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The Directory of Literary Agents
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- The results are being filtered by the character: L
Biography
Bibi Lewis is a literary agent with the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. She joined the agency in 2014. She acts as the agency’s royalties and office manager and is currently building her list in both Children’s and Adult. For Children’s she represents Picture Books through Young Adult, with a particular interest in big hearted Middle Grade, innovative non-fiction and Young Adult Contemporary and Thrillers.
On the adult end, Bibi is primarily looking for women’s fiction, upmarket commercial and book club fiction and contemporary and historical romance. She enjoys projects with a big hook, complicated and fully realized characters, and sharp, quick paced prose. She is also looking for select mysteries and thrillers—particularly domestic suspense and unexpected takes on true crime.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |True Crime |
Biography
Kevin Lewis is a literary agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Kevin has been a publishing professional for more than 25 years and has held positions at Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Disney. He has edited such best-selling and award-winning writers and illustrators as Cynthia Rylant, Mark Teague, Dav Pilkey, Angela Johnson, Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Cordell, Lauren Thompson, Derek Anderson, Jane Dyer, Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black, Loren Long, LeUyen Pham, and Kadir Nelson, to name but a few.
In addition to editing, he has written close to a dozen picture books, including Chugga Chugga Choo Choo and My Truck Is Stuck.
He lives with his husband and dog in a 200-year-old farm house in the Hudson Valley.
As an agent, Kevin’s focus primarily is on writer-illustrators and diverse voices.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Black Literary Agents | Authors and Illustrators Only |Picture Book |
Biography
Rick Lewis is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. He represents authors of Graphic Novels with Illustrators (he grew up reading and loving them) as well as speculative fiction titles in the Adult and YA categories, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and magical realism.
Before joining Martin Literary Management, he was editor-in-chief at Uproar Books, where he worked closely with debut authors to edit and launch award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels such as the gothic fantasy Asperfell by Jamie Thomas, the dark sci-fi comedy Always Greener by J.R.H. Lawless, and the YA contemporary fantasy Foretold by Violet Lumani.
Before joining the literary world, Rick spent nearly two decades as a professional writer, first in television news and then in marketing. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he lived for 25 years before recently moving to Charlottesville, VA., with his spouse and two children.
Rick is looking for novels that feature complex, realistic characters in highly imaginative worlds. Give him genuine emotions and meaningful struggles, but also at least a touch of science, magic, or the supernatural that captures the imagination while illuminating the real world.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Dystopian Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Horror | Magical Realism | New Adult Fiction | Science Fiction |
Biography
Stefanie Lieberman is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She joined JNA as Senior Counsel in 2005 after practicing law at New York’s Guggenheim Museum and boutique entertainment firm Frankfurt Kurnit. She has degrees from Yale and Northwestern University School of Law, as well as an unwieldy and ever-growing collection of books in every category.
As an agent, Stefanie focuses primarily on upmarket fiction with commercial appeal. She loves literary thrillers, historical fiction, quick-witted beach and book club reads, and any plot-driven story with a distinctive voice and a smart, high-concept hook. Stefanie also gravitates towards novels with a strong sense of time and place, a unique atmosphere, or gripping, edge-of-the-seat suspense. She’s always on the hunt for writers who make her laugh.
In addition to upmarket fiction, Stefanie is seeking select young adult fiction and adult non-fiction titles. In the non-fiction space, she is drawn to investigative journalism, true crime, and projects that illuminate women’s experiences.
Some of Stefanie’s favorite books include: The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin; Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarity; The Trespasser by Tana French; Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman; The Vacationers by Emma Straub; Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson; The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton; Rules of Civility by Amor Towles; Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Current Events Affairs | Parenting | Politics |
Biography
Kayla Lightner is a literary agent with Ayesha Pande Literary. Prior to joining Ayesha Pande Literary, Kayla started her career at Liza Dawson Associates. She also managed APL’s subsidiary rights department for two years before transitioning to full-time agent. Her client list includes multi-award-winning actor, Delroy Lindo; multi-award-winning journalist and food writer, Annabelle Tometich; and Vice, Teen Vogue, and Longreads contributor, Minda Honey. Kayla is an adventurous reader who loves stories (typically adult; though there are a select few middle-grade titles on her list) within upmarket fiction, literary fiction, and nonfiction. She’s looking for writers that can masterfully straddle the line between story-telling and teaching readers something new (about themselves, their communities, or the world we live in). You can find her full manuscript wishlist is here. Kayla is a Georgia native and earned her B.A. in English from Vassar College. When Kayla’s not reading, she can be found writing, reminiscing on her rugby days, and trying to retain her (waning) fluency in French by watching French shows on Netflix.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Black Literary Agents | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Satire | Science Fiction | Short Story Collection | Upmarket Fiction |Art | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | History | Humor Nonfiction | Investigative | Journalism | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Pop Culture | Psychology | Sports | Technology | True Crime |
Biography
Judy Linden is a literary agent with Stonesong Literary Agency. Judy is Executive Vice President at Stonesong. With more than 30 years experience as a former VP, Executive Editor at Penguin/Putnam, book producer, and literary agent, Judy has seen all sides of commercial publishing. She offers authors a unique, hands-on approach and perspective for navigating every aspect the business and prides herself on having long-term relationships with those she represents. Judy has worked with a diverse group of New York Times bestselling and award winning authors and influencers in all genres of non-fiction. She has sold jigsaw puzzles, plush toys, calendars, journals, stationary, and other ancillary products based on her books. Her favorite categories include self-care, cooking, empowerment and personal development, photography, home & garden, fashion & beauty, health & wellness, crafts, quirky concepts and popular culture, parenting, popular reference, psychology, relationships, advice and how-to. She is especially on the lookout for bold ideas that matter, fresh voices and approaches to issues new and not-so-new, design-driven projects, and authors with a strong, well-developed media platform. Please no fiction.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Beauty Fashion Style | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Food Drink | Gardening | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | How-To | Inspirational Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Pop Culture | Psychology | Reference | Self-Help |
Biography
Kim Lindman is a Literary Agent at Stonesong, having joined the agency in 2018. Originally from the West Coast, Kim studied English Literature with a subfocus in Journalism at Seattle Pacific University, where she worked as a copyeditor. After moving to the NYC area, she worked as a researcher for the United Nations, then as a freelance copywriter and editor, in tandem with bartending and food service jobs. This combination of experience, along with her Project Management (NYU) and Publishing (CUNY) Certificates, provides a unique advantage in the culinary and non-fiction spaces.
In non-fiction, Kim represents and is actively looking for: platform- or expertise-driven cookbooks, cocktail books, investigative journalism, social justice, social science, pop science, pop culture, self-help and wellness. While she is primarily drawn to books with some level of practical elements and actionable takeaways, she is also looking for narrative non-fiction that adds nuanced perspective to broad topics or that makes niche subjects accessible and engaging for a general audience.
Kim is currently closed to fiction queries aside from referrals and conference visits. Her favorite novels toe the line of speculative and literary. A well-plotted element of mystery is a plus.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Short Story Collection | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | Food Drink | Health Wellness | Illustrated | Investigative | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Travel |
Biography
Jen Linnan is a literary agent with Linnan Literary Management. She studied English and chemistry at Williams College, but found herself more passionate about paragraphs than polymers. Before founding Linnan Literary Management in 2012 she worked for five years at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.
She is most drawn to projects with incredible world-building (whether it’s Oz, Dublin, or the apartment next door) and characters that nag at her well after office hours. For illustrators, a keen sense of visual storytelling is a must.
Jen lives in NYC and is desperately trying to teach her cat that she does not rise with the sun.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Autobiography | Biography | Celebrity | Crafts | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Science |
Biography
Kim Lionetti is a literary agent with BookEnds Literary Agency. As the first literary agent to charm BookEnds into hiring her, Kim has been an integral part of growing the agency, along with her clients’ careers. Using the editorial skills learned during her first eight years in the industry at Berkley Publishing, Kim helps authors shape their works into books their readers will love. With twenty-five years of publishing experience, she’s worked with award winners and bestsellers in a variety of genres.
Kim’s journey into publishing began in middle school when she raided her grandmother’s collection of Phyllis Whitney books and transformed into an incurable bibliophile. Her other addictions include honey cinnamon lattes, British period dramas, Ryan Gosling memes, “Schitt’s Creek,” Indian food and Frescaritas.
With a client list including women’s fiction, mystery, young adult and romance, Kim enjoys working on a wide range of books. She’s currently eager to grow her list in the areas of women’s fiction and romance. Most especially, as an Autism mom, she is dedicated to representing the stories and voices of individuals with special needs and their families.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Kim currently resides in New Jersey with her son (knock-knock jokester extraordinaire), daughter (budding Francophile and resident drama queen), husband (80s aficionado and sports trivia master) and Winston the twenty-pound cat.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Horror | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction |
Biography
Will Lippincott is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. Will Lippincott has represented projects such as the New York Times bestseller A Colony in a Nation by Emmy Award-winning MSNBC host Chris Hayes, the national bestseller Unfinished Business by Anne-Marie Slaughter, the New York Times bestselling memoir Slow Dancing with a Stranger by Meryl Comer, the acclaimed history of the Russian ballet Bolshoi Confidential by Princeton music historian and critic Simon Morrison, and Killing the Messenger by New York Times bestselling author David Brock.
For thirteen years Lippincott worked as a literary agent and founding partner of Lippincott Massie McQuilkin. Prior to becoming an agent in 2003, Will was publisher of strategy+business magazine and a business development director at the global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton; publisher of The New Republic; and book publishing director at The New Yorker. Most recently, Lippincott served as Chief Operating Officer of Shareblue Media, the fast-growing digital news and opinion platform.
As an agent based in Los Angeles, Will’s interests center on politics, journalistic narratives, history, health, technology, and memoir, with a special focus on multi-media storytelling.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Current Events Affairs | Health Wellness | History | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Science | Technology |
Biography
Simon Lipskar is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Simon is a senior agent at Writers House, where he represents a wide range of authors in literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction and young adult fiction.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | History | Journalism | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Science |
Biography
Jacqueline Lipton is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. She joined The Tobias Literary Agency in 2022 after helming her own literary agency, Raven Quill Literary, for a number of years previously. She loves all things books and publishing and has been an avid reader since elementary school. Her tastes were always broad and eclectic. She loved (and still does) everything from a good murder mystery to space opera to contemporary romance and everything in between. She also loves nonfiction projects with a compelling narrative voice.
Her background is also eclectic. At university (yes, in Australia and England they call it “university”), she studied law, psychology, drama, languages, and information technology. She practiced as a banking and finance attorney in Australia, and has worked as a law professor in Australia, the U.K. and the United States where her teaching and writing has focused on laws relating to the publishing industry, digital technology law, copyright, trademark, privacy, and defamation. She is the author of LAW & AUTHORS: A LEGAL HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS (2020, University of California Press) and OUR DATA, OURSELVES: A PERSONAL GUIDE TO DIGITAL PRIVACY (2022, University of California Press).
She holds an M.F.A. in Fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts and regularly teaches classes on writing and on legal aspects of publishing around the country.
Jacqui represents authors of fiction and non-fiction from middle grade through to adult, as well as selected projects for younger readers (picture books, chapter books etc.) She is currently focusing on developing her adult fiction and nonfiction lists and particularly enjoys mystery/crime, romance, how-to books, and compelling contemporary novels. She is not currently seeking high fantasy, and considers science-fiction selectively.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Satire | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Art | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Laurie Liss is a literary agent with Sterling Lord Literistic. Executive Vice President and Managing Partner, Laurie has made it a point in her career to nurture young and unpublished authors, as well as self-published and ‘under-published’ writers. Laurie represents fiction and nonfiction whose perspectives are well developed and unique. Her list represents her broad-based tastes, but generally she looks for books with heart, which will positively impact society. Among her clients are journalists, academics, doctors, lawyers and athletes. Her clients include: Richard Paul Evans; Rachel Maddow; Matt Richtel; Gabor Mate; Hannah Gadsby; Shankar Vedantam; Esau McCaulley; Jessica Valenti; Janet Reitman; Spencer Ackerman; Molly O’Toole; Valter Longo; Jenna Evans Welch; Susanne Pari; Julie K. Brown; Elba Perez; Alia Dastagir; Mackenzi Lee; and Jewelle Gomez.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | History | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Science | Self-Help |
Biography
Julia Livshin is a literary agent with the Julia Livshin Literary Agency. Julia Livshin got her start as an intern at The Atlantic, where she later became an editor and worked with writers like John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Christopher Buckley, Roxana Robinson, and many others. She has a soft spot for short stories and thinks that discovering a new young writer is one of the greatest thrills. She’s worked as a freelance book editor, as well as a copy editor for Random House and Grove Atlantic, and has reviewed fiction for The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post Book World, and other publications. She grew up in Chicago, graduated from Duke University, and received a masters degree is Slavic languages and literature from Harvard University.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Linda Loewenthal is a literary agent with The Loewenthal Company. Over the course of her 30-year publishing career, Linda Loewenthal has represented and worked with both New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors. Linda has more than 15 years of experience as a literary agent, including her years at the David Black Agency. She founded The Loewenthal Company as a way to carry through her mission to develop and nurture authors in every aspect of their writing careers, fashioning each relationship according to their needs.
