Here are eight literary agents actively seeking clients. Make sure you read the agency's website before submitting, especially the submissions page, for more information.
The more you know about an agent before submitting the better. An excellent resource for checking out agents is Absolute Write. (Just type Absolute Write and the agent's name into a Google search.)
Note: For a complete list of dozens of new and established agents actively seeking clients click here.
Happy submitting!
___________________________
Danielle Smith of Lupine Grove Creative
Danielle's publishing career began with her well known book reviews and articles, of which many can still be found at There's A Book. Additionally she wrote for print & online publications such as Women's World and Parenting Magazine. She's an author, literacy advocate, professional flutist and movie lover. Danielle has also served as a judge for the Cybils Awards in the picture book category for three years as well as for the INSPYs and various other writing competitions. Danielle was formerly an agent at Red Fox Literary. She launched Lupine Grove Creative in 2017.
What she is looking for: Only submissions of the picture book, early reader, chapter book, middle grade and young adult book variety as well as illustrators will be considered.
How to submit: Send a query via email and paste your manuscript (ten pages for novels/chapter books; full text of picture book for picture books/early readers) within the body of the email to submissions@lupinegrove.com.
________________________________
Lorin Oberweger of Adams Literary
Before joining Adams Literary, Lorin Oberweger served as a highly sought-after independent book editor and ghostwriter for more than two decades, helping to shepherd hundreds of books—including many bestsellers—to publishing success. She is particularly known for her one-on-one story development and workshops for writers of all genres of fiction and creative non-fiction. Lorin is a popular speaker at conferences around the country, including many appearances at SCBWI events.
An award-winning author, Lorin has written for a wide variety of periodicals, and her ghostwritten books, commissioned by major publishers, have received glowing notices from the New York Times and Kirkus Reviews. Lorin is the co-author of BOOMERANG, REBOUND, and BOUNCE, under the pen name Noelle August.
What she is looking for: Lorin is seeking middle grade and young adult in any genre with a preference for social themes, edgier/darker works (though she loves a “feel good” story, too), and characters who are either self-actualized or promise self-actualization from the start.
How to submit: Guidelines for submitting are on the Submissions page. Use submission form here.
_____________________________
Victoria Marini of Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Victoria Marini began her career as a literary agent at Gelfman Schneider and ICM Partners before joining the Irene Goodman Agency in 2016.
What she is looking for: She is interested in both Literary and Commercial Middle Grade, Young Adult and Adult fiction. From contemporary to magical realism to sci-fi/fantasy and dramatic suspense, she is always looking for unforgettable off-the-page characters, compulsive stories, and unique voices. She is a sucker for weirdness, atmosphere, secrets, things that go bump in the night, a bit of whimsy, a twist of magic, or a dash of humor.
How to submit: Email a query letter and the first ten pages, along with a synopsis (3-5 paragraphs) and bio, in the body of an email to victoria.queries@ irenegoodman.com
__________________________
Linda Kasten of Loiacono Literary Agency
Linda Kasten is a novelist who writes thrillers and romance suspense. Having received a literature degree with minors in journalism and creative writing from Newman University in her hometown, Wichita, Kansas, she has continued studying and working on honing her craft, taking advantage of writing workshops and retreats, networking through conferences, and working with critique editors. She also belongs to several writing groups within her state’s radius.
What she is seeking: Thrillers, suspense, romance, mysteries, cozies, alternate histories, adventure, and mainstream fiction.
She is not interested in: erotica, foreign language translations, horror, LGBTQ, historical fiction unless it is outstanding, or works with excess profanity or vulgarity.
How to submit: Send query to Linda@Linda.K@llallc.net. Send synopsis and complete manuscript as attached word documents. Read the submissions page carefully for specific guidelines.
_____________________________
Chris Wellbelove of Aitken Alexander Associates
Before joining Aitken Alexander Associates, Chris worked as an agent for six years at Greene & Heaton.
What he is seeking: Literary fiction and nonfiction, including memoirs, nature writing, sports, and other nonfiction topics.
How to submit: Please send a query letter, with a short synopsis and the first 30 pages of your book as a Word attachment to submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk
__________________________
Kathleen Schmidt of Empire Literary
An industry veteran with 20 years of experience, Kathleen Schmidt was most recently Associate Publisher of Rodale Books where she helped develop the Rodale Books publishing program, as well as new products and initiatives with current and prospective authors and brands, including The New York Times bestsellers Run Fast. Eat Slow., Thug Kitchen 101, The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, and Hustle. Prior to joining Rodale, Schmidt was VP of Marketing and Publicity at Running Press, Weinstein Books and Atria.
Schmidt has also led her own PR & Marketing firm, KMSPR, where her clients included New York Times bestselling author Buzz Bissinger, former WNBA player Chamiques Holdsclaw, and writers J. Courtney Sullivan, Alissa Nutting, and Dawn Tripp among others.
What she is seeking: Kathleen is looking to acquire narrative nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, health and wellness, lifestyle, and select women’s fiction.
How to submit: Send query to Queries@empireliterary.com
_______________________
Monika Woods of Curtis Brown, Ltd.
Monika Woods is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course and has worked at Trident Media Group and InkWell Management, where she worked closely with leading voices in contemporary literature.
What she is seeking: literary and commercial fiction and compelling non-fiction in food, popular culture, journalism, science, and current affairs. Monika is particularly excited about plot-driven literary novels, non-fiction that is creatively critical, unique perspectives, a great cookbook, and above all, original prose.
How to submit: Send an email with a description of your project as well as the first ten pages of your manuscript to mmw@cbltd.com. She reviews all queries sent to her within three to four weeks, and will respond if she’s interested in seeing more.
_________________________
Pamela Malpas of Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency
Pamela Malpas has spent more than two decades in publishing; before joining the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, she was an agent with Harold Ober Associates, and prior to that, with Knox Burger Associates. She has worked with winners of the Stella Prize, and the Morton Dauwen Zabel, PEN/New England, PEN/West, and Ippy awards. Pamela represents work in several categories of fiction and narrative nonfiction. AAR member.
What she is seeking: Fiction (literary and upmarket commercial, crime and suspense) that examines moral problems, family dynamics, and human behavior. Narrative nonfiction in history, natural history, arts and culture. She does not consider nonfiction in the areas of pop culture, self-help or practical nonfiction, nor fiction in the categories of science fiction/fantasy, romance/erotica, juvenile or YA fiction.
How to submit: Send an email query to pamela@jenniferlyonsliteraryagency.com
The more you know about an agent before submitting the better. An excellent resource for checking out agents is Absolute Write. (Just type Absolute Write and the agent's name into a Google search.)
Note: For a complete list of dozens of new and established agents actively seeking clients click here.
Happy submitting!
___________________________
Danielle Smith of Lupine Grove Creative
Danielle's publishing career began with her well known book reviews and articles, of which many can still be found at There's A Book. Additionally she wrote for print & online publications such as Women's World and Parenting Magazine. She's an author, literacy advocate, professional flutist and movie lover. Danielle has also served as a judge for the Cybils Awards in the picture book category for three years as well as for the INSPYs and various other writing competitions. Danielle was formerly an agent at Red Fox Literary. She launched Lupine Grove Creative in 2017.
What she is looking for: Only submissions of the picture book, early reader, chapter book, middle grade and young adult book variety as well as illustrators will be considered.
How to submit: Send a query via email and paste your manuscript (ten pages for novels/chapter books; full text of picture book for picture books/early readers) within the body of the email to submissions@lupinegrove.com.
________________________________
Lorin Oberweger of Adams Literary
Before joining Adams Literary, Lorin Oberweger served as a highly sought-after independent book editor and ghostwriter for more than two decades, helping to shepherd hundreds of books—including many bestsellers—to publishing success. She is particularly known for her one-on-one story development and workshops for writers of all genres of fiction and creative non-fiction. Lorin is a popular speaker at conferences around the country, including many appearances at SCBWI events.
An award-winning author, Lorin has written for a wide variety of periodicals, and her ghostwritten books, commissioned by major publishers, have received glowing notices from the New York Times and Kirkus Reviews. Lorin is the co-author of BOOMERANG, REBOUND, and BOUNCE, under the pen name Noelle August.
What she is looking for: Lorin is seeking middle grade and young adult in any genre with a preference for social themes, edgier/darker works (though she loves a “feel good” story, too), and characters who are either self-actualized or promise self-actualization from the start.
How to submit: Guidelines for submitting are on the Submissions page. Use submission form here.
_____________________________
Victoria Marini of Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Victoria Marini began her career as a literary agent at Gelfman Schneider and ICM Partners before joining the Irene Goodman Agency in 2016.
What she is looking for: She is interested in both Literary and Commercial Middle Grade, Young Adult and Adult fiction. From contemporary to magical realism to sci-fi/fantasy and dramatic suspense, she is always looking for unforgettable off-the-page characters, compulsive stories, and unique voices. She is a sucker for weirdness, atmosphere, secrets, things that go bump in the night, a bit of whimsy, a twist of magic, or a dash of humor.
How to submit: Email a query letter and the first ten pages, along with a synopsis (3-5 paragraphs) and bio, in the body of an email to victoria.queries@ irenegoodman.com
__________________________
Linda Kasten of Loiacono Literary Agency
Linda Kasten is a novelist who writes thrillers and romance suspense. Having received a literature degree with minors in journalism and creative writing from Newman University in her hometown, Wichita, Kansas, she has continued studying and working on honing her craft, taking advantage of writing workshops and retreats, networking through conferences, and working with critique editors. She also belongs to several writing groups within her state’s radius.
What she is seeking: Thrillers, suspense, romance, mysteries, cozies, alternate histories, adventure, and mainstream fiction.
She is not interested in: erotica, foreign language translations, horror, LGBTQ, historical fiction unless it is outstanding, or works with excess profanity or vulgarity.
How to submit: Send query to Linda@Linda.K@llallc.net. Send synopsis and complete manuscript as attached word documents. Read the submissions page carefully for specific guidelines.
_____________________________
Chris Wellbelove of Aitken Alexander Associates
Before joining Aitken Alexander Associates, Chris worked as an agent for six years at Greene & Heaton.
What he is seeking: Literary fiction and nonfiction, including memoirs, nature writing, sports, and other nonfiction topics.
How to submit: Please send a query letter, with a short synopsis and the first 30 pages of your book as a Word attachment to submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk
__________________________
Kathleen Schmidt of Empire Literary
An industry veteran with 20 years of experience, Kathleen Schmidt was most recently Associate Publisher of Rodale Books where she helped develop the Rodale Books publishing program, as well as new products and initiatives with current and prospective authors and brands, including The New York Times bestsellers Run Fast. Eat Slow., Thug Kitchen 101, The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, and Hustle. Prior to joining Rodale, Schmidt was VP of Marketing and Publicity at Running Press, Weinstein Books and Atria.
Schmidt has also led her own PR & Marketing firm, KMSPR, where her clients included New York Times bestselling author Buzz Bissinger, former WNBA player Chamiques Holdsclaw, and writers J. Courtney Sullivan, Alissa Nutting, and Dawn Tripp among others.
What she is seeking: Kathleen is looking to acquire narrative nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, health and wellness, lifestyle, and select women’s fiction.
How to submit: Send query to Queries@empireliterary.com
_______________________
Monika Woods of Curtis Brown, Ltd.
Monika Woods is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course and has worked at Trident Media Group and InkWell Management, where she worked closely with leading voices in contemporary literature.
What she is seeking: literary and commercial fiction and compelling non-fiction in food, popular culture, journalism, science, and current affairs. Monika is particularly excited about plot-driven literary novels, non-fiction that is creatively critical, unique perspectives, a great cookbook, and above all, original prose.
How to submit: Send an email with a description of your project as well as the first ten pages of your manuscript to mmw@cbltd.com. She reviews all queries sent to her within three to four weeks, and will respond if she’s interested in seeing more.
_________________________
Pamela Malpas of Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency
Pamela Malpas has spent more than two decades in publishing; before joining the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, she was an agent with Harold Ober Associates, and prior to that, with Knox Burger Associates. She has worked with winners of the Stella Prize, and the Morton Dauwen Zabel, PEN/New England, PEN/West, and Ippy awards. Pamela represents work in several categories of fiction and narrative nonfiction. AAR member.
What she is seeking: Fiction (literary and upmarket commercial, crime and suspense) that examines moral problems, family dynamics, and human behavior. Narrative nonfiction in history, natural history, arts and culture. She does not consider nonfiction in the areas of pop culture, self-help or practical nonfiction, nor fiction in the categories of science fiction/fantasy, romance/erotica, juvenile or YA fiction.
How to submit: Send an email query to pamela@jenniferlyonsliteraryagency.com
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