When: July 25-26, 2026
Where: DoubleTree Hotel in Huntington, WV Address: 1001 3rd Ave, Huntington, WV 25701 Phone: (304) 525-1001
Who: For all writers who love writing genre fiction! Our intention is to bring to our corner of Appalachia an amazing conference with writing craft, marketing, and agents and editors! This conference is specifically for all kinds genre writers in any stage of their writing career. We have workshops, panels, a cocktail party with light refreshments and a cash bar on Saturday night to get to know each other, and the opportunity to pitch to an agent and editor over Zoom on Sunday, July 26th. After the conference, all in-person attendees will get the workshop audio recordings for free.
Now with a VIRTUAL OPTION for workshops and pitches!
Click here to see which agents and editors are participating.
This is our third year, and we’re growing! We have a special guest, Jonathan Edward Durham (https://www.instagram.com/thisone0verhere/) who will be our keynote speaker and participate in panels!!!
JONATHAN EDWARD DURHAM was born near Philadelphia where he read voraciously throughout his youth and beyond. After attending William and Mary, where he received a degree in neuroscience while also studying literature, Jonathan waded into the professional world before deciding he was better suited for more artistic pursuits.
He still lives in Pennsylvania with his husband and assorted other animals. There, he writes novels that bridge the wonder of his favorite childhood stories with the thrilling pop sensibilities of his early adult obsessions. He’s also an avid humorist on social media where you can find him waxing quipsodic about cheese, and sometimes even the world beyond. The second edition of his debut novel, Winterset Hollow, is coming from Hachette/Union Square this October!
We have agents and editors accepting: Sci/Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Literary, Women’s Fiction, YA, Commercial/Upmarket Fiction, Historical, Middle-Grade, and Non-Fiction including memoir. See below for more details or click this link!
We cannot guarantee participants will be able to pitch to every publisher or agent they want. Sign up now to be first on the list for your favorite agents. You may pitch to as many who are looking for your work. We will be capping the number of attendees in an effort to allow each attendee the opportunity to pitch once.
In Person Attendance Includes:
- Close to USA Today’s BEST Cake Shop! Enjoy a delicious baby cake and get all of the amazing other conference benefits!
- Access to all workshops and panels
- Possibility to pitch
- Zoom recordings of all of the workshops. (We’ve fixed our technical issues from last year!)
- Jen Graybeal is offering free one on one sessions!
- Free Zoom Pitching/Submission workshop July 6, 2025 at 6:30 pm.
- For all attendees that receive a request from an agent or editor, a FREE follow-up workshop to help hone your query letter and answer other questions.
- In this economy pricing: $150 for in-person attendance.
- Cocktail party Saturday night with light refreshments and a cash bar.
- Awesome people IRL! And plenty of quiet places to escape if you need a break in the hotel.
- Fun swag, handouts, etc.
Virtual Attendance for Workshops/Panels includes:
- Zoom in for our workshops and panels.
- Ask questions in the chat.
- Possibility to pitch.
- Recordings will be available after the conference is over. (We’ve fixed our technical issues from last year!)
- Access to all handouts/slides available.
- Free Zoom Pitching/Submission workshop July 6, 2026 at 6:30 pm.
- For all attendees that receive a request from an agent or editor, a FREE follow-up workshop to help hone your query letter and answer other questions.
- $75 for virtual attendance.
In the unlikely event that the Genre Conference is cancelled, your registration will be refunded. A partial refund may be offered on a case by case basis before July 1, 2026. No refunds after July 1, 2026. Your conference registration is transferable if you contact AskIGW@gmail.com. Although we strive for perfection, please note we cannot guarantee your opportunity to pitch or have a one-on-one as spots are limited. It is best to sign up early as it is a first-in-line situation.
We are ADA compliant. The hotel has an elevator, wide corridors, and is easily accessible. Most handouts will be available in PDF form. Also, we have access to a interpreter for the Hard of Hearing/Deaf if needed. Please let us know if you’ll need the interpreter and which workshops you intend to participate in. If you require any accomodations, please contact Tobi at AskIGW@gmail.com.
Registration for pitches ENDS 8:00 am ET, July 1, 2026 – SPOTS FILL FAST
REGISTRATION – 2 steps!!!
1 – Pay here (click)
Yes, we’re sending you to our sister site, StoryMagicCards.com because I would have to upgrade this site to include WooCommerce and we are keeping our costs down every way imaginable while still providing quality!
2 – Fill out this Google Form! (click)
More details:
Participating Publishers and Agents can be found here.
Intensive Genre Workshops 