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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- You are searching within category(ies): Commercial Fiction
Helen Breitwieser
Cornerstone Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email or Postal Mail
Biography
Helen Breitwieser is a literary agent with Cornerstone Literary Agency. Helen is also the owner. Cornerstone Literary Agency in located in Los Angeles, CA. The agency represents a wide range of novelists with an emphasis on women’s fiction, children’s books, romance and suspense/mystery. Clients include Katherine Center, Beth Fantaskey, C.S. Harris, Rachel Lee, Sophia Nash, Ursula Vernon, Tracy Anne Warren and Ahmet Zappa. She is a member of the AAR, the Author’s Guild, Poets & Writers, RWA and PEN. Before founding Cornerstone Literary in 1998, she was a literary agent at the William Morris Agency in New York. She graduated Barnard College magna cum laude in 1990.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Western Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, How-To, Lifestyle, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Pop Culture, Self-Help CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Tracy Brennan is the founder and president of Trace Literary Agency, LLC. She received her B.A. from Indiana UniversityÕs College of Arts and Sciences and also received a certificate in secondary education from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. Before opening the agency, Tracy taught at the secondary level for over eleven years. Tracy decided to pursue her career as a literary agent after she saw a gap in the American market. Having undergone a lengthy process of introduction and research, she was able to secure some of IrelandÕs top contemporary writers, as well as writers from the UK and US. Tracy has worked with Mercier Press, IrelandÕs oldest independent publishing house, as well as publisher Jo OÕDonoghue of Londubh Books in Dublin. Tracy is also the US literary agent for Terry ProneÕs the Communication Clinic. Trace Literary Agency is a small agency which allows us to offer our clients the personal attention we feel they deserve. We pride ourselves in finding the perfect home for high quality, well written books.
Notes
FICTION: Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Business Book, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Nonfiction, Politics, True Crime
Biography
Alicia Brooks is a literary agent at Martin Literary Management. She began her publishing career over twenty five years ago as an editorial assistant at Penguin USA (Dutton/Plume). She advanced to an assistant editor position at Nan A. Talese/Doubleday where she worked with groundbreaking authors, including Margaret Atwood, Pat Conroy, and Ian McEwan. She then became an editor at Picador/St. Martin’s Press where she edited over 40 hardcover titles and several trade paper original titles, including Good Morning America Book Club Pick Noelle Howey’s Dress Codes: Of Three Girlhoods–My Mother’s, My Father’s, and Mine, Nega Mezlekia’s award-winning Notes from the Hyena’s Belly, and Jaclyn MoriartyÕs FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA, an ALA Best Book of the Year and YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She became a literary agent at The Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency in 2019. Her client list included categories such as Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction from writers with diverse backgrounds, Self-Help, Pop Culture, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Book Club Fiction, YA Fiction, Horror, and Historical Fiction.She represented Boyah J. Farah, author of the earth-shattering memoir AMERICA MADE ME A BLACK MAN (Harper/Nominated for the NAACP Image Award and NPR Best Book of the Year), renowned author Nahid Rachlin, author of the novel MIRAGE (Red Hen Press), Kathleen S. Allen, author of the YA Gothic Horror novel THE RESURRECTIONIST (Roaring Brook) Jennifer Sherman Roberts’ THE VILLAGE HEALER’S BOOK OF CURES: A Novel (Lake Union/Named an Editors’ Choice by the Historical Novel Society and Named a First Reads Editors’ Pick by Amazon) and Sofia Romero, author of the linked story collection WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WHO WE ARE (Blackstone/Shortlisted for the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction)
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Economics, History, How-To, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, Self-Help, Sports CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Savannah Brooks is a literary agent with KT Literary. She started in agenting as an intern with the Jennifer De Chiara team in 2017, moving to associate agent in 2018. In 2022, she joined the incredible team at KT Literary as an agent, where she represents all of kid lit and adult contemporary fiction, romcoms, thrillers/mystery/suspense, and horror. SheÕs especially interested in stories that teach her something new, add to a larger sociopolitical conversation, and highlight underrepresented identities and cultures. She earned her MFA, focused in creative nonfiction, from Hamline University and her BS in marketing management from Virginia Tech and worked on the editorial side of publishing for two years prior to joining JDLA. As well as agenting, she works as a publishing and literature lecturer at the University of Minnesota and a teaching artist at the Loft Literary Center. She lives in Minneapolis and can regularly be found at one of MinnesotaÕs 11,842 lakesÑyes, even in winter.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction CHILDRENÕS 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
Kimberly Brower a Founding Partner, and co-CEO with Park, Fine, & Brower Literary Management. She fell in love with reading when she picked up her first BabysitterÕs Club book at the age of seven and hasnÕt been able to get her nose out of a book since. She holds a BS in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge and received her JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. After spending a decade in the business world, it was kismet that she found herself in publishing. She previously worked for over two years at a boutique literary agency before starting her own, Brower Literary & Management, which she ran on her own for eight years before joining with Park & Fine Literary & Media to form Park, Fine & Brower Literary & Management. Kimberly works with all types of authors who write commercial fiction, from debuts to #1 New York Times bestselling authors, and likes to consider them all her favorites. She has the unique experience of assisting self-published authors, whether it is finding homes for their subsidiary rights and/or supporting them as they enter traditional publishing. In addition, she has been successful in helping authors take their careers to the next level, as shown by her early foresight in advocating for print only deals. While being incredibly hands on with her clients, from idea conception to post-publication, Kimberly loves to work with each author to come up with a unique strategy to ensure that the proper steps are taken to help them not only create long, profitable careers, but to continue to grow them year after year, decade after decade. In addition to traditional publishing, she works directly with her clients in facilitating opportunities to license and expand their foreign/translation, audio, film/TV and merchandising rights, while also advising them on their marketing and publicity plans. After joining forces with Theresa Park and Celeste Fine, she is eager to work with their combined talented staff to continue to build a place where authors know they will find not only years of experience in the industry, but people who are committed to their continued success.
Notes
FICTION: Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Michelle Brower is a literary agent with and a founding partner of Trellis Literary Management. She has spent over fifteen years as an agent, first at Wendy Sherman Associates and most recently as a partner at Aevitas Creative Management. She co-founded Trellis Literary Management in 2021 in order to better serve and support her authors and create an agency with a lasting positive impact in the world of publishing. Her list spans the spectrum of literary and commercial fiction, from thought-provoking story collections to page-turning thrillers. She is primarily interested in work that focuses on storytelling and emotional connection, rather than formal experimentation, and believes that the best reading experience engages both the heart and the head. She is looking for book club novels (a commercial idea with a literary execution), literary fiction, literary suspense, genre fiction for a non-genre audience, and upmarket womenÕs fiction. In non-fiction, she is looking for a personal story that illuminates a greater subject. Michelle also very selectively represents literary Young Adult fiction. In all of these areas, she is looking to support underrepresented voices. Michelle is honored to work with books that have received a variety of accolades, including NY Times Bestsellers, National Book Award finalists, and Read with Jenna, Target, and Barnes and Noble book club selections. Her authors have received recognition from the Whiting Awards, the Rona Jaffe Foundation, MacDowell, the Steinbeck Fellow Program, the Sewanee Writers Conference as well as from many other organizations. Michelle received her Masters degree in British and American Literature from New York University. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in Seattle with her family. MichelleÕs favorite non-client authors (if your work is similar, feel free to get in touch!): Maggie Shipstead, Lily King, Louise Erdrich, Deesha Philyaw, Kiley Reid, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Kazuo Ishiguro, Yaa Gyasi, Celeste Ng, Jennifer Egan, Shirley Jackson, Ann Patchett, Sarah Waters.