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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: S
Biography
Eva Scalzo is a literary agent with Speilburg Literary Agency. Eva Scalzo was born in New Jersey, but has lived in Houston, Buenos Aires, San Juan, and Boston before settling down outside of Binghamton, New York. She has a B.A. in the Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico and a M.A. in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College. Since graduating, she has spent her career in scholarly publishing, working for Houghton Mifflin, Blackwell Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, and Cornell University in a variety of roles. She has been with Speilburg Literary since 2013, and started accepting clients in 2017. Eva is a member of SCBWI and the AALA. She serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the AALA Newsletter and is a member of the Communications and USBS Committees.
In Adult Fiction, Eva represents Romance (all subgenres but inspirational), as well as select Upmarket, Thrillers, and Science Fiction/Fantasy. She also represents all subgenres of Young Adult Fiction and select Middle Grade.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Frank Scatoni is a literary agent with Venture Literary Agency, a founding partner, and heads the San Diego office. He had worked in book publishing for ten years, including stints at Doubleday and Simon & Schuster in New York, before relocating to Solana Beach, California, in 2000. Having been in the position of acquiring books for publishers, he knows what sells and why, and he uses that experience to shape manuscripts and proposals to meet the standards of publishing houses.
In addition to having reviewed, acquired, and edited hundreds of manuscripts as both an editor and agent, Frank is also the author of two pop culture books – Who Can It Be Now? and Say Anything – as well as Saratoga: The Ultimate Racing Experience and Six Secrets of Successful Bettors. He also served as the editor of Finished Lines, an anthology of memorable writing about horse racing.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Business Book | History | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Sports |
Biography
Adam Schear is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. Adam is a graduate of Tulane University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He began his publishing career at the William Morris Agency and joined DeFiore and Company in 2009. He is interested in literary fiction and well-crafted commercial fiction, work that captivates the reader with both its prose and its plot, humor, YA, smart thrillers, historical fiction, and quirky debut literary novels. For non-fiction he is interested in memoirs, politics, science, popular culture, and current events.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | General Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Satire | Science Fiction | Short Story Collection | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |Art | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Science | Technology | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Angela Scheff is a literary agent with the Christopher Ferebee Literary Agency. Angela has worked in the publishing industry since 2000. For the first 10 years she worked as an Editor and then Associate Publisher at Zondervan, a Christian imprint of HarperCollins in Grand Rapids, Michigan, acquiring and editing a variety of well-known authors. For the next five years, Angela became a freelancer, working with different Christian publishers, editors, and authors, in addition to focusing on her young family. In 2015, Angela joined Christopher Ferebee’s agency to represent a select number of authors to help bring their voice, passion, and expertise to their readers.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |General Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Religious Fiction |General Nonfiction | Dating Relationships Sex | History | Inspirational Nonfiction | Memoir | Parenting | Religion | Spirituality | Sports |
Biography
Christopher Schelling is a literary agent with Selectric Artists. Christopher provides a unique level of personal service, strategically managing and nurturing the careers of each client personally, and the editorial process is integral. With over four decades of publishing experience, he has a wide network of deep connections. Prior to opening Selectric Artists in 2011, he spent 13 years at Ralph M. Vicinanza Ltd, an iconic literary agency. Before this, he was an Executive Editor at Dutton and HarperCollins. He also had a clandestine career as a book cover model. Christopher lives with his husband, the author Augusten Burroughs, and their three dogs.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Cultural Social Issues | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Pop Culture |
Biography
Rebecca Scherer is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She began her publishing career at JRA in 2010 while earning a BA in English Literature, Political Science, and German from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter. Immediately upon graduating, she was offered the unique opportunity to work within each department at the agency to gain a deep understanding of the business before going on to become an agent. She represents commercial fiction across genres, with particular interest in women’s fiction, crime/mystery, suspense, book club fiction, and upmarket/literary-leaning fiction. A lifelong New Yorker with a true head for numbers, Rebecca bridges her taste in literature with her business acumen to comprehensively advocate for her authors.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Ethan Schlatter is a liteary agent with United Talent Agency (UTA). He began at UTA in 2022 after a mercifully brief stint working in intellectual property law. He works with the Translation Rights team, where he has helped bring the work of NYT best-selling authors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elliot Page, and Ashley Flowers to readers across the globe.
On the domestic side, Ethan is currently building his list of authors across both fiction and non-fiction. On the fiction side, he likes heartfelt and witty stories about unique communities, complicated families, or anything where the premise can best be described as “coo-coo bananas.” With non-fiction, he’s drawn to cultural criticism (both serious and frivolous), ancient history, humorous essays, and memoirs that reflect a greater cultural conversation. Also, just in case it’s not apparent already, he has a soft spot for anything LGBT+.
A recovering theater kid, Ethan grew up in Southern California and attended the University of California, Berkeley (Go Bears!). Upon completing his pre-med courses, he took a hard pivot and graduated with a B.A. in Media Studies and Rhetoric, much to the confusion of his parents. Unsurprisingly, he lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | History | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir |
Biography
Wendy Schmalz is a literary agent with the Wendy Schmalz Agency. Wendy is also the principal and founder of the Wendy Schmalz Agency, founded in 2002. Representing a wide range of writers for both the children’s and adult markets for more than twenty-five years, her current client list includes Myla Goldberg, Julie Anne Peters Seymour Simon, and April Henry to name a few. She began her career at Curtis Brown before moving on to Harold Ober Associates, where she was a principal of the company.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | New Adult Fiction |
Biography
Jessica Schmeidler is the founding literary agent of Golden Wheat Literary. Jessica has a B.A. in English, Literature, a B.A. in Political Science, Pre-law, and a Paralegal Certificate. Prior to becoming a literary agent she was the Managing Editor of a traditional press, a Professional Editor, a Paralegal, and a Ghostwriter. In addition to being a literary agent Jessica is also a Freelance Editor, a Ghostwriter, the Host of #JustPitchIt, the Co-host of #SecretShop, the Co-founder of Post Script Services, and the Co-host of #FromPitchToPublished workshop.
Jessica’s tastes are eclectic in genre and readership, but she consistently favors character driven plot with rich, atmospheric description.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction |Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |Action Adventure | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Religious Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Gardening | Memoir | Nature | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Travel | True Adventure |
Biography
Harold Schmidt is a literary agent with the Harold Schmidt Literary Agency. Literary fiction has been Harold’s primary focus. His clients have included Jessica Hagedorn, John Stewart Wynne, James Purdy, Rebecca Brown, Leonard Kastle, Norma L. Goodrich, Gershen Kaufman and Lev Raphael, John Wooley & Ron Wolfe, David Everitt, David M. Pierce, Ernesto Mestre, Gregory and Patricia Kishel, Bo Huston, Lawrence Chua, etc. He says: “I am a long-time member of the AAR (Association of Authors’ Representatives).
Harold Schmidt Literary Agency has co-agents worldwide for foreign language rights and for English-language rights outside the United States. We also partner with agents in Los Angeles and London for disposition of motion picture and dramatic rights.
Concurrent with agenting, I also worked as an audio books script writer for Simon & Schuster, Time Warner, Random House, Harper Collins, Bantam, etc.
Among the dozens of authors whose books I adapted to the audio format are: Stephen Ambrose, Sandra Brown, Ken Burns, Tom Clancy, Mary Higgins Clark, Jackie Collins, Michael Connelly, Clive Cussler, Jeffery Deaver, John Dunning, Vince Flynn, Tony Hillerman, Linda Howard, Robert Ludlum, Judith McNaught, Judith Michael, Ruth Rendell, Luanne Rice, Sidney Sheldon, etc.
The authors all had final approval of the scripts I adapted from their works.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Economics | Film Entertainment | History | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Reference | True Crime |
Biography
Deborah Schneider is a literary agent with the Gelfman Schnedier/ICM Literary Agency. Deborah Schneider grew up in Chicago. In 1981, seeking a less corporate environment, Deborah partnered with Jane Gelfman as an agent in the New York office of the venerable British Literary Agency, John Farquharson Ltd. Deborah began building her American client list and in 1992, she and Jane bought the agency and established the Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents Inc. that exists today. Deborah represents a large variety of prominent and bestselling writers, across all categories of literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction. She is a member of the AAR—the Association of Authors Representatives, served two terms on their Board, and has served on their Royalty Committee for twenty-five years.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Science | Women’s Issues |
Eddie Schneider
Jabberwocky Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Eddie Schneider is a literary agent with Jabberwocky Literary Agency. He is also is the Vice President of JABberwocky Literary Agency, which he joined back when the nerve center was still Joshua Bilmes’ living room.
These days, the agency is in a real office, sandwiched between Grand Central Station and Times Square in midtown Manhattan, and the bustling new digs only serve to motivate Eddie in his pursuit of great authors, both new and new to JABberwocky.
Eddie is an Iowa graduate, where he studied fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. He has an M.S. in Publishing from New York University, and his client list includes Hugo, Andre Norton, Philip K. Dick, and Bram Stoker Award winners, as well as New York Times bestselling authors Brandon Sanderson, Daniel José Older, and Alison Wilgus.
When he isn’t agenting, reading, or editing, he has been known to run ultramarathons, and is technically an award-winner himself, although his form wouldn’t necessarily get rave reviews.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Science Fiction |Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Environment | History | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Photography | Science | Travel |
Biography
Kathy Schneider is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Her long and varied publishing career has included managing an independent bookstore, overseeing publicity and marketing departments at major imprints, and holding publisher roles at Random House and HarperCollins. Having worked with bestselling and award-winning authors, she now brings her passion for authors and championing their work to her role as agent. Kathy applies her knowledge of current marketing strategies to help her clients achieve success, from the book’s conception through the entire publishing process. Kathy is looking for nonfiction with a focus on women’s interest, current affairs, business, pop culture, wellness, relationships, humor, and memoir. She is also interested in upmarket women’s fiction and psychological suspense.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Economics | Health Wellness | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Self-Help | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Heather Schroder is the founder of Compass Talent. Before founding Compass Talent in 2014, Heather got her start at ICM in foreign rights and worked as an agent for over 25 years . Her clients include authors of literary and commercial fiction; upmarket non-fiction, including memoir, journalism, history, science and cookbooks; and a select list of middle grade and YA. Heather has represented numerous bestsellers, including Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain, Methland by Nick Reding, and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba, among others. She is also proud to represent Guggenheim fellows, MacArthur Geniuses, National Book Award winners, and TED Fellows. Heather has spoken at numerous workshops and writers’ retreats and is currently serving on the board of the Association of Author Representatives (AAR).
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Economics | Food Drink | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Susan Schulman is a literary agent with the Susan Schulman Literary Agency. The Susan Schulman Literary Agency specializes in representing motion picture, television and allied rights, foreign rights, live stage including commercial theater, opera and dance adaptations, new media rights including e-book and digital applications, and other subsidiary rights on behalf of North American publishers and literary agents. The agency also represents its own clients domestically and internationally in all markets. The agency has a particular interest in fiction and non-fiction books for, by and about women and women’s issues and interests, as well as all levels of children’s books including picture books, middle-grade and young adult, history, science, pop culture, and memoir. Our primary interest however is in authors and their projects which explore big ideas about the world and being human.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Religious Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Sports Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Computers | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Law Legal | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Politics | Psychology | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel | Upmarket Nonfiction | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Hannah Schwartz is a literary agent with the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency. She started reading at age 5 and hasn’t stopped. She began her publishing career as an intern at Paper Lantern Lit and then Writers House Literary Agency after graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in English Literature, Writing and Psychology. She landed at SKLA as the business manager in 2016 after spending four years at InkWell Management.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology |
Biography
Steve Schwartz is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. He has a varied background but very specific interests. He has written in many different genres: from corporate communications and screenplays, to television proposals and speeches. He has also written and published a number of books on widely-divergent topics.
He has been a communications consultant…a producer of large-scale meetings and conferences…a presentation coach for senior executives…and an award-winning video producer-writer-director. In addition to his work with the Agency, he is an Adjunct Professor of Communications at NYU’s Stern School of Business and Fordham University, and is a writing consultant at the School of Visual Arts.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Government | Humor Nonfiction | Money Finance | Psychology | Self-Help | Sports | Travel |
Biography
Tina P. Schwartz is the founder and owner of The Purcell Agency. She admits to being a reluctant reader as a child. In fact, she says she is still very picky when it comes to choosing a book, and isn’t afraid to judge one (at first) by its cover!
Ask her kids, and they won’t believe you! They’ll tell you her nose is constantly in a book, or staring at her Kindle Fire, her iPad mini, or even reading mss on her phone! When not reading manuscripts, marketing website, social media, or industry blogs, you can find Schwartz on her laptop enjoying her own writing time. (She’s written 10 traditionally published books.)
Schwartz is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). Tina says, “I’m thrilled to have founded The Purcell Agency, LLC and look forward to reading many wonderful submissions from talent all over the world!”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Dystopian Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Sports Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Family | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Multicultural Nonfiction | Reference | Sports |
Biography
Lauren Scovel is a literary agent with the Laura Gross Literary Agency. She says: “I grew up outside of Seattle and graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing as well as Theatre Studies. I began my publishing career as an editorial intern at Aevitas Creative Management (formerly Zachary Shuster Harmsworth). My editorial work can be seen at The Millions and Pangyrus. I also worked as an indie bookseller for several years. I am looking to amplify underrepresented stories and voices, and am especially interested in both fiction and narrative nonfiction with a timely, distinctive story and a diverse cast of characters.”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |BIPOC Nonfiction | History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | True Crime |
Biography
Marleen Seegers is a literary agent with the 2 Seas Agency. She says: “I was born and raised in the southern Dutch town of Maastricht, in a family of -mostly- chemical engineers. At age 18, I had outgrown my home town and engineering destiny, and moved to London for a year. There I developed a passion for reading: I fell in love with Virginia Woolf and her Bloomsbury Group, devoured 19th-century fin de siècle novels, read French classics by Voltaire, Maupassant, Flaubert, and Gide.
After having studied a semester at Hull University in the north of England, I went south-bound to take part in a research project on Welsh literature in English translation at Swansea University in Wales. I graduated in Liberal Arts at Utrecht University back in the Netherlands, majoring in Modern European Literature, and obtained a post-graduate diploma in Comparative Literature at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris, France.
Apart from my two mother tongues (Dutch and Limburgish, a dialect spoken by natives of the Maastricht area), I am fluent in English and French. I also have good working proficiency in German and have started learning Spanish. Italian and Russian are also on my wish-list.
Work Experience: It All Started in France
I settled in Paris and started interning with several French publishing houses and agencies, including Editions Jean-Claude Lattès and Agence Michelle Lapautre. With my international profile and language skills, working in foreign rights was a natural fit. I was offered a position at the Rights & Licenses department of France’s oldest publishing house Editions Stock, part of Hachette Livre. For over five years, I represented foreign and domestic rights in their entire catalog, which consisted of literary fiction and books in the humanities and social sciences (and, on a side note, several books by Virginia Woolf). I knew I had found my calling — I loved combining my passion for books and languages with my strong communicative, interpersonal and organizational skills. Throughout my years at Editions Stock I sold and bought translation rights, developed lasting relationships with publishers, agents, literary scouts and translators throughout the world, and attended international book fairs (Frankfurt, London, Beijing, Prague, Thessaloniki, Bucharest).
I was also given the opportunity to participate in a number of inspiring projects and events concerning international publishing, as diverse as teaching a post-graduate class in Written Heritage and Digital Publishing at Tours University, France, and speaking at a conference organized by the French Embassy in Beijing about the translation rights trade between France and China (click here to read my presentation in French).
Founding 2 Seas Agency
When I left France and the Old Continent to move to California in 2011, the “foreign rights bug” that had bitten me in France naturally came along. It made me discover many great books and wonderful authors, meet innumerable kind, curious and passionate bibliophiles, and travel the world. I was set on continuing this adventurous and inspiring path. My partner Derek Dodds and I founded 2 Seas Agency together just a few months after I had settled in the beautiful town of Ojai. Derek’s positive, inspiring energy is one of the cornerstones of 2 Seas Agency, and I am grateful to be able to share this highly contagious energy and our common passion for books, reading and languages with you.”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Dating Relationships Sex | History | How-To | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Technology | True Crime |
Biography
Dani Segelbaum is a literary agent with Carol Mann Agency. She joined the Carol Mann Agency in 2021 as a literary agent and subrights manager.She is interested in both fiction and non-fiction. Dani is seeking non-fiction titles with an emphasis on politics, women’s issues, popular culture, and current events. Dani also loves memoir, narrative non-fiction, lifestyle, and cookbooks. In fiction, she is looking for literary and upmarket adult fiction including debut, historical, rom-coms, mysteries, and women’s fiction. In both fiction and non-fiction, Dani hopes to work with authors from diverse backgrounds to tell stories that are important to them. She loves compelling narrators and is drawn to writing that is voice-driven, highly transporting, and features unique perspectives and marginalized voices.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Science | Self-Help | Sports | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Lynn Seligman
Lynn Seligman Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Lynn Seligman is a literary agent with the Lynn Seligman Literary Agency in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. Lynn has a B.A. from Goucher College, a M.A. in French Literature from Columbia University, near completion of a Ph.D. in French Literature from Columbia.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Education | Gift Novelty | Government | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Money Finance | Music | Nature | Photography | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Vicki Selvaggio is a literary agent with the Storm Literary Agency. For Victoria, books have always played an important role in her life. From an early age, she could easily be found reading in a corner with stacks of books or the opposite, crafting her own. In her early teens, anything written by Stephen King became a must read––the thickness of those books was not intimidating. Those perfect words linked together to create such thought-provoking scenes. She was hooked! So hooked that she began writing constantly. Though, to the dismay of her high school college writing course teacher, Victoria did not pursue writing in college. She also did not pursue her vocation of becoming a CPA, even with the high recommendations (and grades) of her teachers, parents, and peers. Instead, upon graduation Victoria obtained her Real Estate License and after matching her very first homebuyer with the very first house she toured with him (that she selected out of hundreds), she quickly realized she could sell. This empowered her. She changed the trajectory of her path by combining all of her passions and skills and started her own business at the age of twenty. Within the first year of operation, she had expanded from having no employees to ten.
Running a successful business never replaced her love for reading and writing, which she shared consistently with her children. Curling up with them to read and enjoying all of those classics again, through their emotions compelled Victoria to revisit writing. Becoming traditionally published, though, was not something that she knew much about and after self-publishing two books, Victoria was introduced to SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Once again, she was hooked! There was so much to learn about the publishing industry–– and learn she did! From query letters to submissions (with snail mail!). Like all passions, Victoria immersed herself in all things publishing. She participated in any and all writer-related events and volunteered for her local SCBWI chapter and within time, became the Regional Advisor for SCBWI: Northern Ohio––a role that she was honored to master for many years. A role that also empowered her and provided a new path.
Becoming a literary agent.
After interning for The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, she joined the agency in 2013 as an associate agent. Within six months of agenting, she had sales under her belt and a growing list of very talented clients. Additionally, she accepted numerous invitations to present at conferences and events––thrilled to have the opportunity to meet like-minded creatives, while also building her reputation in the industry.
Grateful for her earlier agenting days, Victoria missed the behind-the-scenes business side. The running of the business. In 2018, she joined Storm Literary Agency as a co-owner where she devoted her time to building the agency from within with talented agents and a supporting staff.
With over thirty years of business-ownership and publishing experience, Victoria became the owner of Storm Literary Agency in 2022. Her list features both debut and award-winning authors. She represents all age categories and all genres except Erotica Romance. Currently, she is closed to submissions but does plan to open for a limited time in 2024 (Victoria does accept and opens for submissions as a presenter at conferences).
Her favorite authors include: Stephen King, Judy Blume, Shel Silverstein, Lois Lowry, Margaret Atwood, E. B. White, C. S. Lewis, Suzanne Collins, and so many more.
In her spare time, Victoria can be found on a sixteen-foot ladder painting or knocking down a wall in one of her remodeling/flipping home projects.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction |Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Computers | Cookbook Cooking | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Inspirational Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel |
Biography
Zeynep Sen is a literary agent with WordLink, Incorporated. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College with a B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing, and she has worked as a foreign rights agent at the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency in New York. Her own writings have appeared in publications such as the United Nations accredited The Society and Diplomatic Review, Culture Limited, the New York Journal of Books, and other literary journals. Fluent in English, Turkish, and Spanish, she is an experienced translator of fiction and nonfiction. She is based in Istanbul, Turkey.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction |Narrative Nonfiction |
Charlie Serabian
Global Lion Intellectual Property Management, Inc.Accepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email >Biography
Charlie Serabian is a literary agent with Global Lion Intellectual Property Management, Inc. Charlie brings an eclectic mix of skills to the forefront of Global Lion. A graduate of SCAD’s film and television department, his focus on writing for the screen and stage slowly transitioned to the world of books. Having worked closely with Peter Miller for several years, he’s taken the Literary Lion’s teachings to heart. He lives in Hollywood, Florida with his two black cats Bob and Betty, who he finds increasingly difficult to tell apart.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Religious Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller |Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Health Wellness | History | Illustrated | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Parenting | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Travel | True Crime |
Tara Severance
The Ambrosia Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Tara Severance is a literary agent with and the President of The Amrosia Literary Agency. She is the founder and President of The Ambrosia Literary Agency, Tara is a graduate of the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, holding a BA in Studio Art, Biology minor. Her love for art and literature led her to found the Agency, something she considers more a calling than a career. Tara has always been an artist and a promoter of art. It is the spirit which she brings to her agency. Promoting any artist or work of art is always a painstaking and time consuming process, a process which Tara understands intimately.
Tara is the primary agent and decision maker for Ambrosia. Her love for the industry combined with a vast reservoir of knowledge of all aspects of the process of becoming published, allows Tara to guid the author and provide her with unparalleled protection and representation. From the first reading of your submission through the process of finding a publisher, negotiating contracts and rights, and seeing your work appear in print, Tara pust her experience and expertise to work on your behalf.
Tara’s focus is on Horror.
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Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction | Horror | Paranormal Fiction | Suspense Fiction |Mind Body Spirit | New Age | Psychology | Spirituality |
Biography
Tessa Shaffer is a literary agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She is a Literary Manager for screenwriters, a Sr. Literary Agent for authors, and the Vice President of the agency, supporting the staff and clients agency-wide. Heading Corvisiero’s Film & TV department, she’s heavily involved in the development of book adaptations whether it be book to screen, book to TV, or book to streamers.
In writing, she searches for universal truths that bleed through any genre. Whether it’s finding the humor in the hurt, the evil in the good, or the strange in the familiar—she searches for the stories that leaves audiences with a changed perspective. Recognized as an Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist, Journey Awards Finalist, and by the Writer’s Digest Awards in 2019, 2018, and 2016, her own work has also appeared in GirlsLIFE magazine, Authors Publish, and Indie Chicks magazine.
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CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Juvenile Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |BIPOC Nonfiction | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Multicultural Nonfiction | Science |
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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)