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The Directory of Literary Agents
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- You are searching within category(ies): Picture Book *
Biography
Scott Mendel is a literary agent with Mendel Media Group. With a background in academia, Scott Mendel has worked in publishing since the early 1990s, first as a magazine editor and freelance technical writer and then as an Associate and, ultimately, the Vice President and Director of the late Jane Jordan Browne’s literary agency in Chicago. In November 2002, he opened the Mendel Media Group in New York. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree, Summa cum laude, from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He earned a master’s degree in English language and literature from the University of Chicago, where he is ABD in the doctoral program.
Scott has taught literature, English, and Yiddish at a number of institutions, including the Choate-Rosemary Hall Preparatory School in Connecticut, the Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Seminaries in Chicago, Bowdoin College, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he most recently held an appointment as Lecturer in Jewish Studies. He wrote the book A Prosecutor’s Guide to Hate Crime, which was published through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, and which has been in print in new editions for several years. He was the Managing Editor of a monthly and quarterly health care magazine, Positively Aware, and editor of the Maine literary journal, Quill, which began publishing in 1897. Scott has written a produced play, several works of fiction, and many book columns, news articles, and other pieces.
He is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, the Author’s Guild, the Mystery Writers of America, the Romance Writers of America, the Society of children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, the Modern Language Association, and the American Association of University Professors.
Among the U.S. publishers and imprints that have published his authors are: Adams Media, Andrews McMeel Universal, Avalon, Ballantine, Bantam Dell, Basic Books, Beacon Press, Berkley, Black Dog & Leventhal / Workman Publishing, Carroll & Graf, Chamberlain Bros. / Penguin,
Chronicle Books, Citadel Books, Contemporary Books, Crown, Da Capo / Perseus, Delacorte, Dutton / Signet, Faber & Faber / Farrar Straus & Giroux, Feiwel & Friends, Globe Pequot, Harlequin, HarperCollins, Harry N. Abrams, Kensington, Little Brown & Co., M. Evans & Co., Marlowe / Avalon, McGraw-Hill, Multnomah, New American Library, Oneworld, Oxford University Press, Penguin Putnam, Perigee, Plume, Pocket / Simon & Schuster, Putnam, Random House, Riverhead / Penguin, Routledge, Simon & Schuster, Sorin Books, Sourcebooks, St. Martin’s Press, Stewart Tabori & Chang, Ten Speed, Threshold Editions, Thunder’s Mouth, Times Books / Henry Holt & Co., Touchstone / Fireside, Tyndale House, Verso, Walker & Co., John Wiley & Sons, William Morrow, and Yale University Press.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Computers * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Economics * Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Crime * Young Adult *
P.O. Box 5032 East Hampton NY 11937 USA
Biography
Emily Mitchell is a literary agent with the Wernick & Pratt Agency. She lives in Massachusetts because of Anastasia Krupnik: after reading the eponymous classic dozens of times as a child, she got it in her head that going to college in Massachusetts was something she should do, so she did. Emily began her career at Sheldon Fogelman Agency, handling submissions, subsidiary rights, and coffee. She then spent eleven years at Charlesbridge Publishing as senior editor, contracts manager, and director of corporate strategy. At Charlesbridge her books included A Mother’s Journey by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Alan Marks (a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book); Music Was IT: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin (a YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction finalist and winner of the Sydney Taylor Jewish Book Award); the Aggie and Ben series of early readers by Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank W. Dormer; and Flying the Dragon, a debut middle-grade novel by Natalie Dias Lorenzi. After a brief post-MBA stint in the non-publishing world, Emily is thrilled to be back where she belongs in children’s books. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard, a master’s in secondary English education from Syracuse, and an MBA from Babson. She lives outside Boston with her husband, daughter, and son—known to her legions of social-media fans as Cabana Boy, La Munch, and the Boy, respectively. Emily is accepting new clients in all genres for children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
4455 Douglas Avenue Riverdale NY 10471 USA
Biography
Katie Monson is a literary agent with SBR Media. She has been self-employed, watching children in her home for the last 12 years, and has enjoyed the privilege of being home to raise her children. She recently made the decision to massively change up her life and find a different path to take while still being able to home with her kids, leading her to SBR Media. Katie has always had a passion for reading ever since she was a little girl. Over the years she developed a strong interest in reading indie romance books, which naturally led to blogging, beta reading and editing small manuscripts for authors. She is self-motivated, organized and ready to represent clients and help lead them to success.
When Katie isn’t reading, sitting by the pool, or complaining about the cold Rochester winters, she can be found traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and spending time with her husband and four children in Rochester, NY.
“A book is a device to ignite the imagination.” ~ Alan Bennett
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Contemporary * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Penny Moore is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She is a Senior Agent at who represents children’s literature, mainly middle grade, chapter books, young adult, and select picture books. Her standout authors include: Shawn Amos, Akemi Dawn Bowman, Waka T. Brown, Auriane Desombre, Lyla Lee, Sangu Mandanna, Nicki Pau Preto, Maya Prasad, Jenna Yoon, and Katie Zhao.
Though she’s interested in all genres, she’s specifically seeking inventive works featuring breakout voices and compelling plot lines that will make young readers feel seen and heard for the first time.
Moore graduated from the University of Georgia with a double degree in Linguistics and Japanese Language & Literature. During her time as an undergraduate, she also studied comparative literature at top universities in Japan and South Korea. Penny joined Aevitas in 2018, starting in the industry as an assistant/associate agent at FinePrint Literary Management in 2014, then joining Empire Literary as an agent two years later, where she built out the children’s portion of the agency’s list.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Fantasy * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Humor * Juvenile * Pop Culture *
19 W. 21st Street Suite 501 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Patricia Moosbrugger is a literary agent with the Patricia Moosbrugger Literary Agency. Patricia is an independent literary agent based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her client list includes several national bestsellers in both fiction and narrative nonfiction. She spent 15 years in the New York publishing world where she was director of subsidiary rights at Walker Books and Golden Books and acted as agent and rights director at the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Young Adult *
2720 Decker Avenue NW Albuquerque NM 87107 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Claire (Easton) Morance is a literary agent with Painted Words. She began her publishing career at Painted Words in 2012 as an assistant, and worked her way up to Agent. She is currently seeking picture book submissions from author-illustrators. She loves stories with humor and heart, relatable characters, unpredictable endings, and books that reflect the diversity of children’s experiences. Her favorite stories inspire compassion, curiosity, and a fresh way of looking at the world.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
New York NY USA
Biography
Janna Morishima is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. She specializes in graphic novels and visual storytelling. She currently represents a diverse range of comics creators, including Misako Rocks, Shauna Grant, Andi Watson, and Black Sands Entertainment.
Janna started her career at Scholastic, where she co-founded the Graphix imprint and helped sign creators who have had huge impacts on the field, such as Raina Telgemeier, Jeff Smith, and Kazu Kibuishi.
She then became director of the Kids Group for Diamond Book Distributors, where she worked with publishers such as Marvel, Dark Horse, Oni Press, and Image Comics, and helped launch Françoise Mouly’s Toon Books imprint.
In addition to her background in publishing, she has worked as an associate producer for documentary films and as an assistant kindergarten teacher and in a high school for teens in the juvenile justice system. She later launched and ran the NYC Department of Education’s “NYC Reads 365” literacy initiative.
She is the founder of Janna Co. and Kids Comics Unite, an online community for kids and YA graphic novel professionals. Find out more at http://jannaco.co and https://www.kidscomicsunite.com/.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
110 West 40th Street Suite 2201 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Andrea Morrison is a literary agent with Writers House. She says: “I’ve worked in both the California and New York offices of Writers House, having started as an intern and working my way up to agent. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with a variety of award-winning authors and illustrators, in genres ranging from picture books to middle grade and YA, to adult literary fiction and nonfiction.
I studied Literature & Writing at University of California, San Diego and earned my MFA in Fiction from Columbia University — not only do I understand the revision process from an agent’s point of view, I also understand it from a writer’s perspective. I truly love editorial work, and am hands-on when it comes to helping authors revise and build projects.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Pop Culture * Upmarket * Young Adult *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Michele Mortimer is a literary agent with Darhansoff & Verrill Literary Agents. She started with the agency as a freelance reader and joined full-time in 2003. In addition to representing select clients, she is our In-House Editor and Rights Director, covering serial sales and permissions. She currently considers literary fiction, sophisticated crime and mystery, young adult fiction, and fully-illustrated picture books. Nonfiction interests include music, sports, yoga & mindfulness, animal welfare, feminism, and crime.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Sports * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
275 Fair Street Suite 17D Kingston NY 12401 USA
Edward Necarsulmer
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Edward Necarsulmer IV is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. He began his career in book publishing as an intern at Random House Books for Young Readers. He went on to assist Marilyn E. Marlow at Curtis Brown Ltd. and then joined McIntosh & Otis, Inc. in 2004 to oversee their children’s literature business. He is known for cultivating strong new voices in teen & middle grade as well as picture books. He represents New York Times Bestselling, Newbery, and Caldecott winning authors, illustrators, and estates. He is keen to continue to team up with authors and artists who wish to look beyond the obvious and strive for the exceptional.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * General Nonfiction * Humor * Money/Finance * Science *
27 West 20th Street Suite 1107 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Rachel Neumann is a literary agent with Idea Architects. She specializes in creating books that you pick up before knowing why you picked them up and don’t put down until they’re done. For the past 15 years, she has worked in book publishing in New York and California with an emphasis on developing culture-shifting narrative nonfiction. As Publisher and Editorial Director of Parallax Press, Rachel transformed a small nonprofit into a multimillion-dollar trade publisher. She used her gift for finding books that make spiritual concepts useful to daily life to create Thich Nhat Hanh’s best-selling 8-book Mindfulness Essentials series. As the Associate Publisher and Editorial Director of Shambhala Publications, Rachel focused on developing diverse and underrepresented authors in wellness, psychology, health, politics, and creative living. She has co-created two successful children’s imprints and has worked with publishers large and small on expanding and diversifying their audiences. Rachel has been the personal editor and collaborator for internationally-revered teachers Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, as well as dozens of other best-selling authors. She is the author of four books. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Nation, and other national and international publications. Rachel is based in the Bay Area and speaks and teaches regularly around the country. She’s happiest in the ocean, in the middle of a good book, or upside down. Not all at once.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Beauty/Fashion/Style * Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Inspiration * Juvenile * Law * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Travel *
Biography
Esther Newberg is a literary agent with CAA/ICM, a talent agency in New York. Newberg is the senior vice president at International Creative Management. She has represented authors such as Carl Hiaasen (Skinny Dip) and Patricia Cornwell (Trace), Thomas Friedman, Michael Beschloss and Caroline Kennedy. The New York Post called her “one of the most powerful agents in the literary world.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Religion * Spirituality * Sports *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Jen Newens is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. At different phases of her publishing career, Jen has been an author, editor, and publisher, giving her experience in all sides of the business. She comes to us after a seven-year stint as publishing director at West Margin Press, an Ingram Content Group company. There, she acquired a wide range of different genres, but holds a special place in her heart for young people’s literature. She began to acquire graphic novels in 2019 and sees it as an exciting and burgeoning way to tell children’s stories.
A subject matter expert in food and drink titles, Jen spent two decades as a cookbook editor and writer (she even went to culinary school!). She’s experienced in working with celebrity chefs, business owners, cooking brands, and food bloggers, as well as accomplished home cooks.
In her role as Senior Literary Manager, Jen applies her 360-view of the publishing business to MLM, seeking out fresh, original voices and developing exciting new talent. On the children’s side, Jen is interested in picture books with sharp writing and compelling messages; MG/YA stories that resonate with the challenges faced by today’s youth; and graphic novels with quirky narration and original art. In the food and drink space, Jen is keen to find original takes on popular topics, books that reveal a riveting personal story, and books with a health and wellness slant.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * How-To * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Self-Help/Personal Development *
Biography
Trodayne Northern is a literary agent with Prentis Literary. Trodayne was an English teacher, freelance writer, and editor before entering the publishing world, interning with The Literary Group. It was not long before he found a more permanent home at Linn Prentis Literary. As if mirroring Campbell’s notions of the monomyth, soon Trodayne was taking part in a true apprenticeship, not unlike something ripped from the very fantasy novels he’d so long loved. While with Linn Prentis Literary, he developed his own client list, working with award winning authors, NYT bestsellers and top editors. He played Luke to Linn’s Yoda, Bilbo to Linn’s Gandalf, staying on with the agency through Linn’s retirement. Then with Linn initially playing an advisory role, he co-founded Prentis Literary alongside Leslie and Terry.
As a youth, Trodayne cooked his pillow nightly in an effort to conceal the 120 watt blade of disobedience that would leak defiantly into the hallway after his parents expressly had ordered him to bed. His passion is good storytelling. While his desire to refine his own storytelling in music, writing and visual media was strong, his thirst to cultivate and nurture others’ talents has always been equally strong. Science Fiction and Fantasy will always be his first love, but his genre interests have always been wide ranging. You would be just as likely to see him on the subway re-reading Native Son as the newest Mass Effect book.
It’s not just the story in each book that fascinates and invigorates but the story of each book as well. It is the process itself that he finds gratifying – the helping to polish a novel, the matchmaking of author to publisher, assuring that each author is happy with the end product, ultimately the very success of the book, all of it, is the book’s story. Playing a role in that story, in how an author is able to tell his or her stories gives him great satisfaction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Juvenile *
25322 36th Pl. S. Kent WA 98032 USA
Biography
Kevin O’Connor is a literary agent with the O’Connor Literary Agency. Since his first job out of college at Sesame Workshop, Kevin has always worked at the intersection of business and creative. He has hands-on experience in a variety of media: animation, live action TV, toys, live shows, music, educational apps, and “the sweetest plum”: t-shirts*. In addition to Sesame, he’s worked for Fisher-Price, VTech, Kidz Bop, Barnes & Noble, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He’s inked deals with Chrysler, Nestle, Pearson, and all the major publishers.
As an agent, Kevin takes on serious adult nonfiction (Brian McCullough’s How the Internet Happened, Claude Andrew Clegg’s The Black President). On the adult fiction side, he represents Afghan and Iraq War Vet Adam Kovac (The Surge), as well as upcoming boks food writer Kristin Griffin (Irish Goodbye), award-winning TV writer Fracaswell Hyman (A Maze of Stunted Trees) and the acclaimed Colin Winnette (So You Think You Can Dance?).
For middlegrade readers, he’s the agent behind the Russell Ginns’s Samantha Spinner series; Cas Hyman’s Mango Delight; and Steven B. Frank’s Armstrong and Charlie. He reps the picturebooks Papa, Daddy & Riley by Seamus Kirst; Honeysmoke by Monique Fields; and A Is for Audra by John Robert Allman, illustrated by Peter Emmerich.
He is a Columbia College grad and the founding director of The Center for Nonfiction, a Columbia University Community Scholars Project dedicated to helping journalists and scholars understand the formal needs of trade publishers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Picture Book * Science * Technology *
New York NY USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Molly O’Neill is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “If I can visualize exactly how to form a web of connections around a book and its creator while I’m reading an early draft, then it’s a fantastic signal that I also know how to help that author or artist build their way into a meaningful, and potentially lucrative, career.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Picture Book * Middle Grade Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
617 S. Olive St. #300 Los Angeles CA 90014 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Anna Olswanger is a literary agent with Olswanger Literary, LLC. She has been a literary agent since 2005. She started her career at Liza Dawson Associates in Manhattan, and in 2014 launched her own literary agency, Olswanger Literary LLC, where she represents picture books (author-illustrators only), middle grade fiction and adult nonfiction. She is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR).
Anna has sold to major publishers, including Bloomsbury, Chronicle, HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster.
Her clients have won the Newbery Honor, Asian Pacific American Award for Literature Honor, Flora Stieglitz Strauss Award for Nonfiction, Orbis Pictus Honor, PEN/Steven Kroll Award for Picture Book Writing, Parents Choice Gold Award, Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book, Sibert Award Honor, Ezra Jack Keats Book Award Honor, and been on The New York Times Bestseller list. You can view all her clients’ books on Pinterest.
Anna is always looking to add to her client list. She enjoys discovering new authors and illustrators, and is looking for “voice,” the sound and rhythm of an author that is hers alone. She has a particular interest in picture books (author-illustrators only).
She works hard with authors to get their manuscripts into shape for submission. She finds that most manuscripts need work on plot, so if you’re a potential author or illustrator client, be ready to go through many revisions before Anna agrees to send out your manuscript. Her job is to get the story to the point where an editor will make an offer. (And then be prepared to make more revisions for the editor.)
Through her work as an agent of children’s books, Anna has developed a special interest in animal advocacy. She is the agent for Jill Robinson and Marc Bekoff’s Jasper’s Story: Saving Moonbears, the story of a moon bear held captive in a cage by bear farmers in rural China until rescued by Animals Asia, the organization that Jill founded, and Alan Rabinowitz’s A Boy and a Jaguar, the story of a boy who fulfills his promise to speak for animals who cannot speak for themselves.
Anna is also interested in finding unusual books with a Judaic or Israel theme. She is the agent for Ruchama Feuerman’s novel In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist, about the friendship between a rabbi’s assistant and a devout Muslim janitor, and Santiago Cohen’s picture book The Yiddish Fish, about a fish who speaks Yiddish.
If you think Anna would be the right agent for you, start by sending her an email with a few details about your book and the opening pages in the body of an email (not in an attachment). If Anna likes what she reads in your query, she’ll ask to see the full manuscript.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * NoYA * Picture Book * Religious *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Ethnic * Juvenile * Multicultural * Photography * Religion *
16-60 Chandler Drive Fair Lawn NJ 07410-2715 USA
Biography
Rachel Orr is a literary agent with Prospect Agency. She says: “Like most agents, I’ve always been a reader. When I was a child, reading inside on a beautiful summer day, my parents would tell me to go outside. So I would go outside—and read my book. (Maybe they should have been a little more specific.)
I began my publishing career while I was still a student at Kenyon College, interning for both the Kenyon Review and Highlights for Children magazine. After graduation, I had a short stint as a bookseller in the children’s department at Barnes & Noble, and then worked for eight years as an editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books. I joined Prospect Agency in 2007, and I continue to edit my clients’ work before sending their projects out on submission. My favorite part of my job is the chance to collaborate with such talented authors and illustrators, and to work with them for the duration of their career. I also love working with clients who have more than one idea and are willing to revise.
Since I really value the importance of a personal connection with authors and illustrators, I love meeting potential clients at conferences and through classes. I also really enjoy the opportunity to teach and to share information about the industry. As a result, I love speaking at SCBWI conferences across the country, as well as serving on the faculty of the OCCBWW in Oceanside, Oregon. In addition, I’ve taught novel-writing classes through both Mediabistro.com and the California State University’s Summer Arts program, and I have served as a Mentor Committee Co-Chair for the Rutgers One-on-One Conference for the past seven years.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
551 Valley Road PMB 377 Upper Montclair NJ 07043 USA
Biography
Kristin Ostby is a literary agent with the Greenhouse Literary Agency. She represents authors of middle grade and young adult fiction, as well as picture book author/illustrators and select adult fiction. She is primarily seeking tightly written, tightly plotted, fast-paced commercial middle-grade and young adult fiction—adventure, mystery, and contemporary humor—as well as young adult romance.
As the daughter of a librarian and a businessperson, it’s really no wonder Kristin wound up in the book biz. Kristin moved from Michigan to New York to begin her life in publishing at Penguin Random House, and after sixteen years as a children’s book editor (and freelance writer on the side), she rose to become a senior editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Kristin has had the joy and pleasure of editing children’s book legend Tomie dePaola; New York Times bestselling authors like Stuart Gibbs (Spy School) and US soccer star Alex Morgan (The Kicks); and award-winning creators including Daniel Miyares (Float), Jessica Lawson (Nooks & Crannies), and Heather Vogel Frederick (The Mother-Daughter Book Club). She also edited the mainstay bestseller I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy and Elizabeth Baddeley. Kristin loves guiding authors and illustrators toward their best work and advocating for them in service of building successful, sustainable artistic careers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
4114 Legato Road Fairfax VA 22033 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Allison Remcheck Pernetti is a literary agent with Stimola Literary Studio. She is so lucky to say that she has only ever worked with books—a journey that has taken her from a library, to a bookstore, to a publishing house, and finally to the Studio—and books, particularly those for children, have been her lifelong passion.
Allison believes there is simply nothing better in the world than putting the perfect book into a child’s hand. But there is something extraordinary in nurturing a book from the start, and seeing it find its place in the world. She has had the opportunity to work with many critically-acclaimed and bestselling authors. Her clients include Lamda-nominee Zack Smedley, Schneider Family Book Award-winner Shannon Stocker, Newbery Medalist and Pura Belpre Medalist Donna Barba Higuera, and she is co-agent for #1 New York Times bestselling author, Karen M. McManus, among others. Her tastes can be summed up as high-concept, universally-reaching stories that are beautifully told. She finds herself drawn to voices that speak for themselves, stories that only the author can tell, and books that reflect the lives of every child–especially the ones told least often. She hopes to help publish the sorts of books that make children readers for life.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Ethnic * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Multicultural * Young Adult *
11 Briarwood Lane PO Box 1066 West Tisbury MA 02575 USA
Biography
Laura Blake Peterson is a literary agent with the Curis Brown Literary Agency. Laura began her career in publishing at Curtis Brown as a summer intern. She is a graduate of Vassar College and has been with Curtis Brown since 1987, representing a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and books for children. Her client list reflects a wide range of interests—including memoir and biography, natural history, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, women’s fiction, health and fitness, children’s and young adult, faith issues and popular culture. She lives in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Nature * Pop Culture * Religion * Spirituality * Young Adult *
228 E 45th Street 3rd floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Ariana Philips is a literary agent with Jean Naggar Literary Agency. She began at JVNLA as an intern in 2011 and joined the agency full-time in the summer of 2012. She handles audio, permissions, and electronic rights, and assists with the submission of JVNLA’s titles for translation and for film/TV. She is actively building her own client list but continues to work closely with Jennifer Weltz and Alice Tasman on their titles.
Her interests include adult literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, and the latest and greatest in culinary talent! Born and raised in New York City, by a family immersed in the city’s culinary and hospitality scene, she is especially interested in cookbooks, food narratives, and culinary histories from around the world. She loves to find new talent and work with her clients to develop strong proposals. She enjoys being the author’s advocate, often being their first editor, business manager, and trusted confidante. Her personal agenting philosophy is to take on an author for the duration of their career and help guide them through the ever-changing publishing landscape.
Ariana attended Iona College, where she graduated with honors in English and Communications.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * History * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Romance * Science * Sports * Travel * True Crime * Upmarket * Young Adult *
216 E. 75th St. Suite 1E New York NY 10021 USA
Biography
Alison Picard is a literary agent with the Alison J. Picard Agency. Alison has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Erotica * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Glitz * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Satire * Sports Fiction * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Diet/Nutrition * Economics * Education * Environment * Ethnic * Family * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Government * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Inspiration * Law * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Military/War * Money/Finance * Multicultural * New Age * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
P.O. Box 2000 Cotuit MA 02635 USA
Biography
Leah Pierre is a literary agent with Ladderbird. A Texas native, Leah moved to the east coast to pursue her dream of working in publishing. She recently graduated from Rosemont College with her B.A. in English and History, and she is currently pursuing her MA in Publishing. Leah spends her time enjoying the company of fictional characters more than people. When not in the company of fictional characters, Leah hangs out with friends and family, cooks, and catches up on movies and tv shows she is always behind on.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * Horror * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
P.O. Box 270 Milford CT 06460 USA
Biography
Ramona Pina is a literary agent with the BookEnds Literary Agency. She is a second-generation Jamaican, and third-gen. Cape Verdean, born and raised in Boston. A lover of fall and all things cozy, she is true to her New England roots. She is obsessed with teas, seafood, and Afro- Indo- Caribbean food. Growing up, she was the odd kid who wished she could write like Langston Hughes and read encyclopedias all day. Yes, pre-internets!
Her creative journey has been influenced by Jim Henson productions, Hayao Miyazaki anime, and similar works. She constantly lost and found herself within those stories, identifying with characters who didn’t look like her. This lack of representation led Ramona to explore abroad, and other marginalized cultures. While in Chile and Guatemala, she studied, volunteered, and gained fluency in the Spanish language, applying her cultural anthropology degree to understand the richness of the mythology and folklore of mainstream and indigenous groups.
Being a spoken word poet, Ramona knows that her voice is her strongest weapon and continues to highlight that as a BookEnds literary fellow in her capstone podcast, Hollow Moon. As a literary agent, she wants to champion underrepresented voices in literature to elevate them to an even playing field. When she’s not immersed in fictional worlds, she’s a busy mom of 2 (and one fur baby, Rambo the cat), an avid baker, candle-maker, and DIY enthusiast/“Mona Stewart.” Otherwise, she’s watching movies featuring The Rock or other absurd action films. She’s overjoyed to have found her agenting home at BookEnds with equally compassionate fellow humans and looks forward to midwifing more diverse books into the world.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Tanusri Prasanna is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. Tanusri’s background in human rights law has helped shape her eclectic list, which features compelling new voices in the adult and children’s books spaces. She looks for accessible and wide-reaching, narrative nonfiction set against themes in social justice and representation; memoirs that speak to these issues with authenticity, humor, and heart; and select fiction featuring diverse perspectives, experiences, and even storytelling styles. For YA and middle-grade, Tanusri gravitates towards contemporary coming-of-age stories, and ambitious, world-building fantasies. She’s drawn to charming and relatable romances, well-plotted and voice-driven suspense, and stories set in schools or interesting neighborhoods. In the picture book space, she loves wry humor and twisty endings, as well as meaningful, concept-driven texts. She also represents children’s nonfiction that excites the imagination and curiosity of young readers.
Tanusri was born and raised in India, and has been living in NYC for well over a decade. She is a graduate of the National Law School of India, holds an LLM from Harvard Law School, and a PhD from Oxford University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Reference * Science * Young Adult *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Linda Pratt is a literary agent with the Wernick & Pratt Agency. Linda received a BBA in finance from the University of Texas in Austin. After briefly exploring a career on a bond trading desk, she began working at Sheldon Fogelman Agency. In working at the agency, Linda finally found “her people” in the world of children’s publishing, and has never looked back. Initially working primarily on the operations side of the business, doing everything from royalty analysis to annual accountings for literary estates, Linda was later promoted to agent. This opportunity allowed her to combine her business acumen with her love of the artistic side of creating books, including working with clients editorially. She works with both authors and illustrators who create work in all genres of children literature, both fiction and nonfiction. Among Linda’s clients are LeUyen Pham, Steve Light, Kathryn Erskine, Richard Peck, Charise Mericle Harper, and Lita Judge. Linda has also enjoyed introducing new talent, and has worked with clients like Aaron Becker, Augusta Scattergood, and Angela Dominguez (as both author & illustrator) since placing their debuts.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
4455 Douglas Avenue Riverdale NY 10471 USA
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About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark’s authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.
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Author Coaching Testimonials
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent!
My career has spanned publishing, TV, and feature film. I’ve served as Creative Dir. for the Magazine Group, TIME Inc.; Dir. of Time World News Service, a Founding Dir. of TIME-Life Films; Exec. Prod. for both the CBS and NBC TV Networks; Prod./Dir.: Movies of the Week: CBS Cinema Center Films and Universal MCA.
In today’s publishing marketplace, agents come and go. They also very often seem to just want an easy pathway to make a buck. Many authors are let go by their agents because their last book didn’t do well enough and the agent doesn’t want to devote the time to help the author. That’s not what you’re about Mark. Even established authors need this type of support in today’s marketplace.”
Author of ten fiction and nonfiction books
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“I’m psyched to have this be official. After getting five different offers for representation from top literary agents, I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin!
Getting multiple agents interested in my work was really important to me. I’ve dealt with agents before and gotten screwed on things contractually so I wanted to do it differently this time. I wanted choices.
Having you help me create that, and navigate my options, was really helpful. I heard other authors talk about their great relationships with their agents and it made me want the same thing. Now I have that.”
Author of Woman on Fire
(Penguin Books)
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“After sending out the query Mark revised for me, I had the opportunity to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident and, a short time later I had a publishing contract with Berkley Books, which recently published my book in hardcover.
Before that, I sent my query letter out on my own to 30 or 40 agents and got a lot of rejections. I then found Mark online while I was researching agents. I was surprised that he offered so much during his initial consultation—for a very modest amount of money.
I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with Mark. I can’t even imagine that now though, because of the grief and detours I experienced before we worked together. It was a time-consuming pain in the neck. If you want to get the attention of top literary agents and publishers, there is no substitute for working with an insider. You can’t beat experience. And having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable.”
Author of Single Handed
(Berkley Books, a Division of Penguin Random House)
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“AHHH! OMG, it happened! I got three offers of representation for my children’s picture book in the United States, even though I live abroad! When I woke up and found the first offer for representation in my email in box, I wanted to scream. But my family was still asleep so I couldn’t. 🙂
Just 8 minutes after I sent a query letter to one of my favorite agents, she replied and asked to see my manuscript. A short time later we had a lovely conversation. She was interested in representing me and sounded very positive and enthusiastic about my book. Since I also got offers from two other agents, I had to turn two of them down. One of them was upset and it felt like I was breaking her heart, but you just have to do it. I kept reminding myself that this is a good problem to have!”
Author/Illustrator of Lon-Lon’s Big Night
and many other children’s books
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“Mark, after you helped me land a top literary agent, I got publishing offers from THREE well-known publishers: Amacom, Palgrave Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill (they’re publishing my book in hardcover)!
I was at Disneyworld with my family, in the Haunted Mansion, when I got the call. I went outside and listened to the voicemail message from my agent. A huge smile came over my face. It was a fantastic feeling. For a moment I felt like life was perfect and the angels were singing.
You’re filling an important need so I’ll say this to every other author reading this testimonial. Mark showed me that getting a top literary agent is a science. If you’ve written a book, or you’re in the process, you’ve already invested a lot—a lot more than money. Don’t stop yourself from getting out there to fulfill your purpose and dreams. Thank you so, so much, Mark!!!”
Author of Customer Focused Process Innovation (McGraw Hill)
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“I got a book deal! After I started sending out my new query letter I had 6 literary agents request my manuscript in a short amount of time, which is awesome. Then, within 2 weeks of my agent starting to pitch my story to publishers, we had an offer. I signed a book contract yesterday. A little while later my agent told me that a TV co-producer asked for more info about my book.
By the way, the acquiring editor that fell in love with the manuscript jumped in with both feet and we just worked out our timeline for publication. She’s as passionate about getting my book out as I am, and that means everything. She read the manuscript in two days and said she couldn’t put it down. And the book is going to be published as a hardcover!”
Author of A Chick in the Cockpit
(Behler Publications)
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“Thank you Mark! After you helped me get a well-known agent with Hartline Literary Agency (for my previously self-published murder mystery), he got me a deal with an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) approved publisher. I’m hard-pressed to find anything that I had an expectation for that you didn’t deliver on.
Before I worked with you I sent out queries, but no one ever requested my complete manuscript. Comparing your new version of my query to the one I wrote before, I can see a vast difference.
I’ve been in business for 35 years so I’m not just saying this… what you’re doing is phenomenal. There are other people offering similar services, but the difference is your success. Others might say they do similar things but, if you research them, they don’t have your background or track record.”
Author of The Rector
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“Mark, you’re a miracle worker. Thanks to your help with my book, query letter, and synopsis… I now have a legitimate publisher who described my book as ‘Powerful Magic’ and it’s now available in bookstores and online!
I’m a lifelong academic writer who one day found myself writing inspired short stories that came to me in dreams and I began thinking of them as novels. That’s when I had a momentous conversation, an introductory coaching call with Mark Malatesta, the American creative writing coach, or rather, to be precise, a how-to-sell-yourself-and-your-work adviser. It was the best-spent money of my life apart (possibly) for my wedding ring.”
Author of The Black Inked Pearl
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“Within 4 minutes of sending out my query letter, a top literary called me on the phone (the #1 agent on my wish list). Less than 30 days later I had three major publishers making offers. A few days after that, I signed a deal with Random House. Mark, your query letter did that.
My agent talked about the query letter you helped me create for a long, long time. When he first called me on the phone, he hadn’t seen any of my sample chapters. It was just the query letter that did it. Communicating the right thing is so important. You are a wonderful medium helping authors find their voice and elevate their writing from just a hobby to a real business… a source from which they can both learn and earn.”
Author of Lights Out
(Random House)
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“MARK, MARK, MARK!!!!!!! Holy smokes… I just signed my book deal. First, two well-known literary agents asked to represent me. One of them responded to my query letter in less than 4 minutes!!
Then THREE different publishers wanted my book and started talking about making offers. The publisher I chose is perfect for me because they produce titles for the trade, educational, and scientific markets. And they agreed to publish my book as a hardcover!!!
When I met you, Mark, it was a pivotal time. I was under the belief that I could self-publish my book with a vanity press and then seek a publisher. I didn’t know what a literary agent was, why I needed one, or how to get one. I was wandering in the dark. You guided me in the right direction and gave me a solid plan.”
Author of Intestinal Health
(Rowman & Littlefield)
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“Boom!!! I just signed a contract with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins for (what I’ve been told by several people) is a very large advance for a first-time author.
Before working with Mark I submitted my book to agents but didn’t get any interest. This time around I got a top NY literary agency (Fine Print Lit). What cloud is higher than 9?
I had several agencies interested before deciding to go with Fine Print. And, to be honest, all of the attention didn’t surprise me. The query letter and proposal that Mark helped me develop were incredible. Agents actually said things to me like: ‘Scott, I read your proposal and I’m just blown away by it!’ Mark is extremely talented at what he does. If you have the opportunity to work with him, take advantage of it.”
Author of The Unbreakable Boy
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)