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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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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: Y
Biography
Jason Yarn is a literary agent with the Jason Yarn Literary Agency. He is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and an attorney registered in the state of New York. He graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in English and from Brooklyn Law School with a JD. He started his career in publishing with Writers & Artists Agency and then continued with Paradigm Talent Agency for ten years, acting as both a literary agent and a business affairs executive.For fiction, Jason is primarily interested in science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, suspense, literary fiction, and commercial fiction, all at the middle grade, young adult, or adult levels. For non-fiction, he is interested in a wide array of genres, though especially in narrative, science, food, current events, history, and adventure/true stories. Jason also works with a number of comic book and graphic novel writers and illustrators on their film and television rights, and is always interested in finding original graphic works for publishing or other media.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, Literary Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Biography, Cookbook Cooking, Current Events Affairs, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, History, How-To, Illustrated, Lifestyle, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, True Adventure, True CrimeCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Joy Yascone is a literary agent at Waterside Productions. She is a published author, seasoned media and PR professional, and literary agent with Waterside Productions. With a career that bridges entertainment, publishing, and personal transformation, Joy brings over a decade of experience in national media, including appearances on NBC and ABC affiliates, features in Showbiz Cheat Sheet, and a role on the hit series One Tree Hill.Joy was also part of the impactful ÒDo SomethingÓ campaign and music video with Britney Spears, using media to drive purpose-driven storytelling. As a regular guest on George NooryÕs Coast to Coast, George Noory gave Rave reviews on JoyÕs book ÒThe Power of Divine TimingÓ ÒFantastic Book, Well Done.ÓAs the author of The Power of Divine Timing and a monthly astrology columnist for Sophisticated Living magazine, Joy is known for blending spiritual insight with engaging, accessible writing. Now representing authors at Waterside,She excels at guiding authors from concept to cross-platform success, with a passion for stories that move hearts and spark global impact.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, General FictionNONFICTION: Business Book, Dating Relationships Sex, General Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Nonfiction, Self-Help, Spirituality, Travel
Biography
Curtis Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency. Curtis says: “I joined Yates & Yates in 1999 and became a partner in 2005. Sometimes people tell me that I’m the only attorney they’ve met who loves what he does. And I consider myself extremely blessed to do what I love with people I love. But the best part of my job isn’t that I get to work with my dad and my brother. It’s not that I get to work with outstanding, ethical, Christian attorneys and colleagues. And, as wonderful as this is, it’s not that my office is only four miles away from my home in beautiful, sunny Southern California. The best part of my job is coming alongside passionate, articulate, gifted Christian communicators, using my strengths to guide, counsel, and protect them, fiercely advocate for them, and help them advance life- and culture-transforming messages for the sake of the Kingdom. That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.By the time I started at Westmont College, where I met my beautiful wife Karen, I had pretty much decided I was going to law school. My early motivation for this was the realization that I loved to debate and I loved to win. I explored politics, spending a semester in Washington, DC in 1995, including interning on Capitol Hill. Deciding politics was not conducive to a family lifestyle, I plotted a course toward litigation. During my time at Pepperdine University Law School, I clerked for a few different litigation firms, including one of the largest firms in the world. I learned through those experiences that I would have been very frustrated in that field. When I joined Yates & Yates, I planned to fully engage in the firm’s general business transactional practice. Instead, I spent a great deal of my early days immersed in publishing agreements, manuscripts, and author meetings, discovering a passion for words, books, ideas and helping authors and creative types to make the most of their ideas, passions, and platforms.I’ve been married to Karen for 11 years. We have 3 beautiful children, 2 boys and an adorable girl. When I’m not working (and sometimes while I am), you’ll find me watching the Angels, the Broncos, or March Madness. On weekends, I’m typically out in the yard playing wiffle ball with my kids. And most nights I fall into bed wishing I had more time to finish reading the Wall Street Journal.”
Notes
NONFICTION: Business Book, General Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Money Finance, Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Self-Help, SpiritualityNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Karen Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency.