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Short Story Collection, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Marie Brown is a literary agent with Marie Brown Associates. Marie is also President of Marie Brown Associates. Ms. Brown is a part of the elite and small group of “black” literary agents. A 40-year veteran of the book business, Brown acquired a thorough understanding of her “calling” working as an editorial assistant and book editor; bookseller and bookstore manager; editor-in-chief of a magazine; book marketing strategist and literary agent. Ms. Brown has been a bibliophile since her childhood years and currently lives and works in Harlem.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Art, Autobiography, Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Celebrity, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Film Entertainment, Health Wellness, History, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Self-Help, Women’s Issues CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Chris Bucci is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. He represents bestselling and award-winning fiction and non-fiction authors including, Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid; Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything? by Timothy Caulfield; and The War Widow by Tara Moss. Chris began his career at the University of Toronto Press as an acquisitions editor in the social sciences. He joined HarperCollins Canada in 2003 as a non-fiction editor and then moved to McClelland & Stewart. In 2008 he joined The McDermid Agency as a literary agent and later bought the agency, along with Martha Webb. In 2017 they merged with the Cooke Agency to form CookeMcDermid where Chris was Proprietor and Literary Agent before coming to Aevitas in 2020. Chris represents a broad range of both fiction and non-fiction as an Aevitas agent based in the NY Metropolitan area. He aims to work with some of the cultureÕs best writers, thinkers and expertsÑauthors whose work helps us to interpret and understand our times as well as our future.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Animals, Art, Biography, Business Book, Celebrity, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Environment, Film Entertainment, Fitness, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Sports, Technology, True Crime, Women’s Issues
Biography
Danielle Bukowski is a literary agent with Sterling Lord Literistic. Danielle represents critically acclaimed, award-winning fiction and nonfiction. She is particularly looking for narratives from writers traditionally excluded from the publishing industry. For fiction, she likes books that balance plot with voice, have a strong sense of place, a unique hook, and are stylistically bold; for nonfiction, sheÕs looking for work grounded in the authorÕs personal interest, rigorously reported and researched, and will expand the readerÕs view of the world. Recent and forthcoming books include Sea Change by Gina Chung (Vintage), A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand (Mulholland), Victim by Andrew Boryga (Doubleday), Loneliness & Company by Charlee Dyroff (Bloomsbury), People of Means by Nancy Johnson (William Morrow), Alligator Tears: A Memoir-in-Essays by Edgar Gomez (Crown 2025), I Leave it Up to You by Jinwoo Chong (Ballantine), and Mutual Interest by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith (Bloomsbury).
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Travel
Biography
Sobi-Dee Burbano is a literary agent at LCS Literary Services. She earned her AssociateÕs Degree in Arts, but her true passion has always been reading. She discovered a love for books as a child and that has carried on through adulthood. When she is not caring for her young children, as a mother of two, the kindle is her best friend. She loves reading romance of all genres including fantasy and paranormal. Sobi is excited to work with aspiring authors and is now actively building her list. She is looking for unputdownable stories with bold, courageous characters who take you down an emotional journey of perseverance. She enjoys getting lost in a great drama-filled fantasy and also hopes to escape into a romance that makes her fall in love with love again.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Penelope Burns is a literary agent with the Gelfman Schneider/ICM Literary Agency. She is the newest member of Gelfman Schneider/ICM Partners. She came to the agency as an intern after graduating from Colgate University in 2012. Currently, as an agency assistant, Penelope is looking to a build a list of her own. She is interested in Literary and Commercial fiction and non-fiction, as well as a variety of Young Adult and Middle Grade.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: General Nonfiction, Memoir, Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Stephanie Cabot is a literary agent with Susanna Lea Associates. She is half French, half American and grew up in London, Paris and New England. She attended Harvard, where she studied History, and first worked in New York and London with JP Morgan. Her career as an agent began at WME in London, where she spent nine years and ran the office for the last five, before relocating to the US and to The Gernert Company in NYC, where she worked for fifteen years. Stephanie joined SLA in the Spring of 2020. StephanieÕs interests are a reflection of her own reading tastes which have always been wide and far ranging. She represents authors from all over the world and is drawn to the international narratives whether told in story, memoir or essays as well as literary fiction reflecting diverse, global voices, speculative fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, crime and thrillers. Stephanie has spent the past ten years involved with a small internationally focused social justice NGO, World Connect, whose mission is to empower grassroots leaders to initiate change in their communities.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction NONFICTION: Cultural Social Issues, General Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction
Biography
Patrice Caldwell is the President and a literary agent at the The Caldwell Agency. She says “I’m the President of & Literary Agent at The Caldwell Agency, the literary agency I started after nearly 6 years as a literary agent first at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency and then at New Leaf Literary & Media (before agenting I was an editor). My list is focused on adult, fiction and nonfiction, and select childrenÕs. I have three cats, two named after DC characters (Harley) Quinn and Raven and the third is a kitten named Lucy. I’m the oldest of five, and I love being a big sister (& I love books that deal with all types of family dynamics). I love collecting, tasting, and learning about wine–I am especially passionate about Texas wines (we have fantastic soil for it!). I also really love tea and traveling. I speak a bit of French (once upon a time, I was fluent, however, I still understand it very well). Reading is one of my favorite hobbies, IÕm a mood reader, which is why my list as an agent is so wide spanning. I love getting to learn more about different people and topics and worlds through my clientsÕ work.”
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Thriller NONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Film Entertainment, History, Humor Nonfiction, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
William Callahan is a literary agent and editor with InkWell Management. William went to the University of Iowa and Fordham University. William has worked at a piano refurbishing boutique, as a playwright, and as a researcher for a book on health habits. He represents writers from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery NONFICTION: Art, Biography, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Economics, Film Entertainment, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Technology, True Crime
Biography
Tess Callero is a literary agent with Europa Content Ltd. Tess graduated from Indiana University with a dual degree in Marketing and English. She moved to New York in 2014 to combine her love of both fields and become a literary agent. After spending four years at Curtis Brown, she moved to Europa Content in March 2019. Tess represents clients across genres and categories, from young adult and adult fiction to select nonfiction projects.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Art, Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Economics, Family, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Investigative, Journalism, Law Legal, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, True Crime CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Linda Camacho is a literary agent with the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. She was always a fan of escaping into a good book, so the fact that she gets to make it her career is still surreal. She graduated from Cornell with a B.S. in Communication and has seen many sides of the industry. SheÕs held various positions at Penguin Random House, Dorchester, Simon and Schuster, and Writers House literary agency until she ventured into agenting at Prospect. She’s done everything from foreign rights to editorial to marketing to operations, so it was amazing to see how all the departments worked together to bring books to life. Somewhere in between all that (and little sleep), Linda received her MFA in creative writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Now at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, Linda continues to work with colleagues and clients who inspire her every day in both the childrenÕs and adult categories.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Kristy Cambron is a literary agent with Gardner Literary. She is a Christy Award-winning author with a diverse background in published works for HarperCollins Christian Publishing, including historical fiction, Bible studies, Bibles, a Bible study journal, and a gift book anthology for Dayspring. Kristy served as a Women’s Ministry Leader for one of the nation’s largest churches and is an experienced keynote speaker at national conferences and ministry events. She spent fifteen years in leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation, and has a background in art and design, with an undergraduate degree in art history and research writing. You can find Kristy at home in the Hoosier state where she enjoys hiking, watching football with her husband and three sons, and dreaming of Paris while reading and writing in her favorite local coffee shop.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Espionage Military Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Religious Fiction, Romance, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Western Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Animals, Art, Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Cookbook Cooking, Crafts, Cultural Social Issues, Dating Relationships Sex, Environment, Family, Fitness, Food Drink, Gardening, Gift Novelty, Health Wellness, History, Humor Nonfiction, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Psychology, Religion, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Travel, True Crime, Women’s Issues NONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Fiction, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Kimberley Cameron is a literary agent with Kimberley Cameron & Associates. Kimberley grew up loving books – going to the library was the highlight of her week during her early years. New adventures beckoned behind every spine and now she feels the same way when she reads a manuscript. She wants to fall in love with a writer’s words… She began her literary career as an agent trainee at the Marjel de Lauer Agency in association with Jay Garon in New York. She worked for several years at MGM developing books for motion pictures. She was the co-founder of Knightsbridge Publishing Company with offices in New York and Los Angeles. In 1993 she became partners with Dorris Halsey of The Reece Halsey Agency, founded in 1957. Among its clients have been Aldous Huxley, William Faulkner, Upton Sinclair, and Henry Miller. She opened Reece Halsey North in 1995 and Reece Halsey Paris in 2006. Her associate Elizabeth Evans opened Reece Halsey New York in 2008, and in 2009 the agency became Kimberley Cameron & Associates. She resides and works from Tiburon, California and Paris, France, with many visits to New York to make the rounds of editorial offices. She was educated at Marlborough School for Girls in Los Angeles, Humboldt State University, and Mount St. Mary’s College. She has been a guest speaker at numerous writer’s conferences over the years which include but are not limited to: The Maui Writer’s Conference, Pacific Northwest, Aspen, Book Passage Mystery, Cape Cod, Kentucky Writer’s Retreat, Boise Idaho, San Diego State University, Austin, Texas, Thrillerfest, Left Coast Crime, Bouchercon, and many others. She also attends BEA. She is looking for exceptional writing in any field, particularly writing that touches the heart, and makes us feel something. She’s been successful with many different genres, and especially loves the thrill of securing representation for debut authors. She represents both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts, with the exception of romance, children’s books and screenplays. She appreciates writers that show patience, understanding, politeness, and trust.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story Collection, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Fitness, Food Drink, Health Wellness, History, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Spirituality, Travel, True Adventure, True Crime, Women’s Issues CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Sara Camilli is a literary agent with The Sara Camilli Agency.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Erotic Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Multicultural Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Celebrity, General Nonfiction, Memoir, Music, Nonfiction, Pop Culture CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book
Biography
Elise Capron is an agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. In addition to handling her own list, she oversees the daily operations of the SDLA office. She is most interested in well-written narrative non-fiction (particularly trade-friendly history, cultural studies, and science) as well as character-driven literary fiction for the adult market. (Please note that she is handling much more non-fiction than fiction at this particular time.) A graduate of Emerson College, Elise holds a BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has been with the Dijkstra Agency since 2003. On the non-fiction front, Elise is looking for fascinating true stories told in a compelling way. She is especially interested in working with up-and-coming scholars (particularly historians) who are looking to transition from the academic market to a trade readership, as well as journalists. Some of Elise’s representative non-fiction titles include Cynthia BarnettÕs The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans (Norton) and Rain: A Natural and Cultural History (Crown), which was long-listed for the National Book Award and the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award; Edda Fields-Black’s COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War (Oxford); Meera Subramanian’s A River Runs Again: IndiaÕs Natural World in Crisis, from the Barren Cliffs of Rajasthan to the Farmlands of Karnataka (Public Affairs); Luis J. Rodriguez’s From Our Land to Our Land: Essays, Journeys, and Imaginings from a Native Xicanx Writer (Seven Stories); Andrew Baker’s To Poison a Nation: The Murder of Robert Charles and the Rise of Jim Crow Policing in America (New Press); Jack Shuler’s This Is Ohio: The Overdose Crisis and the Front Lines of a New America (Counterpoint); Onaje X. O. Woodbine’s Take Back What the Devil Stole: An African American Prophet’s Encounters in the Spirit World (Columbia University Press); Tom Chaffin’s Odyssey: Young Charles Darwin, The Beagle, and The Voyage that Changed the World (Pegasus); Jonathon KeatsÕs You Belong to the Universe: Buckminster Fuller and the Future (Oxford University Press); and more. On the fiction side, Elise is interested in manuscripts that have unforgettable writing, a distinctive narrative voice, and memorable characters. She loves novels with an unusual or eccentric edge and is drawn to stories she has never heard before. She aims to work with writers who are getting their work published regularly in literary magazines and who have a realistic sense of the market and their audience. Some of Elise’s representative fiction titles include Tiphanie Yanique’s Monster in the Middle (Riverhead), Land of Love and Drowning (Riverhead) and How to Escape from a Leper Colony (Graywolf); Howard A. RodmanÕs The Great Eastern (Melville House); Courtney Brkic’s The First Rule of Swimming (Little, Brown); Rachel Toor’s On The Road to Find Out (FSG); Jonathon Keats’ The Book of the Unknown (Random House); Rikki Ducornet’s Netsuke (Coffee House Press); Maureen McHugh’s After the Apocalypse (Small Beer Press), which was picked as a “Top 10 Best of the Year” by Publishers Weekly, and more. Please note that Elise is specifically not interested in: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture books, Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Business, Cookbooks, Poetry, Christian, Screenplays, or Self-Help. And while she will consider memoir, please note that she rarely takes on this genre.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Short Story Collection, Upmarket Fiction NONFICTION: Animals, Art, Biography, Celebrity, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Environment, Film Entertainment, Food Drink, History, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Technology, Women’s Issues
Biography
Amanda Carbonell is an agent at the Belcastro Agency. Her passion for all things scary came at the age of five thanks to her mother for introducing her to Buffy. Soon after, her world became consumed by books. While receiving her bachelorÕs and distinction in Journalism from Western Connecticut State University, Amanda interned with ArtHouse Literary before interning with CMA, Inc. She went on to agent-apprentice with Belcastro Literary Agency before being promoted to junior agent. When she is not reading through queries and building her client list, you can find her writing Latinx stories within the paranormal/speculative genres with her agent. She is a New York native living with her husband, son, and two dogs who loves watching reruns of Gilmore Girls, Jersey Shore, and Real Housewives.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Thriller CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Christi Cardenas is a literary agent with The Plains Agency. Christi Cardenas is the founder and owner of The Plains Agency. Christi navigates her day with coffee in hand bringing people together, monetizing ideas and is inspired by the writers and talents she represents.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller NONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Health Wellness, How-To, Lifestyle, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Sports
Biography
Moses Cardona is a literary agent with John Hawkins & Associates. Moses has been with us twenty-eight years, and is President of the firm and in all practical aspects the man who runs the office. He supervises the management of the office, and our foreign rights as well as taking care of his own clients. He is the agent for International Bestselling authors: Cecilia Samartin, Gregory Maguire and US representative for Gold Dagger Winner Ann Cleeves ; Gail Godwin, author of Grief Cottage and Three-Time National Book Award nominee. His special interests include commercial fiction, suspense, business, science, and multi-cultural fiction. He is a graduate of New York University and avid comics collector.
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FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Inspirational Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller NONFICTION: Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Computers, Economics, Health Wellness, History, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Science, Sports, Technology, Travel CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Jennifer Carlson
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email or Postal MailBiography
Jennifer Carlson is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. Jennifer has been agenting since 1997. Previously, she worked at Henry Dunow Literary Agency and Harold Ober Associates. She works with narrative nonfiction writers and journalists covering current events and ideas and cultural history, as well as literary and upmarket commercial novelists. On the childrenÕs side, her clients are primarily young adult and middle grade fiction writers with a very select number of picture book projects. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, she divides her time between Brooklyn and Minneapolis.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Upmarket Fiction NONFICTION: Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, General Nonfiction, History, Journalism, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Upmarket Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Heather Carr is a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. She says: ÒIf IÕm being perfectly honest, I never imagined a career in book publishing. As a kid growing up in the Pacific Northwest, specifically the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, the publishing industry did not exist in my mind as a real field one could work in. I grew up as the youngest of a complex, blended family with ten siblings and step-siblings, and made a name for myself in second grade convincing my classmates that god couldnÕt possibly exist (ÒI mean look at the evidence, itÕs just clouds up there!Ó I argued). I eventually found my way from Catholic school to a tiny public arts school where I was immersed in visual and performing arts (think Fame but suburban and nerdier). I focused on film photography and dance, drawn to the rigor of the latter and the sheer magic of the former. Novelty, a scholarship, and a music conservatory brought me to a small liberal arts college in Appleton, Wisconsin where I majored in English and continued to study classical piano. Studying English felt a little like cheatingÑreading is interdisciplinary by nature. It was that same appetite for doing a little of everything and moving from a core of curiosity that made a career as an agent so intriguing, once I discovered it existed. After working as an assistant at Trident Media Group for two and a half years I joined The Friedrich Agency in March of 2018. I have wide-ranging tastes and seek to represent writers who are also driven by curiosity and discovery, whether through formal inventiveness in fiction, like in Kiese LaymonÕs LONG DIVISION, or through rigorous investigative journalism like in Patrick Radden KeefeÕs SAY NOTHING. IÕm often drawn to poets who have turned their hand to proseÑIÕll always be interested in a writer whose dexterity with language allows them to articulate an emotion or sensibility that IÕve not previously been able to describe. Growing up in the land of glittery freezing fog and moss-draped forests, I love a moody atmosphere and setting-as-character. I was a firm believer in magic as a child so I donÕt shy away from the fantastical in literary and upmarket fiction. I particularly enjoy when genre elements are used to explore the places where language fails us. My goal is to build a list that reflects a full range of perspectives from here in the U.S. and around the globe. Most of what I learned of my own history and that of this country comes from a life of reading, and IÕm always humbled to read writers who have been historically sidelined. When I stop to reflect, IÕm deeply honored that writers trust me with their work and that I get to have this job. IÕm passionate about working towards a brighter and more inclusive publishing industry so that all who want to can see themselves thriving in this business. Five non-agency books I loved: DETRANSITION, BABY; PIRANESI; IDAHO; FRESHWATER; STRANGERS TO OURSELVES”
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FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Upmarket Fiction NONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Dating Relationships Sex, General Nonfiction, Investigative, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction
Biography
Jamie Carr is a literary agent with The Book Group. She joined The Book Group in January 2020. A senior agent at TBG, she champions award-winning debuts, commercial book club fiction, and expert-driven nonfiction at the forefront of culture. Her titles have been chosen as Indie Next, Target Book Club, and Book of the Month picks. SheÕs also had books featured on NPRÕs Best Books of the Year list, GMA (Buzzworthy segment), USA TODAYÕs Bestseller List, and nominated for the Lambda Literary Awards, to name just a few. Previous to TBG, she was at William Morris Endeavor for almost six years. Born and raised in Lower Manhattan, she has an MFA in fiction writing and began her publishing journey in the books department of Tin House. Jamie represents novelists, journalists, and experts in culture, food, sobriety, finance, millennial and Jewish issues, and more. Most interested in adult literary and upmarket commercial womenÕs fiction and narrative nonfiction, she is drawn to writing that is voice-driven, highly transporting, from unique perspectives and marginalized voices, and that seeks to disrupt or reframe what appears to be known. For JamieÕs most up-to-date wishlist, please click here. A few books I loved reading in my free time… Counterfeit by Kristen Chen, Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, Listen for the Lie by Amy Tinterra,Shmutz by Felicia Berliner, You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith, Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor by Yossi Klein Halevi, and Stay True by Hua Hsu.
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FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Art, BIPOC Nonfiction, Computers, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Dating Relationships Sex, Environment, Family, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, History, Investigative, Journalism, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Psychology, Religion, Science, Spirituality, Technology, Upmarket Nonfiction
Biography
Michael Carr is a literary agent with the Veritas Literary Agency. With a strong background in editing and writing, Michael enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French. Before joining Veritas, Michael had professions as diverse as programming simulators for nuclear submarines and owning an inn in Vermont.
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FICTION: Action Adventure, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, Environment, General Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Sports, Technology, Travel, True Crime CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction