Melanie Figueroa is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “I want to work with the kind of stories that both create and sustain life-long readersÑbooks that make me sigh with contentment, learn something new, or take delight in the unexpected. Those stories stay with you, and they’re a gift I want to help give readers by lifting up the voices of talented and hard-working creatives.

I’m actively looking for fiction and narrative nonfiction. I’m especially excited to find high-concept commercial and literary leaning general fiction, young adult novels with a strong voice and propulsive pacing, and heartfelt and humorous middle grade novels across genres. I was born and raised in Southern California in a multi-cultural, blended family, so I have a soft spot for books that shine a spotlight on the nuances of family relationships and identity.

In all casesÑno matter what genre youÕre writing inÑI want to read books that are inclusive and that accurately reflect our world. I like characters who arenÕt your typical lead and to be surprised by the unexpected.”