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The Directory of Literary Agents
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- You are searching within category(ies): 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
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Historical * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Suspense * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Christian * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Ethnic * Family Saga * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Psychology * Religion * Romance * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Travel * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Loretta Caravette is a literary agent with LR Children’s Literary. She has extensive experience in many genres, including children’s books, fiction and nonfiction. Her specialties are picture books that contain a good dose of humor, mystery and family drama, as well as historical nonfiction for children up to age 5, early readers and middle grade. She holds a master’s degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. Under her pen name, J.B. Frank, she has written two children’s books: Somewhere in the City and Count On Me 123 slated for publication spring 2021.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Barrington Hills IL USA
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.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Ethnic * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel *
80 Maiden Lane STE 1503 New York NY 10038 USA
Biography
Agnes Carlowicz is a literary agent withArc Literary Management. She joined Arc Literary Management in April 2022 as a full time agent. She began her publishing career in 2015 as assistant to Joy Tutela at the David Black Agency, while completing her English B.A. and Creative Writing concentration at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York. In 2017, she joined Carol Mann Agency as assistant to the president where she worked closely with renowned novelist and essayist Paul Auster. While there, she began growing her own list to include authors from varied perspectives interested in disrupting the status quo. Agnes wants to use her position in the publishing industry to help create a world where writers are liberated to unabashedly express themselves, and readers of all identities see themselves represented on the page.
Outside of her professional publishing work, Agnes enjoys reading both literary and commercial fiction, humorous (and sometimes irreverent) essays, and anything deeply moving that makes her cry (which happens a lot since her astrological sign is Cancer.) She is a competitive ballroom dancer, formerly talented chess player, and veteran NYC French bulldog walker currently living in Washington Heights.
In Nonfiction, Agnes is looking for projects written from underrepresented perspectives covering both history and current events, intersectional social justice, lifestyle with a personal touch, deeply honest and self-reflective memoir, and fresh humor/gift books.
Agnes would love to see fiction that includes well-developed and imperfect characters with atypical relationships dealing with relatable issues.
In children’s, Agnes is interested in complex topics made palatable for kids of all ages for parents to read with their children. She would also love to see heart-warming stories and silly wholesome humor.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Satire * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Politics * Pop Culture * Self-Help/Personal Development * Travel * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
2838 29th Street Long Island City NY 11102 USA
Jennifer Carlson
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
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 children’s 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
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Juvenile * Memoir * Narrative *
27 West 20th Street Suite 1107 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Michael Carr is a literary agent with the Veritas Literary Agency. With a strong background in editing and writing, Michael enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French. Before joining Veritas, Michael had professions as diverse as programming simulators for nuclear submarines and owning an inn in Vermont.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Environment * History * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Crime *
601 Van Ness Ave. Opera Plaza, Suite E San Francisco CA 94102 USA
Biography
Sylvie Greenberg Carr is a literary with and the founder of The Carr Agency. Sylvie began her career in New York City with Fletcher & Company, where she worked with agency clients including Eric Ries, Chip and Dan Heath, Bob Sutton, Gretchen Rubin, Claire Shipman and Katty Kay, IDEO, and Ron Lieber.
Her list includes narrative non-fiction, investigative journalism, economics, business, memoir and literary fiction. Please see Clients for more information on recent releases.
Sylvie is a graduate of Stanford University and the Columbia Publishing Course. She lives in San Francisco with her husband.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Family Saga * General Fiction * Literary * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Investigative * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Sports * Technology *
3540 Sacramento Street #145 San Francisco CA 94118 USA
Biography
Lucy Carson is a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. She says: “I was an over-achieving “theater kid” who joined every club I could jam into my high school schedule, and never missed a staged production. I attended The University of Michigan, but rarely attended any football games because the library was so blissfully quiet and empty on those Saturdays—a temptation too rare to pass up. At Michigan, I studied Film & Television, with an emphasis on production, and when some Juniors spent their semester abroad, I spent mine in Los Angeles, working for The Weinstein Company. I had planned to move to LA after graduation, but when Molly’s then-assistant had a maternity leave that coincided with graduation in April 2008, I decided to postpone LA for a few months, since the agency was newly formed and my mother needed a trusted temp. Working together proved to be far more fun than either of us expected, so I simply never left.
