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The Directory of Literary Agents
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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.
- You are searching within category(ies): Commercial *
Biography
Adam Schear is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. Adam is a graduate of Tulane University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He began his publishing career at the William Morris Agency and joined DeFiore and Company in 2009. He is interested in literary fiction and well-crafted commercial fiction, work that captivates the reader with both its prose and its plot, humor, YA, smart thrillers, historical fiction, and quirky debut literary novels. For non-fiction he is interested in memoirs, politics, science, popular culture, and current events.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Satire * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir * Narrative * Science * Upmarket *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Christopher Schelling is a literary agent with Selectric Artists. Christopher has been a literary agent for fifteen years. He represents a broad range of respected fiction and nonfiction authors. He discovered and continues to represent Augusten Burroughs, whose memoir, Running with Scissors, became a worldwide publishing phenomenon. He also represents New York Times bestselling memoirists Haven Kimmel (A Girl Named Zippy) and John Elder Robison (Look Me in the Eye), and YA fantasy author Cinda Williams Chima (The Demon King). Prior to becoming an agent, he held Executive Editors positions at both Dutton and HarperCollins. He is the keyboard player for the band Ripley, which is fronted by Tony Award-winnner Alice Ripley, whose singer-songwriter career he also manages.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Young Adult *
9 Union Square #123 Southbury CT 06488 USA
Biography
Rebecca Scherer is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She began her publishing career at JRA in 2010 while earning a BA in English Literature, Political Science, and German from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter. Immediately upon graduating, she was offered the unique opportunity to work within each department at the agency to gain a deep understanding of the business before going on to become an agent. She represents commercial fiction across genres, with particular interest in women’s fiction, crime/mystery, suspense, book club fiction, and upmarket/literary-leaning fiction. A lifelong New Yorker with a true head for numbers, Rebecca bridges her taste in literature with her business acumen to comprehensively advocate for her authors.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Susan Schulman is a literary agent with the Susan Schulman Literary Agency. The Susan Schulman Literary Agency was founded in 1980 by Susan Schulman who, prior to establishing her own agency, was an agent at International Creative Management in the Literary Department. Prior to working at ICM, Susan taught History of the English Language and Linguistics as well as Renaissance Drama and American Literature courses on the college level. Additionally Susan served as Associate Publisher of Ohio University Press and acquired over 100 titles for the Press.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Economics * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Juvenile * Law * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Photography * Politics * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Technology * Travel * Upmarket * Women’s Issues *
454 W. 44th St. New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Lynn Seligman is a literary agent with the Lynn Seligman Literary Agency in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. Lynn has a B.A. from Goucher College, a M.A. in French Literature from Columbia University, near completion of a Ph.D. in French Literature from Columbia.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Education * Ethnic * Gift/Novelty * Government * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Money/Finance * Music * Nature * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Adventure * True Crime *
400 Highland Ave. Upper Montclair NJ 07043 USA
Biography
Anne Sibbald is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She found her professional home as an agent.
Anne’s interests are broad, but quintessentially encompass the classic “good read” and anything, be it fiction or nonfiction, that illuminates the world in a fresh way. She believes that we tell stories to understand ourselves and the world we live in, and that those stories can transport us to different worlds, times and places; as well as revealing the mysteries of nature and the truths and complexities of the human heart and mind.
Anne grew up in the United Kingdom and lived in Germany and Belgium before moving to the United States. She worked in the investment banking and fashion industries before joining the agency in 1979. She received a B.A. in Economics, with a specialization in international and development economics, from Fordham University. Morton Janklow talked her out of going to law school, for which she is profoundly grateful.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * Film/Entertainment * Family * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Military/War * Music * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Science *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Jeff Silberman is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. He says: “I’m a new horizon hunter. My interests are wide, my passions run deep, and the books I represent cut a wide swath. A videogame impresario who has explored new technology, outer space, and the ocean’s depths with equal passion. A neuroscientist who created ground breaking technology for studying the brain, and whose prose is utterly stunning. A rock and roll legend who bares his soul. A scholar in Timbuktu who risked his life to save ancient Egyptian and African manuscripts that helped pave the way for Western civilization. A biomedical engineer bridging the gap between art and science, and creating things that matter. An ingénue who left rural North Carolina and found womanhood as she became a part of the cultural explosion of Fellini’s Rome and the French New Wave. A Hall of Famer the players nicknamed God.
There’s nothing quite like rich narrative non-fiction or a daring memoir. Making science and technology sing. Savoring food, diving deep into important social issues – or the animal kingdom… I haven’t done a math book yet, but I’d love to. History? I’m in. Humor, health, pop culture – there’s pretty much no category of non-fiction that doesn’t intrigue me and for which I wouldn’t happily accept an invitation to take a ride.
Fiction: I am currently representing a number of novelists working on their debuts, and their work runs the gamut from book club / commercial to literary, and in one case, literary hilarious. I’d love more.
I seek books that in some way leave us different than we were before. It could be because a new world was opened up to us, or our relationship to the one we thought we knew was changed, because we learned something, or had our hearts opened wide, or simply guffawed nonstop.
I work closely with everyone I represent, from editorial input to deal making to marketing, and all points in between. Heart and soul.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Family Saga * Historical * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
630 Ninth Ave. Suite 1101 New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Eric Siminoff is a literary agent with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. Eric graduated from Princeton University in 1989, with a degree in Classics. He began his publishing career at W.W. Norton as an editorial assistant. He joined Janklow and Nesbit 1991 and rose to co-director. He left Janklow & Nesbit for William Morris Endeavor in 2009. His switch in agencies was considered a major event in the publishing industry. He represents three Pulitzer Prize winners, as well as over a dozen New York Times bestselling authors.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Satire * Short Story Collection * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Technology *
11 Madison Avenue 18th Floor New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
David Hale Smith is a literary agent with InkWell Management. David joined InkWell in 2011. He is looking for mind-blowing commercial fiction and compelling nonfiction. Prior to joining InkWell in 2011, he operated his eponymous literary agency in Texas, which he started just a few years after graduating from Kenyon College. His fiction list includes thriller phenom Matthew FitzSimmons, and The New York Times Bestselling novelists Michael Koryta, Greg Rucka and Blake Crouch, author of the smash genre-bending hit Dark Matter and the multi-million selling Wayward Pines trilogy (adapted into the FOX television show of the same name, with Crouch is Executive Producing). In nonfiction, Smith represents acclaimed culinary authors Jordan Mackay, Daniel Vaughn and Robert Sietsema; Top Chef stars John Tesar and Isaac Toups; and New York Times Bestsellers Skip Hollandsworth and barbecue superstar Aaron Franklin. Smith enjoys developing projects from concept to finished book, and is active in selling film and television rights for his clients, making numerous annual trips to the West Coast to pitch projects to managers, agents and producers. He lives in Dallas, Texas and commutes to New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Diet/Nutrition * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Jennifer March Soloway is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Jennifer joined the Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2016, after a career in marketing and public relations. Agenting is her dream job. She loves working with writers and illustrators, and nothing gives her greater joy than to help an author elevate their story. She is most drawn to emotionally compelling voices and fresh perspectives underrepresented in literature.
Please send Jennifer:
Adult literary thrillers and horror (she is a suspense junkie, who loves to be scared). Throw in dash of (bad) romance, and she’s hooked!
YA novels in any genre (thrillers, gothic, humor), but especially literary stories about ordinary teens, focused on family, relationships, sexuality, mental illness, or recovery.
MG novels full of humor and heart, including adventures, mysteries, spooky-but-not-too-scary ghost stories, contemporary, and grounded fantasy.
Stories that blurs the lines between the real and the imagined in any category.
Picture books with surprise endings that make her laugh.
Eye-catching illustration with a distinct style.
That’s her wish list, but you might have something she has never considered before, and it might be absolutely perfect for her. Surprise her!
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Literary * Picture Book * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
2100 Geng Road Suite 210 Palo Alto CA 94303 USA
Biography
Andrea Somberg is a literary agent with the Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. A literary agent for over twenty years, Andrea represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including projects for adult, young adult and middle grade audiences. Her clients’ books have been NYTimes and USA Bestsellers, GMA and Target Book Club Picks, winners of ALA’s Alex Award and the Nebula, nominated for The Edgar Award, The Governor General’s Award, the Lambda Award, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, the Ohioana Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, Junior Library Guild Selections, PublishersMarketplace’s Buzz Book Selections, and have been named best books of the year by NYPublic Library and Book of the Month Club. She also actively pursues film and tv rights, and has had projects optioned by 20th Century Fox, Imagine Entertainment, Warner Brothers and others. Andrea is a guest instructor for MediaBistro and Writers Digest.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Crafts * Cultural/Social Issues * Design * Ethnic * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Science * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology * Travel * Upmarket *
300 W. 55th St. #11V New York NY 10019 USA
Biography
Erica Spellman-Silverman is a literary agent at Trident Media Group. At 23 years old, Erica Spellman Silverman began her career at ICM. Coming from a family of writers and editors, she’s loved books all her life. She represented journalists Hunter S. Thompson, Tim O’Brien, Robert Scheer, Robert Greenfield, Tim White, and Cameron Crowe, among others. Many went on to become novelists, screenwriters, and directors. After transitioning to the film side of the business, Erica found that she missed working with novelists and moved to The William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor), where she became Vice President. There, she could work with writers in all categories: books, film, and theater. Lionel Schriver, Scott Spencer, Eve Babitz, and Robin Cook are among the many writers she represented. She was also responsible for their movie and TV deals. Having worked at ICM and William Morris, she made a transition to running United Artists in New York so she could see the other side of the fence. “I couldn’t get back to being an agent fast enough!” Erica says. “I love finding my own writers and not being dependent on the committee mentality one needs as a buyer.”
Erica has been at Trident for ten years, where she has had the wonderful opportunity to work with fantastic writers, including Andrew Mayne, Barbara Lynch, Cherise Wolas, Esther the Wonder Pig, Eve Babitz, Jennifer L. Scott, Rachel Van Dyken, Robin Cook, and many others. She also uses her knowledge of the movie business to handle book-to-film and TV rights for many of Trident’s agents.
Her client list is fairly eclectic. Her interest lies less in genre than in great storytelling—Erica says, “anything that gets into your head and your heart, anything you can’t stop thinking about, whether it’s literary fiction, thrillers, young adult, or memoir. Books and stories that touch the soul, that make you laugh or cry or both. Stories that haven’t been told before or are told in a different way: that’s what I am looking for.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Parenting/Child Guidance *
355 Lexington Ave 12th FL New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Marya Spence is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Raised in California’s Bay Area, Marya studied literature at Harvard, where she was Fiction Editor for the Advocate and specialized in creative writing. She went on to get her MFA at New York University and teach undergraduate creative writing there. She also spent these years in her 20’s working and interning at The New Yorker, PAPER Mag, Travel & Leisure, Vanity Fair, Publishers Weekly, METROPOLIS Magazine, and more—with a brief stint in equity research.
As someone who values craft from the writer’s perspective, Marya represents a diverse range in fiction and nonfiction, including, but not limited to, literary novels and collections, upmarket commercial fiction, cultural criticism and voice-driven essays, narrative journalism with a humorous or critical edge, and pop culture. She lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Anna Sproul-Latimer is a literary agent with Neon Literary. She is also a founding partner and president of Neon Literary. She has over the course of her many years in book publishing sold multiple New York Times bestsellers, major book-to-film deals, and foreign translations in more than 50 languages. She represents all types of adult nonfiction–from memoir and history to pop culture, science, and parenting–as well as select literary fiction. (For existing clients, Anna represents just about everything, but all of her clients’ careers start and primarily consist of work in one of her two focus areas.)
Anna is drawn to buzzing, bright, curious, and slightly demented authors driven by enthusiasm so infectious that (inter)national audiences are already paying attention. She seeks authors motivated by a true mission–a clear answer to the question, “What is the legacy I want to leave in the world?” Of particular interest are those who’ve made moral leadership lemonade from the lemons of trauma: authors who are whistleblowers, Cassandras, “unelectable” elected officials, and survivors.
A lifelong resident of the Washington, DC area, Anna has spent her whole life watching power, money, and media interact to shape the line of history. With Neon, she intends to take the full weight of her access, experience, and privilege and use it to lie down in traffic, forcing that line to turn somewhere brighter.
Prior to founding Neon, Anna spent nearly 15 years as a literary agent, foreign rights director, and developmental editor at DC’s Ross Yoon Agency. A graduate of Columbia University (BA magna cum laude, English) and the University of Oxford (MSt with distinction, also English), Anna lives in the DC suburbs with her family and travels to New York frequently.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * General Fiction * Humor Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Science *
Arlington VA 22207 USA
Biography
Alexa Stark is a literary agent with Writers House. Alexa joined Writers House in 2022, after ten years at Trident Media Group. She represents a range of literary and upmarket fiction and select nonfiction. On the fiction side, she is particularly drawn to literary debuts with a unique voice and perspective, stories about dysfunctional friendships and families, novels that engage with social issues, underrepresented voices, and fiction that delves into the surreal or plays with genre in fresh or subversive ways. She also enjoys edgy coming-of-age tales and character-driven suspense and thrillers. She gravitates towards the humorous, the bold, the psychologically probing and the tender. On the nonfiction side, she is seeking narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, voice-driven essay collections, popular science, psychology, and women’s issues.
Alexa also has experience helping authors place stories, essays and book excerpts in a range of publications including the New Yorker, Harper’s, Paris Review, the Atlantic, Tin House, N+1, Playboy, McSweeney’s, and the New York Times, among others. Her authors have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list and have won or been listed for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the National Book Foundation’s 5 under 35, the Rona Jaffe Award, the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, The Young Lions Fiction Award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Lambda Literary Award, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.
Raised in New York City, Alexa earned her BA in comparative literature and society at Columbia University. Prior to joining Writers House, she worked at Curtis Brown and Trident Media Group, spending the first few years working with Ellen Levine before building her own list. She lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * Humor * Memoir * Narrative * Psychology * Science * Women’s Issues *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Peter Steinberg is a literary agent with Fletcher & Company/UTA. He is now at United Talent Agency (UTA) after he joined Fletcher & Company in 2021 from Foundry Literary + Media. He’s represented numerous New York Times bestsellers (including three #1 New York Times bestsellers) and clients have been nominated for or awarded Edgars, The Pulitzer Prize, The Story Prize, The Paris Review Discovery Prize, PEN/Faulkner and National Book Awards. Most recently, The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont was selected for Reese’s Book Club, and The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award. His list includes narrative non-fiction, commercial and literary fiction, memoir, self-help, history, pop culture, humor, and sports. Several of his authors have had their books made into major motion pictures, including Towelhead and I Love You Phillip Morris. Steinberg is a graduate of NYU film school and worked briefly in the film business prior to becoming a literary agent.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Film/Entertainment * History * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Self-Help/Personal Development * Science * Sports *
3137 Laguna Street New York NY 10106 USA
Biography
Myrsini Stephanides is a literary agent with and the founder of Arc Literary Management. She founded Arc Literary in Fall 2021. A publishing professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry, she spent the first 10 years of her career as an editor at book packagers, Indie, and Big 5 publishers specializing in illustrated non-fiction. From 2009 to 2021 Myrsini was a literary agent at the Carol Mann Agency, where she built an eclectic roster of clients while managing day-to-day operations. She brings her clients and her passion for fostering a supportive community around colleagues, affiliates, and budding creatives to her next chapter at Arc Literary.
Myrsini’s personal reading habits and professional interests are broad, ranging from popular science, business, and investigative journalism to self-care, illustrated humor, and photography. She gravitates toward authors and creators with strong voices, unique perspectives, and unbridled passion for their work, and will consider adult and children’s projects across categories (except genre fiction).
Myrsini is currently looking for projects in the following adult categories: voice-driven business/tech books with clear perspectives from experts in their fields; scientist-storytellers writing accessible narratives for a general, non-academic audience; women’s health, self-care, and progressive parenting books geared toward a millennial audience; narrative humorists and/or illustrators with unique voices and a strong platform/community of supporters (on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc).
In the children’s world, she is looking for early readers, middle grade and young adult fiction; graphic novels for all reading levels; narrative or illustrated non-fiction for all reading levels; picture books by writer-illustrators (no scripts without illustrators already attached).
Myrsini welcomes submissions (adult and children’s) from authors and creators with diverse backgrounds who have been misrepresented or marginalized and want to share their work with the world.
Partial client list: John Doerr, Matthew Inman (creator of The Oatmeal), Claire Belton (creator of Pusheen), Hannah Shaw (aka Kitten Lady), Jarrett Lerner, Emily McDowell and Kelsey Crowe, Jen Waite, Mary Gauthier, Cyndy Etler, and Elizabeth Schneider.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book * Satire * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology * Women’s Issues *
2838 29th Street Long Island City NY 11102 USA
Biography
JL Stermer is a literary agent with and the founder of Next Level Lit. A native New Yorker, JL has worked in theater, fashion, network TV and hospitality before finding her way to publishing. After attending Temple University in Philadelphia and The Fashion Institute of Technology, JL earned her BA in English from Columbia University.
With over a decade of agenting experience prior to starting NEXT LEVEL LIT she and her team are uniformly dedicated to getting authors book deals that build and grow careers.
When she’s not at her desk, JL can be found roaming the city streets feeling energized by the creativity bubbling up through the heaviness of the pandemic. She loves park benches, preferably with coffee and a donut.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Beauty/Fashion/Style * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Humor * Law * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Women’s Issues *
New York NY USA
Biography
Douglas Stewart is a literary agent with Sterling Lord Literistic.Doug has been an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic since 2003. His list is made up primarily of fiction for all ages, from the innovatively literary to the unabashedly commercial. Recent bestselling and award-winning books from Doug’s list include The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, Slade House by David Mitchell, The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg, Harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst, Delicious Foods by James Hannaham, Bobcat by Rebecca Lee, and The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida. On the children’s side, Doug is proud to represent Jane O’Connor of Fancy Nancy fame, the author of the Stick Dog and Stick Cat series Tom Watson, as well as the team behind the bestselling Ladybug Girl series, Jacky Davis and David Soman.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Politics *
115 Broadway Suite 1602 New York NY 10006 USA
Biography
Emilie Stewart is a literary agent and the president of Emilie Stewart Literary Agency. She started her publishing career at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, after leaving the field of neuroscience research. She joined the Anne Edelstein Literary Agency as an agent and rights director in 2003.In January 2008, she formed an exciting new venture- the Emilie Stewart Literary Agency, where she continues to represent an eclectic mix of writers; novelists, short story writers and non-fiction writers of all stripes. She lives in New York City with her husband and son.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Business * Dating/Relationship/Sex * History * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Narrative *
241 East Broadway Suite B New York NY 10002 USA
Biography
Robin Straus is a literary agent with the Robin Straus Agency. Robin is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and the Women’s Media Group. She graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in art history and English literature and received her M.B.A. from New York University. Prior to becoming an agent, she served as a subsidiary rights manager at Random House and Doubleday and worked in editorial at Little, Brown. She was an agent at the Wallace & Sheil Agency before founding Robin Straus Agency, Inc. in 1983. In 2014 she acquired The Wallace Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science *
229 East 79th Street Suite 5A New York NY 10075 USA
Biography
Rebecca Strauss is an agent at DeFiore and Co. and focuses on literary and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, urban fantasy, romance, mystery, YA, pop culture and select non-fiction. In all genres, she’s looking for a compelling story and fresh voice. She’s especially interested in emerging writers and developing long term relationships
Before joining DeFiore and Co., Rebecca was at McIntosh and Otis for seven years where she was an agent and Director of Subsidiary Rights. Prior to M&O, she was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, and a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures. She’s originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Humor * Pop Culture * Young Adult *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Andrew Stuart is a literary agent with the Stuart Agency. Before starting The Stuart Agency in 2002, Andrew Stuart was an agent with the Literary Group International for 5 years. Prior to becoming an agent, he was an editor at Random House and Simon & Schuster. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English, and he received his M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. He focuses on titles in the areas of history, science, narrative nonfiction, business, current events, memoir, psychology, sports, and literary fiction.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Religious * Sports Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Prescriptive * Psychology * Religion * Science * Sports *
450 North End Ave. 25C New York NY 10282 USA
Biography
Saba Sulaiman is a literary agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services. She says: “I was drawn into the world of literature by default when my sister’s growing collection of books in our tiny room began to overflow onto my bed. Bewildered by her fascination with these musty, decaying volumes, I decided to experience them for myself—and instantly fell in love. Born to Pakistani expatriates in Sri Lanka, and knowing how to express myself only in English for the first fifteen years of my life, I found comfort in reading about other culturally displaced people, unable to communicate in their native tongues, and hesitant to assert themselves in environments where there were few examples of people like them. Moving to Pakistan and absorbing what it meant to be an educated woman in a traditional Islamic society contributed greatly to my desire to learn more about similar narratives, especially from other women. In an effort to understand how it felt to be surrounded by other ambitious women with the desire to shatter patriarchal restrictions, I enrolled as an undergraduate at Wellesley College. And the rest, as they say, is history
After double majoring in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley, I studied modern Persian Literature at the University of Chicago, where I got involved with editing our department’s academic journal. And it finally hit me—working closely with writers to hone their craft; seeing a piece of writing from its inception through to its eventual publication; and advocating for what I believed was stellar prose worthy of recognition—this was my calling. So I interned at various newspaper and magazine publications, worked as an editorial intern at Sourcebooks, and then wound up at Talcott Notch, where I’m excited to begin my career as a literary agent.”
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Humor * Memoir * Multicultural *
215 Broad Street 2nd Floor Milford CT 06460 USA
Biography
Amy Tannenbaum is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She is a passionate author advocate with over 15 years of book industry experience. Amy represents clients who write across a variety of genres including women’s fiction, contemporary romance, thriller and psychological suspense. She is particularly interested in those categories, as well as fiction that falls into the sweet spot between literary and commercial, memoir, narrative and prescriptive nonfiction. After graduating from Wesleyan University, Amy worked at Harlequin then Simon & Schuster where she edited a diverse list of bestselling fiction and nonfiction projects. Given Amy’s background, she is able to provide valuable insight into both sides of the business, as well as editorial support to her clients. While Amy represents many bestselling and prolific authors, she prides herself on her ability to find talented debut authors and help them launch successful careers. She also selectively takes on established self-published authors and enjoys adding value to the creation, release, and promotion of their works.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * General Fiction * Literary * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Narrative *
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Alice Tasman is a literary agent with the Jean Naggar Literary Agency. Alice Tasman has been a literary agent at JVNLA since 1995, and has been agenting for over 20 years. Alice represents a wide variety of writers with an emphasis on fiction. Her writers have earned numerous awards, honors, and fellowships, including the Calvino Prize, the C. Hugh Holman Award, the Henfield/Transatlantic Review Award, the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award, the O. Henry Prize, the Saint Francis College Literary Prize, the Willie Morris Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Her clients’ writing has appeared in The New York Times, Best American Short Stories, McSweeney’s, One Story, Oxford American, Prairie Schooner, The Normal School, and A Public Space. Awards and honors for her children’s writers include an ABA Indie Choice E.B. White Read Aloud Honor Award, Midwestern Booksellers Association Award, The Monarch Award, Texas Bluebonnet Award, Newbery Award nominee, Cybils Award nominee.
She loves finding debut writers and is committed to working with authors over the long term. She is very hands-on in every stage of the publishing process—from editing manuscripts and refining proposals, to amassing the perfect list of editors for the project and negotiating contracts, to actively working with publishers on the publicity and marketing of the books.
Alice earned her BA from Brown University and her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Memoir * Middle Grade * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Young Adult *
216 E. 75th St. Suite 1E New York NY 10021 USA
Biography
Brent Taylor is a literary agent with Triada U.S. Literary Agency. His tastes can best be described as upmarket: stories that are extremely well-written, robust with emotion, and appeal to a wide, commercial audience.
He is seeking smart, fun, and heartfelt books in the following categories: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels for kids and teens. His favorite books include: Charlotte’s Web, The Thing About Jellyfish, The Vast Fields of Ordinary, Please Ignore Vera Dietz, and The Westing Game.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
P.O. Box 561 Sewickley PA 15143 USA
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About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark’s authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.
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Author Coaching Testimonials
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent!
My career has spanned publishing, TV, and feature film. I’ve served as Creative Dir. for the Magazine Group, TIME Inc.; Dir. of Time World News Service, a Founding Dir. of TIME-Life Films; Exec. Prod. for both the CBS and NBC TV Networks; Prod./Dir.: Movies of the Week: CBS Cinema Center Films and Universal MCA.
In today’s publishing marketplace, agents come and go. They also very often seem to just want an easy pathway to make a buck. Many authors are let go by their agents because their last book didn’t do well enough and the agent doesn’t want to devote the time to help the author. That’s not what you’re about Mark. Even established authors need this type of support in today’s marketplace.”
Author of ten fiction and nonfiction books
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“I’m psyched to have this be official. After getting five different offers for representation from top literary agents, I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin!
Getting multiple agents interested in my work was really important to me. I’ve dealt with agents before and gotten screwed on things contractually so I wanted to do it differently this time. I wanted choices.
Having you help me create that, and navigate my options, was really helpful. I heard other authors talk about their great relationships with their agents and it made me want the same thing. Now I have that.”
Author of Woman on Fire
(Penguin Books)
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“After sending out the query Mark revised for me, I had the opportunity to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident and, a short time later I had a publishing contract with Berkley Books, which recently published my book in hardcover.
Before that, I sent my query letter out on my own to 30 or 40 agents and got a lot of rejections. I then found Mark online while I was researching agents. I was surprised that he offered so much during his initial consultation—for a very modest amount of money.
I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with Mark. I can’t even imagine that now though, because of the grief and detours I experienced before we worked together. It was a time-consuming pain in the neck. If you want to get the attention of top literary agents and publishers, there is no substitute for working with an insider. You can’t beat experience. And having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable.”
Author of Single Handed
(Berkley Books, a Division of Penguin Random House)
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“AHHH! OMG, it happened! I got three offers of representation for my children’s picture book in the United States, even though I live abroad! When I woke up and found the first offer for representation in my email in box, I wanted to scream. But my family was still asleep so I couldn’t. 🙂
Just 8 minutes after I sent a query letter to one of my favorite agents, she replied and asked to see my manuscript. A short time later we had a lovely conversation. She was interested in representing me and sounded very positive and enthusiastic about my book. Since I also got offers from two other agents, I had to turn two of them down. One of them was upset and it felt like I was breaking her heart, but you just have to do it. I kept reminding myself that this is a good problem to have!”
Author/Illustrator of Lon-Lon’s Big Night
and many other children’s books
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“Mark, after you helped me land a top literary agent, I got publishing offers from THREE well-known publishers: Amacom, Palgrave Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill (they’re publishing my book in hardcover)!
I was at Disneyworld with my family, in the Haunted Mansion, when I got the call. I went outside and listened to the voicemail message from my agent. A huge smile came over my face. It was a fantastic feeling. For a moment I felt like life was perfect and the angels were singing.
You’re filling an important need so I’ll say this to every other author reading this testimonial. Mark showed me that getting a top literary agent is a science. If you’ve written a book, or you’re in the process, you’ve already invested a lot—a lot more than money. Don’t stop yourself from getting out there to fulfill your purpose and dreams. Thank you so, so much, Mark!!!”
Author of Customer Focused Process Innovation (McGraw Hill)
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“I got a book deal! After I started sending out my new query letter I had 6 literary agents request my manuscript in a short amount of time, which is awesome. Then, within 2 weeks of my agent starting to pitch my story to publishers, we had an offer. I signed a book contract yesterday. A little while later my agent told me that a TV co-producer asked for more info about my book.
By the way, the acquiring editor that fell in love with the manuscript jumped in with both feet and we just worked out our timeline for publication. She’s as passionate about getting my book out as I am, and that means everything. She read the manuscript in two days and said she couldn’t put it down. And the book is going to be published as a hardcover!”
Author of A Chick in the Cockpit
(Behler Publications)
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“Thank you Mark! After you helped me get a well-known agent with Hartline Literary Agency (for my previously self-published murder mystery), he got me a deal with an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) approved publisher. I’m hard-pressed to find anything that I had an expectation for that you didn’t deliver on.
Before I worked with you I sent out queries, but no one ever requested my complete manuscript. Comparing your new version of my query to the one I wrote before, I can see a vast difference.
I’ve been in business for 35 years so I’m not just saying this… what you’re doing is phenomenal. There are other people offering similar services, but the difference is your success. Others might say they do similar things but, if you research them, they don’t have your background or track record.”
Author of The Rector
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“Mark, you’re a miracle worker. Thanks to your help with my book, query letter, and synopsis… I now have a legitimate publisher who described my book as ‘Powerful Magic’ and it’s now available in bookstores and online!
I’m a lifelong academic writer who one day found myself writing inspired short stories that came to me in dreams and I began thinking of them as novels. That’s when I had a momentous conversation, an introductory coaching call with Mark Malatesta, the American creative writing coach, or rather, to be precise, a how-to-sell-yourself-and-your-work adviser. It was the best-spent money of my life apart (possibly) for my wedding ring.”
Author of The Black Inked Pearl
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“Within 4 minutes of sending out my query letter, a top literary called me on the phone (the #1 agent on my wish list). Less than 30 days later I had three major publishers making offers. A few days after that, I signed a deal with Random House. Mark, your query letter did that.
My agent talked about the query letter you helped me create for a long, long time. When he first called me on the phone, he hadn’t seen any of my sample chapters. It was just the query letter that did it. Communicating the right thing is so important. You are a wonderful medium helping authors find their voice and elevate their writing from just a hobby to a real business… a source from which they can both learn and earn.”
Author of Lights Out
(Random House)
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“MARK, MARK, MARK!!!!!!! Holy smokes… I just signed my book deal. First, two well-known literary agents asked to represent me. One of them responded to my query letter in less than 4 minutes!!
Then THREE different publishers wanted my book and started talking about making offers. The publisher I chose is perfect for me because they produce titles for the trade, educational, and scientific markets. And they agreed to publish my book as a hardcover!!!
When I met you, Mark, it was a pivotal time. I was under the belief that I could self-publish my book with a vanity press and then seek a publisher. I didn’t know what a literary agent was, why I needed one, or how to get one. I was wandering in the dark. You guided me in the right direction and gave me a solid plan.”
Author of Intestinal Health
(Rowman & Littlefield)
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“Boom!!! I just signed a contract with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins for (what I’ve been told by several people) is a very large advance for a first-time author.
Before working with Mark I submitted my book to agents but didn’t get any interest. This time around I got a top NY literary agency (Fine Print Lit). What cloud is higher than 9?
I had several agencies interested before deciding to go with Fine Print. And, to be honest, all of the attention didn’t surprise me. The query letter and proposal that Mark helped me develop were incredible. Agents actually said things to me like: ‘Scott, I read your proposal and I’m just blown away by it!’ Mark is extremely talented at what he does. If you have the opportunity to work with him, take advantage of it.”
Author of The Unbreakable Boy
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)