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The Directory of Literary Agents
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- You are searching within category(ies): Science Fiction *
Biography
Richard Abate is a literary agent with 3 Arts Entertainment. Mr. Abate oversaw a number of seven-figure book deals during his brief tenure at Endeavor and built up a staff of several literary agents while cementing his reputation in publishing circles as a brash and sometimes sly businessman. Mr. Abate had indeed been working in the literary department of ICM for a decade when he decided that it was time to run his own shop. Abate’s sterling client list includes such Hollywood figures as James Franco, Tina Fey, Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, Mindy Kaling and Homeland producer Howard Gordon.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition *Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Women’s Issues *
27 W 24th St Suite 301 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Kurestin Armada is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “I love working with creators to form a roadmap for the rest of their career. Talking to people with projects that are ambitious, strange, personal, and just outrageously fun is the spark that keeps me going. I’m here to be their advocate and make sure they can keep writing for years and years to come.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Juvenile * Lifestyle *
617 S. Olive St. #300 Los Angeles CA 90014 USA
Biography
Faye Atchison is an associate agent with the Margret McBride Literary Agency.
Faye handles correspondence between publishers, authors and the agency, and provides liaison, continuity and logistics for Ms. McBride. She handles the flow of manuscripts inside the office and with the publisher. She has a BA in Fine Arts from San Diego State University. If you have a question, from submissions within the office to working with the publisher after the sale, Faye will find your answer.
Faye is interested in in both commercial and niche fiction and nonfiction. Fiction interests include YA, speculative fiction, commercial fantasy, women’s fiction, historical fiction, sci-fi, paranormal, unconventional westerns, and anything with unique, well-drawn characters and a dark or offbeat sense of humor.
Her nonfiction interests include pop-culture, music, history, health, inspirational (but not spiritual), and extremely well-written narrative nonfiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Satire * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
P.O. Box 9128 La Jolla CA 92038 USA
Biography
Steven Axelrod is a literary agent with The Axelrod Agency. Steven has been an agent for over 30 years and president of his own agency for more than 25 years. Prior to agenting, he was an editor at The Literary Guild, managing editor at Harcourt Brace and a reader for a number of paperback houses. His present clients include two-time Edgar Award-winning mystery author S.J. Rozan, as well as many top women’s fiction authors, including #1 New York Times bestsellers Christine Feehan, J.R. Ward and Julia Quinn, as well as multi-New York Times Bestsellers Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Elizabeth Phillips , Suzanne Brockmann and Catherine Anderson.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Erotica * Fantasy * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
55 Main Street PO Box 357 Chatham NY 12037 USA
Biography
Jennifer Azantian is a literary agent with the Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency. Jennifer established Azantian Literary in 2014 and focuses primarily on fiction across genres for mg, YA, and adult readers. She represents bestselling and award-winning writers, and is always on the lookout for new talent. Prior to ALA, Jennifer was at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency followed by a stint with the Paul Levine Literary Agency. Before publishing, she earned her B.S. in clinical and developmental psychology from UCSD where she was an executive editor for the Triton Psychology Report. She brings to her clients a passion for literature born of a writer’s heart, an editorial eye honed from reviewing thousands of projects, and the connections to help bring wonderful books to life.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * NoPB * Satire * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Escondido CA USA
Biography
Lauren Bajek is a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates. She joined Liza Dawson Associates as an assistant in 2021. Previously, she was a bookseller and the science fiction and fantasy buyer for the Elliott Bay Book Company, where she championed books in translation and books by women, queer people, and people of color.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * How-To * Lifestyle * Multicultural * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Science *
Biography
Bernadette Baker-Baughman is a literary agent with Victoria Sanders & Associates. She says: “After completing a Master’s Degree in Writing at Portland State University, and spending several years in-house (first editorial, then marketing) I began agenting in 2005. I have worked with VSA since 2010. I am drawn to strong story telling in all genres, though I have a special interest in thrillers, contemporary novels, magical realism, young adult, and books for kids. I am also open for pop-culture, gift books, and memoir. I love smart writing, high concept books, work with great emotional resonance, and humor. I am always looking for authors with a distinctive voice. I’ve represented a number of New York Times bestselling and award winning writers and illustrators, including Leslye Walton, Faith Erin Hicks, Tony Cliff, Maris Wicks, Liv Constantine, and Carson Morton, to name a few.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * History * Humor * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Reference * Upmarket *
440 Buck Road Stone Ridge NY 12484 USA
Biography
Noah Ballard is a literary agent with the the Verve Talent & Literary Agency. He studied creative writing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and began his career in publishing at Emma Sweeney Agency. Noah has appeared at graduate writing programs and writers’ conferences across the country speaking about query letters, building non-fiction platforms and submission etiquette. A New Jersey native, Noah currently lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Science Fiction * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Business * General Nonfiction * Humor * Money/Finance * Narrative * Religion * Spirituality *
9 E 19th St 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Stephen Barbara is a literary agent with InkWell Management. He was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, and graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in English language and literature, winning awards for writing and student leadership while at the college. He began his publishing career in 2005 as an editorial assistant at HarperCollins, and then worked for three years as the Contracts Director of the Donald Maass Agency. Following six years as a literary agent at Foundry Media, he joined InkWell Management at the start of 2015.
Stephen works with writers, storytellers, thinkers, and entertainers of talent and ambition. A sampling of his clients includes New York Times and international bestseller Lauren Oliver, USA Today bestseller and British Fantasy Award winner Paul Tremblay, Newbery Medal winner and New York Times bestseller Laura Amy Schlitz, National Book Award nominee Lisa Graff, Printz Honor awardee Susann Cokal, bestselling fantasy graphic novelist Ethan Aldridge, and children’s author Minh Lê , whose picture book Drawn Together appeared on more than 20 “Best Of” Lists at the end of 2018; he also represents nonfiction authors Meghan Cox Gurdon, Eleanor Herman, and Tom Venuto. In his capacity as agent for media and content company Glasstown Entertainment, Stephen has worked with actress Krysten Ritter, activist Dylan Farrow, novelist Alma Katsu, and bestselling fantasy author Sara Holland, among others.
Film/TV is a stated area of interest for Stephen. In the spring of 2019, Amazon Studios announced their first-ever YA series, Panic, based on Lauren Oliver’s novel; two other novels
based on books represented by Stephen have been adapted into films, and many other projects based on books of his are in active development. While selective in taking on new clients, Stephen is always drawn to compelling stories that marry quality writing to bold, imaginative concepts.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Science * Sports *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Anjanette Barr is a literary agent with Dunham Literary. She has been working in various branches of the writing and publishing world for over a decade, and being an agent is the perfect way to synthesize her interests and talents.
She spent the pandemic earning a certificate in Literary Representation from UCLA Extension. She also holds a B.A. in Japanese Studies from William Jewell College.
Anjanette lives with her family of six in Juneau, Alaska.
Member:
Association of American Literary Agents
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Alaska Writers Guild
Catholic Writers Guild
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Upmarket * Young Adult *
Biography
Justin Bell is a literary agent with the Spectrum Literary Agency. Justin (B.A. from SUNY Purchase) is accepting submissions in science fiction, mysteries, and a select amount of nonfiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
320 Central Park West Suite 1-D New York NY 10025 USA
Biography
Matthew Bialer is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Matt has been in the publishing community since 1985, and worked at two major literary agencies before joining the Greenburger team in 2003. He represents fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, and mysteries as well as a select group of literary writers, and also loves smart narrative nonfiction including books about current events, popular culture, biography, history, music, race, and sports. While his list includes many veteran authors, he also enjoys finding unique new voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Travel *
55 5th Avenue New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Lauren Bieker is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management. After a brief career in the fashion industry, Lauren made her move to publishing as an intern for agent Paige Wheeler. She moved to FinePrint to assist with day-to-day administrative tasks, but is now developing her client list and is open to queries.
Lauren is looking for commercial and upmarket women’s fiction and some well-crafted and differentiated YA novels. She is also open to select dystopian science fiction, as well as high concept and literary fiction works. She appreciates great storytelling and is a “sucker” for outstanding writing and convincing characters. While primarily interested in fiction, she will consider non-fiction proposals related to the world of fashion.
Lauren writes during her free time and has been published on various online platforms. She has attended many writing workshops and intensives, including the National Academy of Writing’s intensive at Cambridge University in the UK.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Literary * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Women’s Issues *
207 W. 106th St. Suite 1D New York NY 10025 USA
Biography
Joshua Bilmes is a literary agent with Jabberwocky Literary Agency. Joshua is also the President of Jabberwocky Literary Agency, which he founded in 1994. He has been an agent for almost 30 years, having made his professional debut at the Scott Meredith Literary Agency in 1986.
His path to owning his own literary agency started in high school, when he sent monthly letters to the editor of Analog, the leading science fiction magazine, critiquing each issue. These letters so impressed Betsy Mitchell, the magazine’s associate editor, that she offered Bilmes the chance to do freelance readers reports and other work for her when she joined Baen Books shortly after its inception (Betsy eventually left Baen for high-level positions at Warner, Ballantine/Del Rey and other major sf/f imprints and now guides the sf/f program for Open Road Media and freelances at Betsy Mitchell Editorial Services). Joshua Bilmes and the publishing industry took an immediate liking to one another, and he started at Scott Meredith soon after graduating from the University of Michigan with a BA in History.
While his path to becoming an agent went through the science fiction genre, his interests were and are far broader. In the mystery genre, the Hardy Boys led to the Three Investigators, and from there to Agatha Christie, Perry Mason, the 87th Precinct and John LeCarre. He became a Variety junkie during high school and read it every week for as long as there was a weekly Variety. His college degree in history introduced him to The New Republic, and he now also reads The New Yorker. He keeps up on pop culture with Rolling Stone and spends fifteen hours a week reading newspapers. There’s always time for a good movie, and tennis and Australian Rules Football are often his background music.
A debut mystery novel, MARY’S GRAVE by Malcolm McClintick, which became Bilmes’ first sale in the summer of 1986. By the end of the 1980s he had commenced work with Charlaine Harris, Elizabeth Moon, Simon Green, Tanya Huff and other current mainstays of the JABberwocky list. While at Scott Meredith, Bilmes also helped out with the accounts of major agency clients like Carl Sagan and P.G. Wodehouse. After Scott Meredith passed away in 1993, Bilmes was promoted to Vice President, gaining important managerial experience.
In 1994, Bilmes struck out on his own to establish JABberwocky Literary Agency, which in recent years has become the world’s leading literary agency for science fiction and fantasy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Business * Celebrity * Film/Entertainment * History * Gay/Lesbian * Military/War * Pop Culture * Sports *
49 W. 45th St Suite #5N New York NY 10036-4603 USA
Biography
Caitlin Blasdell is a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates. Caitlin Blasdell has been a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates since 2002 with a focus on commercial fiction. Before becoming an agent, she was a senior editor at HarperCollins Publishers. A graduate of Williams College, she lives in Westchester with her husband and four sons.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
121 W. 27th St. Suite 1201 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Brandi Bowles is a literary agent with United Talent Agency (UTA). A twelve year veteran in book publishing, Brandi’s lifelong passion for the written word, a great sense of humor, and the art of engaging storytelling have led her to cultivate a standout client list and an uncommon approach to book representation. She is often the invisible hand helping her clients develop marketable book ideas that take their careers into new directions and heights.
Brandi’s client list reflects her multifaceted passions: On the nonfiction side, she has represented memoirs, cookbooks, and prescriptive books of all kinds, as well as science, humor, pop culture, and real-life inspirational stories. For fiction, she represents high-concept novels that feature strong female bonds, and psychological or scientific themes. All of her books have in common surprising plots or fresh takes on otherwise familiar subjects.
Brandi’s titles include Rabbit: A Memoir by comedian Ms. Pat (Dey Street, 2017), Between Two Worlds by celebrity medium Tyler Henry (Gallery Books, 2016), Girl Logic by Iliza Shlesinger (Weinstein Books, 2017), The Big Life by Ann Shoket, former EIC of Seventeen (Rodale, 2017), Shut Up and Run by Robin Arzon (a New York Times bestseller), and Hugo and Rose by novelist and screenwriter Bridget Foley (St. Martin’s Press).
Brandi understands that publishing is a lifelong dream for many of her authors, as well as a service to their readers and fans; her role is to serve as an entry point and tireless advocate for a rich and rewarding publishing experience.
Originally from Louisville, KY, Brandi now lives with her husband and two young children in Brooklyn, NY.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Horror * Humor * Inspiration * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Philosophy * Politics * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology *
888 7th Ave 7th Floor New York NY 10106 USA
Biography
Helen Breitwieser is a literary agent with Cornerstone Literary Agency. Helen is also the owner. Cornerstone Literary Agency in located in Los Angeles, CA. The agency represents a wide range of novelists with an emphasis on women’s fiction, children’s books, romance and suspense/mystery. Clients include Katherine Center, Beth Fantaskey, C.S. Harris, Rachel Lee, Sophia Nash, Ursula Vernon, Tracy Anne Warren and Ahmet Zappa. She is a member of the AAR, the Author’s Guild, Poets & Writers, RWA and PEN. Before founding Cornerstone Literary in 1998, she was a literary agent at the William Morris Agency in New York. She graduated Barnard College magna cum laude in 1990.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Ethnic * History * Juvenile * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative *
325 Larchmont Blvd. Suite 346 Los Angeles CA 90004 USA
Amy Brewer
Metamorphosis Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – Submission Window – Check website.Query method(s): Online Form *Biography
Amy Brewer is a literary agent with Metamorphosis Literary. She wears many hats everyday, from literary agent at Metamorphosis, to co-author of the Texting Prince Charming series, to social media manager, to yoga teacher. She is a graduate of Culver-Stockton College with a theater degree because drama, romance, and angst are her lifelong passions. Her intuitive human understanding can help other writers bridge the communication gap and jump into the publishing world. For the last few years she has been learning all she can about social media optimization and platform building in the publishing industry. Amy’s experience in the mental health field and yoga training help her guide and assist clients with stress and anxiety in this highly competitive industry. All of this is pulled together with a multi-tasking and hyper-organized brain, so that at the end of every day she feels accomplished and grateful. She’s seeking: Romances of all kinds, if your plot revolves around love or angst or both, send it to her. She is also looking for general fiction, LGBTQ+, women’s fiction, book club reads, and quirky humor.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Humor * Mind/Body/Spirit * Young Adult *
Kansas City MO USA
Biography
Alicia Brooks is a literary agent with the Jean Naggar Literary Agency. She began her career over twenty-five years ago in book publishing as an editorial assistant at Penguin USA. She advanced to an assistant editor position at Nan A. Talese/Doubleday where she worked with groundbreaking authors, including Margaret Atwood, Pat Conroy, and Ian McEwan. Alicia then became an editor at Picador/St. Martin’s Press where she edited over 40 hardcover titles and several trade paper original titles, including Good Morning America Book Club Pick Noelle Howey’s Dress Codes: Of Three Girlhoods–My Mother’s, My Father’s, and Mine, Nega Mezlekia’s award-winning Notes from the Hyena’s Belly, and Ben Brantley’s New York Times Book of Broadway. As an agent at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, she is looking for Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction from writers with diverse backgrounds, Self-Help, Pop Culture, Literary Fiction with high concepts, original voices, and imaginative structure, Speculative Fiction, Book Club Fiction, Thrillers, YA Fiction, and Historical Fiction. Alicia is a graduate of Wellesley College with a B.A. in English and Philosophy and has a Master’s Degree in the Teaching of English from Columbia University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * New Adult * Science Fiction * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Gift/Novelty * History * How-To * Humor * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Self-Help/Personal Development * Science * Sports * Young Adult *
216 E. 75th St. Suite 1E New York NY 10021 USA
Biography
Danielle Bukowski is a literary agent with Sterling Lord Literistic. Danielle joined Sterling Lord Literistic in 2014 and spent several years in the foreign rights department before transitioning fully to agenting. She represents critically acclaimed, award-winning fiction and nonfiction. She is particularly looking for narratives from writers traditionally excluded from the publishing industry. For fiction, she likes books that balance plot with voice, have a strong sense of place, a unique hook, and are stylistically bold; for nonfiction, she’s looking for work grounded in the author’s personal interest, rigorously reported and researched, and will expand the reader’s view of the world. Recent and forthcoming books include Nuclear Family by Joseph Han (Counterpoint, 2022), Sea Change by Gina Chung (Vintage, 2023), Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst (Harper, 2023), A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand (Mulholland, 2023), and Family Meal by Bryan Washington (Riverhead, 2023).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir * Narrative *
594 Broadway Suite 205 New York NY 10012 USA
Biography
Meagan Burgad is a literary agent with SBR Media. She grew up as a voracious reader in rural North Dakota. As a military spouse, she has over 11 moves under her belt. A graduate of Hawaii Pacific University, Meagan has her BA in English, which has allowed her to work in the book industry for over a decade. In the past, Meagan has been the editor of a peer-reviewed journal, Hawaii Pacific Review; written reviews and TV recaps for Random House; blogged for Love Between the Sheets; edited and beta read for bestselling authors; managed social media for a library and bookshop; and freelanced for numerous publications. Meagan joined SBRMedia where she continues to expand her skill set. She is especially excited to work with authors who focus on creative non-fiction, erotica, fantasy, historical, humor/satire, LGBTQ+, new adult, romance, science fiction, celebrity, memoir, military, narrative, pop culture, and travel.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Erotica * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * New Adult * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Celebrity * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Memoir * Military/War * Narrative * Pop Culture * Travel * True Crime *
Biography
Emelie Burl is a literary agent with the Susan Schulman Literary Agency. Shejoined Susan Schulman in 2021 after fourteen years as an independent bookseller. She is looking for Children’s, YA, as well as Pop Culture nonfiction. She loves stories with hope and humor, strong female leads, LGBT+ and/or BIPOC Joy, and magic of all sorts. She currently works and lives in Missoula, MT with her husband, huskies, and books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Pop Culture * Young Adult *
454 W. 44th St. New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Patrice Caldwell is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. She is seeking commercial, character-driven fiction for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers as well as narrative nonfiction. Across the board, she is especially looking for middle grade science fiction & fantasy, mythology retellings and reimaginings, romance novels, and anything that can be categorized as horror and/or gothic literature. Patrice loves to champion stories from writers & illustrators from marginalized backgrounds. That said, she does not represent picture books.
Before becoming a literary agent, Patrice was an editor at Disney-Hyperion and, before that, Scholastic. She went to Wellesley College, where she studied Political Science and English, and is the founder of People of Color in Publishing, a grassroots organization.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * NoPB * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Young Adult *
110 West 40th Street Suite 2201 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Sara Camilli is a literary agent with The Sara Camilli Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Erotica * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * General Nonfiction * Memoir * Music * Pop Culture *
1762 Sand Beach Rd Hummelstown PA 17036 USA
Biography
Leila Campoli is a literary agent with the Stonesong Literary Agency. She began her publishing career at Palgrave Macmillan, where she was an editor on the Business, Economics and Finance list, after graduating with a BA in English Literature from Boston University. She joined Stonesong as an agent in 2015 and was listed as a PW Star Watch 2017 Honoree. Primarily focused on adult nonfiction, Leila is committed to championing new and minority perspectives, counterintuitive ideas, and unique style. She handles writers of science, business, memoir, lifestyle, self-improvement, history, current events, and pop culture. She’s particularly interested in books that offer a window into remarkable lives and little known operations. Many of her clients are published in multiple territories.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Pop Culture * Science * Technology * Upmarket *
270 West 39th Street Suite 201 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Christi Cardenas is a literary agent with The Plains Agency. Christi Cardenas is the founder and owner of The Plains Agency. To say Christi has a lot of energy is an under-statement. She cares about those she represents and will only take on a project if she’s confident she can add something to the proposition. Although having worked with and built many different types of intellectual property, she never pretends to know what she doesn’t know. She does, however, have a serious Rolodex of interesting contacts. She understands the value of relationships and has a reputation for bringing the right people to the table by building professional teams customized to her client’s specific needs.
Christi understands brands because she’s built several. She especially loves working with new and small businesses as well as entrepreneurs to help them reach their full potential while increasing their bottom line. She also owns and shows Arabian horses and is now integrating her passion into her professional life by working on several initiatives in the equine space.
She’s worked with and/or represented such well-known companies as The Scripps Networks (Food, HGTV, DIY), Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Electric Entertainment, Marvel, DC Comics, Hasbro, National Public Radio, Pillsbury/General Mills, Ameriprise, Margaret Weis Productions as well as several New York Times bestselling authors. She has a knack for turning people’s ideas (no matter how big or small) into something that can be monetized. She’s often brought in to negotiate transactions whether she has a client at the table or not because of her concise communication skills and her willingness to call it as she sees it.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Health/Wellness * How-To * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Pop Culture * Sports *
808 Carmichael Road #142 Hudson WI 54016 USA
Biography
Moses Cardona is a literary agent with John Hawkins & Associates. Moses has been with us twenty-eight years, and is President of the firm and in all practical aspects the man who runs the office. He supervises the management of the office, and our foreign rights as well as taking care of his own clients. He is the agent for International Bestselling authors: Cecilia Samartin, Gregory Maguire and US representative for Gold Dagger Winner Ann Cleeves ; Gail Godwin, author of Grief Cottage and Three-Time National Book Award nominee. His special interests include commercial fiction, suspense, business, science, and multi-cultural fiction.
He is a graduate of New York University and avid comics collector.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Ethnic * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel *
80 Maiden Lane STE 1503 New York NY 10038 USA
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About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark’s authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.
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Author Coaching Testimonials
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent!
My career has spanned publishing, TV, and feature film. I’ve served as Creative Dir. for the Magazine Group, TIME Inc.; Dir. of Time World News Service, a Founding Dir. of TIME-Life Films; Exec. Prod. for both the CBS and NBC TV Networks; Prod./Dir.: Movies of the Week: CBS Cinema Center Films and Universal MCA.
In today’s publishing marketplace, agents come and go. They also very often seem to just want an easy pathway to make a buck. Many authors are let go by their agents because their last book didn’t do well enough and the agent doesn’t want to devote the time to help the author. That’s not what you’re about Mark. Even established authors need this type of support in today’s marketplace.”
Author of ten fiction and nonfiction books
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“I’m psyched to have this be official. After getting five different offers for representation from top literary agents, I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin!
Getting multiple agents interested in my work was really important to me. I’ve dealt with agents before and gotten screwed on things contractually so I wanted to do it differently this time. I wanted choices.
Having you help me create that, and navigate my options, was really helpful. I heard other authors talk about their great relationships with their agents and it made me want the same thing. Now I have that.”
Author of Woman on Fire
(Penguin Books)
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“After sending out the query Mark revised for me, I had the opportunity to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident and, a short time later I had a publishing contract with Berkley Books, which recently published my book in hardcover.
Before that, I sent my query letter out on my own to 30 or 40 agents and got a lot of rejections. I then found Mark online while I was researching agents. I was surprised that he offered so much during his initial consultation—for a very modest amount of money.
I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with Mark. I can’t even imagine that now though, because of the grief and detours I experienced before we worked together. It was a time-consuming pain in the neck. If you want to get the attention of top literary agents and publishers, there is no substitute for working with an insider. You can’t beat experience. And having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable.”
Author of Single Handed
(Berkley Books, a Division of Penguin Random House)
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“AHHH! OMG, it happened! I got three offers of representation for my children’s picture book in the United States, even though I live abroad! When I woke up and found the first offer for representation in my email in box, I wanted to scream. But my family was still asleep so I couldn’t. 🙂
Just 8 minutes after I sent a query letter to one of my favorite agents, she replied and asked to see my manuscript. A short time later we had a lovely conversation. She was interested in representing me and sounded very positive and enthusiastic about my book. Since I also got offers from two other agents, I had to turn two of them down. One of them was upset and it felt like I was breaking her heart, but you just have to do it. I kept reminding myself that this is a good problem to have!”
Author/Illustrator of Lon-Lon’s Big Night
and many other children’s books
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“Mark, after you helped me land a top literary agent, I got publishing offers from THREE well-known publishers: Amacom, Palgrave Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill (they’re publishing my book in hardcover)!
I was at Disneyworld with my family, in the Haunted Mansion, when I got the call. I went outside and listened to the voicemail message from my agent. A huge smile came over my face. It was a fantastic feeling. For a moment I felt like life was perfect and the angels were singing.
You’re filling an important need so I’ll say this to every other author reading this testimonial. Mark showed me that getting a top literary agent is a science. If you’ve written a book, or you’re in the process, you’ve already invested a lot—a lot more than money. Don’t stop yourself from getting out there to fulfill your purpose and dreams. Thank you so, so much, Mark!!!”
Author of Customer Focused Process Innovation (McGraw Hill)
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“I got a book deal! After I started sending out my new query letter I had 6 literary agents request my manuscript in a short amount of time, which is awesome. Then, within 2 weeks of my agent starting to pitch my story to publishers, we had an offer. I signed a book contract yesterday. A little while later my agent told me that a TV co-producer asked for more info about my book.
By the way, the acquiring editor that fell in love with the manuscript jumped in with both feet and we just worked out our timeline for publication. She’s as passionate about getting my book out as I am, and that means everything. She read the manuscript in two days and said she couldn’t put it down. And the book is going to be published as a hardcover!”
Author of A Chick in the Cockpit
(Behler Publications)
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“Thank you Mark! After you helped me get a well-known agent with Hartline Literary Agency (for my previously self-published murder mystery), he got me a deal with an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) approved publisher. I’m hard-pressed to find anything that I had an expectation for that you didn’t deliver on.
Before I worked with you I sent out queries, but no one ever requested my complete manuscript. Comparing your new version of my query to the one I wrote before, I can see a vast difference.
I’ve been in business for 35 years so I’m not just saying this… what you’re doing is phenomenal. There are other people offering similar services, but the difference is your success. Others might say they do similar things but, if you research them, they don’t have your background or track record.”
Author of The Rector
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“Mark, you’re a miracle worker. Thanks to your help with my book, query letter, and synopsis… I now have a legitimate publisher who described my book as ‘Powerful Magic’ and it’s now available in bookstores and online!
I’m a lifelong academic writer who one day found myself writing inspired short stories that came to me in dreams and I began thinking of them as novels. That’s when I had a momentous conversation, an introductory coaching call with Mark Malatesta, the American creative writing coach, or rather, to be precise, a how-to-sell-yourself-and-your-work adviser. It was the best-spent money of my life apart (possibly) for my wedding ring.”
Author of The Black Inked Pearl
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“Within 4 minutes of sending out my query letter, a top literary called me on the phone (the #1 agent on my wish list). Less than 30 days later I had three major publishers making offers. A few days after that, I signed a deal with Random House. Mark, your query letter did that.
My agent talked about the query letter you helped me create for a long, long time. When he first called me on the phone, he hadn’t seen any of my sample chapters. It was just the query letter that did it. Communicating the right thing is so important. You are a wonderful medium helping authors find their voice and elevate their writing from just a hobby to a real business… a source from which they can both learn and earn.”
Author of Lights Out
(Random House)
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“MARK, MARK, MARK!!!!!!! Holy smokes… I just signed my book deal. First, two well-known literary agents asked to represent me. One of them responded to my query letter in less than 4 minutes!!
Then THREE different publishers wanted my book and started talking about making offers. The publisher I chose is perfect for me because they produce titles for the trade, educational, and scientific markets. And they agreed to publish my book as a hardcover!!!
When I met you, Mark, it was a pivotal time. I was under the belief that I could self-publish my book with a vanity press and then seek a publisher. I didn’t know what a literary agent was, why I needed one, or how to get one. I was wandering in the dark. You guided me in the right direction and gave me a solid plan.”
Author of Intestinal Health
(Rowman & Littlefield)
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“Boom!!! I just signed a contract with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins for (what I’ve been told by several people) is a very large advance for a first-time author.
Before working with Mark I submitted my book to agents but didn’t get any interest. This time around I got a top NY literary agency (Fine Print Lit). What cloud is higher than 9?
I had several agencies interested before deciding to go with Fine Print. And, to be honest, all of the attention didn’t surprise me. The query letter and proposal that Mark helped me develop were incredible. Agents actually said things to me like: ‘Scott, I read your proposal and I’m just blown away by it!’ Mark is extremely talented at what he does. If you have the opportunity to work with him, take advantage of it.”
Author of The Unbreakable Boy
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)