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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- The results are being filtered by the character: S
Biography
Samantha Shea is a literary agent with the Georges Borchardt Literary Agency. After graduating from Colgate University, Samantha Shea joined Georges Borchardt, Inc. in 2010 and was made a Vice President in 2016. Her list includes literary fiction, memoir/narrative nonfiction, journalism, popular culture, essays, cultural criticism, and history. SamanthaÕs authors are regularly named for numerous awards and honors, including the Ò5 Under 35Ó honor from the National Book Foundation, the ÒBest of Young American NovelistsÓ honor from Granta Magazine, the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Awards, the PEN/ Robert W. Bingham Prize, and others.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Upmarket FictionNONFICTION: Biography, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Environment, Film Entertainment, General Nonfiction, History, Journalism, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, Technology, True Crime
Biography
Katie Shea Boutillier is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. Katie Shea Boutillier joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2011. She is the Rights Director handling the agencyÕs translation and audio rights, and selected film/TV and electronic rights. In addition, Katie is focusing her list on womenÕs fiction and YA: realistic, contemporary, upmarket, historical (1920s +), domestic suspense, psychological suspense/thrillers, magical realism, light fantasy, light sci-fi. Memoir and narrative non-fiction only on referral. She loves books with big voices and strong hooks. She is a cum laude graduate of Marist College.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: General Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Charlotte Sheedy is a literary agent with and the founder of Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. After working at the Dial Press for thirteen years, Charlotte established the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency in 1974. In 1995, she joined Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc., as an affiliate agency.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Horror, Literary Fiction, MysteryNONFICTION: Art, Autobiography, Biography, Cookbook Cooking, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, General Nonfiction, History, Humor Nonfiction, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, PoliticsCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Daniel S. Shepherd is a literary agent with The DRS Agency. Daniel works with authors publishing within the ABA market as well as the CBA market.
Notes
NONFICTION: Nonfiction, Religion, SpiritualityNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
David R. Shepherd is a literary agent with The DRS Agency. The DRS Agency was founded by publishing veteran David R. Shepherd in 2009 after serving in a Nashville publishing house for 15 years, 10 of those years as Publisher. During that time he acquired and/or worked with such authors as Oliver North, Mike Huckabee, Chuck Norris, Beth Moore, Michael Reagan, Henry Blackaby, Vicki Courtney, Marian Jordan, Tom Doyle, and Calvin Miller. He also served as executive editor for the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation project.
Notes
NONFICTION: Inspirational Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Religion, SpiritualityNONFICTION: Christian Books, Christian Nonfiction
Biography
Ken Sherman is a literary agent with Ken Sherman & Associates. Ken is also President of Ken Sherman & Associates. The company was established in 1989, and handles film, television, and book writers, as well as selling film and television rights for books and life-rights.An agent for more than twenty years, Ken is also a popular and accomplished speaker, having taught and lectured extensively at venues including UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount University, both in New Orleans and Los Angeles, The Santa Barbara WritersÕ conference, the American Film Institute, The San Francisco Writers Conference, The Maui Writers Conference, The University of Oklahoma, Sherwood Oaks Experiment College, The Santa Fe Writers Conference, The Novelists, Inc. Conference in San Diego, The Aspen Institute, the Aspen Summers Words Writers Conference and The Eugene International Film Festival where he just received a lifetime achievement award.Since graduating from the University of California-Berkeley with a major in psychology, Ken has returned numerous times to the classroom to teach his course, ÒThe Business of Writing for Screen, Television and the Publishing Worlds,Ó at both USC and UCLA. He also co-taught a screenwriting class for many years at the Eugene International Film Festival.Ken maintains strong community involvement as well, serving as an Arts and Cultural Affairs Commissioner for the City of West Hollywood, is a founding member of the British Academy of Film and Television/Los Angeles (BAFTA), and is a member of both the Academy of Television Arts and Science and the International Advisory Board of the Christopher Isherwood Foundation.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Art, Autobiography, Biography, Celebrity, Film Entertainment, Fitness, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Pop Culture
Biography
Rebecca Sherman is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. She says: “Writers House is a leading full-service literary agency that offers the many resources of a large company and the personal attention of a small agency. It has been my home for over fourteen years now, where IÕve built a list of dynamic and award-winning picture book illustrators and author/illustrators, as well as middle grade and young adult novelists. Further information about clientsÕ work can be found below (sorry if it sounds like IÕm braggingÉ#ProudAgentMama).I have taken on clients who came to me as childrenÕs book veterans and others for whom IÕve sold their debut works. Now, I am actively seeking additions to my client list again. In general, I am looking for stories that meet kids where they are (not those that talk down to them or go over their heads) and that genuinely can get them laughing.
Notes
CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Board Book, Chapter Book Fiction, Chapter Book Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Wendy Sherman is a literary agent with Wendy Sherman Associates. Wendy has been in publishing more years than she cares to admit. She has held senior, executive positions at Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Henry Holt where she was Associate Publisher. During her time at these major publishing houses, she worked in the areas of subsidiary rights, marketing, sales, and editorial. She left to pursue her dream of becoming a literary agent and founded Wendy Sherman Associates Literary Management in 1999.Wendy loves voice and story-driven fiction that hits that sweet spot between literary and mainstream. She has a passion for Southern voices, suspense with a well-developed protagonist, and has a weakness for family secrets, mother-daughter relationships, and realistic love stories.She is also interested in non-fiction with a unique twist by authors with a strong, well-developed media platform. Areas of interest include memoir, narrative non-fiction, practical and prescriptive, self-help and popular psychology, parenting, lifestyle, pop-culture, health, wellness, and spirituality, and and just about anything to do with food or dogs.Wendy is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and the WomenÕs Media Group.
Notes
FICTION: Chick Lit, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Romance, Short Story Collection, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Dating Relationships Sex, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, How-To, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Pop Culture, Psychology, Self-Help, Spirituality
Biography
Sophie Sheumaker is the Global Rights assistant and literary assistant to Naomi Davis at the BookEnds Literary Agency. She studied writing, literature, and publishing at Emerson College, graduating in the spring of 2023 and has recently begun building her list of authors and illustrators. She can be found at the library checking out more books than she could ever possibly read, crocheting like it’s a full-time job, or taking her anxiety-ridden dog for a walk through the streets of Boston. She is a firm believer that everyone should read children’s books, walnuts should never be in banana bread, and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice is better than the BBC version.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative FictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Adrian Shirk is a literary agent with Drift(less) Literary. She brings over ten years of experience as an author, editor and career mentor to dozens of emerging writers. She has two books of creative nonfiction, And Your Daughters Shall Prophesy: Stories from the Byways of American Women and Religion and Heaven is a Place on Earth: Searching for an American Utopia, both from Counterpoint Press. Her essays have otherwise appeared in The Atlantic, Lit Hub, and others, as well as Catapult, where she was previously a columnist and regular contributor. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Wyoming, and worked as an editor at Wilder Quarterly, as well as the erstwhile small press The Corresponding Society and its biannual journal Correspondence. Most recently, in addition to working with clients and developing manuscripts for Drift(less), she teaches in the BFA Creative Writing Program at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, serving as the Writing Lives Advisor and Internship Coordinator. She lives in the Catskills, where she helps run a cooperative artistsÕ residency called The Mutual Aid Society.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, General Fiction, Short Story CollectionNONFICTION: General Nonfiction, Memoir, Nonfiction, Poetry
Biography
Victoria Shoemaker is a literary agent with The Spieler Agency. Victoria joined The Spieler Agency in 1994 as the West Coast representative. Her areas of interest include environment and natural history, popular culture, memoir, photography and film, literary fiction and poetry, and books on food and cooking. With over 35 years in bookselling and publishing, her experience includes retail bookselling, book development, editing, promotion and publicity. Among her authors are Kate Horsley (The Confessions of a Pagan Nun, A Killing in a New Town, Careless Love), William Fox (Aereality: Essays on the World, Terra Antarctica: Looking into the Emptiest Continent), Kazuaki Tanahashi (The Heart of the Brush: Exploring East Asian Calligraphy, Selected Zen Chants, The Heart SutraÑExploring Wisdom Beyond Wisdom), Peter Dale Scott (The Road to 9/11: Wealth, Empire, and the Future of America, American War Machine: Deep Politics, the CIA Global Drug Connection), Taigen Daniel Leighton (Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illuminations of Zen Master Hongzhi). Forthcoming books include Mary Street Alinder (Group f.64: Ansel Adams, Imogen CunninghamÉ, Ansel Adams: A Biography, revised edition)
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, Literary FictionNONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Environment, Film Entertainment, Food Drink, History, Memoir, Nature, Nonfiction, Photography, Poetry, Pop Culture
Biography
Eric Showers is a literary anget with the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. He is an agent at HMLA representing adult speculative fiction and nonfiction. HeÕs most drawn, in speculative fiction, to narratives that explore hierarchies of power, novel world-building in secondary world fantasy, and protagonists with unique voices. THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT by Seth Dickinson, THE UNSPOKEN NAME by A. K. Larkwood, and GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir are books that have hit some of these notes most recently. HeÕs also looking for stories on the cozier side of speculative fiction, along the lines of Becky ChambersÕs THE LONG WAY TO A SMALL ANGRY PLANET or Travis BaldreeÕs LEGENDS AND LATTES.In nonfiction, heÕs most interested in history and philosophy.
Notes
FICTION: Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative FictionNONFICTION: General Nonfiction, History, Nonfiction, Philosophy
Biography
Ella Marie Shupe is a literary agent with the Belcastro Agency. Ella Marie has been a literary agent since 2008. She was drawn to helping authors achieve their dreams after she studied English at Youngstown State University. She realized her biggest joy was recommending new books to fellow college students. She turned her dream into a career when she became a junior agent with the Belcastro Agency. As an agent, Ella Marie has discovered many new authors and she soon became a senior agent. She continues her hunt for new manuscripts with a voice that jumps off the page and a colorful plot. Her main goal is nurturing a collaborative relationship that will lead to publication and long lasting writing careers.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Todd Shuster is a literary agent and partner with Aevitas Creative Management. He represents such authors as journalist Liza Mundy, author of the New York Times bestselling Code Girls; actress Grace Byers, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book I Am Enough; Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director of the FBI and author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Threat; Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, authors of His Name Is George Floyd, a Finalist for the 2022 National Book Award; Cody Keenan, Chief White House Speechwriter for President Obama and author of the New York Times bestselling Grace; Marisa Franco, author of the New York Times bestselling psychology book Platonic; and Martin ÒMartyÓ Baron, former Executive Editor of The Washington Post and author of the forthcoming investigative narrative Collision of Power (Fall, 2023).Todd has also represented major national newspapers in connection with group-reported books, including The Boston Globe on such titles as Last Lion, Whitey, and Long Mile Home and The Washington Post on such titles as the #1 New York Times bestselling The Mueller Report, the #1 NewYork Times bestselling The Afghanistan Papers, and Trump on Trial.As an agent, Todd has helped shepherd films to the big screen including Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon, and The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith. Todd recently served as Executive Producer of the Netflix-released feature film The Midnight Sky, directed by and starring George Clooney.Following college at Yale and law school at Northeastern University, Shuster practiced publishing and entertainment law at the law firms of Palmer & Dodge and Ropes & Gray. He co-founded the literary agency Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, which merged with Kuhn Projects to form Aevitas in 2016.Based in New York, Shuster represents both fiction and nonfiction. His nonfiction list primarily focuses on current affairs, politics and civil rights, health and wellness, memoir, business, and history. His fiction list includes both literary and commercial novels, including mysteries and thrillers.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, ThrillerNONFICTION: Art, Autobiography, Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Fitness, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Law Legal, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Psychology, Religion, Science, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, True Adventure, True Crime
Biography
Anne Sibbald is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She found her professional home as an agent. AnneÕs interests are broad, but quintessentially encompass the classic Ògood readÓ and anything, be it fiction or nonfiction, that illuminates the world in a fresh way. She believes that we tell stories to understand ourselves and the world we live in, and that those stories can transport us to different worlds, times and places; as well as revealing the mysteries of nature and the truths and complexities of the human heart and mind.Anne grew up in the United Kingdom and lived in Germany and Belgium before moving to the United States. She worked in the investment banking and fashion industries before joining the agency in 1979. She received a B.A. in Economics, with a specialization in international and development economics, from Fordham University. Morton Janklow talked her out of going to law school, for which she is profoundly grateful.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Current Events Affairs, Economics, Environment, General Nonfiction, History, Mind Body Spirit, Nature, Nonfiction, Politics, Science, Technology
Biography
Arianna Siddiqui is an Agent at FinePrint Literary Management. She earned dual degrees in political science and economics from Trinity University and completed the Columbia Publishing Course at the University of Oxford. She also started her professional career selling used Mercedes before transitioning into a career in publishing. With experience as an assistant at Lucinda Literary and William Morris Endeavor, and as a mentee with the Writers House Mentor Initiative, she has a strong eye for engaging stories and market trends. Arianna is currently pursuing a part-time masterÕs in creative writing at the University of Cambridge. In her free time, Arianna writes speculative romance and fosters litters of kittens.At this time, Arianna is particularly drawn to mysteries, romance, and speculative fiction across young adult and adult audiences. SheÕs also open to adult nonfiction that explores unique narratives or perspectives.In mysteries, Arianna is captivated by stories that subvert traditional tropes and bring fresh perspectives to the genre, especially those told by voices that have historically been underrepresented. SheÕs particularly intrigued by locked-room mysteries, non-linear narratives, and stories infused with a ticking clock or ever-present sense of urgency. What excites her most are unconventional sleuthsÑamateurs or experts in adjacent fields such as historians, librarians, art restorers, or forensic accountantsÑrather than traditional law enforcement or military protagonists. In romance, Arianna delights in stories that blur genre lines and deliver the unexpected. She loves narratives that combine romance with horror, paranormal elements, or a mystery. Romantic comedies with sharp wit and distinctive voices also hold a special place in her heart. While romantasy can be a tougher sell for her, sheÕs open to it if the story brings a truly fresh perspective or a bold, innovative world. AriannaÕs tastes in speculative fiction lean toward grounded and intimate storytelling. She has a particular fondness for low fantasy and magical realism, especially narratives inspired by non-Western cultures, mythologies, and traditions. Speculative fiction that focuses on relationships, identity, and emotional journeys resonates strongly with her. SheÕs not currently interested in science fiction.Though more selective about nonfiction, Arianna seeks projects with strong, distinctive voices that offer new insights or perspectives. SheÕs particularly drawn to narrative-driven works that blend memoir, cultural commentary, or history in compelling and original ways.Arianna, above all, seeks to champion historically marginalized voices, including disabled, BIPOC, and queer writers.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Chick Lit, Fantasy, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Romance, Speculative FictionNONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Cultural Social Issues, History, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Britt Siess is a literary agent with and the founder of Britt Siess Creative Management. Britt focuses primarily on graphic novels and illustrated works. She also represents select middle grade fiction and Adult science fiction and fantasy. Prior to founding BSCM, Britt earned her English Literature degree at the University of Washington and trained with the Taryn Fagerness Agency, the Wales Literary Agency, and Martin Literary & Media Management. She also worked in the sales division of the UK based publisher, The Quarto Group, selling both foreign and domestic rights. Britt has a passion for comics and sequential art, as well as a keen editorial eye that she brings to every project.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, Graphic NovelCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Michael Signorelli is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. He represents literary and commercial fiction as well as nonfiction in cultural history, current affairs, memoir, politics, science, sports, and technology. He joined the agency after working as an editor at HarperCollins Publishers and a senior editor at Henry Holt & Company.He has published New York Times bestsellers and winners or finalists of the Booker Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Phi Beta Kappa Science Award, the Commonwealth Book Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize. He has worked with authors such as Nicola Barker, Christopher Bonanos, Philip Caputo, Brandi Collins-Dexter, Dennis Cooper, Dan Chaon, Joan Donovan, Jack Devine, Woody Guthrie, Catherine Ryan Howard, Oksana Masters, Ian McGuire, Hannah Nordhaus, Lisa O’Donnell, Justin Taylor, Simon Van Booy, Marilyn Yalom, and many others.Signorelli graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in English Literature and lives with his family in Scarsdale, New York.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Western FictionNONFICTION: Biography, Celebrity, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Environment, Film Entertainment, Gardening, History, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, Sports, Technology, True Adventure, True Crime
Biography
Jeff Silberman is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. He says: “IÕm a new horizon hunter. My interests are wide, my passions run deep, and the books I represent cut a wide swath. A videogame impresario who has explored new technology, outer space, and the oceanÕs depths with equal passion. A neuroscientist who created ground breaking technology for studying the brain, and whose prose is utterly stunning. A rock and roll legend who bares his soul. A scholar in Timbuktu who risked his life to save ancient Egyptian and African manuscripts that helped pave the way for Western civilization. A biomedical engineer bridging the gap between art and science, and creating things that matter. An ingŽnue who left rural North Carolina and found womanhood as she became a part of the cultural explosion of FelliniÕs Rome and the French New Wave. A Hall of Famer the players nicknamed God.ThereÕs nothing quite like rich narrative non-fiction or a daring memoir. Making science and technology sing. Savoring food, diving deep into important social issues Ð or the animal kingdomÉ I havenÕt done a math book yet, but IÕd love to. History? IÕm in. Humor, health, pop culture – thereÕs pretty much no category of non-fiction that doesnÕt intrigue me and for which I wouldnÕt happily accept an invitation to take a ride.Fiction: I am currently representing a number of novelists working on their debuts, and their work runs the gamut from book club / commercial to literary, and in one case, literary hilarious. IÕd love more.I seek books that in some way leave us different than we were before. It could be because a new world was opened up to us, or our relationship to the one we thought we knew was changed, because we learned something, or had our hearts opened wide, or simply guffawed nonstop.I work closely with everyone I represent, from editorial input to deal making to marketing, and all points in between. Heart and soul.Ó
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Espionage Military Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket FictionNONFICTION: Animals, Art, Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Design, Economics, Environment, Film Entertainment, Fitness, Food Drink, Gardening, Gift Novelty, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Reference, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel, True Adventure, True Crime, Women’s IssuesCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
John Silbersack is a literary agent with The Bent Agency. He says: ÒI am a publishing professional with a deep experience as editor, publisher and agent. Prior to joining The Bent Agency, I spent 17 years at Trident Media Group as Executive Vice President and represented bestsellers by a host of fiction and non-fiction authors. Prior to that I built a solid publishing background at companies such as HarperCollins, Warner Books, and Penguin Putnam. I founded six imprints and have worked with writers and media properties including Governor John Kasich, General Wesley Clark, Chuck Close, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Philip K. Dick, the Frank Herbert Estate, Dean Koontz, Ursula K. LeGuin, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, the NBA, the Obama Inaugural Committee, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, the Ellen Raskin Estate, Charles Schulz, and Denzel Washington.As a literary agent, I have enjoyed success with a diverse roster of clients. Drawing on my more than twenty years as an editor, I work closely with my clients to develop and refine their proposals and manuscripts, many of which have gone on to become New York Times and international bestsellers. This attention to detail and strong sense of the agentÕs role in the publishing process are the defining aspects of my success as a literary agent.I have an A.B. from Brown University and am the author of several books. I am married and have three children.Ó
Notes
FICTION: Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, ThrillerNONFICTION: Biography, Current Events Affairs, History, Memoir, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, ScienceCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Janet Silver is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents a roster of bestselling and award-winning authors of literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Her list of acclaimed clients includes Cheryl Strayed, author of the international bestsellers Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things; Anthony Marra, author of the New York Times bestsellers A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, The Tsar of Love and Techno, and Mercury Pictures Presents; Monique Truong, winner of the Asian American Literary Award for her novel The Book of Salt; Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, winner of a Lambda Award for her debut novel Big Girl; Hanna PylvŠinen, winner of a Whiting Award for her novel We Sinners; and Safiya Sinclair, award-winning author of the poetry collection Cannibal and the forthcoming How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir.Janet brings in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry and extensive editorial experience to her work as an agent. Before joining Aevitas, she was Publisher at the former Houghton Mifflin Company, where she worked with such renowned authors as Philip Roth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Tim OÕBrien, and Jonathan Safran Foer.At Aevitas, Janet represents authors whose fiction and nonfiction are notable for compelling storylines, singular voices, and unique perspectives. She has been a trustee of the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center and is on the advisory board of Ploughshares magazine. She was featured in the Poets and Writers article ÒAgents as Editors.Ó
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, Literary FictionNONFICTION: Biography, General Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Poetry, Women’s Issues
Biography
Eric Simonoff is a literary agent with WME Books. Eric has been at WME since 2009 where he represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction. His clients include Jhumpa Lahiri, Edward P. Jones, Yaa Gyasi, Megha Majumdar, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, hurmat kazmi, Buzz Bissinger, Tina Brown, Peter Balakian, Stacy Schiff, Alton Brown, Stephen Chbosky, Martin Dugard, Jean Kyoung Frazier, Petina Gappah, Brian Greene, Phil Klay, Christina Baker Kline, Jonathan Lethem, Ariel Levy, Sarah Lewis, Sam Lipsyte, Ben Mezrich, ZZ Packer, Roger Reeves, Jessica Shattuck, Trenton Lee Stewart, Ian Toll, Calvin Trillin, Karen Thompson Walker, Carl Zimmer, and The New Yorker Magazine, among others.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Satire, Short Story Collection, ThrillerNONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Celebrity, Cookbook Cooking, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Film Entertainment, General Nonfiction, History, Humor Nonfiction, Memoir, Military War Nonfiction, Money Finance, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, TechnologyCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Jennifer Simpson is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. Based in the New York office, she focuses on domestic subsidiary rights, including audio, magazine and newspaper journalism, first serial rights, and podcasting.Simpson began her career at ICM Partners as an assistant in the Publishing department. She was promoted to Agent in 2021, where she handled domestic subsidiary rights, with an emphasis on audiobook, podcast, and first serial rights. She has negotiated and sold rights on behalf of prize-winning and bestselling authors and journalists. She recently joined CAA after living overseas, where she began building her list and cultivating her taste as a Literary Agent at Paper Literary.She graduated from Duke University and is also a graduate of Columbia UniversityÕs Publishing Course in Oxford.
Notes
FICTION: Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, Humor Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Dating Relationships Sex, Family, Food Drink, Health Wellness, Nonfiction, Science
Biography
Anjali Singh is a literary agent with and the founder of The Anjali Singh Agency. She founded her agency in 2024. Most recently, she was an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary for nine years; she has also worked as an editor at Vintage Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Simon + Schuster and as Editorial Director of Other Press. She is best known for having championed Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis after stumbling across it on a visit to Paris. She has always been drawn to the thrill of discovering new writers and among the literary novelists whose careers she helped launch are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Samantha Hunt, Saleem Haddad and Nawaaz Ahmed. She focuses on literary fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction as well as representing graphic novel writers and illustrators across all age ranges.
Notes
FICTION: Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Literary FictionNONFICTION: Art, General Nonfiction, Illustrated, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Board Book, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Jessica Sinsheimer is a literary agent with the Context Literary Agency. Jessica has been reading and campaigning for her favorite queries since 2004. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she went east for Sarah Lawrence College and stayed for the opportunity to read soon-to-be books for a living. Before joining Context, she was an Associate Agent at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s FictionNONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Psychology, Science, Self-Help, Sports, Travel, True Crime, Upmarket NonfictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Max Sinsheimer is a literary agent with Sinsheimer Literary, LLC. He says: “I represent a range of adult nonfiction, with a particular interest in food, science, and society. Sometimes those interests intersect, as in Larissa Zimberoff’s Technically Food (Abrams Press, 2021), about the lab-driven future of food. Many of my books have a policy or advocacy angle, including Marion Nestle’s Unsavory Truth (Basic Books, 2018), Michael Jacobson’s Salt Wars (MIT Press, 2020), and Catherine Donnelly’s Ending the War on Artisan Cheese (Chelsea Green, 2019). I’m on the lookout for more great place-specific food narratives, having sold a sake travelogue called Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake (Tuttle, 2022).There’s more on my plate (pun!) than just food and drink. I’m arguably representing the opposite of food and drink with a book about fasting called The Oldest Cure in the World (Abrams Press, 2022). I love working with investigative and longform journalists like Steve Hendricks. I’m also keen to represent more environmental and social issues books like Mario Ariza’s Disposable City (Nation Books, 2020), about Miami’s sea level rise crisis, and If I Don’t Make It, I Love You (Skyhorse, 2019), a collection of narratives from school shooting survivors.I’ve taken an interest lately in memoirs and memoir-ish projects, including Slow Cooked (University of California Press, 2022), in which Marion Nestle reflects on how she achieved late-in-life success as a leading advocate for healthier and more sustainable diets, and Missed Conceptions (Broadleaf Books, 2022), in which Karen Stollznow illuminates the shadow nation of the infertile throughout time and across cultures, and relates her own decade-long struggle to conceive.Prior to founding my agency I managed Oxford University Press’s influential food and drink Companion series, multi-authored, subject-defining works that included The Oxford Companion to Beer (2011), The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets (2015), Savoring Gotham (2015), The Oxford Companion to Cheese (2016), and The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails (2021). The series has won or been nominated for James Beard, IACP, Gourmand, and other food writing awards. While I enjoyed my time at OUP immensely, I wanted to represent my authorsÕ interests more completely. Since founding my agency in 2016, I can!I have a BA in English lit from Middlebury College and an MA in liberal studies from Duke University. I live with my wife in Washington, D.C., and travel back and forth to NYC often to meet with editors and visit family. In my free time I play an unhealthy amount of online chess.
Notes
NONFICTION: Art, Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Environment, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Illustrated, Investigative, Journalism, Lifestyle, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Reference, Religion, Science, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel, True Adventure, True Crime
Biography
Aiden Siobhan is a literary agent with the Laura Dail Literary Agency. They graduated from UNC School of the Arts in 2023 with a Filmmaking BFA specializing in Screenwriting and Animation. Before becoming an agent, they interned at LDLA and were an Author Mentor Match mentee in 2022. When theyÕre not binge reading an LGBTQ+ YA novel, they work as the Art Director for two alternative newspapers, attend film festivals for their documentary projects, and go on road trips with their fiancŽ and dog.Aiden loves any story that is diverse, heartfelt, beautifully written, and makes them stay up reading until 3 A.M. Send them your trope-filled, high-stakes, addicting novels that will hook them so well theyÕll have to draw fan art (and they will)!
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science FictionCHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Board Book, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction