Finding an Agent, Building a Platform
Ready to take your writing career to the next level? Join agent Ellen Goff and novelist Hope Gibbs at the Kentucky Women's Book Festival for an insightful discussion on how to secure a literary agent and build a strong author platform. They’ll share insights on querying strategies, networking, and growing your audience in today’s literary world.
Chao Auditorium
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Ellen Goff
 Ellen Pauley Goff (she/her) was born and raised in the wilds of Kentucky and now lives in the wilds of New York City. Her short fiction has appeared in the Indiana Review, Hunger Mountain, F(r)iction, Tulip Tree Review, and New Millennium Writings. Her short fiction has been a Glimmer Train Fiction contest finalist; the Grand Prize Winner of the New Millennium Writings Award for Fiction; and F(r)iction’s Grand Prize Winner for short stories, selected by judge Madeline Miller (Circe). Her poetry can be found in the Atlanta Review, where it was an honorable mention in the International Poetry Prize contest. Her debut nonfiction piece “The Original Girl Dinner” published with The Inquisitive Eater. She is the recipient of VCFA’s Katherine Paterson Prize for Young Adult & Children’s Writing, and the inaugural recipient of SCBWI's A. Orr Fantasy Grant for speculative fiction. By day, Ellen works in publishing and is completing her MFA in Creative Writing at The New School. She is also the proud founder of a longstanding writing workshop and critique group in the heart of Manhattan, with the goal of providing publishing knowledge to emerging writers.
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Hope Gibbs
 Hope Gibbs She lives in Brentwood, Tennessee, with her husband, and is the mother of five children. In her downtime, she loves playing tennis, singing karaoke, and curling up on her favorite chair with a book. Hope has a B.A. from Western Kentucky University. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, the Women’s National Book Association, a tour guide for Bookish Road Trip, and the co-host of the Authors Talking Bookish Podcast. Where the Grass Grows Blue is her debut novel, which has been named to the 2023 Short List for the Chatelaine Book Awards for Romantic Fiction, winner of the 2023 BookFest Awards for both Contemporary Romance and Small Town Romance, winner of the 2023 Best Book Awards for Romantic Fiction, winner of the 2023 American Writing Awards for Romantic Fiction, winner of the 2023 Firebird Book Awards for Best New Fiction, Best Romance, and Best Beach Read, a finalist for Best Debut Fiction in the 2023 American Writing Awards, a finalist for Best New Fiction in the 2023 International Book Awards, and a finalist for Best New Fiction in the 2023 American Fiction Awards.
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Children's Literature
Children’s literature has the power to inspire young minds. Meet the talented women behind lovingly crafted picture books – Amy Foos Kapoor, Gin Spalding, and Lauren Vonckx.
W104
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Amy Foos Kapoor
 Amy Foos Kapoor is a children’s book author and an independent producer of film, television, and digital media. Her debut picture book, INTO THE BLUE: A COUNTING ADVENTURE will be published in December 2024 by BeaLu Books. She earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Spalding University’s Naslund-Mann School of Writing. She serves as managing editor of The Louisville Review and as producer for the popular annual summer reading series Voice & Vision, which showcases regional authors and visual artists at 21c Louisville. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband, two sons and two Corgis.
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Gin Noon Spaulding
 Gin Noon Spaulding is a published author, seasoned educator, inspiring TEDx speaker, and devoted mother, specializing in guiding families and organizations to better understand the challenges faced by children with sensory issues. With her insightful approach, Gin provides tools and accommodations to help children thrive, promoting true acceptance and inclusion for all. Originally from Tullahoma, Tennessee, Gin’s passion for storytelling was inspired by the enchanting tales shared by her mother. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Austin Peay State University and was soon recruited to teach in Louisville, Kentucky, where she has lived for over 34 years. Gin later completed a Master of Education in Educational Counseling at the University of Louisville. Retiring from Jefferson County Public Schools in 2018, Gin has since focused on her true calling—professional writing. Her acclaimed series, The Adventures of Li-Li, draws from her experiences with her daughter Maleah, who stars as the main character and brings to life the sensory issues that many children face. Gin’s books have been instrumental in fostering understanding and empathy in communities, parents, and children alike. In her free time, Gin volunteers for numerous causes, including her church’s Salvation Army Ministry, her daughter’s charity Blankets of Hope by Maleah and Friends, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also enjoys traveling, shopping, working out, and spending quality time with her husband of 23 years, Larry, and their daughter Maleah.
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Lauren Vonckx
Lauren Vonckx is a self-published children's book author with a passion for creating stories that inspire creativity and imagination. She has always had a love for writing and has been writing since she was a child. She has two children’s books available, Ringo Flamingo & The Meadow. Lauren loves to share her stories with her readers and hopes to bring joy, excitement and awareness to the world of children's literature. She believes books can open important dialogues with children and hopes the hidden messages and lessons in her books resonate in the minds of little readers. Lauren was born and raised in the Bluegrass State and currently resides in Northern Kentucky with her husband and two sons.
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