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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.
- The results are being filtered by the character: C
Biography
Matthew Carnicelli is a literary agent with and the founder of Carnicelli Literary Management. Matthew, president, specializes in idea-driven nonfiction and quality fiction. He began his publishing career at Dutton, where as an editor he worked with many great writers of fiction, history, and current events, including Christopher Bram, Vice President Al Gore, Judith Warner, Cornel West, and Cathleen Schine. At Contemporary Books and McGraw-Hill, he became enthralled with strong health writing and business and sports books, working with such authors as John Wooden, Victoria Moran, Gail Ferguson, Roland Lazenby, and Robert Kurson.
He became an agent in 2004 in order to have more control over the depth of his work with clients and to focus only in areas that interested him intellectually and creatively. Over the past fifteen years, he has represented such notable authors as brain and movement expert Anat Baniel, political pundit Dave “Mudcat” Saunders, fashion designer Marc Eckō, Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd, graphic novelist Derf Backderf, and business consultant Gino Wickman.
Matthew is a graduate of Washington University, with a B.A. in English literature and political science, and received an M.A. from the University of Toronto in English literature. He has taught college-level nonfiction writing, attends numerous writers’ conferences, and is often called upon by the media to comment on book publishing and other topics.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports *
7 Kipp Road Rhinebeck NY 12572 USA
Biography
Heather Carr is a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. She says: “If I’m being perfectly honest, I never imagined a career in book publishing. As a kid growing up in the Pacific Northwest, specifically the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, the publishing industry did not exist in my mind as a real field one could work in. I grew up as the youngest of a complex, blended family with ten siblings and step-siblings, and made a name for myself in second grade convincing my classmates that god couldn’t possibly exist (“I mean look at the evidence, it’s just clouds up there!” I argued). I eventually found my way from Catholic school to a tiny public arts school where I was immersed in visual and performing arts (think Fame but suburban and nerdier). I focused on film photography and dance, drawn to the rigor of the latter and the sheer magic of the former.
Novelty, a scholarship, and a music conservatory brought me to a small liberal arts college in Appleton, Wisconsin where I majored in English and continued to study classical piano. Studying English felt a little like cheating—reading is interdisciplinary by nature. It was that same appetite for doing a little of everything and moving from a core of curiosity that made a career as an agent so intriguing, once I discovered it existed. After working as an assistant at Trident Media Group for two and a half years I joined The Friedrich Agency in March of 2018.
I have wide-ranging tastes and seek to represent writers who are also driven by curiosity and discovery, whether through formal inventiveness in fiction, like in Kiese Laymon’s LONG DIVISION, or through rigorous investigative journalism like in Patrick Radden Keefe’s SAY NOTHING. I’m often drawn to poets who have turned their hand to prose—I’ll always be interested in a writer whose dexterity with language allows them to articulate an emotion or sensibility that I’ve not previously been able to describe. Growing up in the land of glittery freezing fog and moss-draped forests, I love a moody atmosphere and setting-as-character. I was a firm believer in magic as a child so I don’t shy away from the fantastical in literary and upmarket fiction. I particularly enjoy when genre elements are used to explore the places where language fails us.
My goal is to build a list that reflects a full range of perspectives from here in the U.S. and around the globe. Most of what I learned of my own history and that of this country comes from a life of reading, and I’m always humbled to read writers who have been historically sidelined. When I stop to reflect, I’m deeply honored that writers trust me with their work and that I get to have this job. I’m passionate about working towards a brighter and more inclusive publishing industry so that all who want to can see themselves thriving in this business.
Five non-agency books I loved: DETRANSITION, BABY; PIRANESI; IDAHO; FRESHWATER; STRANGERS TO OURSELVES”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Dating/Relationship/Sex * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Investigative * Journalism * Narrative *
281 McLain Street Bedford Hills NY 10507 USA
Biography
Jamie Carr is a literary agent with The Book Group. She joined The Book Group in January 2020 as an agent. Prior, she worked in the literary department of William Morris Endeavor for almost six years where she championed New York Times bestsellers, award winning titles, and groundbreaking debuts. Born and raised in Lower Manhattan, she has an MFA in fiction writing and began her career in the books department of Tin House.
Jamie represents novelists, short story writers, journalists, activists, and food and culture writers. Most interested in adult literary and upmarket commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction, she is drawn to writing that is voice-driven, highly transporting, from unique perspectives and marginalized voices, and that seeks to disrupt or reframe what appears to be known.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Ethnic * Family * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Investigative * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Practical * Psychology * Science * Spirituality * Technology * Upmarket *
20 West 20th Street Suite 601 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Michael Carr is a literary agent with the Veritas Literary Agency. With a strong background in editing and writing, Michael enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French. Before joining Veritas, Michael had professions as diverse as programming simulators for nuclear submarines and owning an inn in Vermont.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Environment * History * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Crime *
601 Van Ness Ave. Opera Plaza, Suite E San Francisco CA 94102 USA
Biography
Sylvie Greenberg Carr is a literary with and the founder of The Carr Agency. Sylvie began her career in New York City with Fletcher & Company, where she worked with agency clients including Eric Ries, Chip and Dan Heath, Bob Sutton, Gretchen Rubin, Claire Shipman and Katty Kay, IDEO, and Ron Lieber.
Her list includes narrative non-fiction, investigative journalism, economics, business, memoir and literary fiction. Please see Clients for more information on recent releases.
Sylvie is a graduate of Stanford University and the Columbia Publishing Course. She lives in San Francisco with her husband.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Family Saga * General Fiction * Literary * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Investigative * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Sports * Technology *
3540 Sacramento Street #145 San Francisco CA 94118 USA
Biography
Lucy Carson is a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. She says: “I was an over-achieving “theater kid” who joined every club I could jam into my high school schedule, and never missed a staged production. I attended The University of Michigan, but rarely attended any football games because the library was so blissfully quiet and empty on those Saturdays—a temptation too rare to pass up. At Michigan, I studied Film & Television, with an emphasis on production, and when some Juniors spent their semester abroad, I spent mine in Los Angeles, working for The Weinstein Company. I had planned to move to LA after graduation, but when Molly’s then-assistant had a maternity leave that coincided with graduation in April 2008, I decided to postpone LA for a few months, since the agency was newly formed and my mother needed a trusted temp. Working together proved to be far more fun than either of us expected, so I simply never left.
In my 14 years at the agency, I have cultivated a list of mostly fiction and narrative non-fiction for the adult trade audience. I have a particular weakness for voice-forward fiction that asks complicated questions about the intersection of tech, media, and modern relationships. Always with eyes peeled for elevated and stylish writing, I read widely across many genres, including thrillers, horror, sci-fi, and magical realism. Often the novels that are hardest to definitively categorize are the ones that most readily seduce me. In non-fiction, I always crave narrative—whether it’s a previously untold chapter of history, or an intimate memoir, or the portrait of a contemporary cultural phenomenon.
In addition to brokering domestic publishing deals for my own clients, I also oversee all Film, Television & Dramatic business for the wider agency list. This does not mean I represent screenplays! These services only apply to existing print publishing clients and their underlying intellectual property (i.e. the book, the short story, the article). The Friedrich Agency’s Film/TV relationships are non-exclusive and customized for each project, and have resulted in all manner of adaptations, from serialized TV shows to one-woman Broadway plays.
Five non-agency books that I loved: ASSEMBLY, CHEMISTRY, SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE, DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science *
281 McLain Street Bedford Hills NY 10507 USA
Brittany Booker Carter
The Booker Albert Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Brittany Booker Carter is a literary agent and the co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the Lori Perkins agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She has a B.A. in English and a minor in journalism from The University of Arkansas at Monticello.
She is looking for novels that keep her up at night and transport her into the pages.
In YA and NA she is looking for well-written contemporary and paranormal romances. In NA she is looking for LOTS of sexual tension, and a sexy demanding hero never hurt anybody!
As for adult works, she’s looking for witty contemporary, and slow burning friends to lovers romances.
She’s always on the hunt for rich characters and unique plots.
She is a big sucker for happy endings. (She doesn’t represent books without a HEA, they make her sad. She believes every person deserves a Happily-Ever-After. Maybe it’s just the Disney Princess inside?)
She also has a passion for books set in the south. Bring on those big ole’ cowboys, ladies. I’ll take any man with a slow, southern drawl!
She has working knowledge of Japanese and Spanish. Brittany is not looking for memoirs or MG novels at the time.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Western * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Jenniea Carter is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. Harlem born and raised, Jenniea graduated from City College of New York with a B.A in Creative Writing and Asian Studies. With haste, she moved to Japan to explore the world outside the concrete jungle. After years of exploration, she returned home with a revitalized zeal for the literary world. Her first endeavor led her to Kinokuniya Bookstore where she honed her knowledge of book buying, merchandising, and selling. Soon after; Jenniea found herself home at New Leaf on Joanna’s team, eager to uplift and amplify marginalized voices. When she is not between the pages of a book, Jenniea can be found bingeing mystery documentaries and animation.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Clarie Cartey is a literary agent with the Holroyde Cartey. She says: “I have worked in publishing for over twenty years as Art Director at Hodder Children’s Books and in design for Dorling Kindersley, Egmont and Random House. I am looking for author and illustrator proposals for picture books and young fiction. In illustration I’m also looking for creative brand building potential in markets outside of publishing.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
USA
Biography
Maria Carvainis is a literary agent with the Maria Carvanis Agency. Prior to opening her agency, Ms. Carvainis spent more than 10 years in the publishing industry as a senior editor with Macmillan Publishing, Basic Books, Avon Books, and Crown Publishers. Ms. Carvainis has served as a member of the AAR Board of Directors and AAR Treasurer, as well as serving as chair of the AAR Contracts Committee. She presently serves on the AAR Royalty Committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Young Adult *
Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc., Attention: Query Department, 1270 Avenue of the Americas Suite 2915 New York NY 10020 USA
Andrea Cascardi
Transatlantic AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Andrea Cascardi is a literary agent with the Transatlantic Agency. Andrea Cascardi has held senior editorial positions at Random House, Disney/Hyperion, and Egmont USA. As an editor she acquired and edited Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King winner Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, the Raffi Songs to Read series, and Pura Belpre winner Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez among many other award-winning books. As an agent she has represented many bestselling and award-winning titles including Clare Vanderpool’s Newbery winner Moon Over Manifest and Printz Honor winner Navigating Early, e.E. Charlton-Truillo’s Stonewall winner Fat Angie, New York Times Bestseller Nubs: A Mutt, A Marine, and a Miracle, and Texas Bluebonnet winner Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want to Survive the School Bus.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Barbara Casey is president of the Barbara Casey Agency. She represents clients nationally and internationally in fiction and nonfiction for adults. She is also a partner with Strategic Media Books. Her past and present professional associations are numerous and include being editorial consultant for the Jamaican Writers Circle in affiliation with the University of West Indies and Mico Teachers College in Kingston. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories.
She is a frequent guest speaker at writers’ conferences and universities throughout the United States. She is a former director, guest author, and panelist of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida; and for thirteen years, she served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Florida. She held the position of Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 to 2003.
Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. Since that time her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in several publications.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * History * Inspiration * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Narrative * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime * Young Adult *
1440 S Long Hollow Road Trion GA 30753 USA
Biography
Haley Casey is a literary agent with Creative Media Agency, Inc. She has always had a special place in her heart for stories, but it was when she wrote her first chapter book in fifth grade that her true love of literature was realized. In 2015, she graduated from The University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, and that fall, she attended the Denver Publishing Institute. She began her full-time career at Ogden Publications, where she was an editor for four years. There she worked with a variety of authors across multiple magazines, wrote articles, edited podcasts, and even styled photos—anything to add some creativity to her days. In 2020, she interned at Metamorphosis Literary Agency and Creative Media Agency, Inc. before stepping into her role as a junior agent at CMA. She also manages the digital arm of the company. Haley is actively building her list, and is ready to assist her authors in achieving their publishing goals.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Paranormal * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Ethnic * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Psychology * True Crime * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
1745 Broadway 17th Floor New York NY 10019 USA
Heather Cashman
Storm Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Heather Cashman is a literary agent with the Storm Literary Agency. Heather has always devoured any book–fiction or nonfiction–that told a good story and introduced a new world, but she especially loves the ones that make her want to be the heroine of her own life. Her work in Biochemistry inspired her imagination for creating worlds. Writing for enjoyment turned into an interest in improving craft.
Heather was a professional editor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, editing middle grade, young adult, and adult books. She’s also helped authors by working as Managing Director of Pitch Wars, #PitMad, and Pitch Madness, as well as being a Pitch Wars mentor. Before becoming Associate Literary Agent and Agent Mentor at Storm Literary Agency, Heather interned for three years at The Bent Agency and Entangled Publishing.
Heather is currently seeking submissions for middle grade, young adult, and adult in fiction and nonfiction. For fiction, she’ll consider all genres and loves a good genre splice. For non-fiction, anything that takes her back to those days in the library when she wanted to learn about someone, something, and somewhere new.
For all writing, Heather enjoys unique characters formed from their own experiences in a unique world. The characters need to feel real with a distinct voice from the first line. Thematic elements and strong character arcs are a must. She loves commercial fiction that has a literary flair and inclusive books that bring us together as citizens of the world.
Some of her favorite authors: Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, Judy Blume, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Gary Paulson, Roald Dahl, Lord Byron (so much love for Prometheus Unbound, especially), Orson Scott Card, Beverly Cleary, Dean Koontz, Rainbow Rowell, Pierce Brown, Leigh Bardugo, Maggie Stiefvater, Holly Black, and so many more.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Johanna Castillo is a Senior Agent at Writers House Literary Agency. A seasoned professional in the publishing industry, Johanna was formerly Vice President & Executive Editor at Atria Books/Simon and Schuster and Editorial Director of Atria Español for nearly fifteen years. In that role, she acquired and edited forty-one New York Times bestsellers by multiple national and international bestselling authors including Isabel Allende, Colleen Hoover, Rachael Ray, Sara Shepard, Rosanna Pansino,Javier Sierra, Laura Esquivel, Armando Lucas Correa,Felix J. Palma and María Dueñas.
Johanna has been featured in the The Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, The Daily News, and in Publishers Weekly. She was featured as a “Mujer on the Move” by Latina magazine, named a 2005 Prominent Latina by El Diario La Prensa, and was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women by People en Español magazine in 2016. She is also a board member of the Board of Directors of Poets & Writers.
As a literary agent, Johanna is actively building a list of talented authors with whom she can work closely with editorially and form solid, long-term partnerships.
Johanna is seeking works of quality fiction including historical, book club fiction, romance and suspense. In non-fiction she looking for memoirs, lifestyle, pop-culture, cookbooks and narrative nonfiction. She is also representing middle grade and YA and she is always seeking new diverse voices, #ownvoices #latinx.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Analieze Cervantes is a literary agent with the Rees Literary Agency. Analieze joined the Rees Literary Agency in 2023, after working as an agent at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. She has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, with a minor in screenwriting, from Cal State San Bernardino University.
Analieze is actively building her list. She is interested in Picture-Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Fiction. She is passionately seeking BIPOC and underrepresented voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
One Westinghouse Plaza Suite A203 Boston MA 02136-2075 USA
Terra Chalberg
Chalberg & Sussman Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Terra Chalberg is a literary agent with the Chalberg & Sussman Literary Agency. After graduating from UCLA and working in film development, Terra began her publishing career in 2002 at Scribner. Later, at Simon & Schuster and Simon Spotlight Entertainment (now Gallery), she edited and acquired a diverse list of projects. As an agent, first with the Susan Golomb Literary Agency and now with Chalberg & Sussman, she represents Glenn Taylor, 2008 NBCC Award Finalist in Fiction and B&N Discover selection for The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart and author of The Marrowbone Marble Company; Andrew Porter, Iowa graduate and Flannery O’Connor Award-winner for The Theory of Light and Matter; Margaux Fragoso, author of the New York Times bestseller Tiger, Tiger; Eugene Cross, recipient of the 2009 Dzanc Prize and author of the forthcoming Fires of Our Choosing; Jennie Ketcham, author of the forthcoming I am Jennie; and Yosemite Park Ranger Shelton Johnson, author of Gloryland. She also counts among her clients Allison Amend, finalist for the 2011 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature; Elise Blackwell, acclaimed author of Hunger and three other novels; Kira Henehan, winner of the 2010 Milkweed National Fiction prize, finalist for the 2010 Believer Book Award, and shortlisted for the 2011 Independent Booksellers Choice Award; and Lori Ostlund, recipient of a 2009 Rona Jaffe Award, Flannery O’Connor Award, Edmund White Award, California Book Award, and 2011 O. Henry Prize.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Family * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Inspiration * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality *
Sarah Chalfant
The Wylie AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Sarah Chalfant is a literary agent with The Wylie Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Reference * Science * Spirituality * Sports *
Biography
Jemiscoe Chambers-Black is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Before Jemiscoe “Jem” Chambers-Black joined Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2020, she was an assistant director for film and television. Her love for books prevailed, and she went back to school to study English Literature and creative writing in fiction and earned her MFA. She represents illustrators, picture book authors (by referral only), MG, YA, and adult authors. In picture books, she enjoys laugh-out-louds, tight rhyming, and heartfelt books that deal with family, friendships, and emotional literacy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Horror * Humor Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION:
2100 Geng Road Suite 210 Palo Alto CA 94303 USA
Jamie Chambliss
Folio Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Jamie Chambliss is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. Writers are astounding. Only 26 letters at your disposal, yet you shift and rearrange them into an endless stream of invention to conjure new worlds again and again. I’ve been chasing the endless ordering of those 26 letters most of my life, first as a reader, then as a writer, editor and agent. Before I joined Folio, I worked at Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, where I moved from assistant editor to project editor, working on both fiction and nonfiction and in both editorial and marketing. As an assistant editor, I worked on a range of titles, including B.A. Shapiro’s The Muralist, Stephanie Knipper’s The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin, Nina de Gramont’s The Last September, Heidi Pitlor’s The Daylight Marriage, and Larry Olmsted’s Real Food/Fake Food. As project editor I worked on Elaine Khosrova’s Butter and C. Morgan Babst’s The Floating World. I understand how to shape a story before it goes out into the world, and how to best position it once it’s there. I’ve also been a freelance writer and editor, and a manuscript reader (yep, that’s a thing, and it’s awesome—but, alas, not lucrative). Before any of that I was an award-winning writer and editor with Atlanta Magazine for six years, covering, among other things, books, the arts, and sports narratives. I’m a graduate of Wake Forest University and have a master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Science * Sports *
Biography
Darlene Chan is a literary agent with the Linda Chester Literary Agency. A veteran of the film industry, she served as an executive for Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures (both times under Jeffrey Katzenberg), Davis Entertainment and as an independent producer. Among the titles she has been associated with are Grumpy Old Men, Beverly Hills Cop, Thing Called Love and Shattered. In 2009, Darlene established Darlene Chan PR, which specializes in web PR and social media for authors. Among her clients are Live Talks Los Angeles, Daniel H. Wilson, Joe Ide, Elizabeth Brundage, Tara Ison and Denise Hamilton. Darlene is interested in stories by and about BIPOC, women’s fiction, chick lit, crime fiction, YA, pop culture and books on film and the entertainment industry.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture *
630 Fifth Avenue Suite 2036 New York NY 10111 USA
Biography
Sonali Chanchani is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. She represents literary and book club fiction and narrative nonfiction. Her clients include co-founder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop Curtis Chin; poet, performer, and storyteller Joél Leon; contributing editor to Vanity Fair Maureen “Mo” Ryan; speaker and LGTBQ+ advocate Julie Rodgers; and psychologist and intergenerational trauma expert Dr. Mariel Buqué, among others.
Sonali earned her degree in English and Narrative Studies from the University of Southern California and began her career in publishing at Kaya, an independent press dedicated to publishing authors from the Asian diaspora. She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents, where she serves on the Board of Directors and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Literary Agents of Change.
Across the board, Sonali is drawn to character-driven stories that center historically marginalized voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Law * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics *
630 Ninth Ave. Suite 1101 New York NY 10036 USA
Minju Chang
BookStop Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Minju Chang is a literary agent with BookStop Literary Agency. Minju joined BookStop in 2006, and represents middle-grade and young adult writers of all genres. She has a particular interest in smart adventure/mystery novels, magical realism, and intense literary fiction, but her real weakness is for funny, clever, and gutsy characters with big attitudes. BookStop clients and their work have earned national recognition from such organizations as the American Library Association’s Notable committee, the American Booksellers and from ‘Young Reader’ committees in a number of states.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Books * Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Farley Chase is a literary agent with the Chase Literary Agency. He says: “I’ve worked in publishing since 1996. I became a literary agent in 2002 and founded Chase Literary Agency in 2012. I’ve worked at The New Yorker magazine, as an editor at Talk Miramax Books and was an agent at the Waxman Literary Agency before going out on my own. I’m on the Board of the AALA and Literary Agents of Change where I also serve as Treasurer. I’m keen to see submissions from writers of every background but especially BIPOC and otherwise marginalized points of view. I’m interested in literary and commercial fiction of all kinds, especially plot, voice, and character-driven stories. I agree with Lorrie Moore who wrote “We don’t often know what intimate life consists of until novels tell us.” I’m interested in narrative nonfiction of all kinds, especially stories that tell us something new about things we think we know. I’m keen to see memoir, natural history, science, current affairs, journalism, history, and biography. Original business and self-help books stemming from expertise are also of interest. And I’m especially interested in graphic and comics storytelling in fiction and nonfiction.”
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Travel * True Crime * Photography *
11 Broadway Suite 1010 New York NY 10004 USA
Jacinta Chavous-Kambach
Serendipity Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s):Biography
Dr. Jacinta Chavous-Kambach is a literary agent with Serendipity Literary Agency. Dr. Jai is a best-selling author, magazine columnist, Intuitive Relationship & Intimacy Coach, speaker, and diversity advocate. Her passion, experience, and education allow her to use her skills and gift of intuition in her business and writing.
Dr. Jai holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California University San Marcos, an M.B.A in Organizational Psychology and Development from American Intercontinental University Los Angeles/London, and an Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University System.
She is the co-host of the Strategic Ladies Mindful Media Show Radio Show, an adjunct professor, and an avid reader and writer. She is the co-author of the bestseller book Let Meditation Mend You, which gets to the grit of meditation and how it can positively impact one’s life.
Dr. Jai is a published BMI singer and songwriter who has worked with many accomplished artists. She has written with Emmy award-winning songwriter Janie Lidey and has debut singles, I Know You Want Me and Hyperventilate, co-written with Paul Hines, an award-winning artist who collaborated with Teena Marie, Michael Jackson, and Debarge. She won the title of Ms. Egypt in the Queen of the Universe Pageant 2016, winning the title and trophy of best smile.
Cheeky, intuitive, and free-spirited, Dr. Jai loves life, reading, writing, and connecting with people. She also admits to her love for elephants and antiques.
What She’s Looking For:
Dr. Jai is a generalist that loves a good story, both fiction and nonfiction alike. She is particularly fond of romance that encompasses exciting relationship dynamics, intimacy, mystery, and fantasy.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Mystery * Romance *
NONFICTION: Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Fiction *
Biography
Elyse Cheney is a literary agent with the Elyse Cheney Literary Associates. Born in Brooklyn, Elyse Cheney attended the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in English with an additional focus on art history. She began her career at an art gallery in Manhattan, later landing a position at at a boutique literary agency on the Upper East Side. In 1996 she moved to Sanford J. Greenburger as an agent. While there, she represented groundbreaking titles like A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers and The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. In early 2006, she opened The Cheney Agency. Some of her notable titles include The World as It Is and After the Fall by Ben Rhodes, She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, A Very Stable Genius and I Alone Can Fix It by Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker, Doing Justice by Preet Bharara, Zero Fail by Carol Leonnig, National Book Award winner The Future Is History by Masha Gessen, New York Times bestseller Zealot by Reza Aslan, Pulitzer Prize winning biography Malcolm X by Manning Marable, critically acclaimed novels The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman and Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont, #1 New York Times bestseller No Easy Day by Mark Owen, New York Times bestseller This Town by Mark Leibovich, The Daughters of Kobani by Gayle Lemmon, Moonwalking with Einstein by Josh Foer, Endurance by astronaut Scott Kelly, and When in French by Lauren Collins. In 2013, she was named one of the most powerful women in New York by the New York Daily News. She was also pictured on the cover of Poets and Writer’s Magazine as a game changer in publishing.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science *
39 West 14th Street Suite 403 New York NY 10011 USA
Ernie Chiara
Fuse LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Ernie Chiara is a literary agent with Fuse Literary. He loves nothing more than getting to work with his amazing clients on the books of their dreams. Having first joined Fuse Literary as a writer and client himself, he knows what it’s like to be in the query trenches, and his goal is to be the type of agent every writer hopes to find.
Prior to becoming a literary agent, Ernie was an associate agent at Fuse, an assistant to Fuse Senior Agent Tricia Skinner, and a mentor and Communications Director for the Pitch Wars writer mentorship program. A former copywriter for a Fortune 500 client, Ernie is also the founder of TBRstack.com, a platform for authors and publishing professionals to share lists of their favorite books.
Outspoken about the issues of equality, both in society as a whole and as they relate to the publishing industry, Ernie values accuracy in representation and the raising of marginalized voices. He strives to be a fierce advocate for his clients and their interests, and is passionate about bringing their stories to a broader audience.
In his free time, Ernie enjoys sketching and painting, whaling away on his drum kit, binge-watching the latest fantasy series, and having fun with his three amazing kids. He specializes in Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror in the Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade categories, as well as YA Contemporary.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
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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)