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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- You are searching within category(ies): Commercial Fiction
Biography
Sam Farkas is a literary agent and foreign rights manager with Jill Grinberg Literary Management. She grew up in South Jersey and attended the College of William & Mary, where she received her B.A. in History and English. Upon graduation, she moved to New York to intern with Maria B. Campbell Associates, where she discovered her love for collaborating with agents and publishers around the world. She worked in the subsidiary rights department at Penguin before she joined the JGLM team in 2018. She handles foreign rights for all JGLM authors. An avid traveler, Sam has been to 14 countries spanning 4 continents, and dreams of visiting them all. She speaks Spanish, and can often be found on language-learning apps.
Above all, Sam is drawn to exemplary writing.
In Adult, Sam is looking for upmarket fiction of all stripes, but especially historical; fast-paced, high-concept speculative thrillers that make her heart race; lyrical and immersive fantasy; and single-title romance that simmers.
Sam is also open to Young Adult and Middle Grade of all genres, but she has a special fondness for thoughtful contemporary, often with a speculative twist; historical with modern sensibilities; fantasy with morally gray protagonists and complicated character dynamics; the very strange, and the very funny.
In all categories and genres, she is looking for diverse and underrepresented voices.
Notes
CLOSED to Submissions |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Food Drink | History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Travel |
Biography
James Farner is a literary agent with the Jabberwocky Literary Agency. She is an Agency Assistant for JABberwocky Literary Agency, directly assisting COO Brady McReynolds. He was born and raised in the Midwest, received his bachelor’s degree in English writing and religious studies from the University of Oklahoma (where he interned with award-winning literary magazine World Literature Today), and moved to New York City to attend The New School for Social Research’s Liberal Studies master’s program. He started at JABberwocky as an intern in 2019 and became full-time in 2021.
James grew up reading epic fantasies and sweeping space operas, but these days the majority of his reading is in the mystery/thriller space. When he’s not reading, his minimal free time goes to keeping up with the best TV series and listening to podcasts in the tech-adjacent, pop-culture sphere.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Commercial Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Thriller |
Biography
James Farner is a literary agent with the Jabberwocky Literary Agency. She is an Agency Assistant for JABberwocky Literary Agency, directly assisting COO Brady McReynolds. He was born and raised in the Midwest, received his bachelorÕs degree in English writing and religious studies from the University of Oklahoma (where he interned with award-winning literary magazine World Literature Today), and moved to New York City to attend The New School for Social ResearchÕs Liberal Studies masterÕs program. He started at JABberwocky as an intern in 2019 and became full-time in 2021.
James grew up reading epic fantasies and sweeping space operas, but these days the majority of his reading is in the mystery/thriller space. When heÕs not reading, his minimal free time goes to keeping up with the best TV series and listening to podcasts in the tech-adjacent, pop-culture sphere.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Commercial Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Thriller |
Biography
Katherine Fausset is a literary agent with the Curtis Brown Literary Agency. Katherine Fausset has worked in book publishing since 1998, starting at the Watkins/Loomis Agency. She joined Curtis Brown, Ltd. as an agent in 2006. She represents literary and commercial fiction, and select non-fiction, including multiple award-winning and national bestselling authors.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Health Wellness | History | Journalism | Lifestyle | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Religion | Self-Help | Spirituality | Travel |
Biography
Jessica Faust is a literary agent with the BookEnds Literary Agency. As owner and literary agent at BookEnds, she is honored to spend every day with some of the most talented authors and agents in the business. From BookEndsÕ inception in 1999, Jessica has always believed that her number one job is to be an author advocate. As BookEnds has grown, she now adds agent advocate to that responsibility.
In addition to constantly growing BookEnds in new and innovative directions, Jessica represents many bestselling and award-winning authors. Her focus is on bringing more underrepresented and marginalized voices into publishing and her areas of expertise include mystery, suspense, upmarket, literary, and women’s fiction. In nonfiction, sheÕs seeking books and authors who will make her a better person and a better leader.
Jessica began her career as an acquisitions editor at Berkley Publishing, Macmillan, and Wiley. In addition to nearly 15 years of blogging, Jessica has a regular role on the BookEnds YouTube channel, has taught at New York University’s Continuing Education Program, written a publishing column, and has been honored by a number of different publishing organizations. Jessica hosts workshops and speaking engagements throughout the world and is a member of AALA.
