Here are eight new agents actively expanding their client lists. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.
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Ms. Kendall Berdinsky of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC
Kendall Berdinsky is interested in seeing upmarket romance, book club fiction, cozy mysteries and psychological thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. Katie Gisondi is seeking Adult: Romance and rom-com; cozy mysteries; nonfiction about sexuality/modern dating, current issues, nature, and/or popular science. Children’s: Voicey YA and MG fantasy with adventure, new twists on old tropes, and whimsy. Graphic Novels: All ages. Fantasy and romance. In general: strong, unique hook and diverse voices, high stakes, high concept.
Kendyll Drilling is mostly interested in fiction for all ages. Cole Lanahan is actively looking for all genres of YA, all genres of adult romance, psychological suspense and thrillers. In nonfiction she is looking for humor, business, self-help, lifestyle, and arts and crafts books.
Tamara Kawar is actively seeking graphic novels for all ages and across genres; science fiction, fantasy, horror, and historical fiction for middle grade, YA, and adult readers; upmarket and book club fiction, especially genre-bending stories, and those with an international bent; and adult & YA rom-coms and romance featuring LGBTQ+ characters. She also represents select nonfiction for young readers, including illustrated projects.
Kristen Terrette wants Faith-Based Fiction and Memoirs, Women’s Crime Thriller and Children's Literature. Zach Honey is primarily seeking thrillers and other adult fiction, especially those set in rural places, mountainous regions, or any other hard to reach corners of the world. His other interests hiking, skiing, music, boardgames, golf and other outdoor activities and he is open to non-fiction pitches in these categories. Rick Lewis represents authors of speculative fiction titles in the Adult and YA categories, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and magical realism.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
NOTE: Don't submit to two agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
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A native Texan, Kendall Berdinsky fell in love with the Junie B. Jones books she discovered in kindergarten and has been an avid reader ever since. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in professional writing with a minor in English literature. During her junior year abroad, she interned in the children’s department at Simon & Schuster UK; after graduation, she served as an editorial assistant at Foundry Literary + Media and attended the Columbia Publishing Course.
What she is seeking: Kendall is interested in seeing upmarket romance, book club fiction, cozy mysteries and psychological thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. Overall, she is looking for work from underrepresented communities with new stories to tell.
What she is seeking: Kendall is interested in seeing upmarket romance, book club fiction, cozy mysteries and psychological thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. Overall, she is looking for work from underrepresented communities with new stories to tell.
How to submit: To query Kendall, please visit her Query Manager site HERE.
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Ms. Katie Gisondi of Laura Dail Literary Agency, Inc.
Tamara Kawar of DeFiore and Company
Kristen Terrette, Literary Manager Martin Literary Management
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Katie Gisondi graduated from Hamilton College in 2020 with a BA in Creative Writing. Before finding her home at LDLA she worked at Cut + Run Productions NYC and ran social media at Eaton Hemp Superfoods. In her spare time, she fangirls over romantasy, thrillers, and Jane Austen.
What she is seeking: Adult: Romance and rom-com; cozy mysteries; nonfiction about sexuality/modern dating, current issues, nature, and/or popular science. Children’s: Voicey YA and MG fantasy with adventure, new twists on old tropes, and whimsy. Graphic Novels: All ages. Fantasy and romance. In general: strong, unique hook and diverse voices, high stakes, high concept.
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Kendyll Drilling of Corvisiero Literary Agency
Ms. Cole Lanahan of The Seymour Agency
Kendyll Drilling has been reading since the age of three, and she has never lost her appetite for reading. She never planned on pursuing literature as a career, but after an accident left her paralyzed, she decided it was in her best interest to focus on something that has always made her happy. This path led her to freelance editing manuscripts and going to college for a dual degree in English Literature and European History. Knowing her options would be limited due to her condition, she is excited and thankful for the opportunity to work with the team at Covrisiero Literary Agency.
Kendyll’s favorite type of books are intricate fantasy novels and historical novels set before the 20th century, but she enjoys novels of all genres, as long as there compelling characters and a plot that transports her to another world. Apart from reading, Kendyll also enjoys copious amounts of tea, music, and funny tee-shirts.
What she is seeking: Kendyll is mostly interested in fiction for all ages (middle grade, young adult, new adult, and adult), and will review each project submitted to her equally. She is especially hoping to find some underrepresented voices and bring them to the forefront.
For all age groups, Kendyll enjoys:
Fantasy and Magical Realism
Speculative Fiction
Folklore and Fairytale Retellings, especially those that may not be as well known
Mythology
Historical Fiction (especially before the 20th century)
Immersive and well-researched (but still easy to follow and understand) science fiction
Thrillers with harrowing twists and turns
True crime stories
Anything with time travel
Own Voices narratives
Multi-POV narratives
Stories with the topics of mental health and disability
How to submit: Follow the agency's guidelines HERE.
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As a junior agent, Cole Lanahan possesses a wide range of skills to offer her authors. Aside from being a published author of eight novels, Cole holds a degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State. Her past experiences include lobbying the United States congress for better mental health initiatives, leading a multimillion-dollar mental health nonprofit, creating strategic corporate partnerships, and implementing large-scale marketing campaigns.
What she is seeking: Cole is actively looking for all genres of YA, all genres of adult romance, psychological suspense in the vein of The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, and thrillers in the vein of Verity by Colleen Hoover and I’m thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. In nonfiction she is looking for humor, business, self-help, lifestyle, and arts and crafts books.
How to submit; Use her querymanager HERE.
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Tamara Kawar of DeFiore and Company
Tamara joined DeFiore and Company in 2022. She started her career with internships at Macmillan and Writers House, then worked at ICM for five years. Tamara represents writer and illustrator clients in both the children’s and adult markets, with a particular focus on talented LGBTQ+ and BIPOC storytellers. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University. She also serves on the AALA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, where she co-directs a mentorship program for early career agents from underrepresented backgrounds.
What she is seeking: Tamara is actively seeking graphic novels for all ages and across genres; science fiction, fantasy, horror, and historical fiction for middle grade, YA, and adult readers; upmarket and book club fiction, especially genre-bending stories, and those with an international bent; and adult & YA rom-coms and romance featuring LGBTQ+ characters. She also represents select nonfiction for young readers, including illustrated projects. Across all categories, she is passionate about championing marginalized voices and perspectives.
What she is seeking: Tamara is actively seeking graphic novels for all ages and across genres; science fiction, fantasy, horror, and historical fiction for middle grade, YA, and adult readers; upmarket and book club fiction, especially genre-bending stories, and those with an international bent; and adult & YA rom-coms and romance featuring LGBTQ+ characters. She also represents select nonfiction for young readers, including illustrated projects. Across all categories, she is passionate about championing marginalized voices and perspectives.
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
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Kristen is a literary manager excited to build her list featuring titles in middle grade, young adult, female-driven crime thrillers, faith-based books, and the occasional picture book with an author/illustrator.
She has a BA in Early Childhood Education and MA in Theology and Religious Studies which led her into children’s ministry for many years. Eventually, her lifelong love of books and authors drew her back to her original dream of entering the publishing world. Kristen is a multi-published author and freelance writer. She’s held such positions as the Blog Manager for a national women’s ministry and the Social Media Manager for a publishing house. All these components landed her a spot in the coveted Writers House Intern Program. There, she received valuable hands-on agenting and publishing experience which she brings into her new position.
Kristen has long been a voice for diversity. She’s written extensively on topics of racial reconciliation and unity and is a facilitator of groups around these topics in her church. In all her focused genres, she welcomes books with BIPOC or disabled main characters and diverse friendships. She believes books change people in all the best ways and that every child should see themselves in the pages.
What she is seeking: Middle Grade (All subgenres except Sci-fi): Kristen hearts Middle Grade. She would love to see books tackling themes like abandonment, bullying, loneliness, comparison, divorce, and body image but done so by instilling hope, growth, and healing. Send her the creepy, horrifying, supernatural, fantastical, historical, and contemporary. She is ready to see it all.
Young Adult (All subgenres except Sci-fi): Kristen’s background in writing YA and her extensive reading in this genre has given her a great love and understanding of it. Grab her attention within the first couple of pages. Send her books with first loves, unique friendships, interesting and/or challenging family dynamics, and hard-hitting subject matter (race relations, suicide, abuse, divorce, etc.) but leave her with a satisfying (not necessarily happy!) ending.
Women’s Crime Thriller: Kristen loves a good thriller with a woman main character, so send her the smart, tough, and brave lady crime solvers. If she can’t figure out what’s going to happen next or what the ending will be, you’ve gotten her attention.
Faith-Based Fiction and Memoirs: Kristen loves a good redemption or forgiveness story, a historically accurate saga, a clean and beautiful, yet realistic love story, or a memoir that has her crying and laughing within the span of a few pages.
Picture Books with Authors/Illustrators: Picture books are an important part of establishing a love for literature at an early age, though, at this time, Kristen is only looking for authors who are also illustrators. If your work fits these criteria, she’d love to see it.
Kristen is not a good fit for Science Fiction (even in MG or YA), books with any political agenda, extremely foul-mouthed characters, or gratuitous sex scenes.
How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.
Mr. Zach Honey of FinePrint Literary Management
WILL RE-OPEN TO QUERIES IN 2024
Zach joined Fine Print Literary in 2020 and was became an Associate Agent in 2022. He entered the writing world from the side of an author publishing a number of short stories and maintaining a close connection with the craft as a member of writing groups in Boston and New York. After attending the NYC Pitch Conference and being introduced to the agenting side of the industry, he connected with Peter Rubie at Fine Print Literary who brought him on as an assistant.
What he is seeking: Zach is primarily seeking thrillers and other adult fiction, especially those set in rural places, mountainous regions, or any other hard to reach corners of the world. His other interests hiking, skiing, music, boardgames, golf and other outdoor activities and he is open to non-fiction pitches in these categories. He would like to support underrepresented authors especially those of American indigenous community.
What he is seeking: Zach is primarily seeking thrillers and other adult fiction, especially those set in rural places, mountainous regions, or any other hard to reach corners of the world. His other interests hiking, skiing, music, boardgames, golf and other outdoor activities and he is open to non-fiction pitches in these categories. He would like to support underrepresented authors especially those of American indigenous community.
How to submit: To query Zach, send an email to submissions@fineprintlit.com and write "Dear Zach" in the body of the email.
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TEMORARILY CLOSED TO QUERIES
Before joining the literary world, Rick spent nearly two decades as a professional writer, first in television news and then in marketing. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he lived for 25 years before recently moving to Charlottesville, VA., with his spouse and two children. Before joining Martin Literary Management, he was editor-in-chief at Uproar Books, where he worked closely with debut authors to edit and launch award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels such as the gothic fantasy Asperfell by Jamie Thomas, the dark sci-fi comedy Always Greener by J.R.H. Lawless, and the YA contemporary fantasy Foretold by Violet Lumani.
What he is seeking: Rick is looking for novels that feature complex, realistic characters in highly imaginative worlds. Give him genuine emotions and meaningful struggles, but also at least a touch of science, magic, or the supernatural that captures the imagination while illuminating the real world.
How to submit: Use his querymanager HERE.
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