage
• Sponsor thank you during conference announcements
• 3’ vendor table space (if requested)
• Opportunity to add coupon/insert to attendee bags

Gold Conference Sponsorship: $1,000

• All Silver benefits, plus:
• Invitation for two to Friday night pre-dinner with agents
• Second conference ticket (if requested)
• Upgrade to 6’ vendor table (if requested)
• Upgrade to 1/2 page program book ad (if requested)
• Dedicated social media thank you blast

Author/Vendor Tables and Program Book Ads

• Author and Vendor Tables
• Program Book Ads

Conference Author & Vendor Tables

Showcase your book, business, or writer-centric products & services from a shared table placed in the back of the main event space—offering promotion without missing the event.

• Perfect for authors, editors, publishers, or businesses that appeal to writers.
• Limited availability at $25 per shared 6-foot table (3-foot footprint plus chair)
• Must be purchased as a conference add-on; no tables will be sold without admission.

Choose a registration option with an author/vendor table to reserve your spot.

Program Book Ads

Spotlight your book or business in our full-color 8.5" × 11" conference program--delivered straight to every conference attendee and speaker. Choose your ad size below and purchase your ad today. Camera ready ads are due by September 1, 2025. We will reach out with more information.

• Outside Back Cover: 8” (wide) x 10.5” (high): $250 (sold out)
• Inside Front Cover: 8” (wide) x 10.5” (high): $225
• Inside Back Cover: 8” (wide) x 10.5” (high): $200
• Full Page Ad: 8” (wide) x 10.5” (high): $175
• 1/2 Page Ad: 8” (wide) x 5” (high): $100
• 1/4 Page Ad: 3.75” (wide) x 5” (high): $60
• 1/8 Page Ad: 3.75” (wide) x 2.25” (high): $35

Conference Information & Hotel Reservations

• Directions & Parking
• Conference Policies
• Lunch
• Post-Conference Happy Hour
• Hotel Accommodations

Directions & Parking

Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel
777 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510
Map It!

Located just off the Waterside Drive exit of I-264 in Norfolk.

Parking is available at the Dominion Tower garage adjacent to the hotel or any nearby city garage. Limited street parking is available. The hotel offers valet.

• Nearest Light Rail station: Civic Plaza station, 8 minute walk.
• Nearest Amtrak station: Norfolk Station, 8 minute walk.
• Norfolk International Airport (ORF), the closest airport, 7 miles.

Conference Policies

Please see The Muse Writers Center comprehensive policies page. Attendees agree to abide by our policies.

Lunch

Our 1/12 hour long lunch & networking break provides ample time to try one of the many restaurants walking-distance away. Here are our top recommendations:

The Waterside District :  Exit the hotel’s rear, turn right, and stroll the riverside into the adjacent Waterside District--your nearest dining spot.

• PDS Street Tacos. This is a new location of our former neighbor, Plaza del Sol. Very good food.
• Blue Moon Taphouse.
• Rocky Mountain Grill.
• Starr Hill Market/Bar.
• Stripers Waterside.
• The Fudgery.
• The Market.

Nearby on St. Pauls Blvd., Main St., Plume St., and Granby St. (there are many more restaurants downtown, but these are the closest):

• Neptune's Fury Cafe & Roastery, 999 Waterside Dr., Norfolk, in the lobby of Dominion Tower.
• NY Bagel Cafe, 580 E. Main St #101, Norfolk, really on St. Paul's.
• Gourmet Gang, 482 E Main St, Norfolk.
• D'Egg Diner, 204 E Main St, Norfolk, in Selden Arcade.
• Hell's Kitchen, 124 Granby St, Norfolk.
• Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint, 131 Granby St, Norfolk.
• The Stockpot Norfolk, 215 E. Plume St. #100, Norfolk, in Selden Arcade.
• Granby Waffle Shop at Slover, 235 E Plume St, Norfolk, in Selden Arcade.
• Jimmy John's, 140 Granby St, Norfolk.
• Benny Damato's Pizza, 131 Granby St. #B, Norfolk, great NY-style pizza by the slice (& whole pies).
• Moe's Southwest Grill, 161 Granby St, Norfolk.

Post-Conference Happy Hour

Raise a glass with fellow writers at the Post-Conference Happy Hour at 6 p.m. in the hotel bar. Nibble on complimentary bites from The Muse while the bar serves up everything from mocktails to martinis (cash bar).

Hotel Accommodations

Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel
777 Waterside Dr., Norfolk, VA 23510
757-622-6664

Book our discounted room block here, $169 + taxes & fees, through our special link. Space is limited; let us know if you run into any booking issues.

The last day to book the special rate is Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

With inspiring views of downtown Norfolk and the Elizabeth River, Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel boasts an eclectic restaurant, well-appointed rooms, and impressive on-site event spaces. Our hotel in downtown Norfolk, VA places guests near the Norfolk Naval Base, Town Point Park, Old Dominion University, Nauticus Museum, and Chrysler Museum of Art. Enjoy comfort and convenience at our Norfolk waterfront hotel with room service, pillowtop mattresses, soft duvets and hypo-allergenic pillows. Dine with us for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with views of the harbor at Waterside Seafood Company. Keep up with your wellness routine from our Sheraton fitness center and seasonal outdoor pool.

Amenities

• Sustainability
• Restaurant
• Fitness Center
• Outdoor Pool
• Meeting Space
• Free Wi-Fi
• Convenience Store
• Dry Cleaning Service
• Laundry
• Room Service
• Wake up Calls
• Daily Housekeeping
• Mobile Key
• Digital Check In
• Service Request

Parking is available in the Dominion Tower garage and the hotel’s valet. The daily rate for the valet is $35.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pitch to 2+ agents/publishers?

Because this is a one-day conference, we have a limited number of 2nd pitches available. If any additional one-on-one slots remain open the day of the event, we’ll announce their availability at the conference.

What’s the dress code for attendees?

Business casual is recommended--sharp but comfortable attire. All events will take place indoors, but we suggest bringing layers since hotel meeting rooms can vary in temperature, and our location offers beautiful outdoor water views and walking paths you may want to explore.

Is food included in the cost of attendance?

We’ll provide complimentary coffee, iced tea, and water throughout the day, plus light appetizers during our post-conference Happy Hour at 6 p.m. To keep the conference affordable, lunch is not included, but we picked a location that is within walking distance of many great (and fast) eateries.

I am coming from out of town. What is there to do in Norfolk before or after the conference?

See the Visit Norfolk website for a complete listing of what would be fun to do and see.

Are scholarships available?

A limited number of scholarships are available. Recipients must volunteer. See our Registration tab for more information.

What if I need to cancel my registration?

Please see our Policies page for our refund policies.

What happened to the Christopher Newport University Writers Conference and the Hampton Roads Writers Conference?

CNU, due to university-wide cuts and departmental reorganization, shuttered their conference after 2024’s edition. Hampton Roads Writers folded as an organization at the end of last year, and 2024 was their last conference. We at The Muse feel great sadness in the loss of these two long-term partners in the literary community, and this year’s Muse Conference is our way of carrying on their legacy. HRW actually donated much of their conference equipment to us, and we are honored to be able to use it so quickly.

I have another question. Who can help me?

You can contact The Muse here. Please select “I have a conference question” on your contact form.