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Tuesday, June 18, 2024

9 New Agents Seeking Memoirs, Kidlit, Romance, SFF, Nonfiction and more

Here are nine new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.

All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change. 

NOTEDon't submit to several 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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Laurie-Maude Chenard
 of United Talent Agency

Born in China and raised in Québec and Massachusetts, Laurie-Maude studied Culture and Politics and Global Business at Georgetown University. After graduating, she worked briefly in advertising before joining UTA in 2021. She now lives in New York. In her free time, you can find her getting into street photography, roaming Prospect Park for the perfect sunny spot, and trying to turn any day into one spent by the ocean.

What she is seeking: Laurie-Maude Chenard represents clients in both fiction and nonfiction. She gravitates toward unique, voice-driven stories by writers from historically underrepresented communities, exploring themes of identity (and its fluidity), race, culture, gender, and sexuality. She’s drawn to contemporary literary and upmarket fiction with multifaceted characters navigating strong internal conflicts and complex relationships. She has a particular interest in coming-of-age stories, as well as psychological and speculative novels that blend wit and humor with emotional depth. Books she loves include AMERICANAH by Chimimanda Ngozie Adichie, TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin, MARTYR! by Kaveh Akbar, and THE IDIOT by Elif Batuman.

For nonfiction, Laurie-Maude is interested in deeply personal memoirs that grapple with larger issues such as CRYING IN H MART by Michelle Zauner, KNOW MY NAME by Chanel Miller, IN THE DREAM HOUSE by Carmen María Machado, and THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING by Joan Didion. She’s also looking for narrative nonfiction and big idea books that get to the root of human behavior and help explain sociological trends and cultural phenomena in the realm of art, fashion, technology, health, work, and urbanism. One of her recent favorites is MONSTERS by Claire Dederer.

How to submit: Submissions should be emailed to laurie-maude.chenard@unitedtalent.com

Please include:

– The word “Query” in the subject line along with your the title of the book and your name

– A brief synopsis

– Your bio

– The first fifteen (15) pages from your novel or book proposal

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Francesca Riccardi of Kate Nash Literary Agency (UK)

Francesca has over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, starting at RNIB where she transcribed books into accessible formats for blind and partially sighted readers. She has since worked in sales and marketing roles at publishers Canelo, Atlantic Books, Constable & Robinson and HarperCollins.

What she is seeking: Francesca reads widely, especially across popular commercial genres, but is a particular fan of crime and thrillers, and loves a dogged detective or unusual sleuth. She also enjoys books about unusual family dynamics, toxic friendships and people keeping secrets.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Priscilla Posada of Regal Hoffmann

Priscilla Posada joined Regal Hoffmann in 2024. She holds a BBA in Marketing from the Macaulay Honors College at the City University of New York and is pursuing an MFA in Writing and Literature from Bennington College. She brings fifteen years of interdisciplinary experience ranging from editing to publicity to her work as an agent. Priscilla enjoys reading literature from around the world and has translated two novels by the Argentine writer Pablo Katchadjian for Dalkey Archive Press. She spent 2013 and 2014 in Berlin studying under the writer Samanta Schweblin and happily reading books at the Ibero-American Institute. A native New Yorker, Priscilla enjoys the city’s arthouse theaters and, after working for the local distributor Icarus Films, remains devoted to documentaries where “nothing happens.”

What she is seeking: Priscilla is interested in literary fiction, lyrical nonfiction, anthropology, anything with an international bent, alternative medicine, and all things related to a spiritual practice. 

How to submit: To submit to Priscilla, please email priscilla@rhaliterary.com or submissions@rhaliterary.com.

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Bianca Gillam of Zeno Agency (UK)

I joined Zeno in 2024, driven by my passion for the expanding market for zeitgeist-y, compelling and addictive fiction — books and authors with an electric feel that cause ripples across social media and beyond. I formerly worked in Editorial, acquiring and publishing books across the spectrum of commercial fiction for Aria at Head of Zeus. I have also worked in sales at Simon and Schuster UK.

What she is seeking: Romantasy, Rom-coms with an edge, women’s fiction with a strong hook and deep emotional narrative (think Taylor Jenkins-Reid), atmospheric thrillers with a strong sense of place (think In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead). My primary focus is fiction, but I am open to a select number of narrative non-fiction projects, with a focus on stories that have particular relevance for young women (think I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeannette McCurdy), or are so gripping they read like fiction (think Educated by Tara Westover).

How to submit: Read submission guidelines HERE

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Rory studied English Literature at Birmingham City University before going on to gain his Masters degree in English and Comparative Literature from the University of Warwick. He joined Andrew Nurnberg Associates in 2017 and assisted the Foreign Rights Agents for France, Germany, the Netherlands and Nordic territories. In 2021, Rory joined the UK department. Now an Agent, Rory is actively building his own list of fiction and non-fiction, which began with the sale of the debut book by Nadeem Perera and Ollie Olanipekun of Flock Together in a pre-empt to Gaia Books (Octopus).

What he is seeking: He is interested in a wide range of non-fiction from popular science, history, literary and cultural criticism, current affairs and nature writing. He is primarily looking for compelling, original stories from emerging experts with surprising and new takes on a subject. In fiction, he is drawn to voice-driven and story-led literary writing powered by strong ideas, evocative settings and a command of form.

How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.
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Ms. Gyamfia Osei
of Andrew Nurnberg Associates Ltd

Gyamfia Osei joined ANA in 2023 as a Literary Agent in the UK department. She was previously an agent at The Good Literary Agency, where she began building her list of authors. Recent successes include a ‘significant’ 6-figure pre-empt for Busayo Matuluko’s YA debut ‘Til Death, a 5-way auction for Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam and the shortlisting of Ebinehita Iyere’s Girlhood, Unfiltered at the 2023 British Book Awards.

What she is seeking: At ANA, Gyamfia will focus on developing the agency’s list of children’s authors, including the representation of ANA’s international children’s authors into the English language, while also representing a bespoke list of commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction.

In the Children’s space, Gyamfia would love to find contemporary stories that are full of heart and joy-driven books that celebrate kids from underrepresented backgrounds (think Clare Weze, Kimberly Whittam and Elle McNicoll). Funny middle-grade and YA horror are currently at the top of her list and she is also keen to read more teen projects (think Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Glow Up Lara Bloom) this year. She is very interested in finding a graphic novel or illustrated project for either MG or YA readers.

In the adult fiction space, Gyamfia enjoys well-plotted, fast-paced narratives with authentic characters who lodge themselves in her mind long after she’s finished reading (think Big Little Lies, Verity and Girl A). She’s open to a broad range of genres, but would be particularly keen to see cosy crime, contemporary romance and tightly plotted domestic noir. Please note that Gyamfia doesn’t consider literary fiction and, in the commercial space, she is not hugely interested in high fantasy, trauma-focused stories or particularly gruesome horror.

In the adult non-fiction space, she would be happy to consider commercial narrative non-fiction and cultural history projects (think Brit(ish), It’s Not That Radical and Everything I Know About Love). She is very open when it comes to Children’s non-fiction but would be particularly interested to consider unique cookbooks aimed at young chefs, books exploring mental health/wellness and projects that bring the experiences of marginalised children to the forefront.

How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Heather Osborn
of Spencerhill Associates

Before joining Spencerhill Associates, Heather Osborn spent many years editing romance, science fiction, fantasy, cozy mystery, and women’s fiction for various publishers. The experience of working with both well-established, bestselling authors, as well as those just embarking on their careers has helped shape her skills working with authors at every stage in their publishing journey. One of Heather’s greatest joys in life is discovering an amazing new author, whether that be in a slush pile, or on a bookstore shelf, and she looks forward to building long-lasting relationships built on clear and open communication with her clients.

What she is seeking: Heather is interested in representing works of popular fiction, mainly concentrated on romance of all genres and sub-genres other than inspirational—with a particular interest in romantasy (and if there are dragons, all the better!), humorous contemporary romance, and paranormal romance—as well as fantasy (particularly cozy fantasy), urban fantasy, and science fiction with strong romantic elements.

How to submit: Please follow submission guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Gwen Beal
of United Talent Agency

Gwen Beal began her career as a floating assistant in WME’s mailroom in 2016. She is now an agent in the UTA publishing group with a specialty in children’s literature, and represents a growing list of talent. She has omnivorous tastes and cherishes honest, collaborative working relationships with each of her clients. Gwen graduated from Trinity College in Hartford and lives in Manhattan.

What she is seeking: Gwen is actively signing authors and artists of books for young readers from preschool to young adult with an eye towards unforgettable voice and perspective.

How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE.

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Jamilah Ahmed
of Barbara Levy Literary Agency (UK)

Jamilah Ahmed has worked in publishing for over fifteen years, as a Development Editor, Commissioning Editor, and most recently Literary Agent. Jamilah has had her own fiction and non-fiction published, as well as winning The Asian Writers Short Story Award in 2016, and the SI Leeds Readers Choice Award, 2016. She is also a Prize administrator for the Jhalak Prize 2019.

What she is seeking: Her remit at the Barbara Levy Literary Agency is to find new writers of fiction and non-fiction. 

How to submit: Submissions should be sent to submissions@barbaralevyagency.com



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