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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: S
Biography
Lesley Sabga is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. She has worked as an editorial assistant and freelancer for multiple publishing houses such as Entangled, Jolly Fish Press and Flux Books, as well as Sourcebooks. She’s also been working for The Seymour Agency since 2014.
Starting out as an eager intern, she worked her way up to being a literary assistant, and in the fall of 2017, Lesley became an agent with The Seymour Agency. Lesley is a member of RWA and AAR.
Lesley loves intricate and vivid world-building and character-driven plots. She is acquiring MG, YA, and Adult fantasy, and she is always down to read dark and twisty suspense or thriller featuring strong, female protagonists. She also loves a classic happily-ever-after romance or curling up with a good mystery. She also has her eye out for book club fiction and women’s fiction. Always open to #ownvoices and diversity, Lesley is actively looking for marginalized authors to bring into the literary world.
When she is not rescuing animals or searching for her next debut author, Lesley is a constant occupant at local bookstores in Colorado Springs and is a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Mystery * New Adult * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Celebrity * Film/Entertainment * History * Pop Culture * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
475 Miner St. Rd Canton NY 13617 USA
Biography
Maggie Sadler is a literary agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. After five years of literary scholarship, Maggie Sadler is motivated to deepen her knowledge of literature from the industry perspective as the Literary Agent Apprentice at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Maggie earned her joint degree in Comparative Literature and English in 2016 from the University of St Andrews, a historical university tucked away in a tiny windswept Scottish town along the North Sea. A sea sprite at heart, Maggie returned to the North Atlantic coast to earn her Master’s in Literary Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2019. The intricate, vivid, and deep-rooted folk traditions Maggie encountered in both Scotland and Newfoundland further enriched her literary interest in folklore, mainly the seafaring lore intrinsic to small North Atlantic communities.
Maggie has cultivated an intriguing resume of odd jobs between her degrees, ranging from a brief teaching expedition in The Gambia to liaising with noteworthy journalists at the Knight-Wallace Fellowships for Journalists and writing plot synopses of television programs and films as a freelance professional. She is eager to marry this deft ability to pivot between tasks with her background in literature as an agent apprentice at Corvisiero Literary Agency.
After these unexpected adventures, Maggie now calls rural Michigan home, where she daydreams amongst the wildflowers with her rascally young horse. She is also known to splash about in watercolor paints and beautiful adjectives as she writes a novel of her own, full of wild coasts, mysterious sea chests, and girls with secrets to tell.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Family Saga * Fantasy * Historical * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Travel *
Biography
Jacklyn Saferstein-Hansen is a literary agent with Renaissance Literary & Talent. She hails from Omaha, Nebraska and came to Los Angeles by way of Boston University. She loves getting lost in stories, and is looking to build her list in both fiction and nonfiction. She is open to reading anything with a distinct voice, strong message and diverse, unforgettable characters. She is especially interested in the areas of history, politics, culture, Judaism, current events, historical fiction, women’s fiction, mystery and fantasy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Multicultural * Politics * Religion *
Jean Sagendorph
Mansion Street Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Jean Sagendorph is a literary agent with Mansion Street Literary Management. Jean is a twenty-year veteran of the entertainment industry whose award-winning work includes many New York Times bestsellers. She spent more than fifteen years at United Media, where she managed the firm’s publishing, interactive, film, and music interests. While at United Media, her clients included Food Network, Peanuts, Dilbert, Fancy Nancy, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Rainbow Brite, hoops & yoyo, Dirty Dancing, Iron Chef, Iron Chef America, History Channel, Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, and more.
Jean capitalized on her expertise within the publishing and entertainment industries when she launched Mansion Street Literary Management, a boutique literary agency that seeks exciting new authors and properties to represent. She recently spearheaded the creation of a Meals On Wheels cookbook, Made with Love: The Meals on Wheels Family Cookbook, which features recipes from renowned personalities like Martha Stewart, Mario Batali, Helen Mirren, Joan Rivers, Patti LaBelle, Al Roker, and more.
Jean is the recipient of the Scripps Howard/William R. Burleigh award for community service for her work on the Peanuts book Why, Charlie Brown, Why?, which benefited Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp. She has also been a featured speaker at leading industry conventions, like Comic-Con, NXNE, Crossroads, Activison/Atari Global Sales Meeting, Blogher, DFW Writers Conference, Undercurrents, and others.
She is the author of Starry Night, Hold Me Tight (Running Press) and Icebox Cakes (Chronicle, April 2015).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Design * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Reference * Sports * Young Adult *
Biography
Mike Salisbury is a literary agent with Yates & Yates. He says, “My dad once told me the best days are the ones that include a trip to the bookstore. I couldn’t agree more. And perhaps the best careers involve literature too, because every day I consider myself fortunate to work with extremely talented writers, editors, marketers, and sales professionals in the publishing industry.
Biographical Information
At Grand Valley State University I enrolled in an introductory creative writing class on a whim, thinking it would be fun. That class led to a minor and then a major. I was hooked.
Being a double major in both creative writing and marketing, I had no idea how I would marry the two in a career. I always thought they’d be separate, writing being my passion and marketing my day job. Then one day I was offered an internship with ZonderKidz, the children’s division of Zondervan. My first project was working on the movie tie-in release for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. My internship turned into a full-time role on the trade books team. I was responsible for developing author brands and marketing strategies for product launches. I worked with authors like Chuck Colson, Gary Thomas, Ann Voskamp, Jon Acuff, and Shauna Niequist.
In December 2010, I moved from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs to pursue an opportunity with David C Cook. But not without first asking the love of my life, Amy, to marry me. After finishing the school year—she’s a teacher—we married that summer and she joined me on this Colorado adventure.
During my time at David C Cook, I had the opportunity to market Francis Chan, Matt Chandler, Tullian Tchividjian, and many others. As I grew from a senior manager to the marketing director of trade books, I began helping with publishing decisions and guiding the company’s future initiatives. I also finished my Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
Being a literary agent for Yates & Yates is the perfect opportunity for me to continue combining my passions for publishing and marketing.
When I’m not reading or writing, Amy and I love to run in the summer and ski the mountains in the winter. We enjoy listening to Detroit Tigers baseball and wandering bookstores. You can keep up with my reading list by friending me on Goodreads.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Business * Christian * General Nonfiction * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Politics * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality *
1551 N. Turstin Ave Suite 710 Santa Ana CA 92705 USA
Biography
Jesseca Salky is a literary agent with Salky Literary Management. She is an agent, founder, and attorney, with almost two decades of experience in the book publishing and adjacent industries. She represents a curated list of distinguished novelists, including Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling novelist Anne Tyler, and works with some of the leading literary agencies and agents in New York as contracts counsel and general business adviser. She has a 360-degree view of the industry as agent and attorney and is on the cutting edge of developments in formats and mediums, often formulating new standards on behalf of writers and agents, as well as the disrupters and visionaries, in the industry.
Salky Literary Management [SLM] opened its doors October 1, 2019. SLM will provide individualized and dedicated representation to a select group of high-quality novelists and narrative non-fiction authors. SLM’s mission is to effectively compete with a marketplace exploding with first-rate content of various mediums by elevating its novelists in their roles as cultural commentators and thought leaders.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * History * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Technology * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
1216 Broadway Suite 414 New York NY 10001 USA
Katie Salvo
Metamorphosis Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Katie Salvo is a literary agent with the Metamorphosis Literary Agency. A traditionally published novelist, certified copy editor, and avid reader with eclectic genre interests, Katie Salvo loves nothing more than to see authors succeed in introducing new ideas and fresh voices to the publishing industry. With a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Katie has a background in literary criticism, philosophy, political theory, and history. She is particularly interested in representing women’s fiction, romance, nonfiction, historical biography, historical literary fiction, and academic works in the fields of study listed above.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Gay/Lesbian * History * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Philosophy * Politics * Young Adult *
Abigail Samoun
Red Fox LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Abigail Samoun is a literary agent with the Red Fox Literary Agency. Before co-founding Red Fox Literary, LLC with Karen Grencik in 2011, ABIGAIL SAMOUN was an in-house children’s book editor for over ten years. Her books received such honors as the CCBC Charlotte Zolotow award, the New York Public Library Ezra Jack Keats award, the SCBWI Golden Kite, and the Pura Belpre Honor. As an agent, Abigail now represents authors and illustrators working in a range of genres, from board books to young adult novels. Her clients include author/illustrator Hannah Harrison whose debut, Extraordinary Jane, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. Harrison’s picture book was Red Fox’s first project to go to auction. Fellow clients Chris Pallace and Kevin Serwacki wrote and illustrated Joey and Johnny, the Ninjas, an illustrated middle-grade series that received four offers before being bought by Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer&Bray.
In addition to agenting, Abigail is the author of several children’s books, including Sterling Publishing’s Little Traveler board book series illustrated by Red Fox’s own Sarah Watts.
Abigail likes to organize her library according to which authors would get along well together (the Brontes next to George Elliot, Lois Lowry next to Margaret Atwood). She lives in Sonoma, California with her entomologist husband, two dogs, a gaggle of chickens, and a curious little boy named Tristan.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Kaitlyn Sanchez
Bradford Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Kaitlyn Sanchez is a literary agent with the Bradford Literary Agency. She joined Bradford Literary in 2022 with two years of agenting experience under her belt. Kaitlyn is the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. As a mom, wife, and middle school math teacher, Kaitlyn enjoys playing soccer, binge-watching TV shows, and, of course, reading, especially when she’s all cozied up with her husband and daughter reading together. Kaitlyn is an editorial agent and always works with her clients to make sure we’re putting out their best work. She’s highly communicative and invested in every aspect of helping her clients have a strong and happy career.
Kaitlyn is looking for children’s books (picture books through YA) in all categories, including graphic novels, nonfiction, and illustration. She is incredibly eclectic in her tastes, with a great affinity for emotional stories as well as funny stories. Kaitlyn is always looking for diversity in all forms, including but not limited to BIPOC, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+. Kaitlyn loves working with artists, so she’s always on the lookout for great illustrators, author-illustrators, and graphic novelists.
Note: Kaitlyn generally leans PG and PG-13 for most submissions, though some intensity here and there is fine.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Biography
Rayhane Sanders is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin. She attended NYU and began her publishing career at Newsweek Magazine. She then moved to book publishing, working first for Penguin’s Dutton and Gotham Books and then for William Morris Endeavor, where she worked with New York Times bestselling authors and recipients of such honors as the PEN/Hemingway Award, PEN/New England Award, Guggenheim and Wallace Stegner Fellowships, and National Endowment for the Arts grants, among others. Rayhane began to represent authors at Wayne Kabak’s WSK Management, where she worked with a slew of internationally bestselling authors and broadcast journalists, and added a New York Times bestseller and winners of, among others, the Hopwood Award, Oregon Book Award, and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award to her list. She represents and is on the lookout for literary and historical fiction, upmarket book-club fiction and comic novels, select YA (no speculative elements, please), propulsive narrative nonfiction, linked essay collections, and select memoir. She likes projects that are voice-centered and site-specific, whether that be a place, profession, or subculture. Though quality of writing is the most important factor, she is particularly interested in fresh voices telling fresh stories we haven’t heard before (including for YA audiences), and is fond of immigrant stories and stories concerned with race, sexuality, specific cultural settings, cross-cultural themes, and notions of identity.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Literary * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Young Adult *
27 West 20th Street Suite 305 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Victoria Sanders is a literary agent with Victoria Sanders & Associates. She says: “I founded Victoria Sanders & Associates in 1992, following law school graduation, and after working in the legal/contracts department of Simon & Schuster, and at two literary agencies. I represent a multi-cultural roster of internationally bestselling and award-winning authors, I endeavor to seek out and champion new and diverse voices and viewpoints. As a literary agent for these 25 years, I’ve taken great pride in having represented many of my clients for their entire careers. I am honored to work with the extraordinary group of visionary writers and thinkers who grace this agency, the publishing marketplace, and their devoted readers.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Juvenile * Multicultural *
440 Buck Road Stone Ridge NY 12484 USA
Biography
Zoe Sandler is a literary agent with International Creative Management.
Zoe has a BA in English from McGill University, after attending the University of California, Berkeley.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Politics * Science * True Crime *
65 East 55th Street New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. Katharine has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books. Highlights include Sell Your Story in a Single Sentence: Advice From the Frontlines of Hollywood by Lane Shefter Bishop of Vast Entertainment; Spiritual Pregnancy: Nine Months that Change Your Life Before You Give Birth by Dr. Shawn Tassone and Dr. Kathryn Landherr; Talk to Strangers: How Everyday Random Encounters Can Expand Your Business, Career, Income and Life by David Topus; The New Rules of Attraction: How to Get Him, Keep Him and Make Him Beg for More by Arden Leigh; Stand Up for Yourself: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards by Donna Ballman; Dating the Devil ( by Lia Romeo; XTC: SongStories; Chasing Zebras: THE Unofficial Guide to House, MD by Barbara Barnett of Let’s Talk TV; CityTripping: a Guide for Foodies, Fashionistas and the Generally Style-Obsessed; Writers on Directors; The Apothecary’s Curse: Girl Walks Out of a Bar; Ford model Helen Lee’s The Tao of Beauty; Elvis and You: Your Guide to the Pleasures of Being an Elvis Fan; New York: Songs of the City; Taxpertise: Dirty Little Secrets the IRS Doesn’t Want You to Know; The SAT Word Slam, Divorce After 50; Trust Your Gut; The Little Book of Healthy Beauty: Simple Daily Steps to Get Your Glowing by Dr. Oz guest, Dr. Pina LoGuidice; Make Up, Don’t Break Up with Oprah guest Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil to name a few.
She is the agent provocateur of Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye, a collection of pitching wisdom from leading literary agents. Recently contributed “Grey is the New Black” to Fifty Writers on Fifty Shades of Grey, a nonfiction look at the cultural phenom of the bestselling novel.
Actively building her client list, she likes books that have a clear benefit for readers’ lives in categories of food, travel, lifestyle, home arts, beauty, wisdom, relationships, parenting, and fresh looks, which might be at issues, life challenges or popular culture. When reading fiction she wants to be compelled and propelled by urgent storytelling, and hooked by characters. For memoir and femoir, she likes to be transported to a world rarely or newly observed.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Mystery *
NONFICTION: Art * Beauty/Fashion/Style * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Pop Culture * Reference * Science * Travel *
Biography
Kelly Van Sant is a literary agent with KT Literary. She has over a decade of experience in the publishing industry. She cut her teeth in New York working at esteemed literary agencies before relocating to Minnesota, where she spent years as a contracts manager for various publishers. She uses her platform as a teaching artist at the Loft Literary Center and as the co-host of the Pub Crawl podcast to empower writers to become informed and take creative control over their work and the trajectory of their careers. Kelly’s own career came full circle when she realized that her true passion was advocating on behalf of authors. She is now an agent and actively building a client list, as well as kt literary’s contracts manager.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Romance * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Mind/Body/Spirit * New Age * Spirituality *
9249 S. Broadway #200-543 Highlands Ranch CO 80129 USA
Biography
Elisa Saphier is a literary agent with MacGregor & Luedeke. From her first job in a library, to being the editor-in-chief of her high school literary magazine, to working in four bookstores (and owning one), Elisa has always managed to surround herself with books and writers.
Elisa long dreamed of opening her own bookstore and in 2012, after her wife decreed that no more bookshelves were allowed in their house, she took the leap. Elisa and her bookstore, Another Read Through, quickly became known as champions of local writers and local small publishers, and as community builders. She works toward equity in publishing and in writers’ career development with the nonprofit she is co-launching in 2022, Amplify Writers. She believes that books and writers have important things to say, and she wants to help writers get their work out there, and for readers to find them.
As a reader and as an agent, she is open to most genres, as long as the novel or memoir is well-written, but she is partial to character-heavy stories that tell her something about herself or the world around her. She is hoping specifically to represent marginalized writers and their stories, doing her small part toward equalizing the publishing playing field. She is almost never interested in religious or experimental writing, but is otherwise open to being won over by just about any piece of excellent writing.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir *
Jacqueline Sather
Denise Shannon Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Jacqueline Sather is a literary agent with the Denise Shannon Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Literary *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Science * Technology *
Biography
Abby Saul is a literary agent with The Lark Group. She founded The Lark Group after a decade in publishing at John Wiley & Sons, Sourcebooks, and Browne & Miller Literary Associates. She’s worked with and edited bestselling and award-winning authors as well as major brands. At each publishing group she’s been a part of, Abby also has helped to establish ebook standards, led company-wide forums to explore new digital possibilities for books, and created and managed numerous digital initiatives.
A zealous reader who loves her iPad and the ebooks on it, she still can’t resist the lure of a print book. Abby’s personal library of beloved titles runs the gamut from literary newbies and classics, to cozy mysteries, to sappy women’s fiction, to dark and twisted thrillers. She’s looking for great and engrossing adult commercial and literary fiction. A magna cum laude graduate of Wellesley College, Abby spends her weekends—when she’s not reading—cooking and hiking with her husband and son.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
305 Lincoln Ave Havertown PA 19083 USA
Biography
Carolyn Savarese is a literary agent with Calligraph. She came to agenting after 18 years as a publishing executive overseeing sales, marketing, legal affairs, business development, and domestic and international licensing, working on behalf of such authors as Elizabeth Warren, Samantha Power, Henry Louis Gates, George Soros, and Rick Steves.
She’s negotiated newsworthy deals at European book fairs, established and run a London office for the Perseus Books Group, and helped develop that company’s platform and polices in eBooks, negotiating directly with Amazon, Apple, and Google on behalf of all Perseus imprints, as well as their 400 independent distribution clients.
Her client list includes U.S. Representative Katie Porter whose memoir, I Swear: Politics Is Messier than My Minivan, was an instant New York Times Bestseller; privacy and media law expert Amy Gajda whose Seek & Hide: The Tangled History of the Right to Privacy was a 2022 New York Times Notable Book of the Year; and MIT Atmospheric Scientist Susan Solomon whose forthcoming book, Solvable: How We Repair Our Planet, draws on her work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an effort awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
With insider knowledge of worldwide book sales, marketing and promotion, as well as extensive experience representing distinguished individuals, Carolyn is positioned to negotiate exceptional deals for journalists, activists, politicians, scientists, historians and entrepreneurs, providing them with wise counsel and strategic advice throughout the publishing process. She believes that while good agenting often means seeing the potential others might miss, it always means maximizing whatever potential is there. She brings both these aspects of creativity to the job, because great publishing successes don’t just happen. They need a knowledgeable and tenacious guide.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Education * General Nonfiction * Government * History * Journalism * Law * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Psychology * Science * Technology *
88 Broad St. Suite 503 Boston MA 02110 USA
Madison Scalera
Olswanger Literary LLCDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Madison Scalera is a literary agent with Olswanger Literary LLC. She says: “I started as an intern for Olswanger Literary’s children’s division, working with author-illustrators. During that time, I worked with Sesame Workshop illustrator Martin Lemelman, Richard Lo, Miri Leshem-Pelly, Jim Carroll, Kunal Kundu, Sherri Mandell, Margaret Peot, and Newbery Honor recipient Vince Vawter.
I currently work as a literary associate for Olswanger Literary, a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly, and as a children’s specialist at a bookstore, which means I am never without a book in hand and a never-ending TBR list. With previous reporting experience, I enjoy the collaboration between author and agent and understand how to aid a writer’s creative process. I am a lover of stories but most of all words. With a journalism background, I appreciate a writing style that teeters between the factual and the flowery, particularly something poetic without tortured metaphors.
I am representing domestic fiction, historical fiction, romance, and memoirs, particularly coming-of-age novels. I enjoy fictional narratives that reflect postmodernism—books that are layered, have an awareness of realism, and delight in being self-reflexive.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Erotica * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Magical Realism * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * True Adventure *
Biography
Eva Scalzo is a literary agent with Speilburg Literary Agency. Eva Scalzo was born in New Jersey, but has lived in Houston, Buenos Aires, San Juan, and Boston before settling down outside of Binghamton, New York. She has a B.A. in the Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico and a M.A. in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College. Since graduating in 2002, she has spent her career in scholarly publishing, working for Houghton Mifflin, Blackwell Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, and Cornell University in a variety of roles.
Eva has been reading romance since the fifth grade when she discovered the Sweet Valley High series. On inheriting her grandmother’s collection of vintage Harlequin Romances, she promptly set about filling the gaps, and her goal is to someday finish reading all the treasures. Eva is looking to represent all subgenres of Romance, with the exclusion of inspirational romance, as well as Young Adult fiction.
One last fun fact: if you’ve been reading this bio and pronouncing Eva’s name with a long E sound, you’ve been saying it wrong.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
3223 Radiance Rd. Louisville KY 40220 USA
Biography
Frank Scatoni is a literary agent with Venture Literary Agency, a founding partner, and heads the San Diego office. He had worked in book publishing for ten years, including stints at Doubleday and Simon & Schuster in New York, before relocating to Solana Beach, California, in 2000. Having been in the position of acquiring books for publishers, he knows what sells and why, and he uses that experience to shape manuscripts and proposals to meet the standards of publishing houses.
In addition to having reviewed, acquired, and edited hundreds of manuscripts as both an editor and agent, Frank is also the author of two pop culture books – Who Can It Be Now? and Say Anything – as well as Saratoga: The Ultimate Racing Experience and Six Secrets of Successful Bettors. He also served as the editor of Finished Lines, an anthology of memorable writing about horse racing.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * General Nonfiction * History * Money/Finance * Narrative * Pop Culture * Sports *
2683 Via de la Valle G-714 Del Mar CA 92014 USA
Biography
Adam Schear is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. Adam is a graduate of Tulane University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He began his publishing career at the William Morris Agency and joined DeFiore and Company in 2009. He is interested in literary fiction and well-crafted commercial fiction, work that captivates the reader with both its prose and its plot, humor, YA, smart thrillers, historical fiction, and quirky debut literary novels. For non-fiction he is interested in memoirs, politics, science, popular culture, and current events.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Satire * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir * Narrative * Science * Upmarket *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Angela Scheff is a literary agent with the Christopher Ferebee Literary Agency.
Angela has worked in the publishing industry since 2000. For the first 10 years she worked as an Editor and then Associate Publisher at Zondervan, a Christian imprint of HarperCollins in Grand Rapids, Michigan, acquiring and editing a variety of well-known authors. For the next five years, Angela became a freelancer, working with different Christian publishers, editors, and authors, in addition to focusing on her young family. In 2015, Angela joined Christopher Ferebee’s agency to represent a select number of authors to help bring their voice, passion, and expertise to their readers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Religious *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * Christian * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * History * Inspiration * Memoir * Money/Finance * Politics * Religion * Spirituality *
2834 Hamner Avenue Suite 456 Norco CA 92860 USA
Biography
Christopher Schelling is a literary agent with Selectric Artists. Christopher has been a literary agent for fifteen years. He represents a broad range of respected fiction and nonfiction authors. He discovered and continues to represent Augusten Burroughs, whose memoir, Running with Scissors, became a worldwide publishing phenomenon. He also represents New York Times bestselling memoirists Haven Kimmel (A Girl Named Zippy) and John Elder Robison (Look Me in the Eye), and YA fantasy author Cinda Williams Chima (The Demon King). Prior to becoming an agent, he held Executive Editors positions at both Dutton and HarperCollins. He is the keyboard player for the band Ripley, which is fronted by Tony Award-winnner Alice Ripley, whose singer-songwriter career he also manages.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * General Nonfiction * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Photography * Young Adult *
9 Union Square #123 Southbury CT 06488 USA
Biography
Rebecca Scherer is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She began her publishing career at JRA in 2010 while earning a BA in English Literature, Political Science, and German from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter. Immediately upon graduating, she was offered the unique opportunity to work within each department at the agency to gain a deep understanding of the business before going on to become an agent. She represents commercial fiction across genres, with particular interest in women’s fiction, crime/mystery, suspense, book club fiction, and upmarket/literary-leaning fiction. A lifelong New Yorker with a true head for numbers, Rebecca bridges her taste in literature with her business acumen to comprehensively advocate for her authors.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Dennis Schleicher
Talcott Notch Literary ServicesDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Dennis Schleicher is a literary agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services. He is currently the President of the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. Schliecher is the best-selling author of Is He Nuts?: Why a Gay Man Would Become a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ. As an in-demand public speaker, specializing in devotionals and social media marketing with the LDS church, Dennis’s relationship with many acquisition editors gives him a unique edge.
Dennis says “I am the first to specialize as an LDS literary agent, willing to work with all. I am looking for unique ideas from writers. As the market has changed, so has many of the demands on the author. Your project has to be more than an extended magazine article. It has to have something unique that will make the publisher jump at the chance to invest in you and your work.” Dennis goes on to explain that the “something” can be your platform, it can be the power of your idea, or it can be that your writing.” And if you can bring all three? I’m confident we can find you a publishing house. What will set you apart? What will establish you as a thought-leader in your genre?”
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Religious * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Celebrity * Christian * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Family * Fitness * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Parenting/Child Guidance * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Wendy Schmalz is a literary agent with the Wendy Schmalz Agency. Wendy is also the principal and founder of the Wendy Schmalz Agency, founded in 2002. Representing a wide range of writers for both the children’s and adult markets for more than twenty-five years, her current client list includes Myla Goldberg, Julie Anne Peters Seymour Simon, and April Henry to name a few. She began her career at Curtis Brown before moving on to Harold Ober Associates, where she was a principal of the company.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
402 Union St. #831 Hudson NY 12534 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)