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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
Nephele Tempest is a literary agent with The Knight Agency. Nephele joined The Knight Agency in January, 2005, opening the Los Angeles office. As an agent, she works with a number of talented writers, assisting them to hone their skills and build their careers. In addition, she spends time developing the agency’s Hollywood film and multi-media contacts. Nephele comes from a diverse publishing and finance background, having worked in the editorial department at Simon and Schuster, as a financial advisor, in the marketing and communications departments of several major New York investment firms, and as a freelance writer. Her experiences in sales, marketing, and writing provide her with insights into multiple aspects of the publishing industry.
Nephele belongs to the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). She continues to actively build her client list, and currently would love to take on some new contemporary and romantic suspense projects, with well-developed characters who make you fall in love along with them; a young adult project with a fresh, compelling voice, whether that’s contemporary, historical, or has a fantasy element to it; contemporary middle grade projects that deal with real life issues; fantasy that takes place primarily in a secondary world; and speculative-type science fiction that makes her think. She’s being very selective in terms of women’s fiction and historical projects, but would love something upbeat with a strong protagonist.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Historical * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Paige Terlip is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She represents all categories of children’s books from picture books to young adult, as well as select adult fiction and nonfiction. She is also actively building her list of illustrators and is especially looking for author-illustrators and graphic novel illustrators.
Across age categories, Paige is drawn to high concept novels with captivating hooks, snarky characters with hearts of gold, creative magic systems, complicated relationships, and found families. She loves well-plotted twists, being a little bit scared, and stories that explore the fluidity of gender and bring queer experiences to light. Regardless of genre, she is seeking inclusive, intersectional voices and gorgeous line-level writing with emotionally compelling narratives.
On the adult side she is open to thrillers/psychological suspense, fantasy/sci-fi, upmarket fiction, cozy mysteries, as well as narrative nonfiction and self-help that centers the mind, body, and spirit. She loves stories that make her feel a range of emotions, even if that means she ugly cries while reading. She wants a narrative that will stick with her long after reading.
Prior to becoming an Associate Agent, Paige was a Senior Assistant for Executive Agent Laura Rennert, and has been with ABLA for over three years. She comes to agenting with a background in marketing, design, and freelance editorial. She’s worked at Charlesbridge Publishing, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and a ranch in the Rockies. She has an MA in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University. If she’s not reading, you’ll find her practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, re-watching the Great British Baking Show, or hiking with her Husky-Shepherd mix.
You can find her on Twitter @pterlip and Instagram @pterlip. For more wishlist information visit: http://www.paigeterlip.com
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Gay/Lesbian * Lifestyle * Spirituality * True Adventure * True Crime *
8116 W 90th Ave Westminster CO 80021 USA
Nikki Terpilowski
Holloway LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Nikki Terpilowski is a literary agent with Holloway Literary. After achieving a B.A. in English and Marketing, with a minor in creative writing and a graduate degree in international relations, Nikki who has been a bookworm from way back decided she wanted to learn more about the publishing industry.
She interned in the industry while working in marketing communications and then established Holloway Literary in 2011. You can find her @AWomanReading on Twitter and Instagram discussing her favorite topics: books, wine, beer & whiskey, history, travel and southern living.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Historical * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Food/Drinks * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * New Age * Travel *
Biography
Kristen Terrette is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. She is a literary manager excited to build her list featuring titles in middle grade, young adult, female-driven crime thrillers, faith-based books, and the occasional picture book with an author/illustrator.
She has a BA in Early Childhood Education and MA in Theology and Religious Studies which led her into children’s ministry for many years. Eventually, her lifelong love of books and authors drew her back to her original dream of entering the publishing world. Kristen is a multi-published author and freelance writer. She’s held such positions as the Blog Manager for a national women’s ministry and the Social Media Manager for a publishing house. All these components landed her a spot in the coveted Writers House Intern Program. There, she received valuable hands-on agenting and publishing experience which she brings into her new position.
Kristen has long been a voice for diversity. She’s written extensively on topics of racial reconciliation and unity and is a facilitator of groups around these topics in her church. In all her focused genres, she welcomes books with BIPOC or disabled main characters and diverse friendships. She believes books change people in all the best ways and that every child should see themselves in the pages.
Middle Grade (All subgenres except Sci-fi): Kristen hearts Middle Grade. She would love to see books tackling themes like abandonment, bullying, loneliness, comparison, divorce, and body image but done so by instilling hope, growth, and healing. Send her the creepy, horrifying, supernatural, fantastical, historical, and contemporary. She is ready to see it all.
Young Adult (All subgenres except Sci-fi): Kristen’s background in writing YA and her extensive reading in this genre has given her a great love and understanding of it. Grab her attention within the first couple of pages. Send her books with first loves, unique friendships, interesting and/or challenging family dynamics, and hard-hitting subject matter (race relations, suicide, abuse, divorce, etc.) but leave her with a satisfying (not necessarily happy!) ending.
Women’s Crime Thriller: Kristen loves a good thriller with a woman main character, so send her the smart, tough, and brave lady crime solvers. If she can’t figure out what’s going to happen next or what the ending will be, you’ve gotten her attention.
Faith-Based Fiction and Memoirs: Kristen loves a good redemption or forgiveness story, a historically accurate saga, a clean and beautiful, yet realistic love story, or a memoir that has her crying and laughing within the span of a few pages. Surprise her with the beauty of God’s grace.
Picture Books with Authors/Illustrators: Picture books are an important part of establishing a love for literature at an early age, though, at this time, Kristen is only looking for authors who are also illustrators. If your work fits these criteria, she’d love to see it.
Kristen is not a good fit for Science Fiction (even in MG or YA), books with any political agenda, extremely foul-mouthed characters, or gratuitous sex scenes.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Inspirational Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Christian * Cultural/Social Issues * Juvenile * Memoir * Multicultural * Parenting/Child Guidance * Religion * Spirituality * True Crime *
Biography
Michelle Tessler is a literary agent with the Tessler Literary Agency. Before forming the agency, Michelle Tessler worked at William Morris and the prestigious literary agency Carlisle & Company (now Inkwell Management). She also spent seven years working in content and business development in the Internet industry, beginning in 1994 when she was hired by best-selling author James Gleick to help launch The Pipeline. In light of the digital opportunities that are transforming publishing, Michelle’s experience in the Internet world is of great benefit to her authors, both as they navigate ebook and “audio original” opportunities, and as they look for creative and effective ways to market their books to niche communities that can be targeted online.
Michelle is a member of AALA (Association of American Literary Agents), and Women’s Media Group. She has attended numerous writing conferences including The Muse & the Marketplace (GrubStreet), Aspen Words, the Kauai Writers Conference, and the Faulkner Festival. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel *
27 W. 20th St. Suite 1003 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Stacy Testa is a literary agent with Writers House. She says: “I joined Writers House in 2011 as the assistant to a senior literary agent, and have been building my own client list since 2013. I like to think, though, that my publishing career began as a wee bookworm, when I used to stay up late reading under the covers with a flashlight because I simply couldn’t part ways with a book, even to sleep. In many ways, I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since. There’s truly nothing quite as magical as losing yourself in a great story – when your own wants and needs become entirely secondary to those of the characters and voices on the page. As an agent, I am drawn to projects that do just that: pull me in and refuse to let go. If you think your book fits that bill, I’d love to hear from you.
To be more specific, I am seeking literary fiction and upmarket women’s fiction, particularly stories with international settings, unique subcultures, historical hooks, magical realism, unusual narrators, and/or strong, empowered women. At the moment, I am particularly (but not exclusively!) looking for uplifting stories that can inspire readers, and serve as an antidote to these troubled times. I think we could all use an escape right now, and what better way to transport yourself to another world, another time, another place, another reality than through a brilliant novel? On the nonfiction side, I am interested in representing remarkable memoirs, humor writing, essay collections, narrative nonfiction, history, investigative journalism, true crime, and prescriptive titles with strong platforms. Broadly speaking, I am drawn to anything with vivid characters, an interest in social justice, a compelling narrative voice, and/or a great sense of humor. I do not represent children’s books, including YA.
As a relatively young agent with space on my list and decades of agenting ahead of me, I am looking to develop long-term partnerships with new authors. I intend to work with all of my clients for many, many books to come, and to advocate for and advise them every step of the way. Please know that I am a highly editorial agent, so if you aren’t interested in collaborating on that level, we might not be the best fit. I respect creative autonomy, of course, but I believe it’s important to have an open mind when it comes to editorial feedback.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Magical Realism * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Investigative * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Science * True Crime *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Kate Schafer Testerman
KT LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Kate Schafer Testerman is a literary agent with KT Literary Agency. After a dozen years working in publishing in New York City, Kate moved to Colorado and formed kt literary in early 2008, where she concentrates on middle grade and young adult fiction. Bringing to bear the experience of being part of a large agency, she enjoys all aspects of working with her authors, offering hands-on experience, personal service, and a surfeit of optimism.
Her clients include Maureen Johnson, Ellen Booraem, Stephanie Perkins, Carrie Harris, Trish Doller, and Matthew Cody, among other exciting and acclaimed authors. Kate is a graduate of the University of Delaware’s Honors Program, a former cast member of the New York Renaissance Faire, and an avid collector of shoes, bags, children, and dogs. Her interests cover a broad range including contemporary drama, urban fantasy and magical realism, adventure stories, and romantic comedies. She is an active member of the SCBWI and AAR.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Fantasy * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * NoPB * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Henry Thayer is a literary agent with Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents. He represents non-fiction on a wide variety of subjects and fiction that inclines toward the literary. He is looking for new, engaging voices and compelling narratives. His wide-ranging interests include American history, popular music, and sports, among others. Query by email preferred.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Music * Narrative * Politics * Sports *
1501 Broadway Suite 2605 New York NY 10036 USA
Biography
Meera Thillainatesan is a literary agent with the Grosvenor Literary Agency. She comes from a background in academia and loves narrative nonfiction written by primary researchers for popular audiences. More specifically, she’s looking for books on science and nature (such as Owls of the Eastern Ice; and The End of Everything: Astrophysically Speaking), business, lifestyle and tech (such as We Are Bellingcat: Global Crime, Online Sleuths, and the Bold Future of News; and Ballad of the Bullet: Gangs, Drill Music, and the Power of Online Infamy); and food (such as Xi’an Famous Foods: The Cuisine of Western China, from New York’s Favorite Noodle Shop).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Food/Drinks * Lifestyle * Narrative * Nature * Science * Technology *
Biography
Robert Thixton is a literary agent and the co-founder of Pinder Lane & Garon-Brooke Associates.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Erotica * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports * True Crime * Young Adult *
2136 NE 58th Ct Fort Lauderdale FL 33308 USA
Kelly Thomas
Serendipity Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Kelly Thomas is a literary agent with the Serendipity Literary Agency. She brings seventeen years of sales and business expertise to the literary world as a champion for writers. Kelly is a certified copy editor who has a Bachelor’s degree in English (Literature) from Pace University. Prior to joining Serendipity, she provided manuscript analysis for the D4EO literary agency. Kelly is a published poet with publications in ‘Tales for the Disenchanted’ (2008) and ‘Penumbra Art & Literature’ (2015). She serves as a freelance editor and ghost writer in her free time.
Kelly is a ferocious reader, lover of books, and has a passion for writing. Indeed a writer at heart, no matter the form (essays, articles, blogs, poems, short stories, marketing literature, resumes, or manuscripts), she will quickly put pen to page. Kelly is eager to build her client roster and is actively seeking the next bestselling author!
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * History * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Education * Fitness * Food/Drinks * General Fiction * Health/Wellness * How-To * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Travel * True Crime * Young Adult *
Biography
Jennifer Thompson is a literary agent and a partner with the Nordlyset Literary Agency. Jennifer Thompson has been in book publishing since 1998 and has deep expertise in global subsidiary rights licensing for some of the most respected names in publishing including Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Maria Campbell Associates and Perseus Books. She has proven sales results in international markets based on collaborative, efficient services that create global publishing success for authors. She is known for her ability to build innovative strategies that create and retain loyal clients, for business acumen, and for leading high performing teams. She is developing an author list that includes authors of literary and women’s fiction as well as a wide range of non-fiction: from popular science and psychology to memoir, self-help and creative non-fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Literary *
NONFICTION: Business * Education * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development *
Biography
Mary Anne Thompson is the president of Mary Anne Thompson Associates.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Multicultural * Politics *
201 Montgomery Street Unit 448 Jersey City NJ 07302 USA
Biography
Meg Thompson is the founder of the Thompson Literary Agency. She grew up in Lubbock, TX and moved to NY in 1998 to attend New York University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude with a degree in British and American Literature. She started in publishing in 2002 working for President Bill Clinton in his Harlem office as a researcher and fact checker on his memoir, My Life. She then went to work for Charlie Rose as a writer and researcher at his legendary PBS show before joining LJK Literary Management in 2005. She worked at LJK for six years before founding her own agency with Susanna Einstein, the Einstein Thompson Agency. After three successful years at ETA, Meg decided to launch her own agency, Thompson Literary LLC. Her clients include #1 NY Times bestselling cookbook author Lisa Leake of 100 Days of Real Food, NY Times bestsellers Ken Denmead, Kelle Hampton, Tom Hart, and Jeremy Rifkin, NY Times and New Yorker essayist Tim Kreider, New York Times bestseller Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown, Daily Rituals author Mason Currey, adventure reporter and Ghost Wave author Chris Dixon, caterer to the stars Mary Giuliani, author of the Gypset series and NY Times Style reporter Julia Chaplin, James Beard Award-winner Alan Tardi, New Yorker cartoonist and essayist Emily Flake, designer Ayse Birsel, Octopus! author, NPR, and Scientific America journalist Katherine Harmon Courage, Missy LeHand biographer Kathryn Smith, memoirist and women’s rights activist Maria Toorpakai, and President of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards, among others. She is interested in biography, memoir, music, popular science, politics, internet-to-book projects, cookbooks, sports, health and wellness, spirituality, fashion, art, popular culture, and anything that advances our cultural and social dialogue to a more elevated level.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology *
48 Great Jones Street #5F New York NY 10012 USA
Biography
John Thorn is an affiliate agent with the Thompson Literary Agency.
John Thorn brings to TLA more than four decades in the book industry, as a publisher, author, and literary representative. He is the Official Historian of Major League Baseball. Apart from his creation, with Pete Palmer, of the fondly recalled encyclopedia Total Baseball, he is often visible on ESPN, The History Channel, and other television outlets. He was also a major on-screen presence in and chief consultant to Ken Burns’s PBS documentary, Baseball. He has served as curatorial consultant and literary representative to the Museum of the City of New York, for whom he created New York 400, and currently works with the National Museum of American Jewish History and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is interested in sports projects, of course, and historical nonfiction of all sorts.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Historical *
NONFICTION: Sports *
48 Great Jones Street #5F New York NY 10012 USA
Biography
John Thornton is a literary agent with The Spieler Agency. John has been with the Spieler Agency since 1994, after a thirty-year career as an editor, publishing executive and editorial director of the Book-of-the-Month Club. Though he does not handle fiction projects, his nonfiction tastes are eclectic. They fall along two axes: excellent writing and high-quality subject matter. Of late his clients have written on topics such as memoir (Richard Lischer, Stations of the Heart, recollections of losing a beloved adult child), biography (Phillip Schewe, Maverick Genius, a life of Freeman Dyson) natural history (Richard Conniff, The Species Seekers, a history of man’s searches to record life on Earth), social issues (Ira Rosofsky, Nasty, Brutish, and Long, a psychologist’s memoir of life in the eldercare business), consumer guidebooks (Carol Levine, Long-Term Care for Dummies, forthcoming—she’s a MacArthur Fellow), history (Thomas Madden, Venice: A New History), belles lettres (Susan Cahill, The Hidden Gardens of Paris), spirituality (Heidi Neumark, Breathing Space, her two decades of pastoring in the South Bronx) among others.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * History * How-To * Memoir * Nature * Psychology * Reference * Spirituality *
75 Broad St. Suite 304 New York NY 10004 USA
Sydnie Thornton
Irene Goodman Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Sydnie Thornton is a literary agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency. A native Memphian, Sydnie majored in English Literature at Rhodes College. Every summer, she escaped the Memphis heat to intern at various NYC agencies and eventually joined IGLA in 2021. She does not miss the humidity. She does miss her dog. On the weekends, you can find her baking or curled up with hot chocolate and a good book. She’s taking on select co-agenting projects with Barbara Poelle.
Sydnie is interested in YA across all genres: fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary that leans literary, as well as thrillers with upmarket qualities and distinctive characterization. As for the adult side, Sydnie is actively looking for transportive, complex historical fiction and whimsical contemporary fantasy. Regardless of genre, she’s very likely to connect with manuscripts that bridge the YA/Adult divide. She’s also eager to champion any book that prominently features disability representation.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Anne Tibbets
Donald Maass Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Anne Tibbets is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. She joined DMLA in 2021, and was previously at D4EO Literary Agency. She represents adult and young adult commercial genre, primarily thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and historical women’s fiction. A screenwriter and published author, Anne lives in the Los Angeles area and has a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University, Fullerton.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Madeline Ticknor is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She began her agenting career in 2018 as an intern at Curtis Brown, and soon after began working as an assistant at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency where she worked with award-winning authors including Carl Safina, Nancy Springer, Sarai Walker, and Bonnie Kistler, and more. In 2021, she joined Writers House as an agent associate and began building her own list. Authors she worked with at Writers House include Jonathan Franzen, Rachel Kushner, Imbolo Mbue, William T. Vollmann, Tim Murphy, Vauhini Vara, Sanjena Sathian, and many more.
In 2022 Madeline joined Janklow & Nesbit Associates and is actively building her own list of literary and commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction while also assisting PJ Mark and his authors. She’s looking for fiction that bridges the gap between commercial and literary, upmarket thrillers and grounded speculative stories that explore the ideas of family and home, and queer stories that subvert or interrogate the concept of “binary.”
A graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, Madeline now lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Upmarket *
Ann Tobias
A Literary Agency for Children’s BooksDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Ann Tobias is a literary agent with A Literary Agency for Children’s Books. Ann started out as an editor at Harper and Row under the legendary Ursula Nordstrom. She later freelanced for Harper, Morrow, Crown, Dial, and other publishers; spent some years full time at Greenwillow Books and a year at Scholastic; then moved to Washington, DC, where she founded Ann Tobias, A Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Reference * Young Adult *
Christine Tomasino
The Tomasino AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Chris Tomasino is a literary agent with the Tomasino Agency. Chris has been agenting since 1975, when she joined RLR Associates, Ltd and developed their literary division. Her clients have ranged from Civil War historian and novelist Shelby Foote to Yankee baseball manager Joe Torre, from talented international book packagers Labyrinth Publishing and Carroll & Brown to diverse corporate clients Angel Records and The PGA. She is as comfortable with commercial fiction as she is with highly produced full color books; with the unconventional and best-selling Anti-Coloring Books as she is with translating the online wedding resource, The Knot, into a book franchise. Ever ahead of the trends, she was in on the boon in young adult fiction series in the 1970′s and 1980′s, the cookbook and lifestyle rage in the 1980′s, and the blossoming of spirituality and esoterica in the 1980′s and 1990′s. Having started her own, boutique-sized agency in 2000, she is best known for representing popular non-fiction books tapping into the newest theories in health, science and spirituality, but only those backed up by impeccable research and scholarship. She is on the faculty of the M.A./M.F.A. in Creative Writing program at Wilkes University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Sports Fiction * Religious *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Photography * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Travel * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Kathryn Toolan is a literary agent with Park & Fine Literary and Media. She works alongside the agency’s co-agents to negotiate publishing agreements outside of the United States. A rights enthusiast with a keen eye for numbers, she is committed to building strong relationships internationally for our clients. She began her career working for Dalkey Archive Press in her native Ireland before moving to New York in 2014. Her taste is wide-ranging, but she has a particular fondness for books that offer unique perspectives, be that fiction or non-fiction.
She holds a B.A. in English and Economics from University College Dublin and was mostly recently with the rights department at Simon & Schuster. She lives in Queens.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Pop Culture *
Biography
Nicole Tourtelot is a literary agent with The Gernert Company. She joined the agency in 2020. Originally from Los Angeles, Nicole graduated from Columbia University and worked in journalism before transitioning to publishing. She started her agenting career in 2009 at International Creative Management in New York and went on to work as an agent at Kuhn Projects (now Aevitas Creative Management) and then at DeFiore and Company Literary Management. Her eclectic list of narrative and prescriptive nonfiction reflects her many interests, including food, lifestyle, advice, pop culture, and memoir. She joined The Gernert Company in 2020 and works out of the LA office.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Self-Help/Personal Development *
8440 Warner Drive Culver City CA 90232 USA
Biography
Suzie Townsend is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. Prior to joining New Leaf, Suzie graduated film school, earned her Masters of Education, taught high school English, and coached a swim team. In her spare time, she read everything she could, which prompted her move to publishing. She got her start as an intern at FinePrint Literary Management where she was hired as an assistant before making the move to literary agent. She’s been part of the team at New Leaf Literary & Media since its inception in 2012.
Suzie represents all brands of children’s and adult fiction. She loves women’s fiction, all subgenres of romance, fantasy, and crime fiction. On the children’s side, she particularly loves YA and MG. Suzie loves strong characters and voice-driven stories that break out of the typical tropes of their genres, and she’s always looking for unique new voices in stories.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Young Adult *
110 West 40th Street Suite 2201 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Jennifer Chen Tran is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. With over a decade of experience in publishing, Jennifer is passionate about nurturing and championing authors and their creative lives. She represents a wide range of talent, including journalists, physicians, entrepreneurs, thought-leaders, chefs, and graphic novelists, among others.
Prior to joining Folio, Jennifer was a literary agent at several west-coast literary agencies and served as Of Counsel at The New Press. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Northeastern School of Law in Boston, MA, and a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. She is an attorney in good standing in New York and California.
Recent nonfiction titles Jennifer represented include Stuart Palley’s memoir Into The Inferno; 101-year old physician and mother of holistic medicine Dr. Gladys McGary’s The Well-Lived Life: A Centenarian Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Any Age; Kate Oliver’s The Modern Caravan; contributing cartoonist for The New Yorker and BuzzFeed, artist Natalya Lobanova’s Everyone is Awful, a debut collection of darkly humorous comics; and clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk’s Living in the Moment.
Recent fiction titles Jennifer represented include author Kristen Kiesling’s The Harrowing, a YA graphic novel about a psychic teen girl who is forced to use her powers to track down killers, until she discovers her boyfriend is her next target; Lily Quan’s middle-grade novelization of Disney-Pixar movie Turning Red; and Rebecca Kelley’s contemporary novel No One Knows Us Here.
Jennifer is an editorial agent who believes in the art of collaboration and works closely with her authors from concept, to proposal, to publication, and beyond. As a person of color and daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Jennifer is committed to amplifying voices from underrepresented and marginalized communities. Her ultimate goal is to work in concert with authors to shape books that will have a lasting positive social impact on the world – books that illuminate, entertain, and inspire.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Design * Environment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * Women’s Issues *
630 Ninth Avenue Suite 1101 New York NY 10036 USA
Timothy Travaglini
Transatlantic AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Timothy Travaglini is a literary agent at the Transatlantic Agency. Since 1994, Timothy Travaglini has worked in trade marketing for Scholastic, Inc.; been a bookseller for Books of Wonder, an all-children’s bookstore in New York City; and has edited for Henry Holt and Company, Walker & Company, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, and Open Road Integrated Media where he was the director of children’s acquisitions.
Books he has acquired and edited have been, among other things, #1 New York Times bestsellers, a Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Year, Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner, have been made into an award-winning musical, made into an animated television show now on Netflix, and one is currently on board the International Space Station soon to be read to school children on Earth. He has edited and published artists and authors who either previously won, or have gone on to win, nearly every award and honor under the sun. He has edited an American Library Association’s 10 Most Frequently Challenged book as well as a Christianity Today Book Award for Fiction winner.
Tim is looking for fiction and nonfiction for adults, as well as for young readers of all ages. Tim wants a book that makes him laugh out loud. He wants a book that makes him cry. He wants a book that makes him fall in love. He wants a book that breaks his heart.
He wants biographies or memoirs of people or groups that inspire: overcoming adversity, perseverance, hard work, compassion, empathy, giving back to the world. He wants nonfiction about topics that are amazing: but is also particularly interested in aviation, architecture, caves/tunnels/mines, cemeteries/memento mori, island cultures, outer space, politics, reading/writing/storytelling, all things Scandinavian/Nordic, and travel.
Tim has a fondness for science fiction and fantasy (SFF) in all forms, bibliomysteries, romantic comedies, literary romance, literary horror, middle grade boy books, picture books with monsters, graphic novels and comics, swashbuckling adventure, ghost stories, well-loved stories reimagined in new ways, exotic settings, parodies, anything over-the-top or weird or macabre, innovative books that break new ground, and anything to do with roller derby.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Architecture * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * General Nonfiction * Government * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Nature * Politics * Technology * Travel * Young Adult *
Scott Treimel
Scott Treimel New York AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Scott Treimel is a literary agent with the Scott Treimel New York Agency. Scott sells and administers intellectual property rights—print, electronic, audio, foreign, dramatic, film, composition, broadcast, merchandise, promotion– for childrens’ book creators. Interests include musing, pondering, dictating, delivery, theater, not musicals, champagne, and weekends in the country. Favorite Books Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. One adult book I love is LIBRA (De Lillo). Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials triology—maybe the best thing pub’d in our lifetime.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
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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)