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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.
- You are searching within category(ies): Science Fiction *
Biography
Evan Gregory is a literary agent with the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. Evan Gregory began at the agency in 2008 as an Assistant. Hehas been a Senior Agent since 2014, specializing in genre fiction and commercial non-fiction, especially the areas of SFF and pop-culture. Previously he worked as subsidiary rights manager for the agency as well as an assistant to Ethan.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Multicultural * Science * Technology * Travel * True Adventure *
548 Broadway #5E New York NY 10012 USA
Biography
Jill Grinberg is a literary agent with Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Jill is also the Founder and President. She has worked in New York publishing for the past two decades. She completed her B.A. in English Literature at Tufts University and Oxford University, UK, interning at Boston Magazine and the Boston Review before moving to Manhattan to enter book publishing. She started in the publicity department at HarperCollins, where she worked with high-profile authors and books like Amy Bloom’s National Book Award finalist Come to Me, and Thomas Moore’s #1 New York Times bestseller Care of The Soul. Realizing, thanks to Amy Bloom’s wise counseling, that she had a passion for author advocacy and book development from the ground up, she then moved to the agenting side of the business. She was a founding partner of Anderson Grinberg Literary Management, and went on to form her own firm, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Jill feels a strong kinship with her great-grandparents who founded the historic Cafe Royal, a mecca for Jewish intellectuals and artists in New York City in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, and she continues their tradition of hosting tea and conversation with visiting writers and illustrators.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Travel * Young Adult *
392 Vanderbilt Avenue Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Biography
Pam Gruber is a literary agent with the High Line Literary Collective. She became a literary agent when she realized her favorite part of the publishing business was working closely with authors and artists, helping them to shape not only their stories, but also their careers. She got her start in publishing as an editor, working for over a decade at Hachette Book Group and went on to serve as the Editorial Director at children’s media startup Rebel Girls before shifting gears.
As an agent, Pam aims to sign authors, not just individual books, and she believes in collaboration, communication, creativity, and mutual respect. Her clients write in all categories, from children’s and YA, to adult SFF and contemporary rom-com. She looks for work that is gripping from page one, whether that’s due to the voice, world building, or premise. She loves messy female protagonists, innovative twists on classic tropes, and getting swept away by fully realized worlds—be it the next town over or an imagined land unlike our own. She brings an inscrutable eye for detail to every book she gets her hands on, and her prior experience gives her insight into how editors think, and what they’re looking for.
In her life outside of books (as if!), Pam is an aspiring art collector, avid window shopper, experimental baker, and Pilates enthusiast slowly fixing up the antique house she lives in with her husband, son, and feline familiars.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
27 W. 24th St. Suite 804 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Taylor Haggerty is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “Everyone in this business is in it because they love to read, but agenting gives me a professionally sanctioned opportunity to shout from the rooftops about the books I love. Sharing my authors’ work with editors, and then readers, is a joy, and I’m always looking for the next project to champion.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
617 S. Olive St. #300 Los Angeles CA 90014 USA
Biography
Reeves Hamilton is a literary agent with the Vertical Ink Agency. Reeves, a twenty-plus year veteran of the publishing industry, to specialize in science fiction – particularly hard Sci-Fi, space opera, climate dystopias, and alternative histories, with some other interest in dark fantasy and classic-style sword and sorcery.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION:
170 Union Street Suite 4L Brooklyn NY 11231 USA
Biography
Judith Hansen, the founder of the Hansen Literary Agency, is the former deputy publisher of Kitchen Sink Press. An attorney, she had a twenty year career with major trade book publishers including Simon & Schuster, NAL, and the Crown and Doubleday divisions of Random House.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Architecture * Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Economics * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference *
242 Bronxville Road Bronxville NY 10708 USA
Biography
Vaugne Lee Hansen is a literary agent with the Virginia Kidd Agency. She was an early reader, reading her first books before attending pre-school. From the start, fantasy and science fiction were, in her mind, what constituted “real books.” She went to work for Virginia Kidd in 1989 and over the years she and her colleagues have worked with some of the most interesting authors in the field including, Kage Baker, Ted Chiang, Alan Dean Foster, Ursula K. Le Guin, Anne McCaffrey, and Gene Wolfe. Her favorite parts about being an agent are being able to read the works of her favorite authors before they are published and getting down to the nitty-gritty during contract negotiations. She is delighted to be able to be working with Christine Cohen and Will Reeve on the ongoing preservation of Virginia Kidd’s legacy of the Virginia Kidd Agency and Arrowhead, continuing the tradition of representing quality fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * Horror * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION:
PO Box 278 538 East Hartford Street Milford PA 18337 USA
Biography
Erin Harris is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. Erin has worked in publishing for over a decade and serves as a Senior Vice President and literary agent at Folio Literary Management, where she focuses on book club and literary fiction, as well as narrative non-fiction. (She also selectively represents Young Adult and poetry projects.) Her clients include New York Times Bestsellers, National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize, and PEN/Faulkner Award finalists; winners of the Lambda Literary Award, Stonewall Book Award, and Pushcart Prize; Indie Next Pick and NYT Editor’s Choice authors; and authors selected for the national book clubs Reese Witherspoon’s “Hello Sunshine,” Good Morning America, Barnes & Noble, and Target. Her clients have received support from MacDowell, Bread Loaf, Sewanee, Tin House, Yaddo, The Vermont Studio Center, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, and the Elizabeth George Foundation.
Erin collaborates with debut and seasoned authors alike and is honored to champion the careers of: Emiko Jean, Allegra Hyde, SJ Sindu, John Manuel Arias, Michelle Min Sterling, Allie Rowbottom, Adam Wilson, Daniel Levine, Erica Ferencik, Tanen Jones, Laura Maylene Walter, Carla Power, Daniel Peña, Curtis Chin, Linda Scott, Jen St. Jude, Kit Frick, Marie Marquardt (and Mayra Cuevas by association!), Jasmine Mans, and Melania Luisa Marte, among many others.
Erin is passionate about books that interrogate our collective and personal histories with heart and intelligence; characters that make us feel and stories that make us think, even as they keep us feverishly turning pages; and book club and literary fiction that is high concept, whether it be contemporary, historical, or genre-bending (i.e. an accessible, elevated dash of fabulism, sci-fi, horror, suspense, alt. history, etc.)
Erin is a member of the AALA (Association of American Literary Agents) and received her MFA in Creative Writing from the New School. She lives in Brooklyn, NY and is a co-curator of the literary event series HIP Lit.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Education * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Psychology * Upmarket * Young Adult *
630 Ninth Ave. Suite 1101 New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Gary Heidt is a literary agent with Signature Literary Agency. Gary started his career as an agent with the Imprint Agency in 2003, and joined Signature Literary Agency in 2009. Gary represents authors of nonfiction and fiction. In nonfiction he is interested in history, science, popular culture, narrative nonfiction, psychology, religion, and spirituality.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Education * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Technology *
4200 Wisconsin Ave NW #106-233 Washington DC 20016 USA
Biography
Merrilee Heifetz is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Merrilee has been at Writers House for over 20 years and was one of the first agents to handle comic books/graphic novels when asked by a very young Neil Gaiman to represent his work with DC Comics (he did promise to write bestselling novels one day and she is very glad she took him at his word.) She is one of the few agents who is well known for representing both adult and children’s books and she finds she has been very successful with authors who don’t fall into categories and who can benefit from overall career management.
Her New York Times Bestsellers include Gaiman, Laurell K. Hamilton, Melissa Marr and Beth Revis, whose 2011 debut novel ACROSS THE UNIVERSE she placed in a major deal. Her award winners include three Newbery Medals (Cynthia Voigt, Robin McKinley and Neil Gaiman) a MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient (the late Octavia E Butler) and many best of the year awards such as the Hugo, the Nebula and the World Fantasy Award. For five years she chaired the Contracts Committee for the Association of Authors Representatives (AAR).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Reference * Young Adult *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Richard Henshaw is a literary agent with Richard Henshaw Group. He holds a BA in English with a minor in Philosophy from Franklin & Marshall College. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City where he briefly worked for a law firm and studied at New York University’s Publishing Institute before joining Richard Curtis Associates in the fall of 1987 where, over the course of eight years, he rose to the position of full agent with a concentration on popular fiction. He also held the title of Director of Foreign Rights and was responsible for marketing the translation rights to over 150 professional writers. In 1995 he formed Richard Henshaw Group LLC, where he continues to focus on popular fiction as well as a wide variety of nonfiction and is a specialist in the marketing of translation rights. He is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and has served for over ten years on the organizations’ International Rights Committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Politics * Science * Sports * Technology *
145 West 28th Street 12th Floor New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Paloma Hernando is a literary agent with Einstein Literary Management. She joined Einstein Literary Management as an Associate Agent in 2020. Paloma has been working in independent publishing since 2015, involved in editing, publishing, and selling mini-comics, zines, graphic novels, webcomics, and large-scale anthologies. A 2017 graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art, Paloma currently lives in Brooklyn.
