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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: D
Biography
Vincent dePaul Lupiano is a literary agent with the Rudy Agency. She is a published author and a talent hunter. While significantly historical, his non-fiction WWII book, Operation Tidal: The Bloodiest Air Battle in the History of War, focuses on five main characters in the story that make the narrative compelling beyond cold facts. Vince’s recent political thriller, One Minute to Midnight, has a tough but flawed female character seeking the truth about the woman in the mirror.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Historical * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: History * Military/War *
USA
Biography
Dado Derviskadic is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. He is also the agency Vice President. His authors include Dr. Nicole LePera (How to Do The Work), Dr. Cate Shanahan (Deep Nutrition), Kelly and Juliet Starrett (Built to Move), Matt Alt (Pure Invention), Hiroko Yoda (Eight Million Ways to Happiness), John Birdsall (The Man Who Ate Too Much), Esteban Castillo (Chicano Eats), Naz Deravian (Bottom of the Pot), and many others. After interning with the New York Times in New York and China, he started his career in publishing as a Foreign Rights Director in Beijing, China, in 2009. In this role he acquired English language non-fiction for the growing Chinese market, including major works by Walter Isaacson (Steve Jobs), George W. Bush (Decision Points), Henry Kissinger (On China), and many more. Dado reads Chinese, Japanese and Bosnian, and holds a degree from Middlebury College in Chinese film history and Japanese literature. He loves working with writers who have a deep and singular insight into their chosen world.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Beauty/Fashion/Style * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Diet/Nutrition * Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Philosophy * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality *
630 Ninth Ave. Suite 1101 New York NY 10036 USA
Sydney Queen Detellis
WordLink, IncorporatedDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Sydney Queen Detellis is a literary agent with WordLink, Incorporated. She is a graduate of Belmont University with a BA in English and has been obsessed with books ever since a librarian tried to ban her from the YA section in elementary school. Her own writing has received the Alfred Leland Crabb Award, the Ruby Treadway Award, and the Corinne Dale Award for Writing about Gender. She resides in Myrtle Beach with her husband and what some people say is too many cats.
Sydney is looking for beautiful prose and unrepeatable characters in many genres, including literary fiction, historical fiction, psychological thrillers, mysteries, speculative fiction, and books of the fantasy/sci-fi/slipstream variety. She is interested in adult novels and has a long-standing love for YA. Sydney is also seeking memoirs or essay collections that address overcoming trauma.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Science Fiction * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir *
Biography
Katelyn Detweiler is an associate agent with Jill Grinberg Literary Management. She attended Pennsylvania State University as a Schreyer Honors College scholar, receiving a B.A. in English, emphasis in Creative Writing, and a minor in Women’s Studies, interning at the Penn State Press during her time there. Post college she moved to New York City for the Columbia Publishing Course, and from there worked in the marketing department of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. She joined Jill Grinberg Literary Management in 2010, and after a few years assisting Jill with the general agency roster, Katelyn began actively building her own client list. Katelyn is also a published YA author. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son, and when she’s not writing, reading, and revising books, she enjoys practicing yoga and embarking on road trips.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Health/Wellness * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative *
392 Vanderbilt Avenue Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Biography
Allison Devereux is literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She joined Trellis Literary Management in 2023 and is focused on expanding the agency’s nonfiction program. Before Trellis, she was an agent at The Cheney Agency.
Allison’s interests in nonfiction are wide ranging, but she is particularly interested in cultural and social history, popular science, philosophy, deeply reported narrative, outward-facing memoir, investigative journalism, “big idea” books, essays and criticism, and select illustrated projects. Her clients have been New York Times bestsellers and Editors’ Choice picks; best books of the year selections from The New Yorker to The Atlantic to Amazon; and winners or finalists for the National Book Foundation Science + Literature Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the PEN America Literary Award, the National Magazine Award, the Mark Lynton History Prize, and other prizes. She also represents select literary fiction on a referral basis, with a penchant for surreal, psychologically complex narratives.
A native of Texas, Allison graduated from The University of Texas at Austin’s Plan II Honors Program, with a focus in art history. After stints at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center and The Institute of Classical Archaeology in Austin, she got her first job in trade publishing at Macmillan in 2011, before moving into agenting at Wolf Literary Services and then The Cheney Agency.
Allison’s favorite books include Furious Hours by Casey Cep, How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr, Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman, Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller, Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, The Lonely City by Olivia Laing, Remainder by Tom McCarthy, When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut, and Motherhood by Sheila Heti.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * History * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Technology * True Crime * Upmarket * Women’s Issues *
USA
Biography
Anne Devlin is the president of Max Gartenberg Literary Agency. She has served as President of Max Gartenberg Literary Agency for the past 15 years. She acquires books in a wide range of areas in the humanities and social sciences. She works with authors writing general readership books, as well as scholarly books. She has worked with many prominent authors and published hundreds of books that have won numerous prizes.
A graduate of Northeastern University, Anne began her career in journalism serving as the editor of ten community weekly newspapers. She has been involved with the launch of a Princeton city magazine and owned and managed daily operations of MarketingWorks, a full-time educational marketing company whose clients included Time-Life Books, Houghton Mifflin and Scholastic. She has also managed an 8-county territory for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News to promote childhood literacy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Current Events/Affairs * Education * Environment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * True Crime * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
912 N. Pennsylvania Avenue Yardley PA 19067 USA
Biography
Cori Deyoe is a literary agent with 3 Seas Literary Agency. Cori Deyoe joined 3 Seas as a literary agent in 2006 with over 25 years of experience in the writing industry. She was previously a published author at Silhouette/Harlequin (national and international) and was also published in various non-fiction periodicals. Cori no longer pens her own stories, focusing solely on her fantastic clients’ projects. She has a special talent for the editing process and enjoys working closely with her authors to achieve perfect presentations.
Cori is actively looking to expand her list of clients. She represents all sub-genres of romance, women’s fiction, young adult, middle grade, picture books, thrillers, mysteries and select non-fiction.
On a personal note, Cori loves reading (of course!), traveling, photography, dogs, cats, horses and anything chocolate.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Erotica * Espionage/Military * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Biography * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
P.O. Box 444 Sun Prairie WI 53590 USA
Biography
Bob Diforio is a literary agent with the D4EO Literary Agency. Bob spent 17 years at New American Library [Dutton/Penguin USA] in positions ranging from VP Sales to President and Publisher, Chairman and CEO. There he helped launch the paperback careers of Erica Jong, Robin Cook, Stephen King, Ken Follett and Robert K. Tanenbaum. With Odyssey Partners, he led the management in a leverage buy out of the company from Times Mirror in 1982, purchased E. P. Dutton, and they sold the combined company to Pearson PLC in 1986, which merged the company with Viking Penguin to create Penguin USA. He opened D4EO Literary Agency in late 1989.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Reference * Sports * Travel *
13206 Treviso Dr. Lakewood Ranch FL 34211 USA
Sandra Dijkstra
Sandra Dijkstra Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Sandra Dijkstra is the founder, owner, and president of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Agent to authors in the arenas of nonfiction (including history, politics, current affairs, business, and science) and fiction (literary and commercial), Sandra’s mission is to find and champion authors whose books make a difference.
Bicoastal, Sandra was born in the Bronx, schooled in the East, and then came West to attend grad school at UC Berkeley, bringing to her agenting a literary taste honed by a Ph.D. in French literature, a keen editorial eye trained during a decade of university teaching, and, on the business front, her homegrown New York selling smarts. Within her first decade of agenting, Newsweek dubbed her “the best agent in the West,” Esquire chose her as one of the nation’s “top five literary agents,” and the Los Angeles Times proclaimed her an “über-agent” and “the most powerful literary agent on the West Coast.”
Sandra looks for writers with something significant to say, who know how to say it in a distinctive way, and whose books help to make this a better world. She is agent to major American historians, including Pulitzer Prize-winners Eric Foner, Steven Hahn, and Leon Litwack, and National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor. She is also proud to represent renowned historian of ideas, Michael Kazin; scholars of the slave trade, the late Ira Berlin and Marcus Rediker; Immigration Studies historian Erika Lee; Jewish Studies historian Steve Ross, Religious Studies historians Steven Prothero, Paula Fredriksen, and Matt Sutton; and feminist historians Elaine May and Marilyn Yalom, as well as LGBTQ historian Lillian Faderman, and more.
The advocate for a leading group of investigative journalists, Sandra has championed the work of the Washington Post’s Tom Hamburger, the Los Angeles Times’ Michael Hiltzik, the Wall Street Journal’s Jess Bravin, and ProPublica’s T. Christian Miller, among others.
On the science front, her list features such gurus as Don Norman, Dr. Irvin Yalom, Dr. Gary Small, Bernd Heinrich, and Jordan Fisher Smith. On the business side, she is proud to represent bestseller Joel Greenblatt, and David Einhorn, and to have agented Max DePree’s classic Leadership Is an Art.
Sandra is, perhaps, best-known for her eye for quality fiction that sells well, representing authors such as Maxine Hong Kingston, Amy Tan, Lisa See, Nobel Prize-winner Mo Yan, Chitra Divakaruni, and Shobha Rao, among others. On the mystery/thriller side, she champions bestsellers Diane Mott Davidson (the Queen of the Culinary Mystery), and former Cosmopolitan editor Kate White. And, on the children’s front, she is Stellaluna author/illustrator Janell Cannon’s proud agent.
Her goal is to help authors realize their dreams, supporting their work through each phase of the publishing process, so that their books reach the widest readership, here and abroad, and in as many formats as possible. To that end, she has assembled a powerful team of colleagues, each of whom has her own list, representing a wide range of genres, and each determined to make it happen for the authors they represent.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Family Saga * Historical * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * History * Memoir * Journalism * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Women’s Issues *
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Sarah Dillard is a literary agent with Painted Words. She has been with the Painted Words family for over twenty years as an illustrator and author of picture books, beginner graphic novels and early chapter books. She is excited to take on the new role of agent to help illustrators develop their ideas into stories only they can tell. Sarah is interested in stories that explore universal feelings that all children can relate to, but told in original voices with unexpected twists. She loves stories that strike to the core, and funny characters who stay with you long after the book is finished.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Graphic Novel * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Waitsfield VT USA
Biography
Lisa DiMona is a literary agent at Writers House, one of the largest agencies in the world. She says: “I specialize in nonfiction at Writers House and am actively seeking works of journalism, creative nonfiction, strong narrative and/or memoir in which we learn about remarkable individuals or aspects of history, science, economics, technology, culture or art.
I also represent practical nonfiction, advice and how-to, especially in business, entrepreneurship, creativity, productivity and leadership categories.
I love working with authors who are on a mission, authors who have irresistible ideas and stories.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Economics * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Practical * Reference * Science * Technology *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Claire Dippel is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Occidental College with a double major in Theater and English. She worked for a while at a bookstore in London earning enough to see plays every weekend. She went on to complete her MFA in Acting at Indiana University and earn her Actor’s Equity card. In 1999, she moved to New York City and, while auditioning for shows, got a temp job in the foreign rights department at Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Later that year, Luke Janklow joined the company and she switched to full time. For nearly a quarter of a century Claire has had the distinct pleasure of working with Luke and his remarkable clients. Her passion for stories and people of quality has flourished in this wonderful environment where she is surrounded by the best of both. She is proud to call herself Assistant to Luke Janklow and HR Manager. Claire is happily married and raising three wonderful children of whom she is also very proud.T
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
Lucienne Diver
The Knight AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Lucienne Diver is a literary agent with The Knight Agency. Lucienne joined The Knight Agency in 2008, after spending fifteen years at New York City’s prestigious Spectrum Literary Agency. With her sharp eye and gift for spotting original new voices, Lucienne is one of the most well-respected agents in the industry. A lifelong book addict, she graduated summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Potsdam with dual majors in English/writing and anthropology. She thus came well-equipped for her work as an agent.
Over the course of her dynamic career she has sold over seven hundred titles to every major publisher, and has built a client list of more than forty authors spanning the commercial fiction genres, primarily in the areas of fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, suspense and erotica. Her authors have been honored with the RITA, National Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Heart, and the Romantic Times Reader’s Choice, and have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. A publishing veteran, Lucienne has superb industry knowledge, numerous editor relationships, and a keen understanding of the foreign rights market. She is a member of the Association of Authors Representatives, RWA, MWA and SFWA.
Her list is currently very full, but she never wants to close herself off to new submissions with which she might fall in love. Specifically, she’d love to find more diverse voices in any commercial fiction field from Young Adult up, with an emphasis on strong characterization and stories which emotionally invest the reader.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Karly Dizon
Fuse LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s); Online Form *Biography
Karly Dizon is a literary agent with Fuze Literary. She is an agent at Fuse Literary building KidLit universes with stories that matter. She first joined the agency in 2016 as a reader for Tricia Skinner and then promoted to Literary Assistant soon after. In 2019, she was promoted to associate agent. Karly has built a career with a strong background as a freelance editor as well as extensive experience with graphic design and marketing. She is looking to develop long-term career authors and nurture their entire writing journey as a strong editorial agent with marketing, social media, and design support. Karly is also the KidLit track coordinator for the San Francisco Writers Conference.
Karly’s clients have won or been nominated for such awards as Kirkus Best Books of the Year, NCTE Notable Books List, SLJ Best Book of the Year, and Kirkus Prize Finalist.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Victoria Doherty-Munro is a literary agent with Writers House.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Adriana Dominguez is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents award-winning illustrators including John Parra, a New York Times Best Illustrator and recipient of three Pura Belpré Honors, Kirkus Prize finalist Jaqueline Alcántara, and Orbis Pictus Honor recipient Juliet Menéndez. Her author list includes NAACP Image Award winner Katheryn Russell Brown, Pura Belpré Honor recipient Angela Cervantes and Emmy Award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa.
Adriana has wide-ranging experience in publishing; she began her editorial career at Scholastic in the 1990s, served as Children’s Reviews Editor at Críticas Magazine (Library Journal), and as Executive Editor at HarperCollins, where she led the children’s division of the Latinx-focused Rayo imprint. She has a long trajectory of supporting authors and illustrators from underrepresented backgrounds and always welcomes submissions that offer a diverse point of view.
Adriana is interested in illustrators with fresh, unmistakable styles, platform-driven narrative nonfiction from children to adult, and select children’s fiction from picture books to middle grade. She is based in New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Film/Entertainment * Gift/Novelty * Memoir * Multicultural * Pop Culture *
19 W. 21st Street Suite 501 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Janis Donnaud is a literary agent with Janis Donnaud and Associates. Janis Donnaud’s long and impressive client list includes novelists and nonfiction writers as well as cookbook writers. Some of her clients are Paula Deen, Pat and Gina Neely, Sara Foster, Suzanne Goin and Bobby and Jamie Deen.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Science * Upmarket * Women’s Issues *
77 Bleecker Street Suite C1-25 New York NY 10012 USA
Biography
Jim Donovan is a literary agent with Jim Donovan Literary.Jim Donovan is the founder and president of Jim Donovan Literary. Since starting the agency in 1993, he has sold hundreds of books, negotiating publishing contracts with the Big Five NYC publishers and many others. Previously, he was a book editor and bookstore-chain buyer.
The agency handles both fiction (chiefly mystery/thriller, mainstream, and literary) and nonfiction (American history, biography, military, popular culture, and general narrative nonfiction). We also sell film, foreign, and all subsidiary rights. Many of the books Jim has represented have been optioned or sold for film/TV. The Junction Boys, by Jim Dent, was made into an HBO movie, and film rights to the same author’s Twelve Mighty Orphans have also been sold. Jeff Guinn’s The Road to Jonestown was adapted by the Sundance Channel for a two-night documentary special, Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, which first aired in November 2018. American Brutus, by Michael Kauffman, was optioned by David Simon, the producer of the award-winning series The Wire. In 2013, the New York Times bestseller Manson by Jeff Guinn was optioned by Sony Entertainment for a limited TV series, as was Shot All to Hell by Mark Lee Gardner. Other books recently optioned for film/TV include The Last Gunfight and Go Down Together by Jeff Guinn, Going Long by Jeff Miller, When She Was Bad by Ron Faust, and dozens of others.
Jim is also the author of several books, including Custer and the Little Bighorn (Voyageur Press, 2001); the New York Times bestseller A Terrible Glory (Little, Brown, 2008); and The Blood of Heroes (Little, Brown, 2012). His next book, Shoot for the Moon (Little, Brown), will be published in March 2019 and has been optioned for a limited TV series. Jim regularly speaks on these subjects, and he has guest-lectured and taught seminars on the craft of writing and the business of publishing (and getting published) at universities and writers’ conferences.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Military/War * Narrative * Pop Culture * Sports *
5635 SMU Boulevard Suite 201 Dallas TX 75206 USA
Priya Doraswamy
Lotus Lane LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Priya Doraswamy is a literary agent with Lotus Lane Literary. Her love for books, people, and background in law makes her career as a literary agent the perfect fit for her passions and talents. Priya enjoys working with publishers and writers from around the world including the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and India. Although physically in the EST, her work hours are zone-free. She does admit to occasionally losing track of time zones and waking a writer with an early morning phone call. Priya has been an agent for over five years and has sold several books worldwide. She is drawn to all genre of fiction and nonfiction. Prior to her agency career, she was a practicing lawyer in the United States.
Originally from Bangalore, India, Priya relocated to the New York area twenty-three years ago. For a period of time she relocated with her family to Singapore, and there, began her career as a literary agent. She founded Lotus Lane Literary in May 2013, and continues her journey with writers and publishers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Multicultural * Science * True Crime *
Biography
Anissa Dorsey is a literary agent with Anissa Dorsey Literary. Anissa Dorsey is an avid fan of authentic, positive, and celebratory prose novels, novels in verse and graphic novels that are told through character-driven stories and original stand-out designs. She represents authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators for Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult readers in various genres. Her diverse list of clients comes from the worlds of literature, animation, gaming, and comic books. Her authors have clever and inventive stories with bold characters and strong voices for any reader to enjoy. These illustrators are experienced, dynamic, versatile, and trusted talents in the world of sequential art for literary and commercial graphic novels, covers, and designs in collaboration with authors. Anisssa is proud to represent clients who fearlessly create authentic works showcasing all marginalized communities, mental health, and the all-American Pop Culture licensed works. This year Anissa is looking for authors of romance, mystery, spooky stories, paranormal, horror, and comedy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Satire * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Katelyn Dougherty is a literary agent with the Paradigm Literary and Talent Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Film/Entertainment * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Photography * Pop Culture * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
Biography
Mitch Douglas is a literary agent with and the owner of Mitch Douglas Literary Agency. He is a former International Creative Management (ICM) agent, has represented some of the world’s major writers including Tennessee Williams, Graham Greene, and Arthur Miller. He owns and operates Mitch Douglas Literary and Theatrical, Inc. in New York representing books, plays and musicals.
He is exclusive agent and co-owner of the Henry Farrell Literary works which includes What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, The Hostage, Death On The Sixth Day, What’s The Matter With Helen?, How Awful About Allen?, and Such A Gorgeous Kid as well as Farrell’s short stories and unpublished works.
He currently represents the biographies of J. Randy Taraborrelli including the biography of The Hilton Family Dynasty, Beyonce and the mini-series based on The Secret Life Of Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and the Kennedy Family. He represents the biographies of Anne Edwards and the new NUNSENSE musicals of Dan Goggin – Nunset Boulevard and Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class.
His work and contributions in the entertainment and literary fields have been recognized in many publications including Donald Spoto’s biography of Tennessee Williams The Kindness of Strangers, Hollis Alperts’ The Life and Times of Porgy and Bess; biographies of Richard Yates, Manuel Puig and Eva Le Gallienne; and a biographical profile in numerous publications including Men’s Style magazine. Books dedicated to him include Katharine Hepburn: A Remarkable Woman by Anne Edwards, Marlon Brando by Charles Higham, Bette Davis: An Intimate Biography by Roy Moseley, The Snow Queen by Eva Le Gallienne, The Wordsmiths: Oscar Hammerstein II and Alan Jay Lerner by Stephen Citron and Three Sisters-The Opera by Kenward Elmslie.
He is an expert on the works and life of Tennessee Williams and has spoken on Williams’ career throughout the country including the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival, the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival in New Orleans, Joe Jeffrey’s Tennessee Williams panels and a notable “An Evening with Tennessee Williams” at Lincoln Center with Cherry Jones.
He has twice been awarded Kentucky Colonel commissions by governors of Kentucky for his contributions to the arts. He is recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Kentucky. He is a member of the Dramatists’ Guild and the Authors’ Guild.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Celebrity * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Memoir *
New York NY USA
Biography
Dawn Dowdle is a literary agent with the Blue Ridge Literary Agency, LLC. She lives in Lynchburg, VA, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is an avid reader of cozy mysteries for relaxation and enjoys attending Malice Domestic when she has the chance. Her reading interests have widened in the last few years.
The agency is a boutique agency that primarily represents Romances and Cozy Mysteries.
One of Dawn’s favorite things to do is attend writers’ conferences. In addition to networking with other agents and editors, she tries to meet with any of her authors who might live in the area, as well as meet new authors.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Graphic Novel * Historical * Inspirational Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Travel *
133 Marvin Place Lynchburg VA 24503 USA
Biography
Claire Draper is a literary agent with the Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency. Claire says: “I fell in love with books later than some, when my high school best friend dragged me to the theater to see Twilight. I became a book fanatic after that. There was not a time you could catch me without a book on my person or fanfiction open on my phone. I read every YA novel available and quickly moved on to the adult romance section, which was decently larger at the local Borders. I decided I wanted to be involved in books any way I could. I ended up moving from California to New York to try and get a degree and weasel my way into book publishing.
After studying Queer Diversity in Children’s Literature at New York University’s Gallatin School and pursuing multiple internships, in 2016 I spent a fantastic (if short-lived) two weeks working as a bookseller for the Strand, before joining InkWell Management as a receptionist and agents’ assistant. In early 2019, I moved to the Bent Agency to start building my list with a collection of very queer books for kids of all ages, including graphic novels, picture books, middle-grade, and young adult. And then I embarked on books for adults, when I decided to return to my favorites with particularly queer memoir, queer romance novels, and select adult nonfiction.
For all the books I work with, I prefer to work with queer creators and BIPOC creators, and strongly encourage those creators to send me their work. Regardless of genre, age, or subject, I like lighthearted, emotional, hopeful, adventurous reads. I am largely genre-agnostic, but I do prefer books with a fast pace, high stakes, and strong emotional development for the main character(s). I do not want to see books from authors writing identity-based books not of their own identity.
For graphic novels, I like a diverse cast of characters, in nearly any genre or location. I love art that challenges traditional styles and is easily recognizable as belonging to a particular artist. I like stories for all ages, fiction and nonfiction, but especially love when a book has strong themes of love and/or friendship, and is extra queer.
For illustrator portfolios, I like to see a decent sampling of your work, including anything from character design, to fan art, to sequentials (any paneled work, webcomic, zine, etc., will suffice). Please let me know whether you are exclusively an illustrator or author/illustrator.
For YA and middle-grade contemporary, I love fiction where the main character has average, everyday challenges and we see how they overcome them. I love books that are lighthearted and emotionally poignant. I am especially interested in queer, disabled, and BIPOC protagonists, especially when the books are not issue-driven.
For YA and middle-grade genre, I love fast pacing and high stakes. I am generally not preferential to any specific genre (fantasy, horror, sci-fi, etc.) as long as the rules of the genre are respected and understood. Much like with contemporary, I am especially interested in queer, disabled, and BIPOC protagonists, especially when the books are not issue-driven. But above all, give me a good, page-turning adventure.
For queer adult romance novels, I want books with queer protagonists that have distinct personalities and a fast pace. I love nearly any genre, but require that the story is queer, feminist, and body-positive. I can’t bear to read dated ideals of partnership, relationships, femininity, and masculinity. I DO NOT want books where the characters participate in sexual acts without consent and/or while heavily intoxicated. Consent is key and a non-negotiable. Sweep me off my feet, please! I’ve been reading romance novels since I was a teenager, so make sure to respect the rules of HEA and give me some good trope-filled romance. To reiterate, I love a wide range of sub-genres in this space, so send it all.
For memoir, I am particularly interested in queer authors writing about their queerness and the intersections of their identity. I love books with humor and interesting perspectives, and enjoy a big personality or narration to go with the contents of the memoir. I do not want conservative or conservative-leaning memoirs.
For select adult nonfiction, I love creators with a fun and interesting platform, who are the experts in their field, and have something interesting and crucial to say. Subjects for this may include but are not limited to: plants, crafting, DIY, cleaning, homemaking, cooking, art, feminism, queer theory, parenting, and media criticism.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Erotica * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Psychology * Women’s Issues *
New York NY USA
Biography
Catherine Drayton is a literary agent with InkWell Management Literary Agency. Catherine Drayton graduated from the University of Sydney with a BA in English Literature and a Bachelor of Laws. After graduating from the University of NSW with a Master of Laws she worked as a litigation lawyer specializing in copyright and libel law at a major international law firm. But novels, not legal precedents, were always top of her reading pile so in 1998, after a brief stint as a literary scout, she joined Arthur Pine Associates which subsequently became InkWell. She represents a wide range of fiction from around the world for both adults and children as well as some non-fiction on subjects that intrigue her. Her bestselling and award-winning clients include Markus Zusak, Beth Hoffman, John Flanagan, Becca Fitzpatrick, Gavriel Savit, Cath Crowley and Karen Foxlee. Many of her clients are published in multiple territories and sold for film. She particularly loves working with debut authors and is looking for writing that is memorable and enduring. Catherine is InkWell’s Sydney affiliate and when she isn’t reading, she can be found swimming, surfing, hiking and cooking for family and friends.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Narrative *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Emma Dries is a literary agent with Triangle House. She is a writer and editor, and an agent at Triangle House Literary. She has worked on bestselling and award-winning books in editorial at Alfred A. Knopf, Doubleday Books, Ecco, and Flatiron Books. She has a B.A. in History from the University of Chicago and an M.F.A in Fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She grew up in Lower Manhattan, above the Fulton Fish Market, and now lives in the Hudson Valley.
Emma is interested in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction that grapples with climate change; ambitious multigenerational novels; speculative fiction; and dark or darkly comic domestic fiction. In nonfiction, she is interested in institutional corruption; memoirs incorporating science or policy; essays and longform journalism; and environmental and travel writing. She likes to work with academic writers with great narrative sensibilities, such as historians who can target an understudied era and spin an incredible yarn. Most importantly, she seeks to be immersed—whether in our own world or a world that’s entirely invented.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Family Saga * Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * History * Journalism * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Science * Technology * Travel *
Kendyll Drilling
Corvisiero Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Kendyll Drilling is a literary agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She has been reading since the age of three, and she has never lost her appetite for reading. She never planned on pursuing literature as a career, but after an accident left her paralyzed, she decided it was in her best interest to focus on something that has always made her happy. This path led her to freelance editing manuscripts and going to college for a dual degree in English Literature and European History. Knowing her options would be limited due to her condition, she is excited and thankful for the opportunity to work with the team at Covrisiero Literary Agency.
Kendyll’s favorite type of books are intricate fantasy novels and historical novels set before the 20th century, but she enjoys novels of all genres, as long as there compelling characters and a plot that transports her to another world. Apart from reading, Kendyll also enjoys copious amounts of tea, music, and funny tee-shirts.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * 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)