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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.
Biography
Caitlin Mahony is a literary agent with WME Books. Caitlin has been at WME since 2016. She represents romance, genre, and commercial fiction. CaitlinÕs clients include bestselling romance authors Chloe Walsh and Ivy Fairbanks, fantasy icon SenLinYu, among others. Caitlin is passionate about working with authors who originate from the indie-publishing world and bringing new opportunities their way.
As an agent on the international team, Caitlin works with Rebecca Serle, Lisa Kleypas, Adriana Trigiani, and the estate of Isaac Asimov.
Caitlin is looking for books that offer a total escape and full immersion, in either this world or an imagined one. She loves a hard-won, epic love story (historical and contemporary), a transporting fantasy or sci-fi novel that helps parse earthly questions, a delightful beach read, or a pulse-pounding thriller; and is always looking to get swept up in something that you canÕt put down.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Ricia Mainhardt is a literary agent with the Ricia Mainhardt Agency. Ricia has represented authors from her offices in New York for more than twenty years. In addition to her regular clients, she enthusiastically supports talented, unpublished authors. After a long hiatus recovering from a car accident, Ricia is back, looking for the next publishing star and is excited about her work and her writers.
Originally from Wisconsin, Ricia has an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and a graduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis in auditory electrophysiology. After spending time in her chosen specialty as well as peddling rags as a sales representative for the clothing industry, Ricia discovered a field that synthesized her love for the written word and for people.
A student, fan, and friend of greats in the science fiction field such as Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and Harlan Ellison, she achieved quick success in that publishing field and opened her agency in 1987. Soon afterwards, she branched out into other areas, most notably romance and new age, and has developed numerous writers in other genres.
Ricia jointly edited two anthologies, a collection of superhero stories with John Varley and a tribute book to Robert Bloch with Richard Matheson.
Her client list has included Ray Garton (Simon and Schuster, among others) in horror, children’s fiction, and novelizations, Michael A. Stackpole (Bantam, HarperCollins) in science fiction and fantasy, Richard Lee Byers (Minstrel [S&S]) in fantasy, Jim Butcher (Roc) in “gumshoe fantasy,” and Janeen O’Kerry (Dorchester) in historical and time-travel romance.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Satire | Science Fiction | Sports Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Western Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | New Age |
Biography
Ted Malawer is a literary agent with Upstart Crow Literary. Ted is a veteran agent who specializes in middle grade and teen fiction. Before working in childrenÕs publishing, Ted studied Comparative Literature at Columbia University and trained as an opera singer at the Juilliard School. TedÕs favorite kind of author is not afraid to get his (or her) hands dirty to make a manuscript the best that it can be. He especially loves stories with artistic themesÑor dachshunds.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction |
Biography
Allison Malecha is a literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She has joined Trellis Literary Management as Director of Foreign Rights after several years at Bettina Schrewe Literary Scouting, where she worked with major publishing clients in over twenty markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as with an independent film client. Prior to working as a literary scout, she spent five years in editorial at independent publishing house Grove Atlantic, where she was building her own list under the publisher and was the in-house manager for Freeman’s and The Mysterious Press.
As Director of Foreign Rights, Allison is honored to represent Trellis in the British Commonwealth and translation markets. With nearly a decade of experience and contacts in both the international and editorial realms of publishing, Allison has brokered deals for Trellis authors in over two dozen territories and counting, and loves being the champion for our titles around the world.
Allison also represents a small, selective list of domestic clients split evenly between fiction and nonfiction. Within the realms of literary and upmarket fiction, she is drawn to messy family stories, outsider perspectives, and narratives that take you somewhere unexpected, whether psychologically, geographically, or historically. She likes writing that is sharp yet imaginative on the line level but wants to be moved, emotionally, by the larger story. SheÕs also drawn to a strong sense of place. At the moment, sheÕd particularly love a gothic novel set somewhere fresh, or a complex novel about friendship. Authors she deeply admires include: Jesmyn Ward, Louise Erdrich, Katie Kitamura, James McBride, Miriam Toews, Charlotte McConaghy, Catherine Newman, Kawai Strong Washburn, Daisy Johnson, and Isabella Hammad.
In nonfiction, Allison is looking for writing that is generous yet galvanizing in the categories of: narrative nonfiction, particularly with a historical or international dimension; social science; pop science; pop psychology; and memoir that touches on larger current issues or on the author’s field of expertise. She is especially keen to find nature writing from underrepresented voices. Among the nonfiction authors she most looks to are: Robin Wall Kimmerer, Robert Macfarlane, Natasha Trethewey, Rachel Louise Snyder, Masha Gessen, Ibram X. Kendi, Janna Levin, James Nestor.
Allison grew up between the middle of Canada and the middle of the U.S, but has always found home between the covers of a book. She has a BA in Comparative Literature & Society from Columbia University, where she studied French and Czech.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Family Saga | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Environment | History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Technology | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Margot Maley Hutchison
Waterside ProductionsAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Margot Maley Hutchison is a literary agent with Waterside Productions, Inc. She has been a senior literary agent with Waterside Productions, Inc. since 1992. She has represented more than 1,200 books and generated over 15 million dollars in revenue for her authors. She represents quality nonfiction on the following topics: computer, health, psychology, parenting, fitness, pop-culture, and business. She prides herself on working with authors and editors throughout the life of each book, from developing and editing excellent proposals, to helping with marketing and author platform.
Throughout her career at Waterside, Margot has worn many hats in addition to the agent hat. She was a key organizer of the Waterside Publishing Conference, the leading technical publishing conference in the industry. As the head of the Waterside Foreign Rights department until 2002, she generated hundreds of licensing deals and was the sole foreign representative for Novell Press.
For the past ten years Margot has concentrated on supplementing authorsÕ print work with web opportunities. She has created entirely new sales channels for all Waterside authors in online instruction, corporate website assignments, training and creating downloadable apps. She is especially excited about being involved in new opportunities currently evolving in the tablet market.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Business Book | Computers | Fitness | Health Wellness | Parenting | Pop Culture | Psychology | Technology |
Biography
Steven Malk is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Steven is the third generation of his family to be involved in children’s books, as both his mother and grandmother owned children’s bookstores. He opened a West Coast office for Writers House in 1998, and represents a wide range of authors and illustrators, including Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Marla Frazee, Kadir Nelson, Sara Pennypacker, Jennifer Donnelly, Brett Helquist, Sonya Sones, Adam Rex, Deborah Wiles, and Cynthia Rylant, among others.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction |
Biography
Erin Malone is a literary agent with WME Books. Erin has been a literary agent at WME since 2006. Prior to books she worked in film/TV. She represents fiction as well as narrative (personal and investigative) and platform-driven nonfiction, and occasional lifestyle titlesÑprimarily in the areas of psychology, science, culture, and food. More than any specific genre, sheÕs drawn to good stories and distinct points of view. Among the clients she represents are #1 New York Times bestselling authors, major book club selections, Thurber Prize finalists, Hugo and Edgar Award nominees, Fulbright Scholars, Goodreads Choice Award winners, and combinations thereof. She is looking to work with writers who make us think, as well as those who provide a great escape. She ascribes ardently to Carrie FisherÕs adage that Òif life werenÕt funny it would just be true, and thatÕs unacceptable.Ó Originally from the Midwest, she worked in WMEÕs NYC office before moving to LA, where she lives with her husband, a writer, and their two kids.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Food Drink | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Psychology | Science |
Biography
Pamela Malpas is a literary agent with the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. Pamela Malpas has spent more than two decades in publishing; before joining the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, she was an agent with Harold Ober Associates, and prior to that, with Knox Burger Associates. She has worked with winners of the Stella Prize, and the Morton Dauwen Zabel, PEN/New England, PEN/West, and Ippy awards. Pamela represents work in several categories of fiction and narrative nonfiction. AAR member.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | History | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Politics | Science | True Crime |
Biography
Alyssa Maltese is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: ÒGetting to be an early champion for authorsÕ work is a huge privilege, and a responsibility for which I am deeply grateful. IÕm excited to find and uplift books that you canÕt put down, books that surprise you, books that make you think, and, above all else, books that help people.Ó
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |History | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Dan Mandel is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. represents both literary and commercial fiction, as well as memoirs and non-fiction about business, art, history, politics, sports, and popular culture. His clients write for The Economist, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, HarperÕs, The New York Times, the Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others, and the books he has worked on have been New York Times Bestsellers, and short-listed for both the Booker and the FT Business Book of the Year.
A graduate of Cornell University, he interned at The New Yorker and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | History | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Politics | Pop Culture | Science | Sports |
Biography
Jay Mandel is a literary agent with WME Books. Jay, the worldwide head of WME Books, joined the company in 2001 after beginning his career at the Virginia Barber Literary Agency. He represents a wide range of both fiction and nonfictionÑfrom international literary work to suspense thrillers, investigative journalism, political theory, history, popular science, business, technology writing, memoir and sports.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Autobiography | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Film Entertainment | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Money Finance | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Carol Mann is a literary agent with the Carol Mann Agency. Carol formed her own agency in 1977 after working as an editor for two years. She has overseen the careers of a diverse group of talented authors in the thirty years since. Carol specializes in non-fiction (health/medical, religion, spirituality, self-help, parenting, current affairs, history, narrative non-fiction) while also taking on the occasional fiction writer. She has and continues to represent an eclectic group of clients that include in addition to those listed on our main page: Jermaine Dupri, Samantha Marshall, Drs. Brock and Fernette Eides, Lauren Winner, Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, Morris Dees, and Roy Rowan.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | True Crime |
Biography
Hannah Mann is a literary agent with Writers House. She says: “IÕve been with the agency since 2013 and am a senior agent representing children’s fiction and nonfiction, from young picture books through middle grade and young adult, and all the hybrids in between–including graphic novels. I love flawed characters, mystery, family dynamics, underdogs, regular dogs, and unexpected settings, but voice (that goes for words OR art) is almost everything.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Clare Mao is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She represents adult fiction and nonfiction writers and creators who are poets, musicians, journalists, illustrators, bar owners, artists, and more. Across genres, she is drawn to writers who are curious, thoughtful, and critical, who have expansive interests and concerns including and outside of writing, and who have a knack for blending genres and forms. Most importantly, she wants to represent writers who are having fun. In upmarket and literary fiction, she is looking for novels with a strong sense of place, insightful character work, and beautiful prose. In nonfiction, she is seeking cultural criticism, journalism, memoir/narrative, and essay collections, and is actively looking for writing about solidarity, food, art, fashion, pop culture, new modes of creating community, and the environment. She also represents illustrated projects, and her list includes a Chinese mythology-inspired tarot deck, a photographic archive of emo music, and an astrology cocktail book. She does not represent children’s/YA, sci-fi/fantasy, or horror.
Clare was born and raised in Queens, NY, went to college in Iowa, and now lives in Brooklyn. Prior to joining Greenburger in 2023, she worked at Europa Content and Janklow & Nesbit.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Beauty Fashion Style | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Environment | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | Journalism | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Pop Culture |
Jennifer March Soloway
Andrea Brown Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Online Form >Biography
Jennifer March Soloway is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Jennifer joined the Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2016, after a career in marketing and public relations. Agenting is her dream job. She loves working with writers and illustrators, and nothing gives her greater joy than to help an author elevate their story. She is most drawn to emotionally compelling voices and fresh perspectives underrepresented in literature.
Please send Jennifer:
Adult literary thrillers and horror (she is a suspense junkie, who loves to be scared). Throw in dash of (bad) romance, and sheÕs hooked!
YA novels in any genre (thrillers, gothic, humor), but especially literary stories about ordinary teens, focused on family, relationships, sexuality, mental illness, or recovery.
MG novels full of humor and heart, including adventures, mysteries, spooky-but-not-too-scary ghost stories, contemporary, and grounded fantasy.
Stories that blurs the lines between the real and the imagined in any category.
Picture books with surprise endings that make her laugh.
Eye-catching illustration with a distinct style.
ThatÕs her wish list, but you might have something she has never considered before, and it might be absolutely perfect for her. Surprise her!
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Gothic Fiction | Graphic Novel | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Satire | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Tracy Marchini is a literary agent with the BookEnds Literary Agency. She joined BookEnds in June 2016 as the first picture book and illustration agent. Prior to building a list at BookEnds, she had over ten years of experience in children’s literature, either at an agency or as a freelance editor and children’s book reviewer. She is thrilled to represent a list of debut and award-winning creators of fiction, non-fiction and illustration for children and teens.
Growing up, Tracy made it a personal goal to read every Nancy Drew Case Files in her schoolÕs library and still has a soft spot for a good girl detective story. As an adult, she loves the sense of possibility in childrenÕs and young adult literature Ð and can still empathize with the soul-crushing feeling that is mandatory gym class.
As a children’s author, her picture book debut Chicken Wants A Nap (Creative Editions) was called “A surprising gem” in a starred Kirkus review and was nominated for the 2019 Bridge to Reading Picture Book Awards. Her sophomore picture book, Princesses Can Fix It! is forthcoming (Page Street Kids, May 2021). She holds an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons College and a BA in English, concentration in Rhetoric from Binghamton University.
Tracy is looking for picture book, chapter book, middle grade and young adult manuscripts across most genres, including contemporary, mysteries, magical realism, historical fiction, graphic novels and non-fiction. She is also looking for picture book illustrators and author-illustrators. She is not a good fit for YA horror, true crime, hard sci-fi, or high fantasy.
Above all, she looks to build a just and inclusive list full of the sense of possibility and wonderment of childhood, and strives to uplift BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and disabled voices in children’s literature.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction |
Biography
Kendra Marcus is a literary agent with BookStop Literary Agency. Kendra started BookStop Literary Agency in 1984 and since then the agency has grown to be one of the most well-known and well respected agencies for children’s book writers and illustrators. Kendra gravitates toward texts and illustrations for quirky and funny picture books. She is also interested in stories with Hispanic or Latino characters and unusual nonfiction, and is always thrilled to find unforgettable and vivid voices or stories that will bring her to tears.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Graphic Novel |Biography | Parenting |
Biography
Rick Margolis is the founder and owner of Rising Bear Literary Agency. For nearly 15 years, I worked for School Library Journal, the worldÕs largest reviewer of books for young readers. As SLJ Õs executive editor, I had the pleasure of interviewing many remarkable childrenÕs book creators, including Kate DiCamillo, Mo Willems, Katherine Paterson, Gene Yang, Rita Williams-Garcia, Markus Zusak, Rebecca Stead, and Jon Klassen. One of the best parts of my job was writing a monthly interview column, ÒUnder Cover,Ó which highlighted new and promising authors and illustrators (like John Green, Suzanne Collins, and Stephenie Meyer) who went on to have amazing careers. Along the way, I also met many publishers and childrenÕs book editors. Because IÕve read so much and so widely, I have a strong sense of the stories that appeal to them, and I know the literary market well. And for some reason, almost every year I was able to predict the winner of the Caldecott Medal, which honors the yearÕs best-illustrated book.
Although I loved my stint at SLJ, I was ready for a new challenge. But not just any job would do.
I wanted to find one that felt like my true callingÑone that I was wild aboutÑand that could contribute something of value to the world. I also wanted to stay connected to kidsÕ booksÑbecause I love them and because I was once a reading specialist (working with students who struggled to read) and I know firsthand what a profound difference the right book can make in a young personÕs life.
To make a long story short, after lots of praying and scores of meetings with some very insightful folks (and a fair amount of snacking), I launched Rising Bear Literary Agency, LLC, specializing in what I most love: picture books, early chapter books, and middle-grade fiction and graphic novels with unforgettable characters.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | New Adult Fiction |
Biography
Anne Marie OÕFarrell is a literary agent with Marcil-O’Farrell Literary, LCC. She has been a literary agent for the past 29 years. She has been invested in growing and shaping the careers of the many talented and creative people with whom she has worked. She has accomplished this through her business as a literary agent and in her capacity as co-creator and owner of two other highly successful companies: a theatrical production company and a continuing education school in New York City. In 2008 she partnered with Denise Marcil to form Marcil-OÕFarrell Literary, LLC.
Anne Marie specializes in the nonfiction areas of human potential, personal growth, health and fitness, business, spirituality, sports, cooking, travel, gift, and quirky books. She is interested in representing books that convey and promote innovative, practical and cutting-edge information that will help people increase their self-understanding, maximize their careers, health and relationships, and expand their creativity and fulfillment. Anne Marie sees the books she represents as a reflection of her personal values and taste. She is passionate about making a positive impact and improving our planet.
Anne Marie proudly represents the world-renowned, best-selling Seth books including Seth Speaks and The Nature of Personal Reality by Jane Roberts. These books have sold more than eight million copies and have been translated into over fifteen languages.
She is a member of the Association of Agents Representatives (AAR), WomenÕs Media Group, The AuthorÕs Guild and the Agents Round Table.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Fitness | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Travel |
Victoria Marini
High Line Literary Collective/Volume FiveAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Online Form >Biography
Victoria Marini is a literary agent with Volume Five and part of the High Line Literary Collective. She began her career as a literary agent at Gelfman Schneider and ICM Partners before joining the Irene Goodman Agency in 2016. Originally from rural Pennsylvania, she moved to New York in 2003, and began her literary career as an assistant at Sterling Lord in 2007. She is interested in both Upmarket & Commercial Adult, Middle Grade, and Young Adult and fiction with compulsive hooks, strong plotting, and well-drawn characters. From Literary page-turners, to commercial suspense, to magical realism, whimsical adventure, edgy sci-fi & grounded fantasy, she is always looking for unforgettable off-the-page characters, high concepts, and unique voices. She is a sucker for quirk, mystery, small town hysteria, atmosphere, secrets, things that go bump in the night, a bit of charm, a twist of magic, or a dash of humor.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Gothic Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Speculative Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Western Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
PJ Mark is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. He moved to NYC in 1990 and used his student loans to start a literary journal to publish his friends. He began his career as an international book scout in 1993, has worked as a journalist covering the book beat and has been a literary agent since 2002.
His fiction interests are eclectic, including short stories and literary novels. His nonfiction interests include journalism, popular culture, memoir/narrative, essays and cultural criticism. He is often drawn to writers, in fiction and nonfiction, who are formally inventive and push boundaries in content, ideas and voice.
PJÕs authors regularly receive numerous awards and honors, including, on multiple occasions, the Ò5 Under 35Ó honor by the National Book Award Foundation, the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Art Seidenbaum Award by the Los Angeles Times, the Rome Prize by the American Academy in Rome, multiple awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Ò20 Under 40Ó honor by The New Yorker, The Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Journalism, the Guardian First Book Award, the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, and National Book Award finalist medals.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | History | Journalism | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Science |
Biography
Cora Markowitz is a literary agent with Georges Borchardt Literary Agency. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2017 with a BA in English and completed the Columbia Publishing Course the following summer. She interned at the Kenyon Review, Flatiron Books, Pippin Properties, and Writers House before making her way over to Georges Borchardt as the assistant to Georges. She is now taking on clients of her own.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction |General Nonfiction |
Biography
Jill Marr is an agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She graduated from SDSU with a BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in history. She has a strong Internet and media background and nearly 20 years of publishing experience. She wrote features and ads for Pages, the literary magazine for people who love books, as well as book ads for publishing houses, magazine pieces, and promotional features for television.
Jill is looking for fiction and non-fiction by unrepresented voices, BIPOC and Latinx writers, disabled persons, and people identifying as LGBTQ+, among others. She is interested in commercial and upmarket fiction, with an emphasis on mysteries, thrillers, Gothic, horror, romantasy, romance, fantasy, speculative fiction, and historical fiction. She loves food-centric novels, no matter what the genre. She is looking to find more rom coms with a fresh voice, perspective and a strong hook. When it comes to suspense she likes it dark and psychological. Her tastes lean more in the vein of The Silent Patient, The Lost Apothecary, Mexican Gothic and the works of S.A. Cosby than Private Investigator and CIA stories. And she almost never takes on military or Western projects. However she is a sucker for novels with grounded magical realism, and is always looking for a new take on mythology or folklore.
She is also looking for non-fiction by authors with a big, timely, smart message. She’d like to see work that does a deep dive into subcultures and social commentary as well as historical projects that look at big picture issues. Jill is looking for non-fiction projects in the areas of current events, true crime, science, history, narrative non-fiction, sports, politics, health & nutrition, pop culture, humor, music, and very select memoir.
Some of Jill’s recent and soon-to-be-published non-fiction includes the New York Times best-selling The Menopause Manifesto (Citadel Press) and Blood by Dr. Jennifer Gunter; The Stadium (Basic Books) by Frank Andre Guridy; Becoming Baba (Doubleday) by Aymann Ismail; Big Dirty Money (Viking) by Jennifer Taub; Dateable (Hachette Go) by Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp; Use the Power You Have (The New Press) by Congresswoman, Pramila Jayapal; Freedom to Win (Pegasus) by Ethan Scheiner;The Great Black Hope (Public Affairs) by Louis Moore; Goddess Energy (Tarcher) by Gabriela Herstik, Manifesting Justice by Valena Beety, the Founding Director of the West Virginia Innocence Project; Keep Marching (Hachette) by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, the co-founder of MomsRising; Ali on Ali (Workman) by the daughter of Muhammad Ali, Hana Ali; Being Heumann (Beacon Press) by late American disability activist Judith Heumann.
Some of Jill’s new and upcoming fiction includes The Curse of Penryth Hall (Minotaur) the USA Today bestseller by the winner of the 2022 MWA/Minotaur Books First Crime Novel Competition Jess Armstrong; Come with Me (Thomas & Mercer) by Edgar Award-winning author Erin Flanagan; Do No Harm (Minotaur) by Robert Pobi; Edgar Award-winning A Dreadful Splendor (William Morrow) by B.R. Myers, A Sweet Sting of Salt (Random House) by Rose Sutherland; Hot Summer (Putnam) by Elle Everhart; Love and Other Conspiracies (Berkley) by Mallory Marlowe; The Last Witch in Edinburgh (Kensington) by Marielle Thompson; Kilt Trip (Canary Street Press) by Alex Kiley; The Mystery Writer (Sourcebooks) by Sulari Gentill; Juror #3 (Little, Brown) a thriller written with James Patterson, by Nancy Allen; The Fourth Prophesy (Grand Central) by international best-seller Glenn Cooper; In the Hour of Crows (Mira) by Dana Elmendorf; The Devil and Mrs. Davenport (Lake Union) by Paulette Kennedy.
Please note that Jill is specifically not interested in: screenplays, poetry, and novellas
Jill is interested in commercial fiction, with an emphasis on mysteries, thrillers, romantic suspense and horror, women’s commercial fiction and historical fiction. She is also looking for non-fiction by authors who are getting their work published regularly and who have a realistic sense of the market and their audience. Jill is looking for non-fiction projects in the areas of history, sports, politics, current events, self-help, cookbooks, health & nutrition, pop culture, humor, music, and very select memoir.
Some of Jill’s recent and soon-to-be-published nonfiction includes the Travel Channel’s Nick Groff’s Chasing Spirits (NAL); Maybe We’ll Have You Back (Skyhorse) by actor Fred Stoller; Get Over It (Seal Press) by Christina Pesoli; Doulas A. Wissing’s Funding Our Enemy (Prometheus Books); Why We Love Serial Killers (Skyhorse) by Scott Bonn; America’s Greatest “Failing” School (Nation Books) by journalist Kristina Rizga; Don’t Lick the Minivan (Skyhorse) by Leanne Shirtliffe; William Jones’ More Than the Dream: The Untold Story of the March on Washington (Norton); Rocking the Pink (Seal Press) by singer-songwriter Laura RoppŽ; Stop Reading Baby Books (Skyhorse) by JJ Keith; Drunks: America’s Search for Sobriety by Christopher Finan; and Argyle Armada: Life with America’s Top Pro Cycling Team (VeloPress) by Mark Johnson.
Some of Jill’s new and upcoming fiction includes Bloodman and American Woman (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Pobi; Reckless Disregard (Seven Stories Press) by Robert Rotstein; Three Souls (HarperCollins) by Janie Chang; Madam (Plume) by Cari Lynne and Kellie Martin; The Cordell Logan thriller series (The Permanent Press) by David Freed; Benefit of the Doubt (Tor/Forge) by Neal Griffin; Garbo’s Last Stand (Entranced) by Jon Miller; The Crossroads thriller series (Thomas & Mercer) by Eyre Price; The Dog Year (Berkley) by Ann Garvin; The Change Your Name Store (Sky Pony Press) by Leanne Shirliffe; and the Jaden Terrell series that includes the Shamus Award nominee Racing the Devil and A Cup Full of Midnight (The Permanent Press).
Please note that Jill is specifically not interested in: YA, children’s books, sci-fi, romance, screenplays, graphic novels, or anything involving unicorns.
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Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | BIPOC Fiction | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Technology | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Jill Marsal is a literary agent with the Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Jill is a founding partner of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and has been in the publishing industry for 20 years. Previously, she worked as a Literary Agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency for eight years and at Dorchester Publications and Tudor Publishing, editing womenÕs fiction and suspense/thrillers. Jill also has a strong legal background and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She practiced as an attorney with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati for five years.
On the fiction front, Jill looks for all types of commercial fiction, womenÕs fiction, stories of family, interesting relationships, Southern fiction, or multi-generations, and romance. She also is looking for mysteries, psychological suspense, cozies, and thrillers that keep the pages turning and have an original hook. She welcomes a dramatic storyline and compelling characters in interesting situations or relationships. If you have a novel that has a highly original concept or voice, Jill would love to see it.
On the non-fiction side, JillÕs areas of interest include business, current events, health/wellness, self-help, lifestyle, advice/relationships, psychology, parenting, history, science, and narrative non-fiction. She is particularly drawn to projects which will move readers or leave them thinking, which make provocative arguments or share interesting research, or which offer useful, new advice.
Jill enjoys working with both new and experienced writers. A few of JillÕs represented books include WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE by Angela Pisel (Putnam), THE CHALLENGER SALE by Wall Street Journal bestselling authors Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson (Portfolio), FIELD GUIDE TO HOMICIDES by NYT bestselling author Lynn Cahoon (Kensington), A TASTE OF SUGAR by NYT bestselling author Marina Adair (Grand Central), CROSS HER HEART by Amazon Charts bestselling author Melinda Leigh (Montlake), LIMITLESS MIND by Stanford Professor Jo Boaler (Harper One), MIDDLE SCHOOL MATTERS by Phyllis Fagell (Da Capo), and FEELING AT HOME: THE BRAIN AND WHERE WE LIVE by John S. Allen (Basic).
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Accepting Submissions |Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gardening | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Evan Marshall is president of The Evan Marshall Agency and Indie Rights Agency. He is an award-winning literary agent specializing in fiction. Evan has held senior editorial positions at Houghton Mifflin, Ariel Books, New American Library, Everest House and Dodd, Mead, where he acquired national and international bestsellers. An expert on fiction writing, he has served as a contest judge for Wattpad and is a NaNoWriMo Mighty Catalyst for Literary Righteousness. He authored the classic writing guide The Marshall Plan¨ for Novel Writing in 1998. It is now available as How To Write A Novel-The Marshall¨ Plan Software, co-created with Martha Jewett. The Marshall Plan¨ takes the frustration out of writing and delivers successful results fast. He is a graduate of Boston College. Evan is the author of ten traditionally published mystery novels in the Hidden Manhattan series and Jane Stuart series, called ÒMiss Marple liteÓ by Kirkus Reviews.
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CLOSED to Submissions |Young Adult Fiction |Christian Fiction |Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Inspirational Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Religious Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Western Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Jen Marshall is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents acclaimed and bestselling narrative nonfiction projects such as Marisa MeltzerÕs GLOSSY, a 2023 New York Times bestseller and a New Yorker Best Books of the Year, Joe PompeoÕs BLOOD AND INK, which was named Best True Crime of 2022 by the New York Times, Danielle DreilingerÕs THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOME ECONOMICS, which was the recipient of a Silvers Grant for Work in Progress and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and, with colleague Will Lippincott, Paul PringleÕs BAD CITY, a Los Angeles Times bestseller. She also represents select literary and commercial fiction projects, such as Keziah WeirÕs debut THE MYTHMAKERS and Jenny Minton Quigley for the O. Henry Prizes, collected annually as THE BEST SHORT STORIES.
JenÕs areas of interest in nonfiction are wide-ranging: investigative journalism, untold histories, fashion and design, social justice, true crime, tech, business, science, cities, and pop culture. In fiction, Jen primarily seeks literary and commercial works for adults.
Jen brings to her work as an agent a thorough understanding of the publishing and bookselling industries, as well as deep expertise in public relations and audience-building for authors. She joined Aevitas after almost twenty years working for the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group at Penguin Random House in various roles from Director of Publicity for Anchor Books to Publicist at Large for the imprint. Prior to that, she worked as an independent bookseller at the Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA. As a publicist, Jen worked closely with a wide range of award-winning and bestselling authors, including Margaret Atwood, P.D. James, Ayelet Waldman, Dan Brown, Mona Simpson, Chris Bohjalian, E L James, Thomas Cahill, Claire Messud, Erin Morgenstern, Joseph Ellis, and Karen Armstrong. A native of northwest Connecticut, Jen graduated from Bucknell University with honors in English. Jen divides her time between ACMÕs New York office and her home in Western Massachusetts.
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CLOSED to Submissions |Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Graphic Novel | Horror | Literary Fiction | Romance |Art | Education | Health Wellness | History | Narrative Nonfiction | Reference | Science |
Biography
Beth Marshea is the owner and Lead Agent at Ladderbird Literary Agency. She has a BA in Literature and a Masters in Business Administration and is always looking for new and exciting ways to bring more diversity into publishing and beyond. Outside of agenting, Beth, teaches writing in her local community with a focus on bringing reluctant writers and readers into the magical world of books. She loves the outdoors and is also a certified lifeguard.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Film Entertainment | History | How-To | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | Women’s Issues |