Jen Babakhan
Here are nine new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.
All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.
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 several 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. Jen Babakhan of Books & Such Literary Agency
Prior to becoming an associate agent in 2024, Jen graduated with a degree in communications and became a marketing specialist for an international nonprofit, where she worked to develop the business’s brand and recognition of that brand—two important elements for every author to master as well. She later transitioned into freelance writing and ghostwriting when her two children came along. In these roles Jen wrote for Reader’s Digest from 2017 to 2021, and her work has been featured in various national outlets.
What she is seeking: Jen acquires adult nonfiction and fiction.
How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Amy O'Shea of Graham Maw Christie Literary Agents (UK)
Amy graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Linguistics and English Language in 2021. Amy joined the agency in early 2023 to assist Jane and Jen with social media, admin, royalties and submissions. She became a junior agent in 2024.
What she is seeking: She is interested in a wide variety of non-fiction from prescriptions for thinking and living better by experts in their field, to humour, history, true crime and memoir whereby the author immerses the reader in a lived experience. In an ever-changing landscape, she is looking for books that bring fresh, practical and accessible solutions to their audience - anything that can teach us more about who we are and the world we share.
How to submit: Follow the agency's guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Liv Ivanov of Creative Media Agency
After graduating from the University of Missouri and working in operations and video game development for several years, Liv returned to her first love and began volunteering as a reader and fiction editor for literary magazines before starting her internships at Triada US and Creative Media Agency in 2023. Now stepping into her role as an Associate Agent at CMA, Liv is excited to both discover refreshing, compelling, and fantastical stories and champion new creative voices in the industry. In her free time, Liv loves to go hiking in the Rocky Mountains near her home in Colorado Springs, as well as collect books as she slowly works toward making her home office a 1,000-book library.
What she is seeking: Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary, Magical Realism, Middle Grade, Mystery, New Adult, Psychological Thriller, Science Fiction, Speculative, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult.
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE. (Watch for her next open period.)
__________________________
Ms. Polly Halladay of Georgina Capel Associates Ltd (UK)
Polly Halladay studied English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and has a masters in Creative Writing: Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia.
What she is seeking: She is interested in literary and commercial fiction, fantasy, romance, narrative non-fiction, memoir, and poetry.
How to submit: Please follow submission instructions HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Elizabeth DeNoma of Sebes & Bisseling
My work as an agent is a culmination of my decades of experience as a literary editor, foreign rights manager, manager of design and editorial teams, translator, and ghost writer. I have a PhD in literary studies from the University of Washington and have been awarded several awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship.
What she is seeking: Narrative nonfiction of universal interest – experts and storytellers in environmental science, sociology, psychology, medicine, parenting, history, anthropology, and remarkable memoirs (individual and of a group) that give us insight into our greater human story. Occasionally I represent a work of exceptional fiction. I sit in the United States and represent global authors writing in English to publishers in North America and others acquiring global English language rights.
How to submit: Please submit queries and proposals to denoma at sebes.nl Nonfiction submissions require a proposal, including sample chapters. Fiction queries require a complete, edited draft of the manuscript.
__________________________
Ms. Kait Feldmann of KT Literary
Kait joined kt literary in 2024, but has been romping around children’s publishing for over a decade. She was previously an editor at Scholastic and HarperCollins, where her list included award-winning books that received a Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and Sibert Honor; the Ezra Jack Keats Award; and appearances on Best of lists for The New York Times, NPR, Kirkus, and more. She is a founding member of People of Color in Publishing and a recipient of the CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award. Kait resides in a hoarder’s paradise in Los Angeles, surrounded by books. When she’s not reading those, she can often be found crafting, estate sale hopping, or playing board games.
What she is seeking: Kait specializes in picture books and graphic novels and is accepting queries from illustrators and author-illustrators.
How to submit: You can query Kait at querykait@ktliterary.com. Attach your book dummy if you are working on one and include a link to your website/portfolio.
__________________________
Jess Molloy of Curtis Brown Group, Ltd. (UK)
I joined the literary department in 2019 having previously worked at Curtis Brown in the talent and comedy department and within talent management for over 8 years. I started off assisting Cathryn Summerhayes with her brilliant and eclectic list before being promoted to Literary Agent in 2022 and starting my own list.I enjoy working with people who have come to writing, be that fiction or non-fiction, via unexpected or unorthodox routes and work well with people with an entertainment background or with profile who want to reach new audiences with their writing.
What she is seeking: I am always looking for a book to escape into and I read broadly across fiction and narrative non-fiction. I am usually first pulled in by a unique concept or setting, but what keeps me reading are beautifully drawn, complex characters, relationships, and family dynamics. I enjoy reading fantasy and romance and I am particularly on the look out for a story which has a slow burn at its heart, full of angst and drama.
I have a deep love for Irish fiction both in terms of Irish writers, particularly the inimitable Colm Tóibín and the powerhouse that is Lisa McInerney, and novels set in Ireland.I enjoy crime fiction and true crime writing that subverts the genre and focuses on the victim or the fallout for their family, for instance Nothing Can Harm You, My Sister The Serial Killer, We Begin At The End and the beautiful, incomparable I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara.
In terms of non-fiction I enjoy issues led narrative writing with a personal story at its heart and particularly love hearing from underrepresented voices. I am also interested in psychology and therapy. My non-fiction reading varies broadly from comedians to experts and journalists, but what I am always looking for is an authentic voice that will teach me something fascinating or share a very personal journey with me.
How to submit: Please email your pitch/cover letter, the first three chapters/10,000 words and short synopsis (for fiction) or proposal (for non-fiction) to molloysubmissions@curtisbrowngroup.co.uk
__________________________
Jade Kavanagh of Darley Anderson Literary (UK)
Whilst undertaking her undergraduate degree in English Literature at the University of Westminster, Jade discovered the possibility of taking her love of books and turning it into a career. Staying on for a year and gaining her MA, she then went on to several publishing internships before finding a placement at Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency before joining the team permanently as Agent’s Assistant and falling in love with the agenting side of the book world.
What she is seeking: Jade is building her own list of clients focusing on suspense, thriller and horror authors.
How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Aparna Kumar of David Godwin Associates (UK)
Aparna Kumar, who has recently completed her MSc in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, has worked in publishing for six years. Most recently, she was an editor at Penguin Random House India, where she commissioned literary fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry.
What she is seeking: Aparna Kumar is looking to fill her list with literary fiction and creative non-fiction.
How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.
All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.
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 several 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. Jen Babakhan of Books & Such Literary Agency
Prior to becoming an associate agent in 2024, Jen graduated with a degree in communications and became a marketing specialist for an international nonprofit, where she worked to develop the business’s brand and recognition of that brand—two important elements for every author to master as well. She later transitioned into freelance writing and ghostwriting when her two children came along. In these roles Jen wrote for Reader’s Digest from 2017 to 2021, and her work has been featured in various national outlets.
What she is seeking: Jen acquires adult nonfiction and fiction.
How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Amy O'Shea of Graham Maw Christie Literary Agents (UK)
Amy graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Linguistics and English Language in 2021. Amy joined the agency in early 2023 to assist Jane and Jen with social media, admin, royalties and submissions. She became a junior agent in 2024.
What she is seeking: She is interested in a wide variety of non-fiction from prescriptions for thinking and living better by experts in their field, to humour, history, true crime and memoir whereby the author immerses the reader in a lived experience. In an ever-changing landscape, she is looking for books that bring fresh, practical and accessible solutions to their audience - anything that can teach us more about who we are and the world we share.
How to submit: Follow the agency's guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Liv Ivanov of Creative Media Agency
After graduating from the University of Missouri and working in operations and video game development for several years, Liv returned to her first love and began volunteering as a reader and fiction editor for literary magazines before starting her internships at Triada US and Creative Media Agency in 2023. Now stepping into her role as an Associate Agent at CMA, Liv is excited to both discover refreshing, compelling, and fantastical stories and champion new creative voices in the industry. In her free time, Liv loves to go hiking in the Rocky Mountains near her home in Colorado Springs, as well as collect books as she slowly works toward making her home office a 1,000-book library.
What she is seeking: Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary, Magical Realism, Middle Grade, Mystery, New Adult, Psychological Thriller, Science Fiction, Speculative, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult.
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE. (Watch for her next open period.)
__________________________
Ms. Polly Halladay of Georgina Capel Associates Ltd (UK)
Polly Halladay studied English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and has a masters in Creative Writing: Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia.
What she is seeking: She is interested in literary and commercial fiction, fantasy, romance, narrative non-fiction, memoir, and poetry.
How to submit: Please follow submission instructions HERE.
__________________________
Ms. Elizabeth DeNoma of Sebes & Bisseling
My work as an agent is a culmination of my decades of experience as a literary editor, foreign rights manager, manager of design and editorial teams, translator, and ghost writer. I have a PhD in literary studies from the University of Washington and have been awarded several awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship.
What she is seeking: Narrative nonfiction of universal interest – experts and storytellers in environmental science, sociology, psychology, medicine, parenting, history, anthropology, and remarkable memoirs (individual and of a group) that give us insight into our greater human story. Occasionally I represent a work of exceptional fiction. I sit in the United States and represent global authors writing in English to publishers in North America and others acquiring global English language rights.
How to submit: Please submit queries and proposals to denoma at sebes.nl Nonfiction submissions require a proposal, including sample chapters. Fiction queries require a complete, edited draft of the manuscript.
__________________________
Ms. Kait Feldmann of KT Literary
Kait joined kt literary in 2024, but has been romping around children’s publishing for over a decade. She was previously an editor at Scholastic and HarperCollins, where her list included award-winning books that received a Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and Sibert Honor; the Ezra Jack Keats Award; and appearances on Best of lists for The New York Times, NPR, Kirkus, and more. She is a founding member of People of Color in Publishing and a recipient of the CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award. Kait resides in a hoarder’s paradise in Los Angeles, surrounded by books. When she’s not reading those, she can often be found crafting, estate sale hopping, or playing board games.
What she is seeking: Kait specializes in picture books and graphic novels and is accepting queries from illustrators and author-illustrators.
How to submit: You can query Kait at querykait@ktliterary.com. Attach your book dummy if you are working on one and include a link to your website/portfolio.
__________________________
Jess Molloy of Curtis Brown Group, Ltd. (UK)
I joined the literary department in 2019 having previously worked at Curtis Brown in the talent and comedy department and within talent management for over 8 years. I started off assisting Cathryn Summerhayes with her brilliant and eclectic list before being promoted to Literary Agent in 2022 and starting my own list.I enjoy working with people who have come to writing, be that fiction or non-fiction, via unexpected or unorthodox routes and work well with people with an entertainment background or with profile who want to reach new audiences with their writing.
What she is seeking: I am always looking for a book to escape into and I read broadly across fiction and narrative non-fiction. I am usually first pulled in by a unique concept or setting, but what keeps me reading are beautifully drawn, complex characters, relationships, and family dynamics. I enjoy reading fantasy and romance and I am particularly on the look out for a story which has a slow burn at its heart, full of angst and drama.
I have a deep love for Irish fiction both in terms of Irish writers, particularly the inimitable Colm Tóibín and the powerhouse that is Lisa McInerney, and novels set in Ireland.I enjoy crime fiction and true crime writing that subverts the genre and focuses on the victim or the fallout for their family, for instance Nothing Can Harm You, My Sister The Serial Killer, We Begin At The End and the beautiful, incomparable I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara.
In terms of non-fiction I enjoy issues led narrative writing with a personal story at its heart and particularly love hearing from underrepresented voices. I am also interested in psychology and therapy. My non-fiction reading varies broadly from comedians to experts and journalists, but what I am always looking for is an authentic voice that will teach me something fascinating or share a very personal journey with me.
How to submit: Please email your pitch/cover letter, the first three chapters/10,000 words and short synopsis (for fiction) or proposal (for non-fiction) to molloysubmissions@curtisbrowngroup.co.uk
__________________________
Jade Kavanagh of Darley Anderson Literary (UK)
Whilst undertaking her undergraduate degree in English Literature at the University of Westminster, Jade discovered the possibility of taking her love of books and turning it into a career. Staying on for a year and gaining her MA, she then went on to several publishing internships before finding a placement at Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency before joining the team permanently as Agent’s Assistant and falling in love with the agenting side of the book world.
What she is seeking: Jade is building her own list of clients focusing on suspense, thriller and horror authors.
How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.
__________________________
Aparna Kumar of David Godwin Associates (UK)
Aparna Kumar, who has recently completed her MSc in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, has worked in publishing for six years. Most recently, she was an editor at Penguin Random House India, where she commissioned literary fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry.
What she is seeking: Aparna Kumar is looking to fill her list with literary fiction and creative non-fiction.
How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.
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