The Pitch – A speed-date with an industry professional for aspiring writers.

Saturday 13 June 2026, 12.30pm – 2.00pm
Lakeside Theatre Cafe, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ

Attendees who have purchased a ticket for at least one of The Writers Room events have an opportunity to take part in The Pitch – a 10 minute speed date with an industry professional.

Free, spaces are limited so booking is essential.

Due to high demand, attendees can only choose one professional to pitch to.

The Industry Professionals:

The Literary Agent – Camilla Shestopal, Shesto Literary – Book Here *Fully Booked*
The Publicist – Sabah Khan, Publicity Director, Simon & Schuster – Book Here *Fully Booked*
The Editor – Elizabeth Briggs, Publishing Director, Saqi Books – Book Here *Fully Booked*

Camilla Shestopal

Camilla Shestopal has been involved in publishing all her career, having worked at Penguin Random House, Chorion and Entertainment Rights (now Classic Media). In 2009 she moved to Peters, Fraser & Dunlop to become agent and Director over Estates, representing clients such as Georges Simenon, Margery Allingham, Eric Ambler, C S Forester and many others. She now runs Shesto Literary.

Camilla was shortlisted for the British Book Awards Literary Agent of the Year in 2017, and is a trustee of the Essex Book Festival.

Camilla is interested in the following:

crime fiction (encompassing thriller, mystery, psychological thriller);
Women’s fiction
Romance
Some historical fiction
Some self help non-fiction

Sabah Khan

A former Bookseller Rising Star and one of the Publisher Association’s People of Publishing 2024, Sabah Khan is an award-winning Publicity Director (Adult, Fiction & Non-Fiction) at Simon & Schuster UK working across a variety of titles including Colleen Hoover, Britney Spears, Emma Grede and Jason Arday.

She was co-chair of Simon and Schuster’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and has always been a key supporter and driver of diversity and inclusion initiatives. At HarperCollins she launched informal network groups for women as well as being a founding member of Elevate.

Elizabeth Briggs

Photo of Elizabeth Briggs by Eleonora C. Collini

Elizabeth Briggs is Publishing Director at Saqi Books. Her experience spans agenting, the non-for-profit literary sector and independent publishing. She has collaborated with some of the industry’s most prominent voices and spoken at festivals including Hay-on-Wye and The London Book Fair. In 2026 she was shortlisted for the Young Publisher of the Year.

Elizabeth is a trustee of the international arts and cultural festival Shubbak. She has a degree in Classics from Durham University. Her first book Dissenters: Britain’s Lost Faiths and Forgotten Radicals is forthcoming (HarperCollins, April 2027). You can find her on Substack @dissenters.

This event is part of The Writers Room

Essex Book Festival and the University of Essex are hosting an exciting 1-day programme of writers’ and writing events. Events include author talks and workshops, multi-genre panel discussions, and The Pitch (a 10-minute speed-date with an industry professional). Plus, an opportunity to engage with and explore the J.A. Baker Archive.