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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
Hannah Strouth is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. While earning her B.A. in English and Marketing from the College of William & Mary, Hannah completed an internship at a boutique literary agency in Virginia, where she fell in love with this side of publishing. After graduating from the Columbia Publishing Course, she joined JRA as Office Assistant and soon after was promoted to Contracts Associate. Today, as assistant to Andrea Cirillo and Kathy Schneider, she helps maintain their list of clients while keeping her sights set on growing her own list. She is constantly diving into historical fiction, contemporary rom-coms, and upmarket/literary fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Historical * Literary * Romance * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Andrew Stuart is a literary agent with the Stuart Agency. Before starting The Stuart Agency in 2002, Andrew Stuart was an agent with the Literary Group International for 5 years. Prior to becoming an agent, he was an editor at Random House and Simon & Schuster. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English, and he received his M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. He focuses on titles in the areas of history, science, narrative nonfiction, business, current events, memoir, psychology, sports, and literary fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Religious * Sports Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Prescriptive * Psychology * Religion * Science * Sports *
450 North End Ave. 25C New York NY 10282 USA
Biography
Kari Stuart is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. She says: “I’m a literary agent in NYC. When I’m not reading fabulous new, unpublished books, you can find me testing new recipes or running in the park with my dogs.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Religion * Science * Sports * Travel *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Gerrie Sturman is a literary agent with Goldfarb & Associates. She says: “As agent with Goldfarb & Associates, I work with attorney, literary agent and prodigious writer Ronald Goldfarb, Esq. on special projects, research and building my list of client authors.
Formerly a global sales manager with Marriott International, I won The Chairman’s Circle for sales excellence – twice! In addition to my hotel sales career with Marriott, Omni Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Princess Hotels, I represented the Cincinnati and Washington DC Convention & Visitor bureaus.
Earned professional designations include: CASE (Certified Association Sales Executive) and CGMP (Certified Government Marketing Professional)
Prior to my hospitality sales & marketing career, I taught English and English as a Second Language, wrote and edited advertising and business copy. My sales experience runs the gamut from publishing to hospitality sales to shoes to Girl Scout cookies!
Specialties: Creative writing skills and research. Proactive selling, account development, customer service, productive and purposeful client relationships.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Memoir * Money/Finance * Politics * Religion * Spirituality * Sports *
c/o RP &B 510 King St., Suite 301 Alexandria VA 22314 USA
Biography
Saba Sulaiman is a literary agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services. She says: “I was drawn into the world of literature by default when my sister’s growing collection of books in our tiny room began to overflow onto my bed. Bewildered by her fascination with these musty, decaying volumes, I decided to experience them for myself—and instantly fell in love. Born to Pakistani expatriates in Sri Lanka, and knowing how to express myself only in English for the first fifteen years of my life, I found comfort in reading about other culturally displaced people, unable to communicate in their native tongues, and hesitant to assert themselves in environments where there were few examples of people like them. Moving to Pakistan and absorbing what it meant to be an educated woman in a traditional Islamic society contributed greatly to my desire to learn more about similar narratives, especially from other women. In an effort to understand how it felt to be surrounded by other ambitious women with the desire to shatter patriarchal restrictions, I enrolled as an undergraduate at Wellesley College. And the rest, as they say, is history
After double majoring in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley, I studied modern Persian Literature at the University of Chicago, where I got involved with editing our department’s academic journal. And it finally hit me—working closely with writers to hone their craft; seeing a piece of writing from its inception through to its eventual publication; and advocating for what I believed was stellar prose worthy of recognition—this was my calling. So I interned at various newspaper and magazine publications, worked as an editorial intern at Sourcebooks, and then wound up at Talcott Notch, where I’m excited to begin my career as a literary agent.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Humor * Memoir * Multicultural *
215 Broad Street 2nd Floor Milford CT 06460 USA
Biography
Rachel Sussman is a literary agent with the Chalberg & Sussman Literary Agency. A graduate of Brown University, Rachel Sussman worked as an editor at Scribner and as an agent with Zachary Shuster Harmsworth before co-founding Chalberg & Sussman. She represents a wide range of nonfiction—narrative, memoir, psychology, history, lifestyle, and pop culture—and a select list of literary fiction.
Rachel’s clients run the gamut from journalists like Mary Papenfuss (American Huckster: How Chuck Blazer Got Rich From—and Sold Out—The Most Powerful Cabal in World Sports) and Linda Hervieux (Forgotten: The Untold Story of the Only African-American Combat Unit at D-Day) to self-proclaimed mediocre mother Karen Alpert (I Heart My Little A-Holes) and DIY experts Sherry and John Petersik (Young House Love).
Rachel enjoys developing “big think” books—clients include psychology professor Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight about Animals and Deborah Cohen, MD, author of A Big Fat Crisis: The Hidden Forces Behind the Obesity Epidemic and How We Can End It—and is proud to represent memoirists Matt Logelin (Two Kisses for Maddy), Jennifer Ridha (Criminal That I Am), and Tracy Slater (The Good Shufu).
Her list of fiction writers include Natashia Deon, author of the award-winning debut Grace, Tiffany Hawk, author of Love Me Anyway, and Kristin Waterfield Duisberg, author of The Good Patient and After.
Rachel’s projects, which include New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, Amazon Best Books of the Year, and Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selections, have been translated throughout the world and optioned by major studios and independent producers for both the big and small screens.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Upmarket *
115 West 29th Street Third Floor New York NY 10001 USA
Kari Sutherland
KT LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Kari Sutherland is a literary agent with KT Literary. She is based out of Southern California. She began on the editorial side of publishing, first at Disney Press, then HarperCollins Children’s Books–where she had the honor of editing many talented authors, including Victoria Aveyard and Sara Shepard. Middle grade and YA are at the heart of her list, but she also represents picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and upmarket fiction. She graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in English and Psychology and received a Masters in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice before pivoting back to her first love–books. With her editorial insight and experience with the entire publishing process, Kari is passionate about helping to polish each manuscript and equip her clients for success.
Kari is not seeking: horror, romance, erotica, memoir, cookbooks, business, spiritual/religious, poetry, or screenplays.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Books * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Biography
Kristina Sutton-Lennon is a literary agent with the Context Literary Agency. She was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2022. As Executive Director of Focused Artists, which she co-founded, she served as a Talent and Literary Manager. Kristina has worked as a Film/TV Agent . She is excited to build her list while securing Media and Translation Rights deals for authors . She takes pride in her diverse slate of content . Kristina earned her MFA from Louisiana State University. She is a proud member of NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Ethnic * Health/Wellness * Multicultural * Parenting/Child Guidance * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * Women’s Issues *
Danielle Svetcov
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Danielle Svetcov is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She is the author of Parked, a “quirky” “big-hearted” middle-grade novel that “explores what happens when homelessness and helpfulness collide.” Before Parked, Danielle wrote for the New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune Magazine. She joined LGR in 2002.
Books she rereads for love: I Capture the Castle, Lone Pilgrim, Jane Eyre, Devil in the White City, Ladies and Gentlemen—the Bronx is Burning.
Audiobooks that she’s recently listened to (in the car) on rainy days: When You Reach Me, Naked, The Secret Garden, Undefeated.
Her clients tend to be oppositional but reasoned, serious but amused—preferring their rabbit holes deep.
Her taste is reflected in the journalism and narrative nonfiction she’s sold, e.g. Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves; its natural follow-up Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art; a cultural history of our bodies under water, Why We Swim; a refusal to be grammatically cornered, Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark; a refusal to be artfully ignored Broad Strokes and She Votes; and a story of greed that threatens us all (where we least expect it), Kill Shot.
Also, to offset the Victorian in her, she signs funny books, e.g. Skymaul: Happy Crap You Can Buy From A Plane; Look Big, a guide to surviving wild-animal close-encounters (which is funnier than you might think); What to Talk About; Bike Snob; and Minnesota-Book-of-the-Year nominee, The Annie Year, an ensemble novel that blurs heartland and heartburn.
Of course, she has to eat, too… She represents an incredible stable of chefs, restaurateurs, and food/ag-thinkers—many of them IACP and Beard Award winners—including Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky’s New York Times bestselling Run Fast Eat Slow; Bryant Terry’s Afro-Vegan and Vegetable Kingdom; Michelle Polzine’s Baking at the 20th Century Café; Russell Moore and Allison Hopelain’s This is Camino; Adrianna Adarme’s The Year of Cozy; Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski’s State Bird Provisions; Brandon Jew’s Mr. Jiu’s in Chinatown; Sophie Egan’s OK to Eat; and many more.
Some of her authors you’ll be hearing from soon: Rachel Gross, Nicole Perlroth, Sophia Vincent-Guy, Mark Bittman, Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, Beth Rodden, Eugenia Viti, Diana Kapp, Diana Helmuth, Molly Huddle, Sara Slattery, Rick Easton, Melissa McCart, Andrew Hilleman, Colin Clancy, Jodi Angel, S.P. Miskowski, Mike Sacks and Jason Roeder.
Danielle is based in the agency’s California office.
And, in pursuit of sustenance to fuel her reading, she represents an incredible stable of chefs, restaurateurs, and food/ag-thinkers—many of them IACP and Beard Award winners— including: Bryant Terry (Afro-Vegan), Thomas McNaughton (flour + water), Russell Moore and Allison Hopelain (This is Camino), Evan and Sarah Rich (Rich Table), Karen Solomon (Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It), Adrianna Adarme (The Year of Cozy), Tara Austen Weaver (The Butcher and the Vegetarian), Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski (State Bird Provisions), and Celia Sack (The Omnivore’s Keeper), among others.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Computers * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Technology * Young Adult *
307 Seventh Ave. Suite 2407 New York NY 10001 USA
Bonnie Swanson
The Purcell AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Bonnie Swanson is a literary agent with The Purcell Agency. She is twenty plus year elementary teacher. She shares her love of literature with her students and even tests out her own books on them. (And everyone thinks agents are tough!) Using her experience as a teacher, she has been a mentor for many authors through the WriteMentor program started by author Stuart White. Some of her mentees have gone on to publishing and best-selling success with their titles.
A short sample of her favorite authors are Dean Koontz, J.K. Rowling, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, S.A. Stovall, Suzanne Collins, Jen Mann, Danielle Paige, Christopher Paolini, Neal Schusterman, and Ally Condi. She’ll try just about anything, but romance is her true jam and the HEA (happily ever after) is a must!
She is an active member of SCBWI and a co-rep for her local chapter. When she’s not teaching, reading, or spending time with her three kids & husband, she’s busy creating her own stories. You can also find her covered in fur and playing with her three cats Milo, Winter and, Mira—when they tell her to.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Paranormal * Picture Book * New Adult * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Joyce Sweeney
The Seymour AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Joyce Sweeney is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. Joyce has worn many hats in the kidlit industry. They are the author of fourteen novels for young adults. They have edited, instructed, and encouraged writers for twenty-five years, successfully mentoring 78 traditionally published authors and still counting. They are very active in Florida SCBWI. They have also published poetry and managed a South Florida theater company. What they’re looking for:
In Picture Books: Fiction or non-fiction. I am drawn to lyrical voices, fun syntax and offbeat concepts. I like unusual characters, and plots that make me cry or laugh out loud. Illustrator/authors welcome and rhyme (if you REALLY know how to do it) is fine. Diversity, please. Most of all, be unique.
In Middle Grade: I am especially drawn to humor, fantasy and sci-fi, but a realistic novel that makes me cry will work too. Advocate of books for boys. Would love to see more LGBTQ as well.
As an agent, they pride themselves on client communication and are very editorial. They acquire picture books, chapter books, and middle grade, both fiction and non-fiction. They are particularly interested in graphic novels.
Their taste is eclectic, but they are always looking for underrepresented voices. They like science and aerospace, natural history, environmental and animal themes, and anything with a touch of magic. A lyrical voice is the surest way to their heart. Not a big fan of crude or bathroom humor, overtly religious stories or historical fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Biography
Mark Sweeney is the owner of Mark Sweeney & Associates, Publishing Consultant and Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Religious *
NONFICTION: Christian * Humor * Memoir * Religion * Spirituality *
28540 Altessa Way Suite 201 Bonita Springs FL 34135
Becky Sweren
Aevitas Creative ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Becky Sweren is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She has represented projects such as the New York Times bestseller From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein, the LA Times bestseller Barons of the Sea by Steven Ujifusa, the New York Times bestseller The Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack Viertel, the National Book Award Longlist A Cure for Suicide by Jesse Ball, and acclaimed narrative nonfiction such as The Fox Hunt by Mohammed Al Samawi.
Becky graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University with a BA in English and in Theater Studies. Prior to joining Aevitas, she worked at Janklow & Nesbit Associates.
She is most interested in investigative journalism, unexplored history, big ideas that challenge conventional wisdom, and voice-driven memoirs that shed light on cultures, places, or industries.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Science *
Laurel Symonds
KT LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Laurel Symonds is a literary agent with KT Literary. Shebegan her publishing career in the editorial department of HarperCollins Children’s Books. She also worked in the marketing department at a small publishing house, in a library, and as a bookseller at one of the nation’s best independent bookstores. She began agenting in 2018 and joined KT Literary in 2022, representing picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, graphic novels, and select nonfiction for children and teens. When Laurel is not reading, she enjoys baking, hiking, and spending time with her dog, Sherlock. Raised in rural New England and having spent a decade in New York City, London, and Chicago, she’s thrilled to have settled in the Pacific Northwest.
Laurel is seeking middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books and graphic novels from author-illustrators, and select nonfiction for kids and teens.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Stephanie Tade is a literary agent with the Stephanie Tade Agency. Books have been at the center of Stephanie Tade’s life since she was a little kid reading under the covers, with a flashlight, way past bedtime. It was no surprise to anyone that she went directly into publishing after graduating Cornell University with a degree in psychology. “The degree will help with authors!” she heard, and having come from a family of artists, musicians and writers, she knew there was truth in that.
These days Stephanie combines her strong business savvy with that childhood love of reading. She excels at strategic career and book planning as well as thoughtful and competitive negotiating.
She started her career in publicity and subsidiary rights at Bantam Books, learning how to promote books like Thin Thighs in Thirty Days and how to sell film, book club, foreign and serialization rights to hundreds of books (her favorite film deal was to Gustav Hasford’s book The Short-timers to a man mysteriously named Mr Underhill. Underhill turned out to be Stanley Kubrick and the movie he made was Full Metal Jacket). Through a fortunate turn of events, she was discovered by the Jane Rotrosen Agency, a literary agency with an inordinate number of bestselling authors. She thrived with JRA for 17 years, as Literary Agent and Director of Film and International Rights. In a bold (reckless?) move, she left JRA to run the newly formed editorial book group Rodale General Books, where she published such authors as master yogi BKS Iyengar, bestselling diet & fitness author Jorge Cruise, and many more.
In her next bold (reckless, but really excellent) move, she established the Stephanie Tade Agency, LLC, in March 2005. The agency started with a flourish—her first client was Morgan Freeman, whose book (written by Wendy Wilkinson and Donna Lee) MORGAN FREEMAN & FRIENDS was sold to Rodale. As the years have gone by, the list has been marked by many intelligent, creative authors and experts, with something fresh to say to the world.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Environment * Family * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Inspiration * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology *
7a North Bank Street Easton PA 18042 USA
Biography
Sabrina Taitz is a literary agent with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. She is a literary coordinator at William Morris Endeavor, a talent agency in New York. She graduated from Wellesley College. Her parents are professors and screenwriters.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Food/Drinks * Humor * Memoir * Narrative *
11 Madison Avenue 18th Floor New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Marin Takikawa is a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. Before joining TFA in early 2021, I got my start as an assistant to three agents at Foundry Literary + Media, following internships at The Book Group, Folio Literary Management, and Triada U.S. Born in Tokyo and raised in Singapore and NYC, I graduated from the University of Rochester with degrees in English and Business. In addition to building my own list, I support Molly Friedrich and Lucy Carson, and handle audio rights for the agency. I’m an eclectic reader, and hope that my list will showcase this range as well—in addition to fiction and nonfiction, I also am looking to represent select YA.
For adult fiction, I’m looking for character-driven upmarket and literary fiction. In particular, I’m always driven by the need to understand people and discover the various kinks that aren’t visible from the surface—what drives them? What do they desire most but can’t get? I’m particularly enamored by genre-bending works, fiction with a speculative or magical bent, literary suspense, narratives about complex family relationships, and those that subvert forms of power, specifically neocolonialist ones. My tastes in YA are similar, although with more focus on speculative concepts and maybe surprisingly, contemporary rom-coms like LOVE & GELATO, ANNA & THE FRENCH KISS, and TELL ME THREE THINGS.
In nonfiction, I gravitate toward memoirs that balance personal narratives with engaging and insightful research and/or cultural analysis. I’m also looking for narrative nonfiction that is resistant and radical in nature, that questions why we have the institutions, ideas, and systems we have in place. I often think about the legacies of colonialism, how it haunts and perpetuates in various forms in the modern age (such as the environment and in capitalism), but also about collective action and its sense of possibilities and what the future could look like. I’d love to hear from you if your work is in this space.
Regardless of category, I’m looking for a singular voice that will guide me through any literary terrain and is not afraid of pushing against the status quo. And above all, it’s important to me that my list is filled with writers from historically underrepresented communities, as well as diasporic voices.
In my spare time, you can find me dancing, watching anime, or hiking. I’m fluent in Japanese, and you also probably don’t want to bad-mouth me in Mandarin 😉
Five non-agency books I loved: EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU; SHARKS IN THE TIME OF SAVIORS; HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE; GOODBYE, VITAMIN; THE SUBTLE KNIFE. P.S.: pronounced marine
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Family Saga * General Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * Environment * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Young Adult *
Biography
John Talbot is a literary agent with the Talbot Fortune Agency. John has over twenty-five years of book publishing experience as an editor and literary agent. As an agent, he has placed books at all of the major publishers and their imprints. His clients include New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and ABA Indiebound bestsellers, as well as several winners of national literary awards. He is a member of the AAR.
Prior to becoming an agent John spent over a decade with Pocket Books and Putnam Berkley (now part of Penguin Random House). At Putnam Berkley he rose to the rank of Senior Editor and worked with such global bestsellers as Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, and Jack Higgins, as well as then-rising literary stars such as Tom Perrotta. He edited dozens of national bestsellers and had several New York Times Notable Books. He began his editorial career at Simon & Schuster.
John received his B.A. in English Composition from DePauw University and spent semesters at Washington University in St. Louis and Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. After graduating from college he lived in Japan and traveled throughout the Far East before settling in New York to work in book publishing.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Narrative * Politics * Sports * True Crime *
180 E. Prospect Avenue #188 Mamaroneck NY 10543 USA
Biography
Bailey Tamayo is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is seeking middle grade, YA, and adult speculative fiction, fantasy, sci fi, horror, and anything in between—especially when the genre is a unique setting for the deeply human stories underneath. She is drawn to poignant coming of age narratives like The Graveyard Book, I Am Not Okay With This, and any given Ghibli film. Her favorite stories are those that are gently heartbreaking, hopeful, or (ideally) both. She enjoys sharp humor, lyrical prose, lovable and complex characters, and rich worldbuilding. She is eager to advocate for underrepresented authors, and especially to explore these viewpoints through horror, such as Welcome to Night Vale, The Magnus Archives, and Mexican Gothic. Some of her favorite authors/creators are Neil Gaiman, Emily St. John Mandel, Taika Waititi, Noelle Stevenson, Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, and ONE.
Bailey joined Greenburger Associates after internships with Writers House and the Carol Mann Agency. She is now an associate agent and the assistant to Matt Bialer, aiding him with his talented list of fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, literary, and nonfiction authors. She graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Writing, Literature & Publishing and Communication Sciences & Disorders.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
55 5th Avenue New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Ann Tanenbaum is a literary agent with Tanenbaum International. She has been in book publishing for over 50 years, working for Viking Press, Random House, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Doubleday International, and Newsweek Books. She’s held executive positions in marketing, editorial, and management. Her career highlights include editing Random House’s children’s history program, “The Landmark Series”, planning and escorting Norman and Molly Rockwell on the publicity tour for what became the best-selling Abrams book, Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator. Ann published the first American book on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Madame Prime Minister by Allan J. Mayer, at Newsweek.
In 1980, Ann established Tanenbaum International Publishing Services, an agenting and consulting practice that created alliances between art, illustrated, and reference book publishers worldwide. In 2000, Ann founded, with two partners, LTD Editions LLC, a visual book agenting and packaging company. In 2010, Ann folded LTD Editions into what is now Tanenbaum International Literary Agency. In addition to representing books on seasoned gallery artists and museums, the theatre, and children’s books, Ann has a commitment to nurturing projects on current affairs, politics, the environment, and history.
Ann serves on the board of The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, the Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women, the San Francisco Asian Art Museum and Colorado University Art Museum.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * History * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Narrative * Photography * Politics * Reference *
1035 Fifth Avenue Suite 15D New York NY 10028 USA
Biography
Amy Tannenbaum is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She is a passionate author advocate with over 15 years of book industry experience. Amy represents clients who write across a variety of genres including women’s fiction, contemporary romance, thriller and psychological suspense. She is particularly interested in those categories, as well as fiction that falls into the sweet spot between literary and commercial, memoir, narrative and prescriptive nonfiction. After graduating from Wesleyan University, Amy worked at Harlequin then Simon & Schuster where she edited a diverse list of bestselling fiction and nonfiction projects. Given Amy’s background, she is able to provide valuable insight into both sides of the business, as well as editorial support to her clients. While Amy represents many bestselling and prolific authors, she prides herself on her ability to find talented debut authors and help them launch successful careers. She also selectively takes on established self-published authors and enjoys adding value to the creation, release, and promotion of their works.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * General Fiction * Literary * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Narrative *
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Alice Tasman is a literary agent with the Jean Naggar Literary Agency. Alice Tasman has been a literary agent at JVNLA since 1995, and has been agenting for over 20 years. Alice represents a wide variety of writers with an emphasis on fiction. Her writers have earned numerous awards, honors, and fellowships, including the Calvino Prize, the C. Hugh Holman Award, the Henfield/Transatlantic Review Award, the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award, the O. Henry Prize, the Saint Francis College Literary Prize, the Willie Morris Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Her clients’ writing has appeared in The New York Times, Best American Short Stories, McSweeney’s, One Story, Oxford American, Prairie Schooner, The Normal School, and A Public Space. Awards and honors for her children’s writers include an ABA Indie Choice E.B. White Read Aloud Honor Award, Midwestern Booksellers Association Award, The Monarch Award, Texas Bluebonnet Award, Newbery Award nominee, Cybils Award nominee.
She loves finding debut writers and is committed to working with authors over the long term. She is very hands-on in every stage of the publishing process—from editing manuscripts and refining proposals, to amassing the perfect list of editors for the project and negotiating contracts, to actively working with publishers on the publicity and marketing of the books.
Alice earned her BA from Brown University and her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Memoir * Middle Grade * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Young Adult *
216 E. 75th St. Suite 1E New York NY 10021 USA
Biography
Kim Tatum is a literary agent with SBR Media. She is a Director of a child care facility and has been for 20 years. She has been in the book community for 9 years as a reader, beta reader for several authors and blogger for Stephanie’s Book Reports also assisted in AITC book convention. She has attend many book conventions as Golden Czermak’s PA.
Kim likes nothing more than getting lost in a good story which isn’t anything new it all started with The Nancy Drew Mysteries as a child. She is very excited to have this opportunity given to her by Stephanie Phillips to join SBR Media to help authors get their stories out all over the world.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Erotica * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Short Story Collection * Suspense *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Vanessa Taylir is a literary agent with SBR Media. She has enjoyed many things in life, but the one thing that has never changed is her love for books. She loves to travel and has visited and lived in many states across the US. She has worked in the retail business industry, libraries and currently in the high school she graduated from. She has a master degree in Library and Information Science from University of North Texas and has an eclectic taste in books including mysteries, thrillers, YA fantasy, self-help, and rom-coms with strong female leads. Vanessa lives in Wisconsin with her husband, 3 kids, and her dog Layla.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Design * Lifestyle * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Brent Taylor is a literary agent with Triada U.S. Literary Agency. His tastes can best be described as upmarket: stories that are extremely well-written, robust with emotion, and appeal to a wide, commercial audience.
He is seeking smart, fun, and heartfelt books in the following categories: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels for kids and teens. His favorite books include: Charlotte’s Web, The Thing About Jellyfish, The Vast Fields of Ordinary, Please Ignore Vera Dietz, and The Westing Game.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
P.O. Box 561 Sewickley PA 15143 USA
Biography
Maura Teitelbaum is a literary agent with Maura Teitelbaum Literary & Consulting. She has maintained an expansive and varied career, but has always been focused on one goal- the branding and success of her clients. With a range of celebrities, reality stars, politicians, business leaders, and even the occasional stay at home mom with an incredible life story; for each she’s identified what is required to meet their personal goals. Ready to impart the six keys to success, have something to say about how to make America stronger, need to develop and place a work of literature? You can have someone by your side to provide you with personal attention to critical details, to guide you through the maze of public recognition and to protect you with a well negotiated contract.
Maura has spent her career leading. She launched the book division at Abrams Artists Agency, one of the top ten premiere talent agencies in the industry. She is a strong cross promoter, intense marketer, and phenomenal at strategizing careers. Maura also had the fortitude to lead the social media pack and is now an expert on author platforms, and how the system works to benefit a client, as well as their brand, to maximize exposure.
Maura attained her CPA license in New York State, after acquiring her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University. She then took a position at Goldstein, Golub & Kessler in New York City where she achieved a solid business base. She moved on to American Express, becoming Director of Human Resources, which allowed her to sharpen her personnel management skills. She then left her beloved New York City for work in the talent agencies of Los Angeles that included a stint at William Morris.
Having sharpened her skills in the area of representation, with a focus on film and television, she returned to New York in 2000. Recruited by the Abrams Artists Agency, she expanded on her film/television experience by working with playwrights and book authors. This led her to spearhead the creation of Abrams’ book division.
To further her growth, she became a certified life coach in 2011 through the Life Purpose Institute, specializing in business and relationship coaching. Maura now handles a wide variety of writers and personalities, as well as coaching clients on branding, platform building, and navigating professional relations. Maura is a firm believer that relationships build a career, and a career builds relationships. Her philosophy is one of learning through doing, as you never can replace a real life experience with that of a book or classroom.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Reference *
New York NY 10013 USA
Biography
Stuti Telidevara is a literary agent with Park & Fine Literary and Media. She works with Peter Knapp at Park & Fine on sharp, commercial middle grade, young adult, and upmarket adult fiction. Passionate about diverse storytellers and captivating fantasy worlds, she previously held positions at Raven Quill Literary and Transatlantic Literary, and was a summer intern at Hachette. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard and spends her free time watching ice hockey and listening to pop culture podcasts.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
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Use the drop-down menu on the left to search for agents by genre, gender, location, longevity, or AAR Status. To find a specific agent or agency, enter the agent’s name or the name of the agency into the search box.
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About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark’s authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.
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Author Coaching Testimonials
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent!
My career has spanned publishing, TV, and feature film. I’ve served as Creative Dir. for the Magazine Group, TIME Inc.; Dir. of Time World News Service, a Founding Dir. of TIME-Life Films; Exec. Prod. for both the CBS and NBC TV Networks; Prod./Dir.: Movies of the Week: CBS Cinema Center Films and Universal MCA.
In today’s publishing marketplace, agents come and go. They also very often seem to just want an easy pathway to make a buck. Many authors are let go by their agents because their last book didn’t do well enough and the agent doesn’t want to devote the time to help the author. That’s not what you’re about Mark. Even established authors need this type of support in today’s marketplace.”
Author of ten fiction and nonfiction books
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“I’m psyched to have this be official. After getting five different offers for representation from top literary agents, I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin!
Getting multiple agents interested in my work was really important to me. I’ve dealt with agents before and gotten screwed on things contractually so I wanted to do it differently this time. I wanted choices.
Having you help me create that, and navigate my options, was really helpful. I heard other authors talk about their great relationships with their agents and it made me want the same thing. Now I have that.”
Author of Woman on Fire
(Penguin Books)
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“After sending out the query Mark revised for me, I had the opportunity to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident and, a short time later I had a publishing contract with Berkley Books, which recently published my book in hardcover.
Before that, I sent my query letter out on my own to 30 or 40 agents and got a lot of rejections. I then found Mark online while I was researching agents. I was surprised that he offered so much during his initial consultation—for a very modest amount of money.
I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with Mark. I can’t even imagine that now though, because of the grief and detours I experienced before we worked together. It was a time-consuming pain in the neck. If you want to get the attention of top literary agents and publishers, there is no substitute for working with an insider. You can’t beat experience. And having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable.”
Author of Single Handed
(Berkley Books, a Division of Penguin Random House)
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“AHHH! OMG, it happened! I got three offers of representation for my children’s picture book in the United States, even though I live abroad! When I woke up and found the first offer for representation in my email in box, I wanted to scream. But my family was still asleep so I couldn’t. 🙂
Just 8 minutes after I sent a query letter to one of my favorite agents, she replied and asked to see my manuscript. A short time later we had a lovely conversation. She was interested in representing me and sounded very positive and enthusiastic about my book. Since I also got offers from two other agents, I had to turn two of them down. One of them was upset and it felt like I was breaking her heart, but you just have to do it. I kept reminding myself that this is a good problem to have!”
Author/Illustrator of Lon-Lon’s Big Night
and many other children’s books
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“Mark, after you helped me land a top literary agent, I got publishing offers from THREE well-known publishers: Amacom, Palgrave Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill (they’re publishing my book in hardcover)!
I was at Disneyworld with my family, in the Haunted Mansion, when I got the call. I went outside and listened to the voicemail message from my agent. A huge smile came over my face. It was a fantastic feeling. For a moment I felt like life was perfect and the angels were singing.
You’re filling an important need so I’ll say this to every other author reading this testimonial. Mark showed me that getting a top literary agent is a science. If you’ve written a book, or you’re in the process, you’ve already invested a lot—a lot more than money. Don’t stop yourself from getting out there to fulfill your purpose and dreams. Thank you so, so much, Mark!!!”
Author of Customer Focused Process Innovation (McGraw Hill)
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“I got a book deal! After I started sending out my new query letter I had 6 literary agents request my manuscript in a short amount of time, which is awesome. Then, within 2 weeks of my agent starting to pitch my story to publishers, we had an offer. I signed a book contract yesterday. A little while later my agent told me that a TV co-producer asked for more info about my book.
By the way, the acquiring editor that fell in love with the manuscript jumped in with both feet and we just worked out our timeline for publication. She’s as passionate about getting my book out as I am, and that means everything. She read the manuscript in two days and said she couldn’t put it down. And the book is going to be published as a hardcover!”
Author of A Chick in the Cockpit
(Behler Publications)
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“Thank you Mark! After you helped me get a well-known agent with Hartline Literary Agency (for my previously self-published murder mystery), he got me a deal with an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) approved publisher. I’m hard-pressed to find anything that I had an expectation for that you didn’t deliver on.
Before I worked with you I sent out queries, but no one ever requested my complete manuscript. Comparing your new version of my query to the one I wrote before, I can see a vast difference.
I’ve been in business for 35 years so I’m not just saying this… what you’re doing is phenomenal. There are other people offering similar services, but the difference is your success. Others might say they do similar things but, if you research them, they don’t have your background or track record.”
Author of The Rector
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“Mark, you’re a miracle worker. Thanks to your help with my book, query letter, and synopsis… I now have a legitimate publisher who described my book as ‘Powerful Magic’ and it’s now available in bookstores and online!
I’m a lifelong academic writer who one day found myself writing inspired short stories that came to me in dreams and I began thinking of them as novels. That’s when I had a momentous conversation, an introductory coaching call with Mark Malatesta, the American creative writing coach, or rather, to be precise, a how-to-sell-yourself-and-your-work adviser. It was the best-spent money of my life apart (possibly) for my wedding ring.”
Author of The Black Inked Pearl
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“Within 4 minutes of sending out my query letter, a top literary called me on the phone (the #1 agent on my wish list). Less than 30 days later I had three major publishers making offers. A few days after that, I signed a deal with Random House. Mark, your query letter did that.
My agent talked about the query letter you helped me create for a long, long time. When he first called me on the phone, he hadn’t seen any of my sample chapters. It was just the query letter that did it. Communicating the right thing is so important. You are a wonderful medium helping authors find their voice and elevate their writing from just a hobby to a real business… a source from which they can both learn and earn.”
Author of Lights Out
(Random House)
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“MARK, MARK, MARK!!!!!!! Holy smokes… I just signed my book deal. First, two well-known literary agents asked to represent me. One of them responded to my query letter in less than 4 minutes!!
Then THREE different publishers wanted my book and started talking about making offers. The publisher I chose is perfect for me because they produce titles for the trade, educational, and scientific markets. And they agreed to publish my book as a hardcover!!!
When I met you, Mark, it was a pivotal time. I was under the belief that I could self-publish my book with a vanity press and then seek a publisher. I didn’t know what a literary agent was, why I needed one, or how to get one. I was wandering in the dark. You guided me in the right direction and gave me a solid plan.”
Author of Intestinal Health
(Rowman & Littlefield)
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“Boom!!! I just signed a contract with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins for (what I’ve been told by several people) is a very large advance for a first-time author.
Before working with Mark I submitted my book to agents but didn’t get any interest. This time around I got a top NY literary agency (Fine Print Lit). What cloud is higher than 9?
I had several agencies interested before deciding to go with Fine Print. And, to be honest, all of the attention didn’t surprise me. The query letter and proposal that Mark helped me develop were incredible. Agents actually said things to me like: ‘Scott, I read your proposal and I’m just blown away by it!’ Mark is extremely talented at what he does. If you have the opportunity to work with him, take advantage of it.”
Author of The Unbreakable Boy
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)