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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): Science Fiction
Biography
Stephanie Steiker is a literary agent with Regal Hoffmann & Associates. She joined Regal Hoffmann in 2015. From 2008 to 2015 she was Associate Director of the New York Institute for the Humanities at NYU, working with prominent figures in literature, academia, and the arts. Previously she has worked for the online magazine Words Without Borders; the journal East European Politics and Societies; and the New School’s Transregional Center for Democratic Studies. A native New Yorker with a degree in comparative literature from Brown University, she lived in Poland from 1999 to 2001, has a background in documentary film, and for several years wrote about the downtown NY music scene for The New Yorker. Stephanie is open to submissions in serious and narrative non-fiction, as well as literary fiction (including graphic novels). In non-fiction, her interests are history, philosophy, current affairs, literary and cultural studies; biography and memoir; music, photography, and issues of racial and economic justice. She’s enthusiastic about international writing (reads in French, Spanish, and Polish), and has a thing for prose written by poets.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Economics | History | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Philosophy | Photography | Science | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Peter Steinberg is a literary agent with United Talent Agency (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 National Book Award. His list includes commercial and literary fiction, sci-fi and fantasy, narrative non-fiction, memoir, self-help, history, true crime, pop culture, humor, and sports.
Steinberg is a graduate of NYU film school and worked briefly in the film business prior to becoming a literary agent.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Film Entertainment | History | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Science | Self-Help | Sports | True Crime |
Biography
Dr. Uwe Stender is a literary agent with Triada U.S. Literary Agency. Uwe is a Full Member of the AALA (Association of American Literary Agents). He is interested in all kinds of non-fiction and fiction. In non-fiction, he is completely open to any project, from (ESPECIALLY) Popular Science, (but also) Pop Culture, and Health to How-to, Gardening, History and everything in between. In Children’s fiction, he is looking for YA, Graphic Novels, and MG. In adult fiction, his tastes trend towards Women’s Fiction/Romance, Psychological Suspense, Mysteries, and Romantasy. As an immigrant to the USA himself, he is always eager to bring projects from underrepresented voices into the world. So surprise him, his tastes are eclectic, and he may just love what you wrote!
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Family | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | Gardening | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Crime |
Biography
Julie Stevenson is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin. She was an agent at Sobel Weber Associates and Waxman Leavell Literary before joining Massie & McQuilkin. She received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.F.A in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. She also worked in the editorial departments of Tin House and Publishers Weekly. She is drawn to fiction with unforgettable characters, an authorial command of voice, and a strong sense of narrative tension. She loves outsiders, weirdos, and innovators. She looks for work that explores the depths of human experience and the many facets of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, and regional backgrounds. Julie loves editing and contemplating craft and storytelling with clients. She takes pride in connecting writers with editors and ultimately with readers. She’s agented books that have won the Pulitzer Prize, the MWA Edgar Award, the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, the Carnegie Medal for Excellence, and the Tim McGinnis Award for Humor. She represents literary and upmarket fiction, suspense and thrillers, memoir, narrative nonfiction, and YA.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Science |
Biography
Sam Stoloff is a literary agent with the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. Sam is also the Principal and President of the agency. He joined the Agency in 1997, after completing an MFA in poetry and a doctoral dissertation in American cultural history, both at Cornell University. He is interested in books that advance the public conversation on crucial issues and groundbreaking work of all kinds, including literary fiction, memoir, history, accessible sociology and philosophy, cultural studies, serious journalism on contemporary and international affairs, and narrative and topical nonfiction with a progressive orientation. Among his particular interests are literary graphic fiction and nonfiction, works on environmental sustainability, books on legal affairs and the justice system, works that dissect the right wing and American imperialism, the history of race in America, the history of science and technology, and books on food culture and history. His taste in fiction ranges from the psychologically realistic, to first-rate speculative literature. His clients include Susan Bordo, Monica Byrne, Mandy Catron, Pratap Chatterjee, David Cole, Cliff Conner, Dessa Darling, Ray Douglas, Mark Edmundson, Shelley Fisher Fishkin, Bruce Grierson, Deborah Harkness, Kristin Henderson, Michael Hudson, Lynn Hunt, Margaret Jacob, Steven Jaffe, Barbara Kingsolver, Michelle Kuo, Anna Lappé, Eleanor Lerman, Evan Mandery, Stephanie Mencimer, Rutu Modan, Carla Peterson, Sam Polk, Janisse Ray, Gretchen Reynolds, Clancy Sigal, Siva Vaidhyanathan, Mike Wallace, and Helene Wecker.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Satire | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Environment | Food Drink | Government | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Law Legal | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Philosophy | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Mariah Stovall is a literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She joined Trellis Literary Management after agenting at Howland Literary and Writers House. Prior to that, she worked on the other side of things, at Farrar, Straus and Giroux and at Gallery Books. She represents adult literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction and essay collections, all by writers with strong voices and interdisciplinary perspectives. She is not currently seeking memoirs.
Across genres, she gravitates toward outsiders and stylish, inventive storytelling. She’s primarily interested in how subcultures, social movements, and complex individuals intersect with pop culture and the arts, history, STEM, linguistics, sports, and philosophy. She has a hands-on, collaborative approach to editing and loves helping writers shape their projects for publication. She’s especially passionate about advocating for authors from underrepresented and marginalized and minoritized groups (including writers without MFAs).
Mariah is a graduate of Pitzer College, of the Claremont Colleges, where she studied English and World Literature with a minor in Linguistics. She has written fiction and nonfiction for Ninth Letter, Hobart, Joyland, The Los Angeles Review of Books, Catapult, The Paris Review, Poets & Writers, Literary Hub and more, and volunteered with VIDA: Women in Literary Arts.
Non-client writers she admires include Percival Everett, Han Kang, Raven Leilani, Helen Oyeyemi, and Namwali Serpell, in fiction; and Hanif Abdurraqib, Michelle Alexander, Amanda Montell, Mary Roach, and Merlin Sheldrake in nonfiction.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Black Literary Agents |Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Short Story Collection | Upmarket Fiction |Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Environment | History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Philosophy | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Technology | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Rebecca Strauss is an agent at DeFiore and Co. and focuses on literary and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, YA, pop culture and select non-fiction. In all genres, she’s looking for a compelling story, clear concept, fresh voice and emotional heart—a work that grabs you from the first page. She’s especially interested in emerging writers and underrepresented voices; and, she’s looking to develop 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
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Economics | Humor Nonfiction | Money Finance | Parenting | Pop Culture |
Biography
Kari Sutherland is a literary agent with KT Literary. She is based out of Southern California. She began on the editorial side of publishing, first at Disney Press, then HarperCollins Children’s Books–where she had the honor of editing many talented authors, including Victoria Aveyard and Sara Shepard. Middle grade and YA are at the heart of her list, but she also represents picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and upmarket fiction. She graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in English and Psychology and received a Masters in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice before pivoting back to her first love–books. With her editorial insight and experience with the entire publishing process, Kari is passionate about helping to polish each manuscript and equip her clients for success.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Kristina Sutton-Lennon is the CEO, Co-Founder and a literary agent with Focused Artists. For Focused Artists, she has facilitated book deals with publishers, including HarperCollins, Hachette, and National Geographic. She pitches content to producers, studios and networks, and has projects in various stages of development with production companies. Kristina prides herself on her diverse slate of content and has a proven track record in sourcing material, script development, and talent scouting for the screen and page.
Prior to delving into producing and management, Kristina was an actor (SAG-AFTRA) and educator, teaching acting and improv at the college level. She previously served as a film/tv agent and as the Director of the Louisiana Division for a talent agency headquartered in Atlanta. Kristina recently served as the Director of Media Rights at Context Literary Agency and currently serves as a Talent Manager for Citizen Skull.
In 2022, Publishers Weekly named her an Honoree in their annual Rising Star Watch. Kristina earned her MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University. She is a proud member of NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers), the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance, and a board member of SPARK! Kristina is also a Board Member for the Seattle Latino Film Festival (SLFF).
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | BIPOC Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Upmarket Fiction |BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Crafts | Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Parenting | Psychology | Self-Help | Technology | Travel | Women’s Issues |
Danielle Svetcov
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Danielle Svetcov is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She is the author of Parked, a “quirky” “big-hearted” middle-grade novel that “explores what happens when homelessness and helpfulness collide.” Before Parked, Danielle wrote for the New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune Magazine. She joined LGR in 2002.
Books she rereads for love: I Capture the Castle, Lone Pilgrim, Jane Eyre, Devil in the White City, Ladies and Gentlemen—the Bronx is Burning.
Audiobooks that she’s recently listened to (in the car) on rainy days: When You Reach Me, Naked, The Secret Garden, Undefeated.
Her clients tend to be oppositional but reasoned, serious but amused—preferring their rabbit holes deep.
Her taste is reflected in the journalism and narrative nonfiction she’s sold, e.g. Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves; its natural follow-up Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art; a cultural history of our bodies under water, Why We Swim; a refusal to be grammatically cornered, Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark; a refusal to be artfully ignored Broad Strokes and She Votes; and a story of greed that threatens us all (where we least expect it), Kill Shot.
Also, to offset the Victorian in her, she signs funny books, e.g. Skymaul: Happy Crap You Can Buy From A Plane; Look Big, a guide to surviving wild-animal close-encounters (which is funnier than you might think); What to Talk About; Bike Snob; and Minnesota-Book-of-the-Year nominee, The Annie Year, an ensemble novel that blurs heartland and heartburn.
Of course, she has to eat, too… She represents an incredible stable of chefs, restaurateurs, and food/ag-thinkers—many of them IACP and Beard Award winners—including Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky’s New York Times bestselling Run Fast Eat Slow; Bryant Terry’s Afro-Vegan and Vegetable Kingdom; Michelle Polzine’s Baking at the 20th Century Café; Russell Moore and Allison Hopelain’s This is Camino; Adrianna Adarme’s The Year of Cozy; Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski’s State Bird Provisions; Brandon Jew’s Mr. Jiu’s in Chinatown; Sophie Egan’s OK to Eat; and many more.
Some of her authors you’ll be hearing from soon: Rachel Gross, Nicole Perlroth, Sophia Vincent-Guy, Mark Bittman, Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, Beth Rodden, Eugenia Viti, Diana Kapp, Diana Helmuth, Molly Huddle, Sara Slattery, Rick Easton, Melissa McCart, Andrew Hilleman, Colin Clancy, Jodi Angel, S.P. Miskowski, Mike Sacks and Jason Roeder.
Danielle is based in the agency’s California office.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Science Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Computers | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Bailey Tamayo is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is seeking middle grade, YA, and adult speculative fiction, fantasy, sci fi, horror, and anything in between—especially when the genre is a unique setting for the deeply human stories underneath. She is drawn to poignant coming of age narratives like The Graveyard Book, I Am Not Okay With This, and any given Ghibli film. Her favorite stories are those that are gently heartbreaking, hopeful, or (ideally) both. She enjoys sharp humor, lyrical prose, lovable and complex characters, and rich worldbuilding. She is eager to advocate for underrepresented authors, and especially to explore these viewpoints through horror, such as Welcome to Night Vale, The Magnus Archives, and Mexican Gothic. Some of her favorite authors/creators are Neil Gaiman, Emily St. John Mandel, Taika Waititi, Noelle Stevenson, Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, and ONE.
Bailey joined Greenburger Associates after internships with Writers House and the Carol Mann Agency. She is now an associate agent and the assistant to Matt Bialer, aiding him with his talented list of fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, literary, and nonfiction authors. She graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Writing, Literature & Publishing and Communication Sciences & Disorders.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Science Fiction |
Biography
Alice Tasman is a literary agent with the Jean Naggar Literary Agency. Alice Tasman 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 a Caldecott Honors Winner, 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.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Memoir | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Science | Technology |
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 new clients in the following categories: picture book (author-illustrators only; text-only manuscripts will not be considered); middle grade; young adult; graphic novels; and adult fiction (fantasy; romance; beach reads; thrillers; LGBTQ fiction).
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | History | Humor Nonfiction | Illustrated | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Travel | True Crime |
Biography
Stuti Telidevara is a literary agent with Park & Fine Literary and Media. She works on sharp, commercial adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction. She is looking for diverse storytellers and vivid, detailed worldbuilding across genre, and fiction with a strong, high-concept hook. She is especially interested in fantasy and speculative fiction and is actively building her list.
Prior to joining Park & Fine in 2021, she held positions at Raven Quill Literary, Orbit Books, and Transatlantic Literary. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and spends her free time watching ice hockey, listening to history podcasts, and brewing perfect cups of tea.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Speculative Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Nephele Tempest is a literary agent with The Knight Agency. Nephelejoined The Knight Agency in January, 2005, opening the Los Angeles-area office. As an agent, she loves to help her clients hone their skills and build their careers. Nephele initially worked on the editorial side of the publishing business before leaving to try other industries, including sales and finance. She spent a number of years at several major New York investment firms, first as a financial advisor and later a marketing and communications writer. This broad experience provided her with insight into multiple aspects of the publishing industry.
Nephele continues to actively build her client list and looks for fiction with both strong, well-developed characters and a story that pulls her in and won’t let go. She primarily represents women’s contemporary or historical fiction; contemporary, paranormal, and historical single-title romance; and adult fantasy and science fiction. More generally, Nephele always looks for work with diverse cultural influences, #ownvoices projects, and stories that inspire and/or make her think.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |BIPOC Fiction | Chick Lit | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Paige Terlip is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She represents all categories of children’s books from picture books to young adult, as well as select adult fiction and nonfiction. She is also actively building her list of illustrators and is especially looking for author-illustrators and graphic novel illustrators.
Across age categories, Paige is drawn to high concept novels with captivating hooks, snarky characters with hearts of gold, creative magic systems, complicated relationships, and found families. She loves well-plotted twists, being a little bit scared, and stories that explore the fluidity of gender and bring queer experiences to light. Regardless of genre, she is seeking inclusive, intersectional voices and gorgeous line-level writing with emotionally compelling narratives.
On the adult side she is open to thrillers/psychological suspense, fantasy/sci-fi, upmarket fiction, cozy mysteries, as well as narrative nonfiction and self-help that centers the mind, body, and spirit. She loves stories that make her feel a range of emotions, even if that means she ugly cries while reading. She wants a narrative that will stick with her long after reading.
Prior to becoming an Associate Agent, Paige was a Senior Assistant for Executive Agent Laura Rennert, and has been with ABLA for over three years. She comes to agenting with a background in marketing, design, and freelance editorial. She’s worked at Charlesbridge Publishing, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and a ranch in the Rockies. She has an MA in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University. If she’s not reading, you’ll find her practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, re-watching the Great British Baking Show, or hiking with her Husky-Shepherd mix.
You can find her on Twitter @pterlip and Instagram @pterlip. For more wishlist information visit: http://www.paigeterlip.com
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Fitness | Health Wellness | Illustrated | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Spirituality | True Adventure | True Crime |
Biography
Nikki Terpilowski is a literary agent with Holloway Literary. After achieving a B.A. in English and Marketing, with a minor in creative writing and a graduate degree in nternational relations, Nikki who has been a bookworm from way back decided she wanted to learn more about the publishing industry.
She interned in the industry while working in marketing communications and then established Holloway Literary in 2011. You can find her @AWomanReading on Twitter and Instagram discussing her favorite topics: books, wine, beer & whiskey, history, travel and southern living.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Black Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Western Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Art | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Environment | Food Drink | Gardening | History | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Multicultural Nonfiction | Nature | New Age | Travel |
Biography
Kate Schafer Testerman is a literary agent with KT Literary Agency. After a dozen years working in publishing in New York City, Kate moved to Colorado and formed kt literary in early 2008, where she concentrates on middle grade and young adult fiction. Bringing to bear the experience of being part of a large agency, she enjoys all aspects of working with her authors, offering hands-on experience, personal service, and a surfeit of optimism.
Her clients include Maureen Johnson, Ellen Booraem, Stephanie Perkins, Carrie Harris, Trish Doller, and Matthew Cody, among other exciting and acclaimed authors. Kate is a graduate of the University of Delaware’s Honors Program, a former cast member of the New York Renaissance Faire, and an avid collector of shoes, bags, children, and dogs. Her interests cover a broad range including contemporary drama, urban fantasy and magical realism, adventure stories, and romantic comedies. She is an active member of the SCBWI and AAR.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Humor Fiction | Magical Realism | Romance | Science Fiction |Mind Body Spirit | True Adventure |
Biography
Robert Thixton is a literary agent and the co-founder of Pinder Lane & Garon-Brooke Associates.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Current Events Affairs | Film Entertainment | History | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Politics | Pop Culture | Sports | True Crime |
Biography
Anne Tibbets is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. She joined DMLA in 2021, and was previously at D4EO Literary Agency. She represents adult and young adult commercial genre, primarily thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and historical women’s fiction. A screenwriter and published author, Anne lives in the Los Angeles area and has a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University, Fullerton.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |
Suzie Townsend
New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.Accepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Suzie Townsend is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. Prior to joining New Leaf, Suzie graduated film school, earned her Masters of Education, taught high school English, and coached a swim team. In her spare time, she read everything she could, which prompted her move to publishing. She got her start as an intern at FinePrint Literary Management where she was hired as an assistant before making the move to literary agent. She’s been part of the team at New Leaf Literary & Media since its inception in 2012.
Suzie represents all brands of children’s and adult fiction. She loves women’s fiction, all subgenres of romance, fantasy, and crime fiction. On the children’s side, she particularly loves YA and MG. Suzie loves strong characters and voice-driven stories that break out of the typical tropes of their genres, and she’s always looking for unique new voices in stories.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Timothy Travaglini is a literary agent at the Transatlantic Agency. Since 1994, Timothy Travaglini has worked in trade marketing for Scholastic, Inc.; been a bookseller for Books of Wonder, an all-children’s bookstore in New York City; and has edited for Henry Holt and Company, Walker & Company, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, and Open Road Integrated Media where he was the director of children’s acquisitions.
Books he has acquired and edited have been, among other things, #1 New York Times bestsellers, a Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Year, Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner, Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction winner, have been made into an award-winning musical, made into an award-winning animated television show (currently on Netflix), and traveled on board the International Space Station. He has edited, published, and now represents artists and authors who either previously won, or have gone on to win, nearly every award and honor under the sun. He has edited an American Library Association’s 10 Most Frequently Challenged book as well as a Christianity Today Book Award for Fiction winner.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Horror | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Satire | Science Fiction |General Nonfiction | Architecture | Biography | Cultural Social Issues | Environment | Government | Memoir | Nature | Politics | Technology | Travel |
Biography
Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli is a literary agent with JET Literary Associates. Elizabeth and her then-husband Jim Trupin founded JET Literary Associates in 1975. Together, they have a substantial client list and recent publications, as well as films and current options on film rights. She has been in the industry for thirty-seven years, beginning in the contracts department of the New American Library. From there, she moved to Fawcett Books’ school division, Premier Books. From there, she worked with an established agent who needed expertise in the paperback market. Two years later, she was co-owner of JET Literary. Liz has been active at writers’ conferences, including Women Writing in the West, the Ozark Creative Writer’s Conference, and the Dallas Area Romance Authors conference. If you Google her name, you’ll see a number of heartfelt thanks from authors she’s worked with.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Economics | Gardening | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Money Finance | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture |
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.
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Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Beauty Fashion Style | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Computers | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Illustrated | Inspirational Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Jennifer Udden is a literary agent with the Laura Dail Literary Agency. With over a decade of experience agenting, including time spent at the Donald Maass Agency, the Barry Goldblatt Agency, and New Leaf Literary, Jennifer Udden is very excited to now join the team at LDLA. She has worked with a wide variety of notable authors of genre fiction, among them New York Times bestsellers and Hugo award finalists and winners.
She’s also worn many other hats, including comics recruiter, freelance editor, and romance novelist, has a soft spot for the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, and runs a weekly newsletter about publishing & writing called A Faster No.
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Horror | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller |
Biography
Cindy Uh is a literary agent with the Creative Artists Agency. Cindy Uh recently moved to CAA following a four-and-a-half-year stint at Thompson Literary Agency, where she represented a range of nonfiction authors in the categories of memoir, politics, food, business, health and wellness, and lifestyle. She has also consistently been ranked one of the top agents for illustrated/art projects.
Uh’s clients include New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mari Andrew (Am I There Yet?), as well as former members of the Obama administration, including public policy expert Cecilia Muñoz and Gautam Raghavan, artist Kimothy Joy (That’s What She Said), farmer and activist Brent Preston (The New Farm), self-care storyteller Alexandre Elle, and activist and author behind the “Dear Sisters” letter, Mónica Ramirez. On the fiction side, she represents select children’s books, including authors Bridget Beth Collins (Flora Forager ABC) and Kristin Russell (A Sky For Us Alone).
Uh also previously served as Counsel at Lyons and Salky Law, LLP, where she practiced employment and publishing law. Uh received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Boston College and her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles – School of Law.
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Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Science | Self-Help |
Biography
Keith Urbahn is a literary agent with the Javelin Literary Agency. He is president and founding partner of Javelin. For five years Keith worked for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, most recently serving as his chief of staff. He helped oversee the publication of Rumsfeld’s 1 New York Times bestselling memoir. Previously he worked in the United States Senate for Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and as a Pentagon speechwriter. A summa cum laude graduate of Yale University, he also serves as a commissioned reserve intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. He is credited in many media outlets as the first person to break the news of the death of Osama bin Laden to the world over Twitter. Keith lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Kristen and his children Benjamin and William.
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Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | History | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology | True Crime |
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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)