Notes
NONFICTION: Business Book, General Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Money Finance, Nonfiction, Self-HelpNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Matt Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency. Matt says: “I got here back in 1995. Graduating law school during a recession, the only job available was working for my fatherÑthen the “Law Offices of Sealy M. Yates.” Well, I’m still here. Now, my name is on the door and I sign all the checks. I came on board with the firm in the early stages of Sealy’s launching of the literary agency side of our business. As Sealy spanned the globe in search of the next bestseller, I was left to man the store. The breadth of experience has been invaluable. I’ve done real estate transactions and estate plans, handled multi-million dollar civil litigation and a forward triangular corporate merger, organized scores of business entities and non-profits, worked on feature-length movies, and even did one divorce and an adoption. While we don’t do much of that work anymore, those experiences give our current clients the benefit of all the knowledge of a full service law firm.I was born and raised in Orange County. Perhaps because my Dad and I look alike and sound alike, I knew I always wanted to be a lawyer. I have often said, “I knew where I wanted to go to college before I knew what high school I would go to, and I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up even before that.” I went to college at Baylor UniversityÑmy college selection criteria were an out-of-state, Christian school, with a Division I football team. And, even disregarding that my Dad was a Baylor alum, there was only one choice. Baylor was followed by law school at Pepperdine University. I was admitted to several law schools, but only one in Malibu with a 270 degree view of the Pacific Ocean. I’m not sure if this section should mention things like honor’s societies, Dean’s lists, our athletic awards (Yes, I am the “Matt Yates” who captained the defense of the Baylor Lacrosse team from 1989-91), but since Curtis has a longer list of those, I’ll skip it. FUN FACT: I am also a certified agent with the NFL Players Association. So if you know anyone with 4.4 speed, give me a call.”
Notes
NONFICTION: Business Book, General Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Money Finance, Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Self-Help, SpiritualityNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Sealy Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency. Sealy says: “I am the senior partner at Yates & Yates, a firm that is the continuation of the one I founded October 1, 1969. After graduating from law school, I started my professional career as a lawyer with a small general practice law firm in Orange County. After a year, I decided that it would be much better for me and everyone else if I opened my own law office. Over the next 20 years I developed and operated a very successful business law practice. Part of my work during those years included intellectual property matters primarily related to copyright issues. I did a lot of work for Christian publishing houses, Christian authors and I had the privilege of doing the legal work to establish the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (“ECPA”), the trade association of Christian publishers. I then served ECPA as its general counsel for over 16 years.In 1988 I became the first literary agent in the Christian publishing industry representing successful authors. I have now been representing Christian authors for so long that some have called me the “godfather” of Christian publishing. I now have the joy and privilege of having two of my sons as my partners in Yates & Yates. I have known since I was 17 that God had made me to be a Christian lawyer. However, I would never have guessed what an incredible life of ministry it would turn out to be, nor could I have had any idea that I would ever become an expert in book publishing or that I would lead the best literary agency in the world, to the glory of God.My partners and I are blessed to have had my beautiful wife, Susan, as office manager for Yates & Yates since 1990. Susan is definitely the reason that I have been able to serve so many great and godly communicators, so successfully, and for so many years. I graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelors in Business Administration in 1965 and from UCLA School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1968. It has been my joy and privilege to serve on the boards of directors for some of the most excellent and successful ministry organizations in the world since my first year in the practice of law, including, among others, Open Doors International, Insight for Living, Turning Point Ministries, Ransomed Heart Ministries, as well as the Pepperdine School of Law Board of Visitors. I have been married to Susan Proctor Yates since 1965. We have four amazing adult children, 3 sons and a beautiful daughter, and we have the most amazing 9 grandchildren God ever created.”
Notes
NONFICTION: Business Book, General Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Money Finance, Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Self-Help, Spirituality, SportsNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Howard Yoon is partner a literary agent with WME Books. Howard has recently joined WMEÕs literary department as a Partner and Literary Agent after the spring 2023 acquisition of Ross Yoon Agency, where he was an agent for more than 20 years. Based in Washington, DC, he works exclusively with nonfiction writers, gravitating towards reported narratives, memoir, history, science, sports, tech, business, and popular culture. He represents leading experts and thought leaders, but also has a soft spot for underdog stories and those who give voice to the underserved. He used to teach an award-winning narrative nonfiction writing class in GeorgetownÕs journalism program. He lives in DC with his wife and three kids.
