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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: R
Biography
Linda Roghaar is a literary agent with the Linda Roghaar Literary Agency. She has been in the book business her entire professional life. After a brief stint volunteering at a library, she began working in a bookstore, then managed both regional chain and independent bookstores. For many years she worked in marketing for several publishers and was a publishers’ rep (for dozens of independent publishers) to independent bookstores, bookstore chains, and book wholesalers. Linda opened the Linda Roghaar Literary Agency in 1996.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Crafts * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Family * Gardening * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Inspiration * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Parenting/Child Guidance * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports *
PO Box 3561 Amherst MA 01004 USA
Biography
Wendy Goldman Rohm is a literary agent with The Rohm Literary Agency. She’s the head of the agency, a New York Times bestselling author who has taught and lectured for MediaBistro, Yale University, onboard the QEII, and at numerous universities and organizations in the US, Europe and Asia, and has spoken at TEDx. Rohm is in the unusual position of understanding the publishing world from the creative side as well as the business side, having worked in publishing as an author as well as agent and development editor for more than two decades.
In addition to representing our author clients to top publishers, the agency offers ghost-writing services, developmental editing, and collaborative projects between authors and subjects.
Rohm’s publisher clients have included Random House, The New York Times Syndicate International, The Atlantic, Wired magazine, Tina Brown’s Talk magazine, Vogue, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Financial Times of London, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Playboy magazine, Conde-Nast, Ziff-Davis, John Wiley & Sons, Jossey-Bass, The Magazine Group, and many others. She has represented innovative new media projects—including book, film and video incarnations—for such global clients as Dove, and European clothing giant C & A. Rohm also been a literary agent and author for Sterling Lord Literistic, New York; The Waxman Agency, NY; and Waterside Productions, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif.
Ms. Rohm is adept at promotion and public appearances. She’ personally has been a commentator on numerous national and international television and radio broadcasts, including: Nightline (July 2011), The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and dozens of programs on NBC, CNBC, PBS radio and television, CNN, CBS, ABC, and BBC radio and television. Rohm has also been an expert researcher for Townsend & Crew, Skadden Arps, and Conlin Associates, among many others.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Religious * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Inspiration * Investigative * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Reference * Religion * Science * Technology * Travel * Young Adult *
1732 1st Ave. New York NY 10128 USA
Biography
Annie Romano is a literary agent with Olswanger Literary LLC. She is a children’s writer of picture books, middle grade novels, and adult fiction. Author of two picture books: BEFORE YOU SLEEP: A BEDTIME BOOK OF GRATITUDE (Page Street Kids, 2018) and NIGHT TRAIN: A JOURNEY FROM DUSK TO DAWN (Page Street Kids, 2019). Part-time Bookseller at An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA. Previously worked as special education team chairperson and speech language pathologist.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Satire * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Multicultural * Narrative * True Crime *
Boston MA USA
Biography
Claire Romine is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. She joined the agency in 2022 as assistant to Dan Strone. Prior to TMG, Claire attended Agnes Scott College and earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Political Science, with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. After graduating, she completed the Columbia Publishing Course and worked for the Storyline Group and Platypus Media before coming to TMG.
Claire is open to submissions and excited to continue to work closely with authors. In the fiction space, she is looking for upmarket literary novels, particularly those with an element of suspense and/or romance. She is an excellent advocate for books with commercial appeal that explore the complexities of growing up and growing out, dynamic female relationships, and our ever-evolving political landscape. She adores multi-POV novels in the vein of Lianne Moriarty and Chandler Baker. A native Floridian, Claire is especially drawn to summer reads that feature the ocean as a primary character.
Though Claire is primarily interested in fiction, she’s also open to select nonfiction memoirs or essay collections, either focusing on the personal or pop culture.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Literary * Romance * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir * Pop Culture *
Biography
Barb Roose is a literary agent with the Books & Such Literary Agency. She began writing books as a child because she fell in love with the characters and stories created by her favorite author, Beverly Cleary. Yet, as a little brown-skinned girl with pop-bottle glasses, Barb never dreamed that becoming an author was a real possibility for someone who looked like her.
After a multiple-award career in pharmaceutical sales and non-profit management, Barb spent 14 years on staff at her local church as part of the executive leadership and teaching teams. During that time, Barb attended her first writers conference and received her first writing contract. The dream she hadn’t dared entertain as a child became reality.
In 2016, Barb transitioned from her duties at church to full-time speaking and writing. Her goal is leading and teaching people to overcome their fears so they can live strong, courageous lives and experience God’s great adventure of faith for them. She speaks at conferences and events in the U.S. and abroad, including on multiple national platforms.
Barb became a part of Books & Such in 2014 as a client represented by Rachelle Gardner. Barb saw herself as an author who didn’t know anything about the publishing industry other than being thrilled someone wanted to publish her book. Fast forward several years and a growing library of books with her name on the cover. Barb now wants to help other writers achieve their publishing dreams. The thrill of partnering with authors compelled Barb to say “yes” to joining the Books & Such Literary Management agent team in 2020. Her desire is to come alongside hopeful and established authors to create the most marketable, appealing manuscripts that will build lasting careers and influence readers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * General Fiction *
NONFICTION: Christian * General Nonfiction * Religion * Spirituality *
2222 Cleveland Avenue #1005 Santa Rosa CA 95403 USA
Holly Root
Root LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Holly Root is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “Reading as much as you do in this job, it’s easy to become overly analytical—assessing this or that from a market standpoint, considering the buyers and retail outlook before you’ve even fallen into the story. My favorite books—and the submissions most likely to catch my interest—are the ones so assured in their execution that the only input my critical mind can muster is “That was fun. How soon can we tell everyone we know about it?” I’m delighted to be in a position of perpetual discovery.
Professionally, I’m proudest of the times my work has enabled my clients to take great leaps, whether creative or professional, to advance their careers. It’s an honor to be inside the process, participating in bringing great reads into the world, and a true joy to enable those books’ creators to build healthy, sustainable careers.
I’m drawn to well-told commercial narratives across multiple categories. I’m much more likely to keep reading if I know from the perfectly-executed first pages that this is someone whose voice interests me, someone whose story I’d like to get lost in for the next few hours. I know I’ve found a winner when I catch myself sketching a potential submission list on any available scrap of paper as I read.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Adrienne Rosado is a literary agent with Leibo Literary. She joined Stonesong Literary in September 2017. She’s spent her entire career on the agency side of publishing and has an extensive background in subsidiary rights, which makes for a strong eye for projects that will make a splash in the international marketplace. Prior to joining Stonesong she was an agent with Leibo Management and Nancy Yost Literary, where she was literary director and director of subsidiary rights respectively.
Adrienne represents adult and children’s fiction, as well as select non-fiction in the areas of pop-science, business, memoir, and humor. In both adult and children’s fiction, she is looking for contemporary, mystery, historical, thriller, fantasy, and anything with a wickedly dark sense of humor. She’s especially drawn to multicultural fiction, lgbtq+ works, and stories about people from atypical walks of life. She is not currently looking for poetry or children’s picture books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Satire * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Business * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Humor * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Science *
270 West 39th Street Suite 201 New York NY 10018 USA
Chiara Rosati
Veritas Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Chiara Rosati is a literary agent with Veritas Literary Agency. She attended Middlebury College in Vermont where she cultivated her love for literature and mastered the Italian language. Prior to joining Veritas, she served as legal counsel to emerging companies in Silicon Valley. Chiara’s passion for nuanced expression in the written form, combined with her devotion to nurturing clients and their creations, fuels her artistic mission: that of helping noteworthy manuscripts make the transformative journey into published works.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Nature * Pop Culture * Science * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Ann Rose is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. She is a California native who left her heart in San Diego, and now resides in Texas after a stint in Florida. Her degree is in Communication from San Diego State University, and her resume runs the gamut from Lifeguard to Business Systems Analyst, but books have always been her passion. Ann is excited to finally merge her love of literature with her past professional experiences as a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency after starting her career with Prospect Agency. She looks forward to helping authors build successful, sustainable careers.
Ann is looking for characters who aren’t afraid to stand up for their convictions and beliefs – whether they fight with their fists or their words. She’s open to all genres of middle grade—and especially love stories that push the MG boundary. By this she means they explore topics that affect middle graders but aren’t always talked about in MG books; like It Happened on Saturday by Sydney Dunlap. Ann also represents all genres in YA. In the adult arena, she adores swoony romances, light sci-fi or fantasy (emphasis on the light side), commercial fiction, and heartwarming – or heart wrenching – contemporaries.
She really enjoys feminist stories that highlight women’s experiences in the world. She is a sucker for a strong female friendship narrative because she truly believes that empowered women, empower women! She’s always looking for unique voices, diverse perspectives, vivid settings, and stories that explore tough topics. Dark and edgy is totally okay too. She is also up for a good revenge plot. Above all Ann is looking for stories with compelling characters that push boundaries and make her laugh and cry, hopefully in the same story!
She is ready to roll up her sleeves and help her authors create the best books possible, from brainstorming at the idea stage all the way through submissions and beyond. Ann loves attending conferences and sharing her knowledge of the publishing industry.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Women’s Issues *
276 5th Avenue New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Ilyana Rose-Davila is a literary agent with the Barbara Bova Literary Agency. She joined the Agency in 2016. Handling foreign and domestic marketing. Ms. Rose-Dávila is interested in well-written fiction and non-fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
Biography
Janet Rosen is a literary agent with Sheree Bykofsky Associates. She worked as associate book editor at Glamour and the senior books and fiction editor at Woman before turning to agenting at Sheree Bykofsky Associates, where she represents a range of nonfiction and a limited amount of fiction. She has been the president of the NYC chapter of the Women’s National Book Association., and her writing has appeared in Glamour, Publishers Weekly, Paper, and other print and online publications. During off hours, Janet writes and performs comedy and has been featured in the Marshalls Women in Comedy Festival.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * History * How-To * Memoir * Narrative * Prescriptive * Science *
4326 Harbor Beach Blvd. PO Box 706 Brigantine NJ 08203 USA
Biography
Jonathan Rosen is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. He is the author of several Middle Grade books, and has spent the last few years working as a freelance writer and editor. He goes into agenting with a knowledge of what it’s like to be on the author side of the trenches, to help guide writers along on their path to publication. He has a passion for books and wants to help as many people as possible get published. Being of Jewish-Mexican descent, he will always have an eye out for diverse voices, and in particular ones that reflect his background.
In fiction, he is seeking Young Adult, Mysteries, Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Sports, Romantic Comedy, and anything with humor for that matter.
In Non-Fiction, he is looking for Biographies, Memoirs, Pop Culture, entertainment, Humor, Sports, and Journalism, among many others.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Historical * Humor Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Pop Culture * Sports *
Biography
Barbara Collins Rosenberg is a literary agent with the Rosenberg Group. She says: “In 1998, after a successful career in the higher education division of Harcourt Brace, I established the Agency with the idea of representing authors of college textbooks and trade nonfiction. A random chat with a professor led me to explore romance and women’s fiction, genres I read but hadn’t considered, and the Agency took on a broader focus. I make frequent editorial trips to New York, attend industry conventions, and enjoy speaking before local, regional, and national writers’ conferences.
Helping writers develop their proposals and manuscripts is the most important part of my job. My goal is to establish long-term relationships with my clients, building and managing careers along the way. I have had the privilege of guiding authors through the journey of publishing multiple titles and revising many textbook editions.
I am well versed in all aspects of publishing – editorial, production, sales, and traditional and digital marketing. When I represent my authors in contract negotiations I fight for them, and strive to ensure that all issues regarding print and digital rights are in their favor. I respect that writing and the craft of revision are creative endeavors, but publishing is a bottom line industry, so I make certain to explain the jargon and the ins and outs of the book business to my authors.
I was born in The Bronx, New York, and reared in Paterson, New Jersey. I lived in Fort Worth, Texas for thirteen years, where both the Agency and my son were birthed. The Agency is now located a little north of Boston.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Historical * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Education * Environment * Film/Entertainment * History * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * Women’s Issues *
23 Lincoln Ave. Marblehead MA 01945 USA
Biography
Rita Rosenkranz is a literary agent with the Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency. A well-established agent, who began her career as an editor at major publishing houses, Rita Rosenkranz represents almost exclusively adult non-fiction titles. Her wide-ranging list includes health, history, parenting, music, how-to, popular science, business, biography, sports, popular reference, cooking, writing, humor, spirituality, illustrated books and general interest titles. She represents first-time as well as seasoned authors, and looks for projects that present familiar subjects freshly or lesser-known subjects presented commercially. Rita works with major publishing houses, as well as regional publishers that handle niche markets.
Representative titles include Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad by Betty DeRamus (Atria Books; essence.com best-seller, optioned by NBC for an 8-part series), Olive Trees and Honey: A Treasury of Vegetarian Recipes from Jewish Communities Around the World (Wiley; James Beard Award winner) by Gil Marks; 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker (Da Capo Press; New York Times bestseller, MS Awareness Award Winner, Books for a Better Life), and A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even if You Flunked Algebra) by Barbara Oakley, Ph.D. (Tarcher).
She is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR), The Authors Guild, and Women’s Media Group.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Reference * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports * True Crime *
440 West End Avenue #15D New York NY 10024 USA
Biography
Noah Grey Rosenzweig is a literary agent with Triangle House. He grew up in New Jersey (home of the best bagels in the country!) before moving to D.C. in 2017 and graduating from Georgetown University. He is currently the editorial fellow for Roxane Gay Books and was previously a literary assistant at Ross Yoon Agency.
Noah is interested in representing both fiction and non-fiction. He is a reader of all fiction but has a particular love for literary, climate, and speculative fiction, as well as the occasional YA novel. He has an eye out for stories that hold up a mirror to our culture in new ways, and he’s especially interested in queer and trans coming-of-age fiction.
They are also looking for narrative non-fiction that chronicles recent history, cultural trends, technology, and social rules that explain why and how we live in our current world. Above all, Noah is looking for work that is subversive—in prose, style, or subject.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * General Nonfiction * History * Narrative * Nature * Technology *
Biography
Andy Ross is a literary agent with the Andy Ross Literary Agency. Andy has worked in the book business since 1972, all of this working life. He was owner and general manager of Cody’s Books in Berkeley, California from 1977-2006. Cody’s has been recognized as one of America’s great independent bookstores. Andy is past president of the Northern California Booksellers Association, a board member and officer of the American Booksellers Association and a national spokesperson for issues concerning independent businesses. He has had significant profiles in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Publishers’ Weekly and the San Francisco Chronicle. Andy Ross is a member of the Association of Authors Representatives (AAR).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * History * Journalism * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Reference * Science * Travel * Young Adult *
767 Santa Ray Avenue Oakland CA 94610 USA
Biography
Gail Ross is a literary agent with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. Shesays that each of her new projects must meet two criteria: it must make her daughters proud and offset their college educations. She sincerely believes the first phrase you’ll see on this website: Books Change Lives.
Gail represents a variety of important commercial nonfiction. She and her team work closely with first-time authors and have earned a reputation in the industry for providing rigorous, enthusiastic editorial guidance at all stages of the publishing process. Through the agency’s blog and regular happy hours, she also encourages her writers to view themselves as members of a literary community, helping each other toward success.
Gail is also a media lawyer with Trister, Ross, Schadler & Gold, PLLC, where she advises individuals, companies, and non-profits on copyrights, publishing, new media, and licensing. She lives in the U Street Corridor.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Reference * Science * Spirituality * Sports * True Crime *
1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 500 Washington DC 20009 USA
Biography
Steve Ross is a literary agent with and the founder of the Steve Ross Agency. Steve Ross has launched the Steve Ross Agency as the next step in a long career in books. A literary agent and Director of the Book Division at Abrams Artists Agency for eight years, Steve also has more than two decades’ experience in the publishing industry, starting as an Editor and eventually becoming a Publisher, including running high-visibility and profitable divisions at major publishing companies. Steve was instrumental in publishing Barack Obama’s Dreams from my Father and Audacity of Hope, and many other best-selling books of quality commercial non-fiction.
Named one of seven “Influentials” in Books by New York Magazine and profiled on the front page of Crain’s as “a superb general nonfiction publisher”, Ross was Sr. VP and Publisher of Random House’s Crown Division for twelve years, where he conceived and launched several content-specific imprints that remain category leaders today. At Random House he worked with such authors as Arianna Huffington, Spike Lee, Suze Orman, Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Suzanne Somers, Erik Larson, The Onion, Jillian Michaels, Charles Schwab, and Max Brooks.
Ross was also President & Group Publisher of the $100 million Collins Division at HarperCollins, where he oversaw the operations and growth of four distinct publishing programs. There he worked with such authors as Jack Welch, Russell Brand, Sir Roger Moore, Jessica Seinfeld, and Rick Pitino.
Steve created a client list as a literary agent and Director of the Books Division at Abrams that features a wide range of global thought leaders, innovators, and people of substantial accomplishment in such fields as sports, medicine, and the arts, all of whom have unique and important stories to tell, Steve helps his clients to shape those stories. Finding the best publishing home for them has returned him to the mission and passion that drove him to become a book editor earlier in this career. He has also developed a global network of sub-agents who represent his clients in their specific territories.
A former President of the Publishers Lunch Club and recipient of the James Thurber Award for editing and publishing the #1 Bestseller Our Dumb Century by The Onion, Ross earned a Master’s Degree from New York University, is an avid motorcycle rider and tennis player, and lives with his family in Westchester County.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Politics * Reference * Science * Sports * True Crime *
70 Hillcrest Avenue Yonkers NY 10705 USA
Biography
Whitney Ross is a literary agent with the High Line Literary Collective. With over fifteen years of experience in publishing, including almost a decade as an editor at Macmillan, Whitney represents all the genres she loves and reads herself– middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction across all genres, with an emphasis on historical, SF & fantasy, romance, and contemporary fiction. She is also open to non-fiction submissions in the areas of design, cooking, and fashion.
Whitney loves to read novels set in unusual time periods and locations, whether that involves a fantastical element or not. She is rarely able to resist the trickster king motif, and has a weakness for read-between-the-lines subtle romances. And she can’t wait to be surprised by tropes turned upside down, and unusual takes on old favorites. Yet she’s constantly intrigued by books not on her “wish list,” and is always open to stories with compelling characters and emotionally involving plotlines.
Whitney loves partnering with authors in every stage, bringing her editorial experience and genre expertise to support her clients and their publishing journey. In her spare time, she enjoys competitive sports such as cooking and shopping, and tasting wines with her winemaker husband.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Design * Food/Drinks * Lifestyle *
27 W. 24th St. Suite 804 New York NY 10010 USA
Stefanie Rossitto
The Tobias Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Stefanie Rossitto is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. Originally from the German Alps, Steffi used to spend hours in quaint bookstores as a child. She went on to study English language, American literature and medieval history at Regensburg University and Edinburgh University. Her master’s thesis was based on a New York Times article on modern day ‘suburban’ novelists and how these authors shaped American suburban culture. After graduation, she moved to New York City where she gained publishing experience at three different literary agencies before moving on to Doubleday and Crown at Random House to explore the corporate side of the business. At Random House, she handled foreign and domestic rights for over five years and dealt with books and authors of every genre. Before coming to Tobias Literary Agency, she spent five years as a reader at Maria B. Campbell Associates evaluating German fiction and non-fiction for the US and international market. Steffi combines experience in agenting with corporate publishing and scouting.
Some books Steffi has recently enjoyed are: Kwan’s SEX AND VANITY, Gilbert’s CITY OF GIRLS, Allende’s A LONG PETAL OF THE SEA, Hilderbrand’s 28 SUMMERS. Other all time favorites are everything and anything Mary Balogh, Katherine Neville’s THE EIGHT, Diana J. Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER series, and Benedict Wells’ THE END OF LONELINESS.
Steffi is currently looking for historical fiction, and funny, witty, modern romances. She also enjoys anything and everything medieval as well as exciting historical romances and/or fiction based on real characters.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Stephanie Kip Rostan
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Stephanie Kip Rostan is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. Stephanie started agenting in 2001 and became a principal at Levine Greenberg Rostan in 2014. Prior to that, she was an editor at Bantam Dell and the Book Producer for iVillage.com. About three quarters of her clients are fiction, including New York Times bestsellers Gillian Flynn, Lisa Lutz and Bryan Reardon as well as Sarah Healy, Wendy Wax, Thomas Lennon and Julia Dahl. Unusual and vivid voices, genre-straddling stories and intense emotion (whether funny, creepy, warm or sad) – the things that make a book stick with you for a long time – are what she finds most appealing. She represents adult, YA and middle grade projects. In nonfiction, she loves projects that solve a problem or make us see things in a new way, such as La Leche League’s revised edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Amir Levine and Rachel Heller’s Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment, Chris Santella’s 50 Places series. She has also worked on narrative nonfiction such as New York Times bestseller Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado with Vince Rause and the true crime memoir The Spider and the Fly by Claudia Rowe.
Raised in Andover, Massachusetts, Stephanie is the daughter of a Latin and Greek teacher whose specialty is etymology (ask her dad for a definition and you’ll get a minimum of 36 hours of explanation). This early focus on language led to her obsession with crossword puzzles, a term in Germany as an exchange student and an English/Creative Writing major at Princeton. There she became familiar with the slings and arrows of critique groups and revisions, writing under teachers such as Susan Shreve, Stephen Wright and Joyce Carol Oates. Stephanie now lives with her husband and two children in the New York City area, where she is committed to raising her kids as Red Sox fans despite the hostile environs.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * True Crime * Young Adult *
307 Seventh Ave. Suite 2407 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Eliza Rothstein is a literary agent with InkWell Management. A native of St. Louis, Eliza Rothstein began her career in publishing at The Susan Golomb Literary Agency after studying Comparative Literature and Art History at the University of Pennsylvania and attending the Columbia Publishing Course. At InkWell, she represents memoir, literary and commercial fiction, and a wide range of journalists and non-fiction authors who seek to generate deep conversations, inspire social and systemic change, or advance our understanding of our minds and bodies. In addition to finding publishers for their books, she helps writers expand their reach by placing essays and journalism in publications ranging from The New York Times and The Atlantic to National Geographic and Sports Illustrated. She is particularly interested in the intersection of narrative writing with topics of psychology, medicine, science, food, technology, business, humor and pop culture. She is also drawn to literary fiction that explores diverse communities or intergenerational stories, commercial fiction that crosses genre borders, and fiction from Latinx and Spanish-speaking writers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Humor * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Technology *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
James Rovira is an agent with The James Rovira Literary Agency. He is Associate Professor of English at Tiffin University and lives in the mid-Ohio region with his wife Sheridan and children Penn (b. 2004), Grace (b. 2008), and Zoe (b. 2010). He has four adult children named Joshua, Steven, Bethany, and Beka who live in the Central Florida area.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION:
Merritt Island FL USA
Biography
Mitch Royer is a literary agent with The Fedd Agency. A 3rdgeneration Pastor and 12-year veteran of Family Ministry, Mitch has worked with mega churches around the country in cities like Chicago, Phoenix, and Austin. After organizing a Guinness World Record breaking event during an Easter service, Mitch developed a love for event planning and went on to start his own company as an event producer. Specializing in creating and executing large scale events across Texas, the company’s well known events include the Texas Whiskey Festival, Rock the Red Kettle, which raised close to 5 million dollars for a local non-profit, and Go Wheels Up, an air, car, and music festival in San Marcos.
Mitch received his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Indiana University and a master’s degree in leadership.
Mitch is a sports and outdoors enthusiast with a passion for self-improvement and loves partnering with authors equally passionate in these categories to bring creative, inspirational, and unique stories to The Fedd Agency.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Religious * Sports Fiction *
NONFICTION: Christian * Environment * Inspiration * Nature * True Adventure * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports *
Biography
Peter Rubie is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management. Peter specializes in a broad range of high-quality fiction and non-fiction. In non-fiction he specializes in narrative non-fiction, popular science, spirituality, history, biography, pop culture, business and technology, parenting, health, self-help, music, and food. He is a “sucker” for outstanding writing. In fiction he represents literate thrillers, crime fiction, science fiction and fantasy, military fiction and literary fiction, middle grade and some boy oriented young adult fiction.
Rubie is a former BBC Radio and Fleet Street journalist and for several years was the director of the publishing section of the New York University Summer Publishing Institute. He was a member of the NYU faculty for 10 years, and taught the only university-level course in the country on how to become a literary agent.
Prior to becoming an agent he was a publishing house editor for nearly six years, whose authors won prizes and critical acclaim. He has also been the editor-in-chief of a Manhattan local newspaper, and a freelance editor and book doctor for major publishers. He was a regular reviewer for the international trade magazine Publishers Weekly, and is a published author of both fiction and non-fiction. He is a member of AAR, and regularly lectures and writes on publishing and the craft of writing, and was once a professional jazz musician.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Family * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Romance * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology * True Crime * Young Adult *
207 W. 106th St. Suite 1D New York NY 10025 USA
Biography
Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein is a literary agent with the McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency. Elizabeth, President and senior agent at McIntosh & Otis, has degrees from New York University and Manhattan School of Music. She began her book publishing career in subsidiary rights and then took on the responsibilities of acquisitions editor at a major audio publishing imprint. Initially, she joined McIntosh & Otis to manage all subsidiary rights but began working as an agent shortly thereafter. Her primary interests include literary fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, and mystery/suspense, along with narrative non-fiction, spiritual/self-help, history and current affairs. Elizabeth represents numerous New York Times bestsellers, and both Agatha and Edgar Award winners and nominees.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative *
207 E. 37th Street Suite BG New York NY 10016 USA
Biography
Cynthia Ruchti is a literary agent with the Books & Such Literary Agency. She distinctly remembers telling people, “I’d rather sing three songs on a platform than have to speak my own name into a microphone.” It will come as no surprise to those who understand God’s sense of humor that she’s spent most of her life since that moment with a microphone in her hand; first as writer/producer and corporation president of a national and international radio broadcast—The Heartbeat of the Home—then as a speaker/author.
She has served or currently serves on several non-profit ministry boards. Her roles in creating mission and vision statements, problem-solving, negotiating, personnel placement, and handling communications prepared her for similar roles in agenting.
Cynthia’s experience with American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), as board president (2009-2010) and in her current role as ACFW’s professional relations liaison (since 2011), helps to keep her informed about the publishing industry and has introduced her to many publishing professionals. She has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with publishers, editors, marketing managers, as well as retailers, library representatives, reviewers, and other agents on industry-centric projects and events and is invited to many of those events as an industry insider.
As author of 21 books to date, Cynthia has experienced the author’s side of the process. In addition to novels and novellas, she has written full-length nonfiction and has frequently contributed to devotion collections. In 2016, she was honored to have participated in two Bible projects—Guideposts’ Mornings with Jesus Daily Bible and The Common English Women’s Bible. She understands both the heart of the author and the business side of a writing career, the elements of a strong proposal, and the sometimes labyrinthine path to publication.
Being part of the Books & Such team fulfills another layer in a long-held passion: helping other writers develop their craft and reach their writing career goals. She is an advocate for the power of story—fiction and nonfiction—and a champion for those who create, edit, publish, distribute, review, and sell books. As part of her contribution to other writers, she serves as an instructor or keynoter at writers conferences.
Although Cynthia is open to a few novelists, she currently is focusing her acquisitions attention on nonfiction projects.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * General Fiction *
NONFICTION: Christian * General Nonfiction * Spirituality * Religion *
2222 Cleveland Avenue #1005 Santa Rosa CA 95403 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)