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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.
- The results are being filtered by the character: S
Laura Strachan
Strachan Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Laura Strachan is a literary agent with the Strachan Literary Agency. Laura is also founder of the of Strachan Literary Agency, a small boutique agency that focuses on literary fiction and narrative nonfiction: compelling stories, well told. A licensed attorney, she combines her love of books and great writing with a lawyer’s sensibility in order to best represent her clients.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Narrative * Travel *
Biography
Jonah Straus is a literary agent with Straus Literary. He got his start in the warehouse at Atrium Publishers Group, an independent book distributor in Northern California, and went on to hold positions in production, editorial, sales, and marketing at several publishers in the San Francisco area. He moved to New York in 2005, where he worked in marketing for arts and literary programs, including the Selected Shorts NPR reading series at Symphony Space. He established Straus Literary in 2007, and moved the agency back to San Francisco in 2013 while maintaining a regular presence in New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Politics * Science * Travel *
77 Van Ness Avenue Suite 101 San Francisco CA 94102 USA
Biography
Robin Straus is a literary agent with the Robin Straus Agency. Robin is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and the Women’s Media Group. She graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in art history and English literature and received her M.B.A. from New York University. Prior to becoming an agent, she served as a subsidiary rights manager at Random House and Doubleday and worked in editorial at Little, Brown. She was an agent at the Wallace & Sheil Agency before founding Robin Straus Agency, Inc. in 1983. In 2014 she acquired The Wallace Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science *
229 East 79th Street Suite 5A New York NY 10075 USA
Biography
Rebecca Strauss is an agent at DeFiore and Co. and focuses on literary and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, urban fantasy, romance, mystery, YA, pop culture and select non-fiction. In all genres, she’s looking for a compelling story and fresh voice. She’s especially interested in emerging writers and developing long term relationships
Before joining DeFiore and Co., Rebecca was at McIntosh and Otis for seven years where she was an agent and Director of Subsidiary Rights. Prior to M&O, she was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, and a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures. She’s originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Humor * Pop Culture * Young Adult *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Morgan Strehlow is a literary agent with The Bindery. As a literary agent and book coach, Morgan Strehlow comes alongside authors from longing to launch, cultivating courage, clarifying their message, and offering advocacy, accountability, and soul care through the writing and publishing process.
An experienced freelance editor and writer, Morgan has worked in various capacities with a range of content providers and education platforms, including Christianity Today, Baylor University, Sacred Ordinary Days, Called Creatives, and Go and Tell Gals. Morgan spent the first decade of her career in the sports industry as a go-to communications strategist and creative collaborator for major brands, coaches, and athletes. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Hardin-Simmons University and an M.S. in Sport Management from Texas A&M University.
Morgan is seeking compelling nonfiction by athletes, journalists, experts, academics looking to publish for the general market, and emerging voices with a growing platform who can speak to pop culture, sports, feminism, social justice, sex/sexuality, or religion/spirituality.
She’s especially interested in the dynamic and interesting voices writing and speaking at the intersection of sport and society. On the fiction side, Morgan is eager for upmarket fiction, complex women’s fiction, and sports fiction.
Morgan lives in Waco, Texas, with her husband, Sean, and their son.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Sports Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Education * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Law * Pop Culture * Religion * Spirituality * Sports * Women’s Issues *
Shadra Strickland
Painted WordsDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Shadra Strickland is a literary agent with Painted Words. She has been a part of the Painted Words family since 2008 as an award-winning illustrator and author. She is stepping up as an agent-at-large to help develop and represent new talent within the industry. Shadra is interested in humorous character driven picture books; graphic novels and picture books that highlight unique cultural experiences; poetic texts; and unique illustration styles. Shadra also enjoys helping illustrators find their writing voice. She teaches Book Illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art and online at Craftsy.com
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Graphic Novel * Picture Book *
NONFICTION:
Marlene Stringer
Stringer Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Marlene Stringer is a literary agent with and the found of The Stringer Literary Agency. Marlene Stringer was raised and educated in NYC, and started her publishing career as a proofreader. She eventually became an in-house publisher for a corporate magazine before taking a detour to have her family, move to NJ, and write and edit for local publications. Following a move to Florida, she founded TSLA after eight years with Barbara Bova Literary Agency. Mother of four, she lives in Naples with her husband.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Historical * Horror * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Catharine Strong
Aevitas Creative ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Catharine Strong is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She graduated summa cum laude from Colgate University with a BA in English Literature and a minor in Film and Media Studies. She joined Aevitas in 2018 after interning at Akashic Books and the literary agency Aragi, Inc. A born and raised Brooklynite, Catharine is based in New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Spirituality * Religion *
Wendy Strothman
Aevitas Creative ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Wendy Strothman is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents Pulitzer Prize winning authors: David Blight, author of the bestselling biography Frederick Douglass; David Kertzer, author of The Pope and Mussolini; and Caleb McDaniel, author of The Sweet Taste of Liberty. She also represents Ruth Simmons, former president of Smith College, Brown University, and Prairie View who is publishing a memoir called Up Home: One Girl’s Journey in 2023. Wendy works with many prominent historians, including Joanne Freeman, author of The Field of Blood; Alan Mikhail, author of God’s Shadow; Martha Hodes, author of the forthcoming My Hijacking; Wendy Warren, author of Pulitzer finalist New England Bound; journalists including Linda Greenhouse, author of Justice on the Brink; James Scott, author of Pulitzer finalist Target Tokyo; Amy Ellis Nutt, author of the bestselling transgender book, Becoming Nicole; legal scholars Richard Thompson Ford, author of Dress Codes and The Race Card; Deborah Archer, president of the ACLU and author of the forthcoming Locked In and Left Out; Nicholas Bowie and Daphna Renan, authors of the forthcoming Supremacy; naturalists Kenn Kaufman, author of the forthcoming The Birds that Audubon Missed; Scott Edwards, author of the forthcoming American Journey: Birds, a Bicycle, and Hope Across America; and biographers Benjamin Taylor, author of Here We Are and the forthcoming biography of Willa Cather andTess Chakalakal, author of a forthcoming biography of Charles Chesnutt.
Before founding the Strothman Agency in 2003, Wendy was the publisher of Trade & Reference Books at Houghton Mifflin Company where she oversaw books from Curious George ® to the American Heritage Dictionary and the Peterson Field Guides; at Houghton she also edited works by Philip Roth, Arthur Schlesinger, and John Kenneth Galbraith. Before Houghton, she was publisher of Beacon Press where she published Marian Wright Edelman and Cornel West. She started her career at the University of Chicago Press.
Wendy is the Vice President of the Authors Guild Foundation and was a trustee of Brown University; she and her husband, a pipe organ builder, and their golden doodle Farley divide their time between the coast of Maine and the Berkshires, with frequent forays into New York City.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Environment * History * Narrative * Nature *
Biography
Hannah Strouth is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. While earning her B.A. in English and Marketing from the College of William & Mary, Hannah completed an internship at a boutique literary agency in Virginia, where she fell in love with this side of publishing. After graduating from the Columbia Publishing Course, she joined JRA as Office Assistant and soon after was promoted to Contracts Associate. Today, as assistant to Andrea Cirillo and Kathy Schneider, she helps maintain their list of clients while keeping her sights set on growing her own list. She is constantly diving into historical fiction, contemporary rom-coms, and upmarket/literary fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Historical * Literary * Romance * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Andrew Stuart is a literary agent with the Stuart Agency. Before starting The Stuart Agency in 2002, Andrew Stuart was an agent with the Literary Group International for 5 years. Prior to becoming an agent, he was an editor at Random House and Simon & Schuster. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English, and he received his M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. He focuses on titles in the areas of history, science, narrative nonfiction, business, current events, memoir, psychology, sports, and literary fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Religious * Sports Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Prescriptive * Psychology * Religion * Science * Sports *
450 North End Ave. 25C New York NY 10282 USA
Biography
Kari Stuart is a literary agent with CAA/ICM. She says: “I’m a literary agent in NYC. When I’m not reading fabulous new, unpublished books, you can find me testing new recipes or running in the park with my dogs.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Religion * Science * Sports * Travel *
65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Gerrie Sturman is a literary agent with Goldfarb & Associates. She says: “As agent with Goldfarb & Associates, I work with attorney, literary agent and prodigious writer Ronald Goldfarb, Esq. on special projects, research and building my list of client authors.
Formerly a global sales manager with Marriott International, I won The Chairman’s Circle for sales excellence – twice! In addition to my hotel sales career with Marriott, Omni Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Princess Hotels, I represented the Cincinnati and Washington DC Convention & Visitor bureaus.
Earned professional designations include: CASE (Certified Association Sales Executive) and CGMP (Certified Government Marketing Professional)
Prior to my hospitality sales & marketing career, I taught English and English as a Second Language, wrote and edited advertising and business copy. My sales experience runs the gamut from publishing to hospitality sales to shoes to Girl Scout cookies!
Specialties: Creative writing skills and research. Proactive selling, account development, customer service, productive and purposeful client relationships.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Memoir * Money/Finance * Politics * Religion * Spirituality * Sports *
c/o RP &B 510 King St., Suite 301 Alexandria VA 22314 USA
Biography
Saba Sulaiman is a literary agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services. She says: “I was drawn into the world of literature by default when my sister’s growing collection of books in our tiny room began to overflow onto my bed. Bewildered by her fascination with these musty, decaying volumes, I decided to experience them for myself—and instantly fell in love. Born to Pakistani expatriates in Sri Lanka, and knowing how to express myself only in English for the first fifteen years of my life, I found comfort in reading about other culturally displaced people, unable to communicate in their native tongues, and hesitant to assert themselves in environments where there were few examples of people like them. Moving to Pakistan and absorbing what it meant to be an educated woman in a traditional Islamic society contributed greatly to my desire to learn more about similar narratives, especially from other women. In an effort to understand how it felt to be surrounded by other ambitious women with the desire to shatter patriarchal restrictions, I enrolled as an undergraduate at Wellesley College. And the rest, as they say, is history
After double majoring in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley, I studied modern Persian Literature at the University of Chicago, where I got involved with editing our department’s academic journal. And it finally hit me—working closely with writers to hone their craft; seeing a piece of writing from its inception through to its eventual publication; and advocating for what I believed was stellar prose worthy of recognition—this was my calling. So I interned at various newspaper and magazine publications, worked as an editorial intern at Sourcebooks, and then wound up at Talcott Notch, where I’m excited to begin my career as a literary agent.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Humor * Memoir * Multicultural *
215 Broad Street 2nd Floor Milford CT 06460 USA
Biography
Rachel Sussman is a literary agent with the Chalberg & Sussman Literary Agency. A graduate of Brown University, Rachel Sussman worked as an editor at Scribner and as an agent with Zachary Shuster Harmsworth before co-founding Chalberg & Sussman. She represents a wide range of nonfiction—narrative, memoir, psychology, history, lifestyle, and pop culture—and a select list of literary fiction.
Rachel’s clients run the gamut from journalists like Mary Papenfuss (American Huckster: How Chuck Blazer Got Rich From—and Sold Out—The Most Powerful Cabal in World Sports) and Linda Hervieux (Forgotten: The Untold Story of the Only African-American Combat Unit at D-Day) to self-proclaimed mediocre mother Karen Alpert (I Heart My Little A-Holes) and DIY experts Sherry and John Petersik (Young House Love).
Rachel enjoys developing “big think” books—clients include psychology professor Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight about Animals and Deborah Cohen, MD, author of A Big Fat Crisis: The Hidden Forces Behind the Obesity Epidemic and How We Can End It—and is proud to represent memoirists Matt Logelin (Two Kisses for Maddy), Jennifer Ridha (Criminal That I Am), and Tracy Slater (The Good Shufu).
Her list of fiction writers include Natashia Deon, author of the award-winning debut Grace, Tiffany Hawk, author of Love Me Anyway, and Kristin Waterfield Duisberg, author of The Good Patient and After.
Rachel’s projects, which include New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, Amazon Best Books of the Year, and Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selections, have been translated throughout the world and optioned by major studios and independent producers for both the big and small screens.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Upmarket *
115 West 29th Street Third Floor New York NY 10001 USA
Kari Sutherland
KT LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Kari Sutherland is a literary agent with KT Literary. She is based out of Southern California. She began on the editorial side of publishing, first at Disney Press, then HarperCollins Children’s Books–where she had the honor of editing many talented authors, including Victoria Aveyard and Sara Shepard. Middle grade and YA are at the heart of her list, but she also represents picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and upmarket fiction. She graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in English and Psychology and received a Masters in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice before pivoting back to her first love–books. With her editorial insight and experience with the entire publishing process, Kari is passionate about helping to polish each manuscript and equip her clients for success.
Kari is not seeking: horror, romance, erotica, memoir, cookbooks, business, spiritual/religious, poetry, or screenplays.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Books * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Biography
Kristina Sutton-Lennon is a literary agent with the Context Literary Agency. She was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2022. As Executive Director of Focused Artists, which she co-founded, she served as a Talent and Literary Manager. Kristina has worked as a Film/TV Agent . She is excited to build her list while securing Media and Translation Rights deals for authors . She takes pride in her diverse slate of content . Kristina earned her MFA from Louisiana State University. She is a proud member of NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Ethnic * Health/Wellness * Multicultural * Parenting/Child Guidance * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * Women’s Issues *
Danielle Svetcov
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Danielle Svetcov is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She is the author of Parked, a “quirky” “big-hearted” middle-grade novel that “explores what happens when homelessness and helpfulness collide.” Before Parked, Danielle wrote for the New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune Magazine. She joined LGR in 2002.
Books she rereads for love: I Capture the Castle, Lone Pilgrim, Jane Eyre, Devil in the White City, Ladies and Gentlemen—the Bronx is Burning.
Audiobooks that she’s recently listened to (in the car) on rainy days: When You Reach Me, Naked, The Secret Garden, Undefeated.
Her clients tend to be oppositional but reasoned, serious but amused—preferring their rabbit holes deep.
Her taste is reflected in the journalism and narrative nonfiction she’s sold, e.g. Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves; its natural follow-up Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art; a cultural history of our bodies under water, Why We Swim; a refusal to be grammatically cornered, Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark; a refusal to be artfully ignored Broad Strokes and She Votes; and a story of greed that threatens us all (where we least expect it), Kill Shot.
Also, to offset the Victorian in her, she signs funny books, e.g. Skymaul: Happy Crap You Can Buy From A Plane; Look Big, a guide to surviving wild-animal close-encounters (which is funnier than you might think); What to Talk About; Bike Snob; and Minnesota-Book-of-the-Year nominee, The Annie Year, an ensemble novel that blurs heartland and heartburn.
Of course, she has to eat, too… She represents an incredible stable of chefs, restaurateurs, and food/ag-thinkers—many of them IACP and Beard Award winners—including Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky’s New York Times bestselling Run Fast Eat Slow; Bryant Terry’s Afro-Vegan and Vegetable Kingdom; Michelle Polzine’s Baking at the 20th Century Café; Russell Moore and Allison Hopelain’s This is Camino; Adrianna Adarme’s The Year of Cozy; Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski’s State Bird Provisions; Brandon Jew’s Mr. Jiu’s in Chinatown; Sophie Egan’s OK to Eat; and many more.
Some of her authors you’ll be hearing from soon: Rachel Gross, Nicole Perlroth, Sophia Vincent-Guy, Mark Bittman, Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, Beth Rodden, Eugenia Viti, Diana Kapp, Diana Helmuth, Molly Huddle, Sara Slattery, Rick Easton, Melissa McCart, Andrew Hilleman, Colin Clancy, Jodi Angel, S.P. Miskowski, Mike Sacks and Jason Roeder.
Danielle is based in the agency’s California office.
And, in pursuit of sustenance to fuel her reading, she represents an incredible stable of chefs, restaurateurs, and food/ag-thinkers—many of them IACP and Beard Award winners— including: Bryant Terry (Afro-Vegan), Thomas McNaughton (flour + water), Russell Moore and Allison Hopelain (This is Camino), Evan and Sarah Rich (Rich Table), Karen Solomon (Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It), Adrianna Adarme (The Year of Cozy), Tara Austen Weaver (The Butcher and the Vegetarian), Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski (State Bird Provisions), and Celia Sack (The Omnivore’s Keeper), among others.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Computers * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Technology * Young Adult *
307 Seventh Ave. Suite 2407 New York NY 10001 USA
Bonnie Swanson
The Purcell AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Bonnie Swanson is a literary agent with The Purcell Agency. She is twenty plus year elementary teacher. She shares her love of literature with her students and even tests out her own books on them. (And everyone thinks agents are tough!) Using her experience as a teacher, she has been a mentor for many authors through the WriteMentor program started by author Stuart White. Some of her mentees have gone on to publishing and best-selling success with their titles.
A short sample of her favorite authors are Dean Koontz, J.K. Rowling, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, S.A. Stovall, Suzanne Collins, Jen Mann, Danielle Paige, Christopher Paolini, Neal Schusterman, and Ally Condi. She’ll try just about anything, but romance is her true jam and the HEA (happily ever after) is a must!
She is an active member of SCBWI and a co-rep for her local chapter. When she’s not teaching, reading, or spending time with her three kids & husband, she’s busy creating her own stories. You can also find her covered in fur and playing with her three cats Milo, Winter and, Mira—when they tell her to.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Paranormal * Picture Book * New Adult * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Joyce Sweeney
The Seymour AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Joyce Sweeney is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. Joyce has worn many hats in the kidlit industry. They are the author of fourteen novels for young adults. They have edited, instructed, and encouraged writers for twenty-five years, successfully mentoring 78 traditionally published authors and still counting. They are very active in Florida SCBWI. They have also published poetry and managed a South Florida theater company. What they’re looking for:
In Picture Books: Fiction or non-fiction. I am drawn to lyrical voices, fun syntax and offbeat concepts. I like unusual characters, and plots that make me cry or laugh out loud. Illustrator/authors welcome and rhyme (if you REALLY know how to do it) is fine. Diversity, please. Most of all, be unique.
In Middle Grade: I am especially drawn to humor, fantasy and sci-fi, but a realistic novel that makes me cry will work too. Advocate of books for boys. Would love to see more LGBTQ as well.
As an agent, they pride themselves on client communication and are very editorial. They acquire picture books, chapter books, and middle grade, both fiction and non-fiction. They are particularly interested in graphic novels.
Their taste is eclectic, but they are always looking for underrepresented voices. They like science and aerospace, natural history, environmental and animal themes, and anything with a touch of magic. A lyrical voice is the surest way to their heart. Not a big fan of crude or bathroom humor, overtly religious stories or historical fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Biography
Mark Sweeney is the owner of Mark Sweeney & Associates, Publishing Consultant and Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Religious *
NONFICTION: Christian * Humor * Memoir * Religion * Spirituality *
28540 Altessa Way Suite 201 Bonita Springs FL 34135
Becky Sweren
Aevitas Creative ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Becky Sweren is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She has represented projects such as the New York Times bestseller From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein, the LA Times bestseller Barons of the Sea by Steven Ujifusa, the New York Times bestseller The Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack Viertel, the National Book Award Longlist A Cure for Suicide by Jesse Ball, and acclaimed narrative nonfiction such as The Fox Hunt by Mohammed Al Samawi.
Becky graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University with a BA in English and in Theater Studies. Prior to joining Aevitas, she worked at Janklow & Nesbit Associates.
She is most interested in investigative journalism, unexplored history, big ideas that challenge conventional wisdom, and voice-driven memoirs that shed light on cultures, places, or industries.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Science *
Laurel Symonds
KT LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Laurel Symonds is a literary agent with KT Literary. Shebegan her publishing career in the editorial department of HarperCollins Children’s Books. She also worked in the marketing department at a small publishing house, in a library, and as a bookseller at one of the nation’s best independent bookstores. She began agenting in 2018 and joined KT Literary in 2022, representing picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, graphic novels, and select nonfiction for children and teens. When Laurel is not reading, she enjoys baking, hiking, and spending time with her dog, Sherlock. Raised in rural New England and having spent a decade in New York City, London, and Chicago, she’s thrilled to have settled in the Pacific Northwest.
Laurel is seeking middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books and graphic novels from author-illustrators, and select nonfiction for kids and teens.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
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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.
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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)