Stacy Testa is a literary agent with Writers House. She says: “I joined Writers House in 2011 as the assistant to a senior literary agent, and have been building my own client list since 2013. I like to think, though, that my publishing career began as a wee bookworm, when I used to stay up late reading under the covers with a flashlight because I simply couldn’t part ways with a book, even to sleep. In many ways, I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since. There’s truly nothing quite as magical as losing yourself in a great story – when your own wants and needs become entirely secondary to those of the characters and voices on the page. As an agent, I am drawn to projects that do just that: pull me in and refuse to let go. If you think your book fits that bill, I’d love to hear from you.

To be more specific, I am seeking literary fiction and upmarket womenÕs fiction, particularly stories with international settings, unique subcultures, historical hooks, magical realism, unusual narrators, and/or strong, empowered women. At the moment, I am particularly (but not exclusively!) looking for uplifting stories that can inspire readers, and serve as an antidote to these troubled times. I think we could all use an escape right now, and what better way to transport yourself to another world, another time, another place, another reality than through a brilliant novel? On the nonfiction side, I am interested in representing memoir, popular science, humor writing, essay collections, narrative nonfiction, history, investigative journalism, true crime, and prescriptive titles with strong platforms. I especially love working with authors who are experts in their fields and helping them to translate that expertise to a trade audience. Broadly speaking, I am drawn to anything with vivid characters, an interest in social justice, an ability to change the way the reader sees the world or to shed light on the human experience, a compelling narrative voice, and/or a great sense of humor. I do not represent children’s books, including YA.

As a young(ish) agent with decades of agenting ahead of me, I am looking to develop long-term partnerships with new authors. I intend to work with all of my clients for many, many books to come, and to advocate for and advise them every step of the way. Please know that I am a highly editorial agent, so if you aren’t interested in collaborating on that level, we might not be the best fit. I respect creative autonomy, of course, but I believe it’s important to have an open mind when it comes to editorial feedback.”