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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): Science Fiction *
Biography
Sarah Landis is a literary agent with Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents a wide range of fiction from middle grade to adult. Sarah is particularly drawn to high-concept plots, big hooks, speculative fiction, twisty thrillers, novels with a strong emotional core, and sweeping fantasy. She is always on the lookout for new talent and narrative risk-takers. Her clients’ novels have received a variety of accolades, including Barnes and Noble book club selections and Reese’s Book Club, and have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists as well as international bestseller lists around the globe. Before joining Sterling Lord Literistic in 2017, Sarah worked as an editor for fifteen years, holding roles at G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Hyperion Books, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers. Sarah graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Science Fiction * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
115 Broadway Suite 1602 New York NY 10006 USA
Biography
Oliver Latsch is a literary agent with and the founder of LatschLit Literary Agency and Translation. He says: “I am a literary agent, representing literature and non-fiction for children, young adults and grown-ups worldwide. I also translate German to and from English for fiction, non-fiction, as well as commercial and academic texts.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Science * Young Adult *
11224 Canton Drive Studio City CA 91604 USA
Biography
Steve Laube is a literary agent with and the President and Founder of the Steve Laube Agency. He is a veteran of the bookselling industry with nearly 40 years of experience. In the 80s he was a bookstore manager and was awarded the National Store of the Year by the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). He then spent over a decade with Bethany House Publishers and was named the Editor of the Year by AWSA. Over sixteen years ago he became an agent where he and his agency have represented nearly 2,000 new books and Steve was named Agent of the Year by ACFW. He was also inducted into the Grand Canyon University Hall-of-Fame by their College of Theology. He is married with three grown children and one grandchild.
Steve has very eclectic interests. He has represented everything from the sweet romance to the systematic theology. His clients are equally divided between fiction and non-fiction writers. (For a complete resume of his past work and editorial experience click here.)
He is the President of The Christian Writers Institute and publishes the annual Christian Writers Market Guide (also available online) and Book Proposal Tips and Tricks.
In addition, he is the owner and President of Enclave Publishing one of the premier publishers of Christian fantasy and science fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Espionage/Military * Fantasy * Historical * Literary * Paranormal * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Christian * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Family * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Inspiration * Lifestyle * Money/Finance * Music * Parenting/Child Guidance * Philosophy * Politics * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Women’s Issues *
24 W. Camelback Rd. A-635 Phoenix AZ 85013 USA
Biography
Felice Laverne is a literary agent with and the cofounder of the ArtHouse Literary Agency. Her publishing career has always been rooted in championing bold voices and writers from marginalized communities. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in English, Creative Writing, from Georgia State University, she started her career at About Words Agency directly after college where she worked as an agent until leaving to complete her master’s degree in Publishing at Kingston University in London, England. There, Felice specialized in Diversity & Inclusion in Publishing, which drove her career-long passion for bold voices the world had never heard before.
After years of then partnering with major houses as a book editor and ghostwriter, including having edited phenomenal big-name books such as Zerlina Maxwell’s The End of White Politics (Hachette) and Paola Ramos’ Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity (Vintage), among so many others, she is now back to her roots as a literary agent with a growing list of bold titles.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Dystopian * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Satire * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * Humor * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture *
3093 Broadway 363 Oakland CA 94611 USA
Biography
Shannon Lechon is a literary agent with the Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency. She began her career with literary agency internships at P.S. Literary and Cake Creative, as well as an editorial internship with Penguin Random House. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in criminology and English from Florida State University and a master’s in publishing from New York University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Psychology * Science * Technology * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Christine J. Lee is a literary agent with The Leshne Agency. She has interest in a broad range of genres, including full-length literary fiction, sci-fi, thrillers, horror, true crime, and romance, YA, cookbooks, interior design and gardening, parenting, books on self-empowerment, and memoirs/biographies touching on race, sex, class, and identity. She has worked in the publishing industry for more than 13 years, beginning at Bedford/St. Martin’s, then moved on to Simon & Schuster. She earned a BA from Princeton University in English Literature and a MFA from the University of Houston in Fiction. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son, and cat.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Ethnic * Gardening * General Nonfiction * Memoir * Multicultural * Parenting/Child Guidance * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime * Young Adult *
590 West End Avenue Suite 11D New York NY 10024 USA
Biography
Whitney Lee is a literary agent with The Fielding Agency. In March 2003, Whitney started The Fielding Agency, a full-service literary agency. Prior to this, Whitney worked at Carlisle & Company, where she created a foreign rights department for the agency and worked closely with prominent authors such as Dava Sobel, David Kennedy, James Gleick and Daniel Mason. Whitney began her publishing career at Nicholas Ellison, Inc./Sanford J. Greenburger Associates where she worked with bestselling authors such as Nelson DeMille, Carol Higgins Clark, Christopher Moore and Olivia Goldsmith. Whitney graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in English and Women Studies. After earning her B.A., she attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Travel *
1550-G Tiburon Blvd #528 Tiburon CA 94920 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Alexandra Levick is a literary agent with Writers House. She says: “I started at Writers House as an intern for Brianne Johnson and was quickly pulled from the program to begin working for Senior Vice President, Merrilee Heifetz. Later, I covered senior agent, Stephen Barr’s, paternity leave and worked as an assistant to senior agents Brianne Johnson and Rebecca Sherman. I have also worked as a bookseller in both the adult and children’s markets, as well as on the house side of the publishing business in publicity. In 2015, I graduated from New York University with my Masters of Science in Publishing: Digital and Print Media, with a specialization in Media Content Development.
I am actively growing my picture book, middle grade, young adult, and adult lists.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Kayla Lightner is a literary agent with Ayesha Pande Literary. Prior to joining Ayesha Pande Literary, Kayla worked as an assistant at Liza Dawson Associates. She is a member of the AALA (Association of American Literary Agents) as well as a member of their DEI committee. She is also on the Adult Internship Grant committee for We Need Diverse Books. A Georgia native, she earned her B.A. in English from Vassar College. Before finding her way to publishing, she held various positions including a fashion market assistant at Harper’s Bazaar and a freelance writer at Creative Loafing Atlanta. An adventurous reader, Kayla loves stories—across commercial fiction, literary fiction, and nonfiction—that masterfully straddle the line between story-telling and teaching her something new. Her full manuscript wishlist is here. When Kayla’s not reading, she can be found writing, performing stand-up, and reminiscing on her rugby days.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * History * Humor * Investigative * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Sports * Technology * True Crime *
128 West 132 Street New York NY 10027 USA
Biography
Simon Lipskar is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Simon is a senior agent at Writers House, where he represents a wide range of authors in literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction and young adult fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Science *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Jacqueline Lipton is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. She joined The Tobias Literary Agency in 2022 after helming her own literary agency, Raven Quill Literary, for a number of years previously. She loves all things books and publishing and has been an avid reader since elementary school. Her tastes were always broad and eclectic. She loved (and still does) everything from a good murder mystery to space opera to contemporary romance and everything in between. She also loves nonfiction projects with a compelling narrative voice.
Her background is also eclectic. At university (yes, in Australia and England they call it “university”), she studied law, psychology, drama, languages, and information technology. She practiced as a banking and finance attorney in Australia, and has worked as a law professor in Australia, the U.K. and the United States where her teaching and writing has focused on laws relating to the publishing industry, digital technology law, copyright, trademark, privacy, and defamation. She is the author of LAW & AUTHORS: A LEGAL HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS (2020, University of California Press) and OUR DATA, OURSELVES: A PERSONAL GUIDE TO DIGITAL PRIVACY (2022, University of California Press).
She holds an M.F.A. in Fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts and regularly teaches classes on writing and on legal aspects of publishing around the country.
Jacqui represents authors of fiction and non-fiction from middle grade through to adult, as well as selected projects for younger readers (picture books, chapter books etc.) She is currently focusing on developing her adult fiction and nonfiction lists and particularly enjoys mystery/crime, romance, how-to books, and compelling contemporary novels. She is not currently seeking high fantasy, and considers science-fiction selectively.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Picture Book * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Cleveland OH 44124 USA
Biography
Albert Longden is a literary agent with Three Corners Literary. Albert says: “As an Agent, I have limited time and therefore want writers that are preferably experienced and are willing to listen to productive critiques of their work.
I love old fashioned story telling in the mode of the classic early 20th century greats such as Earl Derr Biggers, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sax Rohmer, H. Rider Haggard, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Rice Bourroughs and Robert Louis Stevenson. More recently, the late Elizabeth Peters, Anne Rice, Laurie King, Wilbur Smith and Preston & Childs. Look to these authors with a creative current-thinking attitude and you’ll have something.
30 Plus years within the publishing industry in virtually all areas including, editorial, product development, sales, rep management, fulfillment and distribution, and executive management. I’ve been a accounting exec at major and minor imprints, President/Publisher of business books, a writer, and an entrepreneur. All these things make for an agent that looks to commercial projects with a literary attitude. If you’re looking for an professional Editor, this is currently the wrong agency for you.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * General Nonfiction * Money/Finance * Sports *
18 Bellevue Ter Bloomfield NJ 07003 USA
Biography
Barbara Lowenstein is a literary agent with Lowenstein Associates. Barbara Lowenstein started her publishing career at the Sterling Lord Agency as an assistant to the dramatic agent. She then moved on to Lancer Books, one of the last independent paperback houses at the time, where she created the first line of trade paperbacks in the industry. There, she published self-help, psychology, how-to, crafts, and cooking titles. After a brief stint as Director of Subsidiary Rights for Walker Books, she started Lowenstein Associates, which allowed her to combine her editorial skills with her gift for selling.
For over four decades, Barbara has represented the international bestselling author M. C. Beaton, known as the “Queen of Cozy Mysteries.” Beaton’s two mystery series Agatha Raisin (St. Martin’s) and Hamish Macbeth (Grand Central) have been translated into 17 languages. The Agatha Raisin novels have been adapted into a television series starring Ashley Jensen and has received rave reviews in the New York Times and The Guardian, among many other publications. Season 1 originally aired on SKY 1 HD. Season 2 is currently in production with Acorn TV. The series is streaming on Acorn TV as well as available on PBS stations across the U.S. and on many international broadcasting channels. The Hamish Macbeth and Poor Relation series by M. C. Beaton have also been optioned and are in development.
In addition, Barbara represents Ishmael Reed, MacArthur Genius Award winner, novelist, essayist and poet. Ishmael is also a Pulitzer Prize nominee and two-time National Book Award finalist. Other clients include Cordelia Fine, winner of the prestigious Royal Society Science Prize (known as the “Booker Prize for Science writing”) for Testosterone Rex, which explores and deconstructs our cultural myths and assumptions in gender dynamics, and Carla Harris, Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and author of the extremely successful career and business books Strategize to Win: The New Way to Start Out, Step Up, or Start Over in Your Career and Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoMG * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Science * Young Adult *
115 East 23rd St. 4th Floor New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Sandy Lu is a literary agent with and the founder of the Book Wyrm Literary Agency. She founded Book Wyrm Literary Agency after working as a literary agent for more than a decade at other boutique agencies, including Peter Rubie Literary Agency, Anderson Literary Management, and most notably, the L. Perkins Agency.
Born and raised in Taiwan, Sandy’s family moved to New York in her teens, so she understands the struggles of immigrants and those who straddle two cultures all too well.
Sandy holds BAs in psychology and sociology from Queens College, with minors in music, business, and Japanese. Prior to becoming an agent, she attended the Ph.D. Program in Social and Personality Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center and worked as a business/operations manager in the theater industry.
Sandy’s areas of study and work experience greatly inform her interest in submissions. She is seeking stories that will draw her in with a unique voice, make her miss her bedtime with a thrilling plot, and characters that will stay with her long after she turns the last page. Bonus points if you can make her laugh out loud or unable to hold back tears in public. Sandy especially loves historical fiction and anything dark, twisted, or with a supernatural bent.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Nonfiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Technology * True Adventure * Women’s Issues *
P.O. Box 361 Bronx NY 10463 USA
Biography
Paul Lucas is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. From his first days with books, Paul has loved the feeling of getting lost between the covers. He remembers reading in his closet with a flashlight after bedtime so his parents would think he had gone to sleep. He is actively looking for upmarket commercial fiction, specifically historical, thrillers, science fiction and fantasy. On the literary side, he likes reading narratives about immigration, ostracization, class, family and race. For non-fiction, he is drawn to narratives, learning new things and the occasional humor project.
Paul came to Janklow & Nesbit in 2007 as a paralegal in its legal department, following a stint in the corporate division at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He shifted to representation in 2011 and loves books much more than contracts (though pays attention to both!).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Economics * Ethnic * Family * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics * Science * Sports *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Kesia Lupo is a literary agent with The Bindery. Kesia grew up in the UK and Germany, studied History at Oxford University and Creative Writing at Bath Spa, then launched her publishing career at Pan Macmillan, London, as an editorial assistant in 2013. She transitioned from adult books to children’s when she joined boutique publisher Chicken House—then from a senior editorial role to agenting when she joined The Bindery in 2023. While her expertise lies in middle-grade and YA fiction, Kesia reads widely across genres, including adult SFF and horror, historical fiction, romance, and non-fiction.
Kesia is a new U.S. resident and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband. As well as working in publishing, she’s the author of three YA novels—We Are Blood and Thunder, We Are Bound by Stars (a fantasy duology), and Let’s Play Murder, a horror/thriller, all published by Bloomsbury in the UK. You will normally find her writing if she’s not reading!
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * Historical * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Film/Entertainment * History * Narrative * Psychology * True Crime *
Biography
Jonathan Lyons is a literary agent with the Curtis Brown Literary Agency. Jonathan Lyons represents authors writing in a variety of genres, including history, biographies, science, pop culture, sports, adventure, crime, suspense, science fiction, fantasy, and young adult fiction. He is a licensed publishing attorney, a member of The Authors Guild, and an adjunct professor at New York University’s Master of Science in Publishing Program, where he teaches a course on contract negotiation. Jonathan received his B.A. in history and political science from Washington University in St. Louis and his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Science * Sports * True Adventure * True Crime * Young Adult *
228 E 45th Street 3rd floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Donald Maass is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. Donald founded the Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York in 1980. His agency sells more than 150 novels every year to major publishers in the U.S. and overseas. He is the author of The Career Novelist (1996), Writing the Breakout Novel (2001), Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook (2004), The Fire in Fiction (2009) and The Breakout Novelist (2011). He is a past president of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, Inc.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Christian * Ethnic * Lifestyle * Multicultural *
1000 Dean Street Suite 252 Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Biography
Caitlin Mahony is a literary agent with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION:
11 Madison Avenue 18th Floor New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Ricia Mainhardt is a literary agent with the Ricia Mainhardt Agency. Ricia has represented authors from her offices in New York for more than twenty years. In addition to her regular clients, she enthusiastically supports talented, unpublished authors. After a long hiatus recovering from a car accident, Ricia is back, looking for the next publishing star and is excited about her work and her writers. Originally from Wisconsin, Ricia has an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and a graduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis in auditory electrophysiology. After spending time in her chosen specialty as well as peddling rags as a sales representative for the clothing industry, Ricia discovered a field that synthesized her love for the written word and for people.
A student, fan, and friend of greats in the science fiction field such as Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and Harlan Ellison, she achieved quick success in that publishing field and opened her agency in 1987. Soon afterwards, she branched out into other areas, most notably romance and new age, and has developed numerous writers in other genres. Ricia jointly edited two anthologies, a collection of superhero stories with John Varley and a tribute book to Robert Bloch with Richard Matheson. Her client list has included Ray Garton (Simon and Schuster, among others) in horror, children’s fiction, and novelizations, Michael A. Stackpole (Bantam, HarperCollins) in science fiction and fantasy, Richard Lee Byers (Minstrel [S&S]) in fantasy, Jim Butcher (Roc) in “gumshoe fantasy,” and Janeen O’Kerry (Dorchester) in historical and time-travel romance.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Erotica * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Glitz * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * New Age *
85 Lincoln Street First Floor Meriden CT 06451 USA
Biography
Erin Malone is a literary agent with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME). She has worked in WME’s Literary Department since 2004. She represents both literary and commercial fiction, along with narrative and platform-driven nonfiction, memoir, and occasional lifestyle titles–primarily in the areas of psychology, science, culture, and food/cooking. More than any one specific genre, she is drawn to good stories and distinct points of view.
Authors she works with include Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Amaryllis Fox, Amy Poehler, Bess Kalb, Bob Odenkirk, Brad Montague, Brian Lynch, Bruce Eric Kaplan, David McRaney, Elizabeth Nyamayaro, Ellie Kemper, Erin Duffy, Evan Winter, Felicia Day, hitRECord, Jason Segel, Kelly Oxford, Lilly Singh, Lyndsay Faye, Nicole Byer, Pete Holmes, Rebecca Serle, Rosanna Pansino, and Rose George, among many others.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mystery * NoMG * NoPB * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Psychology * Science *
9601 Wilshire Blvd Suite 218 Beverly Hills CA 90210 USA
Biography
Cynthia Manson is a literary agent with and the founder of the Cynthia Manson Literary Agency. She is a well-known and respected literary agent who represents a number of bestselling authors in a variety of genres. She graduated from Scripps College for Women in Claremont, CA. Manson has worked in both magazine and book publishing, including for Sterling Lord Literistic, Putnam, Bertelsmann, Scientific American, and Advertising Age magazine. She is well connected to the Hollywood community and has brokered numerous deals in the book-to-film-and-television market.
Cynthia is particularly interested in projects in the following commercial genres: thrillers/suspense/crime fiction/mysteries, science fiction and fantasy, historical fiction, upmarket women’s fiction, and newsworthy narrative nonfiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir * Narrative *
Biography
PJ Mark is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. He moved to NYC in 1990 and used his student loans to start a literary journal to publish his friends. He began his career as an international book scout in 1993, has worked as a journalist covering the book beat and has been a literary agent since 2002.
His fiction interests are eclectic, including short stories and literary novels. His nonfiction interests include journalism, popular culture, memoir/narrative, essays and cultural criticism. He is often drawn to writers, in fiction and nonfiction, who are formally inventive and push boundaries in content, ideas and voice.
PJ’s authors regularly receive numerous awards and honors, including, on multiple occasions, the “5 Under 35” honor by the National Book Award Foundation, the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Art Seidenbaum Award by the Los Angeles Times, the Rome Prize by the American Academy in Rome, multiple awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, a “20 Under 40” honor by The New Yorker, The Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Journalism, the Guardian First Book Award, the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, and National Book Award finalist medals.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Science Fiction * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Politics * Science *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Sharlene Martin is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. In 2003, Sharlene took her passion for great stories and their authors and her years in the entertainment industry, to form Martin Literary & Media Management. Her agency has experienced extraordinary success in sales and alliances. In the years since that time, her remarkable rise in the publishing industry is demonstrated by a rapidly growing list of non-fiction sales to such renowned major publishers as Random House, Rodale, Harper Collins, St. Martin’s Press, Penguin Putnam, Hachette, Simon and Schuster, as well as to a host of boutique publishers for specialized genre books.
She has represented numerous New York Times bestselling nonfiction books, including: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six by Anthony Flacco; Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story by Shanna Hogan; Notes Left Behind by Keith & Brooke Desserich; Raffaele Sollecito’s book, Honor Bound: My Journey to Hell and Back with Amanda Knox; HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell’s memoir, I Want; Suzanne Hansen’s You’ll Never Nanny in this Town Again; MaryJo Buttafuocco’s Getting It Through My Thick Skull; and The Goldman family’s If I Did It, based on the OJ Simpson murders of Ron Goldman and Nicole Simpson.
Many of Sharlene’s authors have had their books boosted as serial reprints in prestigious publications such as Readers’ Digest, People Magazine, WHO, and the London Times, and five of her clients have appeared on Oprah. Other client appearances include 60 Minutes, The TODAY Show, The View, Fox and Friends, Good Morning America, The Early Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, Discovery Channel, Inside Edition, The 700 Club, ET, The Insider, ABC Nightline, Dr. Phil, Anderson Cooper 360, CNN, HLN, Discovery ID and Fox News.
She is actively doing business with a host of film and TV companies for adaptations of her clients’ books. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s acclaimed TV movie in December, 2008 was based on her client’s book, Front of the Class. She was Executive Producer of Lifetime’s 2012 movie, The Pregnancy Project, which garnered the two top Imagen Awards in 2012 for Best Primetime Movie/Special and Best Actress (Alexa Vega). She is Co- Creator/Producer of the reality series, DEADLY SINS for Discovery ID, currently entering its sixth season. She was the Co-EP with Nancy Glass Productions for the 2015-16 season of specials, EPIC MYSTERIES, for Discovery ID. She will serve as Executive Producer on the Paramount TV/ Anonymous Content series, based on the Scholastic series Hilde Cracks the Case. She recently optioned Impossible Odds to Warner Bros. for Clint Eastwood to direct and Brian Helgeland adapting. She will also Executive Produce the feature, Hidden Girl, with the Egyptian production company, The Talkies.
She is also the co-author, with Anthony Flacco, of Publish Your Nonfiction Book (Writer’s Digest Books) and Literary Fails: Totally (sic)!.
Publishers, editors and writers who deal with her consistently express their joy in working with someone who is such an avid fan of good writing, as well as an enthusiastic guardian and representative of her clients’ work. She employs this personal touch to all of her business relationships and credits it with her proven record of success.
Sharlene divides her time between her home near Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Multicultural * Pop Culture * Religion * Travel * True Crime *
914 164th St. SE Ste. B12 #307 Mill Creek WA 98012 USA
Biography
Allegra Martschenko is a literary agent with Ladderbird. As both a writer and an editor, Allegra brings a well-rounded perspective to author-agent relationships and prioritizes championing diverse voices. They have a degree in architecture with a minor in creative writing from Princeton University and have worked at Princeton University Press, Cornell University Press, and the University Press of Colorado shepherding books into the world.
They love books that love you back: sweeping stories, characters with big hearts, and prose that inspires. When they’re not reading, you can usually find them gardening, crafting, or wrestling their misbehaving cats.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * New Adult * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Rebecca Matte is a literary agent with the Bradford Literary Agency. She joined Bradford Literary Agency as Contract Manager and agency assistant in 2022 before moving on to take on her own clients. Prior to working at Bradford, she worked as assistant to Executive Agent Laura Rennert at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, where she provided editorial and contract support for a wide array of books across genre and age range. Rebecca began her professional life as an IP and contracts lawyer for several prominent law firms in New York City, and now seeks to use those skills to raise up authors and help them succeed. A writer herself, Rebecca plans to be a highly editorial agent who will work with authors to help them bring their vision to reality on the page.
In general, Rebecca absolutely loves adult and YA science fiction/fantasy and queer romance. But no matter the setting—be it a far off kingdom beset by magic or around the corner in Brooklyn—Rebecca seeks out books that feature diverse, complex characters in deeply rooted relationships, platonic and romantic. A well-crafted romance will make her heart sing, while a beautifully detailed friendship will elevate any book to an instant favorite. She also gravitates towards inherently hopeful stories of self-discovery and reinvention at all ages, particularly those that center questions of gender and sexuality. She tries to bring magic to every moment of life, and loves books that do the same.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Magical Realism * Romance * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Margret McBride is a literary agent with the Margret McBride Literary Agency. She began a career that served her love of books in New York, working at Random House in New York. Her office was next door to the editor of the Doctor Seuss books. As postcards and missives from the author came to the editor, the editor would share them with her. The picture over his desk, the view of La Jolla from Ted Geisel’s studio was a clue to her future. In 1980, she was living in La Jolla, and opening her literary agency and having fun times with Ted and his wife Audrey. In her “New York Years” in publishing she worked in the marketing departments of Random House and Ballantine Books, and as the Director of Publicity at Warner Books, and Director of Publicity, Promotions and Advertising for Pinnacle Books. Knowing what the media wants and readers love to read set the stage for her immediate success as an agent.
In 1981, year later, she sold a small book to William Morrow (Harper Collins) by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson MD, called THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER. Thirty years and millions of copies later, the 30th Anniversary Edition THE NEW ONE MINUTE MANAGER was published. Two other bestselling parables followed years later: Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul and John Christensen (Hachette Books) will next year celebrate their the 20th Anniversary of FISH! A Remarkable Way To Boost Morale and Improve Results. Bob Burg and John Mann have just passed their tenth anniversary with Portfolio, their hugely successful, GO-GIVER A Little Story About A Powerful Business Idea.
She is a member of the Association of Authors Representatives (AAR) and the Author’s Guild. She is past-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the board of The La Jolla Playhouse located on the campus of the University of California at San Diego. La Jolla Playhouse is internationally renowned for creating some of the most exciting and adventurous work in American Theater, over 101 world premieres, 52 new works, 37 productions to Broadway—among them JERSEY BOYS, MEMPHIS, THE WHO’S TOMMY, Billy Crystal’s 700 SUNDAYS, I AM MY OWN WIFE, and JUNK.
Margret previously served on the Library Board of the University of California at San Diego and under her five-year direction, the UCSD Writers Conference attracted a distinguished faculty of publishers, editors and agents, as well as international participants.
Margret is interested in a wide range of commercial and literary fiction and nonfiction, historical fiction, medical suspense, legal thrillers, and stories featuring strong female protagonists.
Her nonfiction interests include biographies and memoirs, history, psychology, health, self-improvement and business, especially entrepreneurship, management, and finance. She also has had a weakness for perfectly executed, mind-blowing business parables.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Satire * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
P.O. Box 9128 La Jolla CA 92038 USA
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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)