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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.
Biography
Nat Sobel is a literary agent with Sobel Weber Associates. Nat founded the agency in 1970. He is a former bookseller, publisher’s sales rep., marketing director, and subsidiary rights agent. He holds a B.A. in English from the City College of New York. He is a founder of the New York Literary Writers Conference.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Mind/Body/Spirit *
146 East 19th Street New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Bonnie Solow is a literary agent with Solow Literary Enterprises. After many years as a journalist and film and publishing executive, Bonnie found her true calling when she established Solow Literary Enterprises in 1997. Curious and adventurous by nature, Bonnie has traveled and lived around the globe. She has kayaked in Alaska, trekked across New Zealand, salsa danced in Havana, communed with elephants in Laos, and lived for a year in a Calabrian village where the residents speak medieval French. Oh, and when she was younger she was kissed by Elvis, worked as Joe Cocker’s maid, and babysat for Bob Dylan’s kids. Her Italian is pretty decent.
Bonnie has spoken to writers at the Stanford Writer’s Workshop, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the California Institute of Integral Studies and is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and The Authors Guild.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Education * Environment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Spirituality *
25 Manor View Dr. Fairfax CA 94930 USA
Biography
Jennifer March Soloway is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Jennifer joined the Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2016, after a career in marketing and public relations. Agenting is her dream job. She loves working with writers and illustrators, and nothing gives her greater joy than to help an author elevate their story. She is most drawn to emotionally compelling voices and fresh perspectives underrepresented in literature.
Please send Jennifer:
Adult literary thrillers and horror (she is a suspense junkie, who loves to be scared). Throw in dash of (bad) romance, and she’s hooked!
YA novels in any genre (thrillers, gothic, humor), but especially literary stories about ordinary teens, focused on family, relationships, sexuality, mental illness, or recovery.
MG novels full of humor and heart, including adventures, mysteries, spooky-but-not-too-scary ghost stories, contemporary, and grounded fantasy.
Stories that blurs the lines between the real and the imagined in any category.
Picture books with surprise endings that make her laugh.
Eye-catching illustration with a distinct style.
That’s her wish list, but you might have something she has never considered before, and it might be absolutely perfect for her. Surprise her!
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Literary * Picture Book * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
2100 Geng Road Suite 210 Palo Alto CA 94303 USA
Biography
Andrea Somberg is a literary agent with the Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. A literary agent for over twenty years, Andrea represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including projects for adult, young adult and middle grade audiences. Her clients’ books have been NYTimes and USA Bestsellers, GMA and Target Book Club Picks, winners of ALA’s Alex Award and the Nebula, nominated for The Edgar Award, The Governor General’s Award, the Lambda Award, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, the Ohioana Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, Junior Library Guild Selections, PublishersMarketplace’s Buzz Book Selections, and have been named best books of the year by NYPublic Library and Book of the Month Club. She also actively pursues film and tv rights, and has had projects optioned by 20th Century Fox, Imagine Entertainment, Warner Brothers and others. Andrea is a guest instructor for MediaBistro and Writers Digest.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Crafts * Cultural/Social Issues * Design * Ethnic * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Science * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology * Travel * Upmarket *
300 W. 55th St. #11V New York NY 10019 USA
DongWon Song
Howard Morhaim Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
DongWon Song is a literary agent with the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. DongWon Song represents commercial fiction for adult, young adult, and middle grade readers as well as select nonfiction. He was formerly an editor at Orbit and a product manager for the ebook startup Zola Books. He has also taught as an adjunct instructor in the publishing program at Portland State University. He joined HMLA in 2015.
For adults, he is currently looking for thrillers with either a speculative edge or a focus on technology. Non-fiction personal narratives, food writing, and science writing, in particular work that addresses race and culture in these disciplines. For children, he is looking for science fiction, contemporary thrillers, horror, or fantasy that focuses on the experiences of marginalized people.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * Middle Grade Fiction * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Kelly Sonnack is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. For the past 15 years, Kelly has been championing writers and artists in nearly every category, format, and age group. She loves working with debut authors and illustrators as well as bestsellers and award-winning creators who are deep into their careers, and excels at developing strategies for clients at each stage of the creator’s journey.
Kelly represents all categories and genres of children’s books but right now, she’s looking for the following categories:
Graphic novel artists or author-illustrators (I am not open to representing new GN script writers)
Illustrators and author-illustrators of picture books. This includes illustrators who want to illustrate another writer’s words, or artists who want to write and illustrate their own stories.
Within these categories, Kelly is particularly interested in stories on the following topics, themes and story elements:
Fiction and nonfiction unafraid to center queer and trans identities
Stories celebrating alternative family structures
Comedy/humor
Innovative writing/storytelling (including visual storytelling)
Kelly is on the board of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). She is also on the AALA’s Membership Commitee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee where she co-directs a mentorship program that provides support to agents from underrepresented backgrounds. Kelly grew up overseas, primarily in Singapore, and now lives in Southern California.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Young Adult *
5190 Governor Drive 203 San Diego CA 92122 USA
Biography
Arley Sorg is a liteary agent with KT Literary. He is primarily interested in adult speculative titles, including science fiction, fantasy, and horror with speculative/fantastic elements, literary speculative fiction, and climate fiction. Arley is a two-time World Fantasy Award Finalist and a two-time Locus Award Finalist for his work as co-Editor-in-Chief at Fantasy Magazine. He is also a SFWA Solstice Award Recipient, a Space Cowboy Award Recipient, and a finalist for two Ignyte Awards: for his work as a critic as well as for his creative nonfiction. Arley is senior editor at Locus Magazine, associate editor at both Lightspeed & Nightmare, a columnist for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and conducts interviews for Clarkesworld. Arley grew up in England, Hawaii, and Colorado, and lives in the SF Bay Area. He is a 2014 Odyssey Writing Workshop graduate. Find out more on his personal site (arleysorg.com) and look for him on QueryTracker.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Laura Southern is a literary agent with Wolf Literary Services. She joined Wolf Literary Services in 2021 as an assistant to Kirsten Wolf and is now building her list as an associate agent. Born and raised in Texas, Laura received her BA in English from Baylor University before moving to New York City, where she earned her MS in Publishing from New York University while assisting at Morhaim Literary.
Laura loves lyrical prose and character-driven narratives regardless of age group or genre. In adult, she is looking for fantasy, science-fiction, and horror with lush worldbuilding and voice that vibrates off the page. She’s a fan of villains, setting as character, and stories that dive headfirst into the weird or strange. Romcoms and fantasy romcoms with sharp, witty prose are also high on her list, as well as upmarket fiction with off-beat premises. As a Texan native, Laura has a soft spot for narratives set in the South, particularly when told from diverse perspectives and featuring LGBTQ+ narrators.
In young adult and middle grade, Laura is interested in speculative fiction across any subgenre, as well as select contemporary fiction. Laura loves the fae, talking/magical animals, marching band, new twists on quest narratives, genre-blending, found family, mythological retellings, and dragons.
Additionally, Laura is looking for memoir and narrative nonfiction. She’d especially like to work with scientists, journalists, and other experts writing on animal and nature conservation.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Paranormal * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Narrative * Science *
Kerry Sparks
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Kerry Sparks is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She joined LGR in 2008, coming to book publishing after several years in the film and television industry. With a love for all these mediums of storytelling, she gravitates toward books that have a cinematic feel or visual element that lend to film or television adaptation. She primarily represents fiction with a specific focus on novels for teens and young adults but regardless of age is always on the hunt for books that combine a solid hook and great writing and that have an undeniably fresh yet relatable voice. She also represents a select list of nonfiction writers. A few of her clients include NYT and International Bestselling author Jennifer Niven, National Book Award Finalist Carrie Arcos, illustrator and author Mark Pett, bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert, novelist Camille Perri, essayist and poet Shayla Lawson, and a robust list of Jennifers— Jennifer Mathieu, Jenny Lundquist, Jennifer Gray Olson, and Jenny Torres Sanchez to name a few.
Kerry grew up in the woods of Oregon as the extroverted early bird in a family of introverted night owls, and, as a middle child, learned how to negotiate while keeping the peace at a young age. She graduated with honors from California State University, Los Angeles with a degree in English, where she also published short stories and wrote and produced plays. After a decade in Manhattan, Kerry now heads up the LGR Oregon outpost in Portland where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Kerry is the co-author of the hipster baby name book Hello, My Name Is Pabst and will gladly help clients name their characters upon request.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * How-To * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Young Adult *
307 Seventh Ave. Suite 2407 New York NY 10001 USA
Alice Speilburg
Speilburg Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Alice Speilburg is a literary agent and founder of the Speilburg Literary Agency. She is the founding agent of Speilburg Literary and has worked in book publishing for more than a decade. She represents narrative nonfiction and commercial fiction for adults and YA readers.
Her first editing gig was on the news desk of her college daily, and she is still drawn to compelling nonfiction stories, especially those written by journalists, that deepen our understanding of culture and society. In fiction, she loves a complete immersion read that takes her to another world through the eyes of original characters.
Alice previously worked at John Wiley & Sons, and Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. She has worked with bestselling and award-winning authors, literary and professional societies, and branded content. Alice serves as Vice President on the board of directors for Louisville Literary Arts, and spends her weekends hiking with her husband and two sons.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Erica Spellman-Silverman is a literary agent at Trident Media Group. At 23 years old, Erica Spellman Silverman began her career at ICM. Coming from a family of writers and editors, she’s loved books all her life. She represented journalists Hunter S. Thompson, Tim O’Brien, Robert Scheer, Robert Greenfield, Tim White, and Cameron Crowe, among others. Many went on to become novelists, screenwriters, and directors. After transitioning to the film side of the business, Erica found that she missed working with novelists and moved to The William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor), where she became Vice President. There, she could work with writers in all categories: books, film, and theater. Lionel Schriver, Scott Spencer, Eve Babitz, and Robin Cook are among the many writers she represented. She was also responsible for their movie and TV deals. Having worked at ICM and William Morris, she made a transition to running United Artists in New York so she could see the other side of the fence. “I couldn’t get back to being an agent fast enough!” Erica says. “I love finding my own writers and not being dependent on the committee mentality one needs as a buyer.”
Erica has been at Trident for ten years, where she has had the wonderful opportunity to work with fantastic writers, including Andrew Mayne, Barbara Lynch, Cherise Wolas, Esther the Wonder Pig, Eve Babitz, Jennifer L. Scott, Rachel Van Dyken, Robin Cook, and many others. She also uses her knowledge of the movie business to handle book-to-film and TV rights for many of Trident’s agents.
Her client list is fairly eclectic. Her interest lies less in genre than in great storytelling—Erica says, “anything that gets into your head and your heart, anything you can’t stop thinking about, whether it’s literary fiction, thrillers, young adult, or memoir. Books and stories that touch the soul, that make you laugh or cry or both. Stories that haven’t been told before or are told in a different way: that’s what I am looking for.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Parenting/Child Guidance *
355 Lexington Ave 12th FL New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Marya Spence is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Raised in California’s Bay Area, Marya studied literature at Harvard, where she was Fiction Editor for the Advocate and specialized in creative writing. She went on to get her MFA at New York University and teach undergraduate creative writing there. She also spent these years in her 20’s working and interning at The New Yorker, PAPER Mag, Travel & Leisure, Vanity Fair, Publishers Weekly, METROPOLIS Magazine, and more—with a brief stint in equity research.
As someone who values craft from the writer’s perspective, Marya represents a diverse range in fiction and nonfiction, including, but not limited to, literary novels and collections, upmarket commercial fiction, cultural criticism and voice-driven essays, narrative journalism with a humorous or critical edge, and pop culture. She lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Elaine Spencer
The Knight AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Elaine Spencer is a literary agent with The Knight Agency. Elaine Spencer joined The Knight Agency in 2005, after graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in economics and literature. Originally serving as the agency’s submissions coordinator, Elaine then moved on to head the foreign rights department, before beginning to actively build her own individual client list. Over the last decade Elaine has placed over 500 titles in a wide variety of sub-genres across the market.
Elaine continues to keep a focused author list as she believes it is important to work closely with her clients through each step of the publishing process. She relishes seeing her clients’ talents grow alongside their careers, and one of her favorite parts of the job continues to be educating authors about the market and business at large.
Elaine lives in Athens, Georgia with her husband, daughter, and four-legged sons. Elaine is a member of RWA and the WFWA and is also an AAR recognized agent. She is interested in a wide-variety of categories including but not limited to women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, and a multitude of nonfiction topics which align with her personal interests.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Historical * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Joe Spieler is a literary agent with The Spieler Agency. Joe has been a writer (The Village Voice, Penthouse, The SoHo Weekly News, Harper’s Monthly) and an editor (The New York Times, The SoHo Weekly News). He began the agency in 1982 and represents nonfiction and fiction and books for children and young adults.
Among writers he represents are the cultural historian Thomas Frank (What’s the Matter with Kansas?, One Market Under God), the historian Walter Laqueur (A History of Zionism, Weimar, The Holocaust Encyclopedia, After the Fall: The End of the European Dream and the Decline of a Continent), the late Akio Morita, the founder of Sony (Made in Japan), Paul Hawken (Growing a Business, Blessed Unrest, Natural Capitalism), the historians Richard Breitman and Allan Lichtman (FDR and the Jews), Peter Senge (The Fifth Discipline), Joe Kane (Running the Amazon), and Marc Reisner (Cadillac Desert).
His children’s list includes Amy Ehrlich (With a Mighty Hand), David Martin (the forthcoming Shhh! Bears Sleeping), and Rebecca Rupp (After Eli).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Nature * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Travel * Young Adult *
75 Broad St. Suite 304 New York NY 10004 USA
Lauren Spieller
Folio Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Lauren Spieller is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. She says: “I represent an exciting and talented list of award winning and bestselling authors. Whatever the age category or genre, I’m passionate about representing diverse and underrepresented voices, and I’m always on the hunt for a new point of view.
I consider myself an editorial agent. I provide support and insight at all stages of a book’s creation, tailoring the way I work to the client’s needs. I am also a fierce advocate and negotiator. It’s important to me that my clients not just succeed in selling one book, but many, and that I do everything I can to help them have a long, creatively satisfying career. That means being strategic about which projects they write, the brand they are developing, and the way we pursue foreign, audio, and film/TV deals. (I also have lots of random advice ready to go. Like that time I taught a client who lives in CA how to remove ice from her windshield using a credit card. I’m full service!)
I have a BA and a MA in English because I just couldn’t get enough of books. I’m also the author of two Young Adult novels entitled YOUR DESTINATION IS ON THE LEFT and SHE’S THE WORST. Both are published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. When I’m not working, you can find me playing with my mini goldendoodle, Louise, or binge watching something funny or thrilling.
WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR
I love books that sit at the intersection of “commercial” and “timeless,” especially if they pair a big hook with voicey, upmarket writing. I like to read books that keep me at the edge of my seat, that make me laugh out loud, that make me swoon, or that are simply so unputdownable that I stay up way too late reading. I also love smart genre-bending tales, books that tackle a familiar topic or time period from a new or surprising perspective, and stories that take big risks, whatever that means to you.
But let’s get more specific. In MG, I’m looking for high concept contemporaries, magical fantasy and kid-friendly sci-fi, exciting historical, and spooky horror/mystery. I’d also love to see MG graphic novels, especially if it’s set in our world. In YA, I’m drawn to speculative stories (fantasy, sci-fi, and horror), contemporary novels with a big hook, romance and RomCom, suspense/thrillers, and graphic novels.
In Adult, I’m seeking female-driven suspense/thrillers, immersive and upmarket/literary SFF and horror, hilarious RomComs and swoony upmarket romance, as well as the occasional unique non-fiction with an existing platform.
For a list of (some of) my favorite recent books, check out manuscriptwishlist.com and my #mswl posts on Twitter.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Narrative * Pop Culture * True Crime *
Biography
Anne-Lise Spitzer is a literary agent with the Philip Spitzer Literary Agency. She has joined the agency as Executive Vice President and Literary Agent. Spitzer was previously Vice President and Director of Marketing at Knopf, Pantheon, and Schocken Books. She says, “It has long been a dream of mine to work with my father. This move will allow me not only to do that but to continue to champion books and authors I love—the reason for being in this business. I am thrilled at the opportunity.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Multicultural * Politics * Sports * True Crime *
ATTN: Kim Lombardini 50 Talmage Farm Lane East Hampton NY 11937 USA
Biography
Anna Sproul-Latimer is a literary agent with Neon Literary. She is also a founding partner and president of Neon Literary. She has over the course of her many years in book publishing sold multiple New York Times bestsellers, major book-to-film deals, and foreign translations in more than 50 languages. She represents all types of adult nonfiction–from memoir and history to pop culture, science, and parenting–as well as select literary fiction. (For existing clients, Anna represents just about everything, but all of her clients’ careers start and primarily consist of work in one of her two focus areas.)
Anna is drawn to buzzing, bright, curious, and slightly demented authors driven by enthusiasm so infectious that (inter)national audiences are already paying attention. She seeks authors motivated by a true mission–a clear answer to the question, “What is the legacy I want to leave in the world?” Of particular interest are those who’ve made moral leadership lemonade from the lemons of trauma: authors who are whistleblowers, Cassandras, “unelectable” elected officials, and survivors.
A lifelong resident of the Washington, DC area, Anna has spent her whole life watching power, money, and media interact to shape the line of history. With Neon, she intends to take the full weight of her access, experience, and privilege and use it to lie down in traffic, forcing that line to turn somewhere brighter.
Prior to founding Neon, Anna spent nearly 15 years as a literary agent, foreign rights director, and developmental editor at DC’s Ross Yoon Agency. A graduate of Columbia University (BA magna cum laude, English) and the University of Oxford (MSt with distinction, also English), Anna lives in the DC suburbs with her family and travels to New York frequently.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * General Fiction * Humor Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Science *
Arlington VA 22207 USA
Biography
Cullen Stanley is a literary agent with and the founder and president of The Cullen Stanley International Agency. She began her career in international publishing working in the New York office of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore and later as a scout for Maria B. Campbell Associates where she advised major publishing houses across Europe and Asia as well as Hollywood film companies. In the 1990’s Cullen joined Janklow & Nesbit Associates where she managed the foreign rights business and represented and worked with many authors across all genres. Cullen’s interests are broad and eclectic, and her list is focused on narrative nonfiction, history, biography and memoir as well as commercial and book club fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Religion * Science * Spirituality *
745 Fifth Avenue Suite 500 New York NY 10151 USA
Amy Stapp
Wolfson Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Amy Stapp is a literary agent with the Wolfson Literary Agency. Amy Stapp received her BA from Samford University and MA from Georgia State University before beginning her publishing career at Macmillan, where she was an editor for seven years and had the privilege of working with bestselling authors such as Katie McGarry, Shelley Noble, and Amber Lynn Natusch, among others. Amy joined Wolfson Literary in 2018 and is actively building her list, with interest in women’s fiction, mystery, suspense, historical fiction, young adult, and select nonfiction. She is particularly drawn to well-paced prose and smart, multidimensional characters.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Historical * Mystery * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
Biography
Alexa Stark is a literary agent with Writers House. Alexa joined Writers House in 2022, after ten years at Trident Media Group. She represents a range of literary and upmarket fiction and select nonfiction. On the fiction side, she is particularly drawn to literary debuts with a unique voice and perspective, stories about dysfunctional friendships and families, novels that engage with social issues, underrepresented voices, and fiction that delves into the surreal or plays with genre in fresh or subversive ways. She also enjoys edgy coming-of-age tales and character-driven suspense and thrillers. She gravitates towards the humorous, the bold, the psychologically probing and the tender. On the nonfiction side, she is seeking narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, voice-driven essay collections, popular science, psychology, and women’s issues.
Alexa also has experience helping authors place stories, essays and book excerpts in a range of publications including the New Yorker, Harper’s, Paris Review, the Atlantic, Tin House, N+1, Playboy, McSweeney’s, and the New York Times, among others. Her authors have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list and have won or been listed for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the National Book Foundation’s 5 under 35, the Rona Jaffe Award, the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, The Young Lions Fiction Award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Lambda Literary Award, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.
Raised in New York City, Alexa earned her BA in comparative literature and society at Columbia University. Prior to joining Writers House, she worked at Curtis Brown and Trident Media Group, spending the first few years working with Ellen Levine before building her own list. She lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * Humor * Memoir * Narrative * Psychology * Science * Women’s Issues *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
HB Steadham
The Tobias Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
HB Steadham is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. She is a world-traveling, lifetime-learning lover of shenanigans. She graduated with her MFA in Creative Writing from the Arkansas Writers Workshop, where she served as Editorial Intern for the Oxford American, a National Magazine Award-winning literary quarterly. She joined The Tobias Literary Agency in April of 2022 and is proud to now be cultivating a list of her own.
HB is open to queries for adult literary fiction. Craft is always paramount; exceptional voice, beautiful and unique style, and sentences imbued with complex meaning are the ideal. Also, fully developed characters with rich inner worlds, whose thoughts and actions are what drives the plot, are a necessity.
What catches her attention:
Setting in the American South
Narratives by and about queer folks
Neurodivergence in all its manifestations
Stories informed or inspired by folklore, mythology, fairy tales, superstitions
Light elements of speculative fiction (no high fantasy)
Her favorite books include Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, and so, so many more.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION: Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Narrative *
Michael Stearns
Upstart Crow LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Michael Stearns is a literary agent with Upstart Crow Literary Agency. Michael is the founder of Upstart Crow Literary. Formerly editorial director and foreign acquisitions manager for HarperCollins Children’s Books, before that he was Senior Editor, Director of Paperback Publishing for Harcourt Children’s Books. He has worked on hundreds of books for children and adults over the course of twenty years in the industry.
Among the many bestselling and award-winning books he’s edited and published are A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly; Gone and Hunger by Michael Grant; Tangerine by Edward Bloor, East by Edith Pattou,The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls by Elise Primavera, Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson, Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge, the Young Wizards series by Diane Duane, and the Chet Gecko Mysteries by Bruce Hale, as well as a whole slew of books by Bruce Coville, Jane Yolen, Vivian Vande Velde, Andrew Auseon, and Ursula K. Le Guin, among others.
He has taught a dozen classes on writing, published three anthologies of original stories, and is an award-winning writer of fiction for both children and adults—most recently The Blood Guard series under the pen name Carter Roy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
Lori Steel
Red Fox LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Lori Steel is a literary agent with Red Fox Literary. She began her career in young people’s literature first as an educator and school librarian, and later as a freelance editor and writing instructor. She is also a writer and earned an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. As a Red Fox Literary Agent, Lori approaches her work from these diverse industry experiences and perspectives. She’s a long-time member of SCBWI and ALA, and passionately believes all readers deserve equal access to stories, no matter their age.
Lori’s clients include both debut and award-winning authors, and she continues to seek diverse perspectives, literary approaches, and unique story experiences to add to her list. Lyrical language, compelling settings, and stories told with heart are areas of particular interest in any genre/audience.
Originally from the Washington DC area, Lori has also called Appalachia and England home. When not at her desk, you can often find her plotting her next travel adventure, testing out a new recipe, or pottering in her Washington DC garden with her English husband and their secret-agent pup sidekick, Juice.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Pattie Steele-Perkins
Steele-Perkins Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Pattie Steele-Perkins is a literary agent with the Steele-Perkins Literary Agency. Pattie has been an agent for romance writers for ten years. She considers s career planning as well as marketing her clients books an essential part of her job as an agent.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
26 Island Lane Canandaigua NY 14424 USA
Biography
Stephanie Steiker is a literary agent with Regal Hoffmann & Associates. She joined Regal Hoffmann in 2015. From 2008 to 2015 she was Associate Director of the New York Institute for the Humanities at NYU, working with prominent figures in literature, academia, and the arts. Previously she has worked for the online magazine Words Without Borders; the journal East European Politics and Societies; and the New School’s Transregional Center for Democratic Studies. A native New Yorker with a degree in comparative literature from Brown University, she lived in Poland from 1999 to 2001, has a background in documentary film, and for several years wrote about the downtown NY music scene for The New Yorker. Stephanie is open to submissions in serious and narrative non-fiction, as well as literary fiction (including graphic novels). In non-fiction, her interests are history, philosophy, current affairs, literary and cultural studies; biography and memoir; music, photography, and issues of racial and economic justice. She’s enthusiastic about international writing (reads in French, Spanish, and Polish), and has a thing for prose written by poets.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Philosophy * Photography * Upmarket *
143 West 29th Street Suite 901 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Anna Stein is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. Before ICM she worked with Aitken Alexander Associates—from June of 2009 until December of 2015. Before Aitken Alexander Associates, she was an agent and foreign rights manager at the Irene Skolnick Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Cultural/Social Issues * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Mystery *
NONFICTION: Biography * Memoir * Narrative * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Spirituality *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Peter Steinberg is a literary agent with Fletcher & Company/UTA. He is now at United Talent Agency (UTA) after he joined Fletcher & Company in 2021 from Foundry Literary + Media. He’s represented numerous New York Times bestsellers (including three #1 New York Times bestsellers) and clients have been nominated for or awarded Edgars, The Pulitzer Prize, The Story Prize, The Paris Review Discovery Prize, PEN/Faulkner and National Book Awards. Most recently, The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont was selected for Reese’s Book Club, and The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award. His list includes narrative non-fiction, commercial and literary fiction, memoir, self-help, history, pop culture, humor, and sports. Several of his authors have had their books made into major motion pictures, including Towelhead and I Love You Phillip Morris. Steinberg is a graduate of NYU film school and worked briefly in the film business prior to becoming a literary agent.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Film/Entertainment * History * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Self-Help/Personal Development * Science * Sports *
3137 Laguna Street New York NY 10106 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)
* * *
“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
* * *
“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)