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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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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.
- You are searching within category(ies): Commercial Fiction
Biography
Jane Dystel is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. Jane Dystel, President, has been an agent since 1986. Her publishing career began at Bantam Books. She then moved to Grosset & Dunlap, where she was a managing editor and later an acquisitions editor. From there, she went on to become Publisher of World Almanac Publications, where she created her own imprint. When she joined the agency that would soon become Acton and Dystel Inc., she quickly developed a reputation for honesty, forthrightness, hard work, and real commitment to her authors and their writing careers. In 1994, with a growing roster of clients, she founded Jane Dystel Literary Management, which became Dystel & Goderich Literary Management in 2003, and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2016. Born in Chicago, Jane grew up in Rye, New York. She is the daughter of publishing legend Oscar Dystel, who headed Bantam Books for more than a quarter of a century. In her teens, she was an accomplished figure skater. Jane received her BA from New York University and attended Georgetown Law School for one year before leaving for her first job in publishing. She has an abiding interest in legal subjects. She is married to Steven Schwinder and has a daughter, Jessica, and a son, Zachary. She lives in New York City with her husband and two dachshunds, and is a tenacious golfer.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Horror | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Law Legal | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | True Crime | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Chelsea Eberly is a literary agent with the Greenhouse Literary Agency. She is the Director of Greenhouse Literary Agency and represents authors of middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, and womenÕs fiction, as well as illustrators who write picture books.
As a former Senior Editor at Random House, she edited the Newbery Medal winning When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller as well as numerous award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors such as Tamora Pierce, Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas, Mark Siegel, and Kim Johnson to name only a few. She has a deep understanding of how publishers think and is an expert advocate for her clients. Chelsea is also a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree, which recognizes Òthe rising stars of the US publishing industry.Ó
A Midwesterner turned New Yorker, Chelsea regularly presents at writing conferences across the country and enjoys teaching craft.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Anne Edelstein is the president of Anne Edelstein Literary Agency.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | History | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Psychology | Religion | Spirituality |
Lindsay Edgecombe
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >Biography
Lindsay Edgecombe is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. Lindsay represents a wide range of titles, including narrative nonfiction, memoir, lifestyle and health, illustrated books, and literary fiction. She is drawn to projects with strong narrators, obscure journeys, and political backbones, but she is an eclectic reader and will take on any project that she’s passionate about.
Lindsay represents journalists, scientists, internationally best-selling novelists as well as debut novelists, New Yorker cartoonists, and bloggers, among many others. She loves to uncover new talent and to work with her clients to develop great proposals from the spark of an idea. Her authors have contributed to NPR’s “This American Life,” written for the New York Times and many other publications, and have been on Oprah and The Daily Show.
Lindsay graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University where she edited The Columbia Review.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology |
Biography
Melissa Edwards is a literary agent with the Stonesong Literary Agency. She joined Stonesong as a literary agent in August 2016. Previously, she was a literary agent at the Aaron Priest Literary Agency, where she managed the foreign rights for a forty-year backlist. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt Law School, Melissa began her career as a litigation attorney before transitioning into publishing. She is a tireless advocate for her clients and a constant partner during the publication process and beyond. Melissa also acts as a contract consultant for authors and agents under the business MLE Consulting.
Melissa is currently highly interested in developing her adult commercial fiction list, with a particular eye out for vibrant and fun young womenÕs fiction, mysteries and thrillers featuring characters from underrepresented backgrounds, and upmarket book club fiction.
Melissa is not the best choice for horror, science fiction, or historical fiction.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Espionage Military Fiction | General Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Pop Culture |
Biography
Natalie Edwards is a literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She joined Trellis Literary after nearly two years at Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Prior to that, she worked at Curtis Brown, Ltd. At Trellis, Natalie supports Allison Hunter while actively building a list of her own.
In terms of fiction, she is seeking commercial, upmarket, and literary projects. She enjoys narratives of queerness and diaspora (i.e., Patsy), hidden histories, complex friendship stories (i.e. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow), workplace satires/sendups of #girlbosses, and anything that offers biting social commentary and disrupts conventional wisdom. She is particularly drawn to accessible voices with a literary sensibility, in the vein of Ann Patchett and Zadie Smith, especially when they let her in on a subculture or historical truth she’s never encountered before. SheÕs always on the lookout for grounded speculative novels with subtle elements of magical realism, especially those infused with folklore, and she has a particular interest in narratives where faith and queerness intersect (i.e., You Exist Too Much). She is also open to considering short story collections with clear unifying themes.
In the nonfiction space, she is looking for issue-driven hybrid memoirs (think H is for Hawk or In the Darkroom), which combine personal stories with research/reportage; journalistic narrative nonfiction like Say Nothing or Bad Blood; and cultural histories about music, film, food, art, and sports. She enjoys working with journalists and critics whose connection to their material runs deep, and she loves to watch the implosion of a scam unfold.
Natalie is not looking for: high fantasy or sci-fi, erotica, gratuitously violent horror, commercial romance (unless itÕs queer), commercial thrillers/procedurals, cozy mysteries, prescriptive/how-tos, celebrity memoir, cookbooks, business/finance, religion/spirituality, coffee table/photography/design books, or childrenÕs books for any level (picture books, MG, YA, New Adult).
Natalie grew up in Pasadena, California and attended Bowdoin College, where she earned her BA in English with a minor in History and played four years of varsity softball. She lives in Brooklyn and still plays softball here in the city.
Natalie’s dream authors include: Ann Patchett, Zadie Smith, Carmen Maria Machado, Robert Kolker, Susan Faludi, Patrick Radden Keefe, Samantha Irby, Maggie Shipstead, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Katie Kitamura, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and T Kira Madden.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |BIPOC Fiction | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Satire | Short Story Collection | Suspense Fiction | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Art | Biography | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Sports | Technology | Travel | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Sian-Ashleigh Edwards is a literary agent with WME Books. Sian-Ashleigh has been at WME since 2018. She hails from the suburbs of New York and goes by her full first name. Representing Nonfiction and Fiction across the YA and adult spaces, her authors are tastemakers, experts, world-builders, and everyday people with something to say. In Nonfiction sheÕs looking for books that provide new perspectives for the people and places around us, help us master a new skill, or bring us one step closer to a better version of ourselves. In Fiction, sheÕs looking for anything in the upmarket, commercial, and sci-fi/fantasy spaces that makes her laugh, cry, and/or marvel at the capacity of the written word to move you.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | New Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Science Fiction | Upmarket Fiction |Self-Help |
Danielle Egan-Miller
Browne & Miller Literary AssociatesAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email >Biography
Danielle Egan-Miller is a literary agent with and the president of Browne & Miller Literary Associates. Danielle learned the business of book publishing from the agency side as she began her career as the assistant to, later the associate of, legendary literary agent Jane Jordan Browne.
She went on to hold editor positions with Dearborn Trade, NTC Business Books/Contemporary Books and McGraw-Hill Trade, where she acquired adult non-fiction titles with a strong emphasis on business subjects. In 2002, Danielle rejoined Jane as her partner and the agency was renamed Browne & Miller Literary Associates; she became owner and president of the agency in 2003. Danielle holds a BA in English from Loyola University of Chicago and is a graduate of the Radcliffe Publishing Course. She is also a member of the Association of AuthorsÕ Representatives, Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and The Authors Guild.
As an agent, Danielle has sold hundreds of books, with a heavy emphasis on commercial adult fiction. Her roster includes several New York Times bestselling authors and numerous prize- and award-winning writers. Many of Browne & MillerÕs authors have won prestigious awards including the Edgar Award, the Canadian Governor GeneralÕs Award, the RITA Award, the Anthony Award, the Colorado Book Award, the Minnesota Book Award, the Western Spur Award, the Willa Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, the Midwest Booksellers Choice Award, the ECPA Golden Medallion, the Golden Quill, and the Christy Award.
Danielle spends most of her free time with her husband, teenage son, and her beloved Scottish Terriers, Scarlett OÕHara and Agnes. She is a football mom, an avid gardener, a home improvement enthusiast (she must be, as she lives in a house built in 1889), an enthusiastic cook, a strong swimmer, a beach vacation lover, and sheÕs addicted to (binge) reading on her iPad. Though Danielle reads ample non-fiction (she enjoys biographies in particular), most of her long-time favorite books are novels. They include: everything by Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The Alienist by Caleb Carr, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, the entire epic Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, and the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. SheÕs recently added Tana French to her list of favorite authors and believes The Likeness is as close to perfect as a novel can be.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA | Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Religious Fiction | Romance | Sports Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Animals | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | True Crime |
Biography
Judith Ehrlich is a literary agent with Judith Ehrlich Literary Management. A former award-winning journalist, Judith is the co-author of The New Crowd: The Changing of the Jewish Guard on Wall Street (Little, Brown, 1989). She shifted gears in l998 and worked as a senior associate of the Linda Chester Agency for five years before launching her own agency in 2002. Judith is a member of the AuthorÕs Guild and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She was formerly on the Council of Conservators of the New York Public Library and served on the board of directors of The Shakespeare Society. For many years she was on the advisory board of The Partisan Review.
Judith has sold a wide range of nonfiction and fiction and looks for that special quality that makes a book compelling. Among her strongest interests are narrative nonfiction that combines fascinating original material with superb writing, topical business books by industry leaders, and prescriptive womenÕs books with a strong platform. Prescriptive books should offer fresh information and advice, and most authors must have ongoing experience with national workshops and lectures or strong newspaper, radio or TV presence, depending on the work. In fiction, she looks for novels that have a strong opportunity for print review or appeal to book club readers. She is drawn to stories that pull you in and wonÕt let you go. In upmarket, literary, and quality commercial fiction, she looks for novels that have sympathetic characters, original plots with surprising twists, and strong descriptive writing. She is also interested in fresh, well-crafted, riveting thrillers of all kinds including legal and medical ones.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Susanna Einstein is a literary agent with Einstein Literary Management. She has worked as a literary agent since 2005, and launched E.L.M. in 2015. She has worked in publishing since 1995, first in the publicity and editorial departments at what was then called Warner Books (now Grand Central Publishing) and then as a literary scout at Maria B. Campbell Associates. A native New Yorker, she graduated with distinction from Northwestern University. She lives in NJ with her husband and two children.
Susanna Einstein is a member of the Association of AuthorsÕ Representatives and the WomenÕs Media Group. She has a particular fondness for crime fiction, upmarket commercial womenÕs fiction, MG and YA fiction, and narrative non-fiction. She likes a good story well told.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture |
Biography
Naomi Eisenbeiss is a literary agent with InkWell Management. She graduated with a dual degree in Political Science from Sciences Po in Nancy, France and Freie University in Berlin, Germany. Prior to InkWell, she spent three years as Manager of the Shanghai International Literary Festival in China. She speaks English, Japanese, German and conversational French and Mandarin. Her interests include literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Science | Travel | True Crime |
Biography
Rachel Ekstrom Courage is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management. She is also an author.
Before becoming a literary agent, Rachel spent over a decade as a NYC-based book publicist, first working on mysteries and thrillers for Minotaur in the historic Flatiron building, then assuming a directorial role for PenguinÕs Dutton and Gotham imprints, and finally working on blockbuster commercial fiction (both Adult and YA) for St. MartinÕs Press.
Over the course of her career as a publicist, she developed relationships with local and national media, securing reviews, features, radio and television interviews, online placement, bookstore and Òoutside the boxÓ author events, in outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, C-SPAN, Fox Business, People, Entertainment Weekly, O Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Huffington Post, CNN, The Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, The Economist, The New Republic, Salon, Playboy, Time, and Wired.
A few of the bestselling and award-winning authors Rachel advocated for as a publicist include Grammar Girlª Mignon Fogarty, Russell Simmons, Timothy Keller, P.C. and Kristin Cast, T. Jefferson Parker, Randy Susan Meyers, Louise Penny, Tyler Cowen, Hari Kunzru, Susan Shapiro Barash, and Michael Palmer.
Rachel has presented, led workshops, and met one-on-one with authors at Grub Street, WriterÕs Digest, Seton Hill University, LWC}NYC, Jambalaya Writers Conference, South Carolina WritersÕ Workshop, New England Crime Bake, PNWA, RWA, New York Writers Workshop, Unicorn Writers Conference, Digital Hollywood, and more.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Health Wellness | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Hana El Niwairi is the Rights Manager at CookeMcDermid. She leads the rights team in representing the works of agency authors outside of North America: in Asia, Europe, the UK, and more. Since 2017, Hana and her team have placed agency books into over 50 territories around the globe. These include: #1 New York Times bestselling poet Rupi Kaur’s the sun and her flowers and home body; internationally bestselling author Thomas Olde Heuvelt’s HEX and Echo; Karen LordÕs 2024 WomenÕs Prize longlisted The Blue, Beautiful World; 2021 Canada Reads contender Natalie Zena Walschot’s Hench; Dr. Britt Wray’s Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis; and Alicia Elliott’s And Then She Fell, among others. Prior to joining the publishing industry, she worked in the non-profit, arts, and culture sectors with organizations such as the Book and Periodical Council, Culture Days, and Paprika Festival. She is a graduate of Humber College’s Arts Administration and Cultural Management program and holds an Honours BA (Specialization in Creative Writing and English Literature with a Major in Psychology) from Western University. Outside of her role at the agency, Hana is also one of the co-founders of BIPOC of Publishing in Canada.
Hana’s tastes are eclectic and she reads widely across genres. She has a soft spot for science fiction and fantasy and in recent years has been particularly enjoying romance and thrillers. Across genres, sheÕs drawn to character-driven stories, featuring morally grey protagonists, ÔdifficultÕ women, and commercial fiction written by and about marginalized communities. Additionally, in her (somewhat futile) pursuit to learn everything, ever, Hana is an avid reader of non-fiction, particularly politics, social science, media criticism, science, and history. She is keenly interested in non-fiction exploring systemic issues and how they play out in the day-to-day lives of the average person.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | Gothic Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Speculative Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cultural Social Issues | History | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science |
Biography
Ethan Ellenberg is a literary agent with the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. Ethan opened his literary agency in late, 1984 after holding jobs at both Bantam and Berkley/Jove. At Berkley/Jove he was manager of the Contracts Department. At Bantam he was Associate Contracts Manager. He says: ÒI remain excited and committed to assisting Authors at different stages of their careers. I work with a number of talented people writing and illustrating many different kinds of books and thatÕs what I like. If you have something special in any of the commercial fiction genres I would be interested in hearing about it. For childrenÕs books works of the imagination and beauty will always interest me. If I canÕt help you, I will share your work with a colleague.
The business of book publishing has changed almost beyond recognition since I joined the industry. ItÕs as complex as any business I know and that makes it daunting for everyone involved. Our goal is to assist Authors where they need it most, passionate dedication to help them earn a living, and honest feedback about their work.Ó
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | New Age | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Reference | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | True Adventure | True Crime |
Biography
Nicholas Ellison is a literary agent with the Nicholas Ellison Agency. He began his career as Senior Editor at T.Y. Crowell. After moving to Harper as a Senior Editor, he became Editor-in-Chief at Funk & Wagnalls, and later, Editor-in-Chief of Delacorte/Doubleday. During his tenure at Delacorte, he edited or published authors as varied as Kurt Vonnegut, Irwin Shaw, Richard Brautigan, James Clavell, Doris Lessing, Robert Parker, Thomas Berger, James Kirkwood (A Chorus Line), and Tim OÕBrien.
Mr. EllisonÕs father was the president of a distinguished publishing house, Howell Soskin, as well as a professor of both law and writing at Columbia University. He was also the book reviewer for the New York Herald Tribune. Mr. EllisonÕs mother is the author of The Winnie-the-Pooh Cookbook, and has authored over 20 childrenÕs books. Publishing just seems to run in the family.
Mr. Ellison wrote a book of his own while studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, and held publishing internships with Doubleday France and Harry Abrams in New York. He has taught creative writing at two universities. While in graduate school at The University of Grenoble, Mr. Ellison played ice hockey for the French National team, and later, boxed professionallyÑpursuits which have served him well in dealing with editors.
Along with a select and very successful list of non-fiction projects, Mr. Ellison represents fiction primarily, with projects ranging from belles lettres to popular entertainment. Mr. Ellison works with each author meticulously from concept to finished work, and every one of his authors has had and will have his or her books on the New York Times or PublisherÕs Weekly bestseller lists; or become bestselling authors within their genre.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mainstream Fiction | Mystery | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Autobiography | Biography | Business Book | History | Journalism | Memoir | Military War Nonfiction | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Science |
Biography
ZabŽ Ellor is a literary agent with the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. He joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency in August 2018, after previously interning at the agency and at Inklings Literary, and serving as a publications assistant at IOP Publishing. He graduated from Cornell University in 2016 with a dual degree in biology and English. An avid reader and writer, his non-literary interests include running, travel, and finding the perfect dim sum in his home city of Washington D. C.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Science |
Biography
Chelsey Emmelhainz is a literary agent with Copps Literary Services. She joined Copps Literary Services in 2021 after a decade as an editor of upmarket fiction and nonfiction. Upon graduating from the Denver Publishing Institute, she got her start at HarperCollins with William Morrow and Avon Books. She was most recently a senior editor at Crooked Lane Books.
As an editor, Chelsey worked on projects that cross the literary landscape: from Amish romance to upmarket thrillers and everything in between. Yet her true passion lies in helping authors refine their narratives to create compelling stories and advocating on their behalf. An editorial agent, she works tirelessly with authors to polish their work into commercial projects aimed at catching the eye of editors and publishers.
Chelsey is building a highly selective list, focused mainly on adult fiction and nonfiction. Regardless of genre, she is always looking for authentic storytelling and to elevate diverse voices.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Environment | Food Drink | Gardening | History | How-To | Illustrated | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Technology | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Lisa Erbach Vance is a literary agent with The Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency. Lisa joined the Aaron Priest Literary Agency in 1993 as Director of Foreign Rights for Aaron Priest and began representing her own clients shortly thereafter. Her clients include Harlan Coben, Gregg Hurwitz, David McCloskey, Glen Erik Hamilton, B.J. Daniels, Rebecca Hardiman, Sandra Kitt, Alex Finlay, Ann Howard Creel, Gayle Lynds, Watt Key, Matt Beynon Rees, Aaron and Charlotte Elkins, Amanda Stevens, Anthony Franze, G.M. Ford, the estate of Madeleine LÕEngle, and more.
Prior to joining the agency, LisaÕs publishing career began at Random House, Inc. where she was selected as one of the first participants in their new Management Trainee program, after which she became an associate in the foreign rights department at Crown Publishers. Lisa was born and raised outside of Chicago, and she has a degree in English Literature from Northwestern University.
Lisa is currently most interested in and actively seeking out fiction, literary or commercial, especially works featuring female characters, as well as some narrative non-fiction. Types of work include: Propulsive, emotionally engaging thrillersÑdomestic or international. Moody psychological and domestic suspense. Speculative fiction set in a recognizable near future. Ghost or supernatural stories that go beyond chills and speak to current culture but are not graphically violent. Observant, thoughtful fiction about families and friends, with fresh perspectives on modern relationships. Narratives with a witty or lovingly humorous spin, including rom-coms. Diverse and unique narrative voices that speak to the human condition and the world today; underrepresented voices of all backgrounds and identities.
In every category, Lisa looks for a powerful premise and characters sheÕll be passionate about, in addition to great writing. Her goal is not only to sell books, but also to build long and ever-growing careers for her clients, giving each of them close and thorough attention as well as being an advocate in all aspects of the publishing process, including licensing foreign rights, audio rights, dramatic rights and more.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture |
Biography
Jessica Errera is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She has been with JRA since 2014. She is looking for commercial womenÕs fiction with a fresh and fun hook, all genres of YA (especially diverse stories), contemporary romance, mysteries and suspense, the occasional historical fiction, and anything that might be read in a day on the beach. Jessica is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she spent four years cheering on the Tar Heels and a few fantastic months interning with Algonquin Books.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |Dating Relationships Sex | Self-Help |
Biography
Annalise Errico is a literary agent with _Ladderbird. Annalise is a graduate of Lesley University where she earned a B.A. in Creative writing with a double minor in Literature and WomenÕs, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. She is excited about uplifting stories by authors with marginalized voices and intersectional identities, ultimately making room for the diverse voices that have long since been ignored and suppressed in the literary world and beyond. When she isnÕt agenting, Annalise spends an excessive amount of time snuggling with her cat, Mittens, and writing romance novels that are more swoony than strictly necessary.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | True Crime |
Biography
Katherine Estrada is a literary agent with Williamson Literary. She graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Theology in May 2020. Since graduating, she has worked as an ABA Therapist and Senior Executive Assistant at a Behavioral Health Clinic. She left the Healthcare Industry to pursue a career in publishing.
Katherine recently was accepted into NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute. She is now interning at Chrysalis Editorial and joined Williamson Literary out of her passion for literature and writing. Her favorite genres are women’s fiction, thriller and fantasy. She especially loves to read books about dynamic relationships (mother-daughter, familial, friendships, etc.) and books where the setting feels like a character too. When she is not reading, you can find her rewatching Ted Lasso, taking long walks or searching D.C. for the best cup of coffee.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Satire | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Environment | History | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Journalism | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Science | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Katherine Estrada is a literary agent with Williamson Literary. She graduated from Georgetown University with a BachelorÕs in Psychology and a minor in Theology in May 2020. Since graduating, she has worked as an ABA Therapist and Senior Executive Assistant at a Behavioral Health Clinic. She left the Healthcare Industry to pursue a career in publishing.
Katherine recently was accepted into NYUÕs Summer Publishing Institute. She is now interning at Chrysalis Editorial and joined Williamson Literary out of her passion for literature and writing. Her favorite genres are womenÕs fiction, thriller and fantasy. She especially loves to read books about dynamic relationships (mother-daughter, familial, friendships, etc.) and books where the setting feels like a character too. When she is not reading, you can find her rewatching Ted Lasso, taking long walks or searching D.C. for the best cup of coffee.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Satire | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Cultural Social Issues | Environment | History | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Journalism | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Science | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Stephany Evans is a literary agent with Ayesha Pande Literary. She put a toe in the publishing waters at Simon & Schuster Audio when audio publishing was just beginning to be Òa thing.Ó Now, for more than twenty-five years, Stephany has represented nonfiction writers in the areas of health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food and drink, and sustainability, running and fitness, memoir and narrative nonfiction. She also represents a range of womenÕs fiction, from literary to upmarket commercial, to romance, as well as crime fiction (mysteries, thrillers), and the occasional literary or commercial novel not aimed at a female market. She is looking for fine, accomplished writing, whether the work is by a first time or established author.
She loves to be told a great story!_
Stephany is a member of the Association of AuthorsÕ Representatives (AAR), the RWA, the MWA and the Agents Round Table (ART). She has served as ghostwriter on seven published books in the categories of memoir and spirituality.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Cookbook Cooking | Environment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gardening | Health Wellness | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Science | Spirituality | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Suzy Evans is a literary agent with and the founder of Suzy Evans Literary Agency. She says: “IÕm a literary agent, attorney, and author who holds a Ph.D. in history from UC Berkeley. My books include Machiavelli for Moms (Simon & Schuster) and Forgotten Crimes: The Holocaust and People with Disabilities. IÕm also a former ghostwriter for a #1 New York Times bestselling author with 30 million copies sold and my work has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Parade, McSweeneys, and The London Times.”
In the adult market, IÕm on the hunt for great serious nonfiction, especially by historians looking to make a transition from an academic to trade audience and journalists who have something unique and significant to say. IÕm also on the lookout for smart parenting books with useful, original hooks (bonus points for humor!); food, health, and wellness titles, sports books with smart crossover appeal in other genres, especially history and philosophy (IÕd LOVE to find the next Golf in the Kingdom or Zen and the Art of Archery); self-help by experts with established platforms and riveting, elegantly-rendered memoir (favorites include William FinneganÕs Barbarian Days and Paul KalanithiÕs When Breath Becomes Air), as well as science and nature, pop culture, Òbig ideaÓ books about controversial issues, and small, quirky books that make me smile or think about the world in entirely new and surprising ways. IÕd also love to find a great legal thriller and IÕm ALWAYS on the hunt for timely and important books by and about smart, strong, badass women!
On the childrenÕs front, I have a great love of middle grade and am on the hunt for lively, engaging nonfiction that pops off the page and makes kids excited about reading and learning; wacky/hilarious commercial MG fiction with series potential; and graphic novels that bring history, great works of literature, and fascinating historical figures (think Socrates! Machiavelli! Hamilton!) to life. I also have a soft spot for coming-of-age MG works, YA fiction that tackles difficult issues in bold, daring ways and with inventive formats that can be brought into the classroom to stimulate meaningful discussion and debate, and sweet, lyrical picture books that capture the imagination and call for multiple readings (classic and recent favorites include Stellaluna, Finding Winnie, Sarah and the Big Wave and The Cat Who Walked Across France). IÕd also love to find contemporary MG/YA fiction that explores diversity in all its glorious manifestations and a smart, high-concept thriller that has ÒMOVIE!Ó written all over it.
Now for three random things about me: I donÕt have a sense of smell, I have a serious fear of boredom, butterflies, and Great White Sharks, and I drive my kids crazy with my REALLY bad jokes, like my all-time favorite: Why donÕt lobsters like to share? Because theyÕre shellfish!!! Ha!! And three of my favorite quotes include:
ÒFind a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life.Ó Ð Mark Twain
ÒThree things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.Ó Ð Henry James
And: ÒFollow your bliss.Ó Ð Joseph Campbell
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Sports Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Diet Nutrition | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Philosophy | Pop Culture | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Travel |
Biography
Samantha Fabien is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: ÒI live for the rollercoaster of emotions that characters and stories can take me on. Whether IÕm swooning or gasping, I want to feel strongly enough about a project that I desperately need to share it with the world.Ó
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Lifestyle |
Biography
Mark Falkin is a literary agent with Falkin Literary Agency. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mark Falkin graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and then the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He has lived in Texas for the last twenty years, where he is a literary agent and recovering music attorney, having represented platinum sellers and Grammy winners alike.
His 2006 self-published novel, Days of Grace, was optioned for a film and nominated for a literary award, The Needle Award, at POD-dy Mouth blog, where the reviewer said, ÒThis is literature at its best . . . Falkin could easily be likened to the aforementioned Lethem or to Augusten Burroughs or even J.D. Salinger,Ó and Bookpeople in Austin noted, ÒHereÕs more proof that Austin is home to some of the best new writers around . . . FalkinÕs novel is reminiscent of the writing style found in Lethem, Sedaris, Coupland, and Kerouac, with his sharp wit and journalistic style.Ó
Working on his next book, he lives with his wife and family in Austin, where he reads, coaches recreational soccer, tries to find time to paddle Texas waters, and keeps a sharp eye on his young daughters, snatching hugs here and there.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Dystopian Fiction | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Satire | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Western Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Film Entertainment | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Illustrated | Journalism | Memoir | Money Finance | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Pop Culture | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Travel | True Crime |
Biography
Alison Fargis is a literary agent with Stonesong Literary Agency. She is a partner in Stonesong. With more than 25 years in publishing, Alison has cultivated a wide-ranging list of commercially successful and critically acclaimed writers, from New York Times bestselling cookbook authors to award-winning novelists and childrenÕs authors. She represents literary and commercial fiction, narrative and prescriptive nonfiction, business, pop culture and a handful of middle grade and young adult titles. Prior to joining Stonesong in 1995, she taught English to President V‡clav HavelÕs staff at the Prague Castle and taught high school English in P_’bram, Czech Republic. Alison was the recipient of a Dana Foundation Grant and a Foundation for a Civil Society (Soros Foundation) Fellowship. She graduated Vassar College with a B.A. in Art.
Alison is looking for upmarket womenÕs fiction, book club fiction, and middle grade fiction that blurs the line between literary and commercial. Please no romance, high fantasy, true crime, poetry, or childrenÕs picture books.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Religious Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | BIPOC Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Sports | Travel |