Home » Directory of Literary Agents – USA Literary Agents
The Directory of Literary Agents
Welcome message…
7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
Press the play button below to listen.
Click here to view and/or download a free PDF transcript
of this audio program
* * *
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 *
Biography
Taylor Haggerty is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “Everyone in this business is in it because they love to read, but agenting gives me a professionally sanctioned opportunity to shout from the rooftops about the books I love. Sharing my authors’ work with editors, and then readers, is a joy, and I’m always looking for the next project to champion.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
617 S. Olive St. #300 Los Angeles CA 90014 USA
Biography
Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with Lucinda Literary. With over fifteen years of experience in corporate and agency publishing, Lucinda serves both sides of the literary and business worlds. An editorially invested partner with a specialty in book marketing strategy, she has an “all in” dedication and work ethic when it comes to representing authors.
Lucinda began her publishing career in the Publicity Division of HarperCollins, where she assisted on the campaigns of Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt (Freakonomics) among other New York Times bestselling authors. She then went on to work in Scholastic’s Marketing Partnerships Division, where she helped to develop and sell custom publishing programs to a variety of Fortune 500 companies and global nonprofits. She began her literary representation career at Fletcher & Company, where she also acted as a marketing consultant to Gretchen Rubin, among others. Today, she represents authors writing in the categories of business, health, lifestyle, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction, including New York Times bestselling author Susan Peirce Thompson (Bright Line Eating), Chris Bailey (The Productivity Project), Cait Flanders (The Year of Less), Paul Jarvis (Company of One), and the new work of New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny Diaries, Nicola Kraus.
Lucinda studied at McGill University in Montreal and the Sorbonne in Paris. She is originally from New York City, where her company is based.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * Women’s Issues *
575 Madison Avenue Suite 1006 New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Reeves Hamilton is a literary agent with the Vertical Ink Agency. Reeves, a twenty-plus year veteran of the publishing industry, to specialize in science fiction – particularly hard Sci-Fi, space opera, climate dystopias, and alternative histories, with some other interest in dark fantasy and classic-style sword and sorcery.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION:
170 Union Street Suite 4L Brooklyn NY 11231 USA
Biography
Cassie Hanjian is a literary agent with Defiore and Company. She was formerly an agent at Waxman Leavell Literary Agency, joined DeFiore and Company in 2017. Cassie specializes in representing prescriptive nonfiction—with a particular focus on mind/body/spirit, health and wellness, self-help, inspiration, and Christian interest titles—as well as select projects in the commercial fiction and romance categories.
During her career, Cassie has also worked at the Park Literary Group and at Aram Fox, Inc. as an international literary scout. She holds a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from the University of South Florida, a Graduate Certificate from the University of Denver’s Publishing Institute, and an M.S. in Publishing from Pace University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Historical * Lifestyle * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Food/Drinks * Health/Wellness * Inspiration * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Prescriptive * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Sandy Harding is a literary agent with Spencerhill Associates. Prior to joining Spencerhill in September 2015, Sandy Harding spent fifteen years at Penguin Random House and Penguin Group USA, most recently as a senior editor at NAL. In earlier days she earned an MA in American Literature at NYU and taught expository writing. As an editor she was fortunate to work with New York Times bestselling authors, but she also loved discovering new writers in unexpected places and nurturing both their manuscripts and their careers. She’s excited to bring this passion to agenting as she works to build her client list.
Sandy is seeking mainly upmarket commercial and literary fiction for the adult market. She enjoys women’s fiction for book clubs, smart page-turning thrillers, works of suspense with complex protagonists, mysteries of all sorts (cozies, historical, traditional), and romance. Most of all she’s seeking writing with a voice so penetrating and a story so captivating the reader simply must keep reading.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * New Adult * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Narrative *
1767 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. #268 Bradenton FL 34211 USA
Biography
Sloan Harris is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. Sloan has been promoted to co-head of publications at ICM, which in Variety’s words “essentially establishes him as heir apparent to run the agency’s Gotham-based powerhouse book operation in the years to come.” The 44-year-old agent will share his new title with Esther Newberg, who has run the book department with fellow EVP Amanda Urban since 1988. Urban is dropping the co-head role; instead, she will turn her attention to running the agency’s international book biz, especially the London office, which she set up several years ago.
Some of Harris’s most notable clients include Hampton Sides, Anthony Lane, Vince Flynn, Anthony Swofford, Michael Paterniti, Susan Casey and George Pelecanos. ICM co-president Chris Silbermann said in a statement that “Sloan has the best of both worlds here. He is a 17-year veteran who is at a time and place in his career where he’s stepping up and taking on managerial responsibility, a growth that has happened organically. At the same time, he is supported by Esther and Binky, who are two of the best publishing agents of their generation and who have built the preeminent publishing agency in New York. We are set up for future growth and a fluid evolution. This is about embracing change while keeping the stability that the department has always had.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Sports Fiction * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Politics * Reference * Science * Sports * Pop Culture * Humor *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Anne Hawkins is a literary agent with John Hawkins & Associates. Anne has an eclectic list ranging from thrillers to literary fiction to serious non-fiction. She also has particular interests in science, history, public policy, medicine and women`s issues. One of her first sales was the delightful novel EDDIE’S BASTARD by William Kowalski, which has been translated into thirteen languages. The best-selling Reagan: A Life in Letters reflects Anne’s history and policy interests. Her clients include bestselling authors, Tasha Alexander and Taylor Stevens.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * General Nonfiction * Government * History * Medical/Medicine * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Science * Technology * Women’s Issues *
80 Maiden Lane STE 1503 New York NY 10038 USA
Biography
Merrilee Heifetz is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Merrilee has been at Writers House for over 20 years and was one of the first agents to handle comic books/graphic novels when asked by a very young Neil Gaiman to represent his work with DC Comics (he did promise to write bestselling novels one day and she is very glad she took him at his word.) She is one of the few agents who is well known for representing both adult and children’s books and she finds she has been very successful with authors who don’t fall into categories and who can benefit from overall career management.
Her New York Times Bestsellers include Gaiman, Laurell K. Hamilton, Melissa Marr and Beth Revis, whose 2011 debut novel ACROSS THE UNIVERSE she placed in a major deal. Her award winners include three Newbery Medals (Cynthia Voigt, Robin McKinley and Neil Gaiman) a MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient (the late Octavia E Butler) and many best of the year awards such as the Hugo, the Nebula and the World Fantasy Award. For five years she chaired the Contracts Committee for the Association of Authors Representatives (AAR).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Reference * Young Adult *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Richard Henshaw is a literary agent with Richard Henshaw Group. He holds a BA in English with a minor in Philosophy from Franklin & Marshall College. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City where he briefly worked for a law firm and studied at New York University’s Publishing Institute before joining Richard Curtis Associates in the fall of 1987 where, over the course of eight years, he rose to the position of full agent with a concentration on popular fiction. He also held the title of Director of Foreign Rights and was responsible for marketing the translation rights to over 150 professional writers. In 1995 he formed Richard Henshaw Group LLC, where he continues to focus on popular fiction as well as a wide variety of nonfiction and is a specialist in the marketing of translation rights. He is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and has served for over ten years on the organizations’ International Rights Committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Politics * Science * Sports * Technology *
145 West 28th Street 12th Floor New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Christina Hogrebe is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She has been with JRA for over 15 years and is a tireless advocate for her clients’ goals. She represents authors at every stage in their careers—from debuts to bestsellers to established authors looking for a change. Driven by data and accountability, Christina is particularly adept at creating visionary strategies for taking authors’ careers to the next level. A graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute and Franklin & Marshall College, she developed an affinity for all things British during a study abroad in Bath. Now her focus is on commercial adult fiction, especially domestic suspense, mystery, romantic comedy, women’s fiction, historical fiction, and anything British, naturally.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Pam Hopkins is the president of Hopkins Literary Associates, located in Rochester, NY. She has been an agent for 14 years and formed her own agency in 1996.Specializing in women’s fiction she represents full-length fiction in historical, contemporary, paranormal, chick & mom-lit, inspirational and category romance as well as mainstream fiction. Pam is a member of AAR (Association of Author’s Representative) and RWA.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
2117 Buffalo Road Suite 327 Rochester NY 14624 USA
Biography
Lindsay Howard is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. She is originally from the Boston area where she graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing and a minor in Marketing. During college, she interned for a literary agency and worked for three years as a bookseller. Upon graduating from Emerson, Lindsay moved to New York and worked for another three years at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn where she eventually became the store’s Operations Manager. These years of bookselling gave Lindsay a deep understanding of the book publishing industry from the consumer side, which became valuable information as she transitioned into the agency realm. Lindsay loves autumn, tea, and collecting vinyl records—and is obsessed with her black cat, Winnie. Her reading taste skews mostly towards fiction, with a strong preference for books with authentic, complex female relationships and spooky, mystical elements.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Horror * Magical Realism * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Music *
Biography
Carrie Howland is a literary agent with and the founder of Howland Literary. She founded Howland Literary, LLC in 2018, after thirteen years as an agent, most recently at Empire Literary.
Carrie holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Albion College, where she was the Poetry Editor of The Albion Review. Her poetry has appeared in various literary journals and magazines.
She attends several conferences, both nationally and internationally, throughout the year. Her craft talk from the Adirondack Writers Conference, “Beyond the Query Letter,” is available on the Howland Literary website.
In her spare time, Carrie volunteers as a foster for a local dog rescue and is an active member of the Junior League. Her passions include music, pop culture, and the Midwest.
She has been featured in several publications discussing her work as an agent including Poets & Writers, SCWBI insight, Akashic Books, and Slice Magazine.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Gay/Lesbian * How-To * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
115 West 29th Street 3rd Floor New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Michelle Humphrey is a literary agent with the Martha Kaplan Agency. Before returning to the Martha Kaplan Agency where she was an agent 2009-2010, Michelle Humphrey was with International Creative Talent and Sterling Lord Literistic. Prior to these stints, she worked as an assistant for Renee Zuckerbrot Agency then Anderson Literary. She has also worked as an English Teacher, proofreader, and Freelance Book Reviewer. Her reviews have been published in Bitch, Bust, and The Women’s Review of Books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Current Events/Affairs * History * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Politics * Reference * Science * Technology * Women’s Issues *
115 W. 29 Street #3 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Allison Hunter is a literary agent with and a founding partner of Trellis Literary Management. She began her publishing career in 2005 working for the Los Angeles-based literary publicity firm Kim-from-L.A, and was an agent at InkWell Management, the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, and Janklow & Nesbit before co-founding Trellis Literary Management in the fall of 2021, in search of more collaborative, boutique approach to client representation.
Allison is actively acquiring literary and commercial adult fiction, especially focusing on upmarket book club and women’s fiction, rom coms, thrillers and domestic suspense. She loves great storytelling and unforgettable characters, and is always looking for female friendship stories, campus novels, great love stories, family epics, and books about class and cultural identity. She would especially love to find a smart beach read by an author underrepresented in that category.
In the non-fiction space, Allison is acquiring select memoir, narrative nonfiction, and the occasional prescriptive project. She loves working with journalists and with experts in their field, and is always looking for pop culture, women’s issues and for books that speak to the current cultural climate.
Allison has a B.A. in American Studies and Creative Writing from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she now splits her time between upstate New York and Austin, Texas. She loves to cook, host dinner parties, watch all medical TV shows, and brainstorm new book ideas and plots with her authors.
Allison’s favorite non-client authors (if your work is similar, please get in touch!): Dolly Alderton, Candice Carty-Williams, Katherine Heiny, Emily Henry, Elin Hilderbrand, Samantha Irby, Liz Moore, Liane Moriarty, Celeste Ng, Emily Oster, Curtis Sittenfeld, Emma Straub, J. Courtney Sullivan, Jia Tolentino and Rebecca Traister.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Satire * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Celebrity * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology * Travel * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
New York NY USA
Biography
Alexis Hurley is a literary agent with InkWell Management. Alexis Hurley started her career in 1998 and has been at InkWell since its inception in 2004. Alexis works in the dual capacity of Co-Director of Foreign Rights and agent of domestic works in the areas of literary and commercial fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction and more. She is a native of the Berkshires and a graduate of Dickinson College where she received her BA in English and Art History and a minor in Italian.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Narrative *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Susan C. Ingram is an agent with Williamson Literary. She joined Williamson Literary in 2019 after knowing, and writing with, Emily Williamson for close to a decade. From classmates in the Johns Hopkins MA in Writing program, to longtime writing group colleagues to editing and agenting, Emily and Susan have found they have similar approaches to writing and tastes in literature. Besides, they enjoy working together. It’s a good fit for them and the writers seeking representation with Williamson Lit.
Susan comes to agenting as an award-winning journalist with a number of careers under her belt. A Baltimore County native, Susan worked 20 years as a film industry camera assistant in Los Angeles and Baltimore and 20 years in journalism as a newspaper reporter and editor. She has also taught writing, written speeches for a county councilman, copy edited a well-known international wine journal and happily shelved books at her local library. She now works as a writer and editor in addition to agenting.
After attaining her bachelor’s degree in film from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, she attended the graduate program in film at UCLA and later graduated from the International Cinematographer’s camera assistant training program in Los Angeles. She received her Master of Arts in Writing from Johns Hopkins University in 2012.
Susan loves reading an array of fiction and nonfiction and is an Ernest Shackleton freak and classic film fan. She has a penchant for settling in with a bowl of popcorn on Saturday nights with her two rescue cats, Mack and Baine, to watch horror host Svengoolie and his eclectic selection of horror movies.
More at newzcook.wordpress.com
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * History * Humor * Journalism * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Cross Keys Baltimore MD 21210 USA
Biography
Nathaniel Jacks is a literary agent with InkWell Management. He joined InkWell Management after graduating from Columbia University with a BA in literature. Among the books he represents are The Birth of Cool by New Yorker contributor Nicola Twilley, The Heavenly Table by Guggenheim Fellow Donald Ray Pollock, American Hookup by sociologist Lisa Wade, Ph.D., The Code of Trust by behavioral expert Robin Dreeke, and Broad Influence by TIME Washington correspondent Jay Newton-Small. He is excited to work with ambitious authors whose books enlighten everyday life, demystify systems, explore the mind, question the status quo, and empower self-improvement. He also oversees contracts at InkWell.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * Picture Book * Short Story Collection * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Travel * Science *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Eleanor Jackson is a literary agent with Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. She has been agenting since 2002. Previously, she was an agent at Markson Thoma and at InkWell Management. She is a graduate of Colby College and the Columbia Publishing course. Her list includes authors of fiction and non-fiction in a wide range of categories, including literary, commercial, memoir, art, food, science and history. She looks for books with deeply imagined worlds, and for writers who take risks with their work. She lives in Brooklyn NY.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Science * Travel * Upmarket *
27 West 20th Street Suite 1107 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Heather Jackson is a literary agent with and the founder of the Heather Jackson Literary Agency. She was previously an agent with the David Black Agency. Heather Jackson decided to jump over the desk to the agent side in 2016 after a highly successful career as a trade editor. In her 20+ years as an editor she acted as the creative midwife to multiple dozens of New York Times bestselling authors and titles, including: Tim Ferriss, Jillian Michaels, Suzanne Somers, Ron Fournier, Joy Bauer, Janine Driver, Rick Hanson, Dr. Robert C. Atkins, Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. Arthur Agatston, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Dr. Susan Love, Dr. Alice D. Domar, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, Mallika Chopra, Barbara Sher, Martina Navratilova, Joe and Teresa Graedon, B. Smith and Dan Gasby, Howard Dully…among many others.
The selective client list she and we are cultivating has one unifying theme: to represent authors and books that make a difference and that make you want to press the pause button on everything else–ditch the screens, the duties, the worries–to sit down and read for hours. Books that inform, inspire, entertain, surprise, help; books that make you cry, laugh, question, feel, and stretch. Books that make a personal difference and a more global one; yet always those that can ignite or shift a conversation. And, most importantly, books that can connect deeply and widely with masses of readers.
We specialize in commercial non-fiction and fiction. Areas of particular interest include: politics, popular psychology and science, history,and memoir. We love a great and memorable character in women’s fiction, and are always game for the unique, or deeply moving narrative that takes us into a world we didn’t know would intrigue us with brilliant writing and insights. We also represent top-tier authors in personal health and well-being, business, and self-help.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Upmarket *
2077 5th Avenue New York NY 10035 USA
Biography
Hillary Jacobson is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. She is actively building a list consisting of commercial and literary fiction, YA, as well as narrative non-fiction and memoir. She joined ICM in 2015, started representing books in 2016, and was officially promoted to agent in 2017. Prior to ICM, she interned at Random House, Janklow & Nesbit and Alloy Entertainment. She is a graduate of Brown University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * True Crime *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Amanda Jain is a literary agent with the BookEnds Literary Agency. Amanda came by her love of reading honestly, inheriting it from parents who always had books close to hand. She began her career in publishing at W. W. Norton, where she spent seven years before pursuing a master’s degree in history of the decorative arts. She rejoined publishing shortly thereafter at Inklings Literary Agency, and is excited every day to encounter new writers and their stories.
Amanda currently reps adult romance, mystery, women’s fiction, and upmarket fiction, with a special emphasis on historical fiction in all genres. She also represents narrative nonfiction, especially projects exploring the literary world, art history, material culture, archaeology, food history, or social history. She loves projects with a strong sense of place and those that create a completely immersive world. She is particularly interested in books that add something important to the conversation, that explore stories we haven’t yet heard, and that introduce new voices to our reading experience.
Amanda currently lives outside of Washington, DC with her husband and two kids. When she’s not reading, she likes to cook, root for the Cubs, and spend as much time outside as she can.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Journalism * Narrative * Multicultural * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
136 Long Hill Rd Gillette NJ 07933 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Weronika E. Janczuk is a literary agent with the Janczuk Literary Agency. She is the founder of the Janczuk Literary Agency. She began her work in trade book publishing in 2009, during a high school work-study that placed her in an internship with a small imprint in Minnesota. She then worked with the industry’s best agents, including Lynn C. Franklin (1946-2021), Kathleen Anderson, Jenny Bent, and Mary Kole (formerly of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency), agenting from 2010-2012, while an undergrad at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She built a list that included the first four books of Campbell Award-winning and two-time Hugo Award-nominee novelist Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence.
At NYU, she studied creative writing under the direction of Dr. June Foley, wrote and served as editor for her undergraduate literary and literacy journals, and aided literacy-related projects on NYC’s Lower East Side. She graduated NYU in December 2013.
After five years working for two international non-profits on education- and health-related programming, Weronika returned to the world of corporate book publishing, opening JLA in the state of New York in the fall of 2021.
Born in Canada to parents who immigrated as political exiles from communist Poland, Weronika moved to the USA in 1998. Fluent in Polish and English, today she is privileged to be a rare tri-citizen: Polish, Canadian, and American. She lives in Brooklyn.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Architecture * Art * Biography * Business * Computers * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Economics * Education * Family * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Philosophy * Politics * Pop Culture * Practical * Psychology * Science * Technology * Travel *
54 W. 40th St. New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Jennifer Joel is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. She is co-head of the literary department of the agency. She says: “When I left my first job as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs to become a literary agent, most of my new colleagues were aghast at what they perceived I’d given up for the privilege of working in a creative field. More recently, I’m commended for my wise and prescient career change.
I’m extremely fortunate to be able to spend my time representing a diverse group of writers of both fiction and nonfiction, whose work has in common two essential elements: they’re good stories, well told. My clients include literary and commercial novelists for adults and young readers, historians, biographers, memoirists, journalists, strategists, adventurers, entertainers and other extraordinary individuals with big ideas to share.
I’m also a member of The Library Council at the New York Public Library and a Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports * True Adventure * True Crime *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Barbara Jones is a literary agent with the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency. She represents authors behind a range of fiction and nonfiction, from highly literary works to much more commercial fare, with an emphasis across all forms on voices from previously underrepresented communities and on durable talents and stories.
Barbara became a literary agent after several decades as an editor, first in magazines (Grand Street, Harper’s, Vogue, Real Simple) and then in books (as editorial director at Hyperion Books and, most recently as executive editor at Henry Holt). She has also led writing workshops for thirty years, at Yale University, New York University, Queens University of Charlotte, and elsewhere.
She lives in Harlem, New York, with her family.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Narrative * Upmarket *
118 East 28th Street Suite 908 New York NY 10016 USA
Biography
Camille Kantor is a literary agent with Kimberley Cameron & Associates. She is a mother, scientist, and devoted New Yorker magazine reader. While completing a master’s degree in evolutionary biology, a journey that bridged the birth of her two sons, she became interested in how people communicate about nature and biology. Her pivot into publishing involved attending and graduating the renowned Columbia Publishing Program at Oxford. She now also works as a buyer at her local Indie bookstore: Copperfield’s Books. As an agent at Kimberley Cameron & Associates she is excited to work with authors who have a talent to catch a reader’s attention while describing complex topics and who share in the desire to broaden the general public’s understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
Camille is looking for titles, whether fiction or non-fiction, that will inspire the public to engage with nature while imparting fascinating knowledge about our planet and its inhabitants, whether fiction or non-fiction. She is particularly interested in popular science non-fiction work, such as Darkness Manifesto by Johan Eklöf or An Immense World by Ed Yong, where the author has a commanding voice that feels less like lecturing and more like storytelling.
Camille’s fiction tastes include books that immerse the reader in descriptive but clear imagery and that have themes of nature-human interactions. She especially loves interesting, well-developed characters and high concept literary fiction that approaches philosophical topics about our relationship with our planet, think Overstory by Richard Powers or Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet.
She is not currently looking for young adult literature or picture books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Historical * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * History * Journalism * Narrative * Nature * Science * Technology * True Adventure *
Biography
Kelly Karczewski is a literary agent with Fletcher & Company/UTA. She joined Fletcher & Co in early 2021. Prior to joining the agency, she worked as an Editorial Assistant at Foundry Literary + Media, where she assisted on projects primarily in the pop culture space. Kelly got her start in publishing at Harmony Books (PRH) and holds a B.A. in English from Amherst College. Kelly is particularly interested in upmarket and commercial fiction featuring unique and contemporary voices. When it comes to nonfiction, her taste is a bit of a mixed bag, but she generally shies away from straight memoir, preferring research-based nonfiction with a journalistic element. She goes wild over anything and everything Greek mythology, stories set on the East coast, and books that challenge and educate readers in new ways.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * General Fiction * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Investigative * Journalism *
.
Submit a Question or Comment
If you have a question or comment, click on the red button below and you’ll be able to post it. You’ll also be able to see answers to the questions I’m asked most.
Directory Instructions
Use the drop-down menu on the left to search for agents by genre, gender, location, longevity, or AAR Status. To find a specific agent or agency, enter the agent’s name or the name of the agency into the search box.
Important: If you use the search box, you must remove the search term by pressing the “Clear Search” link before you look for more agents using the drop-down menu (or you won’t see the proper results). Click on the “Show Notes” and “Show Bio” links underneath each agent for more information about that agent.
Have a question or need support? Post a comment or question by clicking on the red button at the bottom of the page.
* * *
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.
* * *
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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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
* * *
“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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)