Paloma’s favorite books often have a bit of magic in them, and she loves being able to dive into any world, real or invented, presented on the page. She is looking for both graphic novels and prose fiction for YA or adult, including more mature stories, particularly ones that deal with difficult emotions and nuanced characters. She loves romance, particularly queer romance, science fiction that feels fresh, high fantasy, and middle grade with a good sense of humor. She is interested in non-fiction for all ages, especially anything that digs into media analysis or an event in history. She loves a story with a strong voice and solid construction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Humor Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Technology * Young Adult *
27 West 20th Street Suite 1003 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Cole Hildebrand is a literary agent with the Jean Naggar Literary Agency. He began his career as an assistant editor at YesYes Books, going on to become managing editor for the press, involved in manuscript acquisitions, event planning, website design and publicity for YesYes Books’ list, which includes works by authors such as Elizabeth Acevedo, Justin Phillip Reed, Danez Smith, and many others.
He joined JVNLA in 2021, where he is actively building his list while aiding with international rights, film rights, and contracts, as well as handling the Australia/New Zealand market. He is acquiring literary and upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, essays, and poetry, particularly works by LGBTQ+ authors. He is drawn to character and voice driven stories with unique perspectives on the contemporary moment, especially those engaging with radical ideas and issues of social justice. He loves fostering the careers of debut authors, working closely with them to help develop and edit their projects, and guiding them through the full process from submission to publication and beyond.
Cole earned his BA in English from Lewis & Clark College and his MA in English and American Literature from New York University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Erotica * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * New Adult * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Journalism * Law * Memoir * Narrative * Nature * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology *
Biography
Steven Hutson is a literary agent with WordWise Media Services. He says, “I was a storyteller almost from birth; poems, articles, business letters, advertising copy, and lame excuses. But like most writers, I kept a day job; in-between gigs I found gainful employment as a clerk typist, vitamin buyer, waiter, forklift operator, lifeguard, bookkeeper, grocery manager, printer’s apprentice, and meat cutter. Oh, and I went to college for a while with a major in business.
But the muse didn’t give up on me, and in time I had a couple of books published. One thing led to another; I edited books for others and managed a writers’ conference for several years, making many valuable contacts along the way. I’ve mentored hundreds of aspiring authors, I speak often at writers’ events, and I write two blogs. Swimming, gardening, and cooking keep my hands busy in-between. I live in sunny Southern California with my wife Ruth and son Bradley.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Crafts * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Environment * Family * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gardening * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Inspiration * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Crime * Young Adult *
4083 Avenue L Suite 255 Lancaster CA 93536 USA
Biography
Eleanor Jackson is a literary agent with Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. She has been agenting since 2002. Previously, she was an agent at Markson Thoma and at InkWell Management. She is a graduate of Colby College and the Columbia Publishing course. Her list includes authors of fiction and non-fiction in a wide range of categories, including literary, commercial, memoir, art, food, science and history. She looks for books with deeply imagined worlds, and for writers who take risks with their work. She lives in Brooklyn NY.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Science * Travel * Upmarket *
27 West 20th Street Suite 1107 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Amanda Jain is a literary agent with the BookEnds Literary Agency. Amanda came by her love of reading honestly, inheriting it from parents who always had books close to hand. She began her career in publishing at W. W. Norton, where she spent seven years before pursuing a master’s degree in history of the decorative arts. She rejoined publishing shortly thereafter at Inklings Literary Agency, and is excited every day to encounter new writers and their stories.
Amanda currently reps adult romance, mystery, women’s fiction, and upmarket fiction, with a special emphasis on historical fiction in all genres. She also represents narrative nonfiction, especially projects exploring the literary world, art history, material culture, archaeology, food history, or social history. She loves projects with a strong sense of place and those that create a completely immersive world. She is particularly interested in books that add something important to the conversation, that explore stories we haven’t yet heard, and that introduce new voices to our reading experience.
Amanda currently lives outside of Washington, DC with her husband and two kids. When she’s not reading, she likes to cook, root for the Cubs, and spend as much time outside as she can.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Journalism * Narrative * Multicultural * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
136 Long Hill Rd Gillette NJ 07933 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Weronika E. Janczuk is a literary agent with the Janczuk Literary Agency. She is the founder of the Janczuk Literary Agency. She began her work in trade book publishing in 2009, during a high school work-study that placed her in an internship with a small imprint in Minnesota. She then worked with the industry’s best agents, including Lynn C. Franklin (1946-2021), Kathleen Anderson, Jenny Bent, and Mary Kole (formerly of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency), agenting from 2010-2012, while an undergrad at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She built a list that included the first four books of Campbell Award-winning and two-time Hugo Award-nominee novelist Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence.
At NYU, she studied creative writing under the direction of Dr. June Foley, wrote and served as editor for her undergraduate literary and literacy journals, and aided literacy-related projects on NYC’s Lower East Side. She graduated NYU in December 2013.
After five years working for two international non-profits on education- and health-related programming, Weronika returned to the world of corporate book publishing, opening JLA in the state of New York in the fall of 2021.
Born in Canada to parents who immigrated as political exiles from communist Poland, Weronika moved to the USA in 1998. Fluent in Polish and English, today she is privileged to be a rare tri-citizen: Polish, Canadian, and American. She lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Architecture * Art * Biography * Business * Computers * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Economics * Education * Family * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Philosophy * Politics * Pop Culture * Practical * Psychology * Science * Technology * Travel *
54 W. 40th St. New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Luke Janklow is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Luke Janklow represents an eclectic list of authors with multiple talents ranging from imaginative storytelling to broadcasting, cooking, politics and rock-and-roll. There is one governing principle to Luke’s taste: books that are prime examples of their type. His list features fiction and narrative nonfiction, journalism, idea books, celebrity, sports and cookbooks. In fiction, satire is a particular favorite, as is high concept science fiction, humor, thrillers/spy stories and young adult.
Luke is focused on where publishing is going and what it will look like in the near and far future. He is open to exploring new publishing ideas and how authors can maximize and broaden their earning power and cultural impact.
Having graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in Cinema Studies and Art History, Luke is engaged by the worlds of film, television and digital. He is also exploring branding, products and other unusual ways for storytellers to expand their reach.
As a professional musician who once wrote and made records, Luke’s experience in the music business provided valuable lessons that he applies to his work with authors. As a songwriter, he experienced how difficult it is to sit alone and create something and then present it to a sometimes indifferent world. Creating an original work takes imagination and guts; artists and authors need strong advocates in their corner. He saw the music business implode in the digital revolution, and sees preventable parallels that publishing can avoid in this transitional time.
We are in the storytelling business and there are stories everywhere.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Espionage/Military * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Satire * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Design * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Memoir * Music * Narrative * Politics * Sports * Technology * Upmarket *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Brianne Johnson is a literary agent with HG Literary. After working at independent bookstores, a book warehouse, a literary magazine, and in book publishing, Brianne started as a starry-eyed intern at Writer’s House in 2007. She worked her way up to Senior Agent before moving to HG Literary in 2021.
Brianne represents children’s books of all stripes, with a particular focus on character-driven middle grade and young adult fiction. She also selectively represents picture books and adult fiction.
Some of her clients include: winner of the Edgar Award and #1 New York Times bestselling author Wesley King, authors of the recent HBO Max film UNPREGNANT Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan, Edgar nominated author Greg Howard, award winning playwright and author Kate Scelsa, Joya Goffney, Heather Fawcett, Laura Sibson, Cheryl Klein, Camilla Bruce, and others.
Brianne is particularly passionate about social justice stories, amplifying under-represented voices and perspectives, sex positivity, alternative lifestyles, quirky romances, well-researched historical fiction, and witchy/mythy genre benders. She loves pushing the envelope on balancing big, universally important themes with hope and humor in unexpected ways.
The one link Brianne has throughout the genres she focuses on is humor and whimsy, particularly in darker settings. She loves stories that can illuminate something about humanity in a fresh and quirky way, AND make her laugh. Life is serious enough. Reading should be a joy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
6 West 18th Street #7R New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Isabel Kaufman is a literary agent with Fox Literary. She is actively looking to build her list in fantasy & science fiction, adult literary fiction, horror, historical fiction, contemporary commercial fiction, and upper-level young adult literature. She is looking for smart, inventive, ambitious storytelling and welcomes speculative elements across all genres. She is also interested in creative nonfiction and microhistories particularly related to travel, food, and incisive cultural perspectives on luxury and beauty.
Her taste is varied, but she is consistently drawn to dynamic, thoughtful prose and vibrant character voice. She is actively seeking work from historically underrepresented and marginalized perspectives. She appreciates fresh takes on familiar archetypes, new perspectives on well-known myths and fairytales, and crossover rehabilitations of “archaic” genres such as noir, gothic, and classical revenge tragedy (she has a master’s in revenge tragedy and is willing to get bloody!).
Recent books she has loved include THE GLASS HOTEL, by Emily St. John Mandel; SEVERANCE, by Ling Ma; the LOCKED TOMB trilogy, by Tamsyn Muir; PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE, by Samantha Shannon; THE IDIOT, by Elif Batuman; LUSTER, by Raven Leilani; PLAIN BAD HEROINES, by Emily Danforth; FRESHWATER, by Akwaeke Emezi. Nonfiction favorites include PRIESTDADDY, by Patricia Lockwood; SECONDHAND TIME, by Svetlana Alexievich; BLOOD, BONES, AND BUTTER, by Gabrielle Hamilton; and THE EMPEROR OF SCENT, by Luca Turin. Permanent must-read authors include Helen Oyeyemi and Megan Abbott.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Beauty/Fashion/Style * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Travel *
110 West 40th St Suite 2305 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Rachel Kent is a literary agent with Books & Such Literary Agency.Rachel Kent has been an agent with Books & Such since 2007. Rachel started at Books & Such as a summer intern while she was attending U.C. Davis and then, after graduating, worked part-time at the agency as an assistant. Her favorite part of the job was reading a manuscript and providing an author with feedback to help him or her to improve the project.
She graduated from Davis in three years with a bachelor’s degree in English and minors in both religious studies and psychology.
Rachel has more than eight years of experience and training working closely with Janet Kobobel Grant
and Wendy Lawton, as well as part-time with author Robin Jones Gunn in creating marketing materials and promotional ideas to keep Robin connected with her readers. Through Rachel’s work at the agency and with authors, she has gained an understanding of the publishing process, contract negotiation, and what it takes to successfully write and market a book.
Rachel’s goal is to develop strong relationships with her authors and to help them to develop lasting relationships with their editors and publishers. Good relationships have always been important to her. She likes to stick by people. She believes that as long as two people are dedicated toward working together, the relationship can work, and they can accomplish the task at hand.
Rachel acquires fiction and nonfiction projects with a special interest in YA, 20-something and 30-something projects.
She lives with her husband and family in Northern California.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: 20- and 30-Somethings * Christian * General Nonfiction * Religion * Spirituality * Young Adult *
2222 Cleveland Avenue #1005 Santa Rosa CA 95403 USA
Biography
Chris Kepner is a literary agent with and the founder of The Kepner Agency. He says: “I’ve been working in the publishing industry since 2008, both as a literary agent and more recently as a director of international rights. I have negotiated hundreds of book licenses all over the world, and I couldn’t be more excited about launching this agency. Discovering authors is my passion, and building a new list is an absolute thrill.
I live with my amazing wife, our magical baby girl, and our 16-year-old puppy in New Jersey, a half hour west of Manhattan. I’m originally from the lovely Buffalo area and still visit family and friends there at least twice a year. I studied English and business at Notre Dame, and I still watch all of their football games. It’s great when they win, but I don’t get too upset when they lose (it’s only football, people.) I’ve been in love with music and skiing for as long as I can remember, and I recently became enamored with disc golf. It has everything great about regular golf without the huge expense, heavy bags, tee times, stuffy etiquette, dress codes, or crowds.
Our lives may seem/be meaningless when you take a broad space-time perspective, but this thing we’ve got, this world we all share…it’s pretty special. Let’s cherish it, and one another, while we can.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel *
208 Lenox Avenue #130 Westfield NJ 07090 USA
Biography
Molly Ker Hawn is a literary agent with The Bent Agency. She says: “I joined the Bent Agency in 2012 and lead our London office, where I work with authors from all over the world, selling directly to publishers in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. I’ve bounced back and forth from America to England since I was a teenager: I grew up in Northern California, lived for a year in the West Country, read English at Cambridge University, and spent many years in New York City. I represent authors whose books have been New York Times and Sunday Times bestsellers and that have won and been shortlisted for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Costa Children’s Book Award, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Carnegie Medal, the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, and more.
If you’ve got a terrific story, well-told, I want to read it.
I’m looking for middle grade and young adult fiction and graphic novels that are inventive, well-crafted, and rich with emotion. I’m also interested in non-fiction for readers ages 8–18. I like wit, but not snark; I prefer books that lean more toward literary than commercial, but of course, my perfect book neatly bridges the two. The fiction on my list all has a strong sense of place, whether real or imaginary; I’m not the right agent for books with animal protagonists. Except maybe cats.
I’m particularly interested in hearing from writers from underrepresented communities.
I’m honored to serve on the governing committee of the Association of Authors’ Agents and to have been named one of The Bookseller‘s most influential people in the UK publishing industry.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * NoPB * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Young Adult *
529 W 42nd St Suite 3P New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Kat Kerr is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. She joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2019 after working previously at Corvisiero Literary Agency. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelors in English in 2009 and is drawn to literary and commercial voices within the adult and YA markets, as well as adult nonfiction. Kat feels strongly about supporting programs like We Need Diverse Books and is passionate about creating space in this industry for those from historically marginalized communities.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Women’s Issues *
1000 Dean Street Suite 252 Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Biography
Stephanie Kim is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. She has more than a decade of experience in publicity and marketing across the publishing, tech, and media industries. She began her career as an assistant publicist at William Morrow/HarperCollins where she cut her teeth on high-profile campaigns for Neil Gaiman, Laura Lippman, Wiley Cash, and many others. At Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Stephanie led publicity for three consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers: What If? and Thing Explainer by xkcd creator Randall Munroe, and Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss. Some additional highlights include working on Gabourey Sidibe’s memoir This Is Just My Face, Chinelo Okparanta’s Lambda Literary award-winning debut novel Under the Udala Trees, and comic artist Ariel Shrag’s quirky, irreverent coming-of-age love story, Adam.
As an agent, Stephanie is focused on representing authors from diverse backgrounds with compelling stories to tell. She’s interested in narrative non-fiction (memoir, pop culture, self-help) as well as select voice-driven fiction. Some of her favorite books include Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, The Color of Water by James McBride, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Exhalation by Ted Chiang, and anything by John Green.
Stephanie is based in the Los Angeles area. In her free time, she co-hosts rePEAK — a podcast exploring remakes, reboots, and revivals — where she rants about celebrity gossip, book-to-film adaptations, and all things pop culture.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development *
110 West 40th Street Suite 2201 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Ian Kleinert is a literary agent with Paradigm Literary and Talent Agency. Kleinert was most recently the CEO and founding partner of Projector Media, which focused on literary management and investor-backed digital platforms for groups like SALT Events, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Propagate Content, and sports legends Joe Namath and Cal Ripken Jr.
Kleinert was also the founder of the full service literary management company Objective Entertainment. During his time there, he represented and packaged book and subsidiary deals for writers and artists like Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, Wendy Williams, Margaret Hoover, Kanye West and Donda West, Voletta Wallace and The Estate of The Notorious B.I.G., and many more.
Over his nearly three decades in entertainment, Kleinert has secured publishing deals for more than 300 books, He began his career in 1994 at Fifi Oscard Agency. He later became a lit agent at William Morris Agency, where he represented novelists including “Game Of Thrones” co-creator D.B. Weiss.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports * True Crime *
Biography
Peter Knapp is a literary agent and partner with Park & Fine Literary and Media. First joining Park Literary in 2011, Peter Knapp represents authors of middle grade and young adult fiction. His clients include New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors, such as Soman Chainani, Lindsay Cummings, Sara Holland, Will Walton, Emily Bain Murphy, and more. Before joining Park Literary (now PFLM), he was at Floren Shieh Productions, a book-scouting agency working with film clients, and he continues to actively look for cinematic manuscripts with great hooks, as well as literary stories with awards-potential. A graduate of New York University, Pete now lives in Brooklyn with his husband.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
55 Broadway Suite 1601 New York NY 10006 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)