Notes
NONFICTION: Art, Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Journalism, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion, Science, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, True Crime
Biography
Leslie York is a literary agent with Fredrica S. Friedman & Co. She has a BA from Wellesley, where she graduated magna cum laude, and a Masters in English Literature from Boston College. She joined Fredrica S. Friedman after working at Oxford University Press and Macmillan in both sales and marketing. Her experience at the literary agency and exposure to marketing means that she can evaluate work for both literary merit and commercial appeal.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Thriller, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Art, Beauty Fashion Style, Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Crafts, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Film Entertainment, Fitness, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Money Finance, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Travel, True Crime, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Laura Yorke is a literary agent with and the founder of Laura York Literary Services. She is a veteran book editor, publisher, literary agent and writer who has worked in the publishing industry for over 30 years..A native New Yorker, she graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 1985.She says: “I began my career at Simon & Schuster, where I worked- and thrived- as an editor at three different imprints: Fireside Books, Summit Books and Simon & Schuster Trade. At that time ( in the late 1990Õs), I was the youngest editor to ever attend the Editorial Board and buy my own books ( as opposed to editing for other senior editors). Some of those books, including Michele Weiner-DavisÕ DIVORCE BUSTING became long- term bestsellers. After 8 years, I moved to G.P. Putnam where I was also profoundly happy for 4 years. CEO Phyllis Grann frequently announced that ÒI brought non-fiction to Putnam.Ó That was, needless to say, a gross exaggeration. And ironic given that one of my most celebrated authors at Putnam was novelist Jodi Picoult. From Putnam, I went on to co-found the Golden Books Adult Trade Division with a former colleague from Simon & Schuster. We published books for women and the family in every category- from Steven Covey to Maria Shriver, to a dozen books from the editors of Parents Magazine. I then moved on to become the editor-at-large of Regan Books/HarperCollins.Some of the other numerous bestselling and prominent authors I published during my years as an editor include Mary Tyler Moore, Marilou Henner, Sylvia Earle, Barry Paris, Carol Felsenthal, Tracy Thompson, Daniel Coyle, Lionel Tiger, Maxine Chernoff and Nelson George.I left Regan Books/HarperCollins because I wanted to experience other parts of the publishing industry. Having recently had a premature baby, I co-authored Why Motor Skills Matter (McGraw-Hill 2004) with my sonÕs sensory integration therapist. It is an extremely worthwhile book for parents on the relationship between sensory integration and motor development as they relate to overall intelligence. (DonÕt ask my why, but I still get royalty checks from its sales in Brazil!)I subsequently became a contributing editor to ReaderÕs Digest, where I wrote cover stories on people such as Phil McGraw and Uma Thurman, and brought the magazineÕs editorial team to meet with all of the New York publishers and their Subsidiary Rights associates. It was a wonderful education to be Òon the other side of the fenceÓ so to speak; becoming an author of both a book and magazine pieces, as well as being part of the team of selling books for subsidiary rights, gave me a much broader landscape from which to understand the business.Then one day within that first year of working for ReaderÕs Digest, the wonderful Carol Mann said to me, Ó Laura, you are one of the best editors of your generation. If you donÕt want to do that any more, then come be an agent with me. YouÕll still be doing a lot of editorial work.Ó And so it was- for almost 20 years. And yes, I still do a ton of editorial work- my truest passion. I also have my own literary agency.”
Notes
NONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Economics, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Technology
Biography
Alec Yoshio Macdonald is a literary agent at Straus Literary. He joined Straus Literary in 2018, having previously worked at the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area and Browne & Miller Literary Associates in Chicago. He has extensive experience editing and contributing to alternative weekly newspapers and other journalistic outlets. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.A. in humanities from the University of Chicago, where he wrote his thesis on John OkadaÕs No-No Boy.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, MysteryNONFICTION: Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Environment, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, History, Humor Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Science, Travel
Biography
Nancy Yost is a literary agent with the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. Nancy, a Las Vegas export, started her literary career in the contracts department at Random House, then joined Avon Books as an editor, and worked 15+ years as an agent before starting NYLA in 2009, but her passion for books has been lifelong. In addition to being a world class bookworm, she’s an avid scuba diver, recovering opera singer, unrepentant animal lover, and shameless caffeine addict.Some of her NYT, USAT, and international bestsellers and award-winning authors includeÑalphabetically!ÑIlona Andrews, Linda Castillo, Loretta Chase, Deborah Crombie, Suzanne Enoch, Jeaniene Frost, Karen Hawkins, Miranda James, Beverly Jenkins, Stephanie Laurens, and Victoria Thompson.Nancy’s primary focus is commercial fiction. Her areas of expertise include: crime novels (suspense, mysteries, thrillersÑboth contemporary and historical); women’s fiction (historical romance, accessible upmarket fiction, book club reads, romantic comedies, and any combination thereof); urban fantasy/paranormal; and sci-fi/fantasy.She looks for complex, engrossing character- and voice-driven reads, great world-building, atmosphere, intelligence, humor, and adorable (or not-so-adorable) animals. She loves learning painlessly, be it history, science, or the arts; and has a special fondness for good gothics and ghost stories. Her nonfiction tastes lean in the same direction.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Art, Celebrity, Environment, Film Entertainment, Food Drink, Gift Novelty, History, Humor Nonfiction, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Science, True Crime
Biography
Cyle Young is a literary agent with the Cyle Young Literary Elite. Cyle is a multiple-genre award-winning author. Winner of over twenty writing awards, he considers himself a Òbinge writerÓ and routinely scribes 30,000 words in a weekend. His book Belly Buttons and Broken Hearts released with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in 2013.Cyle finds great joy in writing and loves to bounce between crafting epic high fantasy tales, helpful non-fiction parenting books, and getting lost in the melodic rhythm of childrenÕs poetry. He serves as managing editor of http://www.almostanauthor.com, a website devoted to helping aspiring writers become published authors, and is also a monthly contributor to the parenting website, http://www.just18summers.com, and the writing website, http://www.thewriteconversation.blogspot.com.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, Graphic NovelNONFICTION: Animals, Art, Business Book, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Dating Relationships Sex, Design, Environment, Fitness, Food Drink, Gardening, Gift Novelty, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, Lifestyle, Money Finance, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel, True Adventure, True Crime, Women’s IssuesNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Jazmia Young is a literary agent with the Curtis Brown Literary Agency. She is an associate agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. She received her bachelorÕs degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at the City College of New York and was a graduate of the Publishing Certificate Program at CCNY. She is particularly interested in MG fiction with diverse voices. Being a New York native, anything based in the great NYC has her heart. Jazmia is also the Administrative Assistant of the Association of American Literary Agents.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Multicultural FictionNONFICTION: Dating Relationships Sex, Family, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Chapter Book Fiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Sarah Younger is a literary agent with the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. She ibegan her career in publishing in 2010 at Press53 in Winston Salem, N.C., after receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She later attended the University of Denver’s graduate publishing program in 2011, where, upon completion, she moved to New York City. Sarah joined the Nancy Yost Literary Agency in the fall of 2011 and has since cultivated a diverse and talented list of authors, including a variety of commercial fiction and select non-fiction titles. She has been a member of AALA since 2014.She is specifically interested in representing all varieties of adult commercial fiction, from book club titles to romantic comedies, genre romance, adult science fiction, fantasy, and romantasy, mysteries, thrillers, suspense, and very select non-fiction. Sarah is currently closed to queries at this time.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Erotic Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Western Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Biography, Business Book, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Dating Relationships Sex, Design, Film Entertainment, Fitness, Food Drink, Gardening, Gift Novelty, Health Wellness, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Military War Nonfiction, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Religion, Science, Sports, Technology, TravelNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Fiction