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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.
Biography
Leah Moss is an associate agent at Steven Literary. She graduated from Lake Forest College in 2020, where she studied Creative Writing, Publishing, and Digital Media Design. A lifelong reader, she’s spent the past few years working at libraries and has always dreamed of working in the book publishing industry. When she isn’t being a professional bookworm, Leah can probably be found playing her harp or tending to her Stardew Valley farm.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Black Literary Agents | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Fantasy | Gothic Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance |
Biography
Tasneem Motala is an assistant agent with The Rights Factory. An Assistant Agent since 2021 under The Rights Factory, Tasneem’s literary journey traverses various realms, with picture books, graphic novels, young adult, and adult fiction on her short but talented list. She might be picky, but when she’s in love with a story, everyone will know it!
She has an English and Classics degree from Brock University, followed by a post-grad certification in Publishing from Centennial College, but her education in writing and editing stems from a love of reading and writing fanfiction since her teenage years. Tasneem believes fanfiction is a perfect arena to train hard, experiment, and better oneself as a writer and editor, especially if becoming a part of the publishing industry is someone’s end goal! It was on sites like FanFiction.net and Ao3 that she honed those skills and her love for helping others create the best versions of their stories as a beta-reader.
With a keen eye for stories that resonate on deeper levels, Tasneem’s literary pursuits extend beyond the boundaries of genre and tropes, embracing narratives that provoke emotions and challenge perceptions regardless of the settings and tools they use to do so. Her passion lies in representing diverse voices and narratives that leave an indelible mark on readers’ hearts and minds, no matter the age group.
Tasneem’s QueryManager is a safe space for marginalized writers who want to share their stories, but she does take queries from those who don’t identify under that umbrella as well.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Magical Realism | Science Fiction |
Biography
Adam Muhlig is a literary agent with the McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency. He is the latest addition to M&O. As an agent, Adam’s current interests include popular culture, natural history, travel and adventure, and sports. Adam is pursuing books that offer fresh a perspective or new analysis by or about mavericks in these fields. Keeping with McIntosh and Otis’ great tradition, he is seeking works that will have classic value and long-term strength like the volumes of so many authors represented by M&O. His editorial work includes research, organization and indexing of Karl Shapiro’s provocative essay collection Creative Glut: Selected Essays. He also assisted Alan Tennant on his now classic On the Wing a New York Times bestseller. As an archival appraiser for more than fifteen years Adam Muhlig has worked on collections by many noted musicians and entertainment industry figures, naturalists, historians, and poets and writers, including several United States Poets Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winners.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Cultural Social Issues | Film Entertainment | History | Music | Nature | Pop Culture | Sports | Travel | True Adventure |
Biography
Deirdre Mullane is a literary agent with Mullane Literary Associates, which she founded in 2007. Deirdre is a publishing executive with more than two decades in the industry as a publicist, editor, publisher, editor, agent, and author.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Environment | Health Wellness | History | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports |
Biography
Nick Mullendore is a literary agent with the Vertical Ink Agency. Nick Mullendore is the Founder & President of the Vertical Ink Agency, which he established in January 2016 after having worked with the Loretta Barrett Books, Inc. literary agency since March of 1998. He remains the Managing Partner of Loretta Barrett Books – which continues to serve its existing projects and clients – while building his own Vertical Ink list by working with existing Barrett Books clients as well as new clients on their original book projects.
Nick began his publishing career in publicity at HarperBusiness, the trade business books imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. There he learned in-depth the world of major publishing before making the leap to agenting. Over the years he’s worked with authors such as Ray Kurzweil, Mariah Stewart, Mark Nepo, Jessica Bird, George Weigel, Betty White, Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Chaz Bono, Phil Plait, Harold Schechter, MJ Rose, Carol Goodman, Jack Kelly, Noah Levine, Dr. James Martin, Wayne Muller, Bill O’Hanlon, Melvin Urofsky, Theresa Rebeck, and many others on a variety of bestselling fiction and nonfiction books.
Nick has a wealth of experience selling US, foreign, audio, and television and film rights for a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books. He specializes in nonfiction, particularly in the genres of Mind/Body/Spirit, Health & Wellness, Business & Leadership, Inspiration & Motivation, Current Events & Politics, Popular Science & Psychology, Pop Culture, Memoir, Humor, History, and Sports, and is willing to consider proposals in other nonfiction genres as well. Nick is more selective when it comes to the fiction he takes on, but it’s fair to say that he loves fiction that successfully rides the line between “literary” and “literate”, while still maintaining something of a commercial sensibility.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Travel |
Biography
Michael Mungiello is a literary agent with InkWell Management. He graduated from Georgetown University, where he studied Government and English. In the intern years, he worked for Lippincott Massie McQuilkin and Dzanc Books. He also spent a semester working in his college’s English Department as a teaching assistant for a course on Jewish American Literature. His interests include intellectual histories, counterintuitive social science, literary criticism, and jazz.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | History | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Psychology | Science | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Paula Munier is a literary agent with and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary Services. She says: “For nearly twenty years, this framed quotation has graced my office:
“Après les choses qui sont de première nécessité pour la vie,
rien n’est plus précieux que les livres.”
It’s from Pierre Simon Fournier’s 1764 typography manual, and it means: “After all the basic necessities of life, there is nothing more precious than books.”
That’s how I’ve felt about books since my mother started reading to me as a baby. As soon as I could read my favorite stories on my own, my literary fate was sealed. I’ve lived in the world of words ever since—as a reader, a writer, an editor, and now as an agent.
The only thing I love more than books are the writers who write them. I’ve had the privilege of working with talented wordsmiths of every stripe—from reporters, nonfiction authors, content creators, and memoirists to novelists, screenwriters, graphic novelists, cartoonists, comic book writers, short story writers, and poets.
Writers are my tribe. I began as a journalist, and over the years I’ve penned countless new stories, articles, essays, collateral, and blogs, as well as authored/co-authored more than a dozen books, most recently Fixing Freddie, 5-Minute Mindfulness, and A Miscellany of Murder. Along the way, I’ve added editor, acquisitions specialist, digital content manager, and publishing executive to my repertoire—the common denominator being my commitment to writers and writing, no matter what my title. From Gannett, Greenspun, and Prima Games to Disney, Quayside, and F+W Media, I’ve fought the good fight for good writing and good writers. And I’ve loved every minute of it.
But now, as an agent, I have the opportunity to support talented writers in the most direct manner possible, helping my clients do good work, land great publishing deals, and build successful writing careers. So if you’re a writer as obsessed with words and stories as I am, and you’re in it for the long haul, consider working with me. My specialties include mystery/thriller, SF/fantasy, romance, YA, memoir, humor, pop culture, health & wellness, cooking, self-help, pop psych, New Age, inspirational, technology, science, and writing.
P.S. If you write crime fiction…you should know that I’m very involved with the mystery community, having served four terms as President of the New England chapter of Mystery Writers of America as well as on the MWA board. (I’m currently VP of that organization.) I’ve also served as both co-chair and Agents and Editors chair on the New England Crime Bake committee for seven years and counting. And I’m an active member of Sisters in Crime.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Computers | Cookbook Cooking | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | New Age | Pop Culture | Psychology | Reference | Science | Self-Help | Technology |
Biography
Dee Mura is a literary agent with and the founder of Dee Mura Literary. Dee began her career in the editorial and marketing departments of Newsweek Magazine, and in the trading and futures departments of Goldman Sachs. With an offer from the Brazilian government to produce sporting and concert events in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil, Dee launched her own production company and public relations division representing artists from around the globe. A close relationship with several of these artists led to the development of Dee Mura Enterprises, a talent and literary personal management company with a hands-on approach to developing performing artists and writers for film, television, personal appearances, and corporate events. When several of her film and TV writers expressed the desire to write for publication, Dee Mura Literary was born. The company now flourishes under the direction of Dee’s diverse experience in media, marketing, editorial, finance, and personal management, with the goal of contributing quality, innovative literature to the publishing world.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Chick Lit | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Espionage Military Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Religious Fiction | Romance | Satire | Science Fiction | Sports Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Animals | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Environment | Family | Film Entertainment | Gardening | Government | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | New Age | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | True Adventure |
Biography
Karen Murgolo is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She has over 25 years of experience as an editor and agent. She has edited New York Times bestselling books like Nobel Prize Winner Elizabeth Blackburn’s and Elissa Epel’s The Telomere Effect; Ballerina Body by Misty Copeland; Eat to Beat Disease by Dr. William Li; Enough Already by Valerie Bertinelli; and cookbooks by Gwyneth Paltrow, Daniel Boulud, and others. As an agent she’s represented authors from award-winning psychologists to food writers to a shaman.
Before coming to Aevitas, Karen was Editorial Director, Lifestyle and Culinary, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, as well as Editorial Director, Grand Central Life & Style. She graduated from Wesleyan University with honors and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Program (now Columbia). She is an IACP Digital Media Judge.
Based in New York, Karen is interested in authoritative health, wellness, science and psychology, spirituality, inspirational (or just really fun) memoirs; original cookbooks, and narratives that illuminate a compelling subject or start a conversation.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Animals | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Fitness | Food Drink | Gardening | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Dana Murphy is a literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She joined Trellis Literary Management in 2022, after a decade building her list at The Book Group. She represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for both adult and teen readers. Books by her clients have been New York Times and international bestsellers and chosen as Barnes & Noble Discover, Book of the Month, Read with Jenna, Indie Next and NYT Editors’ Choice picks.
Across genre, Dana falls in love at the story and line-level simultaneously. She’s always searching for language and plot that move in equal measure, one in constant support of the other. She believes this symbiosis can exist anywhere on the commercial-to-literary spectrum and is most drawn to writing that aims to transform the reader, disrupt hegemony, and center community — particularly by marginalized writers who have historically been boxed out of traditional publishing spaces.
In fiction, Dana looks for books (and authors!) with a soft heart, a sense of humor, and a deep earnest affection for their characters and story. Her forever favorites are genuinely hilarious romantic-comedies that read like the best kind of fan fiction, coming-of-age that captures the specificity of being young today, high-concept and/or speculative novels that press on our shared cultural bruises, and anything that celebrates found families and friendships as their own glorious love stories.
Dana’s nonfiction taste trends towards narrative nonfiction and essay collections about pop culture, class, gender, race, science, food and so on. She will always reach for well-researched cultural criticism that interrogates the power structures shaping our collective understanding of “good” taste or reckons with “low” and “unworthy” pop culture in a smart, serious way.
Born and raised on Long Island, Dana moved to New York City to study Critical Film Theory and Sociology at NYU, lived there for ten years, and now calls Philadelphia home. If she’s not answering your emails, she’s probably snuck off to one of her favorite places: a campsite in the woods, the beach in her hometown, or a quiet dive bar to drink their cheapest beer and read a book she isn’t working on.
Dana’s favorite non-client authors (if your work is similar, please get in touch!): Hanif Abdurraqib, Emily Henry, Casey McQuiston, Shea Serrano, Mary HK Choi, Kate Racculia, Kristen Arnett, Morgan Rogers, Anna Weiner, Megan Stielstra.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Romance | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Food Drink | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports |
Biography
Erin Murphy is a literary agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Erin was born and raised in Arizona, and founded EMLA in Flagstaff in 1999 after a 7-year career as an editor at a regional publishing house. As founder of EMLA she has focused not just on helping authors and illustrators to publish books for children and teens, but on building careers. In 2016, she relocated the agency headquarters to southern Maine. Her clients’ notices in addition to hitting bestseller lists include a Caldecott Honor (plus writer clients seeing their books get Caldecott silver and gold), a Newbery Honor, a Sibert Medal, Stonewall Medals, APALA silver and gold, an American Indian Youth Literature Honor, a National Jewish Book Award finalist, a Schneider Award, and multiple Edgar, Sydney Taylor, Américas, Golden Kite, Jane Addams, and Orbis Pictus awards or honors, among others.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction |
Biography
Nate Muscato is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. He represents academics, journalists, artists, and polymathic thinkers and storytellers. Authors he works with have written for national and international media, hit the New York Times bestseller list, and received awards and fellowships from the Whiting Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Ford Foundation.
Prior to joining Aevitas, Nate worked at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Sterling Lord Literistic in New York, taught high school students in Milan, and worked as a bookseller in New England. He graduated from Vassar College with a BA in English and Italian.
Nate is drawn to nonfiction that illuminates the past and present—from arts and pop culture to education, politics, sociology, and technology—and envisions more just and equitable futures. He is also interested in select genre fiction with literary trappings, sci-fi/fantasy stories that leap into new worlds yet reveal something radical about our own.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Action Adventure | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Horror | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction |Art | Cultural Social Issues | History | Humor Nonfiction | Science |
Biography
James Mustelier is a literary agent with The Bent Agency. He says: “I’m looking for a range of commercial and literary fiction and non-fiction. In all genres (but particularly in literary fiction) I prize economical prose, complex characters, steadily building tension, narrative gravity, and the momentary relief of dark humor, even (or especially) amid dire circumstances.
In commercial fiction I’m looking for compact horror and mysteries with big hooks and intricate plotting. In sci-fi and fantasy I’m drawn to stories that are grounded in reality and have high stakes that touch on contemporary issues — more speculative fiction and alternate histories than high fantasy or space opera.
In nonfiction I’m looking for books that give me a vivid look into subcultures and events I might not otherwise have had the chance to explore. Much of my favorite nonfiction melds a distinct narrative voice with rigorous research.
In YA and MG I’m interested in epic fantasy, grounded sci-fi, and irreverent retellings of fairy tales, classic myths, and historical events. I’m specifically seeking stories written from diverse perspectives that draw from underrepresented cultures.”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Horror | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Satire | Science Fiction | Short Story Collection | Suspense Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues |
Biography
Eric Myers founded Myers Literary Management, LLC in 2017, following two years with Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret, LLC and thirteen with The Spieler Agency. A graduate of UCLA and the Sorbonne, Eric entered publishing as a journalist and author. Books he has written include Screen Deco: A Celebration of High Style in Hollywood, Forties Screen Style: A Celebration of High Pastiche in Hollywood, and Uncle Mame: The Life of Patrick Dennis, all published by St. Martin’s Press. His writing has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine and Arts and Leisure sections, Time Out New York, Opera News, Art and Auction, Variety, and Quest.
As an agent, Eric concentrates on non-fiction, especially in the areas of history, biography, psychology, health and wellness, and pop culture. He also is open to memoir from writers who already have a strong platform.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Mystery | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Film Entertainment | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Technology | True Crime |
Bonnie Nadell
Hill Nadell Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Postal Mail > Online Form >Biography
Bonnie Nadell is the president of the Hill Nadell Literary Agency in Los Angeles. She represents writers of both fiction and narrative nonfiction. Her clients have been winners or finalists for the Pulitzer Prize, Carnegie Medal, National Book Critics Circle Award, Kirkus Prize, and numerous PEN Awards, among others.
Writing matters, books matter, and here’s why it matters to me. As an agent, I’ve opened a submission and found everything from an enthralling first novel to a heartbreaking account of struggling to come to America braving hardship and danger. These stories can inspire, can entertain, and can illuminate the major issues of our world whether it be immigration or climate change or injustice. Working with writers at every stage of their career from debut novelists to seasoned journalists, bringing singular voices and compelling stories into the world is what I love to do and have done for years.
I am always eager for new perspectives that inform or take me someplace I’ve never been. I represent and am always looking for narrative nonfiction covering the natural world, current events, memoir, food and culture, and stories focused on the American West. In fiction my taste runs to the literary, to voice-driven and genre-bending fiction and smart thrillers.
Ultimately literature is when someone else’s story speaks to you and broadens your world. That’s what I always want to find.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Espionage Military Fiction | Family Saga | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Short Story Collection | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Art | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Design | Environment | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | Gardening | History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Jen Nadol is a literary agent with The Unter Agency. She has worked in publishing for fifteen years, first as a Young Adult author with novels published by Bloomsbury USA and Simon and Schuster. She joined The Unter Agency in 2018 and represents adult, YA and middle-grade fiction as well as narrative non-fiction and memoir. She does not represent picture books, novellas or high fantasy. Jen is originally from Reading, PA, graduated from American University with a BA in literature and has lived in Washington D.C., Boston, NYC, and now, an old farmhouse north of the city with her three sons. She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and the Westside Agents Group (WAG).
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Environment | Fitness | Food Drink | Health Wellness | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime |
Biography
Lizz Nagle is a literary agent with Victress Literary. She used to read books while walking to school as a kid and got lost in stories at the Allentown Public Library. She then stayed local, graduating from Cedar Crest College in May of 2009 where she studied English with a creative writing concentration and picked up another Communication major along the way.
After graduating college, mothering, office managing for a Chiropractor, substitute teaching for the Allentown School District, working construction for a little while, and writing for fun herself, Lizz began her agenting career in 2019 at Victress Literary under the mentorship of Victress founder, Shannon Orso. She immediately began seeking out layered, character-driven stories with social relevancy that challenge stereotypes, soften hearts, and spread hope with a message of resilience.
With a client list including but not limited to Young Adult, Women’s Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy titles, Lizz thrives in a creative atmosphere working on a wide variety of books that mashup genres and are propelled by characters.
As an agent she values communication, community and collaboration. When not reading, writing, painting, practicing guitar, traveling, or at a concert, she might be found on a hiking trail or with her menagerie of kids and rescue animals.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Fitness | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | True Crime |
Biography
Kimiko Nakamura is a literary agent with Dee Mura Literary. Kimiko is a graduate of Skidmore College and Boston University’s Book Publishing Program. She worked within Shambhala Publications and Harvard Common Press before becoming a literary agent. She partners with aspiring and published authors alike, enjoys well-worn library books, and is always up for a game of Scrabble. She loves projects that reimagine what’s possible, characters with something (or nothing) to lose, unique viewpoints, trailblazing heroines, and anything with elements of magical realism.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Health Wellness | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit |
Biography
Maria Napolitano is a literary agent with KT Literary. She began her career in publishing as a book scout, where she fell in love with the process of matchmaking books with just the right editors and publishers around the world. She went on to work in subrights and as an agent, and joined kt literary as foreign rights manager and agent in 2024. In foreign rights, Maria’s focus is bringing authors to international readerships and building multi-faceted careers across global markets. As an agent, Maria represents a broad range of fiction, from commercial rom-coms to radical speculative fiction, subversive thrillers, and upmarket book club fiction. She is drawn to character-driven stories, unusual perspectives, genre-bending works, and supremely pitchable high concepts. Maria is a native New Yorker and Cornell graduate who currently lives in Astoria, Queens with a sourdough starter named Ryeley.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Western Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cultural Social Issues | Environment | Fitness | Health Wellness | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Science | Technology | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Michael Nardullo is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. Mike joined LGR as Foreign Rights Director and Agent in December, 2019 and brings nearly two decades of experience from various positions in international book publishing. He began his career in the subsidiary rights department of The Penguin Group, where he was mentored by veteran rights sellers, learned the nuances of foreign deals and contracts and developed relationships with co-agents and book scouts, many of whom he continues to work with today. He left Penguin to manage the foreign rights department at The New Press, and then joined Maria B. Campbell Associates as a Senior Literary Scout, consulting for leading international publishers, and for Netflix. After nine busy years of scouting, Mike returned to rights selling, first at Foundry Literary + Media, where he also took on several clients as a domestic agent, and now at LGR.
Mike works closely with authors and a network of co-agents to develop the best possible foreign rights strategy for each individual book. His relationships with books scouts and international editors go back many years, and he is always excited to meet with new publishers and learn more about the ever-changing international book community.
As a reader and domestic agent, Mike enjoys literary fiction that feels daring and fresh, especially in its use of language, perspective and structure, and nonfiction that teaches us something new about our place in the world, from our relationship to work and technology, to our understanding of our brains and selves. He also likes upmarket science fiction with a philosophical twist and biographies of his musical heroes.
Mike graduated from SUNY Albany with a degree in English/Creative Writing, which turned out to be a useful major after all. He grew up in Sleepy Hollow, NY, the undisputed Halloween capital of the world, and lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * General Nonfiction * Psychology * Technology * Travel *
307 Seventh Ave. Suite 2407 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Liz Nealon is a literary agent with and the founder of Great Dog Literary. She represents both adult and children’s books, largely non-fiction.
Previously, Liz was an award-winning executive producer and media industry leader who played an integral role in shaping the indelible youth brands Sesame Street, Kidz Bop, and MTV. She served as Worldwide Creative Director for Sesame Street and traveled the world as SVP of MTV International, launching channels in Europe, Brazil, Japan, and Australia.
Not surprisingly, given her many years working in television and interactive media, Liz is drawn to illustrated books, for both children and adults. Her tastes skew to non-fiction and her instincts are decidedly commercial, so she’s always looking for just the right mix of pop appeal plus intellectual content. She likes nothing more than packaging serious non-fiction in an alternative, surprising frame. Liz is more interested in thought-provoking than provocative, though she’s been known to represent some deeply edgy content.
Across all the media in which she has worked, Liz Nealon has demonstrated a commitment to seeking out and amplifying diverse creative voices, starting with recruiting, mentoring, and supporting a diverse staff, and then empowering that team to source and develop breakthrough content.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Religious Fiction | Romance | Women’s Fiction |Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Family | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | Health Wellness | Humor Nonfiction | Illustrated | Inspirational Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Technology | Travel | True Crime |
Edward Necarsulmer
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Edward Necarsulmer IV is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. He began his career in book publishing as an intern at Random House Books for Young Readers. He went on to assist Marilyn E. Marlow at Curtis Brown Ltd. and then joined McIntosh & Otis, Inc. in 2004 to oversee their children’s literature business. He is known for cultivating strong new voices in teen & middle grade as well as picture books. He represents New York Times Bestselling, Newbery, and Caldecott winning authors, illustrators, and estates. He is keen to continue to team up with authors and artists who wish to look beyond the obvious and strive for the exceptional.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Crime Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Mystery |General Nonfiction | Art | Business Book | Economics | Humor Nonfiction | Money Finance | Photography | Science | Technology | True Crime |
Muriel Nellis
Literary and Creative ArtistsAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Muriel Nellis is a literary agent with Literary and Creative Artists. She founded Literary and Creative Artists in 1981. The agency is now one of the largest, most active literary agencies in the Washington area. They have solid business relationships with all the major trade houses and their imprints, and currently represent over eighty writers. Their client list ranges from first-time authors to best-selling nonfiction and award-winning literary fiction writers.
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Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Philosophy | Politics | Psychology | Religion | Science |
Biography
Kristin Nelson is a literary agent with and the founder of the Nelson Literary Agency (2002). She says: “My goal as an agent is simple: I want every client of mine to make a living solely from writing and 90% of my authors do without help from any other source of income. I established Nelson Literary Agency, LLC, in 2002 and over the last decade+ of my career, I’ve represented over forty New York Times bestselling titles and many USA Today bestsellers. Although I’m a very nice Midwesterner, I’ve heard through the grapevine that editors call me “a hard-working bulldog agent that will fight for you.” What a compliment!
When not busy selling books, I’m quite sporty. I enjoy tennis, pickle ball, and golf. I also love playing Bridge (where surprisingly I’m not the youngest person in the club). On weekends my husband Brian and I can be found hiking in the Mountains.
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Mainstream Fiction | Science Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Patricia Nelson is a literary agent with the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Patricia Nelson joined Marsal Lyon Literary Agency in 2014. She represents adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction, and is always especially interested in seeing novels by BIPOC, queer, and disabled authors in all genres that she represents.
In general, Patricia looks for stories that hook her with a unique plot, fantastic writing and complex characters that jump off the page. On the children’s side, Patricia is open to a wide range of genres of YA and MG, with particular interest in contemporary/realistic, magical realism, mystery, horror, science fiction and fantasy. On the adult side, she is interested in book club and upmarket fiction, as well as the whole spectrum of women’s fiction — everything from lighter beach reads and romcoms to darker stories with a mystery or suspense thread.
Patricia has an intentionally small, selective list and enjoys working closely with both debut and established authors to build successful long-term careers. Her award-winning and bestselling clients include: NYT bestselling author Axie Oh (The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan), National Book Award finalist and two-time Printz Honor winner Candice Iloh (Every Body Looking, Dutton Children’s/Penguin Random House), Stonewall Honor, Morris Honor, and Governor General’s Award winner Jen Ferguson (The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, Heartdrum/HarperCollins), Printz Honor winner Mary McCoy (Indestructible Object, Simon and Schuster Children’s), Edgar Award nominee Juliana Goodman (The Black Girls Left Standing, Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan), LGBTQ Reads founder and Sydney Taylor Honor winner Dahlia Adler (Cool for the Summer, Wednesday Books/Macmillan), Schneider Family Honor winner Claire Forrest (Where You See Yourself, Scholastic), Stonewall Honor winner Justine Pucella Winans (The Otherwoods, Bloomsbury Children’s), Edward Underhill (YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick Always the Almost, Wednesday Books/Macmillan), and Bestselling romance authors Kate Bateman and Charis Michaels.
Patricia holds a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to becoming an agent, she spent four years teaching literature and writing at the college level.
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Lynn Nesbit is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She grew up in Dundee, Illinois and graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Speech. She attended the Sorbonne and the Radcliffe Publishing Procedures Course. In the fall of 1960, she joined the Sterling Lord Agency, and in 1965 moved to create and run for twenty-three years the literary department for what later became International Creative Management. In January 1989, she formed a partnership with Morton Janklow—Janklow & Nesbit Associates.
Ms. Nesbit has served on the Board of Trustees of Partisan Review, the New York Institute for Humanities and the Literature Council for the National Endowment for the Arts. She is currently on the Board of the National Book Foundation.
In 1991, she was a recipient of the Matrix Award, presented by New York Women in Communications, Inc. She received the Alumnae Award of 1994 from the Alumnae Board of Northwestern University. She is a member of the Century Association and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Lynn Nesbit represents both fiction and nonfiction writers.
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Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Autobiography | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Food Drink | History | Memoir | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Technology |
Biography
Kirsten Neuhaus is a literary agent with Ultra Literary. Kirsten believes that books provide an incredibly powerful method to deliver important messages to readers around the world. Those messages can and do change not just the conversations we have with each other, but also with ourselves. She is always looking for three things, the right project, with the right author, at the right time and represents entrepreneurs, personalities, influencers and thought leaders across a wide range of industries. Her list of clients include bestselling authors such as Shark Tank Shark Daymond John, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, Stephanie Middleberg MS, RD, CDN, founder of Bonobos Andy Dunn, and upcoming projects by actor and DJ Kristian Nairn, who starred as Hodor on Game of Thrones and TikTok influencer and daughter of the victim of the “Black Swan Murder,” Eva Benefield.
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Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction |General Nonfiction | Beauty Fashion Style | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Diet Nutrition | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Pop Culture | Women’s Issues |
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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)