
The Directory of Literary Agents
Welcome message…
7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
Press the play button below to listen.
Click here to view and/or download a free PDF transcript
of this audio program
* * *
Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
Jenny Bent
Biography
Jenny Bent is a literary agent with the Bent Agency. She says: “After graduating from Cambridge University, I worked at several NYC agencies before founding the Bent Agency in 2009. In the course of my career, I have represented a great many New York Times-bestselling authors, a list which includes Stephanie Garber, AG Howard, Gary John Bishop, Lori Nelson Spielman, Goldy Moldavsky, Yangsze Choo, Lynn Weingarten, Lynsay Sands, Lori Wilde and Julia London.
I’m currently looking for literary and commercial fiction and young adult fiction as well as select nonfiction in the areas of self-help and lifestyle. My client list is diverse and I welcome submissions from BIPOC authors.
In adult fiction, I particularly enjoy high concept, upmarket women’s fiction and I love a good domestic suspense. I rep some romance and rom com but no other genre fiction: I’m not a good choice for adult fantasy, cozy mystery or sci-fi. In terms of horror, I love a good ghost story, along the lines of writing by Simone St. James and Jennifer McMahon (or even Wilkie Collins) but more genre horror is probably not right for me.
In young adult fiction, I’m pretty open to genre—I love fantasy, rom-coms, suspense, contemporary, almost anything except for sci-fi. I do notice that my YA taste does tend to skew towards older readers, more in a crossover direction.
In general, I tend to prefer plot-driven books to character-driven ones and pacing is very important to me. I also love novels—for adults or young adults—that have an element of magic or fantasy to them or that take me into a world that is new to me, whether real or imaginary. And while I love books to be dark and weird in terms of content, I find that I am more drawn to traditional, rather than experimental, methods of structure and storytelling.
In nonfiction, I am looking for authors with a unique approach and a very large existing platform. I’m not generally the right choice for memoir or narrative non-fiction but always open to hearing a pitch just in case.
All of the books that I represent speak to the heart in some way: they are linked by genuine emotion, inspiration and great writing and story telling. I love books that make me laugh, make me cry, or ideally do both.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Mystery * Paranormal * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Humor * Inspiration * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Self-Help/Personal Development *
.
Submit a Question or Comment
If you have a question or comment, click on the red button below and you’ll be able to post it. You’ll also be able to see answers to the questions I’m asked most.