While her heart will always be in Minnesota, Jessica now lives in New Jersey with her family. Outside of BookEnds, JessicaÕs passions include kettlebell lifting, walking Olive, skiing, paddle boarding, cooking, baking, reading other people’s books, and generally laughing with friends and family.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Money Finance | Multicultural Nonfiction | Psychology | Self-Help | Spirituality | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Hillary Fazzari is a literary agent with the Bradford Literary Agency. She joined the Bradford Literary Agency as the agency’s assistant in 2022 before moving into agenting in 2023. Prior to that, she served as a long-term reader and editor for another literary agency, interned at Writers House, and worked for Scholastic. She is a highly editorial agent and is looking for high concept, high stakes stories with deep character development and gorgeous, commercial prose. Overall, she acquires primarily Middle Grade and YA, and is open to any genre in those areas, including graphic novels. In New Adult and Adult, she acquires more selectively and is open to:
Rom-coms;
Romantasy;
SFF with strong romantic elements; important female, queer, and/or nonbinary characters; and emotive plotlines; and
Very select narrative nonfiction that focuses on history.
For more details on what she is looking for in each category, please visit her Manuscript Wishlist Page. Overall, she is eager to see submissions from BIPOC and queer authors, loves magic systems and worldbuilding rooted in non-Western cultures, and appreciates the deep trauma, high emotion, and high stakes of K-dramas, C-dramas, J-dramas, etc., which means that she is eager to see stories in any genre or area she represents that contain similar vibes.
One of the best ways to catch Hillary’s attention is to have your story feature a strong romance and also be fun, highly emotive, deeply staked, and exciting all at the same time! Glitz, political/court intrigue, interesting settings, A-spec characters, Black joy, and diaspora, immigrant, and refugee experiences are all things she is very open to and not just in rom-com or contemporary; she would also love to see more of these elements featured or centered in SFF as well.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction |Art | History | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Hillary Fazzari is a literary agent with the Bradford Literary Agency. She joined the Bradford Literary Agency as the agencyÕs assistant in 2022 before moving into agenting in 2023. Prior to that, she served as a long-term reader and editor for another literary agency, interned at Writers House, and worked for Scholastic. She is a highly editorial agent and is looking for high concept, high stakes stories with deep character development and gorgeous, commercial prose. Overall, she acquires primarily Middle Grade and YA, and is open to any genre in those areas, including graphic novels. In New Adult and Adult, she acquires more selectively and is open to:
Rom-coms;
Romantasy;
SFF with strong romantic elements; important female, queer, and/or nonbinary characters; and emotive plotlines; and
Very select narrative nonfiction that focuses on history.
For more details on what she is looking for in each category, please visit her Manuscript Wishlist Page. Overall, she is eager to see submissions from BIPOC and queer authors, loves magic systems and worldbuilding rooted in non-Western cultures, and appreciates the deep trauma, high emotion, and high stakes of K-dramas, C-dramas, J-dramas, etc., which means that she is eager to see stories in any genre or area she represents that contain similar vibes.
One of the best ways to catch HillaryÕs attention is to have your story feature a strong romance and also be fun, highly emotive, deeply staked, and exciting all at the same time! Glitz, political/court intrigue, interesting settings, A-spec characters, Black joy, and diaspora, immigrant, and refugee experiences are all things she is very open to and not just in rom-com or contemporary; she would also love to see more of these elements featured or centered in SFF as well.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Fantasy | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction |Art | History | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Don Fehr is the Senior Vice President and a literary agent with Trident Media Group. After a twenty-year career in senior-level editorial jobs (Atheneum, Addison-Wesley, Viking Penguin, and Basic Books) and as a publisher (Smithsonian/Harper Collins), Don Fehr joined the Trident literary agency in 2010. His industry reputation is that of an editorÕs editor, intensely loyal, author-centered, and entrepreneurial in the publishing and marketing of his writers. And his experience in working with authors in many genres and subject areas, ranging from bestsellers to award winners, has given him a sense of what works in the marketplace.
Don has published over a dozen New York Times bestsellers, and his authors and books have won numerous awards, including The Nobel Prize for Literature, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the P.E.N. Faulkner Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award, the Bancroft Prize, among others. Prominent authors he has worked with over the years have included political and legal commentators Jeffrey Toobin and Alan Dershowitz, medical writers, Dr. Sherwin B. Nuland, Dr. Pauline Chen and Dr. Haider Warraich, psychiatrist Peter D. Kramer, historians Niall Ferguson, Charles Maier, Sven Beckert, Jeremy Adelman, Eliga Gould, David Oshinsky, Sunil Amrith, Patricia Limerick, Christopher Andrew, W. Bruce Lincoln, Walter McDougall, Thomas Fleming, Robert Cowley, David Reynolds, Lonnie Bunch, Leslie Harris, Willard Sterne Randall, John Jeffries Martin, Robert Harms, Omer Bartov, Amir Weiner, Tara Zahra, Dagmar Herzog, Edith Sheffer, Jeffrey Veidlinger, James Loeffler, Hasia Diner, Jochen Hellbeck, Nancy Sinkoff, Peter Baldwin, Priya Satia, Jennifer Mittelstadt, Bathsheba Demuth, Nile Green, and Richard Evans, novelists Peter Handke, Charles Johnson, Ishmael Reed, Kathryn Harrison, and Kenneth Bonert, poets Patrick Phillips and Kathleen Spivack, scientists and science writers Carl Zimmer, Franz De Waal, Daniela Schiller, Ian Tattersall, Robert DeSalle, and Melvin Konner, theologians Harvey Cox, Richard John Neuhaus, Mark C. Taylor, Timothy Beal, Thomas Tweed, and Gary Dorrien, actors Simon Callow and Klaus Kinski, pianist Andras Schiff, and other authors including Christopher Hitchens, Paul Berman, Thomas Sowell, Gerald Early, Richard Rhodes, Richard Reeves, Bruce Chatwin, Kevin Philips, John Yoo, Randy Barnett, Fred Waitzkin, Maura Spiegel, Jean Pfaelzer, Tony Platt, Brent Edwards, Ted Genoways, Nathaniel Comfort, and Caroline Fraser.
ÒNow I am using my experience and insights as a book agent to help my authors navigate the internal and changing dynamics of the publishing processes to maximize the upside while still protecting their long-term interests,Ó says Don. ÒI roam widely in terms of subject areas and categories that interest me, but what always catches my attention first is the authorÕs voice. Just about everything flows from that. I must be pulled in by the authorÕs voice before I get interested in the story or subject.Ó says Don.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Autobiography | Biography | Business Book | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Fitness | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel |
Biography
Leigh Feldman is a literary agent with and the founder of Leigh Feldman Literary. She says: “During her thirty years in the publishing industry, Leigh Feldman has represented authors of literary and commercial adult fiction, young-adult fiction, short stories, middle-grade series, narrative non-fiction, and memoirs. Leigh began her career with Darhansoff & Verrill, where she represented National Book Award winner Cold Mountain and best-selling Memoirs of a Geisha. Leigh’s identification with the teens, in Sarah Dessen’s first novel, That Summer (1996), was the beginning of an Author/Agent relationship spanning 25+ years and 14 best-selling novels.
Leigh moved to Writers House in 2011 and subsequently started her eponymous agency; Leigh Feldman Literary.
Leigh Feldman LiteraryÕs list of clients has always been extremely selective; allowing the attention and support services they deserve. Though discriminating, the agency is open to considering talented writers who have been honing their craft for years. Whatever the genre, LFL is drawn to books with complex, believable, sympathetic characters, that transport the reader into a world both new and unexpected, and stories that compel readers to put aside all daily cares and turn the page.
If your work fits this description (AND, you consider yourself “a writer”–rather than someone who has a “great idea for a book”) — please follow the submission guidelines below.
Watch Leigh in conversation with Priyanka Champaneri and Restless Books editor and marketing director, Nathan Rostron, for AuthorÕs Guild.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Short Story Collection |Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Jessica Felleman is a literary agent with the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. She began her publishing career in Los Angeles after receiving her MFA in writing from CalArts. She relocated to New York in 2015, where she spent five years at Foundry Literary + Media. She represents a range of creators, loves fresh stories about magic, and looks for commercial and literary fiction featuring underserved voices, unforgettable places, and complicated families. Jessica specializes in popular nonfiction and prescriptive titles that offer realistic advice or new perspectives to help readers better understand themselves and the world, including the #1 New York Times Bestseller THE HIDDEN POWER OF F*CKING UP by The Try Guys.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Science Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Animals | Art | Biography | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Design | Environment | Film Entertainment | Food Drink | Gardening | Gift Novelty | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Sports | Technology | Travel | True Adventure | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Aurora Fernandez is an associate literary agent with Trident Media Group. She She joined the agency in 2021 as an assistant to Robert Gottlieb. Before joining Trident, Aurora was an intern at Simone Garzella International Book Scouting and attended the Columbia Publishing Course. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Political Science from Wellesley College and spent a year studying at St. PeterÕs College, Oxford University.
Aurora is open to submissions and excited to work with authors. Aurora is looking for romance, womenÕs fiction, thrillers, and upmarket fiction. On the commercial end, she loves books that feature swoon worthy romance, strong friendships, and witty dialogue. Aurora is also interested in thrillers with complicated female relationships, a good twist, and gothic or dark academia elements. For upmarket books, she is especially drawn to books with interesting female dynamics, moral dilemmas with no clearcut answer, unexplored perspectives of historical moments, and, of course, a unique hook backed by great writing. And anything involving mythic retellings or witches will definitely catch her eye!
While AuroraÕs interests mainly lie in fiction, she is open to nonfiction submissions. For nonfiction submissions, Aurora is looking for memoirs, narrative nonfictions, forgotten moments in history, and microhistories. Particular topics that interest her are pop culture, modern dating, mental health, womenÕs health, and true crime.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Chick Lit | Commercial Fiction | Magical Realism | Romance | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Dating Relationships Sex | Health Wellness | History | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Self-Help | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Rose Ferrao is a literary agent with the P.S. Literary Agency. She began her publishing career in London, working in non-fiction at Bloomsbury and science fiction, fantasy and horror at Orbit Books. She has a BA in English Literature and Film from QueenÕs University and an MA in Publishing from University College London. Rose has a wide range of reading tastes, but she is particularly drawn to compelling, character-driven stories that embrace the weird and wondrous. Outside of work, she spends her time cooking and watching too many movies.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Gothic Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Beauty Fashion Style | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Family | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Music | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Travel | True Crime | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Moe Ferrara is a literary agent with BookEnds Literary Agency. Becoming a literary agent was fitting for the girl who, as a small child, begged her dad to buy her a book simply because Òit has a hard cover.Ó Growing up, she had a hard time finding YA books outside of Christopher Pike and R. L. Stine, and instead tackled Tom Clancy or her momÕs romance novels. Though her career path zigzagged a bitÑshe attended college as a music major, earned a JD from Pace Law School, then worked various jobs throughout the publishing industryÑMoe was thrilled to join the BookEnds team as a literary agent and the foreign rights manager.
She is seeking: Moe is interested in science fiction and fantasy for all age groups (no picture books). She loves a bit (or a lot!) of romance in her fiction, so the right contemporary or historical romance will spark her interest. SheÕs LGBTQ friendly, so send her that male/male erotic romance in your back pocket! At this time sheÕs not looking for nonfiction, womenÕs fiction, or cozy mysteries.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Picture Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | New Adult Fiction | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction |Biography | Film Entertainment | History | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Music | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Reference |
Biography
Jenni Ferrari-Adler is a literary agent with Verve Talent & Literary Agency. She says “I have twenty years of experience in book publishing and have been an agent since 2006.
After graduating from Oberlin with a major in creative writing I worked as a bookseller for Housing Works Bookstore and a reader at The Paris Review before taking a job as an assistant to Nat Sobel at Sobel Weber Associates. After four years there I moved to Ann Arbor Michigan to pursue an MFA in Fiction. I spent two years writing millions of pages of a novel that are in the proverbial drawer. I won the Chamberlin Award for Creative Writing. As a direct result of getting obsessed with cooking for only myself I created and edited the anthology ALONE IN THE KITCHEN WITH AN EGGPLANT: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone which was published by Riverhead. I have published my own short stories and essays in places including Glimmer Train, Bellevue Literary Review, New York Magazine, and Tin House. I taught Fiction at the University of Michigan and at The Gotham WritersÕ Workshop.
I worked for many years at Union Literary building the agencyÕs cookbook list from scratch and selling a lot of inventive fabulous fiction including the story ÒCat PersonÓ to the New Yorker.
I live in Brooklyn where I volunteer for Casa and enjoy doing many of these things simultaneously: cooking, walking the dog, wrangling the children, reading books, and watching television.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Short Story Collection | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Food Drink | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Melanie Figueroa is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “I want to work with the kind of stories that both create and sustain life-long readersÑbooks that make me sigh with contentment, learn something new, or take delight in the unexpected. Those stories stay with you, and they’re a gift I want to help give readers by lifting up the voices of talented and hard-working creatives.
I’m actively looking for fiction and narrative nonfiction. I’m especially excited to find high-concept commercial and literary leaning general fiction, young adult novels with a strong voice and propulsive pacing, and heartfelt and humorous middle grade novels across genres. I was born and raised in Southern California in a multi-cultural, blended family, so I have a soft spot for books that shine a spotlight on the nuances of family relationships and identity.
In all casesÑno matter what genre youÕre writing inÑI want to read books that are inclusive and that accurately reflect our world. I like characters who arenÕt your typical lead and to be surprised by the unexpected.”
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Gothic Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Magical Realism | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Science Fiction | Speculative Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Business Book | Dating Relationships Sex | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
Celeste Fine is a literary agent and founding partner with Park & Fine Literary and Media. Celeste advises dozens of New York Times bestselling authors, who sell millions of copies of their books in every language around the world. Clients include Janet Evanovich, Deb Harkness, Helen Hoang, Debbie Macomber, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Nicholas Sparks, Jennifer Weiner, and Hal Elrod, David Goggins, Sara Szal Gottfried, Andrew Huberman, William Li, Uma Naidoo, and JJ Virgin.
In addition to working closely with clients to develop their proposals and edit their manuscripts, Celeste is known for negotiating 7- and 8-figure deals. She and her team thoughtfully counsel on marketing and publicity campaigns, television, film, and theatrical adaptations, international rights deals, audio rights, speaking representation, endorsements, social media, book tours and events, and book clubs. Her goal is to keep people paying attention to her authors and their books, year after year, while helping her clients enjoy ambitious and sustainable careers.
Celeste has a special interest in authors who have been writing books with some success and are ready to break out in exciting new directions; bestselling authors who are looking for more robust representation and/or want a fresh take on reaching readers; screenwriters who can write books; and scientists, researchers, and podcasters. In fiction, she is currently seeking upmarket commercial fiction, suspense, and thriller stories that can crossover to television and film. And in nonfiction, she is always looking for authors who want to change the world.
Originally from California, Celeste graduated magna cum laude in Government from Harvard University, received certifications in international conflict resolution and mediation in The Hague, and serves on the Board of Education in Redding, CT. She takes seriously her role as a member of her clientsÕ trusted inner circles.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Science | Technology |
Biography
Melissa Flashman is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Melissa Flashman majored in English at Wesleyan University. After stints in the English Ph.D. program at Johns Hopkins, commercial and indie radio, the advertising world and something called cool-hunting (it was the late Ô90s), she got her first job in publishing working as an assistant in the literary department of ICM before moving to Trident Media Group where she was a literary agent for over ten years before joining Janklow & Nesbit Associates in 2017.
Melissa represents award-winning and best-selling fiction and nonfiction. In nonfiction, she is particularly interested in conversation-changing books including journalism, science, technology, business/finance/economics, memoir/narrative, essays and cultural criticism. She is drawn to a range of literary and commercial fiction and is particularly excited about stories that touch on the deeper meaning of life, family, identity and love. A good page-turner is always welcome.
MelissaÕs authors have won numerous awards including the National Book Critic Circle Award, the Rona Jaffe Award, the Hugo Award, n + 1 writerÕs fellowship, The NationÕs Ridenhour Prize and the American Book Award among others. A former first serial and magazine agent, she enjoys helping her writers place journalism, essays and fiction in a range of publications including The New Yorker, HarperÕs, the New York Times, Vogue, The Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, the Paris Review, n + 1, Tin House, the Baffler and Jacobin.
Some recent titles by her authors include Sweetbitter (Knopf) by Stephanie Danler; The Selfishness of Others (FSG) by Kristin Dombek; Winning Arguments (HarperCollins) by Stanley Fish; Trainwreck (Melville House) by Sady Doyle; The Utopia of Rules (Melville House) by David Graeber; The Future We Want: Radical Ideas for the New Century (Metropolitan) ed. by Sarah Leonard and Bhaskar Sunkara; The Road to Ruin (Portfolio) by James Rickards; and O Fallen Angel (Harper Perennial) and Book of Mutter (Semiotext(e)) by Kate Zambreno.
She lives in Brooklyn; find her on Twitter @melflashman.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Commercial Fiction | Family Saga | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Art | Biography | Business Book | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | Economics | Family | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Humor Nonfiction | Journalism | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Parenting | Photography | Politics | Pop Culture | Reference | Science | Self-Help | Technology |
Biography
Caitie Flum is a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates. She joined Liza Dawson Associates in July 2014 as assistant and audio rights manager. She graduated from Hofstra University in 2009 with a B.A. in English with a concentration in publishing studies. She interned at Hachette Book Group and Writers House. She was an editorial assistant then coordinator for Bookspan, where she worked on several clubs including the Book-of-the-Month Club, The Good Cook, and the ChildrenÕs Book-of-the-Month Club.
Notes
Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Historical Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Thriller | Upmarket Fiction | Women’s Fiction |Crafts | Current Events Affairs | History | Humor Nonfiction | Investigative | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Multicultural Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Women’s Issues |
Biography
Katherine Flynn is a literary agent with Calligraph. Katherine has been an agent since 2008. Her clients are award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling writers. Recently, her authors have won or been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the George Washington Prize, the Hillman Prize for the Common Good, and the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, alongside numerous best-of-the-year selections and many other accolades.
Katherine represents history, biography, politics, current affairs, investigative journalism, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, pop culture, adventure, true crime, science, nature, medicine, business, sociology, and psychology. She also represents select fiction, and is fond of urban or foreign locales, crime novels, insight into women’s lives, biting wit, and historical settings. That said, she is open to anything that is well-written and contains a good, fresh story or big idea. She prizes securing major deals for her authors with quality publishers and placing international and film/tv rights for their books.
Prior to establishing Calligraph, Katherine worked at the Kneerim & Williams Agency for fifteen years. She previously edited history textbooks, taught English literature and composition to high school students, and worked in a rare book shop. She serves as the publishing consultant to Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute and is a Boston Book Festival board member. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University and then pursued her Ph.D. in History at Brown University, where she is now A.B.D.
Notes
Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Juvenile Nonfiction | Middle Grade Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Economics | Environment | Food Drink | Health Wellness | History | How-To | Investigative | Journalism | Lifestyle | Medical Medicine | Memoir | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Parenting | Politics | Pop Culture | Psychology | Science | Self-Help | Sports | Technology | True Adventure | True Crime |
Biography
Carolyn Forde is an literary agent for adult authors with the Transatlantic Agency. Previous to joining Transatlantic Agency in 2019, where she is now Senior Agent and Partner, Carolyn was a literary agent and International Rights Director at another agency for 14 years.
Carolyn attends the London Book Fair, the Frankfurt Book Fair and, more recently, the Bologna Book Fair. She also travels to New York and LA regularly, promoting her authors and their work.
She represents authors who have won or been nominated for many awards and distinctions including but not limited to the following: Governor GeneralÕs Award, Scotiabank Giller Prize, RBC Taylor Prize, Writers Trust Hilary Weston Award, Trillium Book Award, Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-fiction, BC National Book Award, Toronto Book Award, Jim Connors Dartmouth Book Award, Margaret and John Savage First Book Award, Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, Speakers Award, Toronto Heritage Book Award, Hugo Prix for Best Foreign Thriller (France), Kobo Emerging Writer Award, Arthur Ellis Awards, LAMDA Awards, Indigo author of the month, as well as many national and international bestsellers.
Carolyn is an active member of the literary community, having been a speaker or mentor at the Surrey International WritersÕ Conference, Muskoka Literary Festival, DarkLit Literary Festival, Word on the Street, Writers Group of Durham, Ontario WritersÕ Conference, Willamette Writers Conference, Pacific Northwest Writers Conference, Thrillerfest, Diaspora Dialogues and the Canadian Authors Association and is a founding member and current President of the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents (PACLA), she is also Co-chair of the Toronto International Festival of AuthorsÕ International Visitor Committee.
Carolyn has lived and worked in Japan, Mexico and the Czech Republic and is a dual citizen of Canada and the UK.
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Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | Narrative Nonfiction |
Biography
David Forrer is a literary agent with InkWell Management. David began his career in publishing in 1997 after receiving a Masters in Creative Writing (fiction) from Boston University. He has been an agent with InkWell Management since it was created in 2004. His areas of interest and representation range from literary, commercial, historical and crime fiction to suspense/thriller, humorous non-fiction and popular history.
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Accepting Submissions |Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Biography | Current Events Affairs | Dating Relationships Sex | Diet Nutrition | History | Humor Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Religion | Science | Self-Help | Spirituality | Technology |
Biography
Roz Foster is a literary agent with the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. She joined the Goldin Agency in 2019 after six years as a literary agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She holds a BA in English Literature from UCSD, an MA in English from Portland State University, and studied Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. SheÕs passionate about books that explore vital human themesÑmorality, purpose, freedom, faith, hierarchy, success, violence, meaning, love, and death. She loves writing that has emotional depth, makes insightful observations, and demonstrates exquisite linguistic skill.
Roz is seeking literary fiction, often with a genre element. SheÕs especially drawn to literary speculative and grounded sci-fi. SheÕs also looking for literary supernatural, mystery, crime, and thriller. She enjoys dark stories with big questions at their core. Some of her favorite authors are Kazuo Ishiguro, JosŽ Saramago, Katie Kitamura, Y_ko Ogawa, Tana French, Karl Ove KnausgŒrd, and Rachel Cusk. In nonfiction, sheÕs interested in narrative nonfiction, history, tech, science, and design.
Recent titles include Scott Alexander HowardÕs THE OTHER VALLEY (Atria & Scribner Canada; television rights to Universal/Working Title); Robin BernsteinÕs FREEMANÕS CHALLENGE: THE MURDER THAT SHOOK AMERICAÕS ORIGINAL PRISON FOR PROFIT (U of Chicago Press); Surekha DaviesÕs HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY (UC Press); Christopher Paul HarrisÕs TO BUILD A BLACK FUTURE (Princeton UP); and Benjamin WeberÕs AMERICAN PURGATORY: PRISON IMPERIALISM AND THE RISE OF MASS INCARCERATION (New Press). Select titles through the Dijkstra Agency include Constance SayersÕs A WITCH IN TIME, THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS and THE STAR & THE STRANGE MOON (Redhook); Susan OÕDonovanÕs BECOMING CITIZENS (Penguin Press); and Daniel RussellÕs THE JOY OF SEARCH (MIT Press).
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Commercial Fiction | Crime Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Current Events Affairs | Design | History | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Politics | Science | Technology |
Renee Fountain
Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary ManagementAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email >Biography
Renee Fountain is a literary agent with Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management. She’s also the president and a publishing industry veteran, a reviewer for Kirkus and New York Journal of Books, and a book scout for The CW Network.
During her almost decade-long tenure with major houses such as Harcourt Brace and Simon & Schuster, Ms. Fountain had the great fortune of working with some of the best writers and illustrators in the publishing world.
Additionally, with more than ten years of licensing and branding experience, she has been involved in creating book-related merchandise including iconic favorites such as Raggedy Ann and Nancy Drew; as well as brokering film and television options.
Renee is looking for all types of adult and YA fiction and non-fiction. She prefers: thrillers, horror/dark fantasy, urban/contemporary fantasy, humor, sci-fi, pop-culture, memoirs, and narrative/commercial. She DOES NOT represent previously published books (including self-published), Westerns, Hard Science Fiction, Space Opera, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Erotica, Poetry, Novellas or Short Story Collections.
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Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Espionage Military Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | General Fiction | Horror | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Literary Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Science Fiction | Sports Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Biography | Business Book | Cookbook Cooking | Economics | Health Wellness | History | Humor Nonfiction | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Lifestyle | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Money Finance | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Psychology | Sports | True Crime |
Biography
Aram Fox is a literary agent with Massie & McQuilkin. He represents a mix of fiction and nonfiction. His favorite novelists, commercial as well as literary, put immersive storytelling front and center. In nonfiction, heÕs looking for powerful memoir, natural history, deeply reported narrative nonfiction, and world-class explainers and advice-givers. At age 26, Aram founded a book scouting agency where for 23 years he represented international publishers and American film/TV companies, guiding his publisher and film/TV clients to acquire a WhoÕs Who of bestsellers and prize-winners, including: Brit Bennett, Peter Godfrey-Smith, Lauren Oyler, HonorŽe Fanonne Jeffers, Bill Gates, George Saunders, Angela Duckworth, Patrick Radden Keefe, Dave Grohl, Lena Dunham, Emma Cline, Harlan Coben, Jeff VanderMeer, Alex Honnold and Andy Weir among many others.
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Accepting Submissions | New Literary Agents |Commercial Fiction | General Fiction | Literary Fiction |General Nonfiction | History | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Nature | Politics | Science |
Biography
Diana Fox is a literary agent with Fox Literary. Diana is also the owner of Fox Literary. She says: “I am actively seeking the following: young adult fiction (all genres), science fiction/fantasy, romance, historical fiction, thrillers, and graphic novels. I’m always interested in books that cross genres and reinvent popular concepts with an engaging new twist (especially when thereÕs a historical and/or speculative element involved).
On the nonfiction side I’m interested in memoirs, biography, and smart narrative nonfiction; I particularly enjoy memoirs and other nonfiction about sex work, addiction and recovery, and pop culture.”
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Accepting Submissions |Juvenile Nonfiction | Young Adult Fiction | Young Adult Nonfiction | Commercial Fiction | Fantasy | General Fiction | Graphic Novel | Historical Fiction | Horror | Literary Fiction | Romance | Science Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller |General Nonfiction | Beauty Fashion Style | Biography | Dating Relationships Sex | Food Drink | History | Memoir | Mind Body Spirit | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Science | Travel |
Biography
Kat Foxx is an assistant agent with The Rights Factory. Kathleen joined The Rights Factory as an editorial assistant in early 2023 and was promoted to Assistant Agent in the fall of the same year. She has an editorial background, running a freelance fiction editing company. Kat is also a writer and is heavily involved in the online writing community. She also produces/hosts the #badasswriters podcast, edits audio for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast, and is a founder/host of #MoodPitch.
Outside of creative work, Kat enjoys travelling, photography, creative cooking, hiking, and spending time in OntarioÕs beautiful cottage country. SheÕs a proud mom of five kids. She *loves* cats, coffee, chocolate, cheese, Argentinian wine. Outlander, This Is Us, YouÕve Got Mail, John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, and Tom Hanks are favourites!
Kat is building her list of exceptionally talented authors in commercial and book club fiction as well as some select nonfiction topics. She keeps a detailed MSWL and what sheÕs looking for in queries on her website at kathleenfoxxagent.com/mswl.
In fiction, sheÕs looking for Adult and YA thriller/mystery/suspense, gothic and supernatural horror, historical fiction (preferably pre-20th century), historical fantasy/magical realism (less magicians/wizards/kings/queens and more witches, ghosts, time travel, past lives, etc.), and romcom and romance (light spice). She also enjoys anything nostalgic and anything to do with past lives and soul connections, haunted houses, ancestry, and midwifery/natural childbirth. Kat *loves* creepy, scary stories that make her eyes water and give her goosebumps! Across ages and genres, stories that normalize blended, single-parent, adoptive, racially and/or culturally diverse, and same-sex relationships and families are high on her list.
For nonfiction, Kat is seeking compelling memoirs that read like fiction, motherhood/natural pregnancy and childbirth/midwifery/planned unassisted births, single parenthood (especially if paired with overcoming an abusive relationship with the other parent), past life/reincarnation, the ÒbrotherhoodÓ mentality of law enforcement, narcissistic abuse recovery, true crime, wine/food/travel, a history of witches and witchcraft, and ancient locations/civilizations.
Please do not query Kat with: picture books or MG stories, political or legal thrillers, erotica, extreme violence or torture, space operas, graphic novels, poetry, epic or high fantasies, hardcore sci-fi, werewolves, demons, vampires (unless theyÕre human-friendly or like ADOW), high-tech stories, anything to do with politics, AI-generated stories, biographies, academic works, self-help, health and fitness, sports, science, DIY, or religious-centred works.
Kat is always seeking projects from BIPOC, disabled, neurodiverse, and historically underrepresented writers and would love to see more LGBTQIA+ stories/writers!
On Twitter (X), Instagram, and Threads, Kat can be found @_LiteraryKat_ and on Blue Sky @literarykat
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CLOSED to Submissions | New Literary Agents |Young Adult Fiction | BIPOC Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Crime Fiction | Family Saga | Fantasy | Gothic Fiction | Historical Fiction | Horror | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | Multicultural Fiction | Mystery | Paranormal Fiction | Romance | Speculative Fiction | Suspense Fiction | Thriller | Women’s Fiction |BIPOC Nonfiction | Cookbook Cooking | Cultural Social Issues | Dating Relationships Sex | Environment | Family | Food Drink | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Parenting | Psychology | Spirituality | Travel | True Crime |
Biography
Abigail Frank is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is passionate about stories for young people, especially those that are hilarious, poetic, quietly heartbreaking, and/or swoon-worthy, and she cares about voice, above all. She gravitates towards picture books that feel entirely original, chapter books with big personalities, and novels about unforgettable teens falling in love. She is committed to advocating for the work of marginalized authors and artists, and sheÕs actively looking for stories that allow young readers to recognize themselves in the books they love. She is also looking for select adult projects, including narrative nonfiction (especially if it explores pop culture, healthcare, or higher education) and rom-com-y commercial fiction.
Abigail joined the Greenburger team in 2017 after interning at Writers House. Formerly an assistant to Brenda Bowen, she now assists Faith Hamlin with her extraordinary and eclectic list of clients. Abigail graduated with a degree in English Literature from Swarthmore College and worked in healthcare before pursuing her passion for books. Find her mostly retweeting @abigailcrfrank
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Accepting Submissions | Member of the AALA |Picture Book | Chapter Book | Middle Grade Fiction | Young Adult Fiction | Action Adventure | Commercial Fiction | Contemporary Fiction | Erotic Fiction | Graphic Novel | Humor Fiction | LGBTQ Fiction | Magical Realism | New Adult Fiction | Romance | Sports Fiction | Western Fiction | Women’s Fiction |General Nonfiction | Beauty Fashion Style | Crafts | Cultural Social Issues | History | Humor Nonfiction | Illustrated | Journalism | LGBTQ Nonfiction | Memoir | Narrative Nonfiction | Pop Culture | Spirituality | Sports |