Before becoming an agent, Linda worked for 15 years as an editor and publishing executive. While at Random House Inc., she was the Vice President and Editorial Director of Harmony Books at the Crown Publishing Group. There she oversaw the successful launch of the trade paperback imprint, Three Rivers Press, for which she was also Editorial Director. She published such diverse and best-selling authors as: Douglas Adams, Deepak Chopra, Stephen Jay Gould, Byron Katie, and Stephen Mitchell, as well as the humor magazine, the Onion.
Linda was also the Vice President and Director of the Quality Paperback Book Club at Book of the Month Club, Inc. While there, she created and launched the One Spirit Book Club, recipient of Time-Warner’s President’s Award.
Linda is also the co-author of Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life with Irwin Kula.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Health Wellness | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Science |
Biography
Kim Lombardini is a literary agent with the Philip Spitzer Literary Agency. She has worn many hats in the book and publishing world. Originally from Detroit, Kim began her career in books at Barnes & Noble, working her way up from part-time bookseller to Market Trainer for Community Relations Managers in OH, IN and MI. Random House hired Kim as a National Accounts Marketing Representative, where it was her job to hand-sell books to booksellers at both Barnes & Noble and Borders chains from Chicago to Cleveland. After a brief time working as Marketing Manager for Borders first Concept Store in Ann Arbor, MI, where she became the first bookseller trained to use Margaret Atwood’s brain-child the Long Pen (a remote book-signing robot), she wanted to get back to what she loved most: selling books to readers. Deciding she’d like to live in New York, she joined respected independent BookHampton on the East End of Long Island, where she spent the next six years selling, marketing and writing about books – and training others to do as well.
Kim’s life in books has allowed her to attend church with Rosa Parks, work with Maya Angelou, lunch with President Barack Obama, and talk books with a firmament of entertainment, literature and music stars and political leaders.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | True Crime |
Biography
Ethan Long is a literary agent with Tugeau 2. He was born to entertain and educate children. He started his career in 1991 illustrating kids content for Nickelodeon and Scholastic Book Fairs and textbooks for Harcourt, Houghton Mifflin, and many others. At Harcourt, he also worked as a Grade 3 Reading Designer where he directed artists and hired illustrators
Since the year 2000, Ethan has written and/or illustrated over 140 books including board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books and middle grade novels. Some of his more popular titles are Fright Club, Tickle the Duck, Chamelia and the New Kid in Class, One Drowsy Dragon, and Up, Tall and High, which won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.
In the animation world, Ethan is the creator of Tasty Time with ZeFronk, which aired on Playhouse Disney from 2008-2016 and Scribbles and Ink, currently an online interactive series on PBSKIDS.com that is based on his children’s books by the same name.
He has been an instructor for every age level, as well as a mentor to students and aspiring artists, and loves cheering others on through the creative process. But even with all of Ethan’s successes, he feels he is just getting started. He feels that agenting is the perfect way to continue his passion for helping artists write their own stories and coach them through the fun, but challenging, publication process. When Ethan is not making books, you can find him being a homebody with his wife, Heather, and dog, Auggie. He also likes riding his bicycle or 160cc scooter along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, taking his daily three mile walk, whipping up a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies, or planning family time with his wife, Heather, and their three grown children.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Authors and Illustrators Only |
Biography
Heather Long is a literary agent with Tugeau 2. She has worn many creative hats in her professional career. She worked as an art/illustration buyer for Harcourt Publishers, a freelance fashion and costume designer, a photo stylist, a school library assistant and a visual and store manager for Anthropologie. Heather has also written and published two children’s books, Max and Milo: Go to Sleep, and Max and Milo: The Mixed-up Message (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster).
Heather has been instrumental in managing and guiding her husband, Ethan’s, children’s book and animation career. Her steady presence has served as the perfect counterpoint to Ethan’s creative energy. She is excited to help others fulfill their creative passions and cultivate and manage their book careers.
As a recent empty-nester, Heather enjoys spending more time with her husband, traveling, hiking, and exploring their newly adopted state of Colorado. When it’s too cold for any of that, you will most often find her reading a book. Heather is the mother of three, step-daughter, Katie (27),and sons, Cooper (20), and Carson (19).
Working as a team/power couple Heather and Ethan Long specialize in representing author/illustrators and illustrators who aspire to write their own stories and become full time authors. They use their combined experience in a mentorship capacity to guide prospective authors through the process of writing and creating a successful children’s book and preparing them for all the success that follows.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Authors and Illustrators Only |
Biography
Albert Longden is a literary agent with Three Corners Literary. Albert says: “As an Agent, I have limited time and therefore want writers that are preferably experienced and are willing to listen to productive critiques of their work.
I love old fashioned story telling in the mode of the classic early 20th century greats such as Earl Derr Biggers, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sax Rohmer, H. Rider Haggard, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Rice Bourroughs and Robert Louis Stevenson. More recently, the late Elizabeth Peters, Anne Rice, Laurie King, Wilbur Smith and Preston & Childs. Look to these authors with a creative current-thinking attitude and you’ll have something.
30 Plus years within the publishing industry in virtually all areas including, editorial, product development, sales, rep management, fulfillment and distribution, and executive management. I’ve been a accounting exec at major and minor imprints, President/Publisher of business books, a writer, and an entrepreneur. All these things make for an agent that looks to commercial projects with a literary attitude. If you’re looking for an professional Editor, this is currently the wrong agency for you.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Parenting |
Biography
Gloria Loomis is a literary agent with the Watkins Loomis Agency. Gloria is also the President of the Watkins Loomis Agency.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Current Events Affairs | Journalism | Memoir | Politics |
Biography
Ashley Lopez is a literary agent with the Waxman Literary Agency. She joined the Waxman Literary Agency in 2015. She received her MFA in Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College and is a founder of Pigeon Pages Literary Journal. She has worked on international and New York Times bestsellers and brings a global perspective to the team as the rights manager. Ashley is looking for literary and young adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and cultural criticism. Most importantly she seeks authors with a strong point of view and an eye for language.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cultural Social Issues | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | True Crime |
Biography
Toni Lopopolo is a literary agent with and the founder of Toni Lopopolo Literary Management. She has a book publishing resume that began in 1970 in the publicity dept of Bantam Books, where she helped publicize authors such as Philip Roth, Barbara Cartland, Isaac Asimov, and Louis L’Amour.
She next served as Library Promotion Director at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, and visited almost every major library in the USA. Then Houghton Mlfflin offered her a position in Boston as Marketing Manager, Paperback Books. Her big campaigns included Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins. When Macmillan presented Toni the title of Executive Editor, she moved back to New York City and published Judy Mazel’s Beverly Hills Diet and Elvis 56 by Al Wertheimer among other hits.
St. Martin’s Press made an offer she couldn’t refuse, so Toni became Executive Editor there from 1981 to 1990 and published Hot Flashes by Barbara Raskin and Rich and Famous by Kate Coscarelli plus Elsa Lanchester, Herself, by Elsa Lanchester, On The Other Hand by Fay Wray and many more titles.
In l991, Toni opened Toni Lopopolo Literary Management. She has since sold books for authors Sol Stein, Lee Silber, Lillian Glass, Steve Duno, Nancy Baer, Flo Fitzgerald, Judith Smith-Levin, Howard Olgin, Jeanette Baker, Larry Seeley, and several others. Toni relocated her company to Southern California in 2011.
Toni is also known for her Fiction Bootcamp workshops where she uses a unique method that helps first-time novelists to master the skills needed to successfully write book-length fiction, and she aids nonfiction writers to produce compelling narrative nonfiction, using fiction techniques. Toni has held workshops at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and at the Writer’s Room of Bucks County, PA. as well for the Ventura County Writers Club in California. Toni is also noted for her very popular lecture: The Ten Most Common Mistakes First Novelists Make.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | True Crime |
Biography
Julia Lord, director, operates Julia Lord Literary Management, a literary agency based in New York City. She began her agenting career in 1985 working for actors at the Monty Silver Agency. She opened his literary department representing writers for film, television and theater. She moved to books eventually opening Julia Lord Literary Management in 1999. Her mission is very hands on –to work with writers to develop their careers –work with them from idea through publication and marketing. Her office is known for her steadfast commitment to each and every author and book project.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Current Events Affairs | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Science | Sports | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime |
Biography
Chris Lotts is the president of The Lotts Agency. Chris was formerly of Ralph Vicinanza Literary Agency before he opened The Lotts Agency. He says: “I handle adult science fiction and fantasy, mostly skewing upmarket, and am also interested in hard-edged, innovative crime novels and thrillers; strong commercial writing is the most important criteria. Please have a look at my current clients as a good guide to the style of storytelling I favor.
I am also interested in narrative up-market non-fiction on a variety of subjects.”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Lara Love Hardin is a literary agent with and the founder of the True Literary Agency. She is also an author. Prior to founding True Literary, she was a senior literary agent and the Co-Ceo of Idea Architects. She has an MFA in creative writing and is a 4-time New York Times bestselling collaborative writer, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life, and 2018 Oprah Book Club pick, The Sun Does Shine, which she co-authored with Anthony Ray Hinton. In 2019 she won a Christopher Award for her work “affirming the highest values of the human spirit”. In 2019 she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award and short-listed for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Her memoir, THE MANY LIVES OF MAMA LOVE is being published in Summer 2023 by Simon & Schuster, and is being adapted as a television comedy series.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Memoir | Science | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Esty Loveing-Downes is a literary agent with the ArtHouse Literary Agency. She holds a BFA in creative writing from Ringling College of Art + Design and is currently an MFA candidate in fiction at Queens University of Charlotte. Aside from serving as a daily editor for the Southern Review of Books, she joined the teams at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency and Tobias Literary Agency before joining the ArtHouse Literary Agency team and becoming an Associate Literary Agent. Esty is looking for romance, upmarket fiction, YA, genre-blending sci-fi, picture books, and select nonfiction and literary fiction.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Parenting |
Biography
Jake Lovell is a literary agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. He joined SDLA in 2023. He earned his MA in Literature and Writing Studies from CSU San Marcos in 2021. He is also a veteran, having joined the Army in 2008. During his time he was promoted to Sergeant and served on two deployments overseas. Born and raised in Southern California, Jake proudly comes from a mixed cultural background and is second generation Chicano on his mother’s side.
He is actively looking for adult fiction and non-fiction. He is interested in upmarket fiction, with an emphasis on: Gothic, horror, thrillers, westerns, military, and speculative fiction (supernatural, paranormal, UFOs, etc…; think Jordan Peele or 10 Cloverfield Lane). When it comes to fiction, he loves dark stories that cause readers to question turning off the lights before bed. Dark stories permeate through all cultures, backgrounds, and histories, and he wants to hear them. His tastes lean more in the vein of The Hunger by Alma Katsu, The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, and works by Paul Tremblay, Mona Awad, and Colson Whitehead. In general, he’s especially drawn to character driven stories written in distinct and diverse voices.
On the non-fiction front, Jake is looking for captivating stories and perspectives that stay with readers and keep them coming back. He is especially interested in working with historians, up-and-coming scholars looking to transition to trade readership, journalists, doctors, veterans, and people with unique takes on important issues. Think: Freakonomics, Outliers, A Molecule Away From Madness, Columbine, American Sniper, Empire’s Workshop, and The Fact of a Body.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Espionage Military Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Western Fiction |General Nonfiction | History | Journalism | Military War Nonfiction | Philosophy | Psychology | Science | True Crime |
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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)