The Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014, featured agents Amy Berkower, Eric Simonoff, Molly Friedrich, Meredith Kaffel, Jim Rutman, and Michelle Tessler; editors Michael Szczerban and Jofie Ferrari-Adler; and authors Frank Bidart, Edward Hirsch, Roxana Robinson, Tayari Jones, Victor LaValle, Mira Jacob, Yelena Akhtiorskaya, Tiphanie Yanique, William Giraldi, Tina Chang, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Karma Mayet Johnson, and Rich Vallar.
Agents & Authors moderator Jofie Ferrari-Adler (far left) with panelists Michelle Tessler, Yelena Akhtiorskaya, Jim Rutman, and Mira Jacob.
Agent Michelle Tessler (center) discusses the author-agent relationship with Simon & Schuster editor Jofie Ferrari-Adler (left) and author Yelena Akhtiorskaya.
Debut author Yelena Akhtiorskaya (center) discusses the author-agent relationship with agents Michelle Tessler (left) and Jim Rutman.
Agent Jim Rutman of Sterling Lord Literistic (center) discusses the author-agent relationship with debut authors Yelena Akhtiorskaya (left) and Mira Jacob.
Mira Jacob (right), author of the debut novel The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing, discusses the author-agent relationship with agent Jim Rutman.
Simon & Schuster editor Jofie Ferrari-Adler, who moderated the Agents & Authors panel with agents Michelle Tessler and Jim Rutman and debut authors Yelena Akhtiorskaya and Mira Jacob.
Audience members listen to advice from literary agents during the Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014, in New York City.
Audience members listen to advice from literary agents during the Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014, in New York City.
Poet Edward Hirsch (left) talks about writing with fiction writer Tayari Jones during the Why We Write panel at the Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014, in New York City.
Fiction writer Tayari Jones (center) talks about why we write with poet Edward Hirsch (left) and fiction writer Victor LaValle.
Fiction writer Victor LaValle (center) talks about why we write with moderator Kevin Larimer (far left), poet Edward Hirsch, and fiction writers Tayari Jones, Roxana Robinson, and Tiphanie Yanique.
Tiphanie Yanique (right), author of the novel Land of Love and Drowning, talks about why she writes with novelist Roxana Robinson.
Novelist Roxana Robinson (left) talks with audience members following the panel on Why We Write at the Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014.
Poet Edward Hirsch (right) speaks with an audience member following the Why We Write panel at the Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014.
Kevin Larimer, editor in chief of Poets & Writers, introduces poet Frank Bidart at the Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014.
Poet Frank Bidart reads from his collection Metaphysical Dog at the Poets & Writers Live event on June 21, 2014.
Poet Frank Bidart (left) and novelist William Giraldi field questions from the audience during a Q&A session following Bidart's poetry reading on June 21, 2014.