Please join us in welcoming @kai_ash to the #CYASuccess family!
"My assessor had one main comment: 'This is not a picture book,' she said, which was rather confronting to hear at the time! Though, with the benefit of hindsight, I can see how right she was."
Read Kai's story at www.cyaconference.com/cyasuccess/kai-ash
The Boy Maeve, due for release on 26 May 2026 by Hardie Grant Children's Publishing.
Daniel Pilkington is a Literary Agent and publishing consultant based in the Inner West of Sydney. With a background as the former Sales Director of Hachette Australia, Daniel brings a wealth of industry experience to his current endeavours. His unwavering passion for Australian writing and storytelling is at the heart of his work, driving him to connect authors with the literary world.
Daniel will be doing online manuscript assessments for
• Adult Literary Fiction
• Commercial Adult Fiction
• Crime
• Fantasy
• Horror
• Literary Fiction
• Mystery
• Narrative Non-Fiction
• Non-Fiction
• Romance
• Speculative Fiction
• Thrillers
• Women's Fiction
• Memoir
There is no limit to the number of assessments you can book, providing an opportunity to gain feedback across multiple projects.
Find out more at: www.cyaconference.com/assessments
Kate Chisholm, Publishing Director at FIVE MILE is interested in assessing picture book manuscripts, picture book illustrators, and any author/illustrator projects. Kate will also assess early readers, junior fiction, middle grade and chapter books.
There is no limit to the number of assessments you can book, providing a valuable opportunity to gain targeted, professional feedback across multiple projects.
Find out more at: www.cyaconference.com/assessments
Sarah McKenzie Literary Management is a Melbourne/Naarm-based agency representing new, emerging and established authors across literary and commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, middle grade, junior fiction and picture books.
Sarah will be offering online manuscript assessments at this year’s conference across a wide range of categories, including adult and commercial fiction, crime, memoir, romance, thrillers, non-fiction, and children’s categories from picture books through to middle grade.
There is no limit to the number of assessments you can book, providing a valuable opportunity to gain targeted, professional feedback across multiple projects.
Secure your session: www.cyaconference.com/assessments
Zena Shapter will be running a class on Self-editing for novelists.
Zena is a multi-award-winning author of science fiction, fantasy, speculative, and contemporary fiction.
Join in-person at the Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Brisbane or online.
View the full program and book at www.cyaconference.com/program
Brenda Gurr from Little Story Wren is an IPEd accredited editor with 20+ years of experience in working with children’s books. She is the author of numerous books for children, including fiction and nonfiction titles with New Frontier Publishing, Heinemann and Macmillan Education.
Brenda will be assessing picture book manuscripts at the CYA Conference
Assessment sessions are 15-minute one-on-one online meetings, with pre-read material and tailored feedback.
www.cyaconference.com/assessments
There is no limit to the number of assessments you can book.
Mary Anastasiou is a children’s author, publishing mentor and marketing strategist with over 30 years’ experience in branding and creative marketing.
She will be running an in-person marketing bootcamp at the CYA Conference, Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Brisbane, on July 12, where you’ll gain the clarity, confidence and commercial direction you need to build a publishing career that doesn’t rely on luck, but on strategy.
There is also a discussion panel and a Q&A session.
Book at www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp
You do not need to come to the conference to join a bootcamp.
Please join us in welcoming Sharon Dalgleish to the #CYASuccess family!
"An assessing publisher asked me to email them the revised manuscript ... and a week later I was offered a contract. Thank you Tina and CYA! Without you it would not have happened."
Read her story at https://www.cyaconference.com/cyasuccess/sharon-dalgleish
Richard Pritchard will be running a class on Stories That Stick;
How to write and illustrate a middle-grade series through myth, morals and collaboration at the CYA Writers and Illustrators Conference on 11 July.
Join in-person at the Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Brisbane or online.
View the full program and book at www.cyaconference.com/program
Lauren Clarke from Creating Ink is ready to read your story, particularly if it involves gripping characters who make you feel.
Lauren will be doing online assessments of manuscripts for
- Adult Literary Fiction
- Chapter Books
- Commercial Adult Fiction
- Crime
- Fantasy
- Middle Grade
- Mystery
- Romance
- Thrillers
- Women's Fiction
- YA Writing
at the CYA Conference
Assessment sessions are 15-minute one-on-one online meetings, with pre-read material and tailored feedback.
There is no limit to the number of assessments you can book.
www.cyaconference.com/assessments
Lauren is also running in-person bootcamps on 12 July.
www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp
CYA Conference