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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.
- The results are being filtered by the character: A
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
Dominick Abel
Dominick Abel Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Dominick Abel is a literary agent with the Dominick Abel Literary Agency in New York City. Dominick is also President of the Dominick Abel Literary Agency. He currently represents approximately 70 writers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Business * Money/Finance * Narrative *
Lisa Abellera
Kimberley Cameron & AssociatesDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Lisa Abellera is a literary agent with Kimberley Cameron & Associates. She joined Kimberley Cameron and Associates in 2013 with a background in management, marketing, and finance. She has studied creative writing, design, and business, earning her BA in Strategic Management from Dominican University of CA and her MFA in Creative Writing from University of San Francisco. In 2015, she was promoted to literary agent, and in 2020, she became an associate member of AALA, formerly known as AAR.
With adult and children’s fiction, Lisa responds to well-crafted prose with strong hooks and high personal stakes, complex and sympathetic characters, a tangible sense of place and lush world-building, multicultural aspects, and emotionally-immersive fiction that explores the human condition, especially within family and close relationships. Please take a look at her Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL) for a better idea of the stories she is looking for.
Lisa is committed to uplifting underrepresented voices and infusing more diversity and inclusion in books, so she is actively looking for strong female characters, diverse characters, and stories by BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other authors who identify with marginalized or underrepresented communities.
Lisa is also looking to build her client list with limited nonfiction. With children’s nonfiction, she is primarily looking for middle-grade, prescriptive projects that are entertaining, informative, and inspire life-long-learning and curiosity in kids. With adult nonfiction, Lisa is only looking for prescriptive business books for women or by women.
Lisa does not represent memoir or nonfiction other than what is mentioned above, translations, poetry collections, picture books, early readers, screenplays or other works of drama, nor does she represent self-published or previously published books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Middle Grade * Money/Finance *
Biography
Laurie Abkemeier is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. Originally from northern California, Laurie Abkemeier graduated from Wells College with a degree in communications. Her first job was as an editorial assistant in the Touchstone/Fireside division of Simon & Schuster, and she soon moved to Hyperion where she acquired and edited dozens of books and was responsible for five New York Times bestsellers and many national bestsellers.
In 2003, Laurie joined DeFiore and Company as a literary agent. Her talented roster of authors includes journalists, bloggers, poets, academics, and artists. She has represented multiple New York Times and national bestsellers, and she has overseen many book-to-screen deals, including those that led to the #1 blockbuster movie Marley & Me and The CW drama Hellcats. Laurie strives to maintain an eclectic list in which projects don’t overlap, but rather connect. She is currently considering only new narrative nonfiction projects, except in the case of a referral.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Education * Environment * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Investigative * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Science * Sports * True Adventure * True Crime * Upmarket * Women’s Issues *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Stephanie Abou
Massie & McQuilkinDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Stephanie Abou is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin. She hails from France, where she worked for fashion magazines while finishing her degree in comparative literature from the Sorbonne, thinking she would pursue a career in journalism. Upon arriving in NYC in the late 1990’s she landed an internship at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, which convinced her to make a career out of her passion for literature. Starting at The Joy Harris Literary Agency, and most recently at Foundry Literary + Media, she has developed a dual career as a foreign rights director and a domestic agent. Multi-lingual and multi-cultured, she particularly enjoys works that celebrate the resilience of the human spirit while also depicting the experience of “the other.” She specializes in character-driven fiction, memoirs, crime fiction, and narrative nonfiction. She enjoys a close editorial rapport with her authors, and believes that strong writing must be put in the service of great storytelling to birth a successful book.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Narrative *
Biography
Lauren Abramo is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. Lauren E. Abramo joined DG&B in 2005 after getting degrees in English at NYU and Irish Studies at NUI Galway. As VP and Subsidiary Rights Director for the agency she sells foreign and audio rights, and she also maintains a very small client list. Her interests include humorous middle grade and contemporary YA on the children’s side, and upmarket commercial fiction and well-paced literary fiction on the adult side. She’s also interested in adult narrative nonfiction, especially pop culture, psychology, pop science, reportage, media, and contemporary culture. In nonfiction she has a strong preference for interdisciplinary approaches, and in all categories she’s especially interested in underrepresented voices. Born in New York City and raised not far outside it, she now lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Contemporary * Commercial * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Gay/Lesbian * Graphic Novel * Journalism * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science * Technology *
One Union Square West Suite 904 New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Doug Abrams is a literary agent with and the founder/president of Idea Architects. He is a former editor at the University of California Press and HarperCollins where he spent a decade trying to balance truth (with a small “t”) and Relevance (with a big “R”). He comes from a publishing family and learned about ideas, books, and culture around the dinner table. He has had the privilege of working on books for Nobel Peace Laureates Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and Jody Williams. He has written books with Desmond Tutu for over a decade and most recently is the co-author of The Book of Joy with Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. His books have been credited with convincing then-President Bill Clinton to stop genocide and for launching the modern anti-slavery movement.
He is also interested in the power of the Internet and multimedia to change culture and was on the founding team of JustGive.org, a philanthropy website that has pioneered new forms of giving and channeled over $300 million to charity.
Dialogue is key to Doug’s work, and he believes that genius is a collaborative process. His goal is to bring people together in a cultural conversation through books and media. Throughout all of his wide-ranging projects, Doug aspires to help build a prism through which life-changing conversations and experiences can be created and nourished. He has had the privilege of interviewing extraordinary global heroes including Jimmy Carter, Bono, Carlos Santana, Richard Branson, and many others.
He is the author of two novels that have been translated into over thirty languages.
He is married to Rachel Carlton Abrams, an integrative physician and the love of his life. They have three children, Jesse, Kayla, and Eliana. He can also be found riding waves where he lives in Santa Cruz, California.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Inspiration * Memoir * Money/Finance * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Reference * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Young Adult *
Josh Adams
Adams LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Josh Adams is a literary agent with Adams Literary Agency. Josh, together with his wife Tracey, runs Adams Literary. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Columbia Business School—where he studied finance and accounting, and was awarded the Abe Shuchman Memorial Award in Marketing—Josh spent more than a decade in publishing and media before bringing his editorial and business backgrounds together as a literary agent.
A media management specialist, he led teams of creative and business professionals in developing the editorial strategy and positioning of several national publications, and directed the marketing and brand strategy of many well-known international companies as a consultant. In his free time, Josh enjoys practicing Taekwondo with Tracey and their daughters, and is working toward his second-degree black belt.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Lisa Adams is a literary agent with The Garamond Agency. She worked for publishers in New York and Boston for over fifteen years before she started representing authors. She began in the subsidiary rights department at Random House and went on to work in a variety of capacities for Basic Books (where she was Associate Publisher), Newmarket Press, and Addison Wesley Longman. She was a founding partner of the Boston Literary Group, where she represented writers of both scholarly and trade books. Lisa is a member of the board of directors of The New Press.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Psychology * Science * Technology * Upmarket *
12 Horton Street Newburyport MA 01950 USA
Tracey Adams
Adams LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Tracey Adams is a literary agent with Adams Literary Agency. Tracey co-founded Adams Literary in 2004, after nearly a decade with literary agencies Writers House and McIntosh & Otis, where she was the head of the children’s department. Prior to becoming an agent, she worked in the marketing and editorial departments of Greenwillow Books and Margaret K. McElderry Books.
A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Tracey speaks frequently about her profession and the children’s book industry at conferences across the country. She is a member of the Society of children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Association of Author Representatives (AAR), and a founding member of the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) chapter in Charlotte, NC.
In her spare time, Tracey enjoys Taekwondo, kickboxing, and test-marketing children’s books with her two daughters.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Eve Adler
Red Fox LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Eve Adler is a literary agent with Red Fox Literary. She worked as an editor for over 16 years before becoming an agent. She edited books mostly for ages 0-12 at Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Union Square Kids, including a NY Book Show Merit award winner, New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, a Sydney Taylor Notable Picture Book, and many titles that garnered starred reviews. In 2015, Eve was a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree.
Eve is building her list with authors and illustrators of board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, and middle grade projects. She’s drawn to stories that make kids feel comforted, loved, and understood; to diverse voices; to ideas that break the mold; to projects that meet kids where they are developmentally; and to books that expand kids’ worlds while helping them understand their own.
After years of working in-house, Eve loves how agenting offers the ability to discover talent anywhere, to develop ideas with authors and illustrators, and to find the right home for projects, whether at big or small publishers. She’s looking forward to being an advisor and cheerleader for clients throughout their careers, and is eager to find new talent!
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade *
Biography
Jonathan Agin is a literary agent with the O’Connor Literary Agency. He is looking for serious non-fiction—mainly history, politics, and popular culture. His clients include journalists, academics, and other writers working to make complex, intriguing, sophisticated concepts accessible. He likes to see vivid portraits and timely ideas that spark conversation woven into a gripping narrative.
In fiction, he’s drawn mainly to realist, emotionally-resonant stories, often with a dark sense of humor and profoundly-flawed characters. Work steeped in issues of class, race, and migration are of particular interest, as is anything with folkloric or mythical roots.
Jonathan holds degrees from SUNY Binghamton and Columbia University. He started in publishing at Writers House and Maria Carvainis Agency, and has worked as a bookseller and as an educator in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Satire *
NONFICTION: Education * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture *
New York NY USA
Biography
Pamela Ahearn is a literary agent with The Ahearn Agency. Born in Cincinnati and raised on Long Island, Pamela holds an MA from University of Chicago in Comparative Literature, and an AB from Brown University in Comp. Lit/German. She worked at Bantam Books, Dell Books and Richard Curtis Agency before moving to New Orleans, where she was with Southern Writers Agency for eight years. In l992, she founded The Ahearn Agency, Inc., which currently represents between 30-35 authors working in romance and suspense. She has represented several New York Times, USA-Today and Walden’s Bestselling authors as well as RITA, Anthony and Agatha Award winners/nominees, including Steve Berry, Grant Blackwood, S.W. Hubbard, Wendy Lindstrom, Sabrina Jeffries, Meagan McKinney, Laura Joh Rowland, Carlene Thompson and Allan Topol. She is the author of one historical romance, and lives with her husband Barry and son Thomas in New Orleans.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
3436 Magazine St. #615 New Orleans LA 70115 USA
Biography
Nalini Akolekar is a literary agent with Spencerhill Associates. Nalini Akolekar joined Spencerhill Associates after a lengthy editorial career and several years in advertising sales. Agenting has provided the perfect opportunity to combine her editorial instincts with her sales, marketing, and business experience.
Nalini currently represents several bestselling authors, and has placed books with a wide range of publishers, from the Big Five to Amazon, Harlequin, indies and E-first. Nalini specializes in romance and women’s fiction in the adult market, but she also loves thrillers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Historical * Horror * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
1767 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. #268 Bradenton FL 34211 USA
Biography
Jordy Albert is a Literary Agent and co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She holds a B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the L. Perkins Agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency.
Jordy is looking for fun, witty young adult contemporary, particularly sci-fi, and fantasy (romance is a plus). She’s also looking for smart, sexy contemporary and historical romance (Jordy definitely has a soft spot for a fantastic Regency). She’s drawn to strong, intelligent characters (snarky, but still likable). Please note that while it isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, she tends to shy away from novels with trigger topics, such as suicide and any type of abuse.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
P.O. Box 20931 York PA 17402 USA
Biography
Keir Alekseii is a literary agent with the Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency. She is an educator and anti-GBV activist born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, a twin island country in the West Indies. Keir is a writer, gamer, lover of folklore, and former research scientist. As a neurodivergent, queer woman of color, Keir is invested in discovering engaging work with similar representation, and is passionate about creating space for voices not often recognized. She is especially interested in stories from BIPOC who are born and raised in the Global South.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Rica Allannic is a literary agent with the David Black Agency. She joined the agency in 2015 after a sixteen-year career as a nonfiction editor, first at Scribner (Simon and Schuster) and then Clarkson Potter (Penguin Random House), where she became Vice President and Executive Editor and worked with authors including David Chang of Momofuku; Christina Tosi of Milk Bar; French blogger and tastemaker Mimi Thorisson (now a client); bestselling author Luke Barr; and Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa.
A graduate of the New York City public school system and Yale University, Rica cooked professionally at Daniel and Picholine before entering the publishing industry. She brings her love of food and everything French as well as her Puerto Rican heritage to her role as a literary agent and is interested in cooking, narrative nonfiction, popular culture, history, science, and select memoir projects, as well as in helping authors from diverse backgrounds tell stories that are important to them.
You may query Rica by email. Note that she does not represent fiction at this time. Please summarize your book idea and then paste your proposal into the body of your email (no attachments, please).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * History * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science *
335 Adams St. Suite 2707 Brooklyn NY 11201 USA
Biography
Marilyn Allen is a literary agent and founding partner in the Allen O’Shea Literary Agency. She has culminated 25 years of experience by doing sales and marketing for various publishing houses. She served as Associate Publisher, Director of Marketing and Senior Vice President to Harper Collins, as well as Vice President to both Penguin and Simon & Schuster. She has directed sales and marketing teams for Penguin Books, Simon & Schuster, and Avon Books.
Marilyn has had the pleasure of working with authors such as Stephen King, Ken Follett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Gray and Mary Higgins Clark, but currently represents many nonfiction authors including several New York Times bestselling writers. Her focuses are nonfiction, cooking, health, parenting, crafts, self-help, pop culture and business. She herself has co-authored The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Book Proposals and Query Letters (Penguin Books) with her partner Coleen O’Shea.
She is also the literary consultant and co-founder for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She has taught publishing courses at NYU and for Gotham University. She frequently conducts publishing seminars and gives speeches at writing conferences.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Crafts * Diet/Nutrition * Fitness * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
PO BOX 942 Riverside CT 06878 USA
Biography
Debbie Alsdorf is a literay agent with the Books & Such Literary Agency. Her core focus has always been in leadership and encouraging people. From leading flourishing women’s ministries, to the women she speaks to and writes for, she is known as an encourager. Many have affectionately called her a cheerleader of hope. As an agent, she will help her clients to find the hope and faith they need to follow their calling.
One thing is certain, Debbie is a woman on a mission—to help others live a better story. She does this by leading them to the heart of God’s love for them—basic but often not talked about truths that changed her life after seventeen years serving in Christian ministry. During a life crisis, she asked God for a fresh start. That meant getting real with God about her insecurities, brokenness, and lack of faith. The process took her back to the basics and a life reset. Because of this, she has a tuned ear to the felt needs of women and is an avid reader of nonfiction, which will help her to direct her clients how to focus their projects for that audience.
Debbie brings to agenting more than 20 years’ experience leading teams, creating programs, and shepherding women as the Director of Women’s Ministries in large and thriving churches. Before working in ministry, she held positions in sales and marketing, representing large national lines such as Maxell, Sony, and Avery, supplying large retailers and helping to develop marketing, sales, and strategies. This experience informs how to pitch projects to publishing houses and to guide her clients in marketing strategies for their careers and individual books.
As a writing coach, she has worked with writers to envision the best way to structure a book and write in a way that connects with readers. She is also a pastoral counselor, certified life coach, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, all of which prepare her to help authors to ride the roller coaster of publishing as well as equip her to understand readers’ felt needs.
Debbie has written fourteen traditionally-published books and contributed to four compilations. She has a heart for authors. She also understands how to promote through her experience on numerous national radio broadcasts and podcasts and being interviewed on “The Today Show” for her book It’s Momplicated. She understands the world of public speaking, having been a featured speaker at women’s events and writers’ conferences and can help writers to develop their ministries through public speaking.
Being part of the Books & Such team enables her to utilize the skills she’s gained through her own experiences. She loves imparting vision, coaching, and helping others to fulfill their calling.
After raising a blended family in Northern California, Debbie and her husband moved their empty nest and two little dogs to Arizona.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Diet/Nutrition * Family * Food/Drinks * Health/Wellness * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Parenting/Child Guidance * Psychology * Religion * Spirituality *
Rachel Altemose
Salky Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Rachel Altemose is a literary agent with Salky Literary Management. She is a junior agent and has been with Salky Literary Management since its inception in 2019. Prior to SLM, she interned at Eden Street Literary Agency and attended the Columbia Publishing Course. She has a burgeoning list of picture book, MG, YA, narrative/serious nonfiction, and literary fiction authors and also assists Jesseca, Eryn, Kate, and Charlotte with SLM and CSLA clients.
Rachel is a lifelong lover of storytelling and graduated from Vassar College with degrees in English and drama. She is interested in a diverse array of genres (children’s through adult) and is particularly keen on narratives with unique voices, diverse perspectives, immersive settings, complicated familial relationships, young/twenty-something protagonists, magical realism/surrealism, or experimental style.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Film/Entertainment * Gay/Lesbian * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Elias Altman is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin. He was raised in Vermont, attended Concord Academy, interned at the Huffington Post in 2006, and graduated from the University of Vermont magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in art history and English in 2007. Having co-founded the still-active student newspaper, The Water Tower, during his senior year, Altman moved to New York City to work for one of his heroes, Lewis Lapham. Altman served as a senior editor at Lapham’s Quarterly for seven years, working on the magazine’s first thirty issues and editing anthologized essays by writers like Anne Fadiman, Pico Iyer, Simon Winchester, and Michael Wood. In 2015 he became an agent at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth (now Aevitas Creative Management) and three years later he joined Massie & McQuilkin. Altman has written criticism and personal essays for, among other publications, the Columbia Journalism Review, the Nation, the Georgia Review, and Vogue. As an agent Altman specializes in sharp, moving narratives featuring psychological insight, timeless themes, and strong characters, whether in reported non-fiction, popular history, memoir, or literary fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Psychology *
27 West 20th Street Suite 305 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Stephanie Alton is a literary agent with The Blythe Daniel Agency, Inc. She is a literary agent and director of the agency’s blog network, BlogAbout. She specializes in creating custom launch teams, blog campaigns, and webinars with industry pros through the BlogAbout Blogger Network. Several of the books she has collaborated on have been in the top 10 on the New York Times Best Seller List and rated #1 on Amazon. She consistently engages with publishers, authors, podcasters, ministries, and creative businesses to be able to offer compelling and trendy material to the hundreds of bloggers whom she works with to review and give away new books, movies, and merchandise.
New as an agent but not new to the world of publishing, Stephanie has worked with authors and critiqued book proposals over the years. She brings a unique approach to coaching her clients in a way that helps them transform their work and leads them to excel beyond what they envision. Stephanie has also been able to offer strategic platform building techniques to aspiring writers and help them shape their writing and blogs into what an agent, publisher, producer, or reader is looking for.
Currently Stephanie lives in and loves to explore Colorado with her husband and two boys. Their love for blasting down trails with almost anything with wheels and covered in mud has given her a greater appreciation for the outdoors. When she is not glamping with the family or logged into the publishing community, she is probably dreaming of having a cleaner house and a personal chef.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Religious * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Education * Family * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Inspiration * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Religion * Spirituality * Women’s Issues *
P.O. Box 64197 Colorado Springs CO 80962-4197 USA
Biography
Miriam Altshuler is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. She began her career at Russell & Volkening, where she worked for twelve years with such writers as Anne Tyler, Eudora Welty, Joseph Campbell, Nadine Gordimer, and Bernard Malamud. In 1994 she established her own agency, which she ran for twenty-one years until she joined DeFiore and Company in early 2016.
Miriam specializes in adult literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, and books for children.
First and foremost, she responds to voice and stories that are character-driven. She searches for books that draw her in and give her a new perspective on a world she doesn’t know, or make her think more deeply about a world she does know. Miriam seeks books with a heart and writers with wonderful storytelling abilities.
In fiction, she is most interested in family sagas, historical novels, and stories that offer a new twist or retelling of some kind. She does not work with adult romance, sci fi, or fantasy.
In nonfiction, she loves memoir, narrative nonfiction, and self-help (as long as it is not too prescriptive). She particularly responds to books that have an important cultural, social, or psychological focus.
For children’s books, she focuses primarily on YA and middle grade, and her tastes vary broadly in those areas. It always comes back to the voice and the heart of a story for her.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * NoPB * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Prescriptive * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * Young Adult *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Jessica Alvarez is a literary agent with BookEnds Literary Agency. Jessica joined the agency in April 2011. Jessica began her publishing career in 2001 as an editorial assistant at Harlequin Books. There she had the opportunity to acquire and edit a wide array of women’s fiction, specializing in historical romance, romantic suspense, and inspirational romance. Jessica left Harlequin in 2008 to pursue a freelance editing career, and completed projects for Harlequin, Scholastic Books, Thomas Nelson, and independent writers. She’s actively building her client list and is currently looking for women’s fiction, erotica, single-title and category romance submissions. She uses her editorial background to help writers hone their skills and develop strong, marketable stories. She is a member of AAR. A New Jersey native, Jessica resides in the Garden State with her husband, young son, two energetic dogs, and an indeterminate number of fish.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Inspirational Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Environment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * How-To * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
136 Long Hill Rd. Gillette NJ 07933 USA
Garrett Alwert
Emerald City Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Garrett Alwert is a literary agent with the Emerald City Literary Agency. Prior to joining Emerald City Literary, Garrett graduated from Washington State University with a degree in business. He played professional baseball and worked as a contractor until he found his true passion in publishing. In 2016 he began interning for Mandy Hubbard then became Agency Assistant before being promoted to Associate Agent. A long-time book lover Garrett can be found reading just about anything he can get his hands on. He is currently co-representing multiple authors alongside Mandy Hubbard and is accepting submissions.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Betsy Amster is a literary agent with Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises. Before opening the agency, principal Betsy Amster spent ten years as an editor at Pantheon and Vintage and two years as editorial director of the Globe Pequot Press. She has been described in the Los Angeles Times as “a dogged prospector of
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Diet/Nutrition * Gardening * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Travel * Women’s Issues *
607 Foothill Blvd. #1061 La Canada Flintridge CA 91012 USA
Lisa Amstutz
Storm Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Lisa Amstutz is a literary agent with the Storm Literary Agency. Lisa fell in love with reading at an early age, devouring stacks of books from the library each week. While she never stopped reading, she earned degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and worked as a lab technician, outdoor educator, and small-scale farmer before returning to her first love: books.
With sixteen years of experience as an author and freelance editor, Lisa comes to Storm Literary Agency as an Associate Literary Agent. She has written more than 140 books for the educational and trade markets as well as numerous magazine and newspaper articles. As an editor and mentor, she worked with writers to shape and polish their manuscripts, many of which went on to land agents or book contracts. She also edited materials for several publishing companies.
From 2011–2020, Lisa served on the board of SCBWI: Ohio North in various roles, including Assistant Regional Advisor. She also volunteered as a judge at Rate Your Story and was one of the founders of the annual NF Fest challenge. Now, she looks forward to helping clients achieve success as an agent.
Lisa lives with her family on a small farm. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, nature photography, scrapbooking and, of course, reading.
Favorite authors include Sy Montgomery, Louise Penny, Alexander McCall Smith, Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, Madeleine L’Engle, and Agatha Christie. In the kidlit realm, some favorites are Candace Fleming, Melissa Sweet, Andrea Davis Pinckney, Cynthia Rylant, Ezra Jack Keats, Kenneth Grahame, E.B. White, Andrew Clements, and Beatrix Potter.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Ethnic * Gardening * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Multicultural * Nature * Science * Young Adult *
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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)