2023

Beth Marshea

BETH MARSHEA

A white woman in her 40s with brown hair, a plaid coat, and a black shirt leans against a tree smiling.

Beth is the owner of Ladderbird Literary Agency. She has a BA in Literature and a Masters in Business Administration and is always looking for new and exciting ways to bring more diversity into publishing and beyond. Outside of agenting, Beth teaches writing in her local community with a focus on bringing reluctant writers and readers into the magical world of books. She relentlessly searches for more ways to encourage writers to create stories that matter!

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

In all areas Beth would like to see more works from disabled writers, LGBTQIA+ writers, Black writers, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern, and all other groups who do not regularly get to see their stories in print. She would love to see more non-binary and Ace representation across categories.

Beth loves deeply character driven stories that showcase joy, resilience, love, clever twists, exciting moments of action, thought-provoking concepts, and really anything that can make her get deep into her emotions.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West
The Haunting of Alejandra by Violet Castro
Strictly No Heroics by B L Radley

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, GLBT, Historical Fiction, Horror, Multi-Cultural, Upmarket Women's Fiction, Young Adult

NONFICTION: GLBT, History, Narrative, Parenting, Pop Culture, Self-Help, Travel

Considers

FICTION: Chick Lit, Children's, Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Fantasy, GLBT, Historical Fiction, Horror, Middle Grade, Multi-Cultural, Mystery, Picture Books, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, GLBT, History, Narrative, Multi-Cultural, Parenting, Politics, Self-Help, Travel

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Eric Smith

ERIC SMITH

Brown guy in his 40's with glasses and a thick beard.

 

 

 

Eric Smith is a literary agent and author of Young Adult novels. As an agent at P.S. Literary, he's worked on New York Times bestselling and award-winning books.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I'm drawn to genre-blending commercial and literary fiction (maybe there's a little time travel, a little magic!), high concept rom-coms, and kid-lit across Middle Grade and Young Adult categories.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

Here and Now and Then, Mike Chen

The Spy and I, Tiana Smith

The One True Me and You, Remi K. England

Specializes In

FICTION: Children's, Commercial, LGBTQIA+, Horror, Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Dating/Relationships, Gift Books, Juvenile, LGBTQIA+, History, Memoir, Narrative, Parenting, Pop Culture, Self-Help, True Crime

Considers

FICTION: Family Saga, Humor/Satire, Thrillers/Suspense

NONFICTION: 

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Mitchell Waters

MITCHELL WATERS

A gray haired man in his 60s in jacket and tie.

MITCHELL WATERS joined Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents in 2019, having previously worked at Curtis Brown for twenty-four years. He represents fiction and non-fiction for adult and young adult markets. Mitchell represents a wide array of literary and commercial fiction, including mysteries, thrillers and suspense, crime, family sagas, LGBTQ+, historical fiction, humor and satire, multi-cultural narratives, upmarket women's fiction, and realistic YA. He has a keen interest in historical/literary mysteries and suspense. He is drawn to voice-driven narratives that are both dark and humorous and he is seeking the next epic LGBTQ+ love story. He would also be happy to discover a contemporary Middlemarch.

What I'm Looking For

Historical fiction, Literary mystery, LGBTQIA+

Sample Titles

THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, by Natalie Jenner

COUNTING LOST STARS, by Kim van Alkemade

UNDERBURN, by Bill Gaythwaite

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, LGBTQIA+, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, LGBTQIA+, Health & Fitness, Medical, Memoir

Considers

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, LGBTQIA+, Historical Fiction, Humor/Satire, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers/Suspense, Young Adult

NONFICTION: LGBTQIA+, Health & Fitness, Medical, Memoir, Pop Culture

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Jill Marr

JILL MARR

A white woman with brown hair, wearing a beige shirt and colorful scarf.

Jill Marr is a senior agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She graduated from SDSU with a BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in history. In a former life Jill worked in the creative services department at a local television station. She began her publishing career as Sandra Dijkstra's assistant the week after 9/11. Jill also wrote features and ads for Pages, the literary magazine for people who love books and wrote book ads for publishing houses. Building her own list now for the past 15 years, Jill is interested in adult commercial fiction, with an emphasis in romance, speculative, psychological suspense, horror, Gothic, and historical (presently she's especially keen for reimagining of folklore or Greek mythology, and stories adjacent from well-known classics, told from a different perspective) . She is also looking for non-fiction projects in the areas of current events, science, history, narrative non-fiction, sports, politics, health & nutrition, pop culture, and music.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Jill is interested in adult commercial fiction, with an emphasis in romance, speculative, psychological suspense, horror, Gothic, and historical (presently she's especially keen for reimagining of folklore or Greek mythology, and stories adjacent from well-known classics, told from a different perspective) . She is also looking for non-fiction projects in the areas of current events, true crime, science, history, narrative non-fiction, sports, politics, health & nutrition, pop culture, and music.

Sample Titles or Authors

Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jennifer Gunter
The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Specializes In

FICTION: Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Crime, GLBT, Historical Fiction, Horror, Multi-Cultural, Mystery, Romance, Thrillers/Suspense, Short Story Collections, Upmarket Women's Fiction

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, Dating/Relationships, GLBT, Health & Fitness, History, Humor, Investigative Journalism, Medical, Military/War, Multi-Cultural, Music, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Parenting, Pets, Politics, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Sports, True Crime, Women's Concerns

Considers

FICTION: Short Story Collections, Literary Fiction

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Jonah Straus

JONAH STRAUS

A red-headed man in his 40's with a beard

Jonah Straus is the founder of Straus Literary, a boutique literary agency based in San Francisco with a presence in New York. He specializes in literary fiction, often with an international or multicultural outlook, as well as journalism, history, narrative nonfiction, and the culinary arts.

Jonah Straus got his start in the warehouse at Atrium Publishers Group, an independent book distributor in Northern California, and went on to hold positions in production, editorial, sales, and marketing at several publishers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

He moved to New York in 2005, where he worked in marketing for arts and literary programs, including the Selected Shorts NPR reading series at Symphony Space. He established Straus Literary in 2007, and moved the agency back to San Francisco in 2013 while maintaining a regular presence in New York.

Fiction clients include Lambda award winner Achy Obejas (Days of Awe, Ballantine), National Book Award winner John Keene (Counternarratives, New Directions), David Hollander (L.I.E., Ballantine), Gregory Brown (The Lowering Days, HarperCollins), Saramago Prize winner Adriana Lisboa (Crow Blue, Bloomsbury), celebrated Canadian writer Clark Blaise (Lunar Attractions, Doubleday), and Man Asian Prize finalist Eric Gamalinda (The Descartes Highlands, Akashic).

Nonfiction writers include health care journalist Sarah DiGregorio (Early, HarperCollins), Brazilian bestseller Drauzio Varella (Lockdown, Simon & Schuster), environmental whistleblower E.G. Vallianatos (Poison Spring, Bloomsbury Press) and UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss (The Cage, Random House) as well as a select group of chefs, artisans, and food and travel writers.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Beautifully written literary novels with a sense of time and place and often a journey arc; narrative and reported nonfiction on social issues, popular science, and nature and the environment.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

The Lowering Days, Gregory Brown
Days of Awe, Achy Obejas
Early, Sarah DiGregorio

Specializes In

FICTION: Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural, LGBTQIA+

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, Food & Lifestyle, History, Investigative Journalism, Medical, Memoir, Multi-Cultural, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Politics, Travel, Science

Considers

FICTION: Mystery, Short Story Collections, Humor/Satire, Thrillers/Suspense

NONFICTION: Humor, Men's concerns, Military/War, Music, Parenting, Politics, Psychology, Pop Culture, True Crime, Women's concerns

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Stephen Barr

STEPHEN BARR

A white cis man in his late 30s, with short blonde hair, blue eyes, turtle shell glasses, and a smirk.

Stephen Barr is a senior literary agent at Writer House, where he started out as an intern in the winter of 2008 after graduating from UCLA with a degree in something. He represents a broad stripe of authors across all genres, with a steady hankering for audacious YA, intricate picture books, mysteries that handcuff humor and tragedy to the same radiator, world-bending middle grade, fearless reportage, and really any literary or commercial fiction that tackles heavy themes with a light touch. He’s also the author of The Upside Down Hat, illustrated by Gracey Zhang, which was chosen by the New York Times and New York Public Library as one of the ten best illustrated books of 2022. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife, son, daughter, and books.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I've got a particular hankering for...

- intricate, heart-on-its-sleeve, voice-abundant YA like "King Dork" or "The Highest Tide" (bonus points for unrequited love stories!)

- audacious, experimental YA mysteries or fantasies that handcuff humor and tragedy to the same radiator

- middle grade that takes on heavy themes with a light touch (Jerry Craft's "The New Kid" is as brilliant as it gets)

- sweet and/or silly and/or heartbreaking picture books from adventurous author/illustrators

- unexpected memoirs with itchy voices

- narrative non-fiction that tackles hard-to-tackle issues; anything about the role discourse plays in our societal ills (a la "So You've Been Publicly Shamed")

- and any fiction that rewards the reader line-by-line and gets to know at least one character really, really well (recent favorites include "Weather," "Normal People," "The Last Samurai," "Fourth of July Creek," and "Skippy Dies")

I'm also willing to be a sucker for...

- detective stories that bend reality

- ghost stories that blow reality to hell

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

HONOR GIRL by Maggie Thrash
ODDITY by Eli Brown
ALFIE by Thyra Heder

SPECIALIZES IN

FICTION: Children's, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, Mystery, Picture Books, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Current Affairs, Adventure/True Story, Investigative Journalism, Juvenile, Memoir, Narrative

CONSIDERS

FICTION: Family Saga, GLBT, Humor/Satire, Multi-Cultural, Science Fiction

NONFICTION: Music, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Sports

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Reiko Davis

REIKO DAVIS

A brunette Asian woman in her 30s wearing a pink top and gray sweater.

 

 

 

Reiko Davis joined DeFiore and Company in 2016 after working at Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency for four years. She represents literary and upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, and middle-grade and YA books. She grew up in Kansas City, received her BA in Comparative Literature and Art History from Brown University, and is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course. She lives in Jersey City.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Reiko's interests are varied, but on the adult side she's primarily seeking literary and book club fiction. She loves historical, contemporary, or multigenerational novels both in the U.S. and internationally; family sagas; voice-driven coming-of-age stories; and fierce, compassionately written works that grapple with identity and belonging and portray diverse lived experiences. She'd love to connect with promising writers of short fiction who are at work on a debut story collection and/or novel.

She also represents select narrative non-fiction projects that explore social justice, issues of race and gender, and the history and experiences of women and people of color. She loves compelling journalistic narratives that read like fiction or that use an intimate personal story as a lens for a larger issue or analysis.

On the children’s side, Reiko is actively looking for middle grade projects that aren't afraid to tackle big questions or important emotional truths, and do so through remarkable storytelling, humor, and heart. Right now she's especially on the lookout for middle grade non-fiction in the areas of mental health, science, political activism, environmentalism, and narrative history. She has a real soft spot for middle grade novels that empower kids to make a difference in their communities.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

COMPANY by Shannon Sanders
WHITE HOUSE CLUBHOUSE by Sean O'Brien
IN THE LOBBY OF THE DREAM HOTEL by Genevieve Plunkett

Specializes In

FICTION: Children's, Commercial, Family Saga, LGBTQIA+, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction, Short Story Collections, Thrillers/Suspense, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Cultural/Social Issues, Food & Lifestyle, History, Investigative Journalism, Juvenile, LGBTQIA+, Memoir, Multi-Cultural/Global Perspectives, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, True Crime, Women's Concerns

Considers

FICTION: Horror, Humor/Satire, Mystery

NONFICTION: Current Affairs, Dating/Relationships, Gift Books, Humor, Spirituality

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Sorche Fairbank

SORCHE FAIRBANK

Woman with dark hair, thinking about books.

Since establishing Fairbank Literary Representation in 2002, Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank has had the pleasure of working with a dynamic and varied client list, representing bestselling authors, award-winning journalists, artists, and illustrators, television and YouTube stars, and of course one of her favorite kinds of client—the debut author. Her authors are found with all the major publishers, as well as in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, the New Yorker, Guernica, Granta, Glimmer Train, the Best American series, Pushcart Prize, Smithsonian, McSweeney’s, Narrative, One Story, and many more.

Sorche’s tastes in novels tend toward literary fiction, international voices, and voice-y novels with a strong sense of place. On the nonfiction side, books that tackle current events and topical and societal issues with a narrative treatment. She has a strong interest in women’s voices and class and race issues, quality lifestyle books (food, craft, design), and the rare memoir, providing it goes beyond the “memoir.” Sorche reps a few wildly successful children’s books and is eager for more submissions from illustrator authors only. She is one of the leading agents of humor, pop culture, and gift books. She and her co-agents work closely to maximize clients’ ancillary rights, including film and television, merchandising, and translation rights.

In 2022 Sorche got a taste of the author experience, publishing her own debut picture book (Trucks on Trucks) with Harper Collins. Truly every agent should experience the publishing process from the author's perspective, for better and worse.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Literary, international fiction. Prose both original, lyric, and thought-provoking (think Deacon King Kong, Interior Chinatown, Homeland Elegies, anything like Lauren Groff's work)
Short story collections by published authors.

Narrative nonfiction both contemporary and historical (untold stories, cultural importance, soapbox journalism), (think Three Women, Soul of an Octopus, The Feather Thief...).

Humor and gift books (likely illustrated) with national appeal, the kinds of books one sees at cash registers and in stores that aren't bookstores primarily.

Children's books by illustrator authors—fiction and nonfiction.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

House of Caravans by Shilpi Suneja (lyrical literary novel about the long arm of the Partition)
East of the West by Miroslav Penkov (acclaimed short story collection, published by FSG, still one of my favorites)
Feather Wars and other Skirmishes in the Great Fight to Save Birds (forthcoming fascinating narrative nonfiction coming from St Martin's Press)

Specializes In

FICTION: Children's, Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction, Picture Books, Short Story Collections

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Gift Books, Investigative Journalism, Juvenile, Current Affairs, Food & Lifestyle, History, Humor, Multicultural/Global Perspectives, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Pop Culture, Science, Women's concerns

Considers

FICTION: Graphic Novels, Family Saga

NONFICTION: LGBTQIA+, Memoir, Music, Psychology, Sports, Technology, Travel, True Crime

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Amaryah Orenstein

AMARYAH ORENSTEIN

A white woman with medium length brown hair, in her early-ish 40s (though way younger in this picture!)

Amaryah Orenstein, founder and president of GO Literary, is thrilled to help writers bring their ideas to life. Aiming to give voice to a broad range of perspectives, Amaryah represents a wide array of literary and commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. She is actively seeking works that wed beautiful writing with a strong narrative and tackle big issues in engaging, accessible, and even surprising ways. In addition to negotiating contracts, Amaryah works closely with each of her clients throughout every step of the publishing process, from concept development through publication and beyond. She takes a particular interest in the editorial process, offering skilled advice and guidance to help clients bring out the best in their writing.

Amaryah began her career at the Laura Gross Literary Agency in 2009 and, prior to that, worked as an Editorial Assistant at various academic research foundations, including The Tauber Institute, where she edited books for Brandeis University Press/University Press of New England. Originally from Montreal, she earned a BA at McGill University before coming to the United States to pursue graduate work in American History. She received her MA from the Contemporary History Institute at Ohio University and her PhD from Brandeis University.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Thematic interests include but are not limited to: contemporary + historical fiction; family relationship + coming-of-age stories; history + current affairs; social + cultural issues; memoir; food.

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

FEAST OF SORROW by Crystal King, (Atria, S&S)

THE CHEF’S SECRET by Crystal King, (Atria, S&S)

WORKING DAUGHTER: A GUIDE TO CARING FOR YOUR AGING PARENTS WHILE MAKING A LIVING by Liz O'Donnell (Rowman & Littlefield)

LONG RUN TO GLORY: The Story of the Greatest Marathon in Olympic History and the Women Who Made It Happen, by Steven Lane (Lyons Press)

Specializes In

FICTION: Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thrillers/Suspense

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Food & Lifestyle, History, Memoir, Politics, Women's Concerns, True Crime

Considers

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Crime, LGBTQIA+, Mystery, Young Adult

NONFICTION: Adventure/True Story, Health & Fitness, Investigative Journalism, LGBTQIA+, Medical, Music, Multicultural/Global Perspectives, Parenting, Pop Culture, Science, Sports, Travel

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent

Cherise Fisher

CHERISE FISHER

A Black woman with curly locs, smiling, wearing an aqua dress with a Black cameo necklace.

Cherise Fisher began her career in publishing more than twenty-five years ago, spending many years editing and publishing several national bestselling and award winning authors at Simon & Schuster and Plume (an imprint of Penguin Random House), where she was Editor-in-Chief.

She represents novelists who have multiple, compulsively readable, impeccably crafted yarns in their head (both historical and contemporary), memoirists who showcase the diversity of human experience, and non-fiction writers who seek to provoke, inspire, and educate. Her intention is that all the books she helps bring into the world are relevant, enduring, and help readers maximize their lives.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

Upmarket Women's Fiction; Provocative, platform based non fiction

SAMPLE TITLES OR AUTHORS

THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson
A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE by Tia Williams
TEARS OF MY MOTHER by Dr. Wendy Osefo

Specializes In

FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Romance

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Dating/Relationships, Food & Lifestyle, Gift Books, Health & Fitness, Humor, Memoir, Narrative, Self Help, Spirituality

Considers

FICTION: Erotica, Literary Fiction

Posted by GrubStreet in Literary Agent