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Agents/Editors
Agents and Editors attending in 2012
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Editors:
Michaela Hamilton, Kensington Books, (Editor)
Bio: Michaela Hamilton, executive editor at Kensington, acquires and edits commercial fiction including thrillers and cozy mysteries. Prior to joining Kensington, she worked at New American Library, where her bestselling authors included Sharyn McCrumb, Joan Hess, Stephen White, Jeffery Deaver, Ann Rule, and Joe Pistone (“Donnie Brasco”).
Currently Looking For: Serial-killer thrillers; CIA/spy thrillers; Washington-based thrillers; and black ops thrillers.
Not Looking For: Medical thrillers; legal thrillers; financial thrillers; futuristic thrillers; SF and fantasy thrillers; noir fiction; and P.I. novels.
Client List: Neal Baer, Jonathan Greene, John Lutz, Gregg Olsen, Max Allan Collins, John Gilstrap, Shane Gericke, C. E. Lawrence, and Leo J. Maloney
Jamie Levine, Grand Central Publishing, (Executive Editor)
www.hachettebookgroup.com/publishing_grand-central-publishing.aspx
Bio: Jamie has been with GCP for 15 years. Current author highlights: #1 NY Times bestselling duo Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child and the estate of Robert Ludlum. With three concurrent Ludlum series, Jamie has worked with many talented writers, including Jamie Freveletti, Kyle Mills, Justin Scott, and Eric Van Lustbader. Coming in 2012: Pure—a post-apocalyptic, dystopian novel by Julianna Baggott.
Currently Looking For: Jamie gravitates to big-budget thrillers, especially those with a fresh angle, perhaps a historical, archeological, supernatural, or scientific element. She likes a book that has research behind it; a feeling she is being introduced to something she knows nothing about. She is also interested in character-driven, upscale, more literary approaches to suspense fiction. She’d like to see a novel that is lyric and insightful as it tackles how people deal with a major trauma or some sort of violent or damaging experience in their lives. Where the highly commercial thriller often asks, what’s going to happen next?, these more character driven stories ask, How did we come to this?
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: N/A
Sara Minnich, G.P. Putnam’s Son, (Assistant Editor)
www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishers/adult/putnam.html
Bio: Sara Minnich joined G. P. Putnam’s Sons in 2008 as the assistant to the Publisher and Editor in Chief, Neil Nyren. She edited James Thompson’s third Finland-set thriller HELSINKI WHITE, and with Neil has worked on novels by Clive Cussler, W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV, and Ace Atkins.
Currently Looking For: My ideal thriller has crisp and compelling writing, a plot that is surprising while remaining believable, an engaging and deeply developed protagonist, and an original hook that separates the novel from the pack. I’d love to see an excellent police procedural, PI novel, international thriller, or twisting and turning character-driven drama. Legal, medical, and forensic thrillers are also welcome, and I’m open to supernatural, paranormal, and dystopian thrillers provided the story brings something new to the table.
Noting Looking For: Please no plotlines involving the movie industry, grand conspiracies, religious cults, or ancient prophesies/secrets.
Client List: James Thompson, Felix Francis, Stuart Woods, and David Ellis
Producer:
Lane Shefter Bishop, Vast Entertainment (Producer)
Bio: Lane Shefter Bishop is a multi‐award winning producer and director, receiving an EMMY, three Tellys, a Videographer Award, a Sherril C. Corwin Award, an Aurora, a New York Festivals Award and the DGA Fellowship for Episodic Television. Currently, Ms. Bishop is CEO of Vast Entertainment, with projects including the feature films REBOOT (Peter Chernin Ent) for Fox, THE DUFF (McG/Wonderland) for CBS Films, and HEMLOCK (Akiva Goldsman/Weed Road); MOWs such as OPERATION MARRIED BY CHRISTMAS [LeAnn
Rimes] with Dick Clark Productions for ABC Family; and television series including THE INVESTIGATOR with Fox TV Studios, and CALL ME CRAZY with Scott Stuber for NBC.
Currently Looking For: Lane has no specifics on what she is looking for and not looking for in terms of genre but instead focuses on projects with a “hook” – she looks for properties that positively answer the question “Can you sell it in a sentence?”
Not Looking For: N/A
Projects with: Sandra Brown, Robyn Carr, Robert K. Tanenbaum, Heather Graham, Anne Perry and many many more…
Agents:
Pamela Ahearn, The Ahearn Agency
Bio: Born in Cincinnati and raised on Long Island, Pamela Ahearn holds an MA from University of Chicago in Comparative Literature, and an AB from Brown University in Comp. Lit/German. She worked at Bantam Books, Dell Books and Richard Curtis Agency before moving to New Orleans, where she was with Southern Writers Agency for eight years. In l992, she founded The Ahearn Agency, Inc., which currently represents between 30-35 authors working in romance and suspense. She has sold over 300 books and has represented several New York Times, USA-Today and Walden’s Bestselling authors as well as RITA, Anthony and Agatha Award winners/nominees. She is the author of one historical romance, and lives with her husband Barry and son Thomas in New Orleans.
Currently Looking For: Thrillers of all kinds, and mysteries as well.
Not Looking For: Science fiction, straight fantasy or non-fiction.
Client List: Steve Berry, Grant Blackwood, Carla Buckley, Julie Compton, Julia Heaberlin, S.W. Hubbard, Sabrina Jeffries, Deb Marlowe, Meagan McKinney, Laura Joh Rowland, Carlene Thompson and Allan Topol.
Donna Bagdasarian, Publication Riot Group, Inc.
Bio: Donna is the President and founder of Publication Riot Group, Inc., her own boutique management company. Priot Group believes in career development, taking a long-term approach in planning and editorial assistance.
Currently Looking For: Almost all fiction: literary, women’s, historical, mainstream and ethnic.
Not Looking For: Sci-fi or fantasy.
Client List: Maureen Child, Rhonda Pollero, Adam Schuitema, Ayad Akhtar, and Colin Campbell,
Bernadette Baker-Baughman
Bio: Bernadette Baker-Baughman has a MS in Professional Writing and has worked on both the editorial and marketing sides of publishing. In 2005, Bernadette co-founded Baker’s Mark Literary Agency where she developed talent such as Farel Dalrymple, Faith Erin Hicks, Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett, Dan Elconin, David Axe, Carson Morton, and Zack Giallongo, among others. In 2010, Bernadette joined Victoria Sanders & Associates.
Currently Looking For: Commercial adult, YA, and middle grade fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. In fiction, she gravitates towards books with a wide audience access point—specifically books with cultural or contemporary touchstones (reimagining, historical fiction, fiction based on legend or myth, fiction with fantastical elements that are part of the cultural collective imagination) and plot driven books. In nonfiction, she is looking for image rich books, pop culture, art, quirky gift books, sociology, psychology, and narrative nonfiction. In graphic novels, she is seeking beautifully illustrated works of nonfiction, memoir, young adult or children’s fiction, high fantasy, funny character driven stories, and graphic literature.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: Farel Dalrymple, Faith Erin Hicks, Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett, Dan Elconin, David Axe, Carson Morton, and Zack Giallongo, among others.
Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Literary Agency
www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/vbijur
Bio: Vicky Bijur runs the Vicky Bijur Literary Agency, which she started in 1988. She represents fiction and non-fiction. Her list includes commercial and literary fiction, mysteries, psychological suspense, journalism, graphic nonfiction, memoir, biography, and cookbooks. Vicky has served as president of the AAR (Association of Authors’ Representatives) and is currently chair of its Ethics Committee.
Currently Looking For: Thrillers, commercial, and literary fiction.
Not Looking For: Mysteries at the very cozy end of the spectrum, science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
Client List: Laura Lippman, James Sallis, Lisa Genova, G.M. Malliet, Margaret Maron, Sujata Massey, Christina Shea, Katy Darby, Sarah Shaber, Lisa Black, Gabriel Cohen, Marcia Talley, and Susan Rogers Cooper.
Debbie Carter, Muse Literary
Bio: Debbie Carter’s agency, www.museliterary.com, is listed in the Literary Market Place, Writer’s Digest guides, and Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. Follow @MuseLiterary on Twitter.
Currently Looking For: Fiction and narrative nonfiction that’s imaginative in character and situation for adults, teens & children by writers with formal training in workshops who are willing to revise.
Not Looking For: Category romance, chick lit, sci-fi/high fantasy, horror, religion/spirituality, stories about serial killers
Client List: Children’s book writer Jon Froehlich, an analyst at the U.S. Dept. of Justice; Rose Auslander, intellectual property attorney and writer of memoir; musician Scott von Heldt; Lina Elbadawi, a first-year resident at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN and Alison Stegart, an American living and working in Australia as a guidance counselor, both writers for a new middle grade series about exchange students abroad.
Bill Contardi, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agency
No Agency Website
Bio: Before joining B&H as an agent in 2002, Bill Contardi held a number of other high-profile positions: an editor at NAL, Berkley, Popular Library, and Avon Books; director of literary affairs for United Artists; VP literary affairs for Warner Bros., and dramatic rights agent for William Morris.
Currently Looking For: Bill is currently looking for mostly fiction. He prefers strong writing that has commercial potential. He tends to like stories with high concept and looks for a strong voice. He does a considerable amount of business in the Young Adult genre.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: Alyson Noël, Jessica Brody, Cindy Pon, Kathleen Benner Duble, and Leah Cypess.
Marisa Corvisiero, The Corvisiero Law Practice, P.C.
Bio:
Marisa A. Corvisiero is a Literary Agent and the founder of the Corvisiero Literary Agency. During the few years prior to starting her own agency, Marisa worked with the L. Perkins Agency, where she learned invaluable lessons and made a name for herself in the industry. She is also a Literary Consultant at Literary Powerhouse Consulting and an Attorney at The Corvisiero Law Practice. Marisa has over twelve years of legal experience in New York City.
Currently Looking For: Marisa seeks creative stories with well developed plots and rich characters with unique voices. She will consider Romance, Thrillers, Adventure, Paranormal, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and any combination thereof. She will also consider the same genres for Young Adults and Middle Grade readers. In non-fiction, she enjoys out of box and high concept spiritual, self-improvement, parenting, science, business, and cookbooks.
Not Looking For: Text books
Clients: N/A
Rachel Ekstrom, Irene Goodman Agency
Bio: Rachel Ekstrom is an agent at the Irene Goodman Agency. Her decade of decade of experience working in the publicity departments at St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Penