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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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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 Fiction
Biography
Jessica Papin is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. Jessica Papin first joined DG&B in 2003, after spending eight years as an editor at Warner Books (now Grand Central). In 2004, she moved to Egypt, where she spent three years working for the American University in Cairo Press. Upon her return to the United States, she rejoined DG&B. With a background on both sides of the desk, she loves working collaboratively with clients to shape and refine their work. Her stay in the Middle East has given her an abiding interest in the history and politics of the region, as well as the broader Islamic world. She is interested in plot-driven literary and smart commercial fiction, and narrative non-fiction across a range of subjects, including history, medicine, science, economics and womenÕs issues. In every case, she looks for passion, erudition, and storytelling skill. A wry sense of humor doesnÕt hurt.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Theresa Park is a literary agent and founding partner with Park & Fine Literary and Media. Prior to becoming a literary agent, Theresa was an attorney at Cooley Godward, a Silicon Valley law firm. But it was her love of books and interest in combining business and art that propelled her toward a publishing career at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Opening the doors to Park Literary in 2005, she now represents principally plot-driven fiction and a short list of serious nonfiction. Dedicated to clients Nicholas Sparks, Debbie Macomber, Emily Giffin, Janice Y.K. Lee, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Cecelia Ahern and others, she always finds time to enjoy a good meal, make a yearly visit to Vienna (her hometown) and connect with friends and family all over the worldÑshe is fluent in German, can speak French and understand a smattering of Japanese.
Theresa is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz and Harvard Law School, her varied education and background making her a uniquely broadminded business partner Ð but it’s her love of connecting ideas and people that makes her a great agent. Theresa is also the founder and president of the production company Per Capita Productions, developing TV shows at Apple and Amazon Studios, as well as feature films with A24 and other studio and producing partners.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Romance | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Business Book | History | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Mel Parker is a literary agent with and the founder of Mel Parker Books, LLC. He says: “After nearly forty years as an editor and publisher, IÕve worked in virtually every area of book publishing, from hardcover and paperback publishing to direct marketing, book clubs, book packaging and literary representation.
As a literary agent, I represent nonfiction authors in categories such as narrative nonfiction, memoir/biography, business, health, science, technology, history and politics. I look to represent authors who are thought leaders in business, journalism, government, and academia, and who have a unique and newsworthy book idea.
Having also helped launch the careers of many bestselling fiction authors, I represent voice-driven upmarket and commercial fiction, especially literary fiction, psychological suspense, and crime fiction.
I take on very few projects, and have a small, select client list. So IÕm able to devote a lot of time and attention to each one of my authors. I think of myself as a fierce advocate for my clients, and believe there are few literary agents who are as personally invested as I am in helping to advance an authorÕs career.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Education | Government | Health Wellness | History | Inspirational Nonfiction | Journalism | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Science | Technology | Travel |
Biography
Nicole Payne is a literary agent with Copps Literary Services. Many moons ago, a book-loving nerd was given a chance to live out her childhood dream of being a literary agent. Starting from reader to intern, Nicole Payne ultimately became an agent in the summer of 2016. Now she embarks on a new journey, joining Copps Literary Services in 2023.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Black Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction |Christian Fiction |Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Cookbook Cooking | Health Wellness | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Science | Travel | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Sharon Pelletier is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. She joined DG&B in 2013 after working for Europa Editions, Vantage Press, and Barnes & Noble. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, Sharon moved to New York in 2009 and now can’t imagine ever living anywhere else. In addition to growing her own list, Sharon oversees digital projects and social media for the agency. While her interests are broad, Sharon is especially seeking upmarket fiction, including unexpected suspense fiction; smart, complex womenÕs fiction; and hearty, unforgettable book club fiction. On the nonfiction side Sharon is eager for compelling, fierce narrative nonfiction by journalists and experts, and emerging voices with a growing platform who can speak to pop culture, feminism, sports, social justice, and/or religion.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | History | How-To | Journalism | Law Legal | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Travis Pennington is an associate agent and does marketing for The Knight Agency. After working in the education field for over ten years, Travis turned his attention to writing, completing his first novel and helping others market their books as well. He launched a media business that has assisted both independent and New York Times bestselling authors with branding their work. He provides content and layout support for the agency newsletter, designs both advertorials and book covers, aids in the management of the agencyÕs social media venues, and processes digital titles through the assisted self-publishing program.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction |Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Inspirational Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Religious Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Current Events Affairs | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Memoir | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Kimberly Perel
High Line Literary Collective/Paper Over BoardCLOSED to SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email >Biography
Kim Perel is a literary agent with Paper Over Board and part of the High Line Literary Collective. With a dozen years of collective experience as a literary agent, first at Wendy Sherman Associates and later as a Vice President at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency, Kim co-founded High Line Literary Collective and the Paper Over Board division with the goal of fostering an author-centric environment alongside a group of brilliant, diverse professionals with whom she has the utmost respect and adoration.
Kim is passionate about discovering unique voices and making authorsÕ dreams come true. She has been privileged to represent award-winning, NYTimes best-selling authors throughout her career. She is particularly excited about leaders and artistÕs whose point-of-view cuts through the noise and connects with readers in a way that translates into a new understanding about an important aspect of life. When she brings in a new client, her favorite part of the job is creating a clear publishing plan in lockstep with the authorÕs current team, big-picture career goals and future aspirations. Close communication and a common vision both creatively and strategically are at the core of all of KimÕs client relationships.
In 2012, Kim co-authored the book Wedding Cake for Breakfast: Essays on the First Year of Marriage (Berkley). She holds an MFA degree in Creative Writing from The New School where she studied with world-renowned professional writers in the areas of fiction and nonfiction. She also received her undergraduate bachelorÕs degree in Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Kim splits her time between Westchester and NYC with her husband and puggle Bella, co-curates the popular H.I.P. Lit reading series, and loves adventures like road-tripping, whitewater rafting, and camping (fine, glamping).
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Religious Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Health Wellness | History | Journalism | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Psychology | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | True Adventure | Upmarket Nonfiction | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Carrie Pestritto is a literary agent with the Laura Dail Literary Agency. Carrie Pestritto worked at Writers House and Prospect Agency before becoming part of the LDLA team. She earned her BA in English, cum laude, from Amherst College in 2009, also spending a year studying abroad at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University.
As an agent, she loves the thrill of finding new authors with strong, unique voices and working closely with her clients. Carrie always strives to help create books that will introduce readers to new worlds and is drawn in by relatable characters, meticulous world-building, and unusual, compelling premises.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Environment | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Technology | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Sarah Phair is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Sarah represents a range of fiction and nonfiction authors writing for the adult market. In fiction she focuses on upmarket and literary fiction that is accessible to a wide audience and contains beautiful language with elevated ideas. If you would read it in your book club or take it on vacation, it might be a good fit for SarahÕs list. She particularly loves: family sagas, friendship centered stories, complex psychological suspense, campus novels, anti-heroines, and a good love story.
In nonfiction, her areas of interest include: progressive politics, popular science, psychology, self-development, gender, pop culture, and anything about food. She is especially interested in projects analyzing the future of media consumption, how and what we eat, agriculture, and housing.
Sarah joined Greenburger Associates in 2019. Originally from Mississippi, she moved to New York in 2010 to pursue a career in publishing. She worked at Trident Media Group for six years, acting as audio agent and foreign rights agent before building her own list. Sarah also has a M.A. in British and American Literature.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Food Drink | Gardening | Nature | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Technology | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Ariana Philips is a literary agent with Jean Naggar Literary Agency. She began at JVNLA as an intern in 2011 and joined the agency full-time in the summer of 2012. She handles audio, permissions, and electronic rights, and assists with the submission of JVNLA’s titles for translation and for film/TV. She is actively building her own client list but continues to work closely with Jennifer Weltz and Alice Tasman on their titles.
Her interests include adult literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, and the latest and greatest in culinary talent! Born and raised in New York City, by a family immersed in the city’s culinary and hospitality scene, she is especially interested in cookbooks, food narratives, and culinary histories from around the world. She loves to find new talent and work with her clients to develop strong proposals. She enjoys being the author’s advocate, often being their first editor, business manager, and trusted confidante. Her personal agenting philosophy is to take on an author for the duration of their career and help guide them through the ever-changing publishing landscape.
Ariana attended Iona College, where she graduated with honors in English and Communications.
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 | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Art | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Philosophy | Photography | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Crime | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Alison Picard is a literary agent with the Alison J. Picard Agency. Alison has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Satire | Sports Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Animals | Autobiography | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Education | Environment | Family | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | Government | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Law Legal | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | New Age | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Leah Pierre is a literary agent with _Ladderbird. A Texas native, Leah moved to the east coast to pursue her dream of working in publishing. She recently graduated from Rosemont College with her B.A. in English and History, and she is currently pursuing her MA in Publishing. Leah spends her time enjoying the company of fictional characters more than people. When not in the company of fictional characters, Leah hangs out with friends and family, cooks, and catches up on movies and tv shows she is always behind on.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |
Biography
Gideon Pine is a literary agent with InkWell Management. He is primarily interested representing nonfiction, with a focus on big idea books, unknown histories, and anything sports related. On the fiction side, thrillers and romance novels are always welcome.
He has a B.A in Political Science from Indiana University. Prior to working in publishing, he worked in commercial production and advertising.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Sports Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Investigative | Journalism | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Sports | True Crime | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Richard Pine is a literary agent with InkWell Management. He is a co-founder of Inkwell Management. He works with leaders and writers who inspire, extend horizons, coin new terms, invent new worlds, and reach millions of people. Many of his clients do all of these things at once, including Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Tim Urban, Sal Khan, Simon Sinek, Angela Duckworth, Arianna Huffington, Martin Seligman, Amy Cuddy, and Reshma Saujani.
He represents authors, creators, and memoirists of particularly high originality, such as Bryan Cranston, Susan Orlean, Andre Agassi, Erin Morgenstern, Katherine Dunn, Suleika Jaouad, and Dean Koontz.
His commitment to books which evolve our popular understanding of health and wellness has led him to work with bestselling and groundbreaking practitioners such as Mark Hyman, Dr. Michael Greger, Andrew Weil, and Thug Kitchen.
He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2014, Richard was inducted into the Books for a Better Life Hall of Fame.
His interest is with the long-term success of his clients. He therefore endeavors always to help them create relationships with the very best partners in publishing and beyond. As a result, he has helped his clients sell millions of books, inspire and entertain millions of readers, and
establish careers that last lifetimes.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Horror | Inspirational Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | Religious Fiction | Romance | Short Story Collection | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Fitness | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Journalism | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | True Crime |
Biography
Zo‘ Plant is a literary agent with The Bent Agency. She says: “I joined the Bent AgencyÕs London office in 2019 with a globetrotting background Ð a degree in Russian and Spanish, a year living in Moscow and five years working with publishers all over the world as a literary scout. I now represent authors who have been New York Times and Nielsen BookScan UK bestsellers, won the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, and been finalists for the American Library AssociationÕs William C. Morris YA Debut Award. Working closely with authors to bring out the best in their books and their careers is my favourite part of being an agent.
I am looking for middle-grade and young adult fiction across all genres, as well as adult science fiction, fantasy, horror and speculative fiction. Across the board, my tastes lean towards commercial, entertaining, accessible books that also have something to say about the world. I am particularly interested in seeing submissions from writers from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
In middle-grade, my favourite books combine a quirky voice or setting and a sense of fun with a strong emotional core. IÕm not afraid of a little darkness, but for this age group I prefer books that have a spark of joy to temper it.
In YA fantasy, IÕm on the hunt for books that do something different in a very crowded market; interesting settings, intricate worldbuilding and unusual magic systems are all things that excite me. I am also looking for eye-opening science fiction and speculative fiction for teens, horror, and deviously twisty thrillers.
On the adult side, I am drawn to science fiction and fantasy with strong commercial appeal, and particularly books that break away from the very traditional classics of these genres. I would love to find the next RF Kuang or Becky Chambers. I am not the reader for biblical retellings in a fantasy setting or very literary or experimental fiction. I love horror that has a social conscience Ð send me terrifying fiction for the Get Out audience. I have a weakness for murder mysteries and would love to find high concept or genre-bending books in that area, as well as general fiction with a speculative or gothic edge.”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Horror | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |
Biography
Barbara Poelle is a literary agent with and the founder of Word One Literary. Barbara opened the doors of Word One Literary in 2023 after 16 years with the Irene Goodman Agency. She has found success placing literary and upmarket fiction, suspense, horror and thrillers, and is actively seeking her next great client in those genres, but is passionate about anything with a unique voice. Barbara is also the author of Funny You Should Ask: Mostly Serious Answers to Mostly Serious Questions About the Publishing Industry where she demystifies the mysteries of this career for authors at every stage.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Parenting | Politics | Self-Help |
Biography
Marcy Posner is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. Marcy says: “I have spent a lifetime in books. I started out with a brief stint as a librarian, but found it a bit too staid, so moved on to publishing. My first job was at Pinnacle Books where as assistant to the President I was given a book to edit the third week of my employment. I then moved on to Rodale Press and then Salem House where I helped bring British books to the US, finally moving up the publishing ladder to PantheonÕs Associate Publisher, where I worked with some of the major cultural icons of our time, including Noam Chomsky, Studs Terkel, Matt Groening and Art Spiegelman. After fifteen years on the editorial side of the business, I made the jump to agenting Ð spending twelve years as at the William Morris Agency as an agent and as Vice President and Director of Foreign Rights; five years as president of my own agency; five years at Sterling Lord Literistic as an agent and Director of Foreign Rights; and IÕm now hereÑand very happyÑat Folio. Editorial skill and a deep knowledge of the publishing industry sets me apart from many of my colleagues. When I work with my authors, IÕll focus editorially on how to make the book as strong as it could beÑwhether that book be terrific womenÕs fiction or an extraordinary YA debut (or any of the other categories I represent). During that process, IÕm able to bring to bear all the institutional memory I possess, knowing which editors and which publishing houses have a penchant for a certain subject, or a different voice, or a particular kind of author. My clients include Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestseller Jacqueline Kelly, New York Times bestseller Sheri Reynolds, autism advocate Christina Adams, Kristi Cook, Christopher Grant, Gretchen Kelley, Jerri Corgiat, former baseball pitcher Bob Tewksbury, and Marbles: The Brain Store among others.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Environment | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Aaron Priest is a literary agent with The Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency. Aaron was born in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Columbia College in 1959. Having worked for several years as a sales rep for Doubleday, he started the agency in 1974.
Partnered with Molly Friedrich for many of those years, the agency has represented among many others, David Baldacci, Frank McCourt, Sue Grafton, Erma Bombeck, Philip Caputo, Johanna Lindsey, Terry McMillan and Jane Smiley.
Aaron was a founding member of the ILAA (Independent Literary Agents Association) which is now the Association of Author’s representatives. Aaron is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Jewish Theological Seminary and is also on the board of The Schechter Institute of Jerusalem. He serves as well as an executive member of the UJA Publishing Committee. He and his wife Arleen have two sons and two grandsons.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography |
Biography
Sandra Proudman is a literary agent with Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. Sandra (she/her/ella) is a literary associate at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, assisting Marietta Zacker and representing a small list of authors and author-illustrators. She is passionate about bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront and is also a committee member of #LatinxPitch. When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable toddler, catching up on all her shows, and taking care of her vegetable garden. She is also the author of the YA fantasy, Salvación, ( Wednesday Books) and the editor of the Latinx anthology RELIT: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories (Inkyard Press).
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Short Story Collection | Speculative Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Memoir |
Biography
Sandra Proudman is a literary agent with Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. Sandra (she/her/ella) is a literary associate at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, assisting Marietta Zacker and representing a small list of authors and author-illustrators. She is passionate about bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront and is also a committee member of #LatinxPitch. When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable toddler, catching up on all her shows, and taking care of her vegetable garden. She is also the author of the YA fantasy, Salvaci—n, ( Wednesday Books) and the editor of the Latinx anthology RELIT: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories (Inkyard Press).
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Short Story Collection | Speculative Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Memoir |
Biography
Sophie Pugh-Sellers is a literary agent with The Gernert Company. Shejoined The Gernert Company in 2019. Raised in Oakland, California and Charlottesville, Virginia, her literary palate is as eclectic and complex as her two hometowns. She is interested in representing smart narrative and journalistic nonfiction; memoirs from radical new voices; commercial and literary fiction, particularly with sci-fi, folk tale, or speculative elements; and works of poetry that are urgent and unafraid to play with genre. She loves deep dives, anything melancholy, and stories that challenge her to think more critically about the world. All of her favorite writing includes language and worlds so powerful that she misses them long after closing the book. She serves on the Center for FictionÕs First Novel Fte Committee, and holds a BA in WomenÕs, Gender and Sexuality Studies from Barnard College. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction |General Nonfiction | Journalism | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Joanna Pulcini is a literary agent with Joanna Pulcini Literary Management. A graduate of the Radcliffe Publishing Course, Joanna Pulcini-Ascaso attended college at Catholic University and graduate school at Boston College, focusing on the origins of womenÕs novels in the Restoration and 18th Century periods. During her school years, she held internships on Capital Hill, working on Hillary ClintonÕs Health Care Reform Initiative, and at the Smithsonian Institute, as one of the Museum Summer Residents, as well as worked throughout her undergrad years in the library at the Environmental Law Institute. In her first full time position, she was the assistant to the editor-in-chief of Vintage Books. She was then an agent at Linda Chester and Associates for six years, representing such dream clients as Rosemary Clooney, Nick Clooney, ÒVowsÓ columnist Lois Smith Brady, Yolanda Young, and Mark Sullivan. She established her own agency in 2001 with a small list of authors including Jennifer Weiner, John Searles, and Megan McCafferty, each of whom she would help usher on to become bestsellers. At JPLM, the books she represented and worked on editorially spent over 290 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers lists. She was the publishing consultant on the first season of the television series Younger, and the videos she started creating at her husbandÕs bakery, Le Marais Bakery, on weekends as a lark have now gone on to be viewed over 100 million times. She lives with her husband, daughter, and three Havanese pups in San Francisco.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Women’s Fiction |Autobiography | Biography | Celebrity | Film Entertainment | History | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Music | Pop Culture |
Biography
Lisa Queen is the founder of Queen Literary Agency. She was the former publishing executive and head of IMG WorldwideÕs literary division. The agency represents a wide range of non-fiction and fiction, both literary and commercial including many award-winning, best-selling authors. She is always on the lookout for excellent commercial and literary fiction including historical fiction, mysteries, and thrillers.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Autobiography | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | History | Memoir | Money Finance | Music | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Pilar Queen is a literary agent with the United Talent Agency (UTA). UTA hired Pilar Queen in 2019 as a publishing agent based in New York City. Queen spent the previous decade at McCormick Literary representing bestselling authors including Brad Stone, Emily Chang, Grant Achatz, Andy Kessler, John Hope Bryant, Debi Mazar and Simone de la Rue, among many others. At UTA, she has worked to expand the agencyÕs roster of storytellers as well as helped clients create and leverage original intellectual property across various divisions and platforms. Queen has over 20 years of experience in the literary field and a history of overseeing major bestsellers. Since joining UTA she has worked with Gisele BŸndchen, Mary Trump, Karlie Kloss, Rob Delaney, Brian Stelter, Radhi Shetty, Chelsea Handler, Jose Antonio Vargas, Ali Vitali, Michael Barbaro, Arianna Huffington, Michael Dell, Kara Swisher, Elliot Page, Molly Jong-Fast, and many more fascinating and diverse figures.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Science | Self-Help | Technology | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Isabelle Rader is a literary agent with the Codex Literary Agency. After growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Isabelle began her career in publishing by interning at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency at the start of 2022. After graduating college with a BA in English Literature, she followed Miriam into her new venture. On the weekends you can find her doing yoga, kayaking, or curled up with her two cats and reading a good book.
Actively looking for NA Books across all genres, she is also interested in Adult, Young Adult, and Middle-Grade Fantasy, as well as both Upmarket and Commercial Adult, all with never-before-seen worldbuilding, unique characters, strong plotting, and compulsive hooks. From Dark Academia to Epic, Historical, and Contemporary Fantasy with wild adventures, thrilling romances, and dashes of humor, she is always looking for unforgettable characters, strong female leads, and diverse voices.
Regardless of genre, sheÕs very likely to connect with manuscripts that bridge the YA/Adult divide. She is also a sucker for romantic subplots, whether it be enemies to lovers, slow burns, or forced proximity, she is here for all of it (especially with a morally grey best friend along for the ride).
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |
Biography
Susan Raihofer is a literary agent with the David Black Agency. Susan has been an agent at the David Black Agency since 1993 and focuses on commercial fiction and non-fiction, including memoir, pop-culture, music, and inspirational; as well as thrillers and a selective amount of literary fiction. Her pop sensibility and literary heart meld together to develop projects that will entertain, move and inspire: projects with a soul and an edge. (She seeks quality writing but something more than two people will want to read). For fun, she might read Siddhartha or Keith Richards’ memoir.
Over her years at the agency, Susan has handled everything from first serial, audio, foreign rights, editorial (she even recalls those dark years when she handled book-keeping as well). She has excellent relationships with film agents and publishers throughout the world. In nearly two decades as an agent, Susan has formed solid partnerships throughout the business to help build brands in traditional and new media. Described as tenacious and passionate, Susan represents projects she cares deeply about and has faith in; authors she can build long-term relationships with. She hasn’t lost the personal touch and brings her personal and professional commitment to everything she tackles. Her mantra: Anything is possible.
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CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Short Story Collection | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Art | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology | True Crime |
Biography
Lisa Rambert-Valaskova is an literary agent for adult authors with the Transatlantic Agency. She has a law degree from the University of McGill and a degree in French Language and Literature from the University of Toronto, Trinity College. Prior to joining Transatlantic she worked with several agents and authors as an independent literary consultant and editor. After living in Ottawa, Rome, Toronto, Prague, New York and (almost) Paris (twice!) Ð she now lives in beautiful Montreal with her husband, three children, and a sweet-as-honey Small Munsterlander named Tessa.
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CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cookbook Cooking | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Travel |