2023 Agents/Editors

Agent

Richard Abate, 3 Arts Entertainment

Bio: Richard Abate has been a literary manager for over fifteen years. In 2009 he joined 3 Arts Entertainment, a premier management company based in Los Angeles, to begin their literary division in New York. He has worked with top creative talent such as Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Issa Rae, B.J. Novak, Guillermo del Toro, Tim Kring, Howard Gordon, and others. He has worked with the award winning scientist, physician, and NYT bestselling author Sharon Moalem on titles including Survival of the Sickest and DNA Restart. He has also worked closely with Bob Harper to create his NY Times #1 bestselling diet and health series, The Skinny Rules. He has worked with sports celebrities Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Josh Hamilton; he has also worked with top sports personalities such as Al Michaels, Colin Cowherd, and The Talented Mr. Roto, Matthew Berry. Richard represents many literary writers such as Sally Ball, Kate Christensen (PEN/Faulkner winner), Sana Krasikov (Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature winner), and Oscar Casares, and screenwriter-authors as well such as Attica Locke, Amy Sohn, and Chuck Hogan (screenwriter and author of The Town and Hammett Award winner). He also represents YA authors Daniel Kraus, Lisi Harrison, and Melissa De La Cruz. He also represents Jeff Tietz (National Magazine Award nominee), Tara Bray Smith, Pulitzer Prize winner Tamara Jones, historian James Swanson, journalist Mitchell Zuckoff, Editor-in-Chief of The Boston Globe Brian McGrory, National Book Award nominee David McCumber, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Snyder.

He has also developed and produced for television and film. Projects he has developed, produced, or created include THE STRAIN by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, forthcoming series 59 (FX) and BLACK WATER RISING (Starz) by Attica Locke; FROM SCRATCH (Hello Sunshine/Reese Witherspoon) by Tembi Locke, and NIGHT WATCH (AMC) with Sam Rockwell attached. Feature credits include 13 HOURS with Paramount, DANIEL ISN’T REAL with SpectreVision, GODS UNKNOWN with The Russo Brothers at Amazon, and with Sony: LOVE CANAL with Patricia Arquette attached as director, and HUNTING EL CHAPO with Michael Bay attached as director.

Agent

Bernadette Baker-Baughman, Victoria Sanders & Associates

Bio: Bernadette Baker-Baughman has completed a Master’s Degree in Writing at Portland State University, and spent several years in-house (first editorial, then marketing). She began agenting in 2005 and has worked with VSA since 2010. She is drawn to strong storytelling in all genres, with a special interest in thrillers, contemporary novels, magical realism, young adult, and books for kids. She is also open to pop-culture, gift books, and memoir. She loves smart writing, high concept books, work with great emotional resonance, and humor. She is always looking for authors with a distinctive voice.

Clients: She has represented a number of New York Times bestselling and award-winning writers and illustrators, including Liv Constantine,Carson Morton, Leslye Walton, Faith Erin Hicks, Tony Cliff, Maris Wicks to name a few.

Looking for: Thrillers, Domestic Suspense, Crime Fiction, YA Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Memoir.

Not looking for: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Westerns, Cozy Mystery, Straight Romance

Agent

Noah Ballard, Verve Talent & Literary Agency

Bio: Noah Ballard is a literary agent at Verve Talent & Literary Agency. After graduating from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, he began his career at Emma Sweeney Agency before moving to Curtis Brown, Ltd. to build his own list of fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Noah joined Verve in 2021, where he specializes in platform-driven non-fiction, memoir, and journalism, as well as literary fiction, thrillers and crime fiction and YA, middle-grade fiction, and picture books. He also leads the book-to-screen team, where he oversees packaging intellectual property for screen adaptation. A New Jersey native, Noah splits his time between Brooklyn and Los Angeles.

Not looking for: Romance, hard sci-fi, religious/spiritual.

Agent

Lauren Bieker, FinePrint Literary Management

Bio: Lauren Bieker of FinePrint Literary Management is an agent actively building her list.

Looking for: She is looking for commercial and upmarket women’s fiction and YA novels in all genres. She is also open to the following in both adult and YA: science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers (both speculative and domestic). She appreciates great storytelling and is a “sucker” for outstanding writing and convincing characters. While primarily interested in fiction, she will consider select nonfiction proposals. She is looking for #ownvoices stories, Feminist lit/#MeToo stories, and works by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors in both fiction and nonfiction. Her goal is to “hold the mic” for authors to tell their stories and be a helpful support system.

Not looking for: Lauren is NOT looking for religious, political, or military stories in both fiction and nonfiction. She is also not accepting memoirs.

Agent

Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Associates

Bio: Caitlin Blasdell has been a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates since 2002, focusing on commercial fiction.  Before becoming an agent, she was a senior editor at HarperCollins Publishers.  A graduate of Williams College, she lives in Westchester with her husband, four sons, and an ever-expanding flower garden.

She is looking for quality commercial fiction, which to her means a strong plot, memorable voice, clean prose, and, ideally, a good hook.  Her specialties include science fiction and fantasy, romance and women’s fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction.  She also handles a few select middle grade and YA authors and a very few nonfiction titles.

Her clients include Zen Cho (Hugo-Award-winning author of BLACK WATER SISTER), Scott Hawkins (THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR), Brian McClellan (The Powder Mage series), Joel Ross (THE FOG DIVER), Karen Schwabach/Sage Blackwood (STARTING AT SENECA FALLS and the JINX trilogy), Charles Stross (the Hugo-Award-winning Laundry series), and Rebecca Zanetti (NYT-bestselling author of YOU CAN RUN).

Agent

Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency

Bio: Laura Bradford established Bradford Literary Agency in 2001. She takes a hands-on approach to forming partnerships with her clients that extend from the first draft through the authors’ whole careers. Laura’s clients include debut, award-winning, and best-selling authors, and she would love to bring more LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors (and protagonists!) into the publishing world.

Looking for: She is actively building her list and represents romance, mystery, thrillers, speculative fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, YA, upper middle grade, illustration, and select non-fiction.

Not looking for: military thrillers/narrative, mafia/mob stories, adult science fiction/fantasy, westerns, religious/spiritual, anything that celebrates violence towards women or children.

Clients: She has represented many New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors  including Tessa Bailey, Katee Robert, Rachel Lynn Solomon and Darby Kane.

Editor

Joe Brosnan, Grove Atlantic

Bio: Joe Brosnan is a Senior Editor at Grove Atlantic where he specializes in crime fiction. Prior to that, he worked at St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and managed Criminal Element for nearly a decade.

Looking for: At this time, I am exclusively looking for crime fiction submissions, particularly books from diverse authors who are using the genre to hold up a mirror to contemporary issues. I’m interested in everything from small-town noir to upmarket thrillers, and I’m looking for authors who intend to write a book every year(ish), whether it’s a series or standalone. I want to find authors who are in this for the long haul, and who I can work with for years to come.

Not looking for: I’m less interested in historical crime fiction, especially anything set before the 20th Century, and while I know cozies are having their moment, I’m not looking for those types of books either.

Agent

Chris Bucci, Aevitas Creative Management

Bio: Chris Bucci represents bestselling and award-winning fiction and non-fiction authors including, Bath Haus by PJ Vernon; Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid; Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything? by Timothy Caulfield; KISMET by Amina Akhtar; and The War Widow by Tara Moss.

Chris began his career at the University of Toronto Press as an acquisitions editor in the social sciences. He joined HarperCollins Canada in 2003 as a non-fiction editor and then moved to McClelland & Stewart. In 2008 he joined The McDermid Agency as a literary agent and later bought the agency, along with Martha Webb. In 2017 they merged with the Cooke Agency to form CookeMcDermid where Chris was Proprietor and Literary Agent before joining Aevitas in 2020.

Chris aims to work with some of the culture’s best writers, thinkers and experts—authors whose work helps us to interpret and understand our times as well as our future.

Looking for: Mysteries, thrillers, literary fiction, historical fiction, commercial literary fiction, and narrative nonfiction. For nonfiction, he seeks popular science, sports, popular culture, politics, and history.

Not looking for: YA, Fantasy and Sci-Fi.

Agent

Penelope Burns, Gelfman Schneider

Bio: Penelope Burns began her career in publishing at Gelfman Schneider as an intern in 2012, and after a brief stint as a book-to-film scout, became a full time agent in 2015. She is particularly drawn to voice, the kind of writing that just carries the reader along and has them absolutely absorbed. In thrillers, she especially loves those moments of tension where the main character is in over their head and you don’t know if they’re going to succeed.

Looking For: Mystery, Psychological Thrillers, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Adult/YA Crossover, YA, MG. Favorite reads of the last year include: Pachinko, The School for Good Mothers, Crying in H-Mart, and Last Night at the Telegraph Club.

Not Looking For: Picture Books, Cozy Mysteries, Military Thrillers, Spy Thrillers, Historical Romance

Clients Include: Brooke Archer, Doug Cornett, Kwame Ivery, Em X. Liu, Ashton Noone, Alyssa Wees, Leah Vernon

AGENT

Madelyn Burt, Stonesong

Bio: Madelyn Burt joined Stonesong in 2015 and has worked on a variety of projects ranging from adult and children’s fiction to cookbooks, lifestyle, and more. She is now actively building her own list, and looks forward to establishing long-lasting,  collaborative relationships with her authors. A life-long lover of history, she earned her MA in Medieval Studies before joining the publishing world.

Madelyn is currently focused on adult mysteries, crime, and thrillers, although she is interested in both adult and children’s fiction. She is drawn to character-driven stories that feature tight-knit groups and strong friendships, quests and heists, and unique voices. She is also particularly interested in fiction and select nonfiction that is able to make a historical person or period accessible to the modern reader.

Agent

Moses Cardona, John Hawkins & Associates

Bio: Moses Cardona’s clients include International Bestselling authors Cecilia Samartin, Gregory Maguire and Gold Dagger Winner Ann Cleeves; Gail Godwin, author of Flora and Three-Time National Book Award nominee and Kate Hohl. He is a native New Yorker and a graduate of New York University, and an avid comics collector.

Looking for: His primary focus is fiction. His special interests include commercial fiction, mystery & suspense, business, science and multi-cultural fiction and the occasional bonkers narrative.

Not looking for: Military/tech narrative, Mafia/Mob/Russian stories, pet/cozy stories, or paranormal – otherwise I have an open mind.

Agent

Jenniea Carter, New Leaf Literary

Bio: Harlem born and raised, Jenniea always found herself surrounded by books. Whether it was teaching English abroad in Japan or working at Kinokuniya Bookstore, literature was always a topic Jenniea was eager to discuss.  She soon found herself home at New Leaf on Joanna Volpe’s team where she is now an Associate who is eager to uplift and amplify marginalized voices. When she is not between the pages of a book, Jenniea can be found bingeing mystery documentaries and animation.

Looking for: She is happy to say that she is building her list and is looking for romance, YA, speculative fiction, middle grade and women’s fiction. Visit her MSWL for more details.

Not looking for: Military stories, Espionage, Religion, Pandemic stories, Picture Book Scripts

Agent

Claudia Cross, Folio Literary Management

Bio: Advocate, adviser, ally, coach, counselor, and negotiator: an agent, at times, can play one or all of these roles in the literary life of an author. In responding to the changing needs of the writers she represents, Claudia brings to each a high level of individualized attention. She began her career at William Morris, and then joined Sterling Lord Literistic, where she worked for just over a decade before joining Folio and becoming a partner. She has worked with a range of authors in both fiction and nonfiction, from CEOs, chefs and debut writers to New York Times bestsellers. Among the diverse clients she represents are the literary Estate of Mother Teresa; entrepreneur and designer Emily Ley; art historian and Renoir scholar Barbara Ehrlich White; and novelists Rachel Gibson and Christina Lynch.

Looking for: For thrillers specifically, she is looking for compelling female characters; modern espionage with a classic feel, and stories involving people going about their daily lives who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

Agent

Sheila Crowley, The Curtis Brown Group

Bio: Born and bred in Dublin, Sheila started her publishing career at Poolbeg press before moving to London in 1991. Through the 90s and 00s, she held a number of high-profile sales and marketing positions at leading publishers, including HarperCollins and Hodder. Her knowledge of the book industry covering the UK, Ireland and international markets was developed during this period and continues to be a wonderful asset in her work with authors and publishers. She made the move to agenting in 2003. Sheila represents a wide range of authors from award-winning novelists to million-copy-selling non-fiction writers. Authors are at the centre of everything she does as an agent – one of the best things about the job is working closely with writers across all stages of the publishing process.

Looking for: Sheila has to really fall in love with the writing in order to connect with a book and so she is particularly drawn to beautifully crafted stories with a strong emotional hook. Some of her recent favourites include Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes and Wait for Me by Santa Montefiore. She would love to find a novel with the unforgettable plot and depth of character of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. She also loves compulsive thriller, mystery and suspense stories that continue to challenge the genre, such as The Only Suspect by Louise Candlish and The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh, both of which are wonderfully clever and twisty.

Not looking for: She is not looking to take on any sci-fi/fantasy or YA fiction.

Agent

Melissa Danaczko, Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency

Bio: Melissa Danaczko became a literary agent at the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency after more than a decade of publishing experience, most recently as Senior Editor with the Knopf Doubleday
Publishing Group. Today, Melissa focuses on literary and commercial fiction, and gravitates towards plot-driven novels with a fresh perspective, energetic writing, and a deep sense of place. Some of her authors in the thriller (or the thriller-adjacent) space include Gabino Iglesias, Amanda Jayatissa (the 2022 winner of ITW Best First Novel award), and John Fram.

Currently Looking for: psychological suspense, mystery, crime, speculative fiction, horror, locked room, unreliable narrators, gothic, ghostly, witchy, culty, quirky. While I can go dark (very dark even), I also enjoy more buoyant, voice-driven mysteries—especially if there’s a fun hook. I also love tales of obsession, regardless of genre, and I’m a fan of clever retellings that honor the original while standing on their own.

Not Looking for: I have found myself completely falling for the unexpected. That said, there are a few areas I’m less likely to represent like romantic suspense, SFF, legal or military thrillers; and I am primarily focused on Adult books.

Associate Editor

Dina Davis, MIRA Books

Bio: Dina Davis is an Associate Editor at MIRA Books who loves a great adventure—whether in real life or in fiction. When she’s not traveling around the world, exploring the outdoors or visiting interesting new restaurants, you can often find her reading. You can follow Dina on Twitter @DinaJDavis.

Looking for: She’s thrilled to be acquiring commercial and upmarket fiction across genres, and she’s particularly interested in stories written by authors from groups historically marginalized in publishing. Dina’s tastes range from dark psychological thrillers, suspense and horror to lighthearted fiction that really makes her laugh. And if you have historical fiction with unique settings and untold stories or book club fiction featuring strong female characters, send it her way. She’d also love to add more speculative fiction to her list.

Not looking for: YA, nonfiction, books with heavy SFF elements, books categorized strictly in the romance genre.

Editor

Robert Davis, Forge Books

Bio: Robert Davis is an Editor at Forge Books (an imprint of the Macmillan division, Tor Publishing Group). He started off at TPG working under former President & Publisher, Tom Doherty, in 2015 and has been acquiring for the Forge list since 2019.

Looking for: For Forge, Robert is looking for addictive page-turners with characters I want to root for, particularly in the categories of near-future fiction, technothrillers, and (outdoor) survival adventures.

Not looking for: Robert is seeking adult fiction only.

Agent

Celeste Fine, Park & Fine Literary and Media

Bio: Celeste Fine advises dozens of New York Times bestselling authors, who sell millions of copies of their books in every language around the world, such as Jennifer Weiner, Janet Evanovich, Helen Hoang, William Li, Andrew Huberman, and David Goggins. In addition to working closely with clients to develop their proposals and edit their manuscripts, Celeste is known for negotiating 7- and 8-figure deals. She and her team thoughtfully counsel on marketing and publicity campaigns, television, film, and foreign deals, and professional opportunities around the world—such as audio rights, speaking representation, social media, tours and events, and book clubs.  Her goal is to keep people paying attention to her authors and their books, year after year.

Originally from California, Celeste graduated magna cum laude in Government from Harvard University, received certifications in international conflict resolution and mediation in The Hague, and takes seriously her role as a member of her clients’ trusted inner circle.

Looking for: Celeste has a special interest in authors who have been writing books with some success and are ready to break out in exciting new directions and established authors who want a fresh take on reaching their readers.  In fiction, she is currently seeking upmarket commercial fiction authors and thriller writers who can crossover to television and film, and in nonfiction, she is always looking for authors who want to change the world.

Agent

Liza Fleissig, Liza Royce Agency

Bio: Liza Fleissig, with her partner Ginger Harris-Dontzin, opened the Liza Royce Agency (LRA) in early 2011. A cross-platform company providing development, representation, and strategic career management for clients in all media, their goal is to represent clients in all stages of their careers, from the most established to those developing their craft, as well as debuts. Both former partners in NYC based litigation law firms, Liza and Ginger bring a combined 40 years of negotiating experience to the field. This background, along with connections rooted in publishing, movies and television, allowed them to focus and build on a referral based clientele.

Clients: Robert Bailey II, Isabella Maldonado, Amy Impellizzeri, Sara DiVello, Retired FBI Agent Jerri Williams, Jon Lindstrom, Kimberly G. Giarratano, Estate of Marc Olden, among others.

Looking for: Domestic Suspense, all kinds of Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Police Procedurals, State/Federal Law Enforcement (if author is/was a LEO), Medical (would love the next generation of Quincys or Scarpettas)

Not looking for: High Sci/Fi or Fantasy, Crazy Presidents, Russia/China/Middle East Espionage/Terrorists, Military Thrillers (unless author is/was Military), Covid/Pandemic Stories

Agent

Renee Fountain, Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management

Bio: President of Gandolfo, Helin & Fountain Literary Management, Renee C. Fountain is a publishing industry veteran, and former book reviewer for Kirkus and New York Journal of Books. Renee spent five years working for the CW Television Network as a book scout and story analyst for the television development division, and is currently on the faculty of Manuscript Academy providing developmental editing, and story critiques.

During her almost decade-long tenure with major houses such as Harcourt Brace and Simon & Schuster, Ms. Fountain had the great fortune of working with some of the best writers and illustrators in the publishing world.

Over the years, Renee has been lucky enough to discover wonderful crime thriller writers, such as Sarah Cain’s The 8th Circle; Michel Logan’s Hell’s Detective and Jonathan Fredrick’s Cain City series.

Looking for: Renee is looking for all types of adult and YA fiction and non-fiction. She prefers: mysteries, thrillers, horror dark/urban/contemporary fantasy, humor, pop-culture, memoirs, narrative, prescriptive and commercial non-fiction.

Not looking for: She DOES NOT represent screenplays, previously published books (in any capacity), hard science fiction, space opera, middle grade, picture books, erotica, poetry, novellas, short story collections, anything with strong political/religious views, or featuring viruses and/or epidemics.

Agent

Gráinne Fox, United Talent Agency

Bio: Gráinne Fox is a seasoned Literary Agent with two decades of experience representing award- winning novelists, NYT bestselling journalists, and academics. Before joining UTA in 2023, she worked at Fletcher & Company for many years and before that, she worked in London with Ed Victor.

Her clients have been shortlisted for, or won, various awards including The William Hill Sports Book of The Year, The Booker Prize, The Women’s Prize, The Irish Book Awards, The British Book Awards, The Orwell Prize, The Plutarch Award, the RTÉ Short Story Competition and the NBCC.

She loves books of all stripes that “stimulate the mind and satisfy the heart” which covers the gamut in all categories from Literary to Reading Group fiction (like Kate Doyle, Nuala O’Connor Lauren Mechling & Rachel Dodes) and smart, narrative non-fiction that catches you by the throat to explain a slice of social history or emerging research on human behavior through exceptional storytelling (like Jennie Wallace, Sonia Purnell and Duncan Hamilton). She is proud to work with The International Spy Museum and obsessed with espionage stories and narrative history (Vanessa Wilkie, Francesca Cartier-Brickell, John Guy & Julia Fox).

She grew up in Ireland and naturally has a passion for Irish and European writers who appeal to a broad,  international audience. She holds a degree in English Literature from Trinity College, Dublin and is a fierce advocate for her clients and their work.

Looking for: Her guiding principle is a book that can “stimulate the mind and satisfy the heart” and this illuminates every read, regardless of categorization. In short: gorgeous writing combined with propulsive, immersive storytelling.

She is eager to find new literary fiction from American and International voices that is modern and swoon-worthy on a line level but with an equally enveloping plot. She loves stories about dysfunctional families (aren’t they all?) and is passionate about Irish Writing, and always keen to read more. She loves a singular, transporting piece of historical fiction that can appeal to a modern reader. She loves high concept crime and genre-bending thrillers.

She is fascinated by smart non-fiction that makes her question her thinking and teaches her something new about human behavior and the world we live in.  She is passionate about narrative nonfiction that just might involve spies & espionage, or that spotlights a surprising slice of social history she has not encountered yet.

In the crime / thriller/ suspense space she is looking simply for originality. She works with some UK agents for certain brand name authors such as Sarah Pinborough, Lucy Clarke, and Harriet Tyce and Sophia Bennett.  BEHIND HER EYES by Pinborough remains one of the more scary and brilliant novels she’s worked on in the past decade.

She loves genre bending books like that, or books that can fit into the “grounded sci-fi” category. Books that play with form or are classified as a literary thriller.

She would love to find a female Thomas Harris, as RED DRAGON remains a favourite read. She loves spy stories. Other writers she loves:  Tana French,  PD James  John leCarré.

Not looking for: She does not have a vision for novels that celebrate violence or trauma against women, children.  She is not the person for procedurals with an entirely male POV, or very cozy mysteries or traditional Sci-Fi.

Agent

Lori Galvin, Aevitas Creative Management

Bio: Lori Galvin worked as a book editor before moving to the literary agent side in 2015. She works with a diverse group of writers of both fiction and nonfiction. Some her clients’ projects have been optioned by A24, Netflix, and CBS Studios. She has signed and sold books by writers she has met through Pitchfest, including Wanda M. Morris (All Her Little Secrets and Anywhere You Run, Morrow 2021, 2022) and Cheryl A. Head (Time’s Undoing, Dutton 2023).

Looking for: Captivating writing across crime and suspense, both commercial and literary—and from all voices, especially authors who are using the genre to explore contemporary issues—but through story, not sermons. In addition to twisty, dark novels of crime and suspense; mystery/horror crossovers, cozies with a bit of an edge, espionage and high concept thrillers; she is eager to work with writers whose work engages the reader on an emotional level; ie, a story that sticks with you.

Not looking for: Traditional military thrillers; traditional cozies (see above); organized crime novels a la ‘mob’ novels, or technothrillers/biotech thrillers that are so centered on the technology aspect, they might date quickly.

Clients include: Harrison Ash, William Brashears, Cambria Brockman, Cheryl A. Head, Jennifer Lavallee, Tamara Miller, Wanda M. Morris, Jennifer Morita, Sebastian J. Plata, Samantha Skal, Sarah Stevens, Ross Wilcox.

Agent

Ronald Gerber, Lowenstein & Associates

Bio: Ronald Gerber is a literary agent and manages foreign rights, permissions, and contracts at Lowenstein Associates, the agency best known for representing internationally bestselling mystery writer M.C. Beaton. Before joining the Lowenstein team in 2019, he spent several years in literary scouting at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates and Maximum Films & Management and supported two agents at Writers House.

Ronald’s clients include Sonja Thomas, whose debut children’s novel SIR FIG NEWTON & THE SCIENCE OF PERSISTENCE (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster) is a 2023 Oregon Book Awards finalist, and Lorissa Rinehart, whose biography FIRST TO THE FRONT about pioneering photojournalist Dickey Chapelle will publish from St. Martin’s Press in July, 2023. Ronald is focused on cinematic stories with strong hooks and relatable characters, and he is always looking for projects from queer, BIPOC, and other underrepresented authors.

Looking for: Thriller, crime, cozy mystery, upmarket and commercial contemporary fiction, historical fiction, romance, romantic comedy, grounded sc-fi, narrative nonfiction, memoir/biography, true crime, and middle grade.

Not looking for: Military thrillers, screenplays, puzzles, games, religious fiction, erotica, practical nonfiction (i.e. business, advice, hobbies, DIY), or textbooks.

Editor

Elana Gibson, CamCat Publishing

Bio: Elana Gibson is the Associate Editor and Acquisitions Manager at CamCat Publishing, a boutique publisher of award-winning genre fiction. She joined the CamCat team in 2021 and previously interned at Browne & Miller Literary Associates.

Looking for: YA and adult mystery, suspense, thriller (spy, domestic, political, legal, and psychological thrillers), sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, romance, horror, western, historical fiction, and true crime

Not looking for: military thrillers, middle grade fiction and younger

Agent

Katie Gisondi, Laura Dail Literary Agency

Bio: Katie Gisondi is the newest agent at Laura Dail Literary Agency, in addition to being the Foreign Rights Associate. She graduated from Hamilton College in 2020 with a BA in Creative Writing. She resides in Brooklyn with her cat Salami.

Looking for: in Adult thrillers: led by victims and anyone not in the government, international settings. In Adult cozy mystery: multiple POVs, uncommon settings. She is also looking for feminist narrators/protagonists, diverse ensemble casts, and commercial plots with strong hooks.

Not looking for: romance/thriller crossover, spy thrillers, or military thrillers.

Agent

Doug Grad, Doug Grad Literary Agency

Bio: Doug’s path on the road to publishing may have been set early. His first job in the industry came in 1978, walking up and down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan wearing a sandwich board advertising a new novel during the 1978 New York City newspaper strike. The next year, he took creative writing at Stuyvesant High School with Frank McCourt, nearly two decades before McCourt won the Pulitzer Prize for Angela’s Ashes. Doug opened the Doug Grad Literary Agency, Inc. in 2008. As a third generation New Yorker and 25-year resident of Brooklyn, Doug moved to Salem, Massachusetts in 2021. No, he has not been turned into a toad by a witch (yet).

After starting at Simon & Schuster as an assistant to the assistant of Michael Korda, 2023 begins Doug’s 37th year as a publishing professional. An editor with imprints at Simon & Schuster, Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins for 22 years, Doug acquired and edited fiction and nonfiction bestsellers. On the nonfiction side, Doug has worked with astronauts, generals, war heroes, gangsters, cops, politicians, sports stars, journalists, musicians, historians and humorists. It’s never boring, and it keeps him out of the saloons!

As an agent, Doug has represented such clients as New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction Jeff Shaara; New York Timesbestseller Kerri Rawson (daughter of serial killer Dennis Rader, known as BTK); New York Times bestselling WWII historian Larry Alexander; Grammy-winning jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Hugh Shelton, and true crime and mob writer Michael Benson, among others. In the mystery/thriller genre, Doug represents two-time Agatha Award and four-time Lefty Award winner Ellen Byron (and her alter-ego Maria DiRico); Jerome Preisler, author of the NET FORCE series created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik; New York Times bestseller David L. Robbins; psychological suspense writer Debbie Babitt; thriller writer Matthew Betley; and espionage novelist A.J. Chambers.

Looking For: On the fiction side, Doug’s looking for mysteries (cozy, contemporary or historical), all stripes of thrillers, and contemporary fiction with interesting voices. On the nonfiction side, Doug’s looking for military, narrative nonfiction, celebrity memoir, history, music, popular science, business and sports.

Not looking for: Children’s picture books, middle grade, YA, science fiction, fantasy

Editor

Bob Gussin, Oceanview Publishing

Bio: Robert Gussin is the CEO of Oceanview Publishing and Oceanview Vineyards. Prior to that, he was Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Johnson and Johnson. Oceanview is a traditional publisher of thriller, mystery and suspense novels. Titles are published in all formats: hard cover, paper, digital, and audio.

Clients: Raymond Benson, Miles Corwin, Ward Larsen, Matt Coyle, and approximately one hundred others.

Looking for: He is interested in adult mystery and suspense fiction. Psychological thrillers are also of great interest, and thrillers in general are part of their scope.

Not looking for: Paranormal or young adult.

Agent

Jordan Hill, New Leaf Literary

Bio: Jordan Hill is an Agent at New Leaf Literary and Media. Prior to agenting she worked in the advertising world at a boutique agency, and before that was a bookseller.

Looking for: She is primarily pursuing literary and upmarket fiction for adults, and is more inclined towards thrillers or mysteries that have a speculative bent, are queer, or include a messy and unreliable narrator. She loves intergenerational stories that grapple with complexities of families and culture through time and anything with an unreliable narrator or a speculative bent. She’s also a fan of weird short fiction.

Not looking for: I am not interested in police procedurals, legal thrillers, or those that involve the FBI or CIA as launchpads.

Editor

Madeline Houpt, Minotaur Books

Bio: Madeline Houpt is an associate editor at Minotaur Books, the crime fiction imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, at Macmillan. She has a variety of crime fiction on her list, ranging from traditional, gothic, historical, to lighter/cozy. She also works on the Minotaur Books writing competitions.

Looking for: She is looking to acquire crime fiction where the crime drives the book, yes, but the reader connects with the characters or setting in a deep way. Madeline likes to think of it as “crime plus.” Perhaps it’s voice-driven, or the setting is a deeply layered character. For her it doesn’t matter if a submission is heart-pounding or slow-burn, debut or established author, series or standalone. She wants to connect to the world the author creates.

Not looking for: Young Adult, Non-Fiction, or Speculative at this time.

Editor

Jenna Jankowski, Sourcebooks

Bio: Jenna Jankowski is an Associate Editor at Sourcebooks, a midsized publisher in Chicago. She joined in 2019, after interning at Browne & Miller Literary Associates and Sourcebooks. She works primarily under the Poisoned Pen Press imprint.

Looking for: In adult fiction, Jenna acquires horror with feminist elements, psychological suspense, crime fiction that subverts traditional tropes, thrillers, and trade paperback cozies. She’s also looking for fiction with a speculative edge, grounded fantasy, and stories with crossover potential—all with an emphasis on diverse voices.

Not looking for: YA, romance

Agent

Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit

Bio: A native of Los Angeles, California, Kirby attended Pomona College and got his JD at UC Hastings College of the Law. Kirby has worked for Charlotte Sheedy Literary, Vigliano Associates, WME, and Janklow & Nesbit.

Kirby represents both literary and commercial authors. Some of his clients include Edgar Award winner James A. McLaughlin (Bearskin and Panther Gap/rural noir), former director of the FBI James Comey (Central Park West/legal thriller), AH Kim (A Good Family/domestic suspense), Ed Lin (Taiwan Night Market and Robert Chow series’/Asian American crime), Adam White (The Midcoast/literary thriller), Nick Cutter (The Troop/commercial horror), and Ted Chiang (Stories of Your Life and Others and Exhalation/literary science fiction).

Looking for: He’s most interested in receiving manuscripts that straddle the fence a bit, with upmarket expression combined with a genre element or plot device. When it comes to straight literary work, he’s alternatively drawn to rich, sweeping stories that try to encompass a time or a place or tightly written, narratively innovative stories or voices with award potential. His commercial interests include thrillers, mysteries, and some speculative fiction. He’s looking for general literary thrillers with distinct settings and characters as well as commercial thrillers.

Not looking for: legal thrillers.

Agent

Abigail Koons, Park & Fine Literary and Media

Looking for: commercial fiction with international angles, modern themes and storylines, and pacing that doesn’t come at the expense of character development. This could be in any area of commercial fiction from thriller and suspense to women’s fiction and romance.

Not looking for: Children’s, YA/MG, memoirs, sci-fi/fantasy without crossover appeal, screenplays and graphic novel

Agent

Sandy Lu, Book Wyrm Literary Agency

Bio: Sandy Lu founded Book Wyrm Literary Agency in 2020 after working as a literary agent for more than a decade at the L. Perkins Agency. Her client list includes Amazon, Barnes  & Noble, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestsellers, Stoker Award, Hammett Prize, and Anthony Award nominees, Goodreads Choice Awards finalists, and New York Times Best of the Year recipient.

Sandy is seeking stories that will draw her in with a unique voice, make her miss her bedtime with a thrilling plot, and characters that will stay with her long after she turns the last page. Bonus points if you can make her laugh out loud or unable to hold back tears. She especially loves historical fiction, atmospheric world building, and anything dark, twisted, or with a supernatural bent. She favors unreliable narrators and serpentine plots that will keep her guessing till the end. And her white whale is a great spy novel set in early 20th century Shanghai.

Looking for: mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, science fiction, fantasy, historical  fiction, upmarket women’s fiction, and YA.

Not looking for: Picture books, graphic novels, and screenplays.

Clients: M. H. Boroson, B.J. Graf, Heather Levy, Jeneva Rose, and Randall Silvis.

Agent

Cecilia Lyra, P.S. Literary Agency

Bio: Cecilia (“CeCe”) Lyra is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency representing adult fiction and non-fiction. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors’ careers, and she is especially looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, CeCe understands the power of seeing oneself reflected in books, hence her passion for championing under or misrepresented voices and narratives that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. The popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which CeCe is a co-host, has over one million downloads. CeCe is also a recovering lawyer but asks that you do not hold that against her.

Looking for: CeCe is looking for adult fiction and nonfiction. In fiction, CeCe’s taste gravitates towards books by women, for women, whether commercial, upmarket, or literary. She is particularly drawn to family sagas, female friendship, edgy psychological suspense, closed-setting novels, anti-heroines, and found family. In terms of nonfiction, no title is too serious or too accessible for CeCe’s taste. She is a fan of expert-driven narratives with provocative throughlines that culminate in paradigm-shifting takeaways.

Not looking for: In fiction, CeCe is not looking for YA, children’s books, or heavy SFF. In nonfiction, CeCe is not looking for sports, music, and true crime.

Agent

Amy Moore-Benson, Meridian Artists

Bio: Amy Moore-Benson discovered her love of publishing at 17, when she landed a job at a magazine in Paris. She worked for Harlequin Enterprises for thirteen years, where she helped launch and build the commercial fiction imprint, MIRA Books, before starting her own literary agency, AMB Literary Management. In 2015, Amy moved her agency in-house at Meridian Artists, where she continues to manage a stellar roster of writers of commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction, working with authors and publishers in both Canada and the US, and pitching their projects directly for TV/film development.

Amy is excited by strong, confident voices, authors who know instinctively how to lay down a foundation, word by word, to draw a reader into their unique story.

Looking For: relationship-driven thrillers, surprising speculative fiction just left of centre, suspense that delves into dark places, women’s fiction that explores the complexities of female relationships, voice-driven narrative non-fiction that allows a reader to experience something new. Surprise me!

Not looking for: military thrillers, science fiction/fantasy, cozy mysteries, westerns,  religious/spiritual

Clients: Some clients include Victoria Dahl, Rick Mofina, Jamie Mason, Alisha Rai, Josh Stallings, Adam Frost, Bethany Crandell, Robert Rotenberg, Kate Robards, Mark Sedore, Elaine Lui.

Agent

Paula Munier, Talcott-Notch Literary Services

Bio: Paula Munier is a literary agent and USA TODAY bestselling author whose roots in the crime writing community run deep. As Senior Literary Agent and Director of Storytelling for Talcott Notch Literary, she specializes in crime fiction, representing many great crime writers, including Cate Holahan, James R. Benn, Brendan DuBois, and New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge, among others.  She’s the author of the Mercy Carr series: A Borrowing of Bones won the Dogwise Book of the Year Award and was nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award; Blind Search also won a DWAA award. The Hiding Place (2021) and The Wedding Plot (2022) both made several “Best Of” lists. Home at Night, the fifth book in the series. will be out in Fall 2023.

Paula’s also written three popular books on writing, the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, and Writing with Quiet Hands, as well as Happier Every Day and the memoir Fixing Freddie. She’s an active member of MWA, SinC, and ITW. She served as president of the New England chapter of MWA for four terms and has served on the committee for the New England Crime Bake for more than a decade. She lives in New England with her family, three rescue dogs, and a rescue cat. Find out more at paulamunier.com and careerauthors.com.

Clients: USA Today bestselling author Cate Holahan (One Little Secret), Sue Grafton Memorial Award nominee Emilya Naymark, Lilian Jackson Braun Award nominee Connie Berry, Lefty winner and Agatha nominee Alexia Gordon (the Gethsemane Brown series), Agatha nominee Bruce Robert Coffin (the Detective Byron series), James R. Benn (the Billy Boyle WWII mystery series), Cynthia Riggs (the Victoria Trumbull Martha’s Vineyard mysteries), Thriller and multiple Pushcart Prize nominee Richard Thomas (Breaker), Tony Hillerman Award winner Carol Potenza (the Nicky Matthews series), Roger Johns (the Wallace Hartman series), and many more.

Looking for: Feel-good mysteries, high-concept thrillers, noir. Rom coms, women’s fiction, book club fiction. Nonfiction and narrative nonfiction, especially in the areas of science, nature, and mind/body/spirit.

Not looking for: Memoir, poetry, picture books, SFF.

Agent

Lynnette Novak, The Seymour Agency

Bio: Lynnette Novak is an agent at The Seymour Agency.

Prior to joining The Seymour Agency, Lynnette spent seventeen years freelance editing. She worked with new writers, advanced writers, as well as New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Lynnette earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Manitoba, where she specialized in English and French. She excelled in Advanced Creative Writing in university and studied writing for children and teens through the Institute of Children’s Literature. She was a Pitch Wars mentor in 2015 and 2016. Both her mentees acquired an agent. Lynnette has since closed her editing business and is excited to bring her passion for the written word to agenting.

Although Lynnette was born and raised in Manitoba, Canada, she now lives in Minnesota with her husband, twin girls, and many pets. Her personal interests include reading, writing, exercising at the gym (okay, that’s a love/hate relationship), working on an assortment of crafts, all things having to do with animals (if she could own a farm, zoo, and animal shelter, she would), and enjoying time with family and friends.

She loves dark and suspenseful, mysterious twists, unique worlds, light and funny, a good love story, and lots of voice.

Follow Lynnette on Twitter: @Lynnette_Novak

Looking for: (Always looking for own voices, diversity, and LGBTQ+!!!)

In adult fiction: thrillers, psychological suspense, and mysteries (traditional, amateur sleuth, and cozy)

In young adult fiction: thrillers, psychological suspense, horror, contemporary, mysteries, and fantasy

In middle grade fiction: contemporary, horror, fantasy, action/adventure, mystery, humor, and novels in verse

In children’s: fiction and nonfiction picture books (non-rhyming preferred)

In graphic novels: MG, and YA (author/illustrator preferred)

Not looking for: science fiction in any age category, adult romance, adult fantasy, adult horror. (This list changes, so check Query Manager and our website for the most updated version.)

Editor

Hannah O’Grady, St. Martin’s Press

Bio: Hannah is an Editor at St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur books, where she publishes a wide range of fiction and nonfiction.

Currently looking for: On the fiction side, much of Hannah’s list falls within the mystery space—from cozy to noir—and centers unique, emotionally complex protagonists. Hannah is especially eager for mysteries and thrillers that challenge and critique the criminal justice system and feature characters from underrepresented groups. She’s also open to unputdownable queer rom-coms or upmarket fiction with an unforgettable concept. On the nonfiction side, Hannah is looking for untold stories from history, cultural deep-dives, memoir, and investigative journalism, particularly narratives dealing with racial justice and queer issues. Across all genres, socially-conscious writing and work that highlights marginalized voices is of particular interest.

Not looking for: At this time, Hannah is not the best fit for YA, business books, fantasy, or military thrillers.

Agent

Jeff Ourvan, Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency

Bio: Jeff Ourvan, an attorney, published author and writing instructor, has been for ten years a literary agent with the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. His interests are varied: he represents nonfiction works, especially narrative nonfiction, histories, biographies, science, food and sports. He also represents fiction writers, particularly in the young adult, thriller and romance categories. Jeff heads the Agency’s book-to-film efforts, and he is the founder of The WriteWorkshops, an intensive writing workshop based in New York. Authors Jeff represent include Christopher Knowlton, Peter Houlahan, Tatsha Robertson, and the thriller writer Dugald Bruce-Lockhart.

Looking for: He is looking for page-turners with tight plotting and unique characters in the thriller, grounded science fiction, romance and YA/MG genres.

Not looking for: He is not looking for epic fantasy, memoir or children’s picture books.

Agent

Gina Panettieri, Talcott Notch Literary Services

Bio: Gina Panettieri is Founder of the Milford, Ct-based Talcott Notch Literary, a five-member literary agency seeking the freshest voices in adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction. Some of her more prominent recent sales includes SONS OF VALOR and DARK INTERCEPT by WSJ-bestselling authors, Andrews & Wilson, THE HIDING PLACE by USA-Today bestselling author, Paula Munier, and UNDER COLOR OF LAW, by Aaron Philip Clark.

Clients: Her list includes Jeffrey Wilson and Brian Andrews, Scott Deitche, Dr. Seth Meyers, Drew Eric Whitman, Paula Munier, Kevin Wolf, Aaron Philip Clark.

Looking for: Gina wants to see all types of crime fiction, including mysteries, thrillers and suspense. She’d like to see well-researched stories set in less common settings. She is open to historicals and is particularly interested in stories set against iconic world events and biographical novels about groundbreaking real women. She is also open to nonfiction – true crime, organized crime history, memoirs and biographies of major figures in law enforcement.

Not looking for: She is not keen on crime fiction involving drug cartels, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, or cults. If one is writing a story set in the military or law enforcement, accuracy is absolutely essential and she is not interested in stories where the research has exclusively consisted of reading other novels set in those worlds. 

Agent

Mel Parker, Mel Parker Books

Bio: Mel Parker has worked in virtually every area of trade book publishing, from mass market and trade paperback to hardcover and book clubs. Before launching Mel Parker Books, LLC, a book packaging firm and literary agency, Mel was Senior Vice President and Editorial Director of Bookspan, the book club partnership formed by Time Warner and Bertelsmann. Mel came to the book clubs from Time Warner Trade Publishing, where he served as Senior Vice President of Warner Books and Publisher of its paperback division, working with bestselling authors such as Dean Koontz, James Patterson, David Morrell, and Nelson DeMille. Prior to joining Warner, Mel was Editor-in-Chief of the Berkley Publishing Group, where he acquired many bestselling books, most notably The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. Clients: Robert McCaw, Jill Fordyce, Dickson Despommier, Jennifer Grayson, David Weill, Tara Well

Looking for: High-concept psychological suspense, character-based crime fiction, high-profile true crime, and narrative nonfiction

Not looking for: Military thrillers, spy thrillers, SF/fantasy, horror, graphic novels, illustrated books, poetry, children’s/YA, screenplays, cozies, romantic suspense

Agent

Sophia M. Ramos, New Leaf Literary

Bio: Hailing from South Florida, Sophia M. Ramos earned a Masters of Science in Publishing from New York University. Prior to joining New Leaf Literary, she worked as a literary scout, and later moved into foreign rights and international sales where she rounded out her understanding of book publishing as a global industry. Sophia now works as a Literary Associate on various top author brands, and has a wide-open list she’s ready to fill. She is a Diet Coke enthusiast and champion axe thrower.

Looking for: Sophia is looking for young adult fiction and adult fiction projects. She’s interested in horror, thriller, mystery, soft sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporaries with supernatural elements. She loves novels that explore complex family relationships, both biological and chosen. She is interested in characters who grapple with the consequences of someone else’s actions; ancestry and inheritances, be they literal, metaphorical, psychological or metaphysical; and very intentional prose. She’s a big fan of reluctant heroes, descents into madness, and magic systems rooted in a specific historical touchpoint, cultural practice, or magical conduit.

Not looking for: career detectives; police procedurals; military thrillers; text-only picture books or graphic novel scripts (though happy to see author/illustrator projects); younger middle-grade.

Editor

Melissa Rechter, Crooked Lane Books

Bio: Melissa Rechter is an Editor at Crooked Lane Books, an independent publisher of crime fiction, mysteries, and thrillers and Alcove Press, their new book club fiction imprint, based in New York. She joined the team in 2019, while obtaining her Masters in Publishing.

For Crooked Lane, Melissa is seeking cozy mysteries, horror, suspense and thrillers that deal with small town secrets, complicated family dynamics, and has a particular interest in unreliable narrators, cults, poisonous plants, and locked room mysteries. She’s also looking for historical mysteries with interesting premises.

For Alcove Press, Melissa is seeking historical fiction (particularly in the 20’s, 40’s) and is always looking for new stories about women and their roles in WWII, stories that center around female friendships and found family, and book club fiction that sparks conversation.

Agent

Michelle Richter, Fuse Literary

Bio: Michelle Richter is a Senior Agent at Fuse Literary, which she joined from St. Martin’s Press. Crime fiction is her true love, from police procedurals to domestic suspense to thriller. And let’s not forget heists and con artists. She’s rarely found a British or Scandinavian crime show she couldn’t get wrapped up in. Recent favorite authors include Eli Cranor, Ruth Ware, S.A. Cosby, P.J. Vernon, Halley Sutton, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden.

Looking for: She is currently looking for suspense, thriller, amateur sleuth, traditional mystery, police procedural, commercial women’s fiction, and book club reads. She loves a strong voice, character-driven fiction, dual timelines, family secrets, sister/friend stories, lots of twists, and unreliable narrators. LGBTQ, BIPOC, and disabled voices are very welcome.

Not looking for: She is not looking for WWII or pre-20th century historical fiction; private investigators; political, military or espionage thrillers; science fiction/fantasy; poetry; YA or middle-grade fiction; memoir. Stories with human or drug trafficking, sexual assault or abuse, religious themes or characters aren’t a good fit for Michelle’s list.

Clients: E.A. Aymar, L.A. Chandlar, Kellye Garrett, Jennifer Gold, Tara Laskowski, Alan Orloff, Carl Vonderau, Erica Wright.

Agent

Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein, McIntosh & Otis

Bio: Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein, President and senior agent at McIntosh & Otis, has degrees from New York University and Manhattan School of Music. She began her book publishing career in subsidiary rights and then took on the responsibilities of acquisitions editor at a major audio publishing imprint. Initially, she joined McIntosh & Otis to manage all subsidiary rights but began working as an agent shortly thereafter. Her primary interests include literary fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance, mystery/suspense, and memoir, along with narrative non-fiction, history and current affairs. Elizabeth represents numerous New York Times bestsellers, and both Agatha and Edgar Award winners and nominees.

Agent

Kathy Schneider, Jane Rotrosen Agency

Bio: Kathy Schneider has been a literary agent at the Jane Rotrosen Agency since 2017. Her clients include NYT’s bestselling thriller writer Kate White; award-winning writer Karin Lin-Greenberg (You Are Here; Counterpoint), novelist Midge Raymond (My Last Continent; Scribner), USA Today bestseller Jacqueline Friedland (He Gets That from Me), national bestseller Samantha Greene Woodruff (The Lobotomist’s Wife), and many debut novelists. Her non-fiction includes Kindra Hall, author of the WSJ bestseller Stories That Stick (HarperCollins); Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action and author of Fight Like a Mother (HarperOne), and recording artists, Courtney Barnett and Shirley Manson.

Previously, she worked at Penguin Random House and was SVP, Associate Publisher at HarperCollins, where she worked on books by Barbara Kingsolver, Louise Erdrich, Ann Patchett, Lisa Scottoline, Kimberly McCreight, Alafair Burke, Mitch Albom, Michael Crichton, Harper Lee, Madeleine Albright, and Anderson Cooper.

Looking for: I am looking for upmarket, commercial debut fiction that is well-written and accessible, with memorable characters; atmospheric domestic thrillers and dark psychological suspense with unusual settings, and a unique hook. Recent thriller faves: Wrong Place Wrong Timeby Gillian McAllister; The Maid by Nita Prose, The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart, and The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Also, thrillers with a touch of magic or the supernatural, such as Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes; high-concept psychological horror, like Grady Hendrick’s The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Vampires, and horror that is both creepy and uplifting, such as Catriona Ward’s The Last House on Needless Street.

Not looking for: I am currently not seeking Sci-Fi, Young Adult, espionage, mafia stories and noir/hard-boiled mystery.

Agent

Alec Shane, Writers House

Bio: Alec majored in English at Brown University, a degree he put to immediate use by moving to Los Angeles after graduation to become a professional stunt man. Realizing that he prefers books to breakaway glass, he moved to New York City in 2008 to pursue a career in publishing. Alec quickly found a home at Writers House Literary Agency, where he quickly began building his own list. He is still aggressively looking for new talent across a wide variety of genres.

Currently Looking For: Horror, thriller, mystery, noir, grounded sci-fi, YA and middle grade “boy” fiction, and beautifully written historical fiction. In nonfiction: biography, narrative nonfictoion history, military, pop science, and all things sports.

Not Looking For: Romance (paranormal or otherwise), politics (fiction or nonfiction), women’s fiction, picture books, high fantasy, and science fiction featuring aliens/intergalactic warfare. He’s also read enough about Russia, in any capacity, for a while.

Clients: J.D. Barker, Casey Barrett, Adam Cesare, Hank Early, Jumata Emill, Laurie R. King, Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Jack Murphy, Christopher Price, among others.

Agent

Erica Spellman-Silverman, Trident Media Group

Bio: At 23 years old, Erica Spellman Silverman began her career at ICM. Coming from a family of writers and editors, she’s loved books all her life. She represented journalists Hunter S. Thompson, Tim O’Brien, Robert Scheer, Robert Greenfield, Tim White, and Cameron Crowe, among others. Many went on to become novelists, screenwriters, and directors. After transitioning to the film side of the business, Erica found that she missed working with novelists and moved to The William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor), where she became Vice President. There, she could work with writers in all categories: books, film, and theater. Lionel Schriver, Scott Spencer, Eve Babitz, and Robin Cook are among the many writers she represented. She was also responsible for their movie and TV deals.  Having worked at ICM and William Morris, she made a transition to running United Artists in New York so she could see the other side of the fence.  “I couldn’t get back to being an agent fast enough!” Erica says. “I love finding my own writers and not being dependent on the committee mentality one needs as a buyer.”

Erica has been at Trident for ten years, where she has had the wonderful  opportunity to work with fantastic writers, including Andrew Mayne, Barbara Lynch, Cherise Wolas, Esther the Wonder Pig, Eve Babitz, Jennifer L. Scott, Rachel Van Dyken, Robin Cook, and many others. She also uses her knowledge of the movie business to handle book to-film and TV rights for many of Trident’s agents.

Looking for: Her client list is fairly eclectic. Her interest lies less in genre than in great storytelling—Erica says, “anything that gets into your head and your heart, anything you can’t stop thinking about, whether it’s literary fiction, thrillers, young adult, or memoir. Books and stories that touch the soul, that make you laugh or cry or both. Stories that haven’t been told before or are told in a different way: that’s what I am looking for.” Specifically, she is looking for: commercial fiction, lit fic, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and thrillers.

Agent

Victoria Skurnick, Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency

Bio: Victoria Skurnick is with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency, and represents both fiction and nonfiction. Among the books she has represented are Things We Do in the Dark, Little Secrets, It. Goes So Fast., The Lindbergh Nanny, Turn of Mind, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, Jar of Hearts, Bad Things Happen, The Unexpected President,  and The Dangerous Book for Dogs.

Victoria has been with LGR for 15 years; before joining the agency, she was editor-in-chief of The Book-of-the-Month Club, Senior Editor at St. Martin’s Press and Pocket Books, and Advertising Director of Holt. She is also the co-author of seven novels published under the name Cynthia Victor.

Clients: Victoria’s client list includes Susan Elia MacNeal, Jennifer Hillier, Mary Louise Kelly, Mariah Fredericks, Alice LaPlante, Harry Dolan, and Kermit Roosevelt among others.

Looking for: Suspense, literary fiction, and nonfiction.

Not looking for: Science fiction, fantasy, or romance.

Agent

Amy Stapp, Wolfson Literary Agency

Bio: Amy Stapp began her publishing career as an editor at Macmillan before joining Wolfson Literary in 2018 where she is actively building her list, with interest in women’s fiction, mystery, suspense, upmarket book club fiction, historical fiction, young adult, and select nonfiction. She is particularly drawn to a high concept hook, well-paced prose, immersive settings, and smart, multidimensional characters. As an editorial agent, she enjoys working hand-in-hand with authors to take their work to the next level.

Looking for: I’m most eager to find twisty, intelligent suspense, upmarket book club fiction, women’s fiction that explores complicated friendships and multigenerational ties, light magical realism, and historical fiction from a new region or diverse perspective. I’m very picky in YA, but I love a fast-paced, “unputdownable” YA with a mature voice in a variety of genres—romance, mystery, historical, and unique coming-of-age stories. I am always looking for stories from underrepresented voices and in diverse settings. For a more extensive wishlist please visit my MSWL page.

Not looking for: Hard science fiction, Epic fantasy, Military thrillers

Agent

Nikki Terpilowski, Holloway Literary Management

Bio: With a B.A. in English and Marketing, along with a minor in creative writing and a graduate degree in international relations, Nikki’s passion for literature and thirst for knowledge led her to pursue a career in the publishing world. She established Holloway Literary in 2011 and currently has two associate agents on her team.

Nikki’s outstanding achievements include representing  RITA nominated titles, RT Book Reviews Top Picks, and starred Publishers Weekly reviews. Notably, her Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Globe & Mail, and iBooks UK best-selling author bestselling author, Kimberly Belle was a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Best Mystery/Thriller in 2017.

She has also worked with several best-selling authors, including Amazon US & UK best-selling author Katie Oliver, USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns. Other notable clients include: Daytime Emmy nominee BlackSouthernBelle.com’s Michiel Perry, Food Television personality Saba Wahid and screenwriter Greg DePaul (Bride Wars, Saving Silverman)

As a full-service agency, Holloway Literary represents writers in various genres, including romance, women’s fiction, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, literary fiction, southern fiction, and select young adult. Holloway Literary is a member of Sisters In Crime and International Thriller Writers, among other associations.

Nikki is often a judge for League of Romance Writers competitions, and consults with entertainment industry websites Stage 32 and Writer’s Roadmap on both novel and screenplay writing.

Lastly, Nikki is a tv and film producer specializing in book IP with several projects in development.

Looking for: Nikki is looking for small-town romance, Regency romance, historical mystery, light fantasy and scifi in both adult and ya, fresh takes on domestic suspense, westerns, Afrofuturism, thrillers written by veterans/law enforcement/intelligence operatives, lifestyle non-fiction, southern fiction and magical women’s fiction.

Not looking for: cozy mysteries, crime fiction, horror, erotica, crimes against children, serial killers.

Agent

Ann Leslie Tuttle, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Bio: Ann Leslie Tuttle joined DG&B in 2017 after working for 20 years at Harlequin Books where she worked on an extensive and varied list of bestselling and award-winning titles in romance and women’s fiction. She received her B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. from the University of Virginia. Helping to grow the careers of established and debut writers has always been Ann Leslie’s passion. Ann Leslie lives in New York City with her husband and young daughter, who is just discovering the magic of books and writing.

Looking for: Ann Leslie is especially seeking women’s fiction (e.g. relationships, family sagas, historical fiction and psychological thrillers) romance (e.g. romantic comedies, medical romance and contemporaries) and Southern Gothics on the adult fiction side as well as Middle Grade fiction and narrative nonfiction.

For thrillers/mystery/suspense, she is especially looking for domestic thrillers and cozy and historical mysteries and would welcome some #OwnVoices authors. She would also welcome some that have a speculative element, and thriller/mysteries for the YA market.

Not looking for: stories with a dystopian element or science fiction.

Agent

Lisa Erbach Vance, Aaron Priest Literary Agency

Bio: Lisa Erbach Vance represents numerous bestselling and award-winning authors at the Aaron Priest Literary Agency, which she joined in 1993 as Director of Foreign Rights. She began representing her own clients shortly thereafter. Her thriller/mystery clients include Harlan Coben, Gregg Hurwitz, Alex Finlay, Glen Erik Hamilton (met at PitchFest!), Gayle Lynds, B.J. Daniels, Aaron and Charlotte Elkins, G.M. Ford, Anthony Franze, and more.

Prior to joining the agency, Lisa’s publishing career began at Random House, Inc. where she was selected as one of the first participants in their new Management Trainee program, after which she became an associate in the foreign rights department at Crown Publishers. Lisa was born and raised outside of Chicago, and she has a degree in English Literature from Northwestern University.

Looking for: Propulsive, emotionally engaging suspense—contemporary or historical, domestic or international. Moody psychological suspense. Near future speculative fiction. Diverse and unique narrative voices; under-represented voices of all backgrounds and identities. Character development is as important as plot and pacing. A great sense of humor is a plus, but deep and dark are also most welcome.

Not looking for: horror, science fiction/fantasy, traditional procedural, geopolitical.

Agent

Martha Webb, CookeMcDermid Literary Management

Bio: Martha Webb is an agent and co-owner of CookeMcDermid. Her list comprises literary fiction, upmarket commercial fiction and a broad range of non-fiction, including investigative journalism, memoir with a particular focus, popular science, history and philosophy, and some self-help. She is drawn to rebels and contrarians with a good sense of humour, and to books that are topical, deal with important issues, or strive for social betterment while also being great reads. She values distinctive voices and good storytelling, in whatever form. Her clients include Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Jen Agg, Michael Crummey, Claudia Dey, Robyn Doolittle, Sonya Lalli, Justin Ling, Laurie Petrou and Saleema Nawaz.

Martha began her career in publishing in 2005 with The McDermid Agency, of which she later assumed co-ownership prior to the creation of CookeMcDermid. She holds an MA in literature from the University of Edinburgh, and was born and raised in Montreal.

Looking for: She is currently seeking investigative non-fiction (including true crime) thrillers and suspense novels that are propulsive and have complex characters, from different voices and perspectives.

Not looking for: She is not seeking YA or children’s books.

Agent

Sally Wofford-Girand, Union Literary

Looking for: What she is looking for at Thrillerfest is fiction that is both literary and propulsive. Current favorites include  Laura Dave, Lucy Foley, Jane Harper, Lisa Jewel, Stephen Graham Jones, Jean Hanff Korelitz,  Maggie O’Farrell,  Sarah Waters,  Barbara Kingsolver (DEMON COPPERHEAD, a favorite book of the year) and Shirley Jackson.  She is a hands-on agent with a passion for great storytelling, and she loves the thrill of discovering and working with debut novelists. Sally is on the board of Writer’s Omi, an international writers colony near Hudson, NY, and a founding board member of the non-profit Literary Agents of Change, created in concert with the American Association of Literary Agents DEI committee. She cares more about voice, character and “stakes” than plot but would be happy to find a literary ghost story a la Shirley Jackson.

Agent

Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary Agency

[Dawn will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Dawn Dowdle began Blue Ridge Literary Agency, LLC in Virginia in 2009 to help authors, especially newer authors. Prior to establishing her agency, she was a freelance copy editor and an avid reader of cozy mysteries. Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver, Staging Is Murder by Grace Topping, and Murder at Harbor Village by G.P. Gardner, are Cozy Mysteries she represents that are USA Today Bestsellers. The agency now has 3 agents.

Looking for: Genres and subgenres of interest to Dawn Dowdle are Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction Picture Book, Amish Romance. Inspirational Romance, Middle Grade Fiction, Cookbook, Travel, Children’s Graphic Novel.

Not looking for: Romance, Nonfiction (other than listed), Fantasy, Sci-fi, Magic Realism

Agent

Zoe Howard, Howland Literary

[Zoe will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Zoe Aline Howard is a literary agent and literary publicist. Zoe holds a BFA with Distinction and Publishing Certificate from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and has had the privilege to work across publishing with several entities: previously on publicity and marketing teams at Lookout Books, and currently as an agent acquiring adult fiction and nonfiction at Howland Literary, and as a literary publicist at Pine State Publicity. Through each of these and her own writing, Zoe has garnered an eye for those subversive, lyrical, regional books that demand more space in publishing. In every book she works on, her largest goal is to find those niche and wider spaces where the voice of a project can truly be heard.

Looking for: In adult fiction, Zoe is seeking voice-driven stories that subvert reader expectations of their subject matter. She would love to see queer characters; characters at their breaking point; literary fiction with speculative elements, especially those that tend dark and underground (like Sharks in the Time of Saviors); girlhood; thrillers that use a “missing girl” to ask a larger question (like Brutes); body horror & transformations of the body; and insular settings (small towns, amusement parks, summer camps, hotels). She especially loves stories set in the American south, Appalachia, or other underrepresented regions in contemporary publishing.  

Not looking for: Zoe is not the right agent for books that feature eating disorders, straightforward police procedurals, or fantasy/science-fiction.

Agent

Elizabeth Kracht, Kimberley Cameron & Associates

[Liz will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Elizabeth Kracht joined Kimberley Cameron & Associates in the fall of 2010 and is the author of The Author’s Checklist: An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript. She represents both literary and commercial fiction as well as nonfiction, and brings to the agency experience as a former acquisitions editor, freelance publicist, and writer.

Elizabeth’s career in publishing took root in Puerto Rico where she completed her BA in English and worked as a copyeditor and proofreader for an English-language newspaper. When she returned to the mainland, she found her “vein of gold” in book publishing. She thrives on working closely with authors to build their careers, and is currently in graduate school earning her MFA in creative writing at San Jose State University.

Elizabeth’s eclectic life experience drives her interests. She appreciates writing that has depth, an introspective voice, and is thematically layered. Having lived in cities such as New York, San Francisco, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, she is compelled by multicultural themes and characters and is drawn toward strong settings.

Looking for: In fiction, she represents literary, commercial, women’s, thrillers, mysteries, historical, and crossover YA. In nonfiction, she is interested in high concept, health, science, environment, prescriptive, investigative, true crime, voice- or adventure-driven memoir, sexuality, spirituality, and animal/pet stories.

Agent

Joanna MacKenzie, Nelson Literary Agency

[Joanna will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Joanna MacKenzie is a Sr. Agent with Nelson Literary Agency where she represents authors writing for both the adult and children’s markets across all areas of fiction.

Recent mystery/thriller releases include: Play The Fool by Lina Chern; Graveyard of Lost Children by Katrina Monroe, Bad Day Breaking by John Galligan, Remember Me Gone by Stacy Stokes, The Other Me by Sarah Zachrich Jeng.

Looking for: She is drawn to vivid, engaging writing and is particularly interested in high concept thrillers (with a soft spot for speculative and anything that challenges tropes), voicey mysteries, dark academia, stories that straddle genres, and women’s fiction where the personal intersects with the world at large – if any of these are set in the Midwest, all the better. Across the board, she’s looking for works that highlight under-represented voices. Her authors are New York Times bestsellers, Edgar and Anthony Award nominees, and critically acclaimed storytellers.

Not looking for: Sci-Fi, spiritual, non-fiction

Agent

Kiana Nguyen, Donald Maass Literary Agency

[Kiki will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Kiana “Kiki” Nguyen started in publishing in 2015 with an internship with Wunderkind PR, independent book publishing PR company, working on campaigns with authors such as Ernest Cline. There, she discovered a practical industry for her codependent love of fiction. In 2016, Kiki went on to intern with DMLA where she soon joined the team full-time as an assistant literary agent. When not working, she is playing Among Us or shouting about film/tv on Twitter.

Looking for: Kiki is now building her client list within young adult and adult fiction with a focus on queer and BIPOC authors. Specifically, in adult, she is looking for domestic suspense (how people’s relationships and secrets get them into trouble/danger!), horror, SFF, romance, and women’s fiction.

Agent

Katie Reed, Andrea Hurst and Associates

[Katie will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Katie Reed began her career in publishing with Andrea Hurst and Associates while pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English at Sacramento State, and has worked in the publishing field for over a decade. Boo Walker (The Singing Trees), Hannah Jayne (Truly, Madly, Deadly), and international bestselling author Dr. Bernie Siegel, are among the many clients and works the agency represents.  Katie loves discovering new talent, building lasting connections with her authors, and working diligently to represent books readers will love. Katie lives in Lewiston, Idaho with her husband, three children, a Bichon Frise, and two obstinate cats.  In the summer you can find her on the beach upriver in Hells Canyon, preferably with a good book.

Looking for: Katie is actively building her client list and looking for standout projects to champion. She is looking for stories that hit that sweet spot between commercial and literary, where strong, poignant prose and twisty, high stakes plot intersect. Katie is especially drawn to books with universal human themes that resonate with readers and seep through the pages.

In the adult suspense/thriller genre, Katie is looking for female led psychological thriller with a distinct voice and unique plot that can stand on the shelf next to authors like Lucy Foley, Karin Slaughter, Alice Feeney, Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, Ruth Ware, and Stacy Willingham. In YA, she would love to find something voice driven and similar to The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. She is always willing to look at women’s or historical fiction with a strong suspense/thriller slant, a la Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret, or literary thriller like The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Her favorite thriller so far this year: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz. Anything with an unreliable narrator and an ending or twist she doesn’t see coming is a huge plus!

Not looking for: sci-fi, fantasy, military/legal/spy thriller, cozies, or crime fiction.

Agent

Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency

[Nicole will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: A proponent for authentic, diverse voices in fiction, Nicole is actively seeking those stories that have to be told. She loves discovering new talent and helping established authors to take their career to the next level.

Currently looking for: In adult fiction: thrillers, suspense, procedurals, fantasy, sci-fi, romance (particularly romantic suspense), romantic comedy, women’s fiction, and mysteries (traditional, amateur sleuth, and cozy).

In young adult fiction: thrillers, psychological suspense, horror, mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary.

She is especially interested in projects that are high concept and feel really fresh. She would love to find something that focuses on: search and rescue, survivalist suspense, forensic or investigative thrillers with series potential.

Not looking for: Stories that are obviously derivative of other popular works.

Clients: NYT Bestsellers and Award-Winning Authors— Cindy Dees and Dr. Michael David Evans, Karna Small Bodman, Julie Ann Walker, Lauren Layne, Shelley Shepard Gray, Julie Cross, Melissa Landers, Kate Meader, Sara Driscoll, Jen J. Danna, Monica Murphy, Rachel van Dyken, and Chris Kudlacz.

Agent

Jennifer Weis, The Weis Agency

[Jennifer will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Jennifer Weis comes to agenting from 30 years as Executive Editor at St. Martin’s Press, where she worked on bestsellers like B.A. Paris’ BEHIND CLOSED DOORS and the nationally bestselling BABY TEETH, as well as critical nonfiction successes from the likes of Michael Bloomberg and Bill Nye.
Jennifer’s hunt for page-turning fiction in the past 3 years at the Ross Yoon Agency has turned up, among others,  Melissa Hill’s romantic novel SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY’s, just made into a film from Hello Sunshine, as well as Melissa’s forthcoming THE FIRST DAY WITHOUT YOU, Mallika Narayanan’s debut, the suspenseful IN THE DARK I SEE YOU, and THE AUDACITY OF SARAH GRAYSON by Joanie Elliott, a PitchFest find.

Jennifer brings to the table an ability to offer editorial guidance and development as well as an advanced understanding and knowledge of the inner workings of publishing houses and the publishing landscape today. Her goal is to identify the stars of tomorrow, and to help place them at publishers where they can attract attention, shine and grow.

Jennifer is the co-chair of Project Lyme, a nonprofit based in NYC that focuses on awareness, education and advocacy. She chairs the UJA Executive Committee for Publishing. She graduated from Yale College and Yale University (M.A. in English) and lives in NYC, where is based, with her husband and 4 children.

Looking for: Whether it be a work of bookclub fiction, psychological and domestic suspense, mystery, young adult, fantasy romance or just plain romance in all of its various permutations, getting lost in a book for Jennifer means getting caught up in the story and suspending her disbelief. Jennifer is seeking high-concept, cleverly plotted novels that have a hook and a consistent, distinctive voice. A social media following is a plus. In nonfiction, the message and platform are key.

Agent

Terrie Wolf, AKA Literary Management

[Terrie will be taking pitches live during PitchFest over zoom.]

Bio: Since founding AKALM in 2010, Terrie has been honored to manage authors who are at all stages of the writing journey and their eclectic and unforgettable works. She primarily represents adult fiction (mystery, thriller, women’s, regional and inspirational), the occasional non-fiction offering, and children’s fiction (especially MG mysteries) and non-fiction. Maintaining a global outlook, Terrie has sold rights in more than forty countries and thirty languages. She was named ACFW Agent of the Year in 2021.

Clients: Terrie’s clients include Forest Jones, Brian Tracey, Kirsche Romo, Byron Graves, Margaret Mizushima, Jeff Nesbit, Maria Shriver, and the estate of “the King of the Paperbacks” Harry Whittington. She also represents two cozy mysteries series co-authored by Jeff Ayers and Brian Tracey.

Looking for: in adult fiction: debut, general/other, historical, mystery/crime/thriller/suspense, inspirational, paranormal (light), regional saga, women’s fiction, romance. Terrie is also looking for picture books, young adult and middle grade.

Not looking for: in adult fiction: anthology, erotica, horror, literary, poetry, sci-fi/fantasy.