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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
Laura Strachan is a literary agent with the Strachan Literary Agency. Laura is also founder of the of Strachan Literary Agency, a small boutique agency that focuses on literary fiction and narrative nonfiction: compelling stories, well told. A licensed attorney, she combines her love of books and great writing with a lawyer’s sensibility in order to best represent her clients.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |General Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Travel |
Biography
Jonah Straus is a literary agent with Straus Literary. He got his start in the warehouse at Atrium Publishers Group, an independent book distributor in Northern California, and went on to hold positions in production, editorial, sales, and marketing at several publishers in the San Francisco area. He moved to New York in 2005, where he worked in marketing for arts and literary programs, including the Selected Shorts NPR reading series at Symphony Space. He established Straus Literary in 2007, and moved the agency back to San Francisco in 2013 while maintaining a regular presence in New York. He has appeared at numerous writing conferences, including Community of Writers in Olympic Valley, the Mendocino Coast WritersÕ Conference, the Guadalajara International Book Fair, and Muse and the Marketplace.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |BIPOC Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Food Drink | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Politics | Science | Travel |
Biography
Robin Straus is a literary agent with the Robin Straus Agency. Robin is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and the Women’s Media Group. She graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in art history and English literature and received her M.B.A. from New York University. Prior to becoming an agent, she served as a subsidiary rights manager at Random House and Doubleday and worked in editorial at Little, Brown. She was an agent at the Wallace & Sheil Agency before founding Robin Straus Agency, Inc. in 1983. In 2014 she acquired The Wallace Literary Agency.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Food Drink | History | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science |
Biography
Rebecca Strauss is an agent at DeFiore and Co. and focuses on literary and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, YA, pop culture and select non-fiction. In all genres, she’s looking for a compelling story, clear concept, fresh voice and emotional heartÑa work that grabs you from the first page. She’s especially interested in emerging writers and underrepresented voices; and, she’s looking to develop long term relationships.
Before joining DeFiore and Co., Rebecca was at McIntosh and Otis for seven years where she was an agent and Director of Subsidiary Rights. Prior to M&O, she was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, and a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures. She’s originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Economics | Humor Nonfiction | Money Finance | Parenting | Pop Culture |
Biography
Morgan Strehlow is a literary agent with The Bindery. As a literary agent and book coach, Morgan Strehlow comes alongside authors from longing to launch, cultivating courage, clarifying their message, and offering advocacy, accountability, and soul care through the writing and publishing process.
An experienced freelance editor and writer, Morgan has worked in various capacities with a range of content providers and education platforms, including Christianity Today, Baylor University, Sacred Ordinary Days, Called Creatives, and Go and Tell Gals. Morgan spent the first decade of her career in the sports industry as a go-to communications strategist and creative collaborator for major brands, coaches, and athletes. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Hardin-Simmons University and an M.S. in Sport Management from Texas A&M University.
Morgan is seeking compelling nonfiction by athletes, journalists, experts, academics looking to publish for the general market, and emerging voices with a growing platform who can speak to pop culture, sports, feminism, social justice, sex/sexuality, or religion/spirituality.
She’s especially interested in the dynamic and interesting voices writing and speaking at the intersection of sport and society. On the fiction side, Morgan is eager for upmarket fiction, complex women’s fiction, and sports fiction.
Morgan lives in Waco, Texas, with her husband, Sean, and their son.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |General Fiction | Sports Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Education | Journalism | Law Legal | Pop Culture | Religion | Spirituality | Sports | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Shadra Strickland is a literary agent with Painted Words. She has been a part of the Painted Words family since 2008 as an award-winning illustrator and author. She is stepping up as an agent-at-large to help develop and represent new talent within the industry. Shadra is interested in humorous character driven picture books; graphic novels and picture books that highlight unique cultural experiences; poetic texts; and unique illustration styles. Shadra also enjoys helping illustrators find their writing voice. She teaches Book Illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art and online at Craftsy.com
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | Authors and Illustrators Only |Picture Book | Graphic Novel |
Biography
Marlene Stringer is a literary agent with and the found of The Stringer Literary Agency. Marlene Stringer was raised and educated in NYC, and started her publishing career as a proofreader. She eventually became an in-house publisher for a corporate magazine before taking a detour to have her family, move to NJ, and write and edit for local publications. Following a move to Florida, she founded TSLA after eight years with Barbara Bova Literary Agency. Mother of four, she lives in Lakewood Ranch with her husband and two very spoiled toy poodles.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Horror | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography |
Biography
Dan Strone is CEO and a literary agent at Trident Media Group. He is one of the industryÕs leading literary agents, Dan has represented numerous bestselling books across all genres. He works closely with a client roster that includes literary nonfiction authors, novelists, journalists, celebrities, Hollywood legends, athletes, childrenÕs authors, culinary superstars, literary estates, and newsmakers of all types. He has helped turn ideas and headlines into some of publishingÕs most beloved and successful books with Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld. At one point he had five books simultaneously on the NYT Bestseller List. He has helped his authors adapt their work across all platforms, including Broadway, TV, film, and digital. In 2000, Dan co-founded Trident Media Group after leaving his position as Sr. Vice President at WME. He is a graduate of Duke University.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Journalism | Sports |
Biography
Dan Strone is CEO and a literary agent at Trident Media Group. He is one of the industry’s leading literary agents, Dan has represented numerous bestselling books across all genres. He works closely with a client roster that includes literary nonfiction authors, novelists, journalists, celebrities, Hollywood legends, athletes, children’s authors, culinary superstars, literary estates, and newsmakers of all types. He has helped turn ideas and headlines into some of publishing’s most beloved and successful books with Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld. At one point he had five books simultaneously on the NYT Bestseller List. He has helped his authors adapt their work across all platforms, including Broadway, TV, film, and digital. In 2000, Dan co-founded Trident Media Group after leaving his position as Sr. Vice President at WME. He is a graduate of Duke University.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Journalism | Sports |
Biography
Catharine Strong is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She graduated summa cum laude from Colgate University with a BA in English Literature and a minor in Film and Media Studies. She joined Aevitas in 2018 after interning at Akashic Books and the literary agency Aragi, Inc. A born and raised Brooklynite, Catharine is based in New York.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Wendy Strothman is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents Pulitzer Prize winning authors: David Blight, author of the bestselling biography Frederick Douglass; David Kertzer, author of The Pope and Mussolini; and Caleb McDaniel, author of The Sweet Taste of Liberty. She also represents Ruth Simmons, former president of Smith College, Brown University, and Prairie View who is publishing a memoir called Up Home: One GirlÕs Journey in 2023. Wendy works with many prominent historians, including Joanne Freeman, author of The Field of Blood; Alan Mikhail, author of GodÕs Shadow; Martha Hodes, author of the forthcoming My Hijacking; Wendy Warren, author of Pulitzer finalist New England Bound; journalists including Linda Greenhouse, author of Justice on the Brink; James Scott, author of Pulitzer finalist Target Tokyo; Amy Ellis Nutt, author of the bestselling transgender book, Becoming Nicole; legal scholars Richard Thompson Ford, author of Dress Codes and The Race Card; Deborah Archer, president of the ACLU and author of the forthcoming Locked In and Left Out; Nicholas Bowie and Daphna Renan, authors of the forthcoming Supremacy; naturalists Kenn Kaufman, author of the forthcoming The Birds that Audubon Missed; Scott Edwards, author of the forthcoming American Journey: Birds, a Bicycle, and Hope Across America; and biographers Benjamin Taylor, author of Here We Are and the forthcoming biography of Willa Cather andTess Chakalakal, author of a forthcoming biography of Charles Chesnutt.
Before founding the Strothman Agency in 2003, Wendy was the publisher of Trade & Reference Books at Houghton Mifflin Company where she oversaw books from Curious George ¨ to the American Heritage Dictionary and the Peterson Field Guides; at Houghton she also edited works by Philip Roth, Arthur Schlesinger, and John Kenneth Galbraith. Before Houghton, she was publisher of Beacon Press where she published Marian Wright Edelman and Cornel West. She started her career at the University of Chicago Press.
Wendy is the Vice President of the Authors Guild Foundation and was a trustee of Brown University; she and her husband, a pipe organ builder, and their golden doodle Farley divide their time between the coast of Maine and the Berkshires, with frequent forays into New York City.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA | Biography | Environment | History | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature |
Biography
Hannah Strouth is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is looking for literary and upmarket fiction, as well as select nonfiction. In fiction, she gravitates toward nuanced and compelling work that digs deep into a wide range of emotions. SheÕs automatically drawn to stories that help discover and explore new aspects about people, the way we (dis)connect, what haunts us (literally and metaphorically) and how we confront it, and stories of resiliency. If you can describe your story as Òdark,Ó Òedgy,Ó or Ògritty,Ó chances are itÕs up her alley. In nonfiction, whether itÕs pop culture, narrative, self-help, or memoir, she loves anything that teaches her how to be a better human or look at the world through a fresh lens. Across the board, sheÕs always looking for diverse voices and experiences.
Before joining Sanford J. Greenburger Associates in 2024, Hannah spent over four years at the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Born and raised in Tennessee, she graduated from the College of William & Mary in Virginia with degrees in English and marketing and attended the Columbia Publishing Course. She has the pleasure of assisting Dan Mandel, Wendi Gu, Sarah Phair, and Alex Slater.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Gothic Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | Romance | Short Story Collection | Speculative Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Health Wellness | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Pop Culture | Psychology | Self-Help | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Andrew Stuart is a literary agent with the Stuart Agency. Before starting The Stuart Agency in 2002, Andrew Stuart was an agent with the Literary Group International for 5 years. Prior to becoming an agent, he was an editor at Random House and Simon & Schuster. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English, and he received his M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. He focuses on titles in the areas of history, science, narrative nonfiction, business, current events, memoir, psychology, sports, and literary fiction.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Religious Fiction | Sports Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Health Wellness | History | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Psychology | Religion | Science | Sports |
Biography
Kari Stuart is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. She says: “IÕm a literary agent in NYC. When IÕm not reading fabulous new, unpublished books, you can find me testing new recipes or running in the park with my dogs.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Travel |
Biography
Gerrie Sturman is a literary agent with Goldfarb & Associates. She says: “As agent with Goldfarb & Associates, I work with attorney, literary agent and prodigious writer Ronald Goldfarb, Esq. on special projects, research and building my list of client authors.
Formerly a global sales manager with Marriott International, I won The Chairman’s Circle for sales excellence – twice! In addition to my hotel sales career with Marriott, Omni Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Princess Hotels, I represented the Cincinnati and Washington DC Convention & Visitor bureaus.
Earned professional designations include: CASE (Certified Association Sales Executive) and CGMP (Certified Government Marketing Professional)
Prior to my hospitality sales & marketing career, I taught English and English as a Second Language, wrote and edited advertising and business copy. My sales experience runs the gamut from publishing to hospitality sales to shoes to Girl Scout cookies!
Specialties: Creative writing skills and research. Proactive selling, account development, customer service, productive and purposeful client relationships.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Economics | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Politics | Religion | Spirituality | Sports |
Biography
Saba Sulaiman is a literary agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services. She says: “I was drawn into the world of literature by default when my sisterÕs growing collection of books in our tiny room began to overflow onto my bed. Born to Pakistani immigrants in Sri Lanka, and knowing how to express myself only in English for the first fifteen years of my life, I found comfort in reading about other culturally displaced people, unable to communicate in their native tongues, and hesitant to assert themselves in environments where there were few examples of people like them. Moving to Pakistan and absorbing what it meant to be an educated and empowered girl coming of age in a traditional Islamic society contributed greatly to my desire to seek similar narratives, especially from other women. I took the next step in my immigrant journey by moving to the United States to study Economics and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley College. I then studied modern Persian Literature at the University of Chicago, where I helped edit our departmentÕs academic journal. After a stint at Sourcebooks as an Editorial Intern, I joined the team at Talcott Notch Literary, and the rest is history.
Being an author today is an entrepreneurial endeavor, and I see my role as my clientsÕ primary advocate as they navigate each and every stage of the publishing process Ð from digging deep into developing their craft, to representing their interests zealously even after they find homes for their books. I am also committed to highlighting marginalized voices with bright careers ahead of them and compelling stories to tell; stories that demonstrate the true range of perspectives that exist in this world, and address urgent and often underexplored issues with veracity and heart. For a complete list of the genres I work in, visit my website and check out my #MSWL.
IÕm also proud to be on the steering committee for People of Color in Publishing, a grassroots organization working to serve the interests of publishing professionals of color.
When IÕm not reading, youÕll probably find me running after my two small children, secretly learning another foreign language, playing Scrabble, watching a Bollywood movie, or singing in the bathroom (the acoustics, am I right?)___”
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Cultural Social Issues | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction |
Biography
Rachel Sussman is a literary agent with the Chalberg & Sussman Literary Agency. A graduate of Brown University, Rachel Sussman worked as an editor at Scribner and as an agent with Zachary Shuster Harmsworth before co-founding Chalberg & Sussman. She represents a wide range of nonfictionÑnarrative, memoir, psychology, history, lifestyle, and pop cultureÑand a select list of literary fiction.
RachelÕs clients run the gamut from journalists like Mary Papenfuss (American Huckster: How Chuck Blazer Got Rich FromÑand Sold OutÑThe Most Powerful Cabal in World Sports) and Linda Hervieux (Forgotten: The Untold Story of the Only African-American Combat Unit at D-Day) to self-proclaimed mediocre mother Karen Alpert (I Heart My Little A-Holes) and DIY experts Sherry and John Petersik (Young House Love).
Rachel enjoys developing Òbig thinkÓ booksÑclients include psychology professor Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight about Animals and Deborah Cohen, MD, author of A Big Fat Crisis: The Hidden Forces Behind the Obesity Epidemic and How We Can End ItÑand is proud to represent memoirists Matt Logelin (Two Kisses for Maddy), Jennifer Ridha (Criminal That I Am), and Tracy Slater (The Good Shufu).
Her list of fiction writers include Natashia Deon, author of the award-winning debut Grace, Tiffany Hawk, author of Love Me Anyway, and Kristin Waterfield Duisberg, author of The Good Patient and After.
RachelÕs projects, which include New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, Amazon Best Books of the Year, and Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selections, have been translated throughout the world and optioned by major studios and independent producers for both the big and small screens.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Kari Sutherland is a literary agent with KT Literary. She is based out of Southern California. She began on the editorial side of publishing, first at Disney Press, then HarperCollins ChildrenÕs BooksÐwhere she had the honor of editing many talented authors, including Victoria Aveyard and Sara Shepard. Middle grade and YA are at the heart of her list, but she also represents picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and upmarket fiction. She graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in English and Psychology and received a Masters in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice before pivoting back to her first loveÐbooks. With her editorial insight and experience with the entire publishing process, Kari is passionate about helping to polish each manuscript and equip her clients for success.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |
Biography
Margaret Sutherland Brown is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. She says: “I’m an agent at Folio representing literary and upmarket commercial fiction, psychological thrillers, select young adult fiction, and narrative non-fiction.
Previously I was an agent at Emma Sweeney Agency, LLC, and transitioned to represent many of ESA’s clients at Folio in January 2020. Before becoming an agent, I spent the first seven years of my career in editorial, primarily at Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, where I worked on a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. As an agent, I use my insider knowledge of how a publishing house operates to my clients’ advantage, and my editorial background informs how unusually closely and thoroughly I work with clients to develop a project before we ever submit to publishers. I’m proud to work with immensely talented authors. Among many other accolades, my clients have won the American Book Award, been finalists for the National Book Award and the PEN/ Hemingway Award, and been awarded Guggenheim Fellowships.
I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, graduated from Wake Forest University as an English major with a double minor in journalism and Spanish, and now live in Brooklyn with my husband and two sons. When I’m not reading I love to take advantage of New York City’s art, dance, theater, and restaurant scene and go running. I also love to travel.
I’m grateful every day to have the privilege of supporting writers in their work of bringing into the world literature that describes, enriches and transforms our lives.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Kristina Sutton-Lennon is the CEO, Co-Founder and a literary agent with Focused Artists. For Focused Artists, she has facilitated book deals with publishers, including HarperCollins, Hachette, and National Geographic. She pitches content to producers, studios and networks, and has projects in various stages of development with production companies. Kristina prides herself on her diverse slate of content and has a proven track record in sourcing material, script development, and talent scouting for the screen and page.
Prior to delving into producing and management, Kristina was an actor (SAG-AFTRA) and educator, teaching acting and improv at the college level. She previously served as a film/tv agent and as the Director of the Louisiana Division for a talent agency headquartered in Atlanta. Kristina recently served as the Director of Media Rights at Context Literary Agency and currently serves as a Talent Manager for Citizen Skull.
In 2022, Publishers Weekly named her an Honoree in their annual Rising Star Watch. Kristina earned her MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University. She is a proud member of NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers), the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance, and a board member of SPARK! Kristina is also a Board Member for the Seattle Latino Film Festival (SLFF).
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Picture Book | BIPOC Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Upmarket Fiction |BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Crafts | Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Parenting | Psychology | Self-Help | Technology | Travel | Women’s Issues |
Danielle Svetcov
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Danielle Svetcov is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She is the author of Parked, a ÒquirkyÓ Òbig-heartedÓ middle-grade novel that Òexplores what happens when homelessness and helpfulness collide.Ó Before Parked, Danielle wrote for the New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune Magazine. She joined LGR in 2002.
Books she rereads for love: I Capture the Castle, Lone Pilgrim, Jane Eyre, Devil in the White City, Ladies and GentlemenÑthe Bronx is Burning.
Audiobooks that sheÕs recently listened to (in the car) on rainy days: When You Reach Me, Naked, The Secret Garden, Undefeated.
Her clients tend to be oppositional but reasoned, serious but amusedÑpreferring their rabbit holes deep.
Her taste is reflected in the journalism and narrative nonfiction sheÕs sold, e.g. Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves; its natural follow-up Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art; a cultural history of our bodies under water, Why We Swim; a refusal to be grammatically cornered, Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark; a refusal to be artfully ignored Broad Strokes and She Votes; and a story of greed that threatens us all (where we least expect it), Kill Shot.
Also, to offset the Victorian in her, she signs funny books, e.g. Skymaul: Happy Crap You Can Buy From A Plane; Look Big, a guide to surviving wild-animal close-encounters (which is funnier than you might think); What to Talk About; Bike Snob; and Minnesota-Book-of-the-Year nominee, The Annie Year, an ensemble novel that blurs heartland and heartburn.
Of course, she has to eat, tooÉ She represents an incredible stable of chefs, restaurateurs, and food/ag-thinkersÑmany of them IACP and Beard Award winnersÑincluding Shalane Flanagan and Elyse KopeckyÕs New York Times bestselling Run Fast Eat Slow; Bryant TerryÕs Afro-Vegan and Vegetable Kingdom; Michelle PolzineÕs Baking at the 20th Century CafŽ; Russell Moore and Allison HopelainÕs This is Camino; Adrianna AdarmeÕs The Year of Cozy; Stuart Brioza and Nicole KrasinskiÕs State Bird Provisions; Brandon JewÕs Mr. JiuÕs in Chinatown; Sophie EganÕs OK to Eat; and many more.
Some of her authors youÕll be hearing from soon: Rachel Gross, Nicole Perlroth, Sophia Vincent-Guy, Mark Bittman, Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, Beth Rodden, Eugenia Viti, Diana Kapp, Diana Helmuth, Molly Huddle, Sara Slattery, Rick Easton, Melissa McCart, Andrew Hilleman, Colin Clancy, Jodi Angel, S.P. Miskowski, Mike Sacks and Jason Roeder.
Danielle is based in the agencyÕs California office.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Science Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Computers | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Joyce Sweeney is the Director of Kid Lit and a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. Joyce Sweeney has been working in the Kidlit industry for four decades. First as an award-winning novelist, and soon after, leading invitation-only workshops for aspiring writers. Within the first two years, seven of JoyceÕs students had obtained traditional publishing contracts and a second career was born. Joyce and her students decided that everyone who could secure a contract should get a special ÒMagic BeanÓ to mark the achievement.
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Continuing to publish her own work, Joyce expanded into weekend writing retreats, conducted with Jamie Morris, under name NEXT LEVEL WORKHOPS. That led to ten years of online classes, taught by Joyce and produced by Cathy Castelli and CAFƒ CLASSES conducted in Fort Lauderdale.
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Using her contacts as an active SCBWI volunteer, Joyce continued to promote her students and help them find agents. The Magic Bean count continued to rise.
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By 2020, Nicole Resciniti, who is also JoyceÕs agent, offered them the chance to take this lifetime of mentoring to the next level and become a literary agent. Joyce finally found their dream job as a kidlit agent and the Magic Bean count is currently 83 and hoping for 100! At the agency, Joyce began to help and coach other agents who wanted to move into the kidlit space, and continues to represent authors and illustrators of picture books, middle grades and graphic novels.
What they’re looking for:
In Picture Books: Fiction or non-fiction. I am drawn to lyrical voices, fun syntax and offbeat concepts. I like unusual characters, and plots that make me cry or laugh out loud. Illustrator/authors welcome and rhyme (if you REALLY know how to do it) is fine. Diversity, please. Most of all, be unique.
In Middle Grade: I am especially drawn to humor, fantasy and sci-fi, but a realistic novel that makes me cry will work too. Advocate of books for boys. Would love to see more LGBTQ as well.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction |
Biography
Mark Sweeney is the owner of Mark Sweeney & Associates, Publishing Consultant and Literary Agency.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |Religious Fiction |Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Becky Sweren is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She has represented projects such as the New York Times bestseller From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein, the LA Times bestseller Barons of the Sea by Steven Ujifusa, the New York Times bestseller The Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack Viertel, the National Book Award Longlist A Cure for Suicide by Jesse Ball, and acclaimed narrative nonfiction such as The Fox Hunt by Mohammed Al Samawi.
Becky graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University with a BA in English and in Theater Studies. Prior to joining Aevitas, she worked at Janklow & Nesbit Associates.
She is most interested in investigative journalism, unexplored history, big ideas that challenge conventional wisdom, and voice-driven memoirs that shed light on cultures, places, or industries.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Art | Cultural Social Issues | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Science |
Biography
Pieter Swinkels is the Director of Operations and an literary agent for adult authors with the Transatlantic Agency. He started his literary publishing career at the premiere Dutch publishing houses De Bezige Bij and Meulenhoff Publishers in Amsterdam, where he published bestselling and critically-acclaimed authors such as Elizabeth Gilbert, Ann Patchett, Aravind Adiga, Damon Galgut, Sebastian Barry, Jhumpa Lahiri, Mohsin Hamid, Rachel Cusk, Paolo Giordano, Robert Harris and Karin Slaughter. Before joining Transatlantic Agency, Pieter worked as Chief Content Officer at Rakuten Kobo, leading Kobo’s global publisher relations, the self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life, the Kobo Originals publishing program, and the launch of Audiobooks and Kobo Plus subscriptions.
Pieter holds a Cum Laude MA degree in English Language & Literature from the University of Amsterdam, and a MPhil in Irish Literature from Trinity College Dublin. He lives and works in Toronto.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction |General Nonfiction |
Biography
Pieter Swinkels is the Director of Operations and an literary agent for adult authors with the Transatlantic Agency. He started his literary publishing career at the premiere Dutch publishing houses De Bezige Bij and Meulenhoff Publishers in Amsterdam, where he published bestselling and critically-acclaimed authors such as Elizabeth Gilbert, Ann Patchett, Aravind Adiga, Damon Galgut, Sebastian Barry, Jhumpa Lahiri, Mohsin Hamid, Rachel Cusk, Paolo Giordano, Robert Harris and Karin Slaughter. Before joining Transatlantic Agency, Pieter worked as Chief Content Officer at Rakuten Kobo, leading KoboÕs global publisher relations, the self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life, the Kobo Originals publishing program, and the launch of Audiobooks and Kobo Plus subscriptions.
Pieter holds a Cum Laude MA degree in English Language & Literature from the University of Amsterdam, and a MPhil in Irish Literature from Trinity College Dublin. He lives and works in Toronto.
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Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |General Fiction |General Nonfiction |
Biography
Emily Sylvan Kim is a literary agent with the Prospect Agency. She says: “Reading has always been my addiction so I feel very fortunate that it is my career as well. After a childhood spent devouring books in Denver, Colorado I majored in English at Carleton College where I once electively took and enjoyed a class titled “Dickens and Scott, the Longer Novels.” I gave law school a try for a year after graduation but the lure of fiction was just too strong so I moved to New York City, the hub of the publishing industry. This was one of the best decisions in my life. I worked at Writers House literary agency for five years while also writing reviews for Publisher’s Weekly as well as my own fiction and poetry. I even met my husband in a poetry class!
In 2005, I was thrilled to take the next step in my career by opening the doors to Prospect Agency. My inspiration in naming the agency came from Brooklyn’s beloved Prospect Park. With winding trails, woods and meadows, there is a place for everyone to find a bit of peace in the middle of a crowded city and I strive to provide just such a haven for our clients. I am proud to have built an agency composed of so many talented agents who represent a wide array of authors and illustrators.
Even though a love of reading brought me to agenting, as my career has advanced, I found myself equally drawn to the business aspect of creating books. Publishing is the nexus of art and commerce. How we navigate that intersection is endlessly fascinating and of critical importance to the future of literature. By working and listening closely to both publishers and writers, I always strive to foster dialogue and create innovative opportunities. I understand that we are in a time of great change and that decisions we make now will have a lasting impact on our future. As an agent, I have taken a leadership role in helping to shape the digital landscape. By embracing and understanding technology, we can make sure we stay relevant and fresh for both long time readers and also attract new audiences.”
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Health Wellness | History | Memoir | Science | Travel |
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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)