In my 14 years at the agency, I have cultivated a list of mostly fiction and narrative non-fiction for the adult trade audience. I have a particular weakness for voice-forward fiction that asks complicated questions about the intersection of tech, media, and modern relationships. Always with eyes peeled for elevated and stylish writing, I read widely across many genres, including thrillers, horror, sci-fi, and magical realism. Often the novels that are hardest to definitively categorize are the ones that most readily seduce me. In non-fiction, I always crave narrative—whether it’s a previously untold chapter of history, or an intimate memoir, or the portrait of a contemporary cultural phenomenon.
In addition to brokering domestic publishing deals for my own clients, I also oversee all Film, Television & Dramatic business for the wider agency list. This does not mean I represent screenplays! These services only apply to existing print publishing clients and their underlying intellectual property (i.e. the book, the short story, the article). The Friedrich Agency’s Film/TV relationships are non-exclusive and customized for each project, and have resulted in all manner of adaptations, from serialized TV shows to one-woman Broadway plays.
Five non-agency books that I loved: ASSEMBLY, CHEMISTRY, SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE, DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science *
281 McLain Street Bedford Hills NY 10507 USA
Biography
Jenniea Carter is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. Harlem born and raised, Jenniea graduated from City College of New York with a B.A in Creative Writing and Asian Studies. With haste, she moved to Japan to explore the world outside the concrete jungle. After years of exploration, she returned home with a revitalized zeal for the literary world. Her first endeavor led her to Kinokuniya Bookstore where she honed her knowledge of book buying, merchandising, and selling. Soon after; Jenniea found herself home at New Leaf on Joanna’s team, eager to uplift and amplify marginalized voices. When she is not between the pages of a book, Jenniea can be found bingeing mystery documentaries and animation.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Clarie Cartey is a literary agent with the Holroyde Cartey. She says: “I have worked in publishing for over twenty years as Art Director at Hodder Children’s Books and in design for Dorling Kindersley, Egmont and Random House. I am looking for author and illustrator proposals for picture books and young fiction. In illustration I’m also looking for creative brand building potential in markets outside of publishing.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
USA
Biography
Maria Carvainis is a literary agent with the Maria Carvanis Agency. Prior to opening her agency, Ms. Carvainis spent more than 10 years in the publishing industry as a senior editor with Macmillan Publishing, Basic Books, Avon Books, and Crown Publishers. Ms. Carvainis has served as a member of the AAR Board of Directors and AAR Treasurer, as well as serving as chair of the AAR Contracts Committee. She presently serves on the AAR Royalty Committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Young Adult *
Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc., Attention: Query Department, 1270 Avenue of the Americas Suite 2915 New York NY 10020 USA
Biography
Barbara Casey is president of the Barbara Casey Agency. She represents clients nationally and internationally in fiction and nonfiction for adults. She is also a partner with Strategic Media Books. Her past and present professional associations are numerous and include being editorial consultant for the Jamaican Writers Circle in affiliation with the University of West Indies and Mico Teachers College in Kingston. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories.
She is a frequent guest speaker at writers’ conferences and universities throughout the United States. She is a former director, guest author, and panelist of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida; and for thirteen years, she served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Florida. She held the position of Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 to 2003.
Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. Since that time her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in several publications.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * History * Inspiration * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Narrative * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime * Young Adult *
1440 S Long Hollow Road Trion GA 30753 USA
Biography
Haley Casey is a literary agent with Creative Media Agency, Inc. She has always had a special place in her heart for stories, but it was when she wrote her first chapter book in fifth grade that her true love of literature was realized. In 2015, she graduated from The University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, and that fall, she attended the Denver Publishing Institute. She began her full-time career at Ogden Publications, where she was an editor for four years. There she worked with a variety of authors across multiple magazines, wrote articles, edited podcasts, and even styled photos—anything to add some creativity to her days. In 2020, she interned at Metamorphosis Literary Agency and Creative Media Agency, Inc. before stepping into her role as a junior agent at CMA. She also manages the digital arm of the company. Haley is actively building her list, and is ready to assist her authors in achieving their publishing goals.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Paranormal * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Ethnic * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Psychology * True Crime * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
1745 Broadway 17th Floor New York NY 10019 USA
Biography
Johanna Castillo is a Senior Agent at Writers House Literary Agency. A seasoned professional in the publishing industry, Johanna was formerly Vice President & Executive Editor at Atria Books/Simon and Schuster and Editorial Director of Atria Español for nearly fifteen years. In that role, she acquired and edited forty-one New York Times bestsellers by multiple national and international bestselling authors including Isabel Allende, Colleen Hoover, Rachael Ray, Sara Shepard, Rosanna Pansino,Javier Sierra, Laura Esquivel, Armando Lucas Correa,Felix J. Palma and María Dueñas.
Johanna has been featured in the The Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, The Daily News, and in Publishers Weekly. She was featured as a “Mujer on the Move” by Latina magazine, named a 2005 Prominent Latina by El Diario La Prensa, and was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women by People en Español magazine in 2016. She is also a board member of the Board of Directors of Poets & Writers.
As a literary agent, Johanna is actively building a list of talented authors with whom she can work closely with editorially and form solid, long-term partnerships.
Johanna is seeking works of quality fiction including historical, book club fiction, romance and suspense. In non-fiction she looking for memoirs, lifestyle, pop-culture, cookbooks and narrative nonfiction. She is also representing middle grade and YA and she is always seeking new diverse voices, #ownvoices #latinx.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Analieze Cervantes is a literary agent with the Rees Literary Agency. Analieze joined the Rees Literary Agency in 2023, after working as an agent at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. She has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, with a minor in screenwriting, from Cal State San Bernardino University.
Analieze is actively building her list. She is interested in Picture-Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Fiction. She is passionately seeking BIPOC and underrepresented voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
One Westinghouse Plaza Suite A203 Boston MA 02136-2075 USA
Biography
Melissa Chinchillo is a literary agent with Fletcher & Company/UTA. Melissa joined the agency in 2004, after ten years of teaching literature, film, and women’s studies at universities in New York and Boston. Melissa is the agency’s Digital Rights Manager and Director of Foreign Rights. In these capacities, she represents the agency at international book fairs and publishing conferences. She is actively engaged in building relationships with key players in digital publishing and ensuring that our clients have access to an array of top-notch services in the electronic rights industry.
She represents a small, select list of her own authors, ranging from academics to syndicated cartoonists, and from debut novelists to well-established authors. Melissa holds a B.A. in English and Philosophy, M.A. in World Literature (both from Simmons College), and is A.B.D. in the Ph.D. program at SUNY-Stony Brook’s English Department, where she also earned graduate teaching certification in film studies and women’s studies.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Education * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * Middle Grade * Philosophy * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * Science * Women’s Issues *
511 Sixth Avenue #120 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Jane Chun is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She has been at Janklow & Nesbit since May 2019. She supports Anne Sibbald and Richard Morris and is currently building her list. Prior to working at J&N, she worked on a freelance project for HG Literary and interned at Writers House and Maximum Films & Management.
Jane is particularly interested in stories that center marginalized communities and prose that is cinematic and atmospheric with good rhythm. In both fiction and nonfiction, she is drawn towards compelling, fresh voices that make her feel as though the writer is in the room with her, telling her their story with intimacy as if they were already acquainted. Regardless of how plot-driven a story is, characters with rich inner worlds and emotional depth are a must for her.
For fiction, she is seeking commercial, upmarket, and literary works in both adult and MG/YA about the search for and rebuilding of identity, diaspora, family and community, and examinations of power in relationships. She is also looking for fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction that delve into sharp social commentary and have meticulous worldbuilding and settings that don’t feel like Western Europe. For historical fiction, she likes hidden histories and anything that is set in a time or place she’s not familiar with or focuses on a community that has been often overlooked if it’s a time/place she knows.
In terms of nonfiction, she is looking for memoirs, essay collections, and narrative nonfiction with a nuanced, intersectional approach and similar themes to her interests in fiction. She also is interested in books about food, travel, pop culture, and cultural criticism that dive deeply and thoughtfully into culture and traditions.
In addition to traditional prose, she is very interested in graphic novels and nonfiction. She is looking for stylistically engaging, unique art that feels either nostalgic without being derivative or fresh and boundary-pushing.
She is not the right person for picture books, prescriptive nonfiction, self-help, religion/spirituality books, romance, commercial thrillers, hard sci-fi, poetry, or short story collections.
For more details on what she’s looking for, please refer to her MSWL: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jane-chun.
Jane is a native New Yorker and attended NYU where she majored in History and minored in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology; Creative Writing; and Spanish. She returned to NYU shortly after graduating to receive her M.S. in Publishing with distinction.
Jane is part of the 2022 Literary Agents of Change Mentorship Program cohort and the American Association of Literary Agents (AALA).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * NoPB * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Sports * Travel * Young Adult *
Biography
Kayla Cichello is a literary agent with Upstart Crow Literary. She brings to Upstart Crow Literary nearly a decade of experience in children’s publishing. A former Conference Coordinator for the International Summer and Winter Conferences for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, she most recently logged several years as assistant to Senior Agent Jennifer Rofé at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She is open to a wide range of books, from picture books through young adult novels, and is especially keen to discover unique voices and champion new creators of tomorrow’s classics.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
594 Dean Street Office 47 Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Biography
Ginger Clark is a literary agent with Ginger Clark Literary. Ginger launched Ginger Clark Literary in 2021 to guide and support authors as they build and grow their careers in publishing. With over two decades of experience at Writers House and Curtis Brown, in addition to active work in major positions at the Association of Authors’ Representatives, Ginger is an expert in contracts, foreign rights, and negotiating with all the top publishers. She prides herself on always putting her clients first. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and lives with her husband outside New York City.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Young Adult *
554 Boston Post Road Suite 513 Orange CT 06477 USA
Biography
Lane Clarke is a literary agent with the ArtHouse Literary Agency. Lane earned a Bachelors’ degree in English Literature from Virginia Tech, and a J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School. She is a Young Adult author and works as an attorney in Washington, D.C. As the creator of the #BVM hashtag for Twitter story pitch events, and the co-founder of #PitBLK, a pitch event highlighting Black writers, she is committed to making sure marginalized voices have a space in traditional publishing.
Lane is looking for an array of genres in Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult. In all age groups, she would love to see stories by underrepresented and marginalized creators. If your book takes on an old genre with a new point of view (Netflix’s THE HARDER THEY FALL), I want to see it!
In Middle Grade, she is looking for adventure stories and big emotions. Think a middle school version of National Treasure. She loves inquisitive middle grade books that ask big questions. She would love to see horror stories with a historical lens, contemporary books that push against the status quo, and fantasy that takes on underrepresented mythology.
In Young Adult, she is looking for contemporary stories that pack an emotional punch. Coming-of-age stories. She would also love historical fiction similar to Stacey Lee and Ruta Sepetys (certain to make her cry). She is looking for speculative contemporary fiction similar to Adam Silvera and Justin A. Reynolds. Worlds where there is something just a little bit off. She is also looking for books with interesting narrative structures, similar to ILLUMINAE and SLEEPING GIANTS. Multiple POV books should be well-balanced. She is looking for smart YA that takes on cultural issues from the point of view of messy teenagers. She is also looking for college stories, freshmen coming-of-age stories, and books about teens who do something other than college as their next step. She loves found family books! She would love to see Graphic Novels from writer/illustrators.
In Adult, she is looking for romance with lots of tension! Slow burns are her absolute favorite. She is looking for heroines and love interests who do not often get the spotlight – heroines and love interests of color, neurodivergent, disabled, etc. She is also looking for literary fiction that are generational sagas (think PACHINKO) or societal commentary (think SUCH A FUN AGE and THE VANISHING HALF). She is looking for epic fantasy with a strong cultural point of view (THE POPPY WAR and CITY OF BRASS). She would love smart horror that reveals inner demons (STRANGER THINGS SEASON 4 – Max). She would love adult fiction that addresses societal issues (Alyssa Cole’s WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING). Books that elicit strong emotional reactions.
In Non-Fiction, she is looking for little known historical figures who made big impacts (like BASEBALL’S LEADING LADY) in all age groups MG and above. She is looking for humorous essay collections that address societal issues and personal growth (HERE FOR IT). She would love to see memoirs about the immigrant experience.
What She Doesn’t Want: Chapter books, erotica or unsolicited picture books (only send picture books if she has directly requested it).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Horror * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Romance * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * History * Humor * Memoir * Middle Grade * Multicultural * Self-Help/Personal Development * Young Adult *
Biography
Bill Clegg is a literary agent with The Clegg Agency. Bill represents authors such as Mary Jo Bang, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Mark Doty, Rivka Galchen, Daniyal Mueenuddin, Salvatore Scibona, and Rebecca Wolff. But he’s an author, too, having published last year the memoir Portrait of an Addict as Young Man and this April the follow-up Ninety Days: A Memoir of Recovery. Both published by Little, Brown, the memoirs delve into Clegg’s drug addiction and recovery.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * True Crime *
156 Fifth Avenue Suite 1210 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Lucy Cleland is a literary agent with Calligraph. She is a literary agent representing idea-driven and narrative nonfiction of all stripes, upmarket fiction, and select children’s projects. Her list is bold and eclectic, united by an overarching interest in how culture shapes us (and how we shape it). Her clients have been Pulitzer finalists, winners of the NBCC Award and PEN America Awards, recipients of MacArthur “Genius” grants, and elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; their books have been featured in the New Yorker’s Briefly Noted, New York Time’s Editors’ Choice, and best books of the year lists, as well as ranked as USA Today Bestsellers and selected for Book of the Month Club.
In nonfiction, she gravitates towards cultural criticism, social science, and psychology that offers powerful clarity, history that informs how we see the world today, literary nonfiction that plunges readers into a unique subject or experience, essays with an intellectual core, and ‘big idea’ books that carve out new territory in contemporary conversations, particularly around feminism, law, race, philosophy, and technology. In fiction, she’s drawn to novels anchored by craft and animated by potent commercial concepts (speculative and magical realism welcome!), as well as historical fiction that immerses readers in non-Western settings.
A southern transplant to Boston from Atlanta, Lucy graduated from Wellesley College and cut her teeth as an agent working closely with Jill Kneerim at Kneerim & Williams. She lives with her wife and a lot of books in Jamaica Plain.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Magical Realism * Mystery * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Education * General Nonfiction * History * Investigative * Journalism * Juvenile * Law * Multicultural * Narrative * Philosophy * Politics * Psychology * Science * Technology * Upmarket * Women’s Issues *
88 Broad St. Suite 503 Boston MA 02110 USA
Biography
Marisa Cleveland is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. She joined the Agency in 2009 and oversees publishing innovations and initiatives by implementing the Agency’s communication strategies and developing the enterprise media strategy. She is responsible for spearheading the Agency’s efforts to identify, inform, and involve the literary community in outreach and advocacy programs.
Marisa has been featured at various book festivals and participated in panels and workshops on branding, communication, cultural agility, diversity, and the state of the industry.
Her efforts to support literacy include establishing the Agency’s literacy fundraiser, supporting authors in their writing endeavors with motivational events, and teaching writing workshops. With more than two decades of experience in the education and publishing industries, Marisa is adamant about supporting efforts toward the betterment of the human condition. Gulfshore Business and D’Latinos magazines honored Marisa with the Arts and Culture 2015 FACE Award, and in 2014, Gulfshore Business selected her as a “40 Under Forty” honoree.
As a New York Times bestselling author, she has 8 academic peer-reviewed publications, 1 academic book chapter, over 20 published book remarks in a regional newspaper, and 9 published novels. She earned her doctorate in organizational leadership from Northeastern University, earned her master’s in educational administration and a bachelor’s in speech communications from George Mason University, and is a 2015 Leadership Marco graduate.
If you are considering querying Marisa, please click here to read the four things she thinks everyone should know before querying her.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business *
4100 Corporate Square Suite 140 Naples FL 34104 USA
Biography
Jonathan Cobb is a literary agent with HG Literary. He began working at HG Literary in the summer of 2016. After graduating from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, he decided to follow his dream of joining the publishing industry by moving to New York. He gained valuable experience interning at NYU Press and Writers House, while also pursuing a Master’s degree in Publishing: Digital and Print Media at NYU.
Jon reads all genres of fiction but has a particular interest in contemporary middle grade and YA, adult science fiction and fantasy, African-American fiction, literary fiction, and mysteries and thrillers.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * NoPB * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
6 West 18th Street #7R New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Susan Cohen is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Susan has been with Writers House over 25 years. She started at an entry-level position, became an agent’s assistant, and after learning how to represent authors, started doing so. She is now a senior agent.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Family * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Middle Grade * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Technology * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Andrea Comparato is a literary agent with and the founder of the Inscriptions Literary Agency. Her favorite books to represent are: picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, craft books, memoirs, and children’s devotionals. She had an idea for a graphic novel-style children’s devotional and would love to see a submission for one!
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Religious * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Christian * Crafts * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Religion *
Biography
Gemma Cooper is a literary agent with The Bent Agency. She says: “I started my publishing career in 2010 in New York after eight years working in the recruitment industry. I’ve been lucky to live and work in Chicago and London since then, experiences that have given me a global approach to representation. I’m now back in London, where I work with authors all over the world and sell directly to publishers in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia. I became a director of our London office in 2020 and have represented New York Times and Sunday Times bestsellers, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winners, the Australian Book Industry Overall Book of the Year, and books that have been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, the Edgar Award, the Booktrust Blue Peter Book Award, and many more.
The best part of my job is getting to be the first fan of an unpublished book and then be its champion — nothing beats talking up your passions to other book lovers.
My list is typified by big-concept, commercial series fiction. If you can describe your book in one line, or in an ‘X meets Y’ elevator pitch, I want to read it. I like books that have obvious potential for dramatic adaptation, be they a funny pre-school TV series or a big-budget feature film. I’m very keen to see writers from underrepresented communities, particularly those who write chapter books and middle-grade fiction.
My sweet spot is middle-grade fiction, where I have the widest taste: anything from mystery to fantasy, historical to funny, adventure stories to serious topics, and all the gaps in between. Really, any middle-grade novel with a strong voice and/or a big hook will get my attention.
In young adult fiction, I’d love a standout romance or something with strong friendships or sibling relationships – contemporary, paranormal, or fantasy based in the real world. I’m not the agent for YA high fantasy or big sweeping epics. Funny YA is hard to do, but I like snarky characters, comedy, and some romance. I’m also interested in YA with a unique structure – such as letters, novels in verse, or episodic storytelling.
I work on a lot of younger series and I love high-concept funny chapter books with series potential aimed at ages 7+. I’m also looking for graphic novels and highly illustrated books for emerging readers ages 5+, with simple concepts but laugh-out-loud pre-school humour. Author/illustrators in the chapter book, graphic novel and middle-grade markets get my immediate attention.
I’m not looking for picture books right now. For children’s nonfiction, I’m interested in history and science, and anything that can be published in an interesting format. I’m also open to select adult graphic novels or webcomic adaptations in the areas of humour and gift books.
A few more things about me: I love Christmas, travel, choosing the perfect present, ‘90s movies, Murder She Wrote, Red Dwarf, cinematic world-building, being a bit extra, theme parks (especially impeccable attention to detail in theming), and a good twist I didn’t see coming. I’m an upbeat person and I tend to connect to characters who are the same; my current client list is a great snapshot of my taste.”
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Young Adult *
529 W 42nd St Suite 3P New York NY 10036 USA
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About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark’s authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.
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Author Coaching Testimonials
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent!
My career has spanned publishing, TV, and feature film. I’ve served as Creative Dir. for the Magazine Group, TIME Inc.; Dir. of Time World News Service, a Founding Dir. of TIME-Life Films; Exec. Prod. for both the CBS and NBC TV Networks; Prod./Dir.: Movies of the Week: CBS Cinema Center Films and Universal MCA.
In today’s publishing marketplace, agents come and go. They also very often seem to just want an easy pathway to make a buck. Many authors are let go by their agents because their last book didn’t do well enough and the agent doesn’t want to devote the time to help the author. That’s not what you’re about Mark. Even established authors need this type of support in today’s marketplace.”
Author of ten fiction and nonfiction books
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“I’m psyched to have this be official. After getting five different offers for representation from top literary agents, I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin!
Getting multiple agents interested in my work was really important to me. I’ve dealt with agents before and gotten screwed on things contractually so I wanted to do it differently this time. I wanted choices.
Having you help me create that, and navigate my options, was really helpful. I heard other authors talk about their great relationships with their agents and it made me want the same thing. Now I have that.”
Author of Woman on Fire
(Penguin Books)
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“After sending out the query Mark revised for me, I had the opportunity to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident and, a short time later I had a publishing contract with Berkley Books, which recently published my book in hardcover.
Before that, I sent my query letter out on my own to 30 or 40 agents and got a lot of rejections. I then found Mark online while I was researching agents. I was surprised that he offered so much during his initial consultation—for a very modest amount of money.
I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with Mark. I can’t even imagine that now though, because of the grief and detours I experienced before we worked together. It was a time-consuming pain in the neck. If you want to get the attention of top literary agents and publishers, there is no substitute for working with an insider. You can’t beat experience. And having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable.”
Author of Single Handed
(Berkley Books, a Division of Penguin Random House)
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“AHHH! OMG, it happened! I got three offers of representation for my children’s picture book in the United States, even though I live abroad! When I woke up and found the first offer for representation in my email in box, I wanted to scream. But my family was still asleep so I couldn’t. 🙂
Just 8 minutes after I sent a query letter to one of my favorite agents, she replied and asked to see my manuscript. A short time later we had a lovely conversation. She was interested in representing me and sounded very positive and enthusiastic about my book. Since I also got offers from two other agents, I had to turn two of them down. One of them was upset and it felt like I was breaking her heart, but you just have to do it. I kept reminding myself that this is a good problem to have!”
Author/Illustrator of Lon-Lon’s Big Night
and many other children’s books
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“Mark, after you helped me land a top literary agent, I got publishing offers from THREE well-known publishers: Amacom, Palgrave Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill (they’re publishing my book in hardcover)!
I was at Disneyworld with my family, in the Haunted Mansion, when I got the call. I went outside and listened to the voicemail message from my agent. A huge smile came over my face. It was a fantastic feeling. For a moment I felt like life was perfect and the angels were singing.
You’re filling an important need so I’ll say this to every other author reading this testimonial. Mark showed me that getting a top literary agent is a science. If you’ve written a book, or you’re in the process, you’ve already invested a lot—a lot more than money. Don’t stop yourself from getting out there to fulfill your purpose and dreams. Thank you so, so much, Mark!!!”
Author of Customer Focused Process Innovation (McGraw Hill)
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“I got a book deal! After I started sending out my new query letter I had 6 literary agents request my manuscript in a short amount of time, which is awesome. Then, within 2 weeks of my agent starting to pitch my story to publishers, we had an offer. I signed a book contract yesterday. A little while later my agent told me that a TV co-producer asked for more info about my book.
By the way, the acquiring editor that fell in love with the manuscript jumped in with both feet and we just worked out our timeline for publication. She’s as passionate about getting my book out as I am, and that means everything. She read the manuscript in two days and said she couldn’t put it down. And the book is going to be published as a hardcover!”
Author of A Chick in the Cockpit
(Behler Publications)
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“Thank you Mark! After you helped me get a well-known agent with Hartline Literary Agency (for my previously self-published murder mystery), he got me a deal with an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) approved publisher. I’m hard-pressed to find anything that I had an expectation for that you didn’t deliver on.
Before I worked with you I sent out queries, but no one ever requested my complete manuscript. Comparing your new version of my query to the one I wrote before, I can see a vast difference.
I’ve been in business for 35 years so I’m not just saying this… what you’re doing is phenomenal. There are other people offering similar services, but the difference is your success. Others might say they do similar things but, if you research them, they don’t have your background or track record.”
Author of The Rector
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“Mark, you’re a miracle worker. Thanks to your help with my book, query letter, and synopsis… I now have a legitimate publisher who described my book as ‘Powerful Magic’ and it’s now available in bookstores and online!
I’m a lifelong academic writer who one day found myself writing inspired short stories that came to me in dreams and I began thinking of them as novels. That’s when I had a momentous conversation, an introductory coaching call with Mark Malatesta, the American creative writing coach, or rather, to be precise, a how-to-sell-yourself-and-your-work adviser. It was the best-spent money of my life apart (possibly) for my wedding ring.”
Author of The Black Inked Pearl
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“Within 4 minutes of sending out my query letter, a top literary called me on the phone (the #1 agent on my wish list). Less than 30 days later I had three major publishers making offers. A few days after that, I signed a deal with Random House. Mark, your query letter did that.
My agent talked about the query letter you helped me create for a long, long time. When he first called me on the phone, he hadn’t seen any of my sample chapters. It was just the query letter that did it. Communicating the right thing is so important. You are a wonderful medium helping authors find their voice and elevate their writing from just a hobby to a real business… a source from which they can both learn and earn.”
Author of Lights Out
(Random House)
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“MARK, MARK, MARK!!!!!!! Holy smokes… I just signed my book deal. First, two well-known literary agents asked to represent me. One of them responded to my query letter in less than 4 minutes!!
Then THREE different publishers wanted my book and started talking about making offers. The publisher I chose is perfect for me because they produce titles for the trade, educational, and scientific markets. And they agreed to publish my book as a hardcover!!!
When I met you, Mark, it was a pivotal time. I was under the belief that I could self-publish my book with a vanity press and then seek a publisher. I didn’t know what a literary agent was, why I needed one, or how to get one. I was wandering in the dark. You guided me in the right direction and gave me a solid plan.”
Author of Intestinal Health
(Rowman & Littlefield)
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“Boom!!! I just signed a contract with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins for (what I’ve been told by several people) is a very large advance for a first-time author.
Before working with Mark I submitted my book to agents but didn’t get any interest. This time around I got a top NY literary agency (Fine Print Lit). What cloud is higher than 9?
I had several agencies interested before deciding to go with Fine Print. And, to be honest, all of the attention didn’t surprise me. The query letter and proposal that Mark helped me develop were incredible. Agents actually said things to me like: ‘Scott, I read your proposal and I’m just blown away by it!’ Mark is extremely talented at what he does. If you have the opportunity to work with him, take advantage of it.”
Author of The Unbreakable Boy
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)