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The Directory of Literary Agents
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- You are searching within category(ies): Commercial *
Biography
David Forrer is a literary agent with InkWell Management. David began his career in publishing in 1997 after receiving a Masters in Creative Writing (fiction) from Boston University. He has been an agent with InkWell Management since it was created in 2004. His areas of interest and representation range from literary, commercial, historical and crime fiction to suspense/thriller, humorous non-fiction and popular history.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * History * Humor *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Roz Foster is a literary agent with the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. After spending more than six years as a literary agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, Roz joined the Goldin Agency in 2019. She’s interested in books that grapple with what it is to be human, books that confront big human themes—morality, purpose, freedom, faith or its lack, hierarchy, success, violence, meaning, love, and death. She looks for stories that make sense of the chaos of life and the harshness of reality. She loves writing that has emotional depth, makes insightful observations, and demonstrates exquisite linguistic skill.
In fiction, Roz is looking for literary or commercial; contemporary, speculative/sci-fi (including cli-fi) on the literary side, historical, supernatural, mystery/crime, and thriller. In nonfiction, she’s looking for history, nonfiction narrative, memoir, business, self-help, tech, science, and design.
Recent sales through the Goldin Agency include Clare Corbould and Michael McDonnell’s TO CHOOSE OUR BETTER HISTORY (New Press); Surekha Davies’s HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY (UC Press); Christopher Paul Harris’s TO BUILD A BLACK FUTURE (Princeton UP); and Robin Bernstein’s THE TRIALS OF WILLIAM FREEMAN: A STORY OF MURDER, RACE, AND AMERICA’S FIRST INDUSTRIAL PRISON (U of Chicago Press). Select sales through the Dijkstra Agency include Constance Sayers’s A WITCH IN TIME and THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS (Redhook); Martha Jones’s VANGUARD (Basic); Susan O’Donovan’s BECOMING CITIZENS (Metropolitan); Daniel Russell’s THE JOY OF SEARCH (MIT Press); Claire Potter’s POLITICAL JUNKIES (Basic); Blain Roberts and Ethan J. Kytle’s DENMARK VESEY’S GARDEN (New Press); and Michael K. Honey’s TO THE PROMISED LAND (Norton).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Paranormal * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * Design * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Politics * Science * Sociology * Technology *
214 W. 29th St. Suite 1006 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Renee Fountain is a literary agent with Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management. She’s also the president and a publishing industry veteran, a reviewer for Kirkus and New York Journal of Books, and a book scout for The CW Network.
During her almost decade-long tenure with major houses such as Harcourt Brace and Simon & Schuster, Ms. Fountain had the great fortune of working with some of the best writers and illustrators in the publishing world.
Additionally, with more than ten years of licensing and branding experience, she has been involved in creating book-related merchandise including iconic favorites such as Raggedy Ann and Nancy Drew; as well as brokering film and television options.
Renee is looking for all types of adult and YA fiction and non-fiction. She prefers: thrillers, horror/dark fantasy, urban/contemporary fantasy, humor, sci-fi, pop-culture, memoirs, and narrative/commercial. She DOES NOT represent previously published books (including self-published), Westerns, Hard Science Fiction, Space Opera, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Erotica, Poetry, Novellas or Short Story Collections.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Mystery * NoMG * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Pop Culture * Sports * Young Adult *
New York NY USA
Biography
Aram Fox is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin. He represents a mix of fiction and nonfiction. His favorite novelists, commercial as well as literary, put immersive storytelling front and center. In nonfiction, he’s looking for powerful memoir, natural history, deeply reported narrative nonfiction, and world-class explainers and advice-givers. At age 26, Aram founded a book scouting agency where for 23 years he represented international publishers and American film/TV companies, guiding his publisher and film/TV clients to acquire a Who’s Who of bestsellers and prize-winners, including: Brit Bennett, Peter Godfrey-Smith, Lauren Oyler, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Bill Gates, George Saunders, Angela Duckworth, Patrick Radden Keefe, Dave Grohl, Lena Dunham, Emma Cline, Harlan Coben, Jeff VanderMeer, Alex Honnold and Andy Weir among many others. Please see our agency’s Contact page for Aram’s query and submission guidelines.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Narrative * Nature * Science *
Biography
Diana Fox is a literary agent with Fox Literary. Diana is also the owner of Fox Literary. She says: “I am actively seeking the following: young adult fiction (all genres), science fiction/fantasy, romance, historical fiction, thrillers, and graphic novels. I’m always interested in books that cross genres and reinvent popular concepts with an engaging new twist (especially when there’s a historical and/or speculative element involved).
On the nonfiction side I’m interested in memoirs, biography, and smart narrative nonfiction; I particularly enjoy memoirs and other nonfiction about sex work, addiction and recovery, and pop culture.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Beauty/Fashion/Style * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science * Travel * Young Adult *
110 West 40th St Suite 2305 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Abigail Frank is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is passionate about stories for young people, especially those that are hilarious, poetic, quietly heartbreaking, and/or swoon-worthy, and she cares about voice, above all. She gravitates towards picture books that feel entirely original, chapter books with big personalities, and novels about unforgettable teens falling in love. She is committed to advocating for the work of marginalized authors and artists, and she’s actively looking for stories that allow young readers to recognize themselves in the books they love. She is also looking for select adult projects, including narrative nonfiction (especially if it explores pop culture, healthcare, or higher education) and rom-com-y commercial fiction. You can view her wishlist here.
Abigail joined the Greenburger team in 2017 after interning at Writers House. Formerly an assistant to Brenda Bowen, she now assists Faith Hamlin with her extraordinary and eclectic list of clients. Abigail graduated with a degree in English Literature from Swarthmore College and worked in healthcare before pursuing her passion for books. Find her mostly retweeting @abigailcrfrank
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Narrative *
55 5th Avenue New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
CoCo Freeman is a literary agent with the Linda Chester Literary Agency. She recently joined the agency. She is a graduate of Bard College with a B.A. in Written Arts. Before joining Linda Chester, CoCo worked for Tom Yoon Productions developing projects and editing existing material. She is looking for smart adult commercial fiction, mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, young adult, middle grade and select picture books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Rachael Dillon Fried is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Rachael is selectively growing her client list with a keen interest in women’s literary and commercial fiction. She hopes to build long-term relationships with clients who are passionate about developing their career.
Rachael enthusiastically joined Greenburger Associates in 2009 as an assistant to agent Heide Lange. She is a Rhode Island native and graduate of Brown University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, a television writer, and two energetic young boys.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Literary * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
55 5th Avenue New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Claire Friedman joined InkWell in 2016.Originally from Salt Lake City, Claire spent three years working for her local indie bookstore, The King’s English, before moving to New York to attend Columbia University. Claire graduated with degrees in English and History, and continues to have stress dreams about the core curriculum. Prior to joining InkWell, Claire interned at Don Congdon Associates. She enjoys reading literary fiction, young adult and children’s books, and narrative non-fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * General Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Narrative * Young Adult *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY NY USA
Biography
Rebecca Friedman is a literary agent with and the founder of Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency. Rebecca began her career at Greenburger Associates. From there, she worked at Sterling Lord Literistic and the Hill Nadell Agency, before starting her own agency in 2013. She is a graduate of Barnard College and lives in Los Angeles with her family. Rebecca is interested in commercial and literary fiction with a focus on literary novels of suspense, women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and young adult, as well as journalistic non-fiction and memoir. Most of all, she is looking for great stories told in strong voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * History * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Young Adult *
Los Angeles CA USA
Biography
Lori Galvin is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents both adult fiction (especially women’s fiction and crime fiction) and non-fiction (memoir, food writing, and cookbooks). Based in Boston, a few of her clients and their projects include Kwame Onwuachi’s Notes from a Young Black Chef (Knopf ’19); Hannah Kirshner’s Water, Wood, and Wild Things (Viking ’21), Cambria Brockman’s Tell Me Everything (Ballantine ’19), and Wanda M. Morris’s All Her Little Secrets (Morrow, ’21). A few of Galvin’s client’s projects have been optioned by A24 and Netflix.
Prior to joining Aevitas, Galvin was executive editor at the multimedia publisher America’s Test Kitchen, where she led a team that produced dozens of landmark cookbooks. Galvin was also an editor at Houghton Mifflin, a restaurant cook, and ran a bed-and-breakfast in Maine.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Cultural/Social Issues * Design * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Health/Wellness * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Psychology * True Crime *
19 W. 21st Street Suite 501 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Yfat Reiss Gendell is a literary agent with YRG Partners. She is the founder of agency and branding company. She represents world-builders and subject matter authorities across fiction and nonfiction. Her nonfiction projects include narrative nonfiction works of memoir (Sherri Shepherd’s Permission Slips; international zeitgeist poet Sarah Kay’s forthcoming The View from South Dakota; and Vice Admiral Robert Harward’s forthcoming The Gouge), history and science (New York Times bestseller Denise Kiernan’s The Girls of Atomic City and The Last Castle; and Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz’s Dr. Mutters Marvels), prescriptive nonfiction in the areas of business (Eve Rodsky and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine’s New York Times bestselling Fair Play; hospitality industry thought-leader Damian Mogavero and Joseph D’Agnese’s The Underground Culinary Tour), health and wellness (iconoclast and bestseller Yoni Freedhoff MD’s The Diet Fix; neuroscientist and TED Talk star Wendy Suzuki, PhD’s bestselling Happy Brain, Healthy Life; internationally renowned environmental toxin authority Leonardo Trasande, MD’s Sicker, Fatter, Poorer; internationally lauded neuroscientist Nan Wise, PhD’s bestselling Why Good Sex Matters; and Pierre Dukan, MD’s New York Times bestselling The Dukan Diet), parenting (bestselling “Toddler Whisperer” Tovah Klein PhD’s bestselling How Toddler’s Thrive; Jo Frost’s Toddler Rules by TV’s “Supernanny”), and humor (the New York Times bestselling Sh*tty Mom franchise of books and merchandise).
Yfat routinely helps consumer packaged goods companies and other business leaders bring their brand stories to entertainment (New York Times bestselling Suja Juice Solution; BabyGanics groundbreaking BabySafe in Seven Steps; Vera Bradley founder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard’s A Colorful Way of Living; Stella & Dot founder Jessica Herrin’s Find Your Extraordinary; and two forthcoming projects by Swedish environmental change agent Oatly). Yfat understands what her authors and creatives go through, because she is one. As an author she has published eight nonfiction titles with Chronicle Books, Stewart, Tabori & Chang, and Penguin Random House, among others. Prior to becoming an agent, Yfat worked as a lawyer and ran a boutique publishing house. She attended Brandeis University and The UCLA School of Law and spent more than a decade on the board of WIN (formerly Women in Need), one of New York’s largest providers of homeless services for women and children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Mainstream * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Practical * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Current Events/Affairs *
33 West 17th St. PH New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Ronald Gerber is a literary agent with Lowenstein Associates. He also manages foreign rights, permissions, and contracts at Lowenstein Associates. Before joining the Lowenstein team in April 2019, he spent several years in literary scouting at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates and Maximum Films & Management and supported two agents at Writers House. Ronald is a proud graduate of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and received his B.A., summa cum laude with high honors, from Clark University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Dystopian * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Celebrity * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
115 East 23rd St. 4th Floor New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Jeff Gerecke is a literary agent with the G Agency. Jeff says: “Starting in June 2010, I am now officially running my own agency, the G Agency, LLC. I have previously worked at the JCA Literary Agency for 17 years and for the last 5 have been affiliated with the Gina Maccoby Literary Agency. I am interested in commercial and literary fiction, as well as serious non-fiction and pop culture. My focus as an agent has always been on working with writers to shape their work for its greatest commercial potential. I provide lots of editorial advice in sharpening manuscripts and proposals before submission.
I’ve been a member of the Royalty Committee of the Association of Authors Representatives since its founding and am always keen to challenge publishers for their willfully obscure royalty reporting. Also I have recently taken over the position of Treasurer of the A.A.R. My publishing background includes working at the University of California Press so I am always intrigued by academic subjects which are given a commercial spin to reach an audience outside academia. I’ve also worked as a foreign scout for publishers like Hodder & Stoughton in England and Wilhelm Heyne in Germany, which gives me a good sense of how American books can be successfully translated overseas.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Military/War * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports * Technology * True Crime *
116 West 23rd Street 5th Floor New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
David Gernert is a literary agent with and the President of the Gernert Company. David spent the first fourteen years of his publishing career at Doubleday, the last six as Editor-In-Chief. He left Doubleday in 1996 to start The Gernert Company, believing his experience as a publisher would give him some unique insight into the representation of authors. He lives in Pound Ridge with his wife and four children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Mystery * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Current Events/Affairs * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * History * Music * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports * True Crime *
136 East 57th Street New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Hafizah Geter is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates.
An agent, an expert editor, and a fierce advocate, Hafizah Geter got her first job in literature over a decade ago with the literary nonprofit Cave Canem, before moving on to organizations like PEN America and Poets House in NYC. Before joining Janklow & Nesbit in 2020, she was an editor at Little A and Joey Soloway’s Topple Books where she worked on award winning fiction and nonfiction, including New York Public Library and NPR Best Books of the Year. Hafizah represents a wide array of nonfiction and literary and commercial fiction. In search of great writers and thinkers, she is eager to work with experts in their field.
In nonfiction, Hafizah is particularly interested in big-idea books that start conversations, challenge conventions, and reveal something precise about society or relationships. She is keen on books that examine technology, race, disability, queerness, inequality, science, politics, as well as cultural histories and close studies (salt, rain, mushrooms, tears, etc.).
In fiction, Hafizah is keen on a broad range of literary and commercial fiction that reveal new connections, and fuller ways for us to be human. She loves a sad book as much as a contemplative or funny one. Above all, she seeks writers whose sentences thrum with voice and style.
Hafizah was born in Zaria, Nigeria and grew up in Akron, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina. She received her BA in English and economics from Clemson University, an MFA in nonfiction from NYU, and an MFA in poetry from Columbia College Chicago. Her memoir, The Black Period: On Personhood, Race & Origin, (Random House) is a New Yorker Magazine Best Book of 2022, a Good Morning America Anticipated Book, and an Amazon’s Best of the Month Editor’s Pick. Her poetry collection, Un-American (Wesleyan University Press), was a 2021 NAACP Image Award, a 2021 PEN Open Book Award finalist, and longlisted for the 2021 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize.
Currently, Hafizah is eager to receive nonfiction in the realm of reportage/journalism, big-ideas, economics, labor, abolition, science, tech/social media culture, cultural criticism, social and political sciences, prescriptive nonfiction, and nature writing.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Economics * Environment * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Law * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Nature * Politics * Prescriptive * Science * Technology * Upmarket *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Anna Ghosh is the founding agent of Ghosh Literary. She started her career as a literary agent in New York City in 1995 and was previously a partner at Scovil Galen Ghosh.
The agency offers worldwide literary representation for print and digital media and all allied rights, including motion picture, theatrical and multimedia rights.
Anna’s client list includes New York Times bestsellers, winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Guggenheim and other awards, as well as unheralded gems. Her literary interests are wide and eclectic and she is known for discovering and developing writers. She is particularly interested in literary narratives and books that illuminate some aspect of human endeavor or the natural world. Anna does not typically represent genre fiction but is drawn to compelling storytelling in most guises.
Anna studied Cultural Anthropology and Literary Journalism at Hampshire College, Massachusetts and Liberal Studies at The New School for Social Research, New York. Originally from India, Anna now lives in San Francisco, California.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mainstream * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Upmarket *
P.O. 765 2000 Allston Way Berkeley CA 94701 USA
Biography
Susan Ginsburg is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Susan says: “I’ve been in the business for over 35 years, and with Writers House for 25. I got my start on the editorial side, as editor-in-chief of St. Martin’s and Atheneum Books and Executive Editor of Pocket Books at Simon & Schuster, where I had the fortune to publish such wonderful writers as Alice Walker (THE COLOR PURPLE) and John Irving (THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP). My agenting career has spanned both fiction and non-fiction, and I continue to work closely with all my authors editorially. Right now, I am especially looking for fiction—particularly, literary voices who have a great story to tell, filled with emotionally compelling characters—but would also love to see the commercial fiction, unique memoirs, and rich narrative non-fiction that I’ve enjoyed working with throughout the years. I am not the right agent for picture books, science-fiction, or epic fantasy (though fantastical elements and magical realism are welcomed!).”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Young Adult *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Amy Giuffrida is a literary agent with the Belcastro Agency. After Amy earned her BA at the University of Kutztown and a M.Ed. from Lock Haven University, she incorporated her love of reading and books with being a middle school teacher. Amy’s biggest joy was to put the perfect book in the hands of a teen and change their minds about reading. Amy turned this love into a career by reading romance slush for a publishing company, then interned for various literary agencies, until she became an associate literary agent in 2020. In her spare time, you can find Amy either listening to, reading, or talking about books. She also loves binge-watching teen and reality TV shows—all while snuggling with one or more of her three rescue dogs.
Some of Amy’s favorite books: It by Stephen King; The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas; Looking for Alaska by John Green; Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston; The Grace Year by Kim Liggett; The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid; The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab. Her favorite TV shows are Buffy, The Boys, Schitt’s Creek, Stranger Things, and anything remotely like Married at First Sight.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * How-To * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Spirituality * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
245 Park Avenue 39th Floor New York NY 10167 USA
Biography
Miriam Goderich is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. Miriam Goderich and Jane Dystel have been partners since 1995 and they work closely as an agenting team to generate book ideas, help create book proposals, place projects with publishing companies, and negotiate all contracts pertaining to publishing and subsidiary rights. In addition, Miriam is an insightful editor who has been responsible for discovering and working on a number of first novels. She is also very involved in developing nonfiction projects and taking them from the conceptual stage to publication. Miriam’s areas of interest include: literary and commercial fiction as well as some genre fiction, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, psychology, history, science, art, business books, and biography/memoir. Miriam received a BA in Comparative Literature and an MA in English from Columbia University. She was born in Cuba and, prior to settling in the New York area, lived in Spain and Miami, Florida. Currently, she resides just outside the City with her husband and son, a dog, and a parrot.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Inspiration * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development *
One Union Square West Suite 904 New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Adria Goetz is a literary agent with KT Literary. Sheis based out of the beautifully gloomy Pacific Northwest. Adria got her start in publishing as an intern at Martin Literary Management in 2013. She represents picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, and adult fiction. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, as well as the Columbia Publishing Course. In 2019, she was selected as a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree. Adria has eclectic taste but particularly enjoys projects that are tinged with magic, have so much heart you can practically hear their heartbeat, and have a compelling, commercial hook. In her spare time she can be found rewatching Gilmore Girls for the millionth time, listening to Taylor Swift, and dreaming about the mossy stone cottage in the woods she would like to live in one day. You can read Adria’s full manuscript wishlist at adriagoetz.com.
Adria Goetz is seeking picture books (especially by author-illustrators), middle grade fiction, graphic novels, and adult fiction—particularly rom coms, thrillers, and upmarket fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
9249 S. Broadway #200-543 Highlands Ranch CO 80129 USA
Biography
Irene Goodman is a literary agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency. Irene has been a leading member of the publishing community for over 30 years. She has sold over 1500 books and counting. Her clients are regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Bookscan bestseller lists. She began her career as the assistant to the agent who represented Stephen King, and established her own agency shortly after that. Her fiction list includes upmarket women’s fiction, middle grade, young adult, thrillers, historical fiction, and mysteries. Her non-fiction list includes pop culture, Jewish interest, science, self-help, Francophilia, and lifestyle.
Irene has written columns and articles for a number of writers’ publications, and is also a frequent speaker at writer’s conferences, including keynoting at the Historical Novelists Society and Novelists Ink., and workshops at the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Surrey International Writers Conference, the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference, SEAK, the South Carolina Writers Workshop, Malice Domestic, and many regional events.
Originally from the Midwest and still trying to lose the accent, Irene has a B.A. and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. She and her husband divide their time between New York and the Berkshires, and have two grown children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Travel * Young Adult *
27 W. 24th Street Suite 804 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Rebecca Gradinger is a literary agent with Fletcher & Company Literary Agency. Born and raised in Montreal, Rebecca began her career as an intellectual property attorney, but quickly realized that her heart wasn’t in it when she found herself photocopying novels to covertly read “documents” at her desk. Her first job in publishing was as an international book scout at Mary Anne Thompson Associates, helping foreign publishers identify North American fiction for translation. She began her agenting career at Janklow & Nesbit and moved to Fletcher & Company in 2008.
Rebecca’s clients have been finalists and winners of various grants and prizes including the National Book Critics Circle, The Man Booker Prize, The Dylan Thomas Prize, The Whiting Award, The Los Angeles Times First Book Award, The Women’s Prize, The Sunday Times Short Story Award, as well as fellowships with the National Endowment of the Arts and Art for Justice. Many of Rebecca’s clients have appeared on national and international bestseller lists.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Women’s Issues *
511 Sixth Avenue #120 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Michelle Grajkowski is a literary agent with 3 Seas Literary Agency. From the moment Michelle Grajkowski first opened the doors to the 3 Seas Literary Agency in August of 2000, she has been living her dream. (What could be better than surrounding yourself with amazing authors and their exciting and imaginative books?) Since then, her agency has sold almost 700 books to all the major publishing houses, and has grown from one agent to three!
Michelle’s client list includes New York Times Bestselling Authors Katie MacAlister, Cathy McDavid, Kerrelyn Sparks and C.L. Wilson. She primarily represents romance, women’s fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction along with select non-fiction projects with a terrific message. She is currently looking for fantastic writers with a voice of their own.
When not curled up with a great manuscript, Michelle loves to spend time with her husband, children and her two crazy puppies, who refuse to grow up.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Historical * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Satire * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Environment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Military/War * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * Women’s Issues *
P.O. Box 444 Sun Prairie WI 53590 USA
Biography
Janet Kobobel Grant is a literary agent with Books & Such Literary Agency. Janet had two goals as a grade-schooler: to read all the books in the library and to write a novel each summer. Her dream was to win the Pulitzer Prize. Well, she never did get all those books read, she seldom completed her summer writing project, and she certainly never won a Pulitzer Prize. But those unusual aspirations were indicative of her love of books.
She personally knows the pressures, uncertainties, and joys of writing because she’s written the following books: But Can She Type? with InterVarsity; Where Is God When I Need Him Most? with NavPress; Growing in Prayer; Experiencing God’s Presence; Every Child Needs a Praying Mom (with Fern Nichols and a Silver Medallion winner); The Breast Cancer Care Book (with Sally M. Knox, M.D. and a Retailers Choice finalist); and collaborated on several Women of Faith books (all with Zondervan).
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Christian Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * Religious * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Family * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Humor * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Parenting/Child Guidance * Reference * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * True Crime *
2222 Cleveland Avenue #1005 Santa Rosa CA 95403 USA
Biography
Evan Gregory is a literary agent with the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. Evan Gregory began at the agency in 2008 as an Assistant. Hehas been a Senior Agent since 2014, specializing in genre fiction and commercial non-fiction, especially the areas of SFF and pop-culture. Previously he worked as subsidiary rights manager for the agency as well as an assistant to Ethan.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Multicultural * Science * Technology * Travel * True Adventure *
548 Broadway #5E New York NY 10012 USA
Biography
Pam Gruber is a literary agent with the High Line Literary Collective. She became a literary agent when she realized her favorite part of the publishing business was working closely with authors and artists, helping them to shape not only their stories, but also their careers. She got her start in publishing as an editor, working for over a decade at Hachette Book Group and went on to serve as the Editorial Director at children’s media startup Rebel Girls before shifting gears.
As an agent, Pam aims to sign authors, not just individual books, and she believes in collaboration, communication, creativity, and mutual respect. Her clients write in all categories, from children’s and YA, to adult SFF and contemporary rom-com. She looks for work that is gripping from page one, whether that’s due to the voice, world building, or premise. She loves messy female protagonists, innovative twists on classic tropes, and getting swept away by fully realized worlds—be it the next town over or an imagined land unlike our own. She brings an inscrutable eye for detail to every book she gets her hands on, and her prior experience gives her insight into how editors think, and what they’re looking for.
In her life outside of books (as if!), Pam is an aspiring art collector, avid window shopper, experimental baker, and Pilates enthusiast slowly fixing up the antique house she lives in with her husband, son, and feline familiars.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
27 W. 24th St. Suite 804 New York NY 10010 USA
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Use the drop-down menu on the left to search for agents by genre, gender, location, longevity, or AAR Status. To find a specific agent or agency, enter the agent’s name or the name of the agency into the search box.
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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)