Updated 7/29/22
Here are five agents currently expanding their client lists. Barb Roose acquires adult fiction and non-fiction. Ameerah Holliday is primarily interested in young adult fiction, new adult fiction, fantasy/paranormal romance and novels in verse. For non-fiction she's interested in writing derived from performing arts or passion projects and discussions of mental health in minority communities. Jonathan Agin is looking for serious non-fiction—mainly history, politics, and popular culture. Amy Collins is seeking Business, How-To, Reference, History, Historical Memoir, Historical Fiction. Beth Marshea is actively seeking narrative nonfiction centering around cultural phenomena, adult fiction, YA, MG, and picture books.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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Barb became a part of Books & Such in 2014 as a client represented by Rachelle Gardner. Barb saw herself as an author who didn’t know anything about the publishing industry other than being thrilled someone wanted to publish her book. Fast forward several years and a growing library of books with her name on the cover. Barb now wants to help other writers achieve their publishing dreams. The thrill of partnering with authors compelled Barb to say “yes” to joining the Books & Such Literary Management agent team in 2020. Her desire is to come alongside hopeful and established authors to create the most marketable, appealing manuscripts that will build lasting careers and influence readers.
What she's looking for: Barb acquires adult fiction & non-fiction.
How to submit: Please send your query to representation@booksandsuch.com.
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What she's looking for: Ameerah is primarily interested in young adult fiction, new adult fiction, fantasy/paranormal romance and novels in verse. She looks for writing that explores diverse experiences with elements of intersectionality. Stories that take you on a journey through growth and she loves a good friendship story. For non-fiction she's interested in writing derived from performing arts or passion projects and discussions of mental health in minority communities.
How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE.
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What he is seeking: Jonathan Agin is looking for serious non-fiction—mainly history, politics, and popular culture. His clients include journalists, academics, and other writers working to make complex, intriguing, sophisticated concepts accessible. He likes to see vivid portraits and timely ideas that spark conversation woven into a gripping narrative.
In fiction, he’s drawn mainly to realist, emotionally-resonant stories, often with a dark sense of humor and profoundly-flawed characters. Work steeped in issues of class, race, and migration are of particular interest, as is anything with folkloric or mythical roots.
In fiction, he’s drawn mainly to realist, emotionally-resonant stories, often with a dark sense of humor and profoundly-flawed characters. Work steeped in issues of class, race, and migration are of particular interest, as is anything with folkloric or mythical roots.
How to submit: Send your query to jonathan@oconnor.nyc.
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CURRENTLY CLOSED TO QUERIES
"Besides being a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author and on the national advisory board for IngramSpark, I am a featured columnist for THEBOOKDESIGNER, WRITERS DIGEST MAGAZINE, IBPA, and a sought-after teacher at conferences world-wide. I teach and speak at many of the publishing industry’s top festivals and conferences including Publisher’s Weekly’s BookCon, Oklahoma Writer’s Conference, Author U, AAPS, Dublin Writers Conference, BAIPA, PALA, St. Louis Writer’s Conference, Writers Digest indieLAB, Henderson Writers Conference, and many others.Uniquely positioned to help authors because of my decades of marketing experience, I would love to work with authors who have a passion for business and the promotional side of this industry as well as the writing side. When not in the office, my focus is on the working poor and poverty elimination, and I spend a great deal of time personally and professionally working with and training women from disadvantaged backgrounds."
What she is seeking: Business, How-To, Reference, History, Historical Memoir, Historical Fiction.
How to submit: Use her query manager HERE.
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Beth is the owner and Lead Agent at 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 loves the outdoors and is also a certified lifeguard.
What she is seeking: For added emphasis, in all areas Beth would like to see more works from disabled writers, from LGBTQIA+ writers, from Black, 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 representation across categories as well.
Fiction
Adult: Literary Fiction- She's looking for work with exceptional voice and beautiful style, unusual settings, and works that involve clever plots with dynamic characters. She wants to see work that brings to light new perspectives on old ideas. Of particular interest are multi-generational stories that show family dynamics, stories centered around found family or friendship, Currently she is especially interested in seeing works by and about BIPOC communities, especially Latinx and Indigenous writers.
Mainstream/Commercial Fiction- She'd love to see more multicultural Meet-Cutes/RomComs (especially LGBTQ+), Family Drama, stories about friendships of any kind, work that is light and fun, but emotionally poignant.
Mysteries- Cozies with a twist. It might be an unusual setting, or simply written from BIPOC perspective to give this genre a new voice.
Thrillers- She loves a thriller that really keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing! She's particularly looking for thrillers set outside of the United States. She does not love thrillers that feature violence towards women as their main plot.
Fantasy- Books that are fast-paced with wonderful (ideally non-European) characters. She'd love to see more dark fantasies based on non-European folklore, especially Latinx (new imaginings of El Cucuy, El Sombrerón, Duendes, etc...)!
Science Fiction- She really wants grounded Sci-Fi with characters that are engrossing, tight plots, and really beautiful voice. She prefers stories set near future, featuring unusual tech, that are not focused around the US. She's not the best candidate for a space opera or any military Sci-Fi.
Young Adult: Contemporary- She is very actively looking for stories about found family, the difficulties of friendship, LGBTQIA+ Rom Coms, anything that is really poignant and pulls at your heart strings, especially if it is set outside of the U.S.
Mysteries/Thrillers- Stories with high stakes and complex friendships stretched thin. In YA, Mysteries/Thrillers of almost any kind are appealing as long as they are emotionally focused and bring a new point of view. She is not a fan of the unreliable narrators.
Fantasy- Very similar to Adult Fantasy, she prefers dark folkloric tales, but is very glad to have a happy ending! Tales that feature friendships rather than romance as their base, but really dig in to the full emotions of that particular love and struggle.
Middle Grade: She's looking for contemporary stories that have fun, compelling characters dealing with real problems that Middle School kids face: friendship, divorce, gender identity, budding feelings of attraction or a lack of those feelings, feelings of isolation, and found family stories. She's also interested in Fantasy that explores similar themes. Books she's loved are: Lalani and the Distant Sea, Wonder, Pet, and Lily and Dunkin
Picture Books: She's dying to find books with really cute hooks like The Day the Crayons Quit, or nice messaging like Not Quite a Narwhal. She'd love to find a book that brings parents and kids together with language simple enough for a young child to read, but engrossing enough for an adult to enjoy.
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