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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
Biography
Ellen Goff is a literary agent with HG Literary. She graduated from The University of Chicago (2016) with a BA in English, a minor in Cinema and Media Studies, and a focus in Creative Writing. Ellen has worked everywhere from The White House under the Obama administration to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At HG Literary, she assists Carrie Hannigan on all children’s titles from picture books to middle grade to young adult. Ellen’s own list consists of YA writers and illustrators. She is also a member of HG’s foreign rights team.Ellen is interested in all genres and formats of YA, especially anything spooky, historical fiction, and graphic novels. She has a soft spot for Shakespeare as well as southern gothic stories that remind her of her home state of Kentucky. Ellen runs a twelve-member YA writing group and workshop in NYC.
Notes
FICTION: Chick Lit, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Dating Relationships Sex, Food Drink, Nonfiction, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Board Book, Chapter Book Fiction, Chapter Book Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Thomas Goff is a literary agent with Goff Literary. He serves as strategic counsel to clients on matters involving corporate restructuring, branding, reputation, crisis management, financial transactions, senior executive media positioning, business to business marketing, legal disputes and media and analyst relations. He brings 30 yearsÕ experience as a successful financial journalist, media strategist, literary agent and corporate reputation manager. He has advised senior management teams at a number of global corporations including Microsoft, Starbucks, MySpace, Sony Corporation, Warner Bros., Kaiser Permanente, Computer Sciences Corporation and Dubai World Properties among others.He is also owner of Thomas Jesse Goff Literary, a registered talent agency for writers in print, broadcast and film. The agency is licensed in the State of California.Tom previously served as an executive vice president with the nationÕs largest independent PR firm, in senior corporate communications roles at Global Crossing, Lockheed Corp. and Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) and as a successful financial journalist. At Global Crossing, Tom directed corporate sponsorships, acted as the principal spokesperson for a multi-national telecommunications corporation and personally promoted, managed and controlled coverage and cover stories for the companyÕs top management team in Forbes, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones News Service, BarronÕs and Bloomberg, as well as CNBC, CNNfn and other print and electronic outlets.As director of media and public relations for ARCO, Tom acted as a corporate spokesperson for financial and operational developments, managed crisis and oil-spill communications systems and supervised ARCOÕs corporate image advertising, litigation communications, and community relations initiatives. Tom worked for 10 years at the Lockheed Corporation where he served as manager of advertising and promotions, personally managing principal aspects of the successful $20 million PR and advertising effort behind LockheedÕs win of the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter program, the largest single defense contract then awarded in American history. In addition, he acted as manager of internal communications, coordinator of news and public information and as financial editor of LockheedÕs award-winning annual and quarterly reports.TomÕs editorial tenure included business, political editorial and reporting positions at Esquire, New York Magazine and he was editor of the Fortune 500 lists at Fortune. As founding editor and editor-in-chief of The Corporate Board, Tom led that journal to a readership with the highest-ranking business audience in America Ð the directors serving on boards of the nationÕs largest public corporations Ð and currently serves on the board of editors.Tom is a fourth-generation Californian, holds a bachelorÕs degree in government with honors from California State University at Sacramento and a JD from UC-Davis where he served on the law review. He also served more than a decade as an officer in the Military Police Corps, U.S. Army Reserve.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, Mystery, Religious FictionNONFICTION: Biography, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Mind Body Spirit, Nonfiction, Reference, Religion, Science
Barry Goldblatt
Barry Goldblatt Literary (BG Literary)Accepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Online FormBiography
Barry Goldblatt is a literary agent with Barry Goldblatt Literary. Barry says: “To paraphrase Garrett Morris of SNL, children’s books have been very, very good to me. It was never my planned career option, however. I came to New York in the summer of 1989 after graduating from the University of Kansas with a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Journalism. I’d just finished an intensive six-week course on science fiction with James Gunn there, and I was determined to come to the city and get an editorial job at a science fiction magazine or book publishing company. If I’d only done a little research beforehand, I’d have realized how few editorial positions there were that fit that description. Fortunately I had a great interviewer at Simon & Schuster who explained a bunch of other job options, including describing the subsidiary rights department, which sounded like a lot of fun. I added that to my application letters and suddenly started getting a lot more calls for interviewsÉbut none of them with science fiction or fantasy publishers. I was running low on cash and starting to worry when I got a call to meet with Donne Forrest, the Subsidiary Rights Director at Dutton Children’s Books and Dial Books for Young Readers. I liked her immediately and we had a good interview. She sent me home with three books: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, Interstellar Pig by William Sleator, and Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. I read them all that night, and she called and offered me the job the next day. She made it clear to me that she needed a body right then, but she’d completely understand if I found a job in SF&F in the near future and left. Six months later, I got a call from Tor about an editorial assistant jobÉand I said “no thanks, not interested.” I’d fallen in love with children’s books, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Two years later I was laid off by Penguin (after just signing a lease for a more expensive studio in the East Village to boot!), but fortunately landed a new job as the subsidiary rights associate at The Putnam and Grosset Group. After a couple of years there, I was handed a true golden ticket: I was hired as the Rights and Contracts Director at Orchard Books. When news came in 2000 that Scholastic was buying Orchard, I had to decide what to do with my future. I’d always thought of agenting as an opportunity down the road, but I certainly hadn’t planned to do it so soon. I talked with several people about it, including award-winning author Angela Johnson, who basically said that if I did decide to agent, she’d be my first client. With that kind of vote of confidence, I took the leap and in September 2000 opened my agency, and it is without a doubt the best move I’ve ever made.”
Notes
FICTION: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Science FictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Chapter Book Fiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Wendy Goldman Rohm
The Rohm Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email or Online FormBiography
Wendy Goldman Rohm is a literary agent with The Rohm Literary Agency. She has represented innovative new media projects–including book, film, podcast, tv, stage and video incarnations–for such global clients as Netflix, Dove, The New York Times, Glass Entertainment, Dragonfly TV (London), Wondery, and European clothing giant C & A. Rohm also been a literary agent and author for Sterling Lord Literistic, New York; The Waxman Agency, NY; and Waterside Productions, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif.Ms. Rohm is adept at promotion and public appearances. She has been a commentator on numerous national and international television and radio broadcasts, including: Nightline, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and dozens of programs on NBC, CNBC, PBS radio and television, CNN, CBS, ABC, and BBC radio and television. Rohm has also been an expert researcher for Townsend & Crew, Skadden Arps, and Conlin Associates, among many others.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Religious Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Computers, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Inspirational Nonfiction, Investigative, Journalism, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Reference, Religion, Science, Technology, TravelCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Board Book, Chapter Book Fiction, Chapter Book Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Veronica Goldstein is a literary agent with the United Talent Agency (UTA). She joined UTA in 2023 after seven years with Fletcher & Company. SheÕs drawn to distinctive voices with a new story to tell and a strong sense of urgency, especially Americans whose stories have been underrepresented in publishing and international writers.In fiction, she looks for literary novels with an original, contemporary voice that balance the complexities of culture and politics with storytelling that explores the inner worlds of its characters in a way that challenges expectations and deepens the emotional stakes of the story (Elif Batuman, Sally Rooney). Autofiction, grounded speculative fiction, and experimental forms are always of interest (Charles Yu, Sheila Heti, Maria Gainza).SheÕs also looking for compelling critical takes on cultural and sociological trends and overlooked or misunderstood histories; investigative and issue-focused narrative nonfiction; and memoir that makes the personal political and vice versa (Naomi Klein, Rachel Aviv, Cathy Park Hong, Patrick Radden Keefe, Sarah Smarsh). Pop culture, science, technology, politics, and writing about the natural world are always of interest.Recent and forthcoming titles include The Age of Deer by Erika Howsare; Invisible Labor by Rachel Somerstein; The New Tourist by Paige McClanahan; Yoruba Boy Running by Biyi Bandele; A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi; The Violence Project by Jillian Peterson and James Densley; Into Flames by Daisy Pitkin; Warmth by Daniel Sherrell.Veronica is a graduate of Occidental College, and has worked in education, academic publishing, and Spanish translation and interpretation. She lives in her hometown of Philadelphia.
Notes
FICTION: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Speculative FictionNONFICTION: Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Economics, Environment, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Investigative, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, Technology
Biography
Jennie Goloboy is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. She joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2017, after six years at a Twin Cities-based literary agency. She has a PhD in the History of American Civilization from Harvard, and published a book based on her dissertation, Charleston and the Emergence of Middle-Class Culture in the Revolutionary Era, in 2016. Her novel, Obviously Aliens, is forthcoming from Queen of Swords Press.
Notes
FICTION: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, Science FictionNONFICTION: History, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture
Biography
Susan Golomb is a literary agent with Writers House. Susan has been an agent of literary fiction and non-fiction for over 30 years. She founded the Susan Golomb Literary Agency in 1988 with Jonathan Franzen as her first client and joined Writers House in 2015. Her other authors include award winners and bestsellers such as William T. Vollmann, Rachel Kushner, Imbolo Mbue, Noah Hawley, Nell Zink, Glen David Gold, Janelle Brown, Thomas Mullen, Charles Graeber, Harry Dent, Yvon Chouinard, Angie Kim, as well as Stephen Markley, Wayetu Moore, Lexi Freiman, Mira T. Lee, and more.
Notes
FICTION: Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Current Events Affairs, Environment, Family, Film Entertainment, General Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion, Science, Spirituality, Technology, True CrimeCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Nora Gonzalez is a literary agent with The Gernert Company. Originally from New York City, Nora graduated from the University of Chicago, where she majored in English Literature with a focus on Modernism. She joined The Gernert Company in 2020, after working as an assistant book scout at Del Commune Enterprises. Nora is interested in representing narrative nonfiction, memoirs, cookbooks, illustrated works, poetry, literary and upmarket fiction. As a member of the foreign rights team and a Spanish reader, she has a particular interest in translation, and is also seeking Spanish-language authors, as well as other international writers.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Upmarket FictionNONFICTION: Art, Cookbook Cooking, General Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Poetry
Biography
Irene Goodman is a literary agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency. Irene has been a leading member of the publishing community for over 30 years. She has sold over 1500 books and counting. Her clients are regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Bookscan bestseller lists. She began her career as the assistant to the agent who represented Stephen King, and established her own agency shortly after that. Her fiction list includes upmarket women’s fiction, middle grade, young adult, thrillers, historical fiction, and mysteries. Her non-fiction list includes pop culture, Jewish interest, science, self-help, Francophilia, and lifestyle.Irene has written columns and articles for a number of writers’ publications, and is also a frequent speaker at writer’s conferences, including keynoting at the Historical Novelists Society and Novelists Ink., and workshops at the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Surrey International Writers Conference, the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference, SEAK, the South Carolina Writers Workshop, Malice Domestic, and many regional events.Originally from the Midwest and still trying to lose the accent, Irene has a B.A. and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. She and her husband divide their time between New York and the Berkshires, and have two grown children.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Religious Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Lifestyle, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion, Science, Spirituality, TravelCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Christine Goss is a literary agent for FinePrint Literary. She graduated from Lake Forest College with a BA in communications. Formerly a sales representative, her skills pair well with her love of reading and story development. As an author herself, the craft of writing is very important to her when she looks at manuscripts. In 2023, Christine was promoted to Associate Literary Agent at The Purcell Agency, moving over to FinePrint Literary in 2024.Christine is drawn to stories with high stakes and tension. The first pages must draw her in with action and curiosity. Lyrical writing, along with emotionality, physicality, and interiority, are all key components Christine looks for in a manuscript. Christine is generally interested in romance, historical fiction, book club fiction, and fantasy. Non-fiction and graphic novels covering a specific range of topics are also of interest. Championing marginalized voices is important to Christine as she seeks to include BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and neurodivergent (and more) authors on her list. When sheÕs not working, reading, or writing, sheÕs usually chasing her two boys, who are likely chasing her fur baby (dog).
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Beauty Fashion Style, BIPOC Nonfiction, Cookbook Cooking, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Pop Culture, Self-HelpCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Whitney Gossett is a literary agent with and the President of Capital Literary. She graduated from Vanderbilt University as an Engage Scholar with a BA in Religious Studies and African American Diaspora Studies. Her career began as a song plugger, assisting Nashville songwriters, before handling industry relations and event coordination for the Country Music Association. She then spent three years working for a successful entertainer, Rascal Flatts, learning the behind the scenes business of a major music brand.
Whitney joined the Fedd Agency, a literary and entertainment agency, in 2013 after 6 years in Nashville working in Country Music, and passionately translated her knowledge of entertainment intothe world of publishing. She has represented over 200 authors, and over 25 New York Times Best-Sellers, including Tim Tebow, Governor Greg Abbott, Judah Smith, Eva Shockey, Emily Maynard, and Eric Metaxas. With a management and marketing mindset, she believes in taking a holistic approach to publishing, and strategically using a book to strengthen the larger message of a brand.
In addition to literary representation, Whitney has served her clients by executive produced non-scripted television projects for networks such as TLC, BRAVO, HGTV, and Facebook; is a partner with T3 Agency a white label travel company, and consults with top churches around the country.
In 2020 Whitney became president of Content Capital, a full service firm, holistically serving talent through multiple verticals.
Whitney serves as a founding board member for the non-profit, Children Inspiring Hope, is an advisory member for the Initiative Network, is a volunteer Young Life leader at The University of Texas, and has a love for great food and wine. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband Jordan, two young children, and black lab.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Religion | Sports | Travel |
Biography
Mark Gottlieb a Vice President and literary agent with Trident Media Group. He is a highly ranked literary agent in overall deals and other individual categories. He is actively building his client list of authors using that same initiative and insight for identifying talented writers. Mark Gottlieb is excited to work directly with authors, helping to manage and grow their careers with all of the unique resources available at book publishingÕs leading literary agency, Trident Media Group. Mark Gottlieb continues to represent numerous New York Times bestselling and prominent award-winning authors through his work at Trident Media Group. He has optioned and sold books to film and TV production companies. Following his time at Penguin Books, he previously ran the agencyÕs audiobook department and worked in foreign rights.While at Emerson College, Mark Gottlieb studied writing, literature & publishing and was a Founding Member & President of the collegeÕs Undergraduate Students for Publishing Club. He also founded Emerson CollegeÕs Wilde Press, an imprint of the Pub Club and home of the Book Project. Mark Gottlieb has lectured on writing and publishing at the Yale WritersÕ Workshop, Cambridge UniversityÕs MSt in Creative Writing program, Columbia Publishing Course, Emerson College WLP program, Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute, and elsewhere. In his free time, Mark Gottlieb tutors free English language classes to adults from underprivileged immigrant families via the Literacy Volunteers program at Family Centers, a nonprofit organization offering education, health & human services. He is also the Founder & President of the Stamford Literature, Arts & Culture Salon (SLACS).
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Western Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Art, Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Computers, Cookbook Cooking, Crafts, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Environment, Family, Film Entertainment, Food Drink, Gardening, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Inspirational Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel, True CrimeCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Robert Gottlieb is the Chariman and a literary agent with Trident Media Group. Robert is the Chairman of Trident Media Group, book publishingÕs top ranked literary agency for close to twenty years. In 2000, he co-founded Trident Media Group with the goal of bringing an innovative approach to literary agenting. That approach includes a uniquely organized company that not only delivers the highest level author management in the industry but also provides unique digital and social media marketing support to help launch authorsÕ careers.Robert Gottlieb works with several New York Times bestselling authors and is skilled at maximizing and establishing his authorsÕ brands on a worldwide basis. When negotiating deals he seeks to retain as many rights as possible, including foreign rights, film/TV rights, and audio rights, to ensure that the authorÕs benefits extend beyond their domestic publishing arrangements. TridentÕs robust Foreign Rights Department then sells these titles at the London Book Fair and Frankfurt Book Fair and continues a year-round effort of constant contact with foreign publishers to ensure substantial foreign deals. Robert also has long standing relationships with many production companies, and regularly travels to LA along with his film department to pitch book-to-film projects there. He is devoted to his authorsÕ careers and can guarantee he will advocate for them at every stage of the publishing process.
Notes
FICTION: Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller
Biography
Lisa Gouldy is a literary agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She is a passionate writer and reader of stories that stretch the imagination and reveal important truths about the world around us. Trained as an attorney, Lisa moved from the legal world into the literary one nearly a decade ago in search of stories less constrained by reality. The literary community in Seattle welcomed her in, and Lisa connected with writers everywhere from coffee shops to Hugo House, from PNWA to SCBWI, from conferences to critique groups. Assisting others with their writing journeys, it turned out, was as much fun as creating her own. As an apprentice with the Corvisiero Literary Agency, Lisa seeks to guide writers through the publishing process the way she once helped clients access the courts.Lisa loves stories with lyrical writing, memorable characters, and fast-paced plots that keep her guessing. In adult fiction, she devours upmarket and literary titles with complex protagonists, and has a special hunger for stories with speculative elements. Her sweet spot is a novel with a world much like ours, but with fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian additions that illuminate real-life issues in a unique way. In childrenÕs literature, Lisa particularly enjoys middle grade fantasy and young adult novels with a speculative bent, as well as picture books that make her (and her daughter) laugh.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Espionage Military Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Religious Fiction, Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Western Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Art, Biography, Business Book, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Design, Economics, Environment, Film Entertainment, Fitness, Food Drink, Gardening, Gift Novelty, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Nature, New Age, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Technology, Travel, True Adventure, True Crime, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Doug Grad is a literary agent with and the founder of the Doug Grad Literary Agency. Doug GradÕs first job in the publishing industry came during the 88-day New York City newspaper strike that lasted from August into November 1978.ÊThat was terrible for the book business, which relied on the New York Times bestseller lists every Sunday, and for the publishers, who depended on reviews and ads in the papers to get the word out about new books for the fall season.ÊA book called The Peculiar Truth by Duvie Clark (Atheneum) was coming out at the time the papers went on strike, and her publicist, Betsy Nolan, had a friend of hers get his son and a bunch of his son’s friends to help publicize the book.ÊDoug was one of the sonÕs friends, and ended up walking up and down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan wearing a white shirt, blackÊbow tie, and sandwich board advertising theÊbook.ÊHe was sixteen years old.ÊHe and his friends also went into the Fifth Avenue bookstores that existed back thenÑthe two Doubleday stores, and ScribnerÕs, and bought up every copy they could carry to see if they could get the book on the bestseller list of the strike paper, The City News, which was staffed with striking reporters from the Times, the News, and the Post.ÊHe has no idea if his efforts were successful, or even what the book was about.ÊHis next (and last) sojourn for Betsy Nolan was on the Friday of the Memorial Day weekend in 1980, where he and his friends were given cartons of the paperback of Love Kills by Dan Greenberg (Pocket) to hand out on the Long Island Rail Road trains leaving Penn Station and heading for the Hamptons.ÊHeÕs sure they were completely out of books before they even got to Massapequa.Ê The job paid $5 an hour.In the spring of 1986, after spending most of 1985 at the LadiesÕ Home Journal as an editorial assistant and part-time muffin taster (and where he first met client Jeff Rovin), Doug temped for Connie Clausen & Associates, a literary agency, working out of ConnieÕs apartment on 87th Street and 2nd Avenue with ConnieÕs assistant, Guy Kettelhack.ÊConnie had once written a book called I Love You Honey But the SeasonÕs Over, about her experiences with Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus in the 1940s, which was constantly getting optioned for film but was never made into a movie.But Doug really started in the publishing business in NovemberÊ1986, temping for the renowned Michael Korda at Simon & Schuster.ÊThough he was offered the job of assistant to KordaÕs assistant, Doug turned it down when he found out it was purely a clerical position, with no chance of advancement through the editorial ranks.ÊFor the next six months, he temped in various departments of S&S (international sales, foreign rights, and even Harlequin RomancesÑthen distributed by S&S), until landing the job as the assistant to Bill Grose, the editorial director of Pocket Books in May 1987.ÊPromoted to Associate Editor in 1990, Doug came to oversee the western fiction and military non-fiction categories for the mass-market paperback line. (Remember mass-market paperbacks?)ÊHe also acquired and edited golf books for a co-publishing venture with Golf Digest magazine.ÊHe edited the 1994 New York Times Notable Book Red Ink by Greg Dinallo, and the Chicago Tribune bestseller Ditka: Monster of the Midway by Emmy Award winning reporter Armen Keteyian, now the Chief Investigative Correspondent for CBS News.In 1995, Doug joined Ballantine Books as an editor, working for Joelle Delbourgo (who is now an agent herself) and Clare Ferraro.ÊWhile at Ballantine, Doug published his first New York Times bestsellers–Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara.ÊThese Civil War novels are the bookends to the 1975 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Killer Angels, written by JeffÕs father Michael Shaara.ÊDoug also published golf books by the legendary Sam Snead and PGA champion Steve Elkington, creating an innovative flip-book sequence of photos to put their fluid golf swings in motion for readers.Doug moved to Penguin in 1998 as a Senior Editor for the NAL imprint under the editorial direction of Carolyn Nichols and publisher Louise Burke. Doug also acquired books for the Dutton, Putnam, and Viking lists.ÊWhile at Penguin, Doug was proud to publish New York Times bestsellers by historical novelist John Jakes (On Secret Service, and Charleston) as well as repackaging the bestselling Jakes backlist (The Kent Family Chronicles, The North and South Trilogy, etc.).ÊHe had another bestseller in publishing the first ever mass-market edition of the incredible non-fiction adventure story South by Ernest Shackleton, an old public domain title first published in 1919.ÊDoug continued to publish military fiction and non-fiction.ÊAmong them were The Man Who Flew The Memphis Belle by pilot Bob Morgan in conjunction with Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Powers (co-author of Flags of Our Fathers), an extraordinarily candid account of MorganÕs life in and out of the cockpit of his beloved B-17 bomber, and the highly acclaimed book about JapanÕs kamikaze program entitled Blossoms in the Wind by WWII historian M.G. Sheftall, who became the first Western scholar to gain admittance to the Imperial Japanese records and archives, and who was able to interview surviving kamikaze pilots to gain first-hand insight into the mindset of men who would willingly fly airplanes into enemy ships.ÊMore modern military titles were the Times bestseller In the Company of Heroes by Mike Durant and Steven Hartov (Durant was the helicopter pilot shot down in Black Hawk Down), and None Braver by Michael Hirsh, who was embedded with the Air Force pararescue jumpers in Afghanistan in 2002.ÊAnother Times bestseller was Ya Gotta Believe! by the late relief pitcher Tug McGraw with accomplished sports journalist Don Yaeger, about TugÕs battle with brain cancer and his struggle to make peace with his illegitimate son, country music superstar Tim McGraw in the final nine months of his life.ÊA favorite author of DougÕs while at NAL was adventure novelist Jack DuBrul, who was so often compared to Clive Cussler that the two now write a series together!In 2005 Doug went to work for Judith ReganÕs imprint at HarperCollins. At ReganBooks, Doug published New York Times bestsellers Brutal by Kevin Weeks and Phyllis Karas (Weeks was partners with Whitey Bulger in the Boston Irish mob, and he literally knew where the bodies were buried), and The Boy of Steel, a childrenÕs book by Ray Negron with illustrations by Laura Seeley about a little boy battling brain cancer who goes on a magical trip back through baseball history to get inspired to always keep battling.ÊIt became a #2 New York Times bestseller.ÊHe also published the very successful TV show companion volume Nanny 911, and the play-at-home quiz book for the show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?ÊDoug is very proud to have published the polemic What Would Martin Say? by Martin Luther King Jr.Õs lawyer, Clarence B. Jones and Joel Engel, a book that tackles some of the tough issues facing us today, using JonesÕs personal knowledge of King as well as stellar research to reachÊ opinions that may seem quite controversial.ÊA favorite project at Harper was The Driver by Alex Roy, about the world of illegal car racing and RoyÕs quest to break the NY-to-LA speed record.ÊTitles that Doug acquired and edited but were published after DougÕs departure from Harper included: Giant by Plaxico Burress with Jason Cole about the lanky wide receiverÕs path to catching the game-winning catch in Super Bowl XLII; Running For My Life by Warrick Dunn (one of the true good guys in the world of sports) and Don Yaeger, the uplifting autobiography of NFL running back Dunn and the story of his battle to overcome the murder of his mother; Gorgeous George by John Capouya, the first biography of the old-time wrestler who influenced everyone from Liberace to Muhammed Ali and from James Brown to John Waters (bought for the movies by WWE); andÊIn the Country of Brooklyn by Peter Golenbock, an oral history of Brooklyn in the 20th Century.Doug has been a literary agent since 2008.Ê If you want to know what he’s done since, take a look at the rest of this website!
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Beauty Fashion Style, Biography, Business Book, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Design, Film Entertainment, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Money Finance, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Science, Self-Help, Sports, True Crime
Biography
Rebecca Gradinger is a literary agent with the United Talent Agency (UTA). She works with a wide range of writers, from New York Times bestselling novelists to award- winning memoirists, journalists, scientists, lifestyle and health experts, and thought leaders. Her clients have been finalists and winners of various grants and prizes including the National Book Critics Circle, The Man Booker Prize, The Dylan Thomas Prize, The Whiting Award, The Los Angeles Times First Book Award, The WomenÕs Prize, The Sunday Times Short Story Award, as well as fellowships with the National Endowment of the Arts and Art for Justice.In addition to literary and commercial fiction that blend distinct voice with propulsive ÒI canÕt put this book downÓ plot, Rebecca loves books that provide insightful and diverse perspectives on all aspects of our lives Ñ from biography and narrative history to pop culture, psychology, spiritual exploration, and health.She is always looking for books that challenge her to look at herself and the world around her with fresh eyes and if it makes her feel deeply (laugh, cry, rethink her life choices) thatÕs a huge bonus. Her favorite part of being a literary agent is the opportunity to develop long lasting, creative partnerships with writers and to help them realize their professional goals though each step of the publication process from hands on-the-page editorial work to strategizing on publicity and marketing. Rebecca believes that the agent-author relationship is built on trust, communication and a shared commitment, instinct, and passion for the work.Born and raised in Montreal, Rebecca found her way back to her first love (books) after a short stint as a production assistant at MTV and then as intellectual property attorney at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz. Her first job in publishing was as an international book scout at Mary Anne Thompson Associates, helping foreign publishers identify North American fiction for translation. She began her career as an agent at Janklow & Nesbit, moved to Fletcher & Company in 2008 and to UTA at the beginning of 2023.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Economics, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Picture Book, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Jenissa Graham is a literary agent with the BookEnds Literary Agency. For Jenissa, her passion for books started in third grade when she read Roald DahlÕs Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and fell in love with the world building and underdog story. Her interest in storytelling bloomed the same year in an essay she wrote for school about a magical crayon that came to life to help solve a mystery. This was the first of many ideas in her head that she decided to write in spiral notebooks and jot down on sticky notes.JenissaÕs publishing career started at Writers House when she was selected for the Fall 2020 internship class. In January 2021, she was hired full time in the subrights department as the Global Licensing and Media Rights Assistant. She moved to BookEnds in April 2022, where she is thrilled to begin building a list as an Associate Agent and Subrights Manager. Jenissa is interested in increasing the BIPOC space in Publishing and is always on the lookout for new underrepresented authors.Born in upstate New York and raised in Georgia, Jenissa is a first-generation Jamaican. She is an alumna of Georgia State University where she received her BachelorÕs in English, Creative Writing. Jenissa currently lives in New York, and when sheÕs not reading submissions, plotting new story ideas, or adding books to her never-ending to-be-read pile, you will most likely find her snacking, power napping, or binging reruns of Criminal Minds and The Office.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult FictionNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Fiction
Biography
Stacey Graham is a literary agent with 3 Seas Literary Agency. She has worked both sides of the literary door as a humor writer with the wickedly funny Zombie Tarot, screenwriter, ghostwriter, and short story writer, and formerly as an agent with Red Sofa Literary. She loves working with writers at all stages of their careers and uses her experience in authorship to help navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of publishing for her clients. She is currently looking to expand her list with snappy Rom-Coms, hilarious/spooky middle grade, and weird nonfiction.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Cookbook Cooking, Crafts, Gift Novelty, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, SpiritualityCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Susan Graham is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson, and Lerner Literary Agency. She joined Dunow, Carlson, and Lerner Agency in January 2025 after nearly a decade as an agent at Einstein Literary Management. They hold a MasterÕs Degree in ChildrenÕs Literature and a MasterÕs Degree in English from Simmons College. They represent illustrators across format and age categories, children’s and young adult prose, genre and speculative fiction, and select non-fiction.
Notes
FICTION: Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Art, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, PhotographyCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Kara Grajkowski is a literary agent with the 3 Seas Literary Agency. She says: “As a child, I remember trips to the post office with my mom, Michelle Grajkowski, multiple times a week to fill our minivan trunk with tons of white USPS bins for her new (super cool) literary agency. The bins would end up in the dark, scary, basement room next to our playroom. I always wondered what secrets were typed in momÕs manuscriptsÉ Years later, as I scanned through the library of momÕs published books in a different dark, scary room in our basement, I fell in love with the secrets that I was learning with every page I turned. Now, as an adult, I have become obsessed with bringing secrets out of the basement library and into my (very colorful) elementary classroom library. When I am not teaching fractions and key details, you can find me singing, trying new restaurants, exploring with my corgi, Momo, or finding the best bargains. If you are ready to bring your secrets into the world with me (preferably into well-lit, not-so-scary rooms), query me!Wishlist:Contemporary Middle Grade FictionContemporary YA FictionOwn Voices”
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novel, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Cultural Social Issues, Dating Relationships Sex, Education, Family, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Psychology, Science, Travel, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Michelle Grajkowski is a literary agent with 3 Seas Literary Agency. From the moment Michelle Grajkowski first opened the doors to the 3 Seas Literary Agency in August of 2000, she has been living her dream. (What could be better than surrounding yourself with amazing authors and their exciting and imaginative books?) Since then, her agency has sold almost 700 books to all the major publishing houses, and has grown from one agent to three! MichelleÕs client list includes New York Times Bestselling Authors Katie MacAlister, Cathy McDavid, Kerrelyn Sparks and C.L. Wilson. She primarily represents romance, womenÕs fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction along with select non-fiction projects with a terrific message. She is currently looking for fantastic writers with a voice of their own.When not curled up with a great manuscript, Michelle loves to spend time with her husband, children and her two crazy puppies, who refuse to grow up.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Espionage Military Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Religious Fiction, Romance, Satire, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Western Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Biography, Business Book, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Design, Environment, Fitness, Food Drink, Gardening, Gift Novelty, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, Lifestyle, Military War Nonfiction, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult FictionNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Books, Christian Fiction, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Alexandra Grana is a literary agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She is a recent graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law. She has always loved writing and literature, having completed her B.A. in Professional Writing at Miami University, and is excited to dedicate herself to helping fellow writers pursue publication. When she isnÕt reading, she can be found trying a new recipe in the kitchen or prepping for her next DnD session.AlexÕs favorite genres are fantasy and horror. She is a sucker for a good magic system, reimagined fairy tales, and poetic prose. Stories by marginalized writers are of particular interest to her.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Religious Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket FictionNONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Mind Body Spirit, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, ReligionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Ben Grange is a literary agent with the L. Perkins Agency. He started out at a small publishing company in Salt Lake City, UT and proceeded to do internships at three literary agencies before working as the assistant at the JABberwocky Literary Agency. He decided he wanted to be an agent sometime along the line, and is happily growing an amazing list of clients.His tastes gravitate towards middle grade fiction, and he is particularly on the lookout for exceptional author-illustrators who write middle grade or young adult. He sometimes gets the inkling to read a great YA sci-fi or fantasy, particularly weird or slightly dark stories (ˆ la The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater). Thanks to his time at JABberwocky, he also loves epic fantasy and science fiction, and although his focus is on middle grade and young adult, he won’t say no to a great fantasy or sci-fi. He is also interested in pop culture non-fiction for authors with established platforms.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Science FictionNONFICTION: Nonfiction, Pop CultureCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
David Granger is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. Granger takes on projects with the potential to leave a mark. He, along with Todd Shuster, worked with former deputy director of the FBI Andrew McCabe on his #1 New York Times bestseller The Threat. Granger is especially proud of having worked with Julie Yip-Williams to bring her The Unwinding of the Miracle (a #6 NYT bestseller) into the world. He also helped Senator Jeff Flake and the young activists David and Lauren Hogg find readerships for books that shaped the national conversation.Granger was the editor-in-chief of Esquire magazine for 19 years, from 1997 until 2016. During his tenure, the magazine won 17 National Magazine Awards and Granger was the industryÕs editor of the year on three separate occasions. He was awarded the Missouri Honor Medal from the University of Missouri in 2014 for his contributions to journalism. He has a BA from the University of Tennessee and an MA from the University of Virginia.Based in New York, Granger represents primarily non-fiction and is obsessed with topics across an extremely wide spectrumÑpolitics; food culture; actual innovation in design, tech and science; fame. What binds these things is a yen for intensely original ideas and writing that pushes boundaries.
Notes
FICTION: Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, MysteryNONFICTION: Celebrity, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Design, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, History, Journalism, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Science, Sports, Technology
Biography
Kathryn Green is a literary agent with the Kathryn Green Literary Agency. Kathryn says: “I love books. I always wanted my career to be somehow associated with books. My earliest aspiration was to be a librarian, but a high school guidance counselor pointed me towards journalism. My first job was working in the publications department of the Girl Scouts of America. From there it was a seismic leap to Penthouse magazine where I began as an editorial assistant and later became Fiction Editor, putting me squarely in my comfort zoneÑsurrounded by books.Some years later after moving to and back from London and apprenticing at a friendÕs agency; I decided to open my own literary agency where I thought I could happily nest amongst even more books.In the decade since then I have purposely kept my list small. I am happy to consider all types of fiction but particularly like historical fiction, cozy mysteries, young adult and middle grade. For non-fiction I am interested in memoir, parenting, humor with a pop culture bent, and history. Quirky non- fiction is also a particular favorite.I have a BA in Journalism from The George Washington University.I am a member of the WomenÕs Media Group and an advisory member of the National Council of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University.”
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Nonfiction, Parenting, Pop Culture, ReferenceCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Kathy Green is an Associate Literary Agent at Embolden Literary. She is an author, conference speaker, publishing consultant, editor, and writing coach with fourteen years of experience in the publishing industry. Her enthusiasm for reading, writing, and journaling led her to earn a bachelorÕs degree in English and writing from Liberty University. Kathy has written three books on prayer. Her books have opened doors to interviews on Atlanta Live, TBN, and Daystar, and numerous radio shows and podcasts. Kathy is passionate about advocating for ministry and marketplace leaders who bring life-transforming messages to faith-based audiences.
Notes
NONFICTION: Dating Relationships Sex, Family, Health Wellness, Inspirational Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Religion, SpiritualityNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Marina Green is an associate agent at P.S. Literary Agency representing fiction and non-fiction. After completing a BA and post-grad in publishing and spending half a decade as a bookseller, Marina began her career as an editor at a small indie publisher in MontrŽal before moving to HarlequinÕs Trade division as an acquiring editor. Marina has always had an eclectic taste in books and is always looking for atmospheric, diverse, and inclusive stories rooted in cultural identity and belongingÑand magic when she can get it. When Marina isnÕt immersing herself in books and words and magical worlds, you can find her with a cup of tea in hand, trying a new yoga asanaÑnever at the same timeÑor practicing Armenian, the language of her ancestors.
Notes
FICTION: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Speculative Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Memoir, Nature, Nonfiction, Self-Help, SpiritualityCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction