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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
Stephany Evans is a literary agent with Ayesha Pande Literary. She put a toe in the publishing waters at Simon & Schuster Audio when audio publishing was just beginning to be Òa thing.Ó Now, for more than twenty-five years, Stephany has represented nonfiction writers in the areas of health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food and drink, and sustainability, running and fitness, memoir and narrative nonfiction. She also represents a range of womenÕs fiction, from literary to upmarket commercial, to romance, as well as crime fiction (mysteries, thrillers), and the occasional literary or commercial novel not aimed at a female market. She is looking for fine, accomplished writing, whether the work is by a first time or established author. She loves to be told a great story! Stephany is a member of the Association of AuthorsÕ Representatives (AAR), the RWA, the MWA and the Agents Round Table (ART). She has served as ghostwriter on seven published books in the categories of memoir and spirituality.
Notes
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Environment, Fitness, Food Drink, Gardening, Health Wellness, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Spirituality, Women’s Issues
Biography
Suzy Evans is a literary agent with and the founder of Suzy Evans Literary Agency. She says: “IÕm a literary agent, attorney, and author who holds a Ph.D. in history from UC Berkeley. My books include Machiavelli for Moms (Simon & Schuster) and Forgotten Crimes: The Holocaust and People with Disabilities. IÕm also a former ghostwriter for a #1 New York Times bestselling author with 30 million copies sold and my work has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Parade, McSweeneys, and The London Times.” In the adult market, IÕm on the hunt for great serious nonfiction, especially by historians looking to make a transition from an academic to trade audience and journalists who have something unique and significant to say. IÕm also on the lookout for smart parenting books with useful, original hooks (bonus points for humor!); food, health, and wellness titles, sports books with smart crossover appeal in other genres, especially history and philosophy (IÕd LOVE to find the next Golf in the Kingdom or Zen and the Art of Archery); self-help by experts with established platforms and riveting, elegantly-rendered memoir (favorites include William FinneganÕs Barbarian Days and Paul KalanithiÕs When Breath Becomes Air), as well as science and nature, pop culture, Òbig ideaÓ books about controversial issues, and small, quirky books that make me smile or think about the world in entirely new and surprising ways. IÕd also love to find a great legal thriller and IÕm ALWAYS on the hunt for timely and important books by and about smart, strong, badass women! On the childrenÕs front, I have a great love of middle grade and am on the hunt for lively, engaging nonfiction that pops off the page and makes kids excited about reading and learning; wacky/hilarious commercial MG fiction with series potential; and graphic novels that bring history, great works of literature, and fascinating historical figures (think Socrates! Machiavelli! Hamilton!) to life. I also have a soft spot for coming-of-age MG works, YA fiction that tackles difficult issues in bold, daring ways and with inventive formats that can be brought into the classroom to stimulate meaningful discussion and debate, and sweet, lyrical picture books that capture the imagination and call for multiple readings (classic and recent favorites include Stellaluna, Finding Winnie, Sarah and the Big Wave and The Cat Who Walked Across France). IÕd also love to find contemporary MG/YA fiction that explores diversity in all its glorious manifestations and a smart, high-concept thriller that has ÒMOVIE!Ó written all over it. Now for three random things about me: I donÕt have a sense of smell, I have a serious fear of boredom, butterflies, and Great White Sharks, and I drive my kids crazy with my REALLY bad jokes, like my all-time favorite: Why donÕt lobsters like to share? Because theyÕre shellfish!!! Ha!! And three of my favorite quotes include: ÒFind a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life.Ó Ð Mark Twain ÒThree things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.Ó Ð Henry James And: ÒFollow your bliss.Ó Ð Joseph Campbell
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Sports Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Diet Nutrition, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Philosophy, Pop Culture, Science, Self-Help, Sports, Travel CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Samantha Fabien is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: ÒI live for the rollercoaster of emotions that characters and stories can take me on. Whether IÕm swooning or gasping, I want to feel strongly enough about a project that I desperately need to share it with the world.Ó
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Lifestyle, Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Mark Falkin is a literary agent with Falkin Literary Agency. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mark Falkin graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and then the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He has lived in Texas for the last twenty years, where he is a literary agent and recovering music attorney, having represented platinum sellers and Grammy winners alike. His 2006 self-published novel, Days of Grace, was optioned for a film and nominated for a literary award, The Needle Award, at POD-dy Mouth blog, where the reviewer said, ÒThis is literature at its best . . . Falkin could easily be likened to the aforementioned Lethem or to Augusten Burroughs or even J.D. Salinger,Ó and Bookpeople in Austin noted, ÒHereÕs more proof that Austin is home to some of the best new writers around . . . FalkinÕs novel is reminiscent of the writing style found in Lethem, Sedaris, Coupland, and Kerouac, with his sharp wit and journalistic style.Ó Working on his next book, he lives with his wife and family in Austin, where he reads, coaches recreational soccer, tries to find time to paddle Texas waters, and keeps a sharp eye on his young daughters, snatching hugs here and there.
Notes
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Satire, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Western Fiction NONFICTION: Art, Biography, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Dating Relationships Sex, Family, Film Entertainment, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Humor Nonfiction, Illustrated, Journalism, Memoir, Money Finance, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Photography, Pop Culture, Science, Self-Help, Sports, Travel, True Crime CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Alison Fargis is a literary agent with Stonesong Literary Agency. She is a partner in Stonesong. With more than 25 years in publishing, Alison has cultivated a wide-ranging list of commercially successful and critically acclaimed writers, from New York Times bestselling cookbook authors to award-winning novelists and childrenÕs authors. She represents literary and commercial fiction, narrative and prescriptive nonfiction, business, pop culture and a handful of middle grade and young adult titles. Prior to joining Stonesong in 1995, she taught English to President V‡clav HavelÕs staff at the Prague Castle and taught high school English in P ’bram, Czech Republic. Alison was the recipient of a Dana Foundation Grant and a Foundation for a Civil Society (Soros Foundation) Fellowship. She graduated Vassar College with a B.A. in Art. Alison is looking for upmarket womenÕs fiction, book club fiction, and middle grade fiction that blurs the line between literary and commercial. Please no romance, high fantasy, true crime, poetry, or childrenÕs picture books.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Religious Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: BIPOC Nonfiction, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Humor Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Sports, Travel CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
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
FICTION: Action Adventure, BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, BIPOC Nonfiction, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Food Drink, Health Wellness, History, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Self-Help, Travel CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Board Book, Chapter Book Fiction, Chapter Book Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
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
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, 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
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Thriller NONFICTION: Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Economics, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Journalism, Lifestyle, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion, Self-Help, Spirituality, Travel CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
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
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self-Help, Spirituality, Women’s Issues CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
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
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Upmarket Fiction NONFICTION: Art, History, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Women’s Issues CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Chapter Book Fiction, Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
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
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Autobiography, Biography, Business Book, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Fitness, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Humor Nonfiction, Law Legal, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
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
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story Collection NONFICTION: Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult 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
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: 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, Nonfiction, Parenting, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel, True Adventure, Women’s Issues CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
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
FICTION: Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Dating Relationships Sex, Health Wellness, History, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Psychology, Self-Help, True Crime, Women’s Issues
Biography
Kimberly Fernando is a literary agent with Olswanger Literary LLC. She has been an avid reader since childhood, often hiding books inside school textbooks in class when she couldnÕt put a book down. With a background in technical writing, she began her publishing career as a freelance editor and book coach, and along the way, completing an internship with Triada US Literary Agency before joining Olswanger Literary as an intern and then as a Literary Associate taking on clients of her own. Kimberly is a member of the AALA, and represents clients in the adult fiction and nonfiction spaces. She is passionate about representing all voices and backgrounds and she’s especially interested in elevating underrepresented voices. When not working, Kimberly is hanging out with her family, her sweet (and funny) corgi and dreaming that one day she’ll get her vegetable plants to grow more than two inches tall.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Espionage Military Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Western Fiction NONFICTION: Animals, BIPOC Nonfiction, Cookbook Cooking, Environment, Food Drink, Gardening, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, How-To, Medical Medicine, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Technology, True Adventure
Biography
Rose Ferrao is an associate agent at 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
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction NONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Food Drink, Health Wellness, Lifestyle, Music, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Psychology, Sports CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Moe Ferrara is a literary agent at the Triada U.S. 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 “it has a hard cover.” Moe Ferrara’s career path zigzagged a bit from a violin performance and music history double major in college to her JD from Pace Law School. Agenting called her name in the spring of 2015 and after spending almost ten years with BookEnds, Moe was thrilled to join Team Triada as a Senior Literary Agent in 2025. A Pennsylvania native, she is the mum of a rambunctious corgi who is a master at stealing treats. When not working, Moe still keeps up with her violin skills and you can often find her in a pit orchestra, playing violin for her favorite musicals. (Careful, don’t ask her to pick her favorite show or you’ll get a 90 minute dissertation on Stephen Sondheim and/or general Broadway trivia.) She speaks fluent sarcasm, song lyrics, and movie quotes Ñ and probably has Ted Lasso playing in the background while she works.
Notes
FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Erotic Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, Film Entertainment, History, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Music, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Reference CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction
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
FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Graphic Novel, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Short Story Collection, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Cookbook Cooking, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult 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
FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Biography
Celeste Fine is a literary agent and founding partner with Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management. 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.
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FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Science, Technology
Biography
Sarah N. Fisk is an associate literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. They are a former mechanical engineer who made the switch to publishing in 2011. They have worked in the publishing industry as an editorial assistant, author’s assistant, publicist, and art director. Sarah is a former Pitch Wars mentor, board member, and Agent Liaison. They host the podcast Queries, Qualms, & Quirks and have a passion for spreadsheets. They love books that challenge societal norms, especially gender norms. They have a personal interest in stories featuring queer characters or characters with disability, neurodiversity, chronic illness, or mental health challenges. Great or complicated sibling relationships are their kryptonite. They also enjoy intriguing villains, mysteries woven into other genres, characters they can’t get out of their head, and smart heroines. They are interested in Young Adult fiction of all genres as well as Adult Romance. They especially enjoy anything under the speculative fiction umbrella and high-concept contemporary or historical stories with a strong hook. Hardcore horror is probably not right for them. Sarah is on the lookout for young adult and middle grade of all genres, adult romance, and adult science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction. No hardcore horror. Particular areas of interest include atmospheric fantasies, speculative mysteries, books that challenge societal norms, especially gender norms. They also have a special interest in stories featuring queer characters and those with disability, neurodiversity, chronic illness, or mental health challenges. Other areas of interest are small or midwestern town settings, and complicated sibling relationships. Sarah does not represent hardcore horror, stories that center around who gets to rule an empire, stories that center around sexual assault or have on-the-page rape scenes or any adult genres not listed above.
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FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Upmarket Fiction, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Environment, Family, Film Entertainment, Fitness, Food Drink, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Journalism, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Memoir, Money Finance, Multicultural Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Self-Help, Technology, True Crime, Women’s Issues CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Young Adult Fiction
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.
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FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction NONFICTION: Art, Biography, Business Book, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, Economics, Family, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Humor Nonfiction, Journalism, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Pop Culture, Reference, Science, Self-Help, Technology
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.
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FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, New Adult Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Cultural Social Issues, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Economics, Environment, Food Drink, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, How-To, Investigative, Journalism, Lifestyle, Medical Medicine, Memoir, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nature, Nonfiction, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Self-Help, Sports, Technology, True Adventure, True Crime CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction
Biography
Carolyn Forde is a literary agent at 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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FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction NONFICTION: Narrative Nonfiction, 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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FICTION: BIPOC Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller NONFICTION: Biography, Current Events Affairs, Dating Relationships Sex, Diet Nutrition, General Nonfiction, History, Humor Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Technology CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
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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FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller NONFICTION: Current Events Affairs, Design, General Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Politics, Psychology, Science, Technology
Renee Fountain
Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary ManagementAccepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): EmailBiography
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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FICTION: Action Adventure, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Espionage Military Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Humor Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports Fiction, Suspense Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction NONFICTION: Biography, Business Book, Cookbook Cooking, Economics, General Nonfiction, Health Wellness, History, Humor Nonfiction, LGBTQ Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Memoir, Mind Body Spirit, Money Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Pop Culture, Psychology, Sports, True Crime CHILDRENÕS BOOKS: Children’s Books, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Nonfiction