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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
Biography
Lissa Woodson is an assistant agent at The Seymour Agency. She has been an industry professional as a publishing and marketing consultant, developmental editor, and literary event planner for nearly 25 years. In addition to successfully cracking the code of landing a deal for herself and many others with traditional publishing houses, she continues to “pay it forward” by organizing the annual Cavalcade of Authors which gives readers intimate access to the most accomplished writing talent today.
Writing under the pen name of Naleighna Kai, she is a contributor to a New York Times bestseller, the USA TODAY, Essence®, and national bestselling and award-winning author of several controversial novels. She is also one of AALBC’s 100 Top Authors, a member of the Chicago Vocational School Hall of Fame (CVS), Mercedes Benz Mentor Award Nominee, and the E. Lynn Harris Author of Distinction.
She is looking for unique and engaging stories in thrillers, romantic suspense, romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, inspirational, and body, mind & spirit. She is an advocate for diverse voices in fiction and is actively seeking stories from unique and dynamic perspectives.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | New Literary Agents |BIPOC Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |Inspirational Nonfiction | Mind Body Spirit |
Biography
Anna Worrall is a Vice President and literary agent at The Gernert Company, which she joined in 2010. Her fiction tastes include smart literary and commercial fiction and psychological thrillers, and on the nonfiction side sheÕs interested in practical, narrative, food & drink, and lifestyle. She also sells audio rights for the agency. Anna lives with her husband and sons in Portland, Maine.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Food Drink | Health Wellness | How-To | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting |
Biography
John W. Wright is a literary agent with John Wright Literary Associates. He says: “I was a senior editor at the Oxford University Press for 13 years. I resigned from the press to pursue a writing career and start a new business as a packager of reference books, including The New York Times Almanac and The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge.
Along the way I began to represent a few writers and after 15 years or so the agency was recognized in the industry for the high quality of its authors. Today I have ready access to every major publisher and all of the leading editors of non-fiction books.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Economics | Health Wellness | History | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Science | Sports | Technology |
Biography
Joanne Wyckoff is a literary agent with the Carol Mann Agency. Joanne joined the Carol Mann Agency in 2011 after spending five years with Zachary Shuster Harmsworth. Before becoming an agent, Joanne was a Senior Editor at Ballantine, a division of Random House, and Executive Editor at Beacon Press. Among the authors she worked with as an editor are Michael Thompson, Ph.D., Judith Thurman, Mary Pipher, Karen Armstrong, Bruce Barcott, Louise DeSalvo, Sven Birkerts, Jonathan Kirsch, and Anne Lamott.
As an agent, Joanne represents a wide array of nonfiction and selected fiction. She has a great deal of experience working with academics and experts in diverse fields, helping them develop and write books for a broad market. She also has a particular love of the memoir and is always looking for exciting and strong new voices in this genre. The quirky personal narrative is also a favorite, as is narrative nonfiction on almost any cultural topic. She is always looking for writers who explore a subject in new and surprising ways. Her nonfiction list includes books in psychology, women’s issues, education, health and wellness, parenting, serious self-help, natural history and anything about animals, religion, and spirituality. In fiction, her interests run to literary women’s fiction and novels that evoke a strong sense of place.
Books Joanne has recently represented include The Cracker Queen: A Memoir of a Jagged, Joyful Life by NPR commentator Lauretta Hannon; The Global Achievement Gap by Harvard education expert Tony Wagner; Becoming a Life Change Artist: 7 Creative Skills to Reinvent Yourself at Any Stage of Life by highly regarded life planning expert Fred Mandell, Ph.D., and organizational psychologist Kathleen Jordan, Ph.D.; and Man Killed by Pheasant and Other Kinships by John Price.
Joanne graduated with honors, cum laude, from Wells College, and did graduate work in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Health Wellness | History | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Martha Wydysh is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. She has been working in publishing for just under a decade, and her first job in agenting was in subsidiary rights at a major agency. There, she worked to sell audiobook and serial rights on behalf of all clients at the agency, and quickly fell in love with the business side of books. She came to Trident in 2016 to work as Magazine Rights Associate and Executive Assistant to Ellen Levine, and in this position, she helped manage the representation of EllenÕs renowned clients in addition to placing short stories, book excerpts, articles, and essays with prestigious magazines and literary journals on their behalf.
Martha began building her list in 2019 and was promoted to Agent in 2021. She is primarily seeking literary fiction as well as upmarket fiction, and is drawn to novels that are contemporary, emotionally and psychologically acute, and not necessarily plot-centric. She has a soft spot for slightly speculative and satirical works that question the status quo here in the U.S. and abroad, and gravitates toward anything that verges on the absurd, obsessive, or humorous. She has a particular love of short fiction, especially linked collections or novels-in-stories that transport and immerse readers in an unfamiliar place. Additionally, Martha is looking for dark and propulsive psychological, domestic, and social thrillers. In non-fiction, she is interested in representing very select projects in the areas of narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, and literary memoir.
In addition to working closely with her clients on their book projects, Martha views their careers holistically and loves helping them place short stories and essays. She is proud to have placed their work with such publications as The Paris Review, The Atlantic, Granta, McSweeneyÕs Quarterly Concern, The Southern Review, Gulf Coast, and Guernica. Her clients have won the O. Henry Prize and have been included in The Best American Short Stories anthologies.
Martha is a graduate of Cornell University and the Columbia Publishing Course, and as an undergraduate, she spent a year at St. AnneÕs College, Oxford University studying British literature and creative writing. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Contemporary Fiction | Humor Fiction | Literary Fiction | Satire | Short Story Collection | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction |Cultural Social Issues | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Upmarket Nonfiction |
Biography
Andrew Wylie is a literary agent with The Wylie Agency. Andrew founded The Wylye Agency in 1980, now with offices today in midtown Manhattan and in London, representing more than 700 clients. Wylie has been described as a formidable agent, particularly on foreign rights, with incredible taste…one of the most influential authors’ representatives in the world.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Science Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | History | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | True Crime |
Maximilian Ximenez
L. Perkins Agency (Lori Perkins Agency)Accepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email >Biography
Maximilian Ximenez is a literary agent with the L. Perkins Agency. He grew up within the New York publishing industry. Prior to joining the L. Perkins Agency, he worked at Blizzard Entertainment, creators of the popular Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo video game franchises. He is a strong believer in publishing and narrative as a central pillar of franchise and transmedia development.
Maximilian is actively pursuing clients for both fiction and nonfiction works. In fiction, he is actively pursuing science fiction, fantasy, horror and thrillers, particularly cyberpunk and neo-noir as well as books with a uniquely deconstructive bent. For nonfiction, Maximilian is seeking popular science, true crime and books pertaining to arts and trends in developing fields and cultures.
MaximilianÕs clients include two-time New York Times bestselling graphic novel author, Micky Neilson, and Lucien Soulban, lead writer of the BAFTA award winning video game Far Cry 3.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Horror | Science Fiction | Thriller |Art | Cultural Social Issues | Pop Culture | Science | True Crime |
Biography
Sarah Yake is a literary agent with Frances Collin Literary Agency. She has been with the agency since 2005 and handles foreign and sub-rights as well as her own client list. She has been a sales rep for a major publisher and a bookstore manager. She currently teaches in the Rosemont College Graduate Publishing Program and holds an MA in English Literature.
When Sarah is open to queries (the agency is closed to new queries through April 1, 2021, see details below), she welcomes literary and commercial fiction and is especially interested in work where the arts intersect. She loves books about women, solitude, wilderness, and any combination(s) thereof and would love to see more work that incorporates the visual arts and prose by authors who are also poets. Details can be found below under “submission requirements” and even more details can be found on the Manuscript Wish List page: http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/sarah-yake/
The agency represents the Estates of John Williams (STONER, BUTCHER’S CROSSING, AUGUSTUS), Vonda N. McIntyre (DREAMSNAKE, THE MOON AND THE SUN, THE EXILE WAITING) and Esther Forbes (JOHNNY TREMAIN), among others.
Fran Collin is the Trustee for the Estate of Rachel Carson (SILENT SPRING, THE SENSE OF WONDER, THE SEA AROUND US, THE EDGE OF THE SEA and UNDER THE SEA-WIND).
Formerly the Marie Rodell-Frances Collin Literary Agency. Celebrating 72 years as an agency!
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Memoir |
Biography
Jason Yarn is a literary agent with the Jason Yarn Literary Agency. He is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and an attorney registered in the state of New York. He graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in English and from Brooklyn Law School with a JD. He started his career in publishing with Writers & Artists Agency and then continued with Paradigm Talent Agency for ten years, acting as both a literary agent and a business affairs executive.
For fiction, Jason is primarily interested in science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, suspense, literary fiction, and commercial fiction, all at the middle grade, young adult, or adult levels. For non-fiction, he is interested in a wide array of genres, though especially in narrative, science, food, current events, history, and adventure/true stories. Jason also works with a number of comic book and graphic novel writers and illustrators on their film and television rights, and is always interested in finding original graphic works for publishing or other media.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Horror | Literary Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Food Drink | History | How-To | Lifestyle | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Pop Culture | Science | True Adventure | True Crime |
Biography
Curtis Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency. Curtis says: “I joined Yates & Yates in 1999 and became a partner in 2005. Sometimes people tell me that I’m the only attorney they’ve met who loves what he does. And I consider myself extremely blessed to do what I love with people I love. But the best part of my job isn’t that I get to work with my dad and my brother. It’s not that I get to work with outstanding, ethical, Christian attorneys and colleagues.
And, as wonderful as this is, it’s not that my office is only four miles away from my home in beautiful, sunny Southern California. The best part of my job is coming alongside passionate, articulate, gifted Christian communicators, using my strengths to guide, counsel, and protect them, fiercely advocate for them, and help them advance life- and culture-transforming messages for the sake of the Kingdom. That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.
By the time I started at Westmont College, where I met my beautiful wife Karen, I had pretty much decided I was going to law school. My early motivation for this was the realization that I loved to debate and I loved to win. I explored politics, spending a semester in Washington, DC in 1995, including interning on Capitol Hill. Deciding politics was not conducive to a family lifestyle, I plotted a course toward litigation. During my time at Pepperdine University Law School, I clerked for a few different litigation firms, including one of the largest firms in the world.
I learned through those experiences that I would have been very frustrated in that field. When I joined Yates & Yates, I planned to fully engage in the firm’s general business transactional practice. Instead, I spent a great deal of my early days immersed in publishing agreements, manuscripts, and author meetings, discovering a passion for words, books, ideas and helping authors and creative types to make the most of their ideas, passions, and platforms.
I’ve been married to Karen for 11 years. We have 3 beautiful children, 2 boys and an adorable girl. When I’m not working (and sometimes while I am), you’ll find me watching the Angels, the Broncos, or March Madness. On weekends, I’m typically out in the yard playing wiffle ball with my kids. And most nights I fall into bed wishing I had more time to finish reading the Wall Street Journal.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY | General Nonfiction | Business Book | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Politics | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality |
Biography
Karen Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Christian Nonfiction | General Nonfiction | Business Book | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Self-Help |
Biography
Karen Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Christian Nonfiction | General Nonfiction | Business Book | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Self-Help |
Biography
Matt Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency. Matt says: “I got here back in 1995. Graduating law school during a recession, the only job available was working for my fatherÑthen the “Law Offices of Sealy M. Yates.” Well, I’m still here. Now, my name is on the door and I sign all the checks. I came on board with the firm in the early stages of Sealy’s launching of the literary agency side of our business. As Sealy spanned the globe in search of the next bestseller, I was left to man the store. The breadth of experience has been invaluable. I’ve done real estate transactions and estate plans, handled multi-million dollar civil litigation and a forward triangular corporate merger, organized scores of business entities and non-profits, worked on feature-length movies, and even did one divorce and an adoption. While we don’t do much of that work anymore, those experiences give our current clients the benefit of all the knowledge of a full service law firm.
I was born and raised in Orange County. Perhaps because my Dad and I look alike and sound alike, I knew I always wanted to be a lawyer. I have often said, “I knew where I wanted to go to college before I knew what high school I would go to, and I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up even before that.” I went to college at Baylor UniversityÑmy college selection criteria were an out-of-state, Christian school, with a Division I football team. And, even disregarding that my Dad was a Baylor alum, there was only one choice. Baylor was followed by law school at Pepperdine University. I was admitted to several law schools, but only one in Malibu with a 270 degree view of the Pacific Ocean. I’m not sure if this section should mention things like honor’s societies, Dean’s lists, our athletic awards (Yes, I am the “Matt Yates” who captained the defense of the Baylor Lacrosse team from 1989-91), but since Curtis has a longer list of those, I’ll skip it. FUN FACT: I am also a certified agent with the NFL Players Association. So if you know anyone with 4.4 speed, give me a call.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY | General Nonfiction | Business Book | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Politics | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality |
Biography
Sealy Yates is a literary agent with Yates & Yates Literary Agency. Sealy says: “I am the senior partner at Yates & Yates, a firm that is the continuation of the one I founded October 1, 1969. After graduating from law school, I started my professional career as a lawyer with a small general practice law firm in Orange County. After a year, I decided that it would be much better for me and everyone else if I opened my own law office. Over the next 20 years I developed and operated a very successful business law practice. Part of my work during those years included intellectual property matters primarily related to copyright issues. I did a lot of work for Christian publishing houses, Christian authors and I had the privilege of doing the legal work to establish the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (“ECPA”), the trade association of Christian publishers. I then served ECPA as its general counsel for over 16 years.
In 1988 I became the first literary agent in the Christian publishing industry representing successful authors. I have now been representing Christian authors for so long that some have called me the “godfather” of Christian publishing. I now have the joy and privilege of having two of my sons as my partners in Yates & Yates. I have known since I was 17 that God had made me to be a Christian lawyer. However, I would never have guessed what an incredible life of ministry it would turn out to be, nor could I have had any idea that I would ever become an expert in book publishing or that I would lead the best literary agency in the world, to the glory of God.
My partners and I are blessed to have had my beautiful wife, Susan, as office manager for Yates & Yates since 1990. Susan is definitely the reason that I have been able to serve so many great and godly communicators, so successfully, and for so many years. I graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelors in Business Administration in 1965 and from UCLA School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1968. It has been my joy and privilege to serve on the boards of directors for some of the most excellent and successful ministry organizations in the world since my first year in the practice of law, including, among others, Open Doors International, Insight for Living, Turning Point Ministries, Ransomed Heart Ministries, as well as the Pepperdine School of Law Board of Visitors. I have been married to Susan Proctor Yates since 1965. We have four amazing adult children, 3 sons and a beautiful daughter, and we have the most amazing 9 grandchildren God ever created.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY | General Nonfiction | Business Book | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Politics | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports |
Biography
Wes Yoder is a literary agent with the Ambassador Agency. He has always had a passion for great stories and deep relationships. Throughout his career, he has leveraged both those passions to serve the world at large, and those around him locally.
From the Amish and Mennonite community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wes Yoder moved to Nashville in 1973 to work in the music business. He was a pioneer in the formation of Contemporary Christian Music and launched the careers of many well-known artists. He also created the first Christian based speaker’s bureau to assist speakers and authors dedicated to a biblical world-view.
In 1997, he launched Ambassador Literary Agency as a division of his company, which led to national media representation of many high-profile clients involved in national and international news stories. He provided media representation of The Purpose Driven Life, and literary representation of the # 1 New York Times best-sellers, Mistaken Identity, The Shack, and Bonhoeffer. Wes has been interviewed on The TODAY Show, NBC Nightly News (a ten minute segment on his clients and the work of The Ambassador Agency), ABCÕs Prime Time, Dateline NBC, CNN Headline News, and has been quoted by TIME Magazine, The New York Times, People Magazine, the Associated Press, Agence-France Presse and others.
WesÕs book, Bond of Brothers: Connecting with Other Men Beyond Work, Weather and Sports (Zondervan), seeks to move men from silent and broken lives to the company of men where conversation, spiritual friendship and a life filled with friends and brothers define and complete GodÕs purposes for them. Wes is the director of the Middle Tennessee New Canaan Society which hosts weekly men’s breakfast events in Franklin and Nashville.
Wes served as a founding member of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, a thriving K-12 school with over 1,200 students where he served on the board for fifteen years. Wes and his wife, Linda, have two children and three grandchildren.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY | Current Events Affairs | History | Memoir | Music | Politics | Religion | Spirituality |
Biography
Howard Yoon is partner a literary agent with WME Books. Howard has recently joined WMEÕs literary department as a Partner and Literary Agent after the spring 2023 acquisition of Ross Yoon Agency, where he was an agent for more than 20 years. Based in Washington, DC, he works exclusively with nonfiction writers, gravitating towards reported narratives, memoir, history, science, sports, tech, business, and popular culture. He represents leading experts and thought leaders, but also has a soft spot for underdog stories and those who give voice to the underserved. He used to teach an award-winning narrative nonfiction writing class in GeorgetownÕs journalism program. He lives in DC with his wife and three kids.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Science | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | True Crime |
Biography
Leslie York is a literary agent with Fredrica S. Friedman & Co. She has a BA from Wellesley, where she graduated magna cum laude, and a Masters in English Literature from Boston College. She joined Fredrica S. Friedman after working at Oxford University Press and Macmillan in both sales and marketing. Her experience at the literary agency and exposure to marketing means that she can evaluate work for both literary merit and commercial appeal.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Beauty Fashion Style | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Fitness | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Money Finance | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Travel | True Crime |
Biography
Laura Yorke is a literary agent with and the founder of Laura York Literary Services. She is a veteran book editor, publisher, literary agent and writer who has worked in the publishing industry for over 30 years..
A native New Yorker, she graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 1985.
She says: “I began my career at Simon & Schuster, where I worked- and thrived- as an editor at three different imprints: Fireside Books, Summit Books and Simon & Schuster Trade. At that time ( in the late 1990Õs), I was the youngest editor to ever attend the Editorial Board and buy my own books ( as opposed to editing for other senior editors). Some of those books, including Michele Weiner-DavisÕ DIVORCE BUSTING became long- term bestsellers. After 8 years, I moved to G.P. Putnam where I was also profoundly happy for 4 years. CEO Phyllis Grann frequently announced that ÒI brought non-fiction to Putnam.Ó That was, needless to say, a gross exaggeration. And ironic given that one of my most celebrated authors at Putnam was novelist Jodi Picoult. From Putnam, I went on to co-found the Golden Books Adult Trade Division with a former colleague from Simon & Schuster. We published books for women and the family in every category- from Steven Covey to Maria Shriver, to a dozen books from the editors of Parents Magazine. I then moved on to become the editor-at-large of Regan Books/HarperCollins.
Some of the other numerous bestselling and prominent authors I published during my years as an editor include Mary Tyler Moore, Marilou Henner, Sylvia Earle, Barry Paris, Carol Felsenthal, Tracy Thompson, Daniel Coyle, Lionel Tiger, Maxine Chernoff and Nelson George.
I left Regan Books/HarperCollins because I wanted to experience other parts of the publishing industry. Having recently had a premature baby, I co-authored Why Motor Skills Matter (McGraw-Hill 2004) with my sonÕs sensory integration therapist. It is an extremely worthwhile book for parents on the relationship between sensory integration and motor development as they relate to overall intelligence. (DonÕt ask my why, but I still get royalty checks from its sales in Brazil!)
I subsequently became a contributing editor to ReaderÕs Digest, where I wrote cover stories on people such as Phil McGraw and Uma Thurman, and brought the magazineÕs editorial team to meet with all of the New York publishers and their Subsidiary Rights associates. It was a wonderful education to be Òon the other side of the fenceÓ so to speak; becoming an author of both a book and magazine pieces, as well as being part of the team of selling books for subsidiary rights, gave me a much broader landscape from which to understand the business.
Then one day within that first year of working for ReaderÕs Digest, the wonderful Carol Mann said to me, Ó Laura, you are one of the best editors of your generation. If you donÕt want to do that any more, then come be an agent with me. YouÕll still be doing a lot of editorial work.Ó And so it was- for almost 20 years. And yes, I still do a ton of editorial work- my truest passion. I also have my own literary agency.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology |
Biography
Nancy Yost is a literary agent with the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. Nancy, a Las Vegas export, started her literary career in the contracts department at Random House, then joined Avon Books as an editor, and worked 15+ years as an agent before starting NYLA in 2009, but her passion for books has been lifelong. In addition to being a world class bookworm, she’s an avid scuba diver, recovering opera singer, unrepentant animal lover, and shameless caffeine addict.
Some of her NYT, USAT, and international bestsellers and award-winning authors includeÑalphabetically!ÑIlona Andrews, Linda Castillo, Loretta Chase, Deborah Crombie, Suzanne Enoch, Jeaniene Frost, Karen Hawkins, Miranda James, Beverly Jenkins, Stephanie Laurens, and Victoria Thompson.
Nancy’s primary focus is commercial fiction. Her areas of expertise include: crime novels (suspense, mysteries, thrillersÑboth contemporary and historical); women’s fiction (historical romance, accessible upmarket fiction, book club reads, romantic comedies, and any combination thereof); urban fantasy/paranormal; and sci-fi/fantasy.
She looks for complex, engrossing character- and voice-driven reads, great world-building, atmosphere, intelligence, humor, and adorable (or not-so-adorable) animals. She loves learning painlessly, be it history, science, or the arts; and has a special fondness for good gothics and ghost stories. Her nonfiction tastes lean in the same direction.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Celebrity | Environment | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | Gift Novelty | History | Humor Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Nature | Pop Culture | True Crime |
Biography
Cyle Young is a literary agent with the Hartline Literary Agency. Cyle is a multiple-genre award-winning author. Winner of over twenty writing awards, he considers himself a Òbinge writerÓ and routinely scribes 30,000 words in a weekend. His book Belly Buttons and Broken Hearts released with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in 2013.
Cyle finds great joy in writing and loves to bounce between crafting epic high fantasy tales, helpful non-fiction parenting books, and getting lost in the melodic rhythm of childrenÕs poetry. He serves as managing editor of http://www.almostanauthor.com, a website devoted to helping aspiring writers become published authors, and is also a monthly contributor to the parenting website, http://www.just18summers.com, and the writing website, http://www.thewriteconversation.blogspot.com.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Juvenile Nonfiction |Christian Nonfiction | Christian Books ONLY |Graphic Novel |Animals | Art | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Environment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gardening | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Lifestyle | Money Finance | Nature | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Jazmia Young is a literary agent with the Curtis Brown Literary Agency. She is an associate agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. She received her bachelorÕs degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at the City College of New York and was a graduate of the Publishing Certificate Program at CCNY. She is particularly interested in MG fiction with diverse voices. Being a New York native, anything based in the great NYC has her heart. Jazmia is also the Administrative Assistant of the Association of American Literary Agents.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Black Literary Agents | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | BIPOC Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Multicultural Fiction |Dating Relationships Sex | Family | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir |
Biography
Sarah Younger is a literary agent with the Nancy Yost Literary Agency. She ibegan her career in publishing in 2010 at Press53 in Winston Salem, N.C., after receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She later attended the University of Denver’s graduate publishing program in 2011, where, upon completion, she moved to New York City. Sarah joined the Nancy Yost Literary Agency in the fall of 2011 and has since cultivated a diverse and talented list of authors, including a variety of commercial fiction and select non-fiction titles. She has been a member of AALA since 2014.
She is specifically interested in representing all varieties of adult commercial fiction, from book club titles to romantic comedies, genre romance, adult science fiction, fantasy, and romantasy, mysteries, thrillers, suspense, and very select non-fiction. Sarah is currently closed to queries at this time.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions | Member of the AALA | Christian Fiction |Action Adventure | Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | Inspirational Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Satire | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Western Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Biography | Business Book | Celebrity | Cookbook Cooking | Dating Relationships Sex | Design | Film Entertainment | Fitness | Food Drink | Gardening | Gift Novelty | Health Wellness | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Military War Nonfiction | Multicultural Nonfiction | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Photography | Religion | Science | Sports | Technology | Travel |
Biography
Lane Zachary is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin. She is a 25-year veteran of the publishing world, received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and her M.A. in Literature from Boston University. She began her publishing career at The Palmer and Dodge Agency (now Kneerim & Williams), where she sold the long-lost Louisa May Alcott novel, A Long, Fatal Love Chase. In 1996, she co-founded Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, where among many other distinguished authors she represented National Book Award and PEN Faulkner winner Ha Jin; Kingsley Tufts Award-winning poet Tom Sleigh; and Pulitzer Prize winner Gail Caldwell. She also has had the pleasure of working on memoirs including Marina KeeganÕs The Opposite of Loneliness and Broadway star Tovah FeldshuhÕs Lilyville. Biographies she has sold include Joshua KendallÕs The Man Who Made Lists: Love, Death, Madness and the Creation of RogetÕs Thesaurus and Patti HartiganÕs August Wilson: The Kiln in Which He Was Fired. Her authors have been New York Times best sellers as well as recipients of the Rona Jaffe, Guggenheim and PEN Hemingway Awards.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |General Fiction |General Nonfiction | Memoir |
Biography
Marietta Zacker is a literary agent with the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. Marietta has worked with books, authors and illustrators throughout her careerÑstudying, creating, editing, marketing, teaching and selling. She supports independent bookselling, believes in libraries and takes pride in her work as a Latina in the world of publishing. She is always on the lookout for visual and narrative stories that reflect the world we live in, not the bubbles in which we put ourselves. She loves books that make readers feel and shy away from those that set out to teach the reader a lesson. Whether a young adult novel, a middle grade novel or a picture book, she wants readers to identify with the actions and reactions of the characters not the perspective of the author or illustrator. Diversity in the story must be inherent and authentic, not trendy. She is thrilled to shine the spotlight on soulful, insightful, well-crafted, literary or commercial projects aimed at any age group from young adult to the youngest of readers.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Authors and Illustrators Only |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Graphic Novel | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction |Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Illustrated | LGBTQ Nonfiction |
Biography
Leslie Zampetti is a literary agent with and the founder of Open Book Literary. Shelaunched Open Book Literary after experiences with Odom Media Management, Dunham Literary, and The Bent Agency.
A former librarian in special, public, and school libraries, LeslieÕs focus is on the right book at the right time for the reader. Having negotiated with organizations from Lexis-Nexis to elementary school PTAs, she obtains terms that favor her clients while building satisfying relationships with publishers. And after cataloging rocket launch videos for NASA & model rocket ships for elementary school, she welcomes working with the unexpected challenges that pop up in publishing.
Leslie serves as Secretary, Board Member, and on the Communications and Programming Committees of the Association of American Literary Agents, and she is a member of the Society of ChildrenÕs Book Writers and Illustrators.
Leslie received her B.A. in English from Wake Forest University and her M.L.I.S. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a writer herself, familiar with querying from both sides of the desk. A frequent presenter at conferences, workshops, and retreats, you can follow Leslie on social media @literarylesliez .
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Religion | Science | Travel | True Adventure | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Laura Zats is a literary agent with and the co-founder of Headwater Literary Management. For a decade, Laura has worked with books in every way from book selling, to editing and ghostwriting, to helping authors self-publish. A literary agent for over six years, she finds the most joy in working closely with authors to build their long-term careers in ways that contribute positively to their financial and mental health, as well as the greater community. Since 2016, Laura has hosted Print Run, a weekly publishing podcast, with Erik Hane. Passionate about teaching, mentorship, and the role books play in the fight for social justice, she regularly participates in the Manuscript Academy, attends conferences, and is currently serving her third term on the board of the Minnesota Book PublishersÕ Roundtable, a non-profit that provides ongoing education for new and established publishing professionals. In her spare time, Laura plays tabletop role-playing games, follows the long-distance dogsled-racing season from her couch, and drinks a lot of tea. Connect with her on twitter @LZats.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |
Biography
Marisa Zeppieri is a literary agent with the Strachan Literary Agency. After 12 years as a health and food journalist and editor, she followed her love for books and began ghostwriting for a NYC publishing house, in addition to interning at a literary agency.
Her passion for books is only trumped by her love for authors who want to share their life-changing messages with the world. Marisa is currently seeking to champion new talent who create memorable characters with unforgettable words, and she has a soft spot for writers in marginalized communities and persons with disabilities.
She is particularly interested in finding nonfiction authors to build her client list and is only taking on a limited amount of fiction.
Nonfiction interests: Memoir, narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, platform-driven nonfiction, diet and health, Christian spirituality, inspirational, food and cookbooks, self-help, advice, and humor.
Fiction interests: Adult fiction (commercial womenÕs fiction, upmarket fiction, apocalyptic, thrillers, fantasy) and upper YA.
Marisa is not seeking historical romance, erotica, or poetry.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Young Adult Fiction |Christian Fiction | Christian Nonfiction |Commercial Fiction | Dystopian Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Religious Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Diet Nutrition | Food Drink | Health Wellness | Humor Nonfiction | Inspirational Nonfiction | Investigative | Journalism | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality |
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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 
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent! 
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.”
“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.
“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.
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.”
“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!”
“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)!
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!!!”
“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!”
“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.
“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.”
“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.”
“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!!!
“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.
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.”