Taj McCoy
Here are nine 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.
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Syrone Harvey of Belcastro Agency
Syrone is an impassioned literary professional, a vibrant force of creativity in the world of books. With an eclectic background in publication, editorial services, and project management, Syrone is dedicated to supporting authors at every step of their writing journey. Syrone is on a mission to be the ultimate “bookend” for authors, providing them with the personalized support they need to shine at every stage of their literary journey.
With her sharp editorial eye and a keen sense for market trends, Syrone is the ultimate guide for authors navigating the ever-changing landscape of publishing. Whether it’s guiding debut novelists or supporting seasoned writers seeking a new direction, she is passionate about building long-lasting relationships with her clients. She takes a patchwork quilt approach with her authors—every story is unique and one-of-a-kind. She will walk the literary journey with enthusiasm, expertise, and a shared commitment to bringing exceptional stories to readers worldwide.
What she is seeking:
Nonfiction:
- Autobiography/Memoir
- Food/Drink
- How To/DYI
- Humor
- Religion
- Self-help
- Christian
- Women’s Issues
- Lifestyle
- Inspiration
- Cultural/Social Issues
Middle Grade
Young Adult
Adult Fiction:
- Contemporary Fiction
- Christian Fiction
- Family Saga
- Historical Fiction
- Literary Fiction
- Contemporary Romance
- Women’s Fiction
- Funny Women’s Fiction
- Humor/Satire
- Commercial
- Multicultural
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Ms. Molly Ketcheson of Wolfson Literary Agency
Molly Ketcheson holds an undergraduate degree from the University of St Andrews and an MA in Creative Writing and Publishing from City, University of London. Prior to joining WLA in 2024, Molly held prestigious internships at multiple publishing companies, where she gained a keen understanding of the international publishing landscape and a love for joyful and impactful fiction.
What she is seeking: She is actively building her list in commercial and upmarket fiction, as well as select literary fiction, fantasy, and YA titles. She is particularly drawn to books with a unique premise, lyrical prose, complex women, and stories that are, ultimately, hopeful. Molly is passionate about the power of fiction, and is excited to work with her clients to bring books that matter into the world.
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Ms. Isabel Lineberry of Perez Literary & Entertainment (UK)Isabel graduated in 2021 from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University with dual degrees in English Literature and Business Entrepreneurship. Just a few months later she was in Scotland pursuing an MLitt in Fantasy at the University of Glasgow. She wrote her Masters thesis on Tamora Pierce and is a fan of Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler and Samantha Shannon.
What she is seeking: I represent YA and New Adult and am particularly interested in Contemporary Romance, Romantasy and Fantasy. I am always attracted to the character and voice first, so give me romantic tension that has me giggling, a villain who is as charming as they are evil or a group of characters who have me watching their conversations as if it's a tennis match.
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Max Moorhead of Massie & McQuilkin Literary AgentsMax Moorhead began his publishing career at The New Republic as an editorial fellow before joining Massie & McQuilkin in 2019 in a junior role. Over the years he has cultivated a client list while also managing backlist titles by Russell & Volkening clients including Annie Dillard, Eudora Welty, Bernard Malamud, Barbara Tuchman, and Marian Engel. Raised in New Hampshire, he graduated with honors from The New School earning a B.A. in Creative Writing.
What he is seeking: As an agent he specializes in literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, biography, cultural history, and memoir. In fiction: he is drawn to beautiful writing, unforgettable characters, family stories, socially engaged writing, and compelling plots.
How to submit: Please send queries to the attention of Max Moorhead at max@mmqlit.com. Please note that he only responds to queries in which he is interested. If you haven’t heard from him in 4-6 weeks, your project is not a good fit for him.
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Ms. Emily Barrett of The Blair Partnership (UK)I was previously the Publisher of Sphere Non-Fiction at Little, Brown and have worked across the whole gamut of non-fiction, helping authors including experts and influencers turn their books into bestsellers, award-winners and major rights-sellers.
What she is seeking: I’m looking for commercial or upmarket non-fiction which is written with a clear reader in mind, whether that’s to inform or entertain them, or improve their life in some way.
How to submit: You can submit to Emily at: emilysubmissions@theblairpartnership.com
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Gabrielle Harbowy of Corvisiero Literary Agency
Gabrielle Harbowy has more than 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, from her entry into the field as a pricing analyst at Scholastic, to becoming a full-time editor and part-time writer. A third-generation reader of fantasy and science fiction, a love for the speculative is in her blood. Gabrielle was Managing Editor at Dragon Moon Press for a decade, has worked with award winners and international bestsellers, and is passionate about elevating the authors around her. A three-time published novelist, short story author, and award-nominated anthologist, Gabrielle has spoken, given workshops, and run D&D and Pathfinder games at numerous conventions. She is a member of SFWA, IAMTW, and the LGBTQ+ Editors Association. Her passions include music, travel, tabletop roleplaying games, crocheting and needlepoint, tattoo art, everything Finnish (except lutefisk), outer space, and the Oxford comma.
What she is seeking: Gabrielle is seeking science fiction, fantasy, paranormal mysteries, queer romance, and genre-bending speculative fiction. She loves reading diverse books, characters that come alive and immersive worlds, and tropes turned on their heads. She would like to see queerness, neurodiversity, and disability represented and normalized, both in the world and on the page.
How to submit: Use Marisa Corvsiero's querymanager and address your query to Gabrielle.
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Lisa Gouldy of Corvisiero Literary Agency
Lisa Gouldy is a passionate writer and reader of stories that stretch the imagination and reveal important truths about the world around us. Trained as an attorney, Lisa moved from the legal world into the literary one nearly a decade ago in search of stories less constrained by reality. The literary community in Seattle welcomed her in, and Lisa connected with writers everywhere from coffee shops to Hugo House, from PNWA to SCBWI, from conferences to critique groups. Assisting others with their writing journeys, it turned out, was as much fun as creating her own. As an apprentice with the Corvisiero Literary Agency, Lisa seeks to guide writers through the publishing process the way she once helped clients access the courts.
What she is seeking: Lisa loves stories with lyrical writing, memorable characters, and fast-paced plots that keep her guessing. In adult fiction, she devours upmarket and literary titles with complex protagonists, and has a special hunger for stories with speculative elements. Her sweet spot is a novel with a world much like ours, but with fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian additions that illuminate real-life issues in a unique way. In children’s literature, Lisa particularly enjoys middle grade fantasy and young adult novels with a speculative bent, as well as picture books that make her (and her daughter) laugh.
How to submit: Use Marisa Corvsiero's querymanager and address your query to Lisa.
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Ciara Smith of Corvisiero Literary Agency
Ciara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and joined a small press as a freelance editor. She was raised by an editor who instilled in her a love of reading and writing. In her youth, she penned short stories, but left writing behind when she joined the US Navy. But, of course, that love for words never wavered even during her service, and she readily volunteered to edit and review any and all paperwork, reports, and regulations she could get her hands on. After becoming a parent to two beautiful daughters, she decided to leave the military to pursue various creative arts and returned to her first love of writing and editing.
What she is seeking: Ciara has a wide range of interests from YA to NA and Adult. Particularly she's interested in:
- Fantasy that's a little unconventional and weird. Or cozy like LEGENDS & LATTES.
- Would love to see African or Asian second worlds and/or mythologies à la THE POPPY WAR, KAIKEYI, and THE GILDED ONES, and morally gray characters like GIDEON THE NINTH.
- Science Fiction that really makes me wonder about the world and possibilities like POST HUMAN and THE OUTSIDE.
- Also love cozy in science fiction, A LONG WAY TO A SLOW ANGRY PLANET, and morally gray characters like in THE MURDERBOT DIARIES.
- Literary Speculative/Dystopian Fiction that makes me worry about the world in the way THE HANDMAID'S TALE and THE POWER did.
- Romance that's a blend with another genre, like Romantasy, or Romantic Thriller/Suspense.
- Historical Fiction that will make me cry like THE MIDWIFE OF AUSCHWITZ or that have the same feeling as reading Jane Austen.
- Horror that reflects feminist rage or body horror that makes me squirm. Not excessively gorey, just highly uncomfortable.
- Military fiction that shows the complex feelings of serving, both in war time and in between, or the transition to civilian life
- Any genre blending of the above.
- In all of these, I would love ND, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC #ownvoices.
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Taj McCoy of Rees Agency
Junior Agent Taj McCoy (she/her) has a law degree from Southwestern Law School and a bachelor's degree in Business Law from California State University, Northridge. Taj trained as an agent under Fuse Literary, and has previously served as a Pitch Wars mentor and as co-program manager for Diverse Voices, Inc.’s DVdebut program. Her Adult Fiction is published through Mira/HQN. Taj is building her list in Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction, Young Adult, and Middle Grade, as well as looking for illustrators. She’s passionately seeking BIPOC and queer creators who highlight parts of their cultures and experiences. She is an advocate for body positivity in publishing, and loves to highlight intersectionality. Taj aims to widen the entryway for marginalized authors into the publishing industry, and to normalize Black joy, fat joy, celebrations of culture, and love without limitations.
What she is seeking:
FICTION (Adult, YA, MG)
- MG Fantasy and adventure, crushes, romcom
- YA/MG voicey coming of age, embracing identity and/or traditions of culture, Black joy, girls in STEM, romance, romcom, mystery, humorous contemporary fiction
- ADULT romance, romcom, romantic suspense, mystery, cozy mystery, family saga, women's fiction, thriller
Send in a query once you have a complete book proposal, a detailed outline, and sample chapters. In your query letter, make sure you tell me why you’re the best person to write this book.
- NF picture books only
- Illustrated table/survey books
- A/MG historical, narrative
- Adult memoir, narrative, empowerment, self-help, pop culture, humor, engaging how
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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