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.
Claire Roberts
Claire Roberts Global Literary Management LLCAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email >Biography
Claire Roberts is a literary agent with and the founder of Claire Roberts Global Literary Management LLC. With nearly three decades of experience in publishing, Claire Roberts knows the industry from both the publisher side and the agency side of the business, and has negotiated many major contracts for authors. She has held executive positions at Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and worked most recently at a major literary agency, Trident Media Group. At Trident she was Vice-President and Managing Director of the Foreign Rights department and developed her own client list.
Claire Roberts has handled the international literary careers of many authors, including Marilynne Robinson, Esi Edugyan, Justin Cronin, Michael Ondaatje, Marlon James, Elizabeth George, former Google chairman Eric Schmidt, Ayana Mathis, Jon Krakauer, Paul Harding, and W. Bruce Cameron.
Claire Roberts graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a major in Comparative Literature, and she holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). When she’s not reading a manuscript, she enjoys bicycling, cooking and, ever hopeful, growing flowers in her garden.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Current Events Affairs | History | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Science | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Soumeya Roberts is a literary agent with HG Literary. Shejoined HG Literary as an agent in 2017. Prior to representing authors as a literary agent, Soumeya was a book scout at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates and began her career in the editorial department at an independent publishing company in San Francisco. She was agent at Writers House and the Susan Golomb Literary Agency, where she was also Foreign Rights Director, prior to joining HG Literary.
Soumeya represents award-winning and best-selling authors in literary and upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, and memoir, including Tara M. Stringfellow, Rosalie Knecht, Debra Jo Immergut, Melissa Coss Aquino, Fernando A. Flores, and Sonora Jha, among others. She also represents a curated list across creative fields including design, craft, and lifestyle by makers such as Darryl Cheng, Rachel Corry, Luke Pyenson and Alex Bleeker, and Tuft the World. She is seeking new voices in fiction and narrative nonfiction, especially stories about dynamic relationships between complex but sympathetic characters; families, siblings, and motherhood; social commentary; unconventional settings and subcultures; our relationship with land, nature, and animals; and controlled experiments with form. She is particularly, but not exclusively, interested in work that investigates or reflects on the post-colonial world, marginalized and liminal spaces, and narratives by people of color. In non-fiction, she is primarily looking for idea-driven or voice-forward memoirs, personal essay collections, and narrative non-fiction of all stripes. Soumeya is not looking for fantasy, science fiction, religious books, commercial romance, middle grade, young adult, or picture books.
She is a member of the Board of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and serves on their International Rights Committee and participates in the Literary Agents of Change mentorship program. Originally from the California Bay Area, she is still drawn to the spirit of originality, diversity, and independence of the West Coast. She now lives in Brooklyn with her family.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Short Story Collection | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Art | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Environment | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Gardening | Health Wellness | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Spirituality | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Will Roberts is a literary agent with The Gernert Company. Will is the Associate Director of Foreign Rights and a literary agent at The Gernert Company. He joined the team in 2008 after working at Vintage Books, and, before that, at a newspaper in Jackson, WY, covering the courts and police department. He is looking for suspense novels, both literary and commercial, that are original and unpredictable, as well as nonfiction projects focused on current affairs, politics and history. A graduate of Middlebury College, he lives in Brooklyn with his wife and children.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Current Events Affairs | History | Politics |
Biography
Annelise Robey is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Annelise has been with JRA since 1995. She is proud to represent bestselling authors in women’s fiction, romance, historical fiction, YA, fantasy, mystery, and suspense, and is always looking for exciting new voices in fiction. She works closely with her clients on all aspects of their careers, and finds nothing more gratifying than helping authors achieve their goals and their dreams. After growing up in Hawaii and upstate NY, she moved to NYC with the singular mission of working in book publishing. She got her start at JRA as an assistant and has been doing what she loves ever since.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Historical * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Quressa Robinson is a literay agent with Folio Literary Management. She joined Folio Literary Management in 2022 after working at previous agencies, including the Nelson Literary Agency, and as an editor for five years. She is originally from San Francisco, but has been living in New York City for over a decade. As a New York based agent, she is eager to build her MG, YA, and Adult lists. When not curled on her couch reading, she plays video games, enjoys too much, TV–-mostly Sailor Moon and Avatar: The Last Airbender (Fire Nation)–eats delicious things, drinks champagne, hangs out with her very clever partner, and adds another “dramatic” color to her lipstick collection. Quressa is also a member of the 2017-2019 WNDB Walter Grant Committee and holds an MFA in Creative Writing: Fiction from Columbia University. In 2020, she was named a Publisher’s Weekly Star Watch finalist. In 2021 she was named an influential gatekeeper in Book and Film Globe’s inaugural Publishing Power 30 list alongside phenoms like Reece Witherspoon, Celeste Ng, and Lisa Lucas.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Gothic Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Celebrity | Cultural Social Issues | Environment | Film Entertainment | History | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Pop Culture | Science | Technology | Women’s Issues |
Rebecca Rodd
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Rebecca Rodd is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She joined the agency in August of 2020 and currently assists Danielle Svetcov, Kerry Sparks, and Sarah Bedingfield, while building her own list.
Rebecca received her Bachelor’s degree in English from (the illustrious) Spelman College and holds a Master’s degree in Library Science from CUNY Queens College. Before joining the agency, she was a Library Information Supervisor at Brooklyn Public Library, where she specialized in children’s literature and programming.
As a reader, Rebecca’s interests cover a wide range of genres, but most of all, she loves to read adult and YA upmarket commercial fiction that centers people of color, filled with nuance and dimension. Whether she’s reading literary fiction, contemporary fiction, something with a speculative bend, or a book club romcom, she loves to get wrapped up in a page-turning story with thoughtful, multi-dimensional characters and strong voices. And while she will always argue that “the book was better,” she is intrigued by stories she can imagine watching on the big screen, or preferably, on the small screen from the comfort of her couch.
In the non-fiction space, Rebecca is interested in millennial experiences and perspectives. She’s also interested in pop culture and social commentary, especially from underrepresented voices.
Currently, in YA and adult fiction, Rebecca is looking for: anything set on an HBCU campus, a BIPOC Big Bang Theory, a love story with the depth and complexity of Tia Williams’s Seven Days in June, or a devourable romcom that would sit nicely on a shelf with Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang. . In children’s, Rebecca would love to find an ensemble cast boasting equal parts brains, snark, and determination a la The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Clients include Arushi Avachat, Paige Classey, Pieper James, and Emily Marano.
Rebecca is based in Atlanta.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Upmarket Fiction |Pop Culture |
Biography
Paul Rodeen is a literary agent with Rodeen Literary Management. Paul discovered his love of writing, editing, and publishing at Knox College where he was the fiction editor and a contributor to the award winning college literary journal Catch. Paul was graduated from Knox College with a Creative Writing major in 2001. Later that summer, he attended the Denver Publishing Institute where he was encouraged to move to New York City to officially start his publishing career.
In late 2001, Paul received his first job with the highly respected literary agency Sterling Lord Literistic, Incorporated. He began his career as an assistant to Jody Hotchkiss, a film agent with Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. at the time. After a few months of reading and evaluating scripts, Paul was informed that a position was available in the children’s book division of Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. as an assistant to George Nicholson, the legendary children’s book publisher turned literary agent. Paul welcomed the opportunity to work for such a respected figure in the publishing business and he quickly found that he still loved many of the genres he had enjoyed when he was a child and a teenager. During his three years working as an assistant to George Nicholson, Paul Rodeen signed his first client (the writer/illustrator Peter Brown) and he also closed his first book deal FLIGHT OF THE DODO.
In 2004, Paul Rodeen moved back to his home state of Illinois where he opened up a small satellite office in Chicago for Sterling Lord Literistic, Incorporated. Between 2004 and 2008, Paul expanded his list of clients to include over a dozen talented writers and illustrators of picture books, middle grade novels and young adult fiction. This group of talented artists became the backbone of what would become Rodeen Literary Management.
In late 2008, with much encouragement from his clients, editors, publishers and other agents, Paul Rodeen established Rodeen Literary Agency an agency devoted to supporting the careers of children’s book writers and illustrators.
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 | Graphic Novel |
Biography
Lisa Rodgers is a literary agent with the Jabberwocky Literary Agency. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and received her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento. In 2012, she moved to New York City to attend NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute and joined the JABberwocky team soon after. She’s previously worked at San Francisco Book Review and Barnes & Noble, interned at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency, and was a submissions reader for Lightspeed Magazine. She is a member of Romance Writers of America.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction |BIPOC Nonfiction | Crafts | Gift Novelty | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Multicultural Nonfiction | Science | Technology |
Biography
Monica Rodriguez is a literary agent with the Context Literary Agency. Her solution-driven strategies support our clients’ books before and after they’ve hit the shelves. She loves maximizing the career potential for our authors and brainstorming new ways to discover life-long readers.
In addition to her Director of Brand Management role, Monica is also a Junior Agent. She is on a mission to help uplift underrepresented voices in publishing, specifically within the Latinx community.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Dating Relationships Sex | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Travel |
Biography
Sam Roen is a literary agent with The Plains Agency. Sam’s a writer, an agent, and keeps The Plains apprised of what’s new and interesting in the world of books and entertainment. He’s a smart bugger.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |Biography | Business Book | Health Wellness | How-To | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Pop Culture | Sports |
Biography
Jennifer Rofe is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Jennifer came to agenting via education, having been a middle-school teacher for five years. She joined ABLA in 2005 and has never left!
Middle grade has always been Jennifer’s soft spot and she’s open to all genres in this category – literary, commercial, contemporary, magical, fantastical, historical, and everything in between. A common theme in the middle-grade books Jennifer represents is children finding their space in their world — especially strong-willed underdogs or quirky, misunderstood, or overlooked children who come into their strength. Overall, Jennifer seeks projects in which children will see themselves and feel understood, or they will see others and gain understanding, or they will experience a version of themselves that they wish they were, or they will experience something that they want only to experience through the safety of a book.
In authored-illustrated picture books, Jennifer seeks funny, character-driven stories; beautifully imagined and written stories; and milestone moments with a twist. The endings also elicit an emotional response – be it a guffaw, hurrah!, or a heart-tug.
In chapter books, Jennifer seeks commercial and action-packed series for emerging readers in the vein of The Princess in Black series and The Dragon Masters series.
In illustration, she seeks unique voices and perspectives that have a voice so strong that it’s immediately recognizable as belonging to the creator.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Middle Grade Fiction |
Chris Rogers
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Chris Rogers is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. He began his publishing life as a college sales rep in 1978 with Random House after completing his doctorate in English Literature. His editorial career started in 1984 as the college history editor at Alfred A. Knopf/Random House where he was fortunate enough to work as a rookie with history greats John Hope Franklin, R.R. Palmer, Frank Freidel, Aland Brinkley, James McPherson, James West Davidson, and many other talents. In 2016, Chris retired, after a forty year career in the editorial vineyards, from Yale University Press where he was the Editorial Director and Executive History Editor. Interests in his role as an agent include promising, eloquent, scholarly authors with general readership cross-over potential in all fields of history: American, European, Indigenous, Asian, African, etc. as well as psychology, the environment, and biography.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Economics | Environment | History | How-To | Money Finance | Psychology | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Elaine Rogers is a literary agent and attorney with Sennott, Williams & Rogers, LLC. She counsels clients in all aspects of the entertainment, sports and new media industries including publishing, branded entertainment, licensing, promotion, advertising, interactive media, theater, motion pictures and television. She represents publishers, actors, writers, production, media and sports companies, directors, financiers as well as professional athletes and broadcasters. She regularly represents sports figures in endorsement, licensing, media and entertainment transactions.
Elaine has served as counsel on numerous studio based and independent films. She regularly advises clients in all aspects of the film and television process from acquisition of rights to production and distribution. Elaine is a filmmaker herself having produced film and television movies.
Elaine is also an affiliated agent with the New York and Boston literary agency, Kneerim & Williams, LLC. Kneerim & Williams is a full-service literary and dramatic rights agency.
Before joining Sennott, Williams & Rogers, LLP, Elaine was a partner and co-chair of the Entertainment and Sports Group at the New York based firm, Meister Seelig & Fein LLP. Prior to that, Elaine was a principal in the Media and Entertainment Group at Fish & Richardson PC and an agent at Kneerim & Williams, LLC where she was involved in many television and feature films such as THIRTEEN DAYS. Before practicing law, Elaine worked as an advertising and public relations executive for several of the world’s largest firms including Burson-Marsteller, Saatchi & Saatchi (The Rowland Group) and WPP.
Elaine has been listed in The National Registry of America’s Who’s Who and has graced the cover as one of Boston Magazine’s “The Best Lawyers” in entertainment law. She was also in Boston Magazine’s issues as one of Massachusetts’ “Super Lawyers” and featured in ABA Women in Communications Law “Women to Watch.”
In 2017, Elaine co-chaired an Entertainment Law symposium for the ITV Festival- the independent television festival. She has authored a chapter on “Recent Trends and Hot Topics in Advertising Law” for Aspatore Books: Managing Advertising & Marketing Legal Issues: Leading Lawyers on Preventing Claims, Handling Disputes, and Understanding Recent Trends and Developments.
Elaine has served as a clinical field supervisor in entertainment law for the internship program at Suffolk University Law School. She is a member of the Boston Women in Media and Entertainment group and Board of Directors for No Limits Media and Fast Friends Greyhound Adoption. She enjoys spending time with her family including six rescued horses and three retired greyhounds dogs.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction | Mainstream Fiction |Celebrity | Film Entertainment | Sports |
Biography
Elaine Rogers is a literary agent and attorney with Sennott, Williams & Rogers, LLC. She counsels clients in all aspects of the entertainment, sports and new media industries including publishing, branded entertainment, licensing, promotion, advertising, interactive media, theater, motion pictures and television. She represents publishers, actors, writers, production, media and sports companies, directors, financiers as well as professional athletes and broadcasters. She regularly represents sports figures in endorsement, licensing, media and entertainment transactions.
Elaine has served as counsel on numerous studio based and independent films. She regularly advises clients in all aspects of the film and television process from acquisition of rights to production and distribution. Elaine is a filmmaker herself having produced film and television movies.
Elaine is also an affiliated agent with the New York and Boston literary agency, Kneerim & Williams, LLC. Kneerim & Williams is a full-service literary and dramatic rights agency.
Before joining Sennott, Williams & Rogers, LLP, Elaine was a partner and co-chair of the Entertainment and Sports Group at the New York based firm, Meister Seelig & Fein LLP. Prior to that, Elaine was a principal in the Media and Entertainment Group at Fish & Richardson PC and an agent at Kneerim & Williams, LLC where she was involved in many television and feature films such as THIRTEEN DAYS. Before practicing law, Elaine worked as an advertising and public relations executive for several of the world’s largest firms including Burson-Marsteller, Saatchi & Saatchi (The Rowland Group) and WPP.
Elaine has been listed in The National Registry of America’s Who’s Who and has graced the cover as one of Boston Magazine’s “The Best Lawyers” in entertainment law. She was also in Boston Magazine’s issues as one of Massachusetts’ “Super Lawyers” and featured in ABA Women in Communications Law “Women to Watch.”
In 2017, Elaine co-chaired an Entertainment Law symposium for the ITV Festival- the independent television festival. She has authored a chapter on “Recent Trends and Hot Topics in Advertising Law” for Aspatore Books: Managing Advertising & Marketing Legal Issues: Leading Lawyers on Preventing Claims, Handling Disputes, and Understanding Recent Trends and Developments.
Elaine is a clinical field supervisor in entertainment law for the internship program at Suffolk University Law School. She is a member of the Boston Women in Media and Entertainment group and Board of Directors for No Limits Media.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Mainstream *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Film/Entertainment * Sports *
Linda Roghaar
Linda Roghaar Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Linda Roghaar is a literary agent with the Linda Roghaar Literary Agency. She has been in the book business her entire professional life. After a brief stint volunteering at a library, she began working in a bookstore, then managed both regional chain and independent bookstores. For many years she worked in marketing for several publishers and was a publishers’ rep (for dozens of independent publishers) to independent bookstores, bookstore chains, and book wholesalers. Linda opened the Linda Roghaar Literary Agency in 1996.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA | General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Food Drink | Health Wellness | How-To | Inspirational Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Parenting | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality |
Biography
Annie Romano is a literary agent with Olswanger Literary LLC. She is a children’s writer of picture books, middle grade novels, and adult fiction. Author of two picture books: BEFORE YOU SLEEP: A BEDTIME BOOK OF GRATITUDE (Page Street Kids, 2018) and NIGHT TRAIN: A JOURNEY FROM DUSK TO DAWN (Page Street Kids, 2019). Part-time Bookseller at An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA. Previously worked as special education team chairperson and speech language pathologist.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Satire | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | BIPOC Nonfiction | History | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | True Crime |
Biography
Claire Romine is an associate literary agent with Trident Media Group. She joined the agency in 2022 as assistant to Dan Strone. Prior to TMG, Claire attended Agnes Scott College and earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Political Science, with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. After graduating, she completed the Columbia Publishing Course and worked for the Storyline Group and Platypus Media before coming to TMG.
Claire is open to submissions and excited to continue to work closely with authors. In the fiction space, she is looking for upmarket and book club fiction, particularly with an element of suspense and/or romance. She’d also love a true romantic comedy à la Emily Henry, and is especially partial to enemies-to-lovers, fake relationships, and anything inspired by the wise words of Taylor Swift.
She is an excellent advocate for books with commercial appeal that explore the complexities of growing up and growing out, dynamic female relationships, and our ever-evolving political landscape. She adores multi-POV novels in the vein of Lianne Moriarty, Chandler Baker, and Meg Mitchell Moore. A native Floridian, Claire is especially drawn to summer reads that feature the ocean as a primary character. At this time, Claire is not looking for children’s or young adult books.
Though Claire is primarily interested in fiction, she’s also open to select nonfiction memoirs or essay collections, either focusing on the personal or pop culture (or a blend of the two, in the vein of STRIP TEES BY Kate Flannery).
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Literary Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Memoir | Pop Culture |
Biography
Barb Roose is a literary agent with the Books & Such Literary Agency. She began writing books as a child because she fell in love with the characters and stories created by her favorite author, Beverly Cleary. Yet, as a little brown-skinned girl with pop-bottle glasses, Barb never dreamed that becoming an author was a real possibility for someone who looked like her.
After a multiple-award career in pharmaceutical sales and non-profit management, Barb spent 14 years on staff at her local church as part of the executive leadership and teaching teams. During that time, Barb attended her first writers conference and received her first writing contract. The dream she hadn’t dared entertain as a child became reality.
In 2016, Barb transitioned from her duties at church to full-time speaking and writing. Her goal is leading and teaching people to overcome their fears so they can live strong, courageous lives and experience God’s great adventure of faith for them. She speaks at conferences and events in the U.S. and abroad, including on multiple national platforms.
Barb became a part of Books & Such in 2014 as a client represented by Rachelle Gardner. Barb saw herself as an author who didn’t know anything about the publishing industry other than being thrilled someone wanted to publish her book. Fast forward several years and a growing library of books with her name on the cover. Barb now wants to help other writers achieve their publishing dreams. The thrill of partnering with authors compelled Barb to say “yes” to joining the Books & Such Literary Management agent team in 2020. Her desire is to come alongside hopeful and established authors to create the most marketable, appealing manuscripts that will build lasting careers and influence readers.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Holly Root is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “Reading as much as you do in this job, it’s easy to become overly analytical—assessing this or that from a market standpoint, considering the buyers and retail outlook before you’ve even fallen into the story. My favorite books—and the submissions most likely to catch my interest—are the ones so assured in their execution that the only input my critical mind can muster is “That was fun. How soon can we tell everyone we know about it?” I’m delighted to be in a position of perpetual discovery.
Professionally, I’m proudest of the times my work has enabled my clients to take great leaps, whether creative or professional, to advance their careers. It’s an honor to be inside the process, participating in bringing great reads into the world, and a true joy to enable those books’ creators to build healthy, sustainable careers.
I’m drawn to well-told commercial narratives across multiple categories. I’m much more likely to keep reading if I know from the perfectly-executed first pages that this is someone whose voice interests me, someone whose story I’d like to get lost in for the next few hours. I know I’ve found a winner when I catch myself sketching a potential submission list on any available scrap of paper as I read.”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Business Book | Dating Relationships Sex | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality |
Biography
Adrienne Rosado is a literary agent with Leibo Literary. She joined Stonesong Literary in September 2017. She’s spent her entire career on the agency side of publishing and has an extensive background in subsidiary rights, which makes for a strong eye for projects that will make a splash in the international marketplace. Prior to joining Stonesong she was an agent with Leibo Management and Nancy Yost Literary, where she was literary director and director of subsidiary rights respectively.
Adrienne represents adult and children’s fiction, as well as select non-fiction in the areas of pop-science, business, memoir, and humor. In both adult and children’s fiction, she is looking for contemporary, mystery, historical, thriller, fantasy, and anything with a wickedly dark sense of humor. She’s especially drawn to multicultural fiction, lgbtq+ works, and stories about people from atypical walks of life. She is not currently looking for poetry or children’s picture books.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |BIPOC Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Satire | Thriller |General Nonfiction | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Science |
Biography
Chiara Rosati is a literary agent with Veritas Literary Agency. She attended Middlebury College in Vermont where she cultivated her love for literature and mastered the Italian language. Prior to joining Veritas, she served as legal counsel to emerging companies in Silicon Valley. Chiara’s passion for nuanced expression in the written form, combined with her devotion to nurturing clients and their creations, fuels her artistic mission: that of helping noteworthy manuscripts make the transformative journey into published works.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Science Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | History | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Pop Culture | Science | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Ann Rose is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. She is a California native who left her heart in San Diego, and now resides in Texas after a stint in Florida. Her degree is in Communication from San Diego State University, and her resume runs the gamut from Lifeguard to Business Systems Analyst, but books have always been her passion. Ann is excited to finally merge her love of literature with her past professional experiences as a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency after starting her career with Prospect Agency. She looks forward to helping authors build successful, sustainable careers.
Ann is looking for characters who aren’t afraid to stand up for their convictions and beliefs – whether they fight with their fists or their words. She’s open to all genres of middle grade—and especially love stories that push the MG boundary. By this she means they explore topics that affect middle graders but aren’t always talked about in MG books; like It Happened on Saturday by Sydney Dunlap. Ann also represents all genres in YA. In the adult arena, she adores swoony romances, light sci-fi or fantasy (emphasis on the light side), commercial fiction, and heartwarming – or heart wrenching – contemporaries.
She really enjoys feminist stories that highlight women’s experiences in the world. She is a sucker for a strong female friendship narrative because she truly believes that empowered women, empower women! She’s always looking for unique voices, diverse perspectives, vivid settings, and stories that explore tough topics. Dark and edgy is totally okay too. She is also up for a good revenge plot. Above all Ann is looking for stories with compelling characters that push boundaries and make her laugh and cry, hopefully in the same story!
She is ready to roll up her sleeves and help her authors create the best books possible, from brainstorming at the idea stage all the way through submissions and beyond. Ann loves attending conferences and sharing her knowledge of the publishing industry.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Women’s Issues |
Biography
Ilyana Rose-Davila is a literary agent with the Barbara Bova Literary Agency. She joined the Agency in 2016. Handling foreign and domestic marketing. Ms. Rose-Dávila is interested in well-written fiction and non-fiction.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Action Adventure | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction |
Biography
Janet Rosen is a literary agent with Sheree Bykofsky Associates. She worked as associate book editor at Glamour and the senior books and fiction editor at Woman before turning to agenting at Sheree Bykofsky Associates, where she represents a range of nonfiction and a limited amount of fiction. She has been the president of the NYC chapter of the Women’s National Book Association., and her writing has appeared in Glamour, Publishers Weekly, Paper, and other print and online publications. During off hours, Janet writes and performs comedy and has been featured in the Marshalls Women in Comedy Festival.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Mystery |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | History | How-To | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Science |
Rita Rosenkranz
Rita Rosenkranz Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >Biography
Rita Rosenkranz is a literary agent with the Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency. A well-established agent, who began her career as an editor at major publishing houses, Rita Rosenkranz represents almost exclusively adult non-fiction titles. Her wide-ranging list includes health, history, parenting, music, how-to, popular science, business, biography, sports, popular reference, cooking, writing, humor, spirituality, illustrated books and general interest titles. She represents first-time as well as seasoned authors, and looks for projects that present familiar subjects freshly or lesser-known subjects presented commercially. Rita works with major publishing houses, as well as regional publishers that handle niche markets.
Representative titles include Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad by Betty DeRamus (Atria Books; essence.com best-seller, optioned by NBC for an 8-part series), Olive Trees and Honey: A Treasury of Vegetarian Recipes from Jewish Communities Around the World (Wiley; James Beard Award winner) by Gil Marks; 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker (Da Capo Press; New York Times bestseller, MS Awareness Award Winner, Books for a Better Life), and A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even if You Flunked Algebra) by Barbara Oakley, Ph.D. (Tarcher).
She is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR), The Authors Guild, and Women’s Media Group.
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA | General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | True Crime |
Biography
Andy Ross is a literary agent with the Andy Ross Literary Agency. Andy has worked in the book business since 1972, all of this working life. He was owner and general manager of Cody’s Books in Berkeley, California from 1977-2006. Cody’s has been recognized as one of America’s great independent bookstores. Andy is past president of the Northern California Booksellers Association, a board member and officer of the American Booksellers Association and a national spokesperson for issues concerning independent businesses. He has had significant profiles in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Publishers’ Weekly and the San Francisco Chronicle. Andy Ross is a member of the Association of Authors Representatives (AAR).
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Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |Biography | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | History | Journalism | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Reference | Science | Travel |
Biography
Gail Ross is a literary agent with WME Books. She represents important commercial nonfiction across all genres. Four of the books she represented have won the Pulitzer Prize: Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer, American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, Black Flags by Joby Warrick and The Haunted Land by Tina Rosenberg. Her clients include thought leaders, CEO’s, social justice activists, journalists, historians, and experts in a variety of fields, and she and her team have earned a reputation in the industry for providing rigorous, enthusiastic editorial guidance at all stages of the publishing process.
Prior to joining WME, Gail was a partner at Trister, Ross, Schadler & Gold and founded the Gail Ross Literary Agency, which became the Ross Yoon Agency in 2010. Washingtonian magazine has named her one of the most powerful women in Washington for several years running.
Gail is also the author of The Writer’s Lawyer and The Essential Guide to Entertainment Law’s chapter on book publishing contracts. She speaks widely about publishing and book contracts across the country. Gail cofounded the Washington D.C., office of WME in 2023.
Gail’s daily mantra is: Books Change Lives.
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Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | History | Journalism | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | True Crime |
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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)