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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.
- The results are being filtered by the character: D
Biography
Janis Donnaud is a literary agent with Janis Donnaud and Associates. Janis Donnaud’s long and impressive client list includes novelists and nonfiction writers as well as cookbook writers. Some of her clients are Paula Deen, Pat and Gina Neely, Sara Foster, Suzanne Goin and Bobby and Jamie Deen.
Notes
NONFICTION: Animals, Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Dating Relationships Sex, Economics, Environment, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Upmarket Nonfiction, Women’s Issues
Biography
Courtney Donovan is a literary agent with Writers House. She says “IÕve had the privilege of working with Steven Malk and his wonderful list of authors and illustrators over the past four years, and with his support and mentorship I am excited to start building my own list.IÕm looking for authors and illustrators of picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels. I’m actively seeking stories that reflect diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, as well as underrepresented voices and perspectives.”
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, Graphic Novel, Speculative FictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Board Book, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Jim Donovan is a literary agent with Jim Donovan Literary. Jim Donovan is the founder and president of Jim Donovan Literary. Since starting the agency in 1993, he has sold hundreds of books, negotiating publishing contracts with the Big Five NYC publishers and many others. Previously, he was a book editor and bookstore-chain buyer. The agency handles both fiction (chiefly mystery/thriller, mainstream, and literary) and nonfiction (American history, biography, military, popular culture, and general narrative nonfiction). We also sell film, foreign, and all subsidiary rights. Many of the books Jim has represented have been optioned or sold for film/TV. The Junction Boys, by Jim Dent, was made into an HBO movie, and film rights to the same author’s Twelve Mighty Orphans have also been sold. Jeff Guinn’s The Road to Jonestown was adapted by the Sundance Channel for a two-night documentary special, Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, which first aired in November 2018. American Brutus, by Michael Kauffman, was optioned by David Simon, the producer of the award-winning series The Wire. In 2013, the New York Times bestseller Manson by Jeff Guinn was optioned by Sony Entertainment for a limited TV series, as was Shot All to Hell by Mark Lee Gardner. Other books recently optioned for film/TV include The Last Gunfight and Go Down Together by Jeff Guinn, Going Long by Jeff Miller, When She Was Bad by Ron Faust, and dozens of others. Jim is also the author of several books, including Custer and the Little Bighorn (Voyageur Press, 2001); the New York Times bestseller A Terrible Glory (Little, Brown, 2008); and The Blood of Heroes (Little, Brown, 2012). His next book, Shoot for the Moon (Little, Brown), will be published in March 2019 and has been optioned for a limited TV series. Jim regularly speaks on these subjects, and he has guest-lectured and taught seminars on the craft of writing and the business of publishing (and getting published) at universities and writersÕ conferences.
Notes
FICTION: Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Mystery, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Biography, Cultural Social Issues, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Sports
Biography
Priya founded the Lotus Lane Literary agency in 2013.Prior to being an agent, Priya worked as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey prosecuting securities fraud. She is passionate and dedicated to the intentional expansion of diversity and inclusivity in the publishing and film/tv industries and is constantly striving to bring lesser known voices to mainstream media.Priya is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents where she serves on the Board and on the Contracts Committee. She is also a member of the Women’s Media Group.Originally from Bangalore, India, Priya relocated to the New York area twenty-three years ago. For a period of time she relocated with her family to Singapore, and there, began her career as a literary agent. She founded Lotus Lane Literary in May 2013, and continues her journey with writers and publishers.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Science, True Crime
Biography
Katelyn Dougherty is a literary agent with the Paradigm Literary and Talent Agency.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Art, Celebrity, Film Entertainment, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Humor Nonfiction, Illustrated, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Nonfiction, Photography, Poetry, Pop Culture, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Chapter Book Fiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Mitch Douglas is a literary agent with and the owner of Mitch Douglas Literary Agency. He is a former International Creative Management (ICM) agent, has represented some of the worldÕs major writers including Tennessee Williams, Graham Greene, and Arthur Miller. He owns and operates Mitch Douglas Literary and Theatrical, Inc. in New York representing books, plays and musicals.He is exclusive agent and co-owner of the Henry Farrell Literary works which includes What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, The Hostage, Death On The Sixth Day, WhatÕs The Matter With Helen?, How Awful About Allen?, and Such A Gorgeous Kid as well as FarrellÕs short stories and unpublished works.He currently represents the biographies of J. Randy Taraborrelli including the biography of The Hilton Family Dynasty, Beyonce and the mini-series based on The Secret Life Of Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and the Kennedy Family. He represents the biographies of Anne Edwards and the new NUNSENSE musicals of Dan Goggin Ð Nunset Boulevard and Sister Robert AnneÕs Cabaret Class.His work and contributions in the entertainment and literary fields have been recognized in many publications including Donald SpotoÕs biography of Tennessee Williams The Kindness of Strangers, Hollis AlpertsÕ The Life and Times of Porgy and Bess; biographies of Richard Yates, Manuel Puig and Eva Le Gallienne; and a biographical profile in numerous publications including MenÕs Style magazine. Books dedicated to him include Katharine Hepburn: A Remarkable Woman by Anne Edwards, Marlon Brando by Charles Higham, Bette Davis: An Intimate Biography by Roy Moseley, The Snow Queen by Eva Le Gallienne, The Wordsmiths: Oscar Hammerstein II and Alan Jay Lerner by Stephen Citron and Three Sisters-The Opera by Kenward Elmslie.He is an expert on the works and life of Tennessee Williams and has spoken on WilliamsÕ career throughout the country including the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival, the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival in New Orleans, Joe JeffreyÕs Tennessee Williams panels and a notable ÒAn Evening with Tennessee WilliamsÓ at Lincoln Center with Cherry Jones.He has twice been awarded Kentucky Colonel commissions by governors of Kentucky for his contributions to the arts. He is recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Kentucky. He is a member of the DramatistsÕ Guild and the AuthorsÕ Guild.
Notes
NONFICTION: Autobiography, Biography, Celebrity, Fitness, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Humor Nonfiction, Memoir, Nonfiction
Biography
Claire Draper is a literary agent with the Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency. Claire started wanting to work in and around books in high school, when they fell hardcore in love with reading and writing after a friend took them to see Twilight. They spent all their time (and savings) at Borders and the local library and on fanfic.net after that.While studying Queer Diversity in Children’s Literature at New York University’s Gallatin, they interned at Rare Bird Lit, InkWell Management, and the Children’s Book Council. After graduating, Claire spent a fantastic (if albeit short-lived) two weeks working as a bookseller for The Strand, before ending up at InkWell Management as a receptionist and agent assistant in 2016. And then early 2019, they moved to the Bent Agency to start expanding their list with a collection of very queer books for kids of all ages, including graphic novels, picture books, middle grade, and young adult. And then later extended their list to cover all their interests with books for adults by returning to their favorites with romance novels, memoir, and specialty nonfiction. They joined the Azantian Literary Agency in 2023, and are thrilled to always see beautiful manuscripts make their way to a bookshelf.They live in New York City with their partner, two sneaky cats who teach each other bad habits, and too many plants to count. They are often found with either gardening gloves, sewing shears, or some other house craft.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Erotic Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Art, BIPOC Nonfiction, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Crafts, Cultural Social Issues, Dating Relationships Sex, Design, Environment, Film Entertainment, Food Drink, Gardening, Gift Novelty, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Pop Culture, Psychology, Self-Help, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Catherine Drayton is a literary agent with InkWell Management Literary Agency. Catherine Drayton graduated from the University of Sydney with a BA in English Literature and a Bachelor of Laws. After graduating from the University of NSW with a Master of Laws she worked as a litigation lawyer specializing in copyright and libel law at a major international law firm. But novels, not legal precedents, were always top of her reading pile so in 1998, after a brief stint as a literary scout, she joined Arthur Pine Associates which subsequently became InkWell. She represents a wide range of fiction from around the world for both adults and children as well as some non-fiction on subjects that intrigue her. Her bestselling and award-winning clients include Markus Zusak, Beth Hoffman, John Flanagan, Becca Fitzpatrick, Gavriel Savit, Cath Crowley and Karen Foxlee. Many of her clients are published in multiple territories and sold for film. She particularly loves working with debut authors and is looking for writing that is memorable and enduring. Catherine is InkWellÕs Sydney affiliate and when she isnÕt reading, she can be found swimming, surfing, hiking and cooking for family and friends.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, General FictionNONFICTION: General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, Lifestyle, Narrative Nonfiction, NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Emma Dries is a literary agent with Triangle House. She is a writer and editor, and an agent at Triangle House Literary. She has worked on bestselling and award-winning books in editorial at Alfred A. Knopf, Doubleday Books, Ecco, and Flatiron Books. She has a B.A. in History from the University of Chicago and an M.F.A in Fiction from Johns Hopkins University. She grew up in Lower Manhattan, above the Fulton Fish Market, and now lives in the Hudson Valley. Emma is interested in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction that grapples with climate change; ambitious multigenerational novels; speculative fiction; and dark or darkly comic domestic fiction. In nonfiction, she is interested in institutional corruption; memoirs incorporating science or policy; essays and longform journalism; and environmental and travel writing. She likes to work with academic writers with great narrative sensibilities, such as historians who can target an understudied era and spin an incredible yarn.
Notes
FICTION: Contemporary Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket FictionNONFICTION: Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Environment, History, Journalism, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Politics, Science, Technology, Travel
Biography
Kendyll Drilling is a literary agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She has been reading since the age of three, and she has never lost her appetite for reading. She never planned on pursuing literature as a career, but after an accident left her paralyzed, she decided it was in her best interest to focus on something that has always made her happy. This path led her to freelance editing manuscripts and going to college for a dual degree in English Literature and European History. Knowing her options would be limited due to her condition, she is excited and thankful for the opportunity to work with the team at Covrisiero Literary Agency.KendyllÕs favorite type of books are intricate fantasy novels and historical novels set before the 20th century, but she enjoys novels of all genres, as long as there compelling characters and a plot that transports her to another world. Apart from reading, Kendyll also enjoys copious amounts of tea, music, and funny tee-shirts.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Religious Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Western Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Art, Biography, Celebrity, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Film Entertainment, Fitness, Food Drink, Health Wellness, History, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Self-Help, Spirituality, True Adventure, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Del Duduit is a literary agent with the Cyle Young Literary Elite. He writes motivational and inspirational devotionals about sports and athletes. He also has a passion to write non-fiction books on leadership and enjoy a healthy debate on social issues. He has won several writing awards at various Christian writing conferences, including Writer of the Year and a second place Selah Award. He is a bestselling author and blogs weekly at delduduit.com and teaches classes on how to write a devotional and the right way to land big name on your book. He is an adjunct faculty member at Shawnee State University. He is accepting submissions for non-fiction Christian Living, motivational, inspirational and leadership. Del also likes the unique and nifty books about sports and recreation, healthy lifestyle, and travel and cooking. He is also a member of the Serious Writer team and will be attending the Olympics in Tokyo this summer.
Notes
NONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Fitness, Health Wellness, Inspirational Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Nonfiction, Sports, TravelNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Susan Duff is a literary agent with the Bresnick Weil Literary Agency. She joined the Bresnick Weil Literary Agency in January 2013 after a long career as an author, journalist, and medical editor and writer. In addition to authoring her own published books, she has ghostwritten, collaborated on, and co-authored a number of books, providing editorial guidance from proposal composition to complete deliverable manuscripts. Susan has written syndicated newspaper columns and magazine and newspaper features for many publications, including The New York Times. At the agency, she works with clients to shape book proposals and manuscripts, coordinates client meetings, and reads and recommends submissions. Her interests include womenÕs health, food and wine, fitness, humor, and memoir.
Notes
NONFICTION: Fitness, Food Drink, Health Wellness, Humor Nonfiction, Memoir, Nonfiction, Women’s Issues
Biography
Jennie Dunham is a literary agent with Dunham Literary. Jennie has been a literary agent in New York, New York since May 1992. In August 2000 she founded Dunham Literary, Inc. She has been a member of AAR (Association of Authors Representatives) since 1993. She served on the Program Committee and was Program Committee Director for several years. She was also a member of the Electronic Committee. In 1996 she attended the US/China Joint Women in Business conference in Beijing where she gave a presentation about literary agents in the US. She also attended the NGO Forum at the International Women’s Conference.She attended international meetings as the AAR representative to create the ISTC (International Standard Text Code) which is being created to ISO (International Standardization Organization) specifications. This business and tracking system will be based on titles not book formats (as is the case with ISBN) and will work in tandem with ISBN. She started her career at John Brockman Associates and then Mildred Marmur Associates. She was employed by Russell & Volkening for 6 years before she left to found Dunham Literary, Inc. She frequently speaks at writersÕ conferences and events.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Upmarket FictionNONFICTION: Biography, Current Events Affairs, General Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Religion, Spirituality, Upmarket NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Henry Dunow
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email or Postal MailBiography
Henry Dunow is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. Henry began his career as a literary agent in the early 1980s, with stints at Curtis Brown Ltd. and Harold Ober Associates before founding his own agency in 1997, which has since evolved into Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. He works primarily with quality fiction – literary, historical, strongly written commercial – and with voice-driven nonfiction across a range of areas – narrative history, biography, memoir, current affairs, cultural trends and criticism, science, sports, etc. Over the years he’s discovered and introduced a number of new, younger writers who’ve gone on to become established literary voices – and is particularly proud of that. He is the author The Way Home, a memoir about fatherhood.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, ThrillerNONFICTION: Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Reference, Science, Sports, TravelCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books
Biography
David Dunton is a literary agent with the Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. David joined the Harvey Klinger Literary Agency in 1996, after working in the editorial department at Simon & Schuster for seven years. He specializes in music-related nonfiction, biography, narrative nonfiction, and young adult & middle-grade fiction. His clients include New York TimesÑbestselling authors, musicians, journalists, collaborators, essayists, NPR contributors, and exceptional storytellers, and his clientsÕ books have been translated into many different languages. He is a graduate of Wesleyan, a working musician, and lives in Volcano, HI with his wife and daughter.
Notes
NONFICTION: Biography, Film Entertainment, History, Journalism, Memoir, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Technology, Upmarket NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Kelly Dyksterhouse is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. Kelly holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults for Vermont College of Fine Arts and got her start in agenting by working as an editorial reader and assistant at leading literary agencies. She joined The Tobias Literary Agency with the merger of Raven Quill Literary Agency in 2022 and is excited to help grow TLAÕs ChildrenÕs Department. Kelly considers the opportunity to help bring books into existence to be a great honor, and it is a particular joy for her to work alongside authors as they develop their project from idea to polished manuscript. The best feeling of all is when those manuscripts end up as books in the hands of children. Her agenting style is collaborative and editorial, and she always seeks to refine a manuscript so that the author is telling the story they most want to tell in the best way possible. Kelly represents picture books, middle grade and young adult, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as graphic novels. She also represents illustrators. She is drawn to high concept stories with high level writing, books that can be described in one sentence that bring something new to shelvesÑchildrenÕs books should be both fun to read and say something important. She passionately believes that all kids should be able to see themselves in books, and so is always on the lookout for diverse perspectives.She is actively building her middle grade and young adult list. For middle grade, she loves books with ensemble casts, books about good kids making bad decisions and then having to get themselves out of it, quests and hijinks, spooky stories and mysteries, and historical novels that feel relevant. For YA, Kelly is looking for much of the same, and is drawn to books with atmospheric settings, lush writing, and books with romance threaded through but not the primary plot. She is particularly interested in middle grade and young adult fantasy told from a unique perspective, ghost stories, accessible sci-fi, magical realism, contemporary stories that challenge assumptions and ask hard questions, and she will forever be on the lookout for a good heist.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, MysteryNONFICTION: Biography, History, Illustrated, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Science, SportsCHILDRENÕS 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 NonfictionNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Fiction
Biography
Jane Dystel is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. Jane Dystel, President, has been an agent since 1986. Her publishing career began at Bantam Books. She then moved to Grosset & Dunlap, where she was a managing editor and later an acquisitions editor. From there, she went on to become Publisher of World Almanac Publications, where she created her own imprint. When she joined the agency that would soon become Acton and Dystel Inc., she quickly developed a reputation for honesty, forthrightness, hard work, and real commitment to her authors and their writing careers. In 1994, with a growing roster of clients, she founded Jane Dystel Literary Management, which became Dystel & Goderich Literary Management in 2003, and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2016. Born in Chicago, Jane grew up in Rye, New York. She is the daughter of publishing legend Oscar Dystel, who headed Bantam Books for more than a quarter of a century. In her teens, she was an accomplished figure skater. Jane received her BA from New York University and attended Georgetown Law School for one year before leaving for her first job in publishing. She has an abiding interest in legal subjects. She is married to Steven Schwinder and has a daughter, Jessica, and a son, Zachary. She lives in New York City with her husband and two dachshunds, and is a tenacious golfer.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Art, Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Economics, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Law Legal, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, True Crime, Upmarket NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction