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The Directory of Literary Agents
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
Biography
Paula Canal is a literary agent with the Indent Literary Agency. She (Vigo, Spain, 1974) graduated in Spanish Philology and Philosophy from the University of Navarra and has a Master of Science in Management of Cultural Services from Edinburgh University, with a final dissertation on the fixed book price agreement in UK and Spain. She started working in the foreign rights department of Editorial Anagrama in 1999, where she has been working until June 2016. She is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian. She is based in Havana.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Government * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
145 Duane Street 2nd floor New York NY 10013 USA
Biography
Susan Canavan is a literary agent with the Waxman Literary Agency. She joined the Waxman Literary Agency in 2019. She was formerly a senior executive editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt where she acquired and edited dozens of New York Times bestsellers in the categories of narrative nonfiction, history, adventure, sports, memoir, journalism, health, science, pop culture, parenting, nature and literary and historical fiction. She is interested in books that explore the limitlessness of human potential or that change the way we think about the world around us. A graduate of Boston College with an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, she is passionate about exceptional storytelling, narrative arc and discovering original voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Historical * Literary *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Memoir * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Science * True Adventure *
11 East 44th Street Suite 1603 New York NY 10017 USA
Cynthia Cannell
The Cynthia Cannell Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Cynthia Cannell is a literary agent with the Cynthia Cannell Literary Agency. Before founding her literary agency in 1988, Cynthia was for twelve years the vice president of Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Prior to that she worked with Maria Campbell Associates as a book scout for foreign language publishers. She received her editorial training at Simon & Schuster and as an associate editor at Joni Evans’ imprint, The Linden Press. Ms. Cannell is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives and the Women’s Media Group.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology *
Biography
Carrie Cantor is a literary agent with Joelle Delbourgo Associates. Carrie is a veteran editor who has been in publishing for over 25 years For the past decade, Carrie has helped authors to prepare polished proposals and has edited manuscripts for private clients, including publishers. She now also works with agency clients who need in-depth editorial attention and is building a client list for literary representation.
Carrie is seeking to edit and represent projects about current events, politics, history, popular science and psychology, memoir, and narrative nonfiction. A graduate of State University of New York at Binghamton (where she majored in comparative literature), Carrie holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She is the author of two history books for children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Current Events/Affairs * History * Memoir * Narrative * Politics * Psychology * Science *
101 Park St. Montclair NJ 07042 USA
Biography
Victoria Cappello is a literary agent with The Bent Agency. Victoria says: “I grew up in Queens, New York and hold a degree in Media Studies from the City College of New York: Queens College and a degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama. Prior to landing at the Bent Agency in 2013, I worked at both Serendipity Literary Agency and the Carol Mann Agency. I am currently building my list in addition to working as the agency’s Administrative Director.
I am most interested in expert-driven narrative nonfiction in the areas of true crime, psychology, pop culture, technology, and pop science. I’m also looking for investigative deep dives, illuminating books about parenting, either prescriptive or narrative, and anything geared toward a millennial audience. While nonfiction will make up the bulk of my list, I’m also willing to consider fiction as long as it’s crime fiction or a mystery that involves a murder.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Mystery *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * History * Investigative * Journalism * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Technology * True Crime *
45 Lyme Road Ste 206 Hanover NH 03755 USA
Elise Capron
Sandra Dijkstra Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Elise Capron is an agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. In addition to handling her own list, she oversees the daily operations of the SDLA office, and works closely with Sandra Dijkstra on author development and management. She is most interested in character-driven literary fiction and well-written narrative non-fiction (particularly serious history with a good story).
A graduate of Emerson College, Elise holds a BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has been with the Dijkstra Agency since late 2003.
Elise is interested in fiction that has unforgettable writing, a distinctive narrative voice, and memorable characters. She loves novels with an unusual or eccentric edge and is drawn to stories she has never heard before. She aims to work with writers who are getting their work published regularly in literary magazines and who have a realistic sense of the market and their audience. Some of Elise’s representative fiction titles include Tiphanie Yanique’s upcoming Monster in the Middle (Riverhead), Land of Love and Drowning (Riverhead) and How to Escape from a Leper Colony (Graywolf); Courtney Brkic’s The First Rule of Swimming (Little, Brown); Rachel Toor’s On The Road to Find Out (FSG); Jonathon Keats’ The Book of the Unknown (Random House); Rikki Ducornet’s Netsuke (Coffee House Press); Maureen McHugh’s After the Apocalypse (Small Beer Press), which was picked as a “Top 10 Best of the Year” by Publishers Weekly; Ali Liebegott’s The IHOP Papers (Carroll & Graf); and more.
On the non-fiction front, Elise is looking for fascinating true stories told in a compelling way. She is especially interested in working with up-and-coming scholars (particularly historians) who are looking to transition from the academic market to a trade readership, as well as journalists. Some of Elise’s representative non-fiction titles include Cynthia Barnett’s Rain: A Natural and Cultural History (Crown), which was long-listed for the National Book Award and the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award; Meera Subramanian’s A River Runs Again: India’s Natural World in Crisis, from the Barren Cliffs of Rajasthan to the Farmlands of Karnataka (Public Affairs); Jack Shuler’s The Thirteenth Turn: A History of the Noose (Public Affairs); Jonathon Keats’s You Belong to the Universe: Buckminster Fuller and the Future (Oxford University Press); Leo Braudy’s Haunted; Jane Vandenburgh’s The Wrong Dog Dream: A True Romance (Counterpoint); Billy Smith’s Ship of Death: The Voyage That Changed the Atlantic World (Yale); and more.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Family Saga * Historical * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * History * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Technology * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Loretta Caravette is a literary agent with LR Children’s Literary. She has extensive experience in many genres, including children’s books, fiction and nonfiction. Her specialties are picture books that contain a good dose of humor, mystery and family drama, as well as historical nonfiction for children up to age 5, early readers and middle grade. She holds a master’s degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. Under her pen name, J.B. Frank, she has written two children’s books: Somewhere in the City and Count On Me 123 slated for publication spring 2021.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Barrington Hills IL USA
Stephanie Cardel
Lighthouse LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Stephanie Cardel is a literary agent with and the founder of Lighthouse Literary. She has a B.S. in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State with minors in English and Social Work. She owned a dance studio for ten years then left the dance world to homeschool her three children K-12. During those years, she also worked at homeschool tutorials teaching Psychology, World Literature, P.E., Health and Art.
She and her husband run a log home maintenance business and in her spare time she writes MG and YA fiction. She had the privilege to work on four film crews (as P.A., Script Supervisor, and Continuity Supervisor) with writer, director, and actress Brittany Goodwin and even had a small part in two of those films, and was an extra in one.
She interned for a year, then worked as a literary agent at Golden Wheat Literary for two years. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to launch Lighthouse Literary where she considers it an honor to help writers realize their dreams of becoming published.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Christian Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Christian * Health/Wellness * Inspiration * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Religion * Spirituality * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
Biography
Christi Cardenas is a literary agent with The Plains Agency. Christi Cardenas is the founder and owner of The Plains Agency. To say Christi has a lot of energy is an under-statement. She cares about those she represents and will only take on a project if she’s confident she can add something to the proposition. Although having worked with and built many different types of intellectual property, she never pretends to know what she doesn’t know. She does, however, have a serious Rolodex of interesting contacts. She understands the value of relationships and has a reputation for bringing the right people to the table by building professional teams customized to her client’s specific needs.
Christi understands brands because she’s built several. She especially loves working with new and small businesses as well as entrepreneurs to help them reach their full potential while increasing their bottom line. She also owns and shows Arabian horses and is now integrating her passion into her professional life by working on several initiatives in the equine space.
She’s worked with and/or represented such well-known companies as The Scripps Networks (Food, HGTV, DIY), Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Electric Entertainment, Marvel, DC Comics, Hasbro, National Public Radio, Pillsbury/General Mills, Ameriprise, Margaret Weis Productions as well as several New York Times bestselling authors. She has a knack for turning people’s ideas (no matter how big or small) into something that can be monetized. She’s often brought in to negotiate transactions whether she has a client at the table or not because of her concise communication skills and her willingness to call it as she sees it.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Health/Wellness * How-To * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Pop Culture * Sports *
808 Carmichael Road #142 Hudson WI 54016 USA
Biography
Moses Cardona is a literary agent with John Hawkins & Associates. Moses has been with us twenty-eight years, and is President of the firm and in all practical aspects the man who runs the office. He supervises the management of the office, and our foreign rights as well as taking care of his own clients. He is the agent for International Bestselling authors: Cecilia Samartin, Gregory Maguire and US representative for Gold Dagger Winner Ann Cleeves ; Gail Godwin, author of Grief Cottage and Three-Time National Book Award nominee. His special interests include commercial fiction, suspense, business, science, and multi-cultural fiction.
He is a graduate of New York University and avid comics collector.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Horror * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Ethnic * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel *
80 Maiden Lane STE 1503 New York NY 10038 USA
Biography
Matt Carlini is a literary agent with the Javelin Literary Agency. He joined the Javelin team in 2018 as a literary agent/foreign rights director after working at Little, Brown & Company and Vigliano Associates in New York. He has worked with a variety of bestselling and acclaimed authors including James Patterson, Elin Hilderbrand, two Pulitzer Prize finalists, a National Book Award winner, and a Man Booker Prize finalist. He has also orchestrated successful international sales campaigns for writers and celebrities including Mike Tyson, Pearl Jam, Andrew Morton, and Gary Zukav. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Matt is a graduate of Georgetown University. His literary interests include narrative nonfiction about politics and current events, journalism, cultural criticism, pop culture, and sports.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Journalism * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports *
203 S Union Street Suite 200 Alexandria VA 22314 USA
Biography
Michael Carlisle is a literary agent with InkWell Management. Michael V. Carlisle began his career as a secretary in the literary department at William Morris Agency. Eighteen years later he left as a vice-president to start Carlisle & Company. Born in Paris, of Russian heritage, he graduated with honors from Yale College and holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School. The son of two writers, he brings a background of international law to his career. His best-selling authors have won the Nobel Prize for Literature, Pulitzer Prizes, The Man Booker Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award (fiction and non-fiction), the British Book Award, LA Times Book Awards, the PEN Award for first non-fiction, and the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award; one even has an asteroid named for her. A former director of the AAR, a not-for-profit organization of independent literary and dramatic agents, and a member of PEN, and the Council on Foreign Relations, Michael heads the non-fiction program at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers and serves on its Board of Directors. He also serves on the US Advisory Board of The London Book Fair.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Biography
Agnes Carlowicz is a literary agent withArc Literary Management. She joined Arc Literary Management in April 2022 as a full time agent. She began her publishing career in 2015 as assistant to Joy Tutela at the David Black Agency, while completing her English B.A. and Creative Writing concentration at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York. In 2017, she joined Carol Mann Agency as assistant to the president where she worked closely with renowned novelist and essayist Paul Auster. While there, she began growing her own list to include authors from varied perspectives interested in disrupting the status quo. Agnes wants to use her position in the publishing industry to help create a world where writers are liberated to unabashedly express themselves, and readers of all identities see themselves represented on the page.
Outside of her professional publishing work, Agnes enjoys reading both literary and commercial fiction, humorous (and sometimes irreverent) essays, and anything deeply moving that makes her cry (which happens a lot since her astrological sign is Cancer.) She is a competitive ballroom dancer, formerly talented chess player, and veteran NYC French bulldog walker currently living in Washington Heights.
In Nonfiction, Agnes is looking for projects written from underrepresented perspectives covering both history and current events, intersectional social justice, lifestyle with a personal touch, deeply honest and self-reflective memoir, and fresh humor/gift books.
Agnes would love to see fiction that includes well-developed and imperfect characters with atypical relationships dealing with relatable issues.
In children’s, Agnes is interested in complex topics made palatable for kids of all ages for parents to read with their children. She would also love to see heart-warming stories and silly wholesome humor.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Satire * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Politics * Pop Culture * Self-Help/Personal Development * Travel * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
2838 29th Street Long Island City NY 11102 USA
Jennifer Carlson
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Jennifer Carlson is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. Jennifer has been agenting since 1997. Previously, she worked at Henry Dunow Literary Agency and Harold Ober Associates. She works with narrative nonfiction writers and journalists covering current events and ideas and cultural history, as well as literary and upmarket commercial novelists. On the children’s side, her clients are primarily young adult and middle grade fiction writers with a very select number of picture book projects. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, she divides her time between Brooklyn and Minneapolis.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Juvenile * Memoir * Narrative *
27 West 20th Street Suite 1107 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Matthew Carnicelli is a literary agent with and the founder of Carnicelli Literary Management. Matthew, president, specializes in idea-driven nonfiction and quality fiction. He began his publishing career at Dutton, where as an editor he worked with many great writers of fiction, history, and current events, including Christopher Bram, Vice President Al Gore, Judith Warner, Cornel West, and Cathleen Schine. At Contemporary Books and McGraw-Hill, he became enthralled with strong health writing and business and sports books, working with such authors as John Wooden, Victoria Moran, Gail Ferguson, Roland Lazenby, and Robert Kurson.
He became an agent in 2004 in order to have more control over the depth of his work with clients and to focus only in areas that interested him intellectually and creatively. Over the past fifteen years, he has represented such notable authors as brain and movement expert Anat Baniel, political pundit Dave “Mudcat” Saunders, fashion designer Marc Eckō, Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd, graphic novelist Derf Backderf, and business consultant Gino Wickman.
Matthew is a graduate of Washington University, with a B.A. in English literature and political science, and received an M.A. from the University of Toronto in English literature. He has taught college-level nonfiction writing, attends numerous writers’ conferences, and is often called upon by the media to comment on book publishing and other topics.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports *
7 Kipp Road Rhinebeck NY 12572 USA
Biography
Heather Carr is a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. She says: “If I’m being perfectly honest, I never imagined a career in book publishing. As a kid growing up in the Pacific Northwest, specifically the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, the publishing industry did not exist in my mind as a real field one could work in. I grew up as the youngest of a complex, blended family with ten siblings and step-siblings, and made a name for myself in second grade convincing my classmates that god couldn’t possibly exist (“I mean look at the evidence, it’s just clouds up there!” I argued). I eventually found my way from Catholic school to a tiny public arts school where I was immersed in visual and performing arts (think Fame but suburban and nerdier). I focused on film photography and dance, drawn to the rigor of the latter and the sheer magic of the former.
Novelty, a scholarship, and a music conservatory brought me to a small liberal arts college in Appleton, Wisconsin where I majored in English and continued to study classical piano. Studying English felt a little like cheating—reading is interdisciplinary by nature. It was that same appetite for doing a little of everything and moving from a core of curiosity that made a career as an agent so intriguing, once I discovered it existed. After working as an assistant at Trident Media Group for two and a half years I joined The Friedrich Agency in March of 2018.
I have wide-ranging tastes and seek to represent writers who are also driven by curiosity and discovery, whether through formal inventiveness in fiction, like in Kiese Laymon’s LONG DIVISION, or through rigorous investigative journalism like in Patrick Radden Keefe’s SAY NOTHING. I’m often drawn to poets who have turned their hand to prose—I’ll always be interested in a writer whose dexterity with language allows them to articulate an emotion or sensibility that I’ve not previously been able to describe. Growing up in the land of glittery freezing fog and moss-draped forests, I love a moody atmosphere and setting-as-character. I was a firm believer in magic as a child so I don’t shy away from the fantastical in literary and upmarket fiction. I particularly enjoy when genre elements are used to explore the places where language fails us.
My goal is to build a list that reflects a full range of perspectives from here in the U.S. and around the globe. Most of what I learned of my own history and that of this country comes from a life of reading, and I’m always humbled to read writers who have been historically sidelined. When I stop to reflect, I’m deeply honored that writers trust me with their work and that I get to have this job. I’m passionate about working towards a brighter and more inclusive publishing industry so that all who want to can see themselves thriving in this business.
Five non-agency books I loved: DETRANSITION, BABY; PIRANESI; IDAHO; FRESHWATER; STRANGERS TO OURSELVES”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * Fantasy * General Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Dating/Relationship/Sex * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Investigative * Journalism * Narrative *
281 McLain Street Bedford Hills NY 10507 USA
Biography
Jamie Carr is a literary agent with The Book Group. She joined The Book Group in January 2020 as an agent. Prior, she worked in the literary department of William Morris Endeavor for almost six years where she championed New York Times bestsellers, award winning titles, and groundbreaking debuts. Born and raised in Lower Manhattan, she has an MFA in fiction writing and began her career in the books department of Tin House.
Jamie represents novelists, short story writers, journalists, activists, and food and culture writers. Most interested in adult literary and upmarket commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction, she is drawn to writing that is voice-driven, highly transporting, from unique perspectives and marginalized voices, and that seeks to disrupt or reframe what appears to be known.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Ethnic * Family * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Investigative * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Practical * Psychology * Science * Spirituality * Technology * Upmarket *
20 West 20th Street Suite 601 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Michael Carr is a literary agent with the Veritas Literary Agency. With a strong background in editing and writing, Michael enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French. Before joining Veritas, Michael had professions as diverse as programming simulators for nuclear submarines and owning an inn in Vermont.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Environment * History * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Crime *
601 Van Ness Ave. Opera Plaza, Suite E San Francisco CA 94102 USA
Biography
Sylvie Greenberg Carr is a literary with and the founder of The Carr Agency. Sylvie began her career in New York City with Fletcher & Company, where she worked with agency clients including Eric Ries, Chip and Dan Heath, Bob Sutton, Gretchen Rubin, Claire Shipman and Katty Kay, IDEO, and Ron Lieber.
Her list includes narrative non-fiction, investigative journalism, economics, business, memoir and literary fiction. Please see Clients for more information on recent releases.
Sylvie is a graduate of Stanford University and the Columbia Publishing Course. She lives in San Francisco with her husband.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Family Saga * General Fiction * Literary * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Investigative * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Sports * Technology *
3540 Sacramento Street #145 San Francisco CA 94118 USA
Biography
Lucy Carson is a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. She says: “I was an over-achieving “theater kid” who joined every club I could jam into my high school schedule, and never missed a staged production. I attended The University of Michigan, but rarely attended any football games because the library was so blissfully quiet and empty on those Saturdays—a temptation too rare to pass up. At Michigan, I studied Film & Television, with an emphasis on production, and when some Juniors spent their semester abroad, I spent mine in Los Angeles, working for The Weinstein Company. I had planned to move to LA after graduation, but when Molly’s then-assistant had a maternity leave that coincided with graduation in April 2008, I decided to postpone LA for a few months, since the agency was newly formed and my mother needed a trusted temp. Working together proved to be far more fun than either of us expected, so I simply never left.
In my 14 years at the agency, I have cultivated a list of mostly fiction and narrative non-fiction for the adult trade audience. I have a particular weakness for voice-forward fiction that asks complicated questions about the intersection of tech, media, and modern relationships. Always with eyes peeled for elevated and stylish writing, I read widely across many genres, including thrillers, horror, sci-fi, and magical realism. Often the novels that are hardest to definitively categorize are the ones that most readily seduce me. In non-fiction, I always crave narrative—whether it’s a previously untold chapter of history, or an intimate memoir, or the portrait of a contemporary cultural phenomenon.
In addition to brokering domestic publishing deals for my own clients, I also oversee all Film, Television & Dramatic business for the wider agency list. This does not mean I represent screenplays! These services only apply to existing print publishing clients and their underlying intellectual property (i.e. the book, the short story, the article). The Friedrich Agency’s Film/TV relationships are non-exclusive and customized for each project, and have resulted in all manner of adaptations, from serialized TV shows to one-woman Broadway plays.
Five non-agency books that I loved: ASSEMBLY, CHEMISTRY, SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE, DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Mystery * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science *
281 McLain Street Bedford Hills NY 10507 USA
Brittany Booker Carter
The Booker Albert Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Brittany Booker Carter is a literary agent and the co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the Lori Perkins agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She has a B.A. in English and a minor in journalism from The University of Arkansas at Monticello.
She is looking for novels that keep her up at night and transport her into the pages.
In YA and NA she is looking for well-written contemporary and paranormal romances. In NA she is looking for LOTS of sexual tension, and a sexy demanding hero never hurt anybody!
As for adult works, she’s looking for witty contemporary, and slow burning friends to lovers romances.
She’s always on the hunt for rich characters and unique plots.
She is a big sucker for happy endings. (She doesn’t represent books without a HEA, they make her sad. She believes every person deserves a Happily-Ever-After. Maybe it’s just the Disney Princess inside?)
She also has a passion for books set in the south. Bring on those big ole’ cowboys, ladies. I’ll take any man with a slow, southern drawl!
She has working knowledge of Japanese and Spanish. Brittany is not looking for memoirs or MG novels at the time.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Western * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Jenniea Carter is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. Harlem born and raised, Jenniea graduated from City College of New York with a B.A in Creative Writing and Asian Studies. With haste, she moved to Japan to explore the world outside the concrete jungle. After years of exploration, she returned home with a revitalized zeal for the literary world. Her first endeavor led her to Kinokuniya Bookstore where she honed her knowledge of book buying, merchandising, and selling. Soon after; Jenniea found herself home at New Leaf on Joanna’s team, eager to uplift and amplify marginalized voices. When she is not between the pages of a book, Jenniea can be found bingeing mystery documentaries and animation.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Clarie Cartey is a literary agent with the Holroyde Cartey. She says: “I have worked in publishing for over twenty years as Art Director at Hodder Children’s Books and in design for Dorling Kindersley, Egmont and Random House. I am looking for author and illustrator proposals for picture books and young fiction. In illustration I’m also looking for creative brand building potential in markets outside of publishing.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
USA
Biography
Maria Carvainis is a literary agent with the Maria Carvanis Agency. Prior to opening her agency, Ms. Carvainis spent more than 10 years in the publishing industry as a senior editor with Macmillan Publishing, Basic Books, Avon Books, and Crown Publishers. Ms. Carvainis has served as a member of the AAR Board of Directors and AAR Treasurer, as well as serving as chair of the AAR Contracts Committee. She presently serves on the AAR Royalty Committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Young Adult *
Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc., Attention: Query Department, 1270 Avenue of the Americas Suite 2915 New York NY 10020 USA
Andrea Cascardi
Transatlantic AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Andrea Cascardi is a literary agent with the Transatlantic Agency. Andrea Cascardi has held senior editorial positions at Random House, Disney/Hyperion, and Egmont USA. As an editor she acquired and edited Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King winner Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold, the Raffi Songs to Read series, and Pura Belpre winner Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez among many other award-winning books. As an agent she has represented many bestselling and award-winning titles including Clare Vanderpool’s Newbery winner Moon Over Manifest and Printz Honor winner Navigating Early, e.E. Charlton-Truillo’s Stonewall winner Fat Angie, New York Times Bestseller Nubs: A Mutt, A Marine, and a Miracle, and Texas Bluebonnet winner Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want to Survive the School Bus.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Barbara Casey is president of the Barbara Casey Agency. She represents clients nationally and internationally in fiction and nonfiction for adults. She is also a partner with Strategic Media Books. Her past and present professional associations are numerous and include being editorial consultant for the Jamaican Writers Circle in affiliation with the University of West Indies and Mico Teachers College in Kingston. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories.
She is a frequent guest speaker at writers’ conferences and universities throughout the United States. She is a former director, guest author, and panelist of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida; and for thirteen years, she served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Florida. She held the position of Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 to 2003.
Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. Since that time her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in several publications.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * History * Inspiration * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Narrative * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime * Young Adult *
1440 S Long Hollow Road Trion GA 30753 USA
Biography
Haley Casey is a literary agent with Creative Media Agency, Inc. She has always had a special place in her heart for stories, but it was when she wrote her first chapter book in fifth grade that her true love of literature was realized. In 2015, she graduated from The University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, and that fall, she attended the Denver Publishing Institute. She began her full-time career at Ogden Publications, where she was an editor for four years. There she worked with a variety of authors across multiple magazines, wrote articles, edited podcasts, and even styled photos—anything to add some creativity to her days. In 2020, she interned at Metamorphosis Literary Agency and Creative Media Agency, Inc. before stepping into her role as a junior agent at CMA. She also manages the digital arm of the company. Haley is actively building her list, and is ready to assist her authors in achieving their publishing goals.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Paranormal * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Ethnic * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Psychology * True Crime * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
1745 Broadway 17th Floor New York NY 10019 USA
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About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark’s authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.
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Author Coaching Testimonials
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent!
My career has spanned publishing, TV, and feature film. I’ve served as Creative Dir. for the Magazine Group, TIME Inc.; Dir. of Time World News Service, a Founding Dir. of TIME-Life Films; Exec. Prod. for both the CBS and NBC TV Networks; Prod./Dir.: Movies of the Week: CBS Cinema Center Films and Universal MCA.
In today’s publishing marketplace, agents come and go. They also very often seem to just want an easy pathway to make a buck. Many authors are let go by their agents because their last book didn’t do well enough and the agent doesn’t want to devote the time to help the author. That’s not what you’re about Mark. Even established authors need this type of support in today’s marketplace.”
Author of ten fiction and nonfiction books
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“I’m psyched to have this be official. After getting five different offers for representation from top literary agents, I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin!
Getting multiple agents interested in my work was really important to me. I’ve dealt with agents before and gotten screwed on things contractually so I wanted to do it differently this time. I wanted choices.
Having you help me create that, and navigate my options, was really helpful. I heard other authors talk about their great relationships with their agents and it made me want the same thing. Now I have that.”
Author of Woman on Fire
(Penguin Books)
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“After sending out the query Mark revised for me, I had the opportunity to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident and, a short time later I had a publishing contract with Berkley Books, which recently published my book in hardcover.
Before that, I sent my query letter out on my own to 30 or 40 agents and got a lot of rejections. I then found Mark online while I was researching agents. I was surprised that he offered so much during his initial consultation—for a very modest amount of money.
I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with Mark. I can’t even imagine that now though, because of the grief and detours I experienced before we worked together. It was a time-consuming pain in the neck. If you want to get the attention of top literary agents and publishers, there is no substitute for working with an insider. You can’t beat experience. And having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable.”
Author of Single Handed
(Berkley Books, a Division of Penguin Random House)
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“AHHH! OMG, it happened! I got three offers of representation for my children’s picture book in the United States, even though I live abroad! When I woke up and found the first offer for representation in my email in box, I wanted to scream. But my family was still asleep so I couldn’t. 🙂
Just 8 minutes after I sent a query letter to one of my favorite agents, she replied and asked to see my manuscript. A short time later we had a lovely conversation. She was interested in representing me and sounded very positive and enthusiastic about my book. Since I also got offers from two other agents, I had to turn two of them down. One of them was upset and it felt like I was breaking her heart, but you just have to do it. I kept reminding myself that this is a good problem to have!”
Author/Illustrator of Lon-Lon’s Big Night
and many other children’s books
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“Mark, after you helped me land a top literary agent, I got publishing offers from THREE well-known publishers: Amacom, Palgrave Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill (they’re publishing my book in hardcover)!
I was at Disneyworld with my family, in the Haunted Mansion, when I got the call. I went outside and listened to the voicemail message from my agent. A huge smile came over my face. It was a fantastic feeling. For a moment I felt like life was perfect and the angels were singing.
You’re filling an important need so I’ll say this to every other author reading this testimonial. Mark showed me that getting a top literary agent is a science. If you’ve written a book, or you’re in the process, you’ve already invested a lot—a lot more than money. Don’t stop yourself from getting out there to fulfill your purpose and dreams. Thank you so, so much, Mark!!!”
Author of Customer Focused Process Innovation (McGraw Hill)
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“I got a book deal! After I started sending out my new query letter I had 6 literary agents request my manuscript in a short amount of time, which is awesome. Then, within 2 weeks of my agent starting to pitch my story to publishers, we had an offer. I signed a book contract yesterday. A little while later my agent told me that a TV co-producer asked for more info about my book.
By the way, the acquiring editor that fell in love with the manuscript jumped in with both feet and we just worked out our timeline for publication. She’s as passionate about getting my book out as I am, and that means everything. She read the manuscript in two days and said she couldn’t put it down. And the book is going to be published as a hardcover!”
Author of A Chick in the Cockpit
(Behler Publications)
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“Thank you Mark! After you helped me get a well-known agent with Hartline Literary Agency (for my previously self-published murder mystery), he got me a deal with an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) approved publisher. I’m hard-pressed to find anything that I had an expectation for that you didn’t deliver on.
Before I worked with you I sent out queries, but no one ever requested my complete manuscript. Comparing your new version of my query to the one I wrote before, I can see a vast difference.
I’ve been in business for 35 years so I’m not just saying this… what you’re doing is phenomenal. There are other people offering similar services, but the difference is your success. Others might say they do similar things but, if you research them, they don’t have your background or track record.”
Author of The Rector
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“Mark, you’re a miracle worker. Thanks to your help with my book, query letter, and synopsis… I now have a legitimate publisher who described my book as ‘Powerful Magic’ and it’s now available in bookstores and online!
I’m a lifelong academic writer who one day found myself writing inspired short stories that came to me in dreams and I began thinking of them as novels. That’s when I had a momentous conversation, an introductory coaching call with Mark Malatesta, the American creative writing coach, or rather, to be precise, a how-to-sell-yourself-and-your-work adviser. It was the best-spent money of my life apart (possibly) for my wedding ring.”
Author of The Black Inked Pearl
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“Within 4 minutes of sending out my query letter, a top literary called me on the phone (the #1 agent on my wish list). Less than 30 days later I had three major publishers making offers. A few days after that, I signed a deal with Random House. Mark, your query letter did that.
My agent talked about the query letter you helped me create for a long, long time. When he first called me on the phone, he hadn’t seen any of my sample chapters. It was just the query letter that did it. Communicating the right thing is so important. You are a wonderful medium helping authors find their voice and elevate their writing from just a hobby to a real business… a source from which they can both learn and earn.”
Author of Lights Out
(Random House)
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“MARK, MARK, MARK!!!!!!! Holy smokes… I just signed my book deal. First, two well-known literary agents asked to represent me. One of them responded to my query letter in less than 4 minutes!!
Then THREE different publishers wanted my book and started talking about making offers. The publisher I chose is perfect for me because they produce titles for the trade, educational, and scientific markets. And they agreed to publish my book as a hardcover!!!
When I met you, Mark, it was a pivotal time. I was under the belief that I could self-publish my book with a vanity press and then seek a publisher. I didn’t know what a literary agent was, why I needed one, or how to get one. I was wandering in the dark. You guided me in the right direction and gave me a solid plan.”
Author of Intestinal Health
(Rowman & Littlefield)
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“Boom!!! I just signed a contract with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins for (what I’ve been told by several people) is a very large advance for a first-time author.
Before working with Mark I submitted my book to agents but didn’t get any interest. This time around I got a top NY literary agency (Fine Print Lit). What cloud is higher than 9?
I had several agencies interested before deciding to go with Fine Print. And, to be honest, all of the attention didn’t surprise me. The query letter and proposal that Mark helped me develop were incredible. Agents actually said things to me like: ‘Scott, I read your proposal and I’m just blown away by it!’ Mark is extremely talented at what he does. If you have the opportunity to work with him, take advantage of it.”
Author of The Unbreakable Boy
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)