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
Victoria Pryor is the president of Arcadia Literary Agency.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Biography | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Environment | Family | Health Wellness | History | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Politics | Science | Technology |
Biography
Michael Psaltis is a literary agent with The Cea. He initially launched The Culinary Cooperative in 2005 with a concentrated focus on the cooking and lifestyle markets.
In 2012, together with partner Cameron Levkoff, the agency was re-branded as The Culinary Entertainment Agency. The change reflected their intention to continue expertly represent their clients’ interests and help them navigate through the rapidly changing media world to develop their brands and achieve their goals.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Cookbook Cooking | Diet Nutrition | Food Drink | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Sophie Pugh-Sellers is a literary agent with The Gernert Company. Shejoined The Gernert Company in 2019. Raised in Oakland, California and Charlottesville, Virginia, her literary palate is as eclectic and complex as her two hometowns. She is interested in representing smart narrative and journalistic nonfiction; memoirs from radical new voices; commercial and literary fiction, particularly with sci-fi, folk tale, or speculative elements; and works of poetry that are urgent and unafraid to play with genre. She loves deep dives, anything melancholy, and stories that challenge her to think more critically about the world. All of her favorite writing includes language and worlds so powerful that she misses them long after closing the book. She serves on the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Fête Committee, and holds a BA in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies from Barnard College. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction |General Nonfiction | Journalism | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Joanna Pulcini is a literary agent with Joanna Pulcini Literary Management. A graduate of the Radcliffe Publishing Course, Joanna Pulcini-Ascaso attended college at Catholic University and graduate school at Boston College, focusing on the origins of women’s novels in the Restoration and 18th Century periods. During her school years, she held internships on Capital Hill, working on Hillary Clinton’s Health Care Reform Initiative, and at the Smithsonian Institute, as one of the Museum Summer Residents, as well as worked throughout her undergrad years in the library at the Environmental Law Institute. In her first full time position, she was the assistant to the editor-in-chief of Vintage Books. She was then an agent at Linda Chester and Associates for six years, representing such dream clients as Rosemary Clooney, Nick Clooney, “Vows” columnist Lois Smith Brady, Yolanda Young, and Mark Sullivan. She established her own agency in 2001 with a small list of authors including Jennifer Weiner, John Searles, and Megan McCafferty, each of whom she would help usher on to become bestsellers. At JPLM, the books she represented and worked on editorially spent over 290 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers lists. She was the publishing consultant on the first season of the television series Younger, and the videos she started creating at her husband’s bakery, Le Marais Bakery, on weekends as a lark have now gone on to be viewed over 100 million times. She lives with her husband, daughter, and three Havanese pups in San Francisco.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Women’s Fiction |Autobiography | Biography | Celebrity | Film Entertainment | History | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Music | Pop Culture |
Biography
Liza Pulitzer-Voges is a literary agent with Eden Street Literary Agency. Liza has been a literary agent for childrens’ book authors and illustrators for almost 30 years working with over 40 clients. Highlights of the years include Lois Ehlert’s Caldecott Honor for COLOR ZOO; Gloria Whelan’s National Book Award for HOMELESS BIRD; and Sucie Stevenson’s E.B. White award for HENRY AND MUDGE AND THE GREAT GRANDPAS. The growth of authors such as Dan Gutman, Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams, Shutta Crum, and many others is what makes the job irresistible.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction |
Biography
Jane Putch is the founder of Eyebait Literary Management. She represents New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor and groundbreaking visual storyteller Jim Di Bartolo. She is a Los Angeles-based literary agent. Providing a unique perspective, Putch offers the expertise gained in 20-plus years of strategic brand and licensing consulting for Fortune 500 companies, entertainment studios, and talent-led brands.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Health Wellness | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Multicultural Nonfiction | Science | Sports | Travel |
Biography
Lisa Queen is the founder of Queen Literary Agency. She was the former publishing executive and head of IMG Worldwide’s literary division. The agency represents a wide range of non-fiction and fiction, both literary and commercial including many award-winning, best-selling authors. She is always on the lookout for excellent commercial and literary fiction including historical fiction, mysteries, and thrillers.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Autobiography | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | History | Memoir | Money Finance | Music | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Pilar Queen is a literary agent with the United Talent Agency (UTA). UTA hired Pilar Queen in 2019 as a publishing agent based in New York City. Queen spent the previous decade at McCormick Literary representing bestselling authors including Brad Stone, Emily Chang, Grant Achatz, Andy Kessler, John Hope Bryant, Debi Mazar and Simone de la Rue, among many others. At UTA, she has worked to expand the agency’s roster of storytellers as well as helped clients create and leverage original intellectual property across various divisions and platforms. Queen has over 20 years of experience in the literary field and a history of overseeing major bestsellers. Since joining UTA she has worked with Gisele Bündchen, Mary Trump, Karlie Kloss, Rob Delaney, Brian Stelter, Radhi Shetty, Chelsea Handler, Jose Antonio Vargas, Ali Vitali, Michael Barbaro, Arianna Huffington, Michael Dell, Kara Swisher, Elliot Page, Molly Jong-Fast, and many more fascinating and diverse figures.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Science | Self-Help | Technology | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Sydney Queen Detellis
WordLink, IncorporatedCLOSED to SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Sydney Queen Detellis is a literary agent with WordLink, Incorporated. She is a graduate of Belmont University with a BA in English and has been obsessed with books ever since a librarian tried to ban her from the YA section in elementary school. Her own writing has received the Alfred Leland Crabb Award, the Ruby Treadway Award, and the Corinne Dale Award for Writing about Gender. She resides in Myrtle Beach with her husband and what some people say is too many cats.
Sydney is looking for beautiful prose and unrepeatable characters in many genres, including literary fiction, historical fiction, psychological thrillers, mysteries, speculative fiction, and books of the fantasy/sci-fi/slipstream variety. She is interested in adult novels and has a long-standing love for YA. Sydney is also seeking memoirs or essay collections that address overcoming trauma.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Thriller |Memoir |
Biography
Susan Rabiner is a literary agent with the Susan Rabiner Literary Agency. She co-founded Susan Rabiner Literary with Alfred Fortunato (with whom she co-wrote Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction and Get It Published) as a boutique agency dedicated to big idea books, the type of books she published as a senior editor at a number of major New York publishing houses and as editorial director of Basic Books, then a division of HarperCollins. Since then, the agency has won a slew of awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes in biography (Hirohito by Herbert Bix and The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher by Debby Applegate), two Bancrofts, (Fordlandia by Greg Grandin, and The Other Slavery, which was also named a finalist in nonfiction for the 2017 National Book Award, by Andres Resendez), as well as the Penn and Plutarch prizes in biography (Holding On Upside Down: The Life and Work of Marianne Moore by Linda Leavell). Other authors she currently represents include Mario Livio, Bruce Schneier, Holger Hoock, David Lindley, Pamela Haag, Bruce Tulgan, Carlo Rotella, and Nancy MacLean.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Current Events Affairs | Film Entertainment | History | Music | Politics | Pop Culture | Science |
Biography
Lynne Rabinoff is the president of Lynne Rabinoff Associates.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Autobiography | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Economics | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Government | Health Wellness | History | Inspirational Nonfiction | Journalism | Law Legal | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Money Finance | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Technology | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Isabelle Rader is a literary agent with the Codex Literary Agency. After growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Isabelle began her career in publishing by interning at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency at the start of 2022. After graduating college with a BA in English Literature, she followed Miriam into her new venture. On the weekends you can find her doing yoga, kayaking, or curled up with her two cats and reading a good book.
Actively looking for NA Books across all genres, she is also interested in Adult, Young Adult, and Middle-Grade Fantasy, as well as both Upmarket and Commercial Adult, all with never-before-seen worldbuilding, unique characters, strong plotting, and compulsive hooks. From Dark Academia to Epic, Historical, and Contemporary Fantasy with wild adventures, thrilling romances, and dashes of humor, she is always looking for unforgettable characters, strong female leads, and diverse voices.
Regardless of genre, she’s very likely to connect with manuscripts that bridge the YA/Adult divide. She is also a sucker for romantic subplots, whether it be enemies to lovers, slow burns, or forced proximity, she is here for all of it (especially with a morally grey best friend along for the ride).
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |
Biography
Susan Raihofer is a literary agent with the David Black Agency. Susan has been an agent at the David Black Agency since 1993 and focuses on commercial fiction and non-fiction, including memoir, pop-culture, music, and inspirational; as well as thrillers and a selective amount of literary fiction. Her pop sensibility and literary heart meld together to develop projects that will entertain, move and inspire: projects with a soul and an edge. (She seeks quality writing but something more than two people will want to read). For fun, she might read Siddhartha or Keith Richards’ memoir.
Over her years at the agency, Susan has handled everything from first serial, audio, foreign rights, editorial (she even recalls those dark years when she handled book-keeping as well). She has excellent relationships with film agents and publishers throughout the world. In nearly two decades as an agent, Susan has formed solid partnerships throughout the business to help build brands in traditional and new media. Described as tenacious and passionate, Susan represents projects she cares deeply about and has faith in; authors she can build long-term relationships with. She hasn’t lost the personal touch and brings her personal and professional commitment to everything she tackles. Her mantra: Anything is possible.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Short Story Collection | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Art | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology | True Crime |
Biography
Dan Raines is a senior partner and literary agent with Creative Trust.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY |General Fiction | Religious Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Current Events Affairs | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Politics | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Joan Raines is a partner in the New York literary agency Raines & Raines.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Crime Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery |Memoir |
Biography
Lisa Rambert-Valaskova is an literary agent for adult authors with the Transatlantic Agency. She has a law degree from the University of McGill and a degree in French Language and Literature from the University of Toronto, Trinity College. Prior to joining Transatlantic she worked with several agents and authors as an independent literary consultant and editor. After living in Ottawa, Rome, Toronto, Prague, New York and (almost) Paris (twice!) – she now lives in beautiful Montreal with her husband, three children, and a sweet-as-honey Small Munsterlander named Tessa.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cookbook Cooking | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Travel |
Biography
Susan Ramer is a literary agent with Don Congdon Associates. Susan started at Don Congdon Associates in 1986. She looks for literary fiction, upmarket ‘book club’ fiction (contemporary and historical, American in particular), and narrative non-fiction. Susan is drawn to an authentic voice, unforgettable characters with an edge, and an unfamiliar, well-crafted story that is emotional in unpredictable ways. For non-fiction, her interests include social history, cultural history, smart pop culture (fashion, food, art, music), women’s issues, and literary memoir with a distinctive theme. She particularly likes a narrative that combines a personal thread with reporting and analysis of a broader social or cultural issue. In everything, Susan appreciates a sense of humor, especially when it’s on the dark side. Please do not query Susan in the following categories: romance, sci-fi, fantasy, espionage, mysteries, politics, health/diet/fitness, self-help sports or children’s (young adult, middle grade or picture book); and she does not represent screenplays. Susan served two terms on the AAR Board of Directors (2014-2018).
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Contemporary Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |Beauty Fashion Style | Cultural Social Issues | Food Drink | History | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Upmarket Nonfiction | Women’s Issues |
Sophia Ramos
New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.Accepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Sophia M. Ramos is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. She is is a Cuban-American literary associate based in South Florida. She represents commercial to upmarket genre-blending fiction for adult, YA and select middle-grade projects. Sophia loves intentional, lush prose combined with propulsive plots and thoughtfully complex family dynamics. She gravitates toward speculative books rooted in history or culture that have elements of romance, mystery, and horror. She strives to build a list that speaks to traditionally underrepresented voices and intersectional identities.
Prior to joining New Leaf, Sophia graduated from New York University with a Masters of Science in Publishing. Her career began in the international sphere, where she worked as a literary scout as well as in foreign rights and international sales. She continues her work at New Leaf with top author brands and has a wide-open list she’s ready to fill. She is a Diet Coke enthusiast and champion axe-thrower, but mostly enjoys hanging out with her dachshund, Sunny.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Speculative Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Crafts | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Psychology | Science | Sports |
Biography
Jo Ramsay is a literary agent for adult authors with the Transatlantic Agency. Jo (they/she) comes to Transatlantic after nearly three years working as literary assistant to Carly Watters at P.S. Literary Agency. They’ve worked in publishing for over eight years at a number of publishers and literary magazines which include Simon and Schuster, Shrapnel Magazine, Arsenal Pulp Press, PRISM International, and Greystone Books. Their journalism has been published in The Globe & Mail, Maclean’s, and This Magazine among others. After graduating from UBC with a major in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing, Jo went on to live in Japan and the UK, always keeping a foot in the publishing world. Now based in Toronto, Jo is looking to represent a variety of adult fiction and nonfiction.
For fiction, Jo is seeking books that subvert genre expectations or combine genres in innovative ways, as well as stories with dark humor and absurdist elements. They crave shocking ideas and twists that make readers leap to text their friends about or jump on to social media to engage in conversation. They are also seeking books across all genres that feature queer relationships (particularly WLW/sapphic), BIPOC characters, or explore gender identity.
They’re particularly searching for books that feature unhinged women, female rage, or women in power. Emerging terms in the space of female rage—such as “coming of rage” (A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers, Beef on Netflix, Severance by Ling Ma) and “good for her” (My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, They Never Learn by Layne Fargo)—are a high priority. They are also interested in Millennial quarter-life/mid-life crisis (Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter, Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou), dark humor (Bunny by Mona Awad, Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder), and books that centre platonic love and affection.
Other genres that they adore are speculative fiction/light sci-fi (Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer), eco-fiction/cli-fi (The Overstory by Richard Powers, The Bear by Andrew Krivak), interesting workplaces with an ensemble cast (The Bear on Hulu, Succession on HBO), and messy families.
For nonfiction, they’re interested in investigative journalism, cultural critique, social psychology deep dives, eco-nonfiction, as well as personal narratives on art and pop culture. Books that unearth buried histories (Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann), interrogate online discussions and trends surrounding ageing, and examine the experiences of former child influencers are especially wanted. They are also looking for books that offer sharp commentary on culture and socio-economic structures that are written in an accessible and approachable voice.
They are not the right person for self-help, health and wellness, cookbooks, historical fiction focused on WWI, WWII or Cold War conspiracies and/or spy-adjacent books, kidlit/YA, or high/epic fantasy with heavy world building.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |BIPOC Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Gothic Fiction | Graphic Novel | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Speculative Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Art | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Family | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Travel | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Erica Rand Silverman is a literary agent with Stimola Literary Studio. Erica has always been committed to the social and emotional wellbeing of children. In the early 2000’s she was a teacher and dean in a NYC public school while finishing a masters in Theater and consulting for the much needed Inner Resilience Program.
It is through this unique lens that she approaches her work as a literary agent as well as producer and host of the studio’s Stimola Live YouTube channel.
In her 15+ years in publishing, Erica has worked with some of the most exciting new talent and treasured mainstays in the industry as well as the estates of our favorite classics. Today, she represents a highly selective list of authors and illustrators and is known for building a shelf of exceptional illustrated books for children that combine kid appeal with deep respect for the book as object. She is a tireless advocate for her clients and proud to be a part of an industry that is so thoughtfully shaping young hearts and minds.
Each year, Erica will accept a limited number of appearance requests from literary conferences and educational programs. Currently, she has committed to The Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators Critique Event at the 2023 Bologna Book Fair and a series of speaking engagements throughout the semester at MICA in their 2023 Advanced Book Illustration course.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Graphic Novel | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Religious Fiction |BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Mind Body Spirit | Multicultural Nonfiction | Parenting | Religion |
Biography
Kiele Raymond is a senior agent with the Thompson Literary Agency. She joined TLA in 2017 to seek out bold new voices in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Her list includes critically acclaimed and award winning writers such as Lee Matalone, Tana Wojczuk, Ari Braverman, Peace Adzo Medie, Nichole Perkins, Destiny O. Birdsong, and Candice Wuehle. Kiele received her B.A. in Anthropology and English Literature from Johns Hopkins University and her M.A. in the Humanities from the University of Chicago before launching her publishing career as an editor at Simon & Schuster. Her studies in modernism, sociolinguistics, and affect theory continue to influence her reading tastes and she treats each project with great editorial care. Kiele is open to queries and particularly interested in narratives set in and around the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the American Southwest.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Contemporary Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Short Story Collection |Biography | Cultural Social Issues | History | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Jodi Reamer is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Jodi says: “I’m an agent and an attorney and have been at Writers House for 25 years. I handle both children’s books, from young -adult to picture books, and adult books. My focus is commercial fiction. I would love to represent a legal thriller.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Lifestyle |
Biography
Adam Reed is a literary agent with the Joy Harris Literary Agency. Adam joined The Joy Harris Literary Agency in 2006. Adam has a background in business and technology, received an MFA in writing from Bard College’s Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts, and was a fiction editor at Fence Magazine from 2006-2016. His interests include literary fiction, science, technology, and medicine, and pop culture.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Science | Technology |
Biography
Lorin Rees is a literary agent with the Rees Literary Agency. He loves collaborating with creative people who are passionate about their work, helping to bring their ideas to fruition. Some of the books he has represented include the critically acclaimed story collection You Know When the Men are Gone (Amy Einhorn Books) by Siobhan Fallon; The Marauders (Crown) by Tom Cooper; Black River (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) by S.M. Hulse; The End of Big (St. Martin’s) by Nicco Mele; Who: Solve Your #1 Problem (Ballantine) by Geoff Smart and Randy Street; and I Believe in Zero (St. Martin’s) by Caryl Stern, President and CEO of Unicef USA.
Lorin serves on the Board of Directors for Salamandar Literary Journal and is on the advisory board of the Southern New Hampshire MFA program. He speaks regularly at conferences around the country. He is interested in literary fiction, memoirs, business books, self-help, science, history, psychology and narrative non-fiction.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Psychology | Science | Self-Help |
Biography
Joe Regal is a literary agent with Regal Hoffmann & Associates. While pursuing a career as the lead singer of the rock band RAMA, Joseph Regal got his first job in publishing at the Russell & Volkening Literary Agency in 1991. There he worked with Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling authors Anne Tyler, Eudora Welty, Annie Dillard, Howell Raines, and Peter Taylor, as well as Tony Award-winner Ntozake Shange, Nobel Prize-winner Nadine Gordimer, and TV anchorman and novelist Jim Lehrer. After leaving music for publishing, he founded Regal Literary Inc. in 2002. He graduated from Columbia College magna cum laude. His primary interests are literary fiction, international thrillers, history, science, photography, music, culture, and whimsy.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cultural Social Issues | History | Memoir | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Science |
Biography
Jessica Regel is a literary agent with and the founder of Helm Literary. She says: “I started Helm Literary with the goal of helping writers take control of their careers. I believe my job as a literary agent is to help writers steer that ship (couldn’t resist at least one sea-faring pun!) First and foremost, I work to make sure my writers are compensated for their incredible work, but I’m also their guide to navigating the industry as a whole. No nonsense, no smoke and mirrors. Just the pure magic of publishing books.
What’s my story? As a flashlight under the covers, tripping over curbs while read-walking, never leave home without a book, lifetime reader, I thought I’d found my dream job when I started working at my local library in Iowa. Then one day, I stumbled upon the inciting incident of my professional life: I shelved The Writer’s Digest’s Guide to Literary Agents.
The summer of 2002, I moved to New York City to intern at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Over the next decade, I worked my way through each department: royalties, contracts, audio, foreign, film, and domestic. I also began taking on my own clients (most of whom I still represent to this day.)
In 2013, I moved to Foundry Literary + Media where I continued to grow my list of award winning, bestselling writers. (And truly just wonderful people.)
Today, Helm is a full-service literary agency, representing fiction, nonfiction, and children’s book authors. I’ve hired a team of industry veterans to support me in my back office and in my subsidiary rights department, that way I can focus on selling books.
Because the truth is, nearly two decades into my career, I still get giddy every time I call an author with an offer from a publisher. Dream job!”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Self-Help | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Jody Rein is a literary agent with Jody Rein Books. Jody began her publishing career as an editorial assistant for Contemporary Books in Chicago. She was promoted through the ranks there, and was transferred to Contemporary’s New York office as senior editor. Jody moved to Dell/Delacorte (soon Bantam/Doubleday/Dell) Publishing Company (now part of Random/Penguin) as editor, and was quickly promoted to senior editor, and then executive editor. She remained with BDD for several years, then joined Morrow/Avon (now part of HarperCollins) as executive editor. Jody stayed with Avon as editor-at-large and consultant after she moved to Colorado, but eventually left the company to start up her literary agency.
Jody is a skilled writer herself; her ghostwritten book published by Viking Penguin received a starred review in Library Journal and an enthusiastic recommendation from the late Ann Landers.
Jody was awarded an Editorial Fellowship to the Jerusalem Book Fair. She has been a popular speaker at writers’ and speakers’ conferences nationwide, a guest lecturer at the University of Denver for seven years, and the agent/expert at the University of Denver’s Publishing Institute three times. She is a former member of Women in Publishing and a current member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and The Authors Guild. She is listed and recommended in several prominent books on literary agents, and her work has been featured in many local and national publications.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | Thriller |Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | History | Inspirational Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Psychology | Science | True Adventure |
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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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“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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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
* * *
“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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)