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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.
Heather Cashman
Storm Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Heather Cashman is a literary agent with the Storm Literary Agency. Heather has always devoured any book–fiction or nonfiction–that told a good story and introduced a new world, but she especially loves the ones that make her want to be the heroine of her own life. Her work in Biochemistry inspired her imagination for creating worlds. Writing for enjoyment turned into an interest in improving craft.
Heather was a professional editor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy, editing middle grade, young adult, and adult books. She’s also helped authors by working as Managing Director of Pitch Wars, #PitMad, and Pitch Madness, as well as being a Pitch Wars mentor. Before becoming Associate Literary Agent and Agent Mentor at Storm Literary Agency, Heather interned for three years at The Bent Agency and Entangled Publishing.
Heather is currently seeking submissions for middle grade, young adult, and adult in fiction and nonfiction. For fiction, she’ll consider all genres and loves a good genre splice. For non-fiction, anything that takes her back to those days in the library when she wanted to learn about someone, something, and somewhere new.
For all writing, Heather enjoys unique characters formed from their own experiences in a unique world. The characters need to feel real with a distinct voice from the first line. Thematic elements and strong character arcs are a must. She loves commercial fiction that has a literary flair and inclusive books that bring us together as citizens of the world.
Some of her favorite authors: Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, Judy Blume, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Gary Paulson, Roald Dahl, Lord Byron (so much love for Prometheus Unbound, especially), Orson Scott Card, Beverly Cleary, Dean Koontz, Rainbow Rowell, Pierce Brown, Leigh Bardugo, Maggie Stiefvater, Holly Black, and so many more.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Johanna Castillo is a Senior Agent at Writers House Literary Agency. A seasoned professional in the publishing industry, Johanna was formerly Vice President & Executive Editor at Atria Books/Simon and Schuster and Editorial Director of Atria Español for nearly fifteen years. In that role, she acquired and edited forty-one New York Times bestsellers by multiple national and international bestselling authors including Isabel Allende, Colleen Hoover, Rachael Ray, Sara Shepard, Rosanna Pansino,Javier Sierra, Laura Esquivel, Armando Lucas Correa,Felix J. Palma and María Dueñas.
Johanna has been featured in the The Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, The Daily News, and in Publishers Weekly. She was featured as a “Mujer on the Move” by Latina magazine, named a 2005 Prominent Latina by El Diario La Prensa, and was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women by People en Español magazine in 2016. She is also a board member of the Board of Directors of Poets & Writers.
As a literary agent, Johanna is actively building a list of talented authors with whom she can work closely with editorially and form solid, long-term partnerships.
Johanna is seeking works of quality fiction including historical, book club fiction, romance and suspense. In non-fiction she looking for memoirs, lifestyle, pop-culture, cookbooks and narrative nonfiction. She is also representing middle grade and YA and she is always seeking new diverse voices, #ownvoices #latinx.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Analieze Cervantes is a literary agent with the Rees Literary Agency. Analieze joined the Rees Literary Agency in 2023, after working as an agent at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. She has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, with a minor in screenwriting, from Cal State San Bernardino University.
Analieze is actively building her list. She is interested in Picture-Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Fiction. She is passionately seeking BIPOC and underrepresented voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Humor Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
One Westinghouse Plaza Suite A203 Boston MA 02136-2075 USA
Terra Chalberg
Chalberg & Sussman Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Terra Chalberg is a literary agent with the Chalberg & Sussman Literary Agency. After graduating from UCLA and working in film development, Terra began her publishing career in 2002 at Scribner. Later, at Simon & Schuster and Simon Spotlight Entertainment (now Gallery), she edited and acquired a diverse list of projects. As an agent, first with the Susan Golomb Literary Agency and now with Chalberg & Sussman, she represents Glenn Taylor, 2008 NBCC Award Finalist in Fiction and B&N Discover selection for The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart and author of The Marrowbone Marble Company; Andrew Porter, Iowa graduate and Flannery O’Connor Award-winner for The Theory of Light and Matter; Margaux Fragoso, author of the New York Times bestseller Tiger, Tiger; Eugene Cross, recipient of the 2009 Dzanc Prize and author of the forthcoming Fires of Our Choosing; Jennie Ketcham, author of the forthcoming I am Jennie; and Yosemite Park Ranger Shelton Johnson, author of Gloryland. She also counts among her clients Allison Amend, finalist for the 2011 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature; Elise Blackwell, acclaimed author of Hunger and three other novels; Kira Henehan, winner of the 2010 Milkweed National Fiction prize, finalist for the 2010 Believer Book Award, and shortlisted for the 2011 Independent Booksellers Choice Award; and Lori Ostlund, recipient of a 2009 Rona Jaffe Award, Flannery O’Connor Award, Edmund White Award, California Book Award, and 2011 O. Henry Prize.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Family * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Inspiration * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality *
Sarah Chalfant
The Wylie AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Sarah Chalfant is a literary agent with The Wylie Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Reference * Science * Spirituality * Sports *
Biography
Jemiscoe Chambers-Black is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Before Jemiscoe “Jem” Chambers-Black joined Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2020, she was an assistant director for film and television. Her love for books prevailed, and she went back to school to study English Literature and creative writing in fiction and earned her MFA. She represents illustrators, picture book authors (by referral only), MG, YA, and adult authors. In picture books, she enjoys laugh-out-louds, tight rhyming, and heartfelt books that deal with family, friendships, and emotional literacy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Horror * Humor Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION:
2100 Geng Road Suite 210 Palo Alto CA 94303 USA
Jamie Chambliss
Folio Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Jamie Chambliss is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. Writers are astounding. Only 26 letters at your disposal, yet you shift and rearrange them into an endless stream of invention to conjure new worlds again and again. I’ve been chasing the endless ordering of those 26 letters most of my life, first as a reader, then as a writer, editor and agent. Before I joined Folio, I worked at Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, where I moved from assistant editor to project editor, working on both fiction and nonfiction and in both editorial and marketing. As an assistant editor, I worked on a range of titles, including B.A. Shapiro’s The Muralist, Stephanie Knipper’s The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin, Nina de Gramont’s The Last September, Heidi Pitlor’s The Daylight Marriage, and Larry Olmsted’s Real Food/Fake Food. As project editor I worked on Elaine Khosrova’s Butter and C. Morgan Babst’s The Floating World. I understand how to shape a story before it goes out into the world, and how to best position it once it’s there. I’ve also been a freelance writer and editor, and a manuscript reader (yep, that’s a thing, and it’s awesome—but, alas, not lucrative). Before any of that I was an award-winning writer and editor with Atlanta Magazine for six years, covering, among other things, books, the arts, and sports narratives. I’m a graduate of Wake Forest University and have a master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Literary * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Science * Sports *
Biography
Darlene Chan is a literary agent with the Linda Chester Literary Agency. A veteran of the film industry, she served as an executive for Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures (both times under Jeffrey Katzenberg), Davis Entertainment and as an independent producer. Among the titles she has been associated with are Grumpy Old Men, Beverly Hills Cop, Thing Called Love and Shattered. In 2009, Darlene established Darlene Chan PR, which specializes in web PR and social media for authors. Among her clients are Live Talks Los Angeles, Daniel H. Wilson, Joe Ide, Elizabeth Brundage, Tara Ison and Denise Hamilton. Darlene is interested in stories by and about BIPOC, women’s fiction, chick lit, crime fiction, YA, pop culture and books on film and the entertainment industry.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture *
630 Fifth Avenue Suite 2036 New York NY 10111 USA
Biography
Sonali Chanchani is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. She represents literary and book club fiction and narrative nonfiction. Her clients include co-founder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop Curtis Chin; poet, performer, and storyteller Joél Leon; contributing editor to Vanity Fair Maureen “Mo” Ryan; speaker and LGTBQ+ advocate Julie Rodgers; and psychologist and intergenerational trauma expert Dr. Mariel Buqué, among others.
Sonali earned her degree in English and Narrative Studies from the University of Southern California and began her career in publishing at Kaya, an independent press dedicated to publishing authors from the Asian diaspora. She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents, where she serves on the Board of Directors and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Literary Agents of Change.
Across the board, Sonali is drawn to character-driven stories that center historically marginalized voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Law * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics *
630 Ninth Ave. Suite 1101 New York NY 10036 USA
Minju Chang
BookStop Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Minju Chang is a literary agent with BookStop Literary Agency. Minju joined BookStop in 2006, and represents middle-grade and young adult writers of all genres. She has a particular interest in smart adventure/mystery novels, magical realism, and intense literary fiction, but her real weakness is for funny, clever, and gutsy characters with big attitudes. BookStop clients and their work have earned national recognition from such organizations as the American Library Association’s Notable committee, the American Booksellers and from ‘Young Reader’ committees in a number of states.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Books * Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Farley Chase is a literary agent with the Chase Literary Agency. He says: “I’ve worked in publishing since 1996. I became a literary agent in 2002 and founded Chase Literary Agency in 2012. I’ve worked at The New Yorker magazine, as an editor at Talk Miramax Books and was an agent at the Waxman Literary Agency before going out on my own. I’m on the Board of the AALA and Literary Agents of Change where I also serve as Treasurer. I’m keen to see submissions from writers of every background but especially BIPOC and otherwise marginalized points of view. I’m interested in literary and commercial fiction of all kinds, especially plot, voice, and character-driven stories. I agree with Lorrie Moore who wrote “We don’t often know what intimate life consists of until novels tell us.” I’m interested in narrative nonfiction of all kinds, especially stories that tell us something new about things we think we know. I’m keen to see memoir, natural history, science, current affairs, journalism, history, and biography. Original business and self-help books stemming from expertise are also of interest. And I’m especially interested in graphic and comics storytelling in fiction and nonfiction.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Travel * True Crime * Photography *
11 Broadway Suite 1010 New York NY 10004 USA
Jacinta Chavous-Kambach
Serendipity Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s):Biography
Dr. Jacinta Chavous-Kambach is a literary agent with Serendipity Literary Agency. Dr. Jai is a best-selling author, magazine columnist, Intuitive Relationship & Intimacy Coach, speaker, and diversity advocate. Her passion, experience, and education allow her to use her skills and gift of intuition in her business and writing.
Dr. Jai holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California University San Marcos, an M.B.A in Organizational Psychology and Development from American Intercontinental University Los Angeles/London, and an Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University System.
She is the co-host of the Strategic Ladies Mindful Media Show Radio Show, an adjunct professor, and an avid reader and writer. She is the co-author of the bestseller book Let Meditation Mend You, which gets to the grit of meditation and how it can positively impact one’s life.
Dr. Jai is a published BMI singer and songwriter who has worked with many accomplished artists. She has written with Emmy award-winning songwriter Janie Lidey and has debut singles, I Know You Want Me and Hyperventilate, co-written with Paul Hines, an award-winning artist who collaborated with Teena Marie, Michael Jackson, and Debarge. She won the title of Ms. Egypt in the Queen of the Universe Pageant 2016, winning the title and trophy of best smile.
Cheeky, intuitive, and free-spirited, Dr. Jai loves life, reading, writing, and connecting with people. She also admits to her love for elephants and antiques.
What She’s Looking For:
Dr. Jai is a generalist that loves a good story, both fiction and nonfiction alike. She is particularly fond of romance that encompasses exciting relationship dynamics, intimacy, mystery, and fantasy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Fantasy * General Fiction * Mystery * Romance *
NONFICTION: Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Fiction *
Biography
Elyse Cheney is a literary agent with the Elyse Cheney Literary Associates. Born in Brooklyn, Elyse Cheney attended the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in English with an additional focus on art history. She began her career at an art gallery in Manhattan, later landing a position at at a boutique literary agency on the Upper East Side. In 1996 she moved to Sanford J. Greenburger as an agent. While there, she represented groundbreaking titles like A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers and The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. In early 2006, she opened The Cheney Agency. Some of her notable titles include The World as It Is and After the Fall by Ben Rhodes, She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, A Very Stable Genius and I Alone Can Fix It by Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker, Doing Justice by Preet Bharara, Zero Fail by Carol Leonnig, National Book Award winner The Future Is History by Masha Gessen, New York Times bestseller Zealot by Reza Aslan, Pulitzer Prize winning biography Malcolm X by Manning Marable, critically acclaimed novels The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman and Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont, #1 New York Times bestseller No Easy Day by Mark Owen, New York Times bestseller This Town by Mark Leibovich, The Daughters of Kobani by Gayle Lemmon, Moonwalking with Einstein by Josh Foer, Endurance by astronaut Scott Kelly, and When in French by Lauren Collins. In 2013, she was named one of the most powerful women in New York by the New York Daily News. She was also pictured on the cover of Poets and Writer’s Magazine as a game changer in publishing.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science *
39 West 14th Street Suite 403 New York NY 10011 USA
Ernie Chiara
Fuse LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Ernie Chiara is a literary agent with Fuse Literary. He loves nothing more than getting to work with his amazing clients on the books of their dreams. Having first joined Fuse Literary as a writer and client himself, he knows what it’s like to be in the query trenches, and his goal is to be the type of agent every writer hopes to find.
Prior to becoming a literary agent, Ernie was an associate agent at Fuse, an assistant to Fuse Senior Agent Tricia Skinner, and a mentor and Communications Director for the Pitch Wars writer mentorship program. A former copywriter for a Fortune 500 client, Ernie is also the founder of TBRstack.com, a platform for authors and publishing professionals to share lists of their favorite books.
Outspoken about the issues of equality, both in society as a whole and as they relate to the publishing industry, Ernie values accuracy in representation and the raising of marginalized voices. He strives to be a fierce advocate for his clients and their interests, and is passionate about bringing their stories to a broader audience.
In his free time, Ernie enjoys sketching and painting, whaling away on his drum kit, binge-watching the latest fantasy series, and having fun with his three amazing kids. He specializes in Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror in the Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade categories, as well as YA Contemporary.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Science Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Faith Hampton Childs
Faith Childs Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Faith Childs is a literary agent with the Faith Childs Literary Agency. Faith represents writers of literary fiction and serious nonfiction, many of whom have won major literary and journalism awards. For more than two decades, she has headed her own agency in New York. Her representation includes these latest books: “Them,” by Nathan McCall; “Of Blood and Sorrow,” by Valerie Wilson Wesley; and “That Mean Old Yesterday,” by Stacey Patton. A lifelong reader and lover of literature in all its forms, she became an agent in order to make literature and the written word central to both her personal and professional lives. In the decade before becoming an agent, Ms. Childs was an attorney.
Ms. Childs is active in publishing education programs, particularly those designed to increase the representation of people of color in the publishing industry. She lectures frequently at university publishing programs, writers conferences, and graduate creative writing programs on the centrality of literature to our culture, the publishing industry, and the relationship between the writer and literary agent. A founding member of Women’s Voices for Change, she has served on the boards of The New Press, the only non-profit press in the public interest, the Advisory Board of the New School University’s Creative Writing Program, and the PEN Open Book Committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Literary * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * History * Journalism * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Politics *
Biography
Lucy Childs is a literary agent with The Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency. Lucy’s been at the agency since 1995, having switched from professional actress to literary agent. Her clients include Frances Sherwood, Elizabeth Diamond, and Peter Charles Melman.
Interested in both commercial fiction (women’s and mystery), and especially literary fiction (including historical), as well as narrative non-fiction. While willing to read just about anything as long as it’s intelligent and well-written, Lucy isn’t interested in seeing horror, fantasy, sci-fi, self-help, or poetry.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Narrative *
370 Lexington Ave Suite 1202 New York NY 10017 USA
Jamie Weiss Chilton
Andrea Brown Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Jamie Weiss Chilton is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She represents children’s books in all categories, with a focus on preschool, picture books, novelty, and real-world-based middle grade and YA. Genre interests include thrillers, science fiction, and speculative fiction.
Jamie looks for an intense emotional experience, in all categories. She’s seeking manuscripts that stay with her. This could mean the sweet pang of an “I love you” picture book, or the shock of recognition of an honest window to the tween or teen psyche. For the younger age groups, she looks for the hook that will make a book a must-have parenting or educational resource.
Prior to joining Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2008, Jamie was Conference Manager and Golden Kite Award Director at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and prior to that held editorial positions at Random House Children’s Books and an internship at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers.
Jamie received her BA in English from Columbia University. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Biography
Melissa Chinchillo is a literary agent with Fletcher & Company/UTA. Melissa joined the agency in 2004, after ten years of teaching literature, film, and women’s studies at universities in New York and Boston. Melissa is the agency’s Digital Rights Manager and Director of Foreign Rights. In these capacities, she represents the agency at international book fairs and publishing conferences. She is actively engaged in building relationships with key players in digital publishing and ensuring that our clients have access to an array of top-notch services in the electronic rights industry.
She represents a small, select list of her own authors, ranging from academics to syndicated cartoonists, and from debut novelists to well-established authors. Melissa holds a B.A. in English and Philosophy, M.A. in World Literature (both from Simmons College), and is A.B.D. in the Ph.D. program at SUNY-Stony Brook’s English Department, where she also earned graduate teaching certification in film studies and women’s studies.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Education * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * Middle Grade * Philosophy * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * Science * Women’s Issues *
511 Sixth Avenue #120 New York NY 10011 USA
Danielle Chiotti
Upstart Crow LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Danielle Chiotti is a literary agent with Upstart Crow Literary. Danielle has worked in publishing for eighteen years. Formerly an editor, she joined Upstart Crow when it was founded in 2009, specializing in young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as cookbooks and select nonfiction. Thanks to her extensive editorial background, she enjoys working closely with authors to develop projects. She welcomes first-time authors with a unique voice and point of view.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development *
Biography
Adam Chromy is a literary agent with Movable Type Managment. After receiving a degree in Finance and Management from N.Y.U.’s Stern School of Business and spending a decade as a sales and marketing guru for technology startups, Adam decided to blend his love of narrative with his modern entrepreneurial spirit. The result was Artists and Artisans, where for ten years he represented authors with a professional rigor seldom seen in the book business. After hundreds of published books and numerous bestsellers, Adam reorganized Artists and Artisans as a management company to better serve clients by offering them the higher visibility afforded by film and television adaptations of their work. At Movable Type Management, Adam will serve as President of Movable Type Media, managing a very exclusive list of authors while developing and producing the adaptations of MTM’s clients’ work.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Reference * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel *
244 Madison Ave Suite 334 New York NY 10016 USA
Biography
Lynn Chu is a literary agent with Writers’ Representatives. Lynn holds a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and is a member of the New York State Bar and of the Bar of the Southern District of New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Sports Fiction * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers *Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Economics * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Law * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Philosophy * Politics * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Technology * Upmarket *
116 West 14th Street 11th Floor New York NY 10011 USA
Steven Chudney
The Chudney AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Steven Chudney is a literary agent with The Chudney Agency. Steven says: “After more than fifteen years in book publishing I founded The Chudney Agency in 2002, specializing in the wonderful world of children’s books. My very first job in publishing was selling paperbacks for Dell Publishing in their small telemarketing department. Since then I have held various sales and marketing positions at Viking Penguin, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and Simon & Schuster where I was first the marketing director and then director of licensing and brand development. My last publishing position was with Winslow Press where I held the position of Senior Director of Marketing, Sales & Subsidiary Rights. I have sold and marketed every imaginable type of book – adult and children’s, hardcovers, pop-up books and paperbacks—to wholesalers, independent bookstores and chain stores alike. And, having worked at various publishing houses, I know many editors and art directors in the industry.
Successes along the way included the marketing campaign to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Eloise, by Kay Thompson, the launch of the Nickelodeon line of books, and the acquisition and initial development of the Cheerios brand for Simon & Schuster into one of the bestselling board book series’ of all time. Not to mention all the first time novels and picture books I worked on as well. Now, as an agent, I find that I really love the beginning of the process: reading manuscripts and discovering new talent. I also enjoy the challenge of developing authors and illustrators, and making sure their books find the largest audience possible.
Since I began my agency in 2002, I have had the good fortune to work with new and established writers and illustrators, pairing them with the right editor at the right publishing house, and guiding and managing their careers. Working with sub-agents covering TV and film rights, as well as foreign language agents in key territories and countries all over the world, I continue to be excited about the opportunities for my authors and illustrators.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Humor *
Clara Chuiton
Olswanger Literary LLCDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Clara Chuiton is a literary agent with Olswanger Literary LLC. She says: “I represent exclusively adult fiction, with a special focus on romance.
I love all categories of adult romance, with an emphasis on rom-coms and contemporary. I especially love storylines that focus on identity and non-traditional careers, and I am always looking for fresh twists on well-loved tropes (enemies-to-lovers, unlikable heroines, road trip novels…). I also love historical romances that take place in unusual settings and in rarely-written-about time periods.
I’m also looking for science-fiction and horror novels, and manuscripts that blend the two genres. Stories set in space, stories that pose ethical dilemmas, and stories with strong intersectional feminist themes are very likely to interest me.
Essentially, unusual settings, a high concept, and a strong, unique voice will pull me in.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Jane Chun is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She has been at Janklow & Nesbit since May 2019. She supports Anne Sibbald and Richard Morris and is currently building her list. Prior to working at J&N, she worked on a freelance project for HG Literary and interned at Writers House and Maximum Films & Management.
Jane is particularly interested in stories that center marginalized communities and prose that is cinematic and atmospheric with good rhythm. In both fiction and nonfiction, she is drawn towards compelling, fresh voices that make her feel as though the writer is in the room with her, telling her their story with intimacy as if they were already acquainted. Regardless of how plot-driven a story is, characters with rich inner worlds and emotional depth are a must for her.
For fiction, she is seeking commercial, upmarket, and literary works in both adult and MG/YA about the search for and rebuilding of identity, diaspora, family and community, and examinations of power in relationships. She is also looking for fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction that delve into sharp social commentary and have meticulous worldbuilding and settings that don’t feel like Western Europe. For historical fiction, she likes hidden histories and anything that is set in a time or place she’s not familiar with or focuses on a community that has been often overlooked if it’s a time/place she knows.
In terms of nonfiction, she is looking for memoirs, essay collections, and narrative nonfiction with a nuanced, intersectional approach and similar themes to her interests in fiction. She also is interested in books about food, travel, pop culture, and cultural criticism that dive deeply and thoughtfully into culture and traditions.
In addition to traditional prose, she is very interested in graphic novels and nonfiction. She is looking for stylistically engaging, unique art that feels either nostalgic without being derivative or fresh and boundary-pushing.
She is not the right person for picture books, prescriptive nonfiction, self-help, religion/spirituality books, romance, commercial thrillers, hard sci-fi, poetry, or short story collections.
For more details on what she’s looking for, please refer to her MSWL: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jane-chun.
Jane is a native New Yorker and attended NYU where she majored in History and minored in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology; Creative Writing; and Spanish. She returned to NYU shortly after graduating to receive her M.S. in Publishing with distinction.
Jane is part of the 2022 Literary Agents of Change Mentorship Program cohort and the American Association of Literary Agents (AALA).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * NoPB * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Sports * Travel * Young Adult *
Biography
Kayla Cichello is a literary agent with Upstart Crow Literary. She brings to Upstart Crow Literary nearly a decade of experience in children’s publishing. A former Conference Coordinator for the International Summer and Winter Conferences for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, she most recently logged several years as assistant to Senior Agent Jennifer Rofé at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She is open to a wide range of books, from picture books through young adult novels, and is especially keen to discover unique voices and champion new creators of tomorrow’s classics.
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 *
594 Dean Street Office 47 Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Andrea Cirillo
Jane Rotrosen AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Andrea Cirillo is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Andrea began her publishing career in the editorial department of Dell Books where her childhood addiction to commercial fiction was nourished and expanded. After nearly five years on the editorial side of the table, she joined JRA intending to gain a different perspective and has called it home ever since. She has a strong affinity for female voices and primarily represents writers of general fiction, women’s fiction, and suspense, many of them from their debut novels.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Andy Clapp is a literary agent with the Hartline Literary Agency. He was born and raised in Liberty, North Carolina. After graduating from Southern Alamance High School, he attended the University of Mount Olive, where he played tennis. Andy is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree at Liberty University. He is married to Crystal and has two beautiful daughters, Cheyenne and Autumn, and one son, Brady.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Religious *
NONFICTION: Christian * Religion * Spirituality *
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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)