All About Fantasy
A 6-week Virtual Retreat
30 September to 4 November
Wednesday nights from 7-9pm ET
In recent years, fantasy and romantasy have made a huge impact on the market.
From seven figure deals and self-published sensations to BookTok,
the book market has been radically transformed by the huge sales and demand for a genre
that whisks us away to a new world with the turn of the page.
But what does this mean for new authors?
Join Bianca Marais (the USA TODAY bestselling author of A Most Puzzling Murder and a cohost on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing) for a 6-week virtual retreat that will answer this question and so many others!
Whether you write YA Fantasy, Romantasy, Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction, or any other variation of the genre, you won’t want to miss out on this amazing 6 weeks of learning dedicated especially to you and those writing in your genre.
The incredible lineup of speakers includes:
From seven figure deals and self-published sensations to BookTok,
the book market has been radically transformed by the huge sales and demand for a genre
that whisks us away to a new world with the turn of the page.
But what does this mean for new authors?
Join Bianca Marais (the USA TODAY bestselling author of A Most Puzzling Murder and a cohost on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing) for a 6-week virtual retreat that will answer this question and so many others!
Whether you write YA Fantasy, Romantasy, Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction, or any other variation of the genre, you won’t want to miss out on this amazing 6 weeks of learning dedicated especially to you and those writing in your genre.
The incredible lineup of speakers includes:
Anuja Varghese (she/her) is an award-winning writer of literary fiction, fantasy, and erotica/romance where women of color get leading roles! In 2023, her short story collection, titled Chrysalis, won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction, and in 2024, was longlisted for the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, among others. Her debut novel, A Kiss of Crimson Ash, the first in a new medieval India-inspired romantasy trilogy, came out earlier this year, with book two scheduled for release in spring 2027. Anuja lives in Hamilton with her partner, two kids, and two cats.
Anuja's Topic: WRITING SEX & MAGIC: A bit of craft and a bit of courage!
Sex and magic – both awesome, both common elements in most fantasies/romantasies (to some degree), both REALLY challenging to write well. Join award-winning author Anuja Varghese for an interactive discussion around writing romance, building sexual tension (and yes, actually writing the spice!), combined with writing magic systems that feel complex instead of convenient and propel your story forward. In this session, Anuja will guide you through fun, low-pressure writing prompts to play with common fantasy and romance tropes, to get past feeling awkward or silly about writing sex and magic, and to leave with new ways to weave these deeply compelling pieces together in your own work.
Anuja's Topic: WRITING SEX & MAGIC: A bit of craft and a bit of courage!
Sex and magic – both awesome, both common elements in most fantasies/romantasies (to some degree), both REALLY challenging to write well. Join award-winning author Anuja Varghese for an interactive discussion around writing romance, building sexual tension (and yes, actually writing the spice!), combined with writing magic systems that feel complex instead of convenient and propel your story forward. In this session, Anuja will guide you through fun, low-pressure writing prompts to play with common fantasy and romance tropes, to get past feeling awkward or silly about writing sex and magic, and to leave with new ways to weave these deeply compelling pieces together in your own work.
Amanda Ferreira is an editor at Random House Canada. She primarily acquires adult fantasy, romantasy, and contemporary romance, and is drawn to books with an early hook, accessible worldbuilding, and diverse characters that feel true to the communities they’re a part of. In particular, she loves morally grey FMCs, green flag MMCs, and tropes like friends-to-lovers and there’s only one bed. Her list at Random House Canada includes Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu, A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena, Tethered by Elayna R. Gallea,
and Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch.
Amanda's Topic: Fantasy Market Trends
From romantasy to dystopian, dark academia to LitRPG, self-published books to fanfiction, join Random House Canada editor Amanda Ferreira as she pulls back the curtain on what’s in her inbox while she discusses the fantasy subgenres she sees selling at auction,
dying on sub, or just beginning to break out.
and Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch.
Amanda's Topic: Fantasy Market Trends
From romantasy to dystopian, dark academia to LitRPG, self-published books to fanfiction, join Random House Canada editor Amanda Ferreira as she pulls back the curtain on what’s in her inbox while she discusses the fantasy subgenres she sees selling at auction,
dying on sub, or just beginning to break out.
Maddy Belton joined Madeleine Milburn Agency in 2022 to build a list specialising in SFFH and romance.
Her list includes bestselling authors Lucy Jane Wood, Alexandra Christo, V.S. Bovalino and
No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Maithree Wijesekara and Amanda Connolly.
She represents adult and YA fantasy, romantasy, science fiction, horror and romance.
She was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2025 and is always on the lookout for books with big feelings,
that help us all escape when we need to.
Maddy's Topic: What Makes an Editor or an Agent Stop in Their Tracks?
In recent years fantasy and romantasy have made a huge impact on the market. From seven figure deals and self-published sensations to BookTok, the book market has been radically transformed by the huge sales and demand for a genre that whisks us away to new world with the turn of the page. But what does this mean for new authors?
How can you make your voice stand out in the ever-growing crowd?
Using real examples, Maddy Belton speaks to the new era of fantasy publishing,
with advice on querying, editing and the publishing experience.
This session is for anyone looking to learn more about the fantasy book market in general (and all its niches!),
who is looking for exciting ways to pitch their work and showcase what makes their story sing.
Her list includes bestselling authors Lucy Jane Wood, Alexandra Christo, V.S. Bovalino and
No.1 Sunday Times bestselling Maithree Wijesekara and Amanda Connolly.
She represents adult and YA fantasy, romantasy, science fiction, horror and romance.
She was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2025 and is always on the lookout for books with big feelings,
that help us all escape when we need to.
Maddy's Topic: What Makes an Editor or an Agent Stop in Their Tracks?
In recent years fantasy and romantasy have made a huge impact on the market. From seven figure deals and self-published sensations to BookTok, the book market has been radically transformed by the huge sales and demand for a genre that whisks us away to new world with the turn of the page. But what does this mean for new authors?
How can you make your voice stand out in the ever-growing crowd?
Using real examples, Maddy Belton speaks to the new era of fantasy publishing,
with advice on querying, editing and the publishing experience.
This session is for anyone looking to learn more about the fantasy book market in general (and all its niches!),
who is looking for exciting ways to pitch their work and showcase what makes their story sing.
Rachel Howzell Hall is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling
author of 17 novels, including the bestselling thrillers, Mist and Malice and Fog and Fury, and
the romantasy, The Cruel Dawn, and the Good Morning America Book Club selection, The Last
One. She is also the author of bestselling thrillers, including What Fire Brings, What Never
Happened and These Toxic Things. She is a two-time finalist of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for And Now She’s Gone and We Lie Here.
Rachel has been nominated for a number of mystery awards, including the Anthony, Strand and International Thriller Award, the Lefty, Barry and Shamus. She is also the author of the Audible Originals bestseller See How They Run, and the Thriller Award- and Audie Awards-nominated How It Ends, Rachel is a New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James
Patterson. She’s also received acclaim for They All Fall Down and
for her Detective Elouise Norton series.
Her shorter works have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Shattering Glass and
Unoccupied Earth. “Breakdown in the Right Lane,” was published in Alta Magazine and was
selected as a Distinguished Story in Best American Mystery & Suspense for 2023. Her shortstory, “Clout Chaser,” was a nominee for the British Crime Writers Association’s Short Story
Dagger Award.
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and was a
featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the
Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor with Sisters in Crime, Pitch Wars and the
Association of Writers Programs.
Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit
www.rachelhowzell.com
Rachel's Topic: Flawed, Fierce, and Unforgettable
What makes a good romantasy?
It isn't just the magic or the world-building–it’s the complex, beautifully flawed characters fighting for their lives and their hearts.
Join bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall for an insightful, practical deep dive into character creation and developmental editing. In this session, you’ll learn how to move beyond basic tropes by layering your heroes and villains with captivating contradictions, raising the stakes to drive narrative momentum, and using dialogue and setting to reveal deep character truths.
Bring your questions for a live Q&A and discover how to craft unforgettable characters readers will passionately root for from page one.
author of 17 novels, including the bestselling thrillers, Mist and Malice and Fog and Fury, and
the romantasy, The Cruel Dawn, and the Good Morning America Book Club selection, The Last
One. She is also the author of bestselling thrillers, including What Fire Brings, What Never
Happened and These Toxic Things. She is a two-time finalist of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for And Now She’s Gone and We Lie Here.
Rachel has been nominated for a number of mystery awards, including the Anthony, Strand and International Thriller Award, the Lefty, Barry and Shamus. She is also the author of the Audible Originals bestseller See How They Run, and the Thriller Award- and Audie Awards-nominated How It Ends, Rachel is a New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James
Patterson. She’s also received acclaim for They All Fall Down and
for her Detective Elouise Norton series.
Her shorter works have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Shattering Glass and
Unoccupied Earth. “Breakdown in the Right Lane,” was published in Alta Magazine and was
selected as a Distinguished Story in Best American Mystery & Suspense for 2023. Her shortstory, “Clout Chaser,” was a nominee for the British Crime Writers Association’s Short Story
Dagger Award.
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and was a
featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the
Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor with Sisters in Crime, Pitch Wars and the
Association of Writers Programs.
Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit
www.rachelhowzell.com
Rachel's Topic: Flawed, Fierce, and Unforgettable
What makes a good romantasy?
It isn't just the magic or the world-building–it’s the complex, beautifully flawed characters fighting for their lives and their hearts.
Join bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall for an insightful, practical deep dive into character creation and developmental editing. In this session, you’ll learn how to move beyond basic tropes by layering your heroes and villains with captivating contradictions, raising the stakes to drive narrative momentum, and using dialogue and setting to reveal deep character truths.
Bring your questions for a live Q&A and discover how to craft unforgettable characters readers will passionately root for from page one.
Literary Agent Mary C. Moore has represented the Nebula-nominated The Unbroken by C.L. Clark (Orbit,2021);
and Indie Next and Book of the Month pick The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker (Inkyard, 2021).
Mary’s first career was in field biology, which took her around the world,
from Ghana to Costa Rica to Maui, before settling at the San Francisco Zoo.
But her love of books proved to be just as strong as her love of animals.
While working at the zoo she earned her MFA in Creative Writing and English at Mills College, Oakland.
She worked as a literary agent at Kimberley Cameron & Associates before moving to Aevitas. Mary represents a wide range of fiction as an Aevitas agent based in the Bay Area.
Mary's Topic: Queries with Mary
Mary will do a live critique of 3-4 query letters submitted by delegates ahead of the retreat to help ensure they’re as good as they can possibly be ahead of delegates querying their dream agents.
and Indie Next and Book of the Month pick The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker (Inkyard, 2021).
Mary’s first career was in field biology, which took her around the world,
from Ghana to Costa Rica to Maui, before settling at the San Francisco Zoo.
But her love of books proved to be just as strong as her love of animals.
While working at the zoo she earned her MFA in Creative Writing and English at Mills College, Oakland.
She worked as a literary agent at Kimberley Cameron & Associates before moving to Aevitas. Mary represents a wide range of fiction as an Aevitas agent based in the Bay Area.
Mary's Topic: Queries with Mary
Mary will do a live critique of 3-4 query letters submitted by delegates ahead of the retreat to help ensure they’re as good as they can possibly be ahead of delegates querying their dream agents.
Jennifer Michelle Herrera was born in northwest Ohio and has lived in Missouri, California, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania.
She studied philosophy in graduate school before moving to New York City, where she became literary agent.
She went on to represent New York Times bestsellers, IndieBound bestsellers, and winners of multiple prestigious awards.
Jennifer lives in Philadelphia (go Birds!) with her husband, children, and two rambunctious kittens. She loves karaoke, making outlandish assumptions based on people’s charts, and, of course, taking care of her many plants.
Her latest novel is Siren Says.
Jennifer's Topic: Building Worlds That Readers Want to Get Lost In
One of the most challenging aspects of writing fantasy is creating a dynamic, believable world that also drives forward the plot and enhances characters' development. In this course, we will look at successful fantasy worlds in some of the books we love and analyze why they worked. We will also develop our own blueprint for creating (and improving) the fantasy worlds in our own novels. These will be based on the magical rules of our world, the setting, the abilities of the characters, the plot archetypes, our character arcs, and how to develop our fantasy worlds slowly over time so as not to overwhelm the reader. Folks will come away from this course empowered to create and re-evaluate the immense worlds they've imagined.
Fee: $229
The sessions, along with the Q&As, will be recorded for all delegates and made available for three months afterwards.
If you would like to attend but cannot afford to (and have not been awarded a scholarship before), you can mail me at bianca.tsnotyaw (at) gmail.com to request a scholarship