Monika Verma is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. Monika joined LGR in 2006, and represents a wide range of nonfiction book projects. She specializes in humor, pop culture, memoir, narrative nonfiction and style and fashion titles. She loves to work with authors to develop their writing careers, whether that means helping them make the jump from blogger to published author, brainstorming the perfect funny gift book topic, or working with a debut author to showcase a strong narrative voice. Her clients include humorist and actor Nick Offerman; costume designer Janie Bryant (AMC’s “Mad Men”); style and celebrity bloggers Tom & Lorenzo; and writer, illustrator, and blogger Allie Brosh (Hyperbole and a Half). Though her list is primarily nonfiction, she also enjoys working on Young Adult fiction, whether itÕs paranormal, historical or contemporary.
Prior to joining the agency, Monika served as the administrative director for L.A. Youth Newspaper, a nonprofit teen-written publication distributed to schools throughout Los Angeles County. Monika attended Wellesley College, where she received a B.A. in English, and studied abroad at Oxford University; she spent an inordinate amount of time at both places reading Victorian novels, one of her favorite genres. Though she is now happily a New Yorker, Monika grew up in Los Angeles. When she isnÕt reading submissions, she loves dipping into a good literary mystery (usually with a strong cup of tea by her side). Some of her favorite authors include Denise Mina, A.S. Byatt, Josephine Tey, Jasper Fforde and P.G. Wodehouse.