Ciara Finan
Here are six literary agents actively seeking clients. All work with reputable literary agencies with good track records.
Ciara Finan is looking for SFF, YA, psychological thrillers, historical novels, female-led commercial and book club fiction and select commercial non-fiction. Liz Nealon is particularly looking for Modern Women’s Fiction; True Crime; Narrative Non-Fiction; Art/Illustrated titles for adults; Illustrated Middle Grade (both fiction and non-fiction).
Christabel McKinley is building a list of children’s authors and illustrators, from picture books to Young Adult fiction. Stuti Telidevara is seeking young adult, middle grade, and adult SFF and general fiction. Mina Hamedi represents adult literary fiction and nonfiction.
Maddy Belton wants SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
NOTE: Don't submit to two agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
__________________________
Ms. Ciara Finan of Curtis Brown Group, Ltd. (UK)Ciara Finan joined Curtis Brown in 2018 and currently assists literary agent Jonny Geller.
What she is seeking: I am looking for SFF, YA, psychological thrillers, historical novels, female-led commercial and book club fiction and select commercial non-fiction. I’m particularly interested in finding and championing stories by writers from underrepresented backgrounds and communities.
How to submit: Please email ciara.finan@curtisbrown.co.uk with a synopsis and sample chapters.
__________________________
Liz Nealon of Great Dog Literary
Liz is the former Publisher of StarWalk Kids Media, an award-winning digital publishing company that she co-founded with author Seymour Simon (2012-2016). She has unique and specific experience in children's digital publishing, with extensive knowledge of the US Schools & Libraries sector. Liz is also experienced in working with international partners, generating international reprint and sub-rights deals for dozens of books. In her previous life Liz was an award-winning executive producer and children's media industry leader who played an integral role in shaping the indelible youth brands Sesame Street, Kidz Bop, and MTV. She served as Worldwide Creative Director for Sesame Street and traveled the world as Senior Vice President of MTV International Programming, reconceiving the popular music brand for Europe, Brazil, Japan and Australia.
What she is seeking: Liz is particularly looking for Modern Women’s Fiction (no fantasy or Regency); True Crime with a strong, literary voice; memorable Narrative Non-Fiction; Art/Illustrated titles for adults; Illustrated Middle Grade (both fiction and non-fiction). She is committed to representing diverse voices and would be over the moon if she could acquire a captivating LGBTQ RomCom for YA readers.
How to submit: Read guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Christabel McKinley of David Higham Associates Ltd (UK)
Christabel joined David Higham Associates in 2018, having previously worked in translation rights and at a scouting agency. She graduated with a degree in Russian and English Literature from Trinity College Dublin, after which she spent a year teaching English in South Korea.
What she is seeking: Christabel is building a list of children’s authors and illustrators, from picture books to Young Adult fiction. She is particularly drawn to writing that feels authentically child-oriented with clear insight into the way young people feel and think. Her favourite works for children include Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot and Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. She is also building a select list of adult SFF authors. She has recently enjoyed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson.
How to submit: Children’s manuscripts or artwork should be sent to childrenssubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk as per the guidelines here.
For adult fiction: Querying authors should send the opening three chapters, a synopsis and a cover letter to christabelsubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk.
__________________________
Ms. Stuti Telidevara of Park & Fine Literary and Media
Prior to joining Park & Fine in 2021, she held positions at Raven Quill Literary, Orbit Books, and Transatlantic Literary. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and spends her free time watching ice hockey, listening to history podcasts, and brewing perfect cups of tea.
What she is seeking: Stuti Telidevara works with Peter Knapp on young adult, middle grade, and adult SFF and general fiction. She is interested in diverse storytellers and vivid, detailed worldbuilding across genre, and fiction with a strong, high-concept hook. For more about what projects she’s looking for, see here.
How to submit: Please specify the first and last name of the agent to whom you are submitting, as well as the category and genre of your submission (i.e.: “Sarah Passick – Adult Nonfiction” or “Pete Knapp – YA Fantasy”) in the subject line of the email. Send your query letter and accompanying material to queries@parkfine.com. All materials must be in the body of the email.
For adult fiction submissions, please include a query letter and approximately the first 25 pages of your work. For YA & children’s fiction submissions, please include a query letter and the first chapter or approximately the first ten pages of your work.
__________________________
Ms. Mina Hamedi of Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Mina Hamedi grew up in Istanbul, Turkey before moving to New York in 2010. She received her BA in Nonfiction and Global Identity from NYU’s Gallatin School and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Columbia University. Mina began her career in publishing at David Black Literary Agency and Writers House. She joined Janklow & Nesbit in 2018 where she supports co-founder Lynn Nesbit and her various authors including Andre Aciman, Robert Caro, Ronan Farrow, Andrew Sean Greer, Anand Giridharadas, and Maaza Mengiste, as well as the estates of Joan Didion, Shirley Hazzard, Anne Rice, and Tom Wolfe.
What she is seeking: Mina represents adult literary fiction and nonfiction. She is interested in stories from around the world—particularly her native Turkey and Iran. She loves fiction with Gothic-inspired atmospheres, intergenerational tales, family secrets, and deep excavations into relationships, motivations, and obsessions. She is drawn to nonfiction with a fiercely personal bent and a strong voice, and writers who are working not only to uncover the undercurrents of our world but also to change them. She seeks voices in translation and writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
How to submit: Follow the agency's guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Maddy Belton of The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency (UK)
After graduating from St Andrews University with a degree in English Literature and Art History, Maddy followed her love of literature to an internship at non-fiction literary agency Graham Maw Christie. At GMC, Maddy worked her way up to Agent and built a list of authors who wrote for both for adults and children, spanning history, tarot, and nature writing.
What she is seeking: SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction.
How to submit: Read the agency guidelines HERE.
Ciara Finan is looking for SFF, YA, psychological thrillers, historical novels, female-led commercial and book club fiction and select commercial non-fiction. Liz Nealon is particularly looking for Modern Women’s Fiction; True Crime; Narrative Non-Fiction; Art/Illustrated titles for adults; Illustrated Middle Grade (both fiction and non-fiction).
Christabel McKinley is building a list of children’s authors and illustrators, from picture books to Young Adult fiction. Stuti Telidevara is seeking young adult, middle grade, and adult SFF and general fiction. Mina Hamedi represents adult literary fiction and nonfiction.
Maddy Belton wants SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
NOTE: Don't submit to two agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
__________________________
Ms. Ciara Finan of Curtis Brown Group, Ltd. (UK)Ciara Finan joined Curtis Brown in 2018 and currently assists literary agent Jonny Geller.
What she is seeking: I am looking for SFF, YA, psychological thrillers, historical novels, female-led commercial and book club fiction and select commercial non-fiction. I’m particularly interested in finding and championing stories by writers from underrepresented backgrounds and communities.
How to submit: Please email ciara.finan@curtisbrown.co.uk with a synopsis and sample chapters.
__________________________
Liz Nealon of Great Dog Literary
Liz is the former Publisher of StarWalk Kids Media, an award-winning digital publishing company that she co-founded with author Seymour Simon (2012-2016). She has unique and specific experience in children's digital publishing, with extensive knowledge of the US Schools & Libraries sector. Liz is also experienced in working with international partners, generating international reprint and sub-rights deals for dozens of books. In her previous life Liz was an award-winning executive producer and children's media industry leader who played an integral role in shaping the indelible youth brands Sesame Street, Kidz Bop, and MTV. She served as Worldwide Creative Director for Sesame Street and traveled the world as Senior Vice President of MTV International Programming, reconceiving the popular music brand for Europe, Brazil, Japan and Australia.
What she is seeking: Liz is particularly looking for Modern Women’s Fiction (no fantasy or Regency); True Crime with a strong, literary voice; memorable Narrative Non-Fiction; Art/Illustrated titles for adults; Illustrated Middle Grade (both fiction and non-fiction). She is committed to representing diverse voices and would be over the moon if she could acquire a captivating LGBTQ RomCom for YA readers.
How to submit: Read guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Christabel McKinley of David Higham Associates Ltd (UK)
Christabel joined David Higham Associates in 2018, having previously worked in translation rights and at a scouting agency. She graduated with a degree in Russian and English Literature from Trinity College Dublin, after which she spent a year teaching English in South Korea.
What she is seeking: Christabel is building a list of children’s authors and illustrators, from picture books to Young Adult fiction. She is particularly drawn to writing that feels authentically child-oriented with clear insight into the way young people feel and think. Her favourite works for children include Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot and Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. She is also building a select list of adult SFF authors. She has recently enjoyed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson.
How to submit: Children’s manuscripts or artwork should be sent to childrenssubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk as per the guidelines here.
For adult fiction: Querying authors should send the opening three chapters, a synopsis and a cover letter to christabelsubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk.
__________________________
Ms. Stuti Telidevara of Park & Fine Literary and Media
Prior to joining Park & Fine in 2021, she held positions at Raven Quill Literary, Orbit Books, and Transatlantic Literary. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and spends her free time watching ice hockey, listening to history podcasts, and brewing perfect cups of tea.
What she is seeking: Stuti Telidevara works with Peter Knapp on young adult, middle grade, and adult SFF and general fiction. She is interested in diverse storytellers and vivid, detailed worldbuilding across genre, and fiction with a strong, high-concept hook. For more about what projects she’s looking for, see here.
How to submit: Please specify the first and last name of the agent to whom you are submitting, as well as the category and genre of your submission (i.e.: “Sarah Passick – Adult Nonfiction” or “Pete Knapp – YA Fantasy”) in the subject line of the email. Send your query letter and accompanying material to queries@parkfine.com. All materials must be in the body of the email.
For adult fiction submissions, please include a query letter and approximately the first 25 pages of your work. For YA & children’s fiction submissions, please include a query letter and the first chapter or approximately the first ten pages of your work.
__________________________
Ms. Mina Hamedi of Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Mina Hamedi grew up in Istanbul, Turkey before moving to New York in 2010. She received her BA in Nonfiction and Global Identity from NYU’s Gallatin School and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Columbia University. Mina began her career in publishing at David Black Literary Agency and Writers House. She joined Janklow & Nesbit in 2018 where she supports co-founder Lynn Nesbit and her various authors including Andre Aciman, Robert Caro, Ronan Farrow, Andrew Sean Greer, Anand Giridharadas, and Maaza Mengiste, as well as the estates of Joan Didion, Shirley Hazzard, Anne Rice, and Tom Wolfe.
What she is seeking: Mina represents adult literary fiction and nonfiction. She is interested in stories from around the world—particularly her native Turkey and Iran. She loves fiction with Gothic-inspired atmospheres, intergenerational tales, family secrets, and deep excavations into relationships, motivations, and obsessions. She is drawn to nonfiction with a fiercely personal bent and a strong voice, and writers who are working not only to uncover the undercurrents of our world but also to change them. She seeks voices in translation and writers from underrepresented backgrounds.
How to submit: Follow the agency's guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Maddy Belton of The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency (UK)
After graduating from St Andrews University with a degree in English Literature and Art History, Maddy followed her love of literature to an internship at non-fiction literary agency Graham Maw Christie. At GMC, Maddy worked her way up to Agent and built a list of authors who wrote for both for adults and children, spanning history, tarot, and nature writing.
What she is seeking: SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction.
How to submit: Read the agency guidelines HERE.
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