2008 Tips from the Sleuthfest conference last March. According to a panel that included editors Amy Pierpont from Grand Central Publishing and Marcia Markland from St. Martin's, and agents Christina Hogrebe (from Jane Rotrosen Agency, a biggie), Kate McKean, and Scott Miller (from Trident, another biggie) and Joe Veltre (Artists Literary Group): Westerns -- renewed but still moderate interest in these due to No Country for Old Men. Historicals will keep working. Chick Lit is not dead but has morphed into Mommy Lit -- it grew up. YA & Middle Grade mysteries -- both Scott and Kate are looking for these. Literary Mysteries -- Marcia Markland wants these, a la Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.  She also likes psychological thrillers. Amy Pierpont is looking for gritty thrillers with a romance element, and she also likes paranormals and romantic suspense. Personnel News Following Karen Rinaldi's recent move to Rodale Books as general manager and publishing director, publisher Liz Perl is leaving the company to join Simon & Schuster as svp, marketing for adult publishing.