2023

Heather Carr

HEATHER CARR

A white cis woman with shoulder length brown hair seated in front of a bookshelf

Heather Carr is a literary agent at The Friedrich Agency where she represents fiction and nonfiction for adults. Originally from the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, she now lives in Brooklyn, NY. Heather is looking for voice-driven narrative nonfiction by a writer who guides the reader into a world they are uniquely positioned to write about, particularly with original reportage. She’s also seeking literary fiction and high-concept commercial fiction including that which dabbles in the surreal and suspenseful. She loves to be surprised by offbeat humor, new takes on old tropes, and unconventional storytelling. In all writing, she’s on the hunt for a singular voice and new perspectives. She does not represent any work for children or young adults.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I'm actively looking for investigative narrative nonfiction in the vein of Patrick Radden Keefe's SAY NOTHING and Rachel Aviv's STRANGERS TO OURSELVES, inventive literary fiction like Susanna Clarke's PIRANESI or Kiese Laymon's LONG DIVISION, and moody suspense like Katy Hays' THE CLOISTERS.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

Dances by Nicole Cuffy
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery (forthcoming in March '24)

Specializes In

FICTION: Literary Fiction, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Investigative Journalism

Considers

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, GLBT, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural, Thrillers/Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, GLBT, Investigative Journalism, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Science, Women's Concerns

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Kiele Raymond

KIELE RAYMOND

A white woman with glasses and medium length hair poses against a white brick background.

Kiele Raymond joined Thompson Literary Agency in 2017 to seek out bold new voices in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Her list includes critically acclaimed and award winning writers such as Lee Matalone, Ari Braverman, Peace Adzo Medie, Nichole Perkins, Katie Barnes, and Candice Wuehle. Kiele received her B.A. in Anthropology and English Literature from Johns Hopkins University and her M.A. in the Humanities from the University of Chicago before launching her publishing career as an editor at Simon & Schuster. Her studies in modernism, sociolinguistics, and affect theory continue to influence her reading tastes and she treats each project with great editorial care.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I love working with literary fiction that feels deeply rooted in interiority and place. I am also interested in working with more narrative non-fiction that asks hard questions and circumvents simple answers.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

NIGHTBLOOM by Peace Adzo Medie

THE WOODS by Janice Obuchowski

FAIR PLAY by Katie Barnes.

Specializes In

FICTION: Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Investigative Journalism, Narrative

Considers

FICTION: Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction, LGBTQIA+, Short Story Collections

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Investigative Journalism, Narrative, History, Pop Culture

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Lauren Scovel

LAUREN SCOVEL

A woman with short, sandy-blonde 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 Zachary Shuster Harmsworth (now Aevitas Creative Management). Lauren’s editorial work can be seen at The Millions and Pangyrus. She also worked as an indie bookseller for several years.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Lauren is looking to amplify underrepresented stories and voices, and is especially interested in fiction, narrative nonfiction, and select children's books 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: LGBTQIA+, Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, Multicultural/Global Fiction, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Investigative Journalism, LGBTQIA+, Multicultural/Global Perspectives, Narrative, True Crime, Women's Concerns

Considers

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Family Saga

NONFICTION: Memoir

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Kiana (Kiki) Nguyen

KIANA (KIKI) NGUYEN

A light-skinned Vietnamese/Black 31 year old woman, with long black hair clipped by two butterfly clips.

 

 

 

Kiana (Kiki) Nguyen is a literary agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency.

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.

Kiki is now building her client list within young adult and adult fiction with a focus on queer and BIPOC authors.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Dark, gritty, fun romps in Romance, Horror, and Domestic Suspense especially; both Young Adult and Adult. I want to have a good time with bitchy, irredeemable characters who do what they want when they want and have to suffer the consequences. If they have never cared about doing the right, responsible, legal thing they're already halfway to my heart. I want extroverts with personality and chaotic social lives, please I'm bored and dying. Bonus points if it's characters in their 20s-30s that feel like they're living in the 2020s.

Romance with heat and bite—the rom-coms are getting corny and lacking the "com" to begin with.

Horror that doesn't take itself too seriously and feels like the narrators are just as unreliable as the potential kill count. I'm bored by single family homes and ancient estates, so let's change the location and demographic of the characters, please.

SFF that pivots away from the rigamarole of royal politics, machinations, knighthood/guards, etc. etc. I want to have some hectic times with the serfdom, please, I beg.

MSWL here:
https://www.kiananguyen.com/mswl

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

Hannah Abigail Clarke: THE SCAPEGRACERS (queer, chaotic, dark witchiness)
Ruby Barrett: THE FRIENDSHIP STUDY (queer male love interest, adults navigating making new friendships/connections, sexy)
Anna Gracia: BOYS I KNOW (coming of age teen girl crash coursing lessons on love through the shitty boys she dates)

Specializes In

FICTION: Family Saga, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Thrillers/Suspense, Young Adult, Mystery

Considers

FICTION: Family Saga, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Thrillers/Suspense, Young Adult, Mystery

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

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

Malaga Baldi

Malaga Baldi

White lesbian of a certain age trying to smile.

Malaga Baldi has worked as an independent literary agent since 1986. The Baldi Agency is an eclectic agency specializing in literary fiction, memoir and cultural history. She worked as a cashier at Gotham Book Mart, in the Ballantine Books Publicity Department, as an associate at Candida Donadio & Associates and the Elaine Markson Agency before going out on her own. Baldi believes the strength of the author's voice and the heart of the story to be key when considering new work. Baldi graduated from Hampshire College and lives in NYC.

What I'm Looking For

Intelligent, well-crafted completed fiction. Well thought out nonfiction proposals that might change your mind about a particular topic.

Specializes In

FICTION: Historical Fiction, GLBT, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural

NONFICTION: GLBT, History, Memoir, Music, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Pop Culture

Considers

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime, Graphic Novel

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, Investigative Journalism, Politics, Psychology, Religion, Science, Sports

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Serene Hakim

SERENE HAKIM

A woman in her 30s with dark hair, wearing a black shirt and beige sweater, in front of a bookcase.

Serene Hakim is an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary. She represents authors in a variety of genres, from MG fantasy to adult literary fiction to contemporary YA. Serene is particularly interested in both YA and adult fiction that has international themes, highlights a variety of cultures, and focuses on underrepresented and/or marginalized voices. Specifically, she’s looking for writing that explores different meanings of identity, home, family and parenthood/motherhood and is currently prioritizing projects in the kids' space, though she is still selectively taking on adult writers. Her educational background is in French and women’s studies, and she holds an MA in French-English translation from New York University.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Currently prioritizing taking on projects in the Young Adult and Middle Grade spaces, with a focus on contemporary stories, though I tend to really like books with speculative or genre elements, such as fantasy, magical realism, and a bit of horror. On the adult side, I like literary fiction with multicultural or international elements. Across all ages, I am prioritizing writers of color and writers from marginalized backgrounds.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

Mostly Dead Things, by Kristen Arnett
Cece Rios Trilogy, by Kaela Rivera
The Next New Syrian Girl and the forthcoming Six Truths and a Lie, by Ream Shukairy

SPECIALIZES IN

FICTION: Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural, Short Story Collections, Young Adult, Middle Grade

NONFICTION: Narrative

 

CONSIDERS

FICTION: GLBT, Middle Grade, Upmarket Women's Fiction, Short Story Collections, Family Saga, Literary Fiction, Children's, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Women's Concerns

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Lucy Cleland

LUCY CLELAND

Lucy Cleland is a literary agent representing idea-driven and narrative nonfiction of all stripes, upmarket fiction, and select children’s projects. Her list is bold and eclectic, united by an overarching interest in how culture shapes us (and how we shape it). Her clients have been Pulitzer finalists, winners of the NBCC Award and PEN America Awards, recipients of MacArthur “Genius” grants, and elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; their books have been featured in the New Yorker’s Briefly Noted, New York Time’s Editors’ Choice, and best books of the year lists, as well as ranked as USA Today Bestsellers and selected for Book of the Month Club.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I'm always looking for excellent writing in nonfiction on just about any topic, from pop culture to history, as well as literary narrative nonfiction that deeply explores a unique subject or experience, and ‘big idea’ books that carve out new territory in contemporary conversations. In fiction, I'm seeking novels animated by potent concepts (speculative and magical realism welcome!), as well as historical fiction that immerses readers in non-Western settings. Worlds with a special twist (such as those where just one thing is different) really appeal to me, and I am a junkie for plots that get my heart pounding. I'm also a sucker for love stories and everything from poignant deep-dives into the pains and pleasures of human connection to new spins on old tropes catches my eye, whether literary or commercial in craft.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

SIGN HERE: A Novel, by Claudia Lux
STILL LIFE WITH BONES: Genocide, Forensics, and What Remains, by Alexa Hagerty
GODFALL, by Van Jensen

Specializes In

FICTION: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Thrillers/Suspense, Science Fiction

NONFICTION: Commercial Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction, Thrillers/Suspense, LGBTQIA+

Considers

FICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, Investigative Journalism, LGBTQIA+, Current Affairs, History, Multicultural/Global Perspectives, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Self Help, Psychology, True Crime

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Investigative Journalism, Current Affairs, LGBTQIA+, History, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Psychology, Pop Culture, True Crime

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Chris Bucci

CHRIS BUCCI

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; Almost Surely Dead 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.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Mysteries, thrillers, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial literary fiction, and narrative nonfiction.

Sample Titles or Authors

Bath Haus, by PJ Vernon
Highway of Tears, by Jessica McDiarmid
Almost Surely Dead, by Amina Akhtar

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime, LGBTQIA+, Horror, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers/Suspense

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Investigative Journalism, Current Affairs, Health & Fitness, History, Memoir, Narrative, Pop Culture, Science, Sports, True Crime

Considers

FICTION: Family Saga, Humor/Satire, Romance

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent