2019

Alison Lewis

ALISON LEWIS

A black and white photo of a smiling woman with glasses and brown hair with bangs.

Alison Lewis is a literary agent at the Zoë Pagnamenta Agency, where she represents narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, science, literary fiction, and memoir. A Colorado native and graduate of Middlebury College, she worked in editorial at W. W. Norton & Company before joining the agency in 2016. She is also editor of the literary magazine American Chordata, which was recently named one of the nine best literary magazines in the world today by Stack, and writes for Electric Literature.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I get excited about serious, immersive journalism; sharp cultural criticism; memoir braided with theory or research; literary biography; and narrative nonfiction – particularly uncovering lives or perspectives that have been overlooked or omitted from the news or the historic record. I represent much less fiction, and generally only literary fiction, but within that I’m drawn to voice-driven, quirky/off-beat, or wildly imaginative stories, as well as writing that is quietly attentive to the intricacies of day-to-day life and human experience.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

Julia Cooke
Jonathan Metzl
Ali Araghi

Specializes In

FICTION: Literary Fiction

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, GLBT, Investigative Journalism, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Science

Considers

NONFICTION: Memoir, Politics, Psychology

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Lauren Scovel

LAUREN SCOVEL

A white woman in her late 20s with short sandy hair and a blue turtleneck.

 

 

Lauren Scovel grew up outside of Seattle and graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing as well as Theatre Studies. She began her publishing career as an editorial intern at Aevitas Creative Management (formerly Zachary Shuster Harmsworth). Lauren's editorial work can be seen at The Millions and Pangyrus. She also worked as an indie bookseller for several years.

Lauren is looking to amplify underrepresented stories and voices, and is especially interested in both fiction and narrative nonfiction with a timely, distinctive story and a diverse cast of characters.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I'm especially interested in both fiction and narrative nonfiction with a timely, distinctive story and a diverse cast of characters.

SAMPLE AUTHORS OR TITLES

DEAD WEIGHT, Randall Horton
LORD THE ONE YOU LOVE IS SICK, Kasey Thornton
JUST LIZZIE, Karen Wilfrid (forthcoming Fall 2023)

Specializes In

FICTION: GLBT, Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, Multi-Cultural, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Memoir, GLBT, Investigative Journalism, Multi-Cultural, Politics, Pop Culture, True Crime, Women's Concerns, Narrative

Considers

FICTION: Family Saga

NONFICTION: History

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Joy Tutela

JOY TUTELA

Joy Tutela has been with the David Black Literary Agency since 1998. She represents various genres of books and illustrators, including projects in the following categories: women’s and LGBTQ+ issues, narrative non-fiction, memoir, history, sports, self-help, business, science, parenting, psychology, humor, cooking, lifestyle, fiction, middle grade and YA.

She represents the New York Times bestselling Atkins series and the New York Times bestselling Intellectual Devotional series by David Kidder and Noah Oppenheim.  She also represents New York Times bestsellers Footnotes from the World’s Greatest Bookstores by New Yorker cartoonist Bob Eckstein, Catification by the host of “My Cat From Hell” Jackson Galaxy, and Jenny Sanford’s memoir Staying True. Other bestselling projects include Stephen Puleo’s Dark Tide and Boston Italians, Lisa J. Edwards’ A Dog Named Boo, and Kim Sunée’s Trail of Crumbs, and Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne’s Mason-Dixon Knitting.  She represents critically acclaimed middle grade and YA authors, including Lev AC Rosen, Nisha Sharma, Matt Laney, Ron McGee, and Yvonne Cassidy.

Joy works with respected business leaders including Danny Seo, Emmy-Award winning eco-lifestyle guru and founder of Naturally, Danny Seo; Mike Steib, CEO of XO Group; Jim McCann, founder and CEO of 1-800-Flowers.com; and Susan Packard, former COO and co-founder of HGTV.

From and based in Red Sox Nation, Joy is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Radcliffe Publishing Course. She has been writing instructor at Goucher’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction program. She previously worked for Harvard Business School Press and taught at an elementary school in Italy.  For more on Joy, please visit www.joytutela.com.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I'm looking for narrative non-fiction that is supported by primary research and/or written by an expert (history, science, psychology, current events). I'm looking for action-packed and sweet middle grade stories and edgy YA.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition, Paul Watson
Goodbye, Sweet Girl: A Story of Domestic Violence, Kelly Sundberg
Counting Backwards: A Doctor's Notes on Anesthesia, Henry Jay Przybylo, MD

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, GLBT, Humor/Satire, Middle Grade, Multi-Cultural, Science Fiction, Upmarket Women's Fiction, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, Dating/Relationships, Food & Lifestyle, GLBT, Gift Books, Health & Fitness, History, Humor, Investigative Journalism, Juvenile, Medical, Memoir, Men's Concerns, Military/War, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Parenting, Pets, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Religion, Science, Self-Help, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Travel, True Crime, Women's Concerns

Considers

FICTION: Literary Fiction, Mystery

NONFICTION: Music

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Mitch Hoffman

Mitch Hoffman

Mitch Hoffman joined the Aaron Priest Literary Agency as a Senior Agent in December 2015, and is actively building a list of authors writing across the spectrum of fiction and nonfiction. He was previously Vice-President, Executive Editor at Grand Central Publishing.

As an editor, Mitch published over 200 books, more than 60 of which were New York Times bestsellers. He has nurtured the careers of debut novelists as well as global #1 bestselling authors, and has worked with journalists, memoirists, scientists, historians, and members of the military and intelligence services. Their books have won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Orange Prize for Fiction, the Edgar Award, ITW’s Thriller Award, The Barnes & Noble Discover Award, and have been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, among many other honors.

Prior to joining Grand Central Publishing in 2007, Mitch held editorial positions at Dutton and Dell Publishing, and began his career as an intern at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. He has been a Fellow of the Jerusalem International Book Fair, a Distinguished Guest of the Toronto International Festival of Authors, and has been a featured panelist at a wide array of industry events, numerous writers’ conferences, and has also addressed the bipartisan Creative Rights Caucus on Capitol Hill (sponsored by the AAP and Authors Guild) regarding collaboration between writers and publishers, and the importance of copyright protection for authors.

What I'm Looking For

I'm looking for fiction and nonfiction, including literary fiction, thrillers, and suspense, as well as narrative nonfiction, politics, popular science, history, memoir, current events, and pop culture.

Sample Titles or Authors

The Martin Chronicles, John Fried
Child 44, Tom Rob Smith
Talking to Robots, David Ewing Duncan

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime, Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Humor/Satire, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural, Mystery, Thrillers/Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, History, Humor, Investigative Journalism, Medical, Memoir, Men's Concerns, Military/War, Multi-Cultural, Music, Narrative, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion, Science, Technology

Considers

FICTION: Chick Lit, Short Story Collections

NONFICTION: Food & Lifestyle, Health & Fitness, Nature/Ecology, Psychology, Travel

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Kiana (Kiki) Nguyen

KIANA (KIKI) NGUYEN

A Black/Vietnamese woman in her late 20s with glasses and long dark curly hair.

 

 

 

Kiana Nguyen is a literary agent with Donald Maass Literary Agency, representing Young Adult and Adult fiction. With a particular interest in horror, romance, mystery/thriller, she is highly invested in the stories of and by queer people of color.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Close POV narratives that avoid transcripting characters' thoughts. Atmospheric worlds that feel like another character. Hot queer girls doing what they want. Dynamic character ensembles.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

BOYS I KNOW by Anna Gracia
THE ROMANCE RECIPE by Ruby Barrett
THE SCRATCH DAUGHTERS by H.A. Clarkek

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Upmarket Women's Fiction, Thrillers/Suspense, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Horror

Considers

FICTION: Historical Fiction, Chick Lit

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Johanna Castillo

Johanna Castillo

Johanna Castillo is a seasoned professional in the publishing industry with over 18 years of experience. Formerly a Vice President & Executive Editor at Atria Books/Simon and Schuster and Editorial Director of Atria Español for fourteen years, she acquired and edited forty one New York Times bestsellers by authors including Isabel Allende (The Japanese Lover), Colleen Hoover (It Ends with Us), Sharyn McCrumb (Prayers the Devil Answers) Rachael Ray (The Book of Burger), María Dueñas (The Time in Between), Rosanna Pansino (The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook), Laura Day (How to Rule the World from your Couch), Javier Sierra (The Secret Supper), Laura Esquivel (Malinche) and Theresa Caputo (There is More to Life Than This), as well as multiple national and international bestsellers, such as The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa, Meat by Pat LaFrieda, The Elizas by Sara Shepard and The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande.

As a literary agent, she looks forward to finding new, talented authors with whom she can work closely with editorially and form solid, long term partnerships that will result in bestselling and meaningful works.

What I'm Looking For

I am currently accepting submissions and seeking quality commercial and literary fiction, inspirational memoirs and works of narrative nonfiction.
Genres:
Upmarket Commercial Fiction
Historical Women's Fiction
Inspirational Self-Help
Narrative Nonfiction
Diverse Voices (Adult/ YA/ Middle grade)

More info coming soon!

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Carrie Howland

CARRIE HOWLAND

Carrie Howland founded Howland Literary, LLC in 2018, after thirteen years as an agent, most recently at Empire Literary.

Carrie holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Albion College, where she was the Poetry Editor of The Albion Review. Her poetry has appeared in various literary journals and magazines.

In her spare time, Carrie volunteers as a foster for a local dog rescue and is an active member of the Junior League. Her passions include music, pop culture, and the Midwest.

She has been featured in several publications discussing her work as an agent including Poets & Writers, SCWBI insight, Akashic Books, and Slice Magazine.

Carrie is accepting submissions for: adult literary and upmarket fiction as well as memoir, narrative, and prescriptive nonfiction.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Adult literary fiction, upmarket, and commercial fiction as well as prescriptive non-fiction. Particularly interested in contemporary romance and commercial thrillers.

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, GLBT, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural, Romance, Short Story Collections, Thrillers/Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: GLBT, Health & Fitness, Food & Lifestyle, Cultural/Social Issues, Dating/Relationships, Current Affairs, Investigative Journalism, Music, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Pets, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Self-Help, True Crime, Women's Concerns

Considers

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, GLBT, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural, Romance, Thrillers/Suspense, Short Story Collection, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, Dating/Relationships, Food & Lifestyles, GLBT, Health & Fitness, Investigative Journalism, Multi-Cultural, Music, Narrative, Parenting, Pets, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Self-Help, True Crime, Women's Concerns

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Aemilia Phillips

AEMILIA PHILLIPS

A Mexican-American woman with long brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a brown sweater and black vest, with a gray dog in front of her.

Aemilia Phillips joined Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency after completing the Columbia University Publishing Course. She graduated from Harvard University, and is putting her English degree to good use in the world of publishing, working with a range of fiction and nonfiction writers. She’s particularly interested in writers who push conventional boundaries in order to address cultural, political, and social justice issues. With family on both sides of the Mexican border and interests in journalism, narrative nonfiction, and literary fiction, she looks for diverse, smart writing with an impactful story to tell.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

For nonfiction I'm looking for driven, obsessed writers and topics that challenge the way we think about the world, with a particular interest in Latin American and feminist voices. I love books that at first glance appear to be commercial, but that are also smart cultural critiques that force readers to examine new viewpoints. I'm fascinated by darker, complex fictional characters who upend preconceptions, stories with just a touch of magic, and novels that allow me to step into someone else’s shoes.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

In the Dream House, Carmen Maria Machado

1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones

Children of the Land, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo

Citizen, Claudia Rankine

Concepcion, Albert Samaha

How Much of These Hills Is Gold, C. Pam Zhang

Specializes In

FICTION: Family Saga, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Investigative Journalism, Multi-Cultural, Narrative

Considers

FICTION: Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, GLBT, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Short Story Collections, Thrillers/Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Current Affairs, GLBT, History, Medical, Memoir, Nature/Ecology, Pets, Politics, Pop Culture, Science, Sports, Travel, True Crime, Women's Concerns

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Laura Usselman

LAURA USSELMAN

Laura Usselman is a literary agent at Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, representing adult fiction and nonfiction. Her fiction interests include character-centered fiction of all stripes, from the formally strange to the family saga. For nonfiction, she is interested in thoughtful narrative nonfiction for younger readers, restlessly curious idea books, and voice-driven memoir. She has a special interest in unusual American perspectives.

Before joining SKLA, Laura earned her MFA in Fiction at Virginia Tech, where she taught composition and creative writing, and spent three years at Cambridge University Press. A native of Atlanta, she studied English and film at the University of Georgia. She lives with her family in Brooklyn.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I'm looking for fiction projects that are grounded in strong writing, especially those that make a reader think in a slightly new way about what it is like to be a person.

For nonfiction, I am looking for writers with an obsessive, insatiable interest in something, who can help me understand something new.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

The Before, Robin Page (2019)
Worn, Sofi Thanhauser (2020)
Soraya Palmer

SPECIALIZES IN

FICTION: Family Saga, GLBT, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, History, Memoir, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Nature/Ecology,

CONSIDERS

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Short Story Collections, Thrillers/Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Food & Lifestyle, GLBT, Investigative Journalism, Military/War, Music, Parenting, Politics, Pop Culture, Travel

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Jennifer Ferrari-Adler

JENNIFER FERRARI-ADLER

Jenni Ferrari-Adler is a longtime agent at Union Literary. Recent sales include debut novels THE HOUSE IN THE PINES by Ana Reyes, MONSTRILIO by Gerardo Semano Cordova, ALL THE SECRETS OF THE WORLD by Steve Almond, TELL ME HOW TO BE by Neel Patel, HOW TO BE EATEN by Maria Adelmann, and WHITE IVY by Susie Yang; the young adult novels FORGIVE ME NOT by Jenn Baker, and UNDERCOVER LATINA by Aya de Leon, the story collection CAT PERSON by Kristen Roupenian, the memoirs MAYBE IT'S ME by Eileen Pollack and ARTIFICIAL by Amy Kurzweil; and the cookbooks BAKING BY FEEL by @thesweetfeminist Becca Rea-Tucker, and YOGURT AND WHEY by Homa Dashtaki.

Jenni is drawn to distinct voices, engaging storytelling, and insight into the human condition. She works closely with clients on each step of the publishing process, and on their career as a whole, including handling film and television, foreign, and magazine sales. She is an editor, mediator, advocate, handholder, explainer, bad cop, good cop etc. etc. Born and raised in NYC, she holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Michigan and a BA in Creative Writing from Oberlin College. She edited the anthology ALONE IN THE KITCHEN WITH AN EGGPLANT: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone (Riverhead), and has published her own work in Glimmer Train, Bellevue Literary Review, New York Magazine, and Tin House. She has taught Fiction at the University of Michigan and The Gotham Writers’ Workshop, and worked as a reader for The Paris Review and as a bookseller at Housing Works. She currently lives in Brooklyn. Please contact her with your query and sample pages at jenni@unionliterary.com. She is on twitter and instagram @jenferrariadler

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Original beautiful fiction!

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

THE HOUSE IN THE PINES by Ana Reyes

WHITE IVY by Susie Yang

IF YOU SEE ME, DON'T SAY HI by Neel Patel

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Graphic Novels, GLBT, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor/Satire, Short Story Collections, Thrillers/Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Food & Lifestyle, Memoir, Narrative

Considers

FICTION: Chick Lit, Children's, Commercial Fiction, Crime, Family Saga, GLBT, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor/Satire, Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, Multi-Cultural, Mystery, Short Story Collections

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Food & Lifestyle, Memoir, Investigative Journalism, Humor, Narrative

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent