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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
Alexandra Weiss is a literary agent with the Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency. She joined the world of publishing in 2016, as an associate agent with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. In 2021, she joined Azantian Literary Agency where she represents fiction and nonfiction picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, and select adult nonfiction. She holds a BFA in creative writing and publishing from Columbia College Chicago and has written for Bustle and Buzzfeed, among others. She regularly volunteers with literary organizations and has a soft spot for working with young readers. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably baking up a storm or snuggling with her cat.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Juvenile * Pop Culture * Narrative * Nature * Science * Technology * Travel * Women’s Issues *
Chicago IL USA
Biography
Random House veteran Larry Weissman operates his company from his Brooklyn apartment, where a comfy place to orchestrate six-figure book deals.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Current clients only
NONFICTION: Biography * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Memoir * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports *
NY USA
Biography
Tess Weitzner is a literary agent with the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. She joined the Frances Goldin Literary Agency in 2023 after more than three years at Trident Media Group. A graduate of Middlebury College, she previously interned at Macmillan, The New England Review, and O/R Books. She was also a 2019 Bread Loaf student-scholar in fiction, as well as a research assistant for the author and journalist Charles Glass. And, after a long stint coaching and performing with a youth circus, she is drawn to anything that flies high, plays with fire, and embraces difference.
She is primarily looking for literary fiction and narrative nonfiction narrow and deep in scope that might play with unreliable narrators, interrogations of power and violence, reclamations of identity, or dark-as-night humor. Fresh takes on horror, magical realism, camp, and kitsch will always be met with zeal.
In the children’s space, she is looking for contemporary middle grade and YA stories that are fun, engaging, and seemingly “quiet” that crack open larger questions or underrepresented experiences. Some of her favorites include Sandra Cisneros, Louis Sachar, Carl Hiaasen, Katherine Applegate, Kelly Yang, and Jason Reynolds. As part of their brilliant storytelling, they respect young readers and approach tough topics with warmth, humor, and edge. She is not accepting queries in science fiction, fantasy, or picture books at this time.
Her clients include Sara Cody, Berinna Chambers, David Dabel, Christina Frigo, Leora Fridman, Davey Lawson, Kathryn Kramer, and Suchi Rudra.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * NoPB * Picture Book * Satire * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Humor * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Narrative * Young Adult *
214 W. 29th St. Suite 1006 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Samantha Wekstein is a literary agent with the Thompson Literary Agency. She grew up in Westchester, NY. She attended the University of Maryland, College Park and received a B.A. in English. She now lives in NYC with her husband and dog. After internships with Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency and Rowman & Littlefield, she began her career in 2013 at Writers House LLC. She then briefly worked as an assistant at The Agency Group (now UTA) before returning to Writers House for the next 5 years where she began supporting the CEO, and then the Founder, before becoming an agent. For more information on her tastes, please visit: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/SamanthaWekstein/ Her clients include Lani Forbes, Korrie Leer, and Jessie L. Star, among others.
She’s been lucky to work with a variety of best-selling and award winning authors across all genres. She joined TLA in 2019 where she’s excited to grow her list. In YA, she loves creative and epic fantasies, but she is also drawn to realistic stories with multi-dimensional female characters. She is always interested in elevating diverse voices, particularly through feminist narratives. She is seeking middle grade of all stripes, but especially stories that deal with themes of friendship, adventure, or encountering tragedy for the first time. She is also on the lookout for whimsical, meaningful, and funny picture books. On the adult side she is drawn to commercial voices in Romance, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Humor * Narrative * Pop Culture * Women’s Issues *
48 Great Jones Street #5F New York NY 10012 USA
Roseanne Wells
Lucinda LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Roseanne Wells is a literary agent with Lucinda Literary. She joined Lucinda Literary Agency in 2022. She is eager to see diverse voices and marginalized stories. She’s looking for young adult and middle grade of all genres; nonfiction picture books, MG, and YA in STEAM, arts, history, and biography; and MG and YA graphic novels, especially queer stories or nonfiction subjects. She’s also interested in science fiction and fantasy for adult readers. In adult nonfiction, Roseanne likes narrative nonfiction– especially popular science and history, pop culture, and big idea books with personal stakes–as well as food books and cookbooks with a fresh perspective on cuisine or culture, all with a strong hook and takeaway for the reader.
Roseanne Wells joined Lucinda Literary Agency in 2022. Previously with The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency since 2012 and the Marianne Strong Literary Agency before that, she has also worked as a proofreader and a special sales/editorial assistant. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with degrees in literature and dance. An avid reader, Roseanne discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W. W. Norton, and she approaches agenting as a writer’s advocate and partner. She is a former volunteer for Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Soho, NYC.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Satire * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Design * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Technology *
Victoria Wells Arms
HG LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Victoria Wells Arms is a literary agent with HG Literary. She began her publishing career as an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, moved to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and then Bloomsbury USA’s Children’s Division, where she was the founding Editorial Director and Associate Publisher and worked with Shannon Hale, Nikki Grimes, Renee Watson, E D Baker, and many other award-winning and bestselling authors.
In 2013 Victoria started her own agency, Wells Arms Literary LLC, which joined in association with HG Literary in 2018. She represents authors of children’s books for all ages, a few adult authors, and many talented picture book illustrators including E. D. Baker, Nora Shalaway Carpenter, Alan Cumyn, Patrick Downes, Han Nolan, Maria Padian, Marcella Pixley, Susan L. Roth and more. She also works closely in partnership with the agent Edite Kroll and her clients.
Victoria has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a member of the AAR, PEN America, and SCBWI.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Juvenile * Parenting/Child Guidance *
Jennifer Weltz
Jean Naggar Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Jennifer Weltz is a literary agent with the Jean Naggar Literary Agency. As President of JVNLA, Jennifer Weltz has sold books domestically, internationally, and for film for nearly two decades. Coming from a mediation background, Jennifer sees herself as a liaison between her author and the editor and publishing house that acquire her author’s work. This role takes on a myriad of forms—business manager, confidant, task master, preliminary editor, and matchmaker—to name a few. Since Jennifer takes up an author’s career and not just a project, she is very careful and selective about signing on new authors.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Narrative * Photography * Young Adult *
Biography
Lauren Wendelken is a literary agent with Susanna Lea Associates. She is a Midwesterner and a neuroscientist by training. She began working with Susanna Lea Associates in New York in 2007. After a six year hiatus in San Francisco, where she worked at UCSF with Dr. Victor Valcour’s NeuroAIDS research group, she was thrilled to return to the SLA fold in 2016. Lauren is passionate about nonfiction books with a social mission, or those which aim to make science accessible to all, as well as upmarket commercial fiction, literary fiction, and speculative fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Science *
331 West 20th Street New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Charlotte Wenger is a literary agent with the Prospect Agency. She says: “Although my parents didn’t intentionally name me after Charlotte A. Cavatica, as a child, I imagined that my white semicircle headboard transformed into a spider’s web at night. From a young age, I was aware of the impact of words and a well-crafted story. Now I’m delighted to work with clients to weave book webs that leave their mark on readers.
I honed my love of stories by getting a BA in English and theatre from Eastern Mennonite University. After graduating, I worked as a project manager and editor for Scribe, a Philadelphia-based publishing services company, for three years. To follow my passion for books and children, I moved to Boston to earn a master’s in Children’s Literature from Simmons College (now University). I interned at Charlesbridge (editorial) and Candlewick (sales), and after grad school, I interned with literary agent Rubin Pfeffer for a year. Prior to joining Prospect Agency, I was an associate editor for just over two years with Page Street Kids, where I acquired and edited more than twenty picture books and grew relationships with authors, illustrators, agents, and other editors.
As an agent, I enjoy the editorial work and the relationship building; so I love attending conferences and leading workshops. I’ve mentored Simmons MFA students and also serve on the national advisory board of the Mazza Museum, the world’s largest collection of original children’s book art, in Findlay, Ohio.
I’m interested in working with authors and illustrators of children’s books—board books through YA, but especially picture books—as well as adult nonfiction, particularly biographies and memoirs.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
551 Valley Road PMB 377 Upper Montclair NJ 07043 USA
Biography
Shari Wenk is a literary agent with the SLW Literary Agency. Shari represents books by sports celebrities and sports writers.
LEADING CLIENTS: ESPN’s Ric Bucher, New York Times columnist Harvey Araton, Sam Smith (author of THE JORDAN RULES), Bob Griese, Tim Grover (trainer to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade), ESPN’s Skip Bayless, Earl Woods, Tiger Woods Foundation, NY Daily News reporter Ralph Vacchiano, Washington Post columnist Len Shapiro, Joe Menzer, Ed Sherman, Randy Johnson, Jack McKeon, Nolan Ryan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Joe Theismann, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Garagiola, Tony Gwynn, Mike Singletary, Jay Johnstone, Steve Garvey, Rickey Henderson, and many others.
MOST RECENT SALES / FORTHCOMING BOOKS: TURNOVER, by ESPN’s Ric Bucher, PERFECTION, by Bob Griese & Dave Hyde, ELI MANNING: The Making of a Quarterback, by Ralph Vacchiano, CRASHING THE BORDERS & ALIVE AND KICKING, by New York Times columnist Harvey Araton; I’M JUST GETTIN’ STARTED, by Jack McKeon; BUCKEYE MADNESS: Ohio State Football from Woody Hayes to a National Championship (Simon & Schuster); RANDY JOHNSON’S POWER PITCHING (Crown).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Sports Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Journalism * Sports *
520 North Kingsbury Plaza Suite 2907 Chicago IL 60654 USA
Biography
Marcia Wernick is a literary agent with the Wernick & Pratt Agency. After working and traveling around Europe after college, and working in different jobs in New York City, Marcia finally found her calling in children’s publishing. She began working at the Sheldon Fogelman Agency, in subsidiary rights, advancing to director of subsidiary rights. She has attended the Bologna Children’s Book Fair more than a dozen times, enjoying the international camaraderie of the children’s book industry. When she realized that working directly with the authors and illustrators brought her the most joy, she focused on the agenting side of the business. She became a full time agent, bringing in many authors and illustrators to the agency.
Among the clients she brought in, and with whom she continues to work, are Bryan Collier, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, Kathleen O’Dell, Jackie Urbanovic, Alexandra Boiger, and Mo Willems, who she introduced to the children’s book publishing world. Her clients now range from the well-established to those just beginning their careers. She continues to use her subsidiary rights experience by handling the foreign rights side of Wernick & Pratt Agency and working with film agents on the licensing of motion picture/television rights. She has had great fun licensing merchandising rights such as ring-tones, game apps, plush dolls, pajamas, back packs, toys, and games. She is accepting new clients in all genres for children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
4455 Douglas Avenue Riverdale NY 10471 USA
Alisha West
Victress LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Alisha West is a literary agent with Victress Literary. She resides in Washington State. She’s had a life-long love affair with stories, earning a BA in English and an MA in Women’s and Gender Studies. Her thesis, Exploring the Missing Pieces: Readers, Religion and Societal relations in One Magazine, 1954-1963, concerns one of the first widely circulated gay and lesbian magazines published in the U.S. (downloaded 300+ times). Her personal essay, “Walking Sweet Dee,” took third place in the Adult Short Topic category of the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association’s Literary Contest in 2022.
After bonding with Lizz during the after party of the PNWA awards ceremony, Alisha jumped at the chance to join Victress Literary as an editorial assistant in November 2022. Because of her commitment, cheerleading, and creativity, she was promoted to Junior Agent in May 2023. Her favorite tasks include reading submissions and editing manuscripts from Victress clients.
When Alisha isn’t reading, editing or writing about women’s rights and queer history, she enjoys playing with her fur babies (Roary Gilmore, Sweet Dee and Charlie Kelly), practicing guitar, gaming, and watching all the best stories film has to offer with her partner, Matt.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Memoir * Politics * Pop Culture * True Crime *
Erin Casey Westin
Gallt & Zacker Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Erin Casey Westin is a literary agent with Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. Erin graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Creative Writing and an ever-growing list of books to read. She is open to all kid lit age groups, from picture books through YA, and is particularly drawn to work that shows the author’s world- and character-building ability. She wants to believe wholeheartedly in the world of the book, whether the setting is familiar or fantastic. She wants to see authentic, thoughtful representations of all people so that every kid can find a book that speaks to them. She wants even the simplest lines of dialogue to pluck at her heartstrings because they’re so perfectly written for that character. Erin loves that startled feeling you get upon reaching the end of a chapter in a really good book. You forget you’re reading when you’re so busy living, you know?
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Kimberly Whalen is a literary agent with and the founder of The Whalen Agency. Before founding The Whalen Agency, Kimberly Whalen worked at a major New York City literary agency for 15 years, where she represented dozens of New York Times bestselling clients. Those clients delivered over 40 New York Times bestselling books, multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers, dozens of international bestsellers (including #1 international bestsellers) and netted several eight-figure deals.
Prior to her renowned career as a literary agent, Kimberly Whalen worked as the foreign rights director at St. Martin’s Press. The experience of working at a publishing company as well as her background in selling international rights for over 20 years provides her clients with a truly unique and global expertise that is unparalleled in the industry.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Lifestyle * Memoir * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture *
500 Post Road East 2nd Floor, Suite 240 Westport CT 06880 USA
Biography
Michaela Whatnall is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. She joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2019 as the assistant to Michael Bourret in the West Coast office. After graduating from Emory University with a degree in English and linguistics, Michaela completed the Columbia Publishing Course. Her background in school and library marketing accounts for her strong interest in children’s literature, from picture books up through middle grade and young adult novels and graphic novels. In the adult space, she is particularly interested in character-driven fantasy and science fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Film/Entertainment * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Sports *
One Union Square West Suite 904 New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Natanya Wheeler is a literary agent and director of digital rights with the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. She is looking for literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction. She is particularly interested in books that help us understand our world. She’s looking for multicultural voices, psychological thrillers, suspense, book club fiction, romance, and humorous fiction. She loves to find new writers and does not shy away from debut talent.
For nonfiction, Natanya is interested in authors with strong platforms who write about nature, the human mind, women’s issues, or animals.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * NoYA * Romance * Satire * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Food/Drinks * Multicultural * Women’s Issues *
121 W. 27th St. Suite 1201 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Paige Wheeler is a literary agent with Creative Media Agency, Inc.
As the founder of Creative Media Agency, Inc., Paige Wheeler has artfully merged her creativity and business savvy to create an agency that is dedicated to maximizing author potential. With over twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, Paige is propelled by an entrepreneurial spirit, ignited by the thrill of discovery.
Through all of her professional endeavors, Paige has ventured to support her clients and their unique voices in an unprecedented way. In 2006, Paige also became a founding partner of Folio Literary Management, LLC. Through CMA, she is now able to provide the ability to manage intellectual property rights of authors by selling both domestic and foreign rights, and co-agenting film and audio rights.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Christian * Health/Wellness * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Practical * Prescriptive * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Travel * Women’s Issues *
1745 Broadway 17th Floor New York NY 10019 USA
Biography
Maria Whelan is a literary agent with InkWell Management. Maria graduated from University College Dublin with a BA in English and Drama then obtained a MSc in Modern Literature from the University of Edinburgh. With bright-eyes, she moved from Dublin to New York in the hopes of pursuing a career in publishing. Before joining InkWell, she worked as a Foreign Rights Assistant at Janklow & Nesbit and interned at Akashic Books. Maria enjoys literary fiction, especially if macabre and written with a strong narrative voice. She’s also fond of non-fiction, revolving around peculiar or overlooked facets of society.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Multicultural *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Caitlin White
Emerald City Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Caitlin White is a literary agent with the Emerald City Literary Agency. She is a writer and editor who was previously the Interim Books Editor for Bustle, and she has written about YA books for HelloGiggles, Bustle, Elle, and Glamour. Caitlin brought her passion for YA and MG to Emerald City Literary Agency in 2019 as an intern before being promoted to Associate Agent. She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario, but is from the Boston area.
Caitlin is starting to build her own list, and so she is now open to select submissions in YA and MG fiction and will represent projects alongside ECLA agents Mandy Hubbard and Linda Epstein.
As an Associate Agent, she also works on office management and helps with reading queries sent to ECLA agents.
Caitlin is looking for whodunnits that harken back to Agatha Christie (think: Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series), pretty much anything that makes her feel like summer (her favorite book is Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters), rom-coms with an original hook, stories about non-toxic groups of friends, magical realism that feels grounded (like Anna-Marie McLemore’s When the Moon Was Ours), unabashedly feminist POVs, and contemporary witches set in a real-life world, like These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling. (If it’s similar to The Craft or Practical Magic, she will likely read it.) She is always interested in seeing submissions from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors. Sorry, but she is not the right person for high fantasy. Follow Caitlin on Twitter @caitforestell to see more of her #MSWL.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * NoPB * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Essie White
Storm Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Essie White is a literary agent with the Storm Literary Agency. She started her literary career by focusing on those for whom the literature was written: Children. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education with per primary focus in Special Education. When working with special needs children, struggling with language, she discovered the beauty of words, and the rhythm of a well composed story, engaged them. She later went on to teach traditional elementary students and found that reading was best achieved, when a good book was the focus, not the specific skillset.
While expecting her third child (she has four), Essie completed her Masters of Arts in Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction for Early Childhood Education. That’s when her real journey with books began. Using quality children’s literature as the foundation, she began creating curricula for local and national homeschool groups as well as independent preschool organizations. For each subject, each topic, each thematic unit, she used a book as the starting point. When teaching, she read a book to begin each lesson. And when writing curriculum, she utilized a book as the launching pad for each learning objective.
A few years later, and with her youngest daughter as the inaugural student, Essie used this combination of skills and passions, to start her own early childhood development program. Still in operation today, after seventeen years, the school serves over 110 students daily in the Seattle, Washington area of the United States. Although Essie is no longer managing the school on site, each lesson, each day, still begins with a quality children’s book.
Fueling not just their creativity but also their emotional and intellectual growth, Essie understood the power art played in the development of small children. She became accustomed to including art activities as complimentary lessons to the literary ones. Her passion for exceptional art grew as a result. She witnessed the impact of stories told through beautiful pictures, both the stories the children created, as well as those she shared with them in books.
When she relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and entrenched herself into the local children’s book community, Essie started receiving inquiries from local authors, asking about the path to publication. A lot of research later, as well as a lot of work, Essie decided to open her small agency with the hope of ensuring capable artists and authors, could eventually get their work seen by editors and publishers. Storm Literary Agency was subsequently launched in 2014.
Essie White is most proud, not necessarily of the agency’s work, but of the individuals that compile that agency. She is thankful and appreciative of the efforts of those members who work hard to support one another, and to represent the best in children’s publishing, always mindful of those whom reap the benefits: Children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * NoYA * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade *
Melissa Sarver White
Folio Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Melissa White is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. She says: “What I love most about being an agent is finding new voices that can express something in a fresh way or new subject matter that makes me view the world differently, whether it’s through fiction or non-fiction. One of the most thrilling aspects of my job is the constant exposure to a wide variety of topics; it’s truly thrilling to play a part ushering innovative projects into the world.
In addition to representing authors, I am the Director of International Rights at Folio and attend all the major international book fairs, keeping my finger on the pulse of what’s working in book markets worldwide.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Diet/Nutrition * Diet/Nutrition * Health/Wellness * History * Investigative * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Science *
Biography
Alice Whitwham is a literary agent with Elyse Cheney Literary Associates. She joined Cheney Literary in August 2016. She grew up in London and studied literature at Cambridge University before moving to the US for a master’s degree in poetry and interpretive theory at the University of Chicago. In graduate school, she interned at The Chicago Review, and after relocating to New York, at The Paris Review. In 2011, she was the buyer at 192 Books and, from 2012 to 2016, the marketing director at McNally Jackson Books, where she programmed readings and festivals for authors and publishers and founded Writers In Public, a not-for-profit organization that brings writers and artists to give workshops at public schools and prisons. She began her agenting career at The Zoe Pagnamenta Agency, where she handled UK rights, before she moved to The Cheney Agency to build her own list. She represents a wide range of nonfiction, including voice-driven narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, reportage, social and cultural history, and memoir; literary fiction; and a select list of poets. Her authors have been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, finalists for the National Book Award and PEN/Hemingway awards, and winners of George Polk, Whiting, and Rona Jaffe awards.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Literary *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * History * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative *
39 West 14th Street Suite 403 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Chandler Wickers is a literary agent with Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency. She joined Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency in 2021 after an early career working in tech. She graduated from Washington and Lee University, where she played Division III soccer and earned a degree in English and Film, then going on to complete the Columbia University Publishing Course. She is interested in representing adult fiction and non-fiction. She is drawn to voice-driven literary and upmarket fiction with a strong sense of place, novels featuring darkly funny narrators, flawed protagonists, coming of age stories, and family sagas. She’s especially excited about writing that plays with form, stories that explore visceral experiences of body and mind, and characters grappling with philosophical questions about faith and desire. In non-fiction, she looks for novelistic journalism, comprehensive histories, war reporting, wilderness adventures, and journeys to the edges of the Earth. As a San Francisco native and Brooklyn transplant she is keen on stories that intersect tech and pop culture, converge scholarly with personal narratives, and those that demystify a subculture or reveal an underbelly.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Family Saga * Humor Fiction * Literary * Satire * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Education * History * Journalism * Memoir * Military/War * Narrative * Pop Culture * Technology * Travel * True Adventure *
Biography
Amy Williams is a literary agent with the McCormick & Williams Literary Agency. Amy Williams has been a literary agent since 1996. She has worked at The Gernert Company, ICM, and was a co-founder of McCormick & Williams. Before she became an agent, she worked in the editorial department at Doubleday. She represents a wide range of projects, including fiction, non-fiction, and memoir.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Narrative *
19 Justamere Drive Ossining NY 10562 USA
Ben Williams
Laura Gross Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Ben Williams is a literary agent with the Laura Gross Literary Agency. He is a writer and the publisher of The Johannesburg Review of Books. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
Biography
D. Ann Williams is a literary agent with the Emerald City Literary Agency. She is a queer Black American writer, writing coach for WNDB Black Creatives Revision Workshop, sensitivity reader, and freelance editor with 10+ years’ experience. She has worked with all big 5 publishers, indie publishers, and self-published authors on a variety of adult and kidlit manuscripts. D. Ann brought her passion for kidlit to Emerald City Literary Agency in 2021 as an intern before being promoted to Associate Agent. She is a member of SCBWI, Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Color. Originally from SoCal, she now lives in Oregon where she spends her days reading, writing, and taking photos.
D. Ann is starting to build her own list, and is open to select submissions in PB, MG, and YA fiction and will represent projects alongside ECLA agents Mandy Hubbard and Linda Epstein. As an Associate Agent, she also works on office management and helps with reading queries sent to ECLA agents.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Ike Williams
CalligraphDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
John Taylor “Ike” Williams is a literary agent with Calligraph. Ike,a founder of Kneerim & Williams, specializes in biography, history, politics, natural science, and anthropology. He represents Frances Fitzgerald, the Estate of Richard Wilbur, Michael Porter, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, the Estate of E.O. Wilson, Nigel Hamilton, the Estate of James MacGregor Burns, and Lawrence Tribe, among others. He was a member of the NEA Literary Panel, chair of the Boston Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, co-chair of the Fine Arts Work Center, a member of the Advisory Board of The Biography Conference, and he is a former director of the Boston Book Festival. He also places dramatic rights for such feature films as The Ice Bucket Challenge (Netflix) starring Casey Affleck, based on the life of Pete and Julie Frates; The True American by Anand Giridharadas (Kathryn Bigelow), Captain Phillips based on the book A Captain’s Duty by Captain Richard Phillips and Stephen Talty; Public Enemies, from Vendetta by Alston Purvis; and television productions such as: the History Channel series based on Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States; Death and the Civil War (American Experience) based on Drew Gilpin Faust’s This Republic of Suffering; and a three part series based on E.O. Wilson’s The Social Conquest of Earth.
As a lawyer, Ike specializes in intellectual property and first amendment litigation, particularly in publishing, film, television, and new media. He is co-author of the widely used Perle, Williams & Fischer on Publishing Law. His legal clients include Muhammad Yunus, Jeff Kinney, and the Estates of John Hersey, Howard Zinn, and Norman Mailer. Ike is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (in every edition since 1991); The Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers from 2004 – 2019 for entertainment, first amendment, and media law; Fortune Magazine’s Top-Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law (2010-2018); and he was selected as a ‘2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law’ by American Lawyer Media. He is the recipient of the American Jewish Committee’s 2005 Judge Learned Hand Award and Middlesex School’s 2011 Henry Cabot Lodge Award for public service.
Ike is the author of The Shores of Bohemia: A Cape Cod Story 1910-1960 (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2022), a rousing account of the artists and political revolutionaries who made the Cape a hub of American culture in the early twentieth century.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Film/Entertainment * History * Nature * Politics * Science *
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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)