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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
Biography
Rachel Neumann is a literary agent with and the founder of Wave Literary. She specializes in creating books that you pick up before knowing why you picked them up and donÕt put down until theyÕre done. For the past 15 years, she has worked in book publishing in New York and California with an emphasis on developing culture-shifting narrative nonfiction. As Publisher and Editorial Director of Parallax Press, Rachel transformed a small nonprofit into a multimillion-dollar trade publisher. She used her gift for finding books that make spiritual concepts useful to daily life to create Thich Nhat HanhÕs best-selling 8-book Mindfulness Essentials series. As the Associate Publisher and Editorial Director of Shambhala Publications, Rachel focused on developing diverse and underrepresented authors in wellness, psychology, health, politics, and creative living. She has co-created two successful childrenÕs imprints and has worked with publishers large and small on expanding and diversifying their audiences. Rachel has been the personal editor and collaborator for internationally-revered teachers Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, as well as dozens of other best-selling authors. She is the author of four books. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Nation, and other national and international publications. Rachel is based in the Bay Area and speaks and teaches regularly around the country. SheÕs happiest in the ocean, in the middle of a good book, or upside down. Not all at once.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Beauty Fashion Style | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Health Wellness | History | Inspirational Nonfiction | Law Legal | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology | Travel |
Biography
Alan Nevins is a literary agent with Renaissance Literary & Talent. He started his book career working for the famed super agent Irving “Swifty” Lazar. In 1993, Nevins founded Renaissance Literary & Talent with two Hollywood based literary agents and the agency thrived.
In 1995, Renaissance acquired the Irving Paul Lazar Agency and its extensive backlist after a year of negotiations, beating several eager bidders, including one of the majors. This acquisition, and that of the previously acquired H.N. Swanson Agency, gave the infant Renaissance the enviable legacy of two of Hollywood’s most colorful literary agents and solidified its place as a powerhouse boutique literary firm supplying material to the New York publishers as well as the film/television community.
After Renaissance completed a three year stint associated with Michael OvitzÕs Artists Management Group, Renaissance was quietly placed in the background and Nevins cut a deal with music and film management company, The Firm, to create a literary division that would come with longstanding and impressive relationships in Hollywood, London and New York.
After six years with The Firm, Nevins departed in late 2008 and re-established Renaissance Literary & Talent.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Sports | True Crime |
Biography
Esther Newberg is a literary agent with CAA/ICM, a talent agency in New York. Newberg is the senior vice president at International Creative Management. She has represented authors such as Carl Hiaasen (Skinny Dip) and Patricia Cornwell (Trace), Thomas Friedman, Michael Beschloss and Caroline Kennedy. The New York Post called her “one of the most powerful agents in the literary world.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports |
Biography
Jen Newens is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. At different phases of her publishing career, Jen has been an author, editor, and publisher, giving her experience in all sides of the business. She comes to us after a seven-year stint as publishing director at West Margin Press, an Ingram Content Group company. There, she acquired a wide range of different genres, but holds a special place in her heart for young peopleÕs literature. She began to acquire graphic novels in 2019 and sees it as an exciting and burgeoning way to tell childrenÕs stories.
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A subject matter expert in food and drink titles, Jen spent two decades as a cookbook editor and writer (she even went to culinary school!). SheÕs experienced in working with celebrity chefs, business owners, cooking brands, and food bloggers, as well as accomplished home cooks.
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In her role as Senior Literary Manager, Jen applies her 360-view of the publishing business to MLM, seeking out fresh, original voices and developing exciting new talent. On the children’s side, Jen is interested in picture books with sharp writing and compelling messages; MG/YA stories that resonate with the challenges faced by todayÕs youth; and graphic novels with quirky narration and original art. In the food and drink space, Jen is keen to find original takes on popular topics, books that reveal a riveting personal story, and books with a health and wellness slant.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Graphic Novel | LGBTQ Fiction |Cookbook Cooking | Fitness | Food Drink | Health Wellness | How-To | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Self-Help |
Biography
Dana Newman is a literary with and the founder of Dana Newman Literary. The agency was founded in 2010. Prior to becoming a literary agent, she worked for 14 years as General Counsel for Moviola and its affiliates, Paskal Lighting and Magnasync Corporation. With years of experience working in the entertainment and communications technology industries during the digital revolution in film editing and audio recording, Dana is excited about the changes happening in publishing and enthusiastically embraces new technologies and ideas about how books will be created, distributed and experienced.
Dana combines her professional insight, educational background (B.A. in Comparative Literature from U.C. Berkeley, J.D. from University of San Francisco), and a lifelong love of reading to to her role as a literary agent. She regularly attends writersÕ conferences and speaks frequently on legal issues for authors (including publishing contracts, collaboration agreements, and copyright). Dana Newman Literary works with Judy Klein of Kleinworks Agency on handling clientsÕ foreign rights sales. She works as a co-agent with Phyllis Parsons of The Parsons Company, Inc. in connection with speakers and film/TV rights.
In addition to her work as a literary agent, Dana is also Of Counsel at Raines Feldman LLP, where she focuses on business and legal advising, negotiating and drafting contracts, intellectual property (copyrights and trademarks), licensing and literary law. Her specialty is helping creative entrepreneurs and authors achieve their goals, and sheÕs represented a wide variety of clients in entertainment, media and business. She wrote “Copyright Grants: as Powerful as Kryptonite?” published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, and co-authored the chapter on Technology and Intellectual Property Rights in the book Emerging Companies Guide: A Resource for Professionals and Entrepreneurs, Second Edition (American Bar Association 2011).
Dana is a member of the Association of AuthorsÕ Representatives and the California State Bar.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Computers | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Fitness | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel | Upmarket Nonfiction | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Kiana Nguyen is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. Kiana Nguyen joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2016, where she assisted several agents, and is now building her own client list. She is seeking YA fiction across genres, particularly those with POC and queer voices. She is also interested in Adult romance and thrillers.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Mariah Nichols is a literary agent with the D4EO Literary Agency. She has a great passion for storytelling and for the publishing industry. With a BS degree in Business she wanted to apply her degree towards the world of books.
After interning at Howland Literary her senior year, she soon transitioned to the role as a reader and in-house editor for the D4EO Literary Agency, working with Bob Diforio in all aspects of the business, with the intention of being named a D4EO literary agent.
She enjoys working with new authors, offering editorial suggestions and copy editing of their manuscripts, helping to ensure that the work submitted to publishers is the best it can be. She is actively seeking compelling stories and growing her client list.
Mariah is interested in adult and young adult fiction with genres including thriller, upmarket, romance/rom-com, horror, family drama, science fiction/paranormal, and womenÕs fiction. She is also wanting to represent nonfiction in categories such as cookbooks, memoirs, self-help, lifestyle, and how-to. Stories that showcase diversity and highlight mental health or special needs is something that she would especially like to see.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Art | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gardening | Health Wellness | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Pop Culture | Self-Help | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Amy Nielson is a literary agent at The Purcell Agency. She spent nearly twenty years sharing her love of books with young readers on the other side of the writing aisle as a youth librarian. Daily immersion in story took root, and she started penning her 2024 YA debut, Worth It, behind her checkout desk.
She left the library after her youngest son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and began writing full-time. She also began working with other authors helping them to elevate their craft and go on to pursue publication deals. While she will always enjoy pursuing her own writing goals, helping other authors has become a passion. She is honored to now serve as an associate literary agent at The Purcell Agency.
Amy also has a background in television production and creates book trailers for authors to use as a marketing tool. She started Mayflower Media where she works collaboratively with writers to bring the heart of their stories from the page to the screen.
In addition to her debut, Amy is the author of It Takes a Village: How to Build A Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family, the picture book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Teaching Television Production, Beyond the Morning Newscast. She is the co-author of the upcoming title Navigating the Wild World of Publishing: A Workbook for Indie and Self-Published Authors and the co-host of the Author(ish) podcast.
When not writing or reading she and her family can be found boating in Tampa Bay. You can find Amy at http://www.amynielsenauthor.com.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Dystopian Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Speculative Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Amy Nielson is a literary agent at The Purcell Agency. She spent nearly twenty years sharing her love of books with young readers on the other side of the writing aisle as a youth librarian. Daily immersion in story took root, and she started penning her 2024 YA debut, Worth It, behind her checkout desk.
She left the library after her youngest son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and began writing full-time. She also began working with other authors helping them to elevate their craft and go on to pursue publication deals. While she will always enjoy pursuing her own writing goals, helping other authors has become a passion. She is honored to now serve as an associate literary agent at The Purcell Agency.
Amy also has a background in television production and creates book trailers for authors to use as a marketing tool. She started Mayflower Media where she works collaboratively with writers to bring the heart of their stories from the page to the screen.
In addition to her debut, Amy is the author of It Takes a Village: How to Build A Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family, the picture book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Teaching Television Production, Beyond the Morning Newscast. She is the co-author of the upcoming title Navigating the Wild World of Publishing: A Workbook for Indie and Self-Published Authors and the co-host of the Author(ish) podcast.
When not writing or reading she and her family can be found boating in Tampa Bay. You can find Amy at http://www.amynielsenauthor.com.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Dystopian Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Speculative Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Erin Niumata is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. Erin Niumata has been in publishing for almost three decades. She started as an editorial assistant at Simon and Schuster in the Touchstone/Fireside division for several years; then moved over to Harper Collins as an editor, and then she went to Avalon Books as the Editorial Director. Erin has edited many authors including Leon Uris, Stuart Woods, Erica Jong, Brenda Maddox, Lawrence Otis Graham, Joan Rivers, and more. She has represented NY Times Bestselling cowboy romance writer Carolyn Brown, pet expert Sandy Robins, Discovery ChannelÕs Fast N Loud, North America and Cash Cab; TLCÕs Ð The Cake Boss, Diesel Brothers, and Extreme Couponing; Animal PlanetÕs Too Cute, Finding Big Foot, River Monsters and Puppy Bowl; NASA’s Above and Beyond, inspirational speaker Josh Shipp, graffiti artist/speed-painter/inspiration speaker Erik Wahl, former gangster turned dog groomer James Guiliani, Skin care expert and co-founder of SoKo Glam Charlotte Cho, Hello Fears internet sensation Michelle Poler, Forever Twenty Something founder Sam Matt, chef/baker Grant Melton, humorist Jen Lancaster, humorist Jennifer Mann, Project Healthy Body founder Jennifer Joffe, Teenage Inspirational speaker Abby Jones, Fitness expert Ellington Darden, and many more. SheÕs worked on multiple NY Times Bestsellers.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | Romance | Satire | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Pop Culture | Self-Help | Spirituality | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Nina Noelle is a literary agent with The Hot Coast Agency. She is a lover of pop culture, and all things humor. SheÕs actively looking for womenÕs-driven projects, politics, business, and practical non-fiction from authors with strong platforms.
She represents authors from around the globe and began agenting with sales of TV projects & books, including her own to British and American publishers.
SheÕs a three-time Ivy League graduate, who majored in English and built a powerhouse marketing background.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | New Literary Agents | General Nonfiction | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Economics | Health Wellness | Humor Nonfiction | Investigative | Journalism | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Science | Women’s Issues |
Betsy Nolan
The Betsy Nolan Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Betsy Nolan is the president of The Betsy Nolan Literary Agency.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Gardening | How-To | Lifestyle | Parenting | Psychology | Self-Help |
Biography
Laura Nolan is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents an eclectic list of New York Times bestselling investigative journalists, thought leaders, doctors, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities who inspire, entertain, educate and are striving to upend the culture. Her clients have won the Pulitzer Prize, a MacArthur ÒgeniusÓ grant, Oscar, Grammy, and Tony awards. They include Neil Patrick Harris, Ben Folds, Rhiannon Giddens, Wendell Pierce, Stephen ÒSteve-OÓ Glover, Allison Moorer, business leader Sabina Nawaz, esteemed doctors and psychologists Dr. Thomas Doherty, and Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, award-winning cultural and investigative journalists Scott Carney, Holly George-Warren, Alan Light and Josiah Hesse, among others. With fellow-senior partner, Jane von Mehren, Nolan represents National Public Radio for all book publishing, working closely with such established shows as NPR Music and Planet Money.
Nolan is seeking clients who are asking the ÒbigÓ questions, exploring fascinating sub-cultures, and are paradigm-shifters in their fields, as well as performing artists who are successful in one medium but whose talents and passion translate into narrative.
Before joining Aevitas, Nolan was the head of book publishing division for Paradigm Talent Agency. She is based in New York.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |Celebrity | Food Drink | Memoir | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Bryan Norman is a literary agent with the Alive Literary Agency. As an agent, Bryan aims to serve authors with reckless generosityÑto give his time, expertise, passion, and partnership to help make good things happen in peopleÕs lives. He values relationships, strategy, efficiency, and excellence.
Before joining Alive as an agent in 2013, Bryan spent nearly a decade at Thomas Nelson, a top faith-based publishing house. Because of his time there in both editorial and leadership roles, he understands how publishing houses operate.
In 2004, he received his MasterÕs in English Literature and Language from the University of ColoradoÐBoulder, graduating with honors.
Bryan takes all that skill and experience and pours it into his authors, partnering with them to shape their careers and achieve their dreams.
He lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Suzanne, and their two children. He enjoys cooking, the outdoors, and cooking outdoors.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Nonfiction |Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY |Inspirational Fiction | Religious Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Dating Relationships Sex | Inspirational Nonfiction | Memoir | Money Finance | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Sharon Norris Elliott is a literary agent with the AuthorizeMe Literary Firm. She is a substantive and developmental editor, award-winning author, popular speaker and Bible teacher, and the founder and CEO of Life That Matters Ministries and AuthorizeMe.
A graduate of Biola University with a doctor of theology degree from HSBN International School of Ministry (an affiliate of Gateway International Bible Institute), Sharon is the author of 17 books and the host of Life That Matters with Sharon Norris Elliott, on The Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network (HSBN.tv) and the Christian WomenÕs Word Network (CWWN.tv).
Through her AuthorizeMe Literary Firm, Sharon provides editing and author coaching, mentors up-and-coming writers and speakers, and conducts hands-on seminars about how to reach publishing goals. The latest exciting growth of her AuthorizeMe brand includes her work as a literary agent.
Sharon is retired from her esteemed 35-year teaching career and now focuses full time on her writing, editing, agenting, and broadcasting. She serves at Christ Second Baptist Church in Long Beach, California, where she s an assistant minister. She enjoys her empty nest, traveling, and visiting her children and grandchildren.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY | BIPOC Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Religious Fiction | BIPOC Nonfiction | Family | Inspirational Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Multicultural Nonfiction | Parenting | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Trodayne Northern is a literary agent with Prentis Literary. Trodayne was an English teacher, freelance writer, and editor before entering the publishing world, interning with The Literary Group. It was not long before he found a more permanent home at Linn Prentis Literary. As if mirroring CampbellÕs notions of the monomyth, soon Trodayne was taking part in a true apprenticeship, not unlike something ripped from the very fantasy novels heÕd so long loved. While with Linn Prentis Literary, he developed his own client list, working with award winning authors, NYT bestsellers and top editors. He played Luke to LinnÕs Yoda, Bilbo to LinnÕs Gandalf, staying on with the agency through LinnÕs retirement. Then with Linn initially playing an advisory role, he co-founded Prentis Literary alongside Leslie and Terry.
As a youth, Trodayne cooked his pillow nightly in an effort to conceal the 120 watt blade of disobedience that would leak defiantly into the hallway after his parents expressly had ordered him to bed. His passion is good storytelling. While his desire to refine his own storytelling in music, writing and visual media was strong, his thirst to cultivate and nurture othersÕ talents has always been equally strong. Science Fiction and Fantasy will always be his first love, but his genre interests have always been wide ranging. You would be just as likely to see him on the subway re-reading Native Son as the newest Mass Effect book.
ItÕs not just the story in each book that fascinates and invigorates but the story of each book as well. It is the process itself that he finds gratifyingÑthe helping to polish a novel, the matchmaking of author to publisher, assuring that each author is happy with the end product, ultimately the very success of the book, all of it, is the bookÕs story. Playing a role in that story, in how an author is able to tell his or her stories gives him great satisfaction.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Memoir |
Biography
Lynnette Novak is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. Prior to joining The Seymour Agency, Lynnette spent 17 years freelance editing. She worked with new writers, advanced writers, as well as the New York Times and the USA Today bestselling authors.
Lynnette earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Manitoba, where she specialized in English and French. She excelled in Advanced Creative Writing in university and studied writing for children and teens through the Institute of ChildrenÕs Literature. She was a Pitch Wars mentor in 2015 and 2016. Both her mentees acquired an agent.
Although Lynnette was born and raised in Manitoba, Canada, she now lives in Minnesota with her husband, twin girls, and many pets. Her personal interests include reading, writing, exercising at the gym (okay, thatÕs a love/hate relationship), working on an assortment of crafts, all things having to do with animals (if she could own a farm, zoo, and animal shelter, she would), and enjoying time with family and friends.
She loves dark and suspenseful, mysterious twists, unique worlds, light and funny, a good love story, and lots of voice. Lynnette is always looking for diverse and LGBTQ+ authors and wants to share more of these marginalized voices with the world.
Currently looking for: (Always looking for BIPOC, diversity of all kinds, and LGBTQ+!!!)
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Picture books: fiction and nonfiction picture books (non-rhyming preferred).
MG genres: horror, contemporary, mystery, magical realism, contemporary/grounded fantasy
YA genres: horror, rom-com, thriller, romantic fantasy, fantasy, magical realism
Adult fiction genres: thriller, psychological suspense, horror, mystery (traditional and amateur sleuth)
Adult nonfiction genres: memoirs, spirituality/New Age, self-help, health/fitness, parenting/family, motivational/inspirational, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships & dating, and true crime. You must be an expert in the field and have a platform.
What kind of platform do you need for nonfiction? Are you a celebrity with a story to tell? An expert in the field (doctor, CEO, trainer, psychologist, etc.)? Do you have a direct route to the consumer? Are you a social influencer or public speaker?
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |Animals | Business Book | Celebrity | Dating Relationships Sex | Fitness | Health Wellness | Inspirational Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | New Age | Parenting | Pop Culture | Psychology | Self-Help | Spirituality | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Alexander Novotny is a literary agent with and the co-founder of the Novotny Literary Agency. Alexander Novotny was raised and worked at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza (Albany) and Market Block Books (Troy) until he decided he decided to go to law school. After passing the NYS Bar he settled in Los Angeles for two years and spent time at a literary agency in Hollywood.
The proximity to the publishersÕ reps and the torrent of advance review copies puts the independent bookseller in a unique position to discover the jewels of the trade. Put simply, what if several voracious booksellers read and vetted a manuscript even before it went to the publisher? If your manuscript or proposal holds up to this objective scrutiny then there is a place for you and we are on our way.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Pop Culture |
Biography
Lori Nowicki is a literary agent with Painted Words. Painted WordsÕ founder, Lori Nowicki, holds a MasterÕs Degree in Education and worked extensively as a teacher and specialist in public schools for ten years prior to starting her agency. As a special needs teacher she helped students in all areas, but found a passion for inspiring reluctant readers to love books. Her favorite project was teaching her sixth grade classes how to write and illustrate comic books. In 1992, she began representing several of her illustrator friends, while teaching part-time.
In 2006 she formed Painted Words, a boutique literary arts agency focused on representing diverse talent. Lori has brought her background in education to the field of publishing, helping aspiring authors and illustrators tell their stories. In her nearly thirty years of representing artists, she has mentored up-and-coming talent and worked with award-winning and bestselling creators on a range of projects in the publishing industry and beyond.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Graphic Novel |Biography | Pop Culture |
Biography
Renee Nyen is a literary agent with KT Literary. Several years in the editorial department at Random HouseÕs Colorado division provided Renee with the opportunity to work with bestselling and debut authors alike. After leaving Random House, she came to KT Literary in early 2013. She loves digging into manuscripts and helping the author shape the best story possible. Though this is great for her profession, it tends to frustrate people watching movies with her. With a penchant for depressing hipster music and an abiding love for a good adventure story, Renee is always looking for book recommendations. Even if that means creeping on people reading in public. Which she does frequently. She makes her home in Arizona with her husband, and their two three children.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction |
Biography
Susan Nystoriak is a literary agent with Golden Wheat Literary. She is fond of charismatic characters, twisty plots, and happy endings.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Humor Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Lee O’Brien is a literary agent with the Looking Glass Literary & Media. They say: “IÕm a junior agent at IGLA. Across all age categories, IÕm looking stories with a distinctive voice, immersive world, and clear stakes, whether those stakes are physical or emotional. I love pacy, stories with a strong commercial hook, as well as quieter character driven stories that can still keep the pages turning. IÕm interested in a range of genres, from fantasy, to horror, to psychological thrillers/domestic suspense, to romance, to contemporary.
Here are some specific things that IÕm looking for right now:
Fantasy of all kindsÑEpic secondary world fantasy, dark fantasy full of dangerous secrets and strange magic; grounded fantasy with compelling characters and a strong sense of place; nonwestern fantasy and fantasy from underrepresented voices
Fun, pacy queer middle grade and YAÑbooks full of wonder and mischief and mystery, about queer&trans kids going on adventures and getting into trouble.
Non-binary and trans books, across all genres
Books with a strong central mystery, whether itÕs a murder, a long-buried secret, or slowly unspooling intrigue. Books full of twists and turns, that take us in deeper the more that we know.
Slow building atmospheric horror, and horror stories with a literary edge. I would also love to see MG horrorÑAtmospheric ghost stories, monster books, and scary stories to read with a flashlight
Queer romanceÑfirst crushes, love triangles, friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, rom-coms, slow burns, and shippable characters with dangerous amounts of chemistry.
I would absolutely go to war for a sweepingly epic ace-spec love story of any kind. Aro best friends who would burn cities for each other. Demisexuals who team up to save the world then accidentally fall in love. All of it.
Atmospheric middle grade, and MG page turners with a more literary voice.
YA thrillers with fast pacing and a compelling voice, that can drive up the stakes and still cut to the heart.
Thoughtful retellings that speak back to their source, but can still stand on their own. Retellings of stories that we donÕt often hear, as well as fresh takes on old favorites.
Some other things that are pretty evergreen for me are secrets, love triangles, magic, monsters, girls with swords, trans folx with medieval weaponry in general, puzzles, intrigue, heists, disaster queers, and hauntings of all kinds.
I am actively seeking underrepresented voices, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA, disability, neurodiversity, and mental illness #OwnVoices, and books where multiple identities intersect. IÕd also love to see more positive fat rep, and books with a diversity of body types.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Gothic Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Psychology |
Biography
Kevin O’Connor is a literary agent with the O’Connor Literary Agency. Since his first job out of college at Sesame Workshop, Kevin has always worked at the intersection of business and creative. He has hands-on experience in a variety of media: animation, live action TV, toys, live shows, music, educational apps, and Òthe sweetest plumÓ: t-shirts*. In addition to Sesame, heÕs worked for Fisher-Price, VTech, Kidz Bop, Barnes & Noble, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. HeÕs inked deals with Chrysler, Nestle, Pearson, and all the major publishers.
As an agent, Kevin takes on serious adult nonfiction (Brian McCulloughÕs How the Internet Happened, Claude Andrew CleggÕs The Black President). On the adult fiction side, he represents Afghan and Iraq War Vet Adam Kovac (The Surge), as well as upcoming boks food writer Kristin Griffin (Irish Goodbye), award-winning TV writer Fracaswell Hyman (A Maze of Stunted Trees) and the acclaimed Colin Winnette (So You Think You Can Dance?).
For middlegrade readers, heÕs the agent behind the Russell GinnsÕs Samantha Spinner series; Cas HymanÕs Mango Delight; and Steven B. FrankÕs Armstrong and Charlie. He reps the picturebooks Papa, Daddy & Riley by Seamus Kirst; Honeysmoke by Monique Fields; and A Is for Audra by John Robert Allman, illustrated by Peter Emmerich.
He is a Columbia College grad and the founding director of The Center for Nonfiction, a Columbia University Community Scholars Project dedicated to helping journalists and scholars understand the formal needs of trade publishers.
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Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Computers | History | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Science | Technology |
Biography
After achieving his degree in english literature, Kristopher went from working as a bookseller in an independent bookstore to the world of editing and agenting in 1996.
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Accepting Submissions |Fantasy | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction |
Biography
Molly O’Neill is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: ÒIf I can visualize exactly how to form a web of connections around a book and its creator while IÕm reading an early draft, then itÕs a fantastic signal that I also know how to help that author or artist build their way into a meaningful, and potentially lucrative, career.”
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Accepting Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only | Member of the AALA |Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Graphic Novel | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance |Memoir | Science |
Biography
Coleen O’Shea is a literary agent with and a founding partner in the Allen O’Shea Literary Agency. Previously, she worked in executive editorial positions at major trade publishers, discovering many bestselling authors and helping to develop publishing programs. Before becoming a literary agent, published author, book packager and publishing consultant, she was Executive Editor of a major publisher. In that position, Coleen worked with a wide array of award-winning and best-selling fiction authors and developed a successful list of self-improvement, health and nutrition titles, as well as illustrated lifestyle books and cookbooks. She has conceived and developed book series for Simon & Schuster, Random House, National Geographic Society Trade Books, and ReaderÕs Digest, among others.
With a strong editorial and publishing background, as a literary agent Coleen works actively with her clients to craft strong proposals and to develop, publish and promote their books and brand. Her best-selling authors publish books, offer related courses, seminars and workshops, appear on national media, develop products, write for major publications and blogs, and speak to a wide array of audiences around the world. Her client list focuses on health, wellness, nutrition, diet, fitness, meditation, inspirational, lifestyle, cooking, narrative, memoir, and some select fiction authors. Among her clients are best-selling and award-winning authors, notable entrepreneurs, chefs and bakers, Olympic athletes, internationally celebrated yogis and fitness experts, Intuitives, Meditators, scientists, researchers, and doctors, educators and journalists. She also has an interest in the areas of pop culture, parenting, and design.
She is the co-author of The Complete IdiotÕs Guide to Book Proposals and Query Letters (Penguin Books) with her partner Marilyn Allen.
A voracious reader, active gardener, cook and runner, Coleen is eager to work with clients with national and international platforms to help share new ideas with big audiences.
Coleen is a member of the Association of AuthorsÕ Representatives and WomenÕs Media Group.
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA | General Nonfiction | Art | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Diet Nutrition | Environment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Inspirational Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | New Age | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Natalie Obando is a literary agent _Ladderbird. She is a graduate from California State University, Long Beach with a BA in journalism emphasizing public relations and a minor in creative writing. Since then, sheÕs worked in the world of books as a book publicist. Natalie is the founder of Do Good Public Relations Group and the grassroots organization, Women of Color Writers Podcast and Programming. She is the current national president of the 105 years old non-profit, the WomenÕs National Book Association (WNBA), overseeing all eleven chapters across the nation. As the first Latina president of the WNBA, her goal has been promoting diversity in publishing via grassroots efforts.
Because of her dedication to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the book world, she is the founder and chair of Authentic VoicesÑa four-month long program that immerses people from marginalized communities in a master class of writing, editing, marketing, and publishing. Natalie has since been a panelist and speaker at some of the most well-regarded literary conferences in the industry including the San Francisco WriterÕs Conference, The West Coast WriterÕs Conference, the Central Coast WriterÕs Conference, PublisherÕs Group West Conference, as well as conferences that focus on diversity in publishing such as Centering on the Margins.
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When sheÕs not championing for folx in the book world, she can be found in the gym powerlifting, in her bed cuddling her dogs, and (if sheÕs not procrastinating) writing novels and screenplays rooted in Latinx folklore and magic.
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Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | Chick Lit | Contemporary Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Fantasy | Horror | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Fitness | Health Wellness | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Multicultural Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Spirituality | Travel | Women’s Issues |