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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
Stuti Telidevara is a literary agent with Park & Fine Literary and Media. She works with Peter Knapp at Park & Fine on sharp, commercial middle grade, young adult, and upmarket adult fiction. Passionate about diverse storytellers and captivating fantasy worlds, she previously held positions at Raven Quill Literary and Transatlantic Literary, and was a summer intern at Hachette. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard and spends her free time watching ice hockey and listening to pop culture podcasts.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Kristen Terrette is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. She is a literary manager excited to build her list featuring titles in middle grade, young adult, female-driven crime thrillers, faith-based books, and the occasional picture book with an author/illustrator.
She has a BA in Early Childhood Education and MA in Theology and Religious Studies which led her into children’s ministry for many years. Eventually, her lifelong love of books and authors drew her back to her original dream of entering the publishing world. Kristen is a multi-published author and freelance writer. She’s held such positions as the Blog Manager for a national women’s ministry and the Social Media Manager for a publishing house. All these components landed her a spot in the coveted Writers House Intern Program. There, she received valuable hands-on agenting and publishing experience which she brings into her new position.
Kristen has long been a voice for diversity. She’s written extensively on topics of racial reconciliation and unity and is a facilitator of groups around these topics in her church. In all her focused genres, she welcomes books with BIPOC or disabled main characters and diverse friendships. She believes books change people in all the best ways and that every child should see themselves in the pages.
Middle Grade (All subgenres except Sci-fi): Kristen hearts Middle Grade. She would love to see books tackling themes like abandonment, bullying, loneliness, comparison, divorce, and body image but done so by instilling hope, growth, and healing. Send her the creepy, horrifying, supernatural, fantastical, historical, and contemporary. She is ready to see it all.
Young Adult (All subgenres except Sci-fi): Kristen’s background in writing YA and her extensive reading in this genre has given her a great love and understanding of it. Grab her attention within the first couple of pages. Send her books with first loves, unique friendships, interesting and/or challenging family dynamics, and hard-hitting subject matter (race relations, suicide, abuse, divorce, etc.) but leave her with a satisfying (not necessarily happy!) ending.
Women’s Crime Thriller: Kristen loves a good thriller with a woman main character, so send her the smart, tough, and brave lady crime solvers. If she can’t figure out what’s going to happen next or what the ending will be, you’ve gotten her attention.
Faith-Based Fiction and Memoirs: Kristen loves a good redemption or forgiveness story, a historically accurate saga, a clean and beautiful, yet realistic love story, or a memoir that has her crying and laughing within the span of a few pages. Surprise her with the beauty of God’s grace.
Picture Books with Authors/Illustrators: Picture books are an important part of establishing a love for literature at an early age, though, at this time, Kristen is only looking for authors who are also illustrators. If your work fits these criteria, she’d love to see it.
Kristen is not a good fit for Science Fiction (even in MG or YA), books with any political agenda, extremely foul-mouthed characters, or gratuitous sex scenes.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Inspirational Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Christian * Cultural/Social Issues * Juvenile * Memoir * Multicultural * Parenting/Child Guidance * Religion * Spirituality * True Crime *
Biography
Michelle Tessler is a literary agent with the Tessler Literary Agency. Before forming the agency, Michelle Tessler worked at William Morris and the prestigious literary agency Carlisle & Company (now Inkwell Management). She also spent seven years working in content and business development in the Internet industry, beginning in 1994 when she was hired by best-selling author James Gleick to help launch The Pipeline. In light of the digital opportunities that are transforming publishing, Michelle’s experience in the Internet world is of great benefit to her authors, both as they navigate ebook and “audio original” opportunities, and as they look for creative and effective ways to market their books to niche communities that can be targeted online.
Michelle is a member of AALA (Association of American Literary Agents), and Women’s Media Group. She has attended numerous writing conferences including The Muse & the Marketplace (GrubStreet), Aspen Words, the Kauai Writers Conference, and the Faulkner Festival. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel *
27 W. 20th St. Suite 1003 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
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 women’s 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 remarkable memoirs, humor writing, essay collections, narrative nonfiction, history, investigative journalism, true crime, and prescriptive titles with strong platforms. Broadly speaking, I am drawn to anything with vivid characters, an interest in social justice, a compelling narrative voice, and/or a great sense of humor. I do not represent children’s books, including YA.
As a relatively young agent with space on my list and 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.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Magical Realism * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Investigative * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Science * True Crime *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Madeline Ticknor is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She began her agenting career in 2018 as an intern at Curtis Brown, and soon after began working as an assistant at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency where she worked with award-winning authors including Carl Safina, Nancy Springer, Sarai Walker, and Bonnie Kistler, and more. In 2021, she joined Writers House as an agent associate and began building her own list. Authors she worked with at Writers House include Jonathan Franzen, Rachel Kushner, Imbolo Mbue, William T. Vollmann, Tim Murphy, Vauhini Vara, Sanjena Sathian, and many more.
In 2022 Madeline joined Janklow & Nesbit Associates and is actively building her own list of literary and commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction while also assisting PJ Mark and his authors. She’s looking for fiction that bridges the gap between commercial and literary, upmarket thrillers and grounded speculative stories that explore the ideas of family and home, and queer stories that subvert or interrogate the concept of “binary.”
A graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, Madeline now lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Upmarket *
Biography
Jennifer Chen Tran is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. With over a decade of experience in publishing, Jennifer is passionate about nurturing and championing authors and their creative lives. She represents a wide range of talent, including journalists, physicians, entrepreneurs, thought-leaders, chefs, and graphic novelists, among others.
Prior to joining Folio, Jennifer was a literary agent at several west-coast literary agencies and served as Of Counsel at The New Press. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Northeastern School of Law in Boston, MA, and a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. She is an attorney in good standing in New York and California.
Recent nonfiction titles Jennifer represented include Stuart Palley’s memoir Into The Inferno; 101-year old physician and mother of holistic medicine Dr. Gladys McGary’s The Well-Lived Life: A Centenarian Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Any Age; Kate Oliver’s The Modern Caravan; contributing cartoonist for The New Yorker and BuzzFeed, artist Natalya Lobanova’s Everyone is Awful, a debut collection of darkly humorous comics; and clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk’s Living in the Moment.
Recent fiction titles Jennifer represented include author Kristen Kiesling’s The Harrowing, a YA graphic novel about a psychic teen girl who is forced to use her powers to track down killers, until she discovers her boyfriend is her next target; Lily Quan’s middle-grade novelization of Disney-Pixar movie Turning Red; and Rebecca Kelley’s contemporary novel No One Knows Us Here.
Jennifer is an editorial agent who believes in the art of collaboration and works closely with her authors from concept, to proposal, to publication, and beyond. As a person of color and daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Jennifer is committed to amplifying voices from underrepresented and marginalized communities. Her ultimate goal is to work in concert with authors to shape books that will have a lasting positive social impact on the world – books that illuminate, entertain, and inspire.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Design * Environment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * Women’s Issues *
630 Ninth Avenue Suite 1101 New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Caroline Trussell is a literary agent with the Metamorphosis Literary Agency. She has a background in editing, writing, and communications and has worked as an agent assistant, editorial assistant, journalist, and communications consultant. She is passionate about finding writers with unique voices and points of view and is looking for steamy romances, out of this world fantasies, and YA and MG that touch on vital topics that can’t be ignored. She’s also a self-published young adult author, a Columbia Publishing Course graduate, and a mental health advocate.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * NoPB * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Joy Tutela is a literary agent with the David Black Agency. A member of AAR, Joy Tutela has been with the David Black Literary Agency since 1998. Joy represents various genres of books, including projects in the following categories: narrative non-fiction, memoir, history, politics, self-help, investment, business, science, women’s and GLBT issues, parenting, health and fitness, humor, craft, cooking and wine, lifestyle and entertainment, commercial and literary fiction, and middle grade and young adult. She represents the New York Times bestselling Atkins series as well as New York Times bestselling Intellectual Devotional series by David Kidder and Noah Oppenheim. She also represents the New York Times bestsellers Catification and Catify to Satisfy by the host of “My Cat From Hell” Jackson Galaxy and his co-author Kate Benjamin, and Jenny Sanford’s New York Times bestselling memoir Staying True. Other bestselling projects include Steven Puleo’s Dark Tide and Boston Italians, Lisa J. Edwards’ A Dog Named Boo, and Kim Sunée’s Trail of Crumbs, and Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne’s Mason-Dixon Knitting. Joy also works with respected business leaders and organizations including Jim McCann founder and CEO of 1-800-Flowers.com; Danny Seo, eco-lifestyle guru and founder and editor-in-chief of Naturally, Danny Seo; Susan Packard, former COO and co-founder of HGTV; Jonah Sachs, founder and CEO of Free Range Studios; Ashok Bajaj, restaurateur and founder of Knightsbridge Management; Stephen Fraser, founder and CEO of the online fabric store Spoonflower; and The Athena Center for Leadership at Barnard College. Originally from and based in Red Sox Nation, Joy is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Radcliffe Publishing Course. She has been writing instructor at Goucher’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction program. She previously worked for Harvard Business School Press and taught at an elementary school in Italy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * NoPB * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Crafts * Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Technology * Travel * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
335 Adams St. Suite 2707 Brooklyn NY 11201 USA
Biography
Amanda Urban is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. Amanda says: “I joined ICM as a literary agent in 1980, serving as Co-Director of the Literary Department in New York for nineteen years, and Managing Director of ICM Books in London for six years. Prior to joining ICM, I was General Manager of New York Magazine and The Village Voice, and Editorial Manager of Esquire Magazine. I represent both fiction and non-fiction titles for many world-renowned authors and prize-winning journalists, ranging from literary novels to memoirs, biographies, and books on current affairs.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Journalism * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Science *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Lisa Erbach Vance is a literary agent with The Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency. Lisa joined the Aaron Priest Literary Agency in 1993 as Director of Foreign Rights for Aaron Priest and began representing her own clients shortly thereafter. Her clients include Harlan Coben, Gregg Hurwitz, Glen Erik Hamilton, B.J. Daniels, Ann Howard Creel, Kathleen Sharp, Gayle Lynds, Matt Beynon Rees, Aaron and Charlotte Elkins, Amanda Stevens, Watt Key, Anthony Franze, G.M. Ford, the estate of Madeleine L’Engle, and more.
Prior to joining the agency, Lisa’s publishing career began at Random House, Inc. where she was selected as one of the first participants in their new Management Trainee program, after which she became an associate in the foreign rights department at Crown Publishers. Lisa was born and raised outside of Chicago, and she has a degree in English Literature from Northwestern University.
Lisa is currently most interested in and actively seeking out the following types of works: Contemporary and historical fiction, literary or commercial, especially works featuring female characters. Observant, thoughtful fiction about families and friends, with fresh perspectives on modern relationships and unique narrative voices. Propulsive, emotionally engaging thrillers—contemporary or historical, domestic or international. Moody psychological suspense. Contemporary gothic fiction. Romantic suspense. Narrative non-fiction, current or historical topics.
In every category, Lisa looks for a powerful premise and characters she’ll be passionate about, in addition to great writing. Her goal is not only to sell books, but to also build long and ever-growing careers for her clients, giving each of them close and thorough attention as well as being an advocate in all aspects of the publishing process, including licensing foreign rights, audio rights, dramatic rights and more.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * New Adult * Paranormal * Pop Culture *
370 Lexington Ave Suite 1202 New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Joanna Volpe is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. Joanna represents all brands of fiction (commercial, literary and genre) and has an affinity for stories that feature nuanced characters and complex relationship dynamics. She is currently on the lookout for stories with rich settings, diverse and unique perspectives, and she has a soft spot for speculative and/or fantastical elements. She’s personally not the kind of reader that needs a romance in her novels, though she does appreciate a good one.
On the non-fiction side her tastes are much more specific. In adult non-fiction she tends toward all things geek-related, foodie books, travel books, general pop-culture, pop-science and narrative non-fiction featuring interesting and powerful women. For children’s books she looks for topics that captivate kids: biographies (particularly untold stories), animal-related stories, all sciences, tech, history, etc. Joanna also enjoys morbid, weird or offbeat topics.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science * Women’s Issues *
110 West 40th Street Suite 2201 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Mitchell Waters is a literary agent with the Curtis Brown Literary Agency. He represents a wide and diverse array of literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction, including mystery, history, biography and memoir. He is particularly drawn to historical fiction and voice-driven narratives, especially when both dark and humorous. He is also looking for realistic young adult fiction. He served for ten years on the Board of Directors of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and is currently head of the membership committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Satire * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Memoir * Narrative *
1501 Broadway Suite 2605 New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Bethany Weaver is a literary agent with Weaver Literary & Management. Prior to establishing WLA, Bethany Weaver began her career as an intern for the phenomenal Creative Media Inc. She has since held internships at Strand Magazine, Touchpoint Press, and Cozy Cat Press before working for Storm Literary Agency as their sole Foreign Rights agent.
Before publishing, she earned her BA in English with a concentration on writing, editing, and media and pursued a career with her local newspaper eventually making the switch to the USA Today where she still resides.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Erotica * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Suspense * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Gay/Lesbian * Humor * Journalism * Pop Culture * Spirituality * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
USA
Biography
Carlisle Webber is a literary agent with Fuse Literary. She refused to major in English in college because she didn’t think there was anything fun to read on the required lists. No Stephen King? No R.L. Stine? No thanks! After college, she took her love of commercial, YA, and middle grade fiction to the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences, where she earned a Master of Library and Information Sciences. She worked as a public librarian for years before deciding to move to the business side of publishing. She attended the Columbia Publishing Course, interned at Writers House, and worked at the Jane Rotrosen Agency in New York City.
She considers herself to be an editorial agent and holds a Professional Certificate in Editing from University of California, Berkeley. She belongs to the American Copy Editors Society and Bay Area Editors’ Forum. When editing, she aims to make a book the best possible version of itself, shaping it in a way so it can best use its unique voice to appeal to a wide audience. Carlisle is looking for high-concept commercial fiction in middle grade, young adult, and adult. If your book is fresh and exciting, tackles difficult topics, reads like a Shonda Rhimes show, or makes readers stay up late turning pages, she’s the agent for you.
Diverse authors are encouraged to submit their fiction. Within the genres she represents, Carlisle is especially interested in stories by and about people of color; with both visible and invisible disabilities and illnesses; who are economically disadvantaged; who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer; or who are members of religious minorities. Take a look at her manuscript wish list. But if you don’t write exactly what’s on her list, don’t worry! She’s happy to look at any work that falls into the categories she represents.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
PO Box 258 La Honda CA 94020 USA
Biography
Elisabeth Weed is a literary agent and partner with The Book Group. She began her publishing career at Curtis Brown in 1999. In 2007, Elisabeth opened her own agency, Weed Literary, where she began focusing primarily on upmarket fiction. She is especially attracted to plot-driven novels with a sense of place, and loves discovering new voices. She’s on the hunt for literary thrillers and crime novels and has a soft spot for historical fiction. Elisabeth is committed to working with authors not just on individual titles, but for the long term. Her clients’ novels have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists as well as international bestseller lists around the globe. Elisabeth has a weakness for books that are unpredictable, atmospheric and suspenseful, and she is especially excited about thrillers, historical fiction, or a combination of the two.
Although she is a born and bred New Yorker, Elisabeth recently moved from the city to the suburbs with her husband and two children. Now that she finally has a normal sized kitchen, she has discovered her love of cooking, something she loves almost as much as reading a great novel in bed.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Dystopian * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION:
20 West 20th Street Suite 601 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Samantha Wekstein is a literary agent with the Thompson Literary Agency. She grew up in Westchester, NY. She attended the University of Maryland, College Park and received a B.A. in English. She now lives in NYC with her husband and dog. After internships with Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and Rowman & Littlefield, she began her career in 2013 at Writers House LLC. She then briefly worked as an assistant at The Agency Group (now UTA) before returning to Writers House for the next 5 years where she began supporting the CEO, and then the Founder, before becoming an agent. For more information on her tastes, please visit: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/SamanthaWekstein/ Her clients include Lani Forbes, Korrie Leer, and Jessie L. Star, among others.
She’s been lucky to work with a variety of best-selling and award winning authors across all genres. She joined TLA in 2019 where she’s excited to grow her list. In YA, she loves creative and epic fantasies, but she is also drawn to realistic stories with multi-dimensional female characters. She is always interested in elevating diverse voices, particularly through feminist narratives. She is seeking middle grade of all stripes, but especially stories that deal with themes of friendship, adventure, or encountering tragedy for the first time. She is also on the lookout for whimsical, meaningful, and funny picture books. On the adult side she is drawn to commercial voices in Romance, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Humor * Narrative * Pop Culture * Women’s Issues *
48 Great Jones Street #5F New York NY 10012 USA
Biography
Lauren Wendelken is a literary agent with Susanna Lea Associates. She is a Midwesterner and a neuroscientist by training. She began working with Susanna Lea Associates in New York in 2007. After a six year hiatus in San Francisco, where she worked at UCSF with Dr. Victor Valcour’s NeuroAIDS research group, she was thrilled to return to the SLA fold in 2016. Lauren is passionate about nonfiction books with a social mission, or those which aim to make science accessible to all, as well as upmarket commercial fiction, literary fiction, and speculative fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Science *
331 West 20th Street New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Kimberly Whalen is a literary agent with and the founder of The Whalen Agency. Before founding The Whalen Agency, Kimberly Whalen worked at a major New York City literary agency for 15 years, where she represented dozens of New York Times bestselling clients. Those clients delivered over 40 New York Times bestselling books, multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers, dozens of international bestsellers (including #1 international bestsellers) and netted several eight-figure deals.
Prior to her renowned career as a literary agent, Kimberly Whalen worked as the foreign rights director at St. Martin’s Press. The experience of working at a publishing company as well as her background in selling international rights for over 20 years provides her clients with a truly unique and global expertise that is unparalleled in the industry.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Lifestyle * Memoir * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture *
500 Post Road East 2nd Floor, Suite 240 Westport CT 06880 USA
Biography
Michaela Whatnall is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. She joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2019 as the assistant to Michael Bourret in the West Coast office. After graduating from Emory University with a degree in English and linguistics, Michaela completed the Columbia Publishing Course. Her background in school and library marketing accounts for her strong interest in children’s literature, from picture books up through middle grade and young adult novels and graphic novels. In the adult space, she is particularly interested in character-driven fantasy and science fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Film/Entertainment * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Sports *
One Union Square West Suite 904 New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Natanya Wheeler is a literary agent and director of digital rights with the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. She is looking for literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction. She is particularly interested in books that help us understand our world. She’s looking for multicultural voices, psychological thrillers, suspense, book club fiction, romance, and humorous fiction. She loves to find new writers and does not shy away from debut talent.
For nonfiction, Natanya is interested in authors with strong platforms who write about nature, the human mind, women’s issues, or animals.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * NoYA * Romance * Satire * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Food/Drinks * Multicultural * Women’s Issues *
121 W. 27th St. Suite 1201 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Maria Whelan is a literary agent with InkWell Management. Maria graduated from University College Dublin with a BA in English and Drama then obtained a MSc in Modern Literature from the University of Edinburgh. With bright-eyes, she moved from Dublin to New York in the hopes of pursuing a career in publishing. Before joining InkWell, she worked as a Foreign Rights Assistant at Janklow & Nesbit and interned at Akashic Books. Maria enjoys literary fiction, especially if macabre and written with a strong narrative voice. She’s also fond of non-fiction, revolving around peculiar or overlooked facets of society.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Multicultural *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Emily Williamson is a literary agent with Williamson Literary. She represents a variety of projects in non-fiction and fiction. She is a native of New Jersey, graduated from American University (BA Anthropology) in 1997 and Johns Hopkins University (MA Writing) in 2012. She began her career as an editor in 2011 with Chrysalis Editorial* in Washington, DC. In 2016 she founded Williamson Literary, driven by the desire to help great writers achieve their publishing goals.
As a writer, she understands the investment of time and heart it takes to follow this challenging path. It is the core of Williamson Literary—to support the careers of dedicated writers who deserve to see their ideas and imaginings realized. Williamson Literary is also about building relationships: agent-author, agent-publisher, author-publisher.
In the past, Emily spent 13 years as an archaeologist traveling all over the US and abroad in search of many things…sometimes finding nothing. It is this varied, nomadic past that has influenced her own writing and her particular interests as an agent. Emily does other things. She is a painter (see Twitter page). She loves the outdoors, cuts her own firewood, and plays fantasy football. She’s one of those annoying people who can’t eat gluten; she binge-watches Netflix shows; loves to travel; and her preferred clothing season is Autumn. She currently lives and works in Baltimore, MD with her husband, Greg, who is a poet, and their blue-eyed border collie, Arlo. Arlo doesn’t write, but he reads a lot.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * History * Humor * Journalism * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Cross Keys Baltimore MD 21210 USA
Biography
Jennifer Wills is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. She has five years of experience in some of the publishing industry’s leading literary agencies. She worked with publishers around the world as an assistant in Trident Media Group’s huge foreign rights department, and with domestic publishers as an assistant at Writers House (where, incidentally, she began her career as an intern).
She joined The Seymour Agency in April 2016, where she has quickly moved up the ranks to associate agent. Jennifer has always loved helping fledgling authors become New York Times bestsellers and she’s ready to be a relentless champion for her own clients’ work.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Gay/Lesbian * Juvenile * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Self-Help/Personal Development * Women’s Issues *
4100 Corporate Square Suite 140 Naples FL 34104 USA
Biography
Kimberly Witherspoon is a literary agent with InkWell Management. At age 26, Kimberly founded her own literary agency, which quickly became one of the most prestigious and successful agencies in Manhattan, with clients who are frequently published around the world. Over the past 15 years, she has represented critically acclaimed and bestselling authors of both fiction and nonfiction, including: Kate Atkinson, Anthony Bourdain, Carol Cassella, David Chang, Susan Cheever, Cindy Crawford, Gabrielle Hamilton, Eloisa James, Lloyd Jones, Neil Jordan, Lesley Kagen, Sophie Kinsella, Richard Marcinko, Peter Meehan, Julie Orringer, Carly Phillips, Arundhati Roy, Lionel Shriver, Lalita Tademy, David Vann and Rebecca Wells. She graduated from Brown University in 1984 with a BA in International Relations. She is a founding board member of The Bronx Academy of Letters, a member of the Authors Guild and the editor of two anthologies, including: DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME: Culinary Catastrophes From the World’s Greatest Chefs.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * Romance * Satire * Short Story Collection * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Kent Wolf is a literary agent with Neon Literary. He is also founding partner and rights director. He launched his agenting career in the depths of the 2008 recession—a fitting start, given his affinity for forging new markets in a risk-averse industry. A lover of the bizarre, the profane, the unsettling, the dark, and the darkly funny, he is drawn to writing that occupies a literary uncanny valley and to writers who move the cultural needle through direct confrontation, self-interrogation, the blurring of genres, the bending of language, and damn good writing.
Once told that he would “be more successful if he weren’t so intentionally weird,” Kent has sold multiple bestselling and award-winning books to publishers both large and small. His clients’ titles have been translated into dozens of languages and many are in active TV/film development.
He represents literary fiction (story collections and novels) and narrative nonfiction in the areas of immersive journalism, personal essay, pop culture, memoir, “anti-lifestyle,” and anything that aims to dismantle prevailing power structures.
Raised in rural Illinois, Kent lives in Manhattan with his husband. He currently serves on the board of Lambda Literary and is a member of The Association of Authors’ Representatives.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Science Fiction * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture *
115 W 29th St 3rd Floor New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Michelle Wolfson is a literary agent with Wolfson Literary Agency. Michelle formed Wolfson Literary Agency in 2007 and is actively seeking authors of commercial fiction in the following categories: mainstream, mysteries, thrillers, suspense, chick-lit, romance, women’s fiction, and young adult. She is drawn to well written material with strong interesting characters. She is also interested in practical and narrative non-fiction projects, particularly those of interest to women. Michelle holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from New York University. Prior to forming her own agency, Michelle spent two years with Artists & Artisans, Inc. and two years with Ralph Vicinanza, Ltd. Before that, she spent several years working outside of publishing, in non-profit and then finance, and she brings the skills she learned there plus a lifetime love of reading to the table as an agent.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Mainstream * Mystery * NoMG * NoPB * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Humor * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture *
Cooper Station – P.O. Box 266 New York NY 10276 USA
Biography
Eleanor Wood is a literary agent with Spectrum Literary Agency. Eleanor (B.A. New York University, M.A. Bryn Mawr College) is also the founder and president of Spectrum Literary Agency, and she is Agent for The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Her list includes authors of science fiction, fantasy, suspense and other areas of commercial fiction as well as a smaller number of nonfiction writers. She is proud to represent Spectrum Authors and hopes you will browse their web pages.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
320 Central Park West Suite 1-D New York NY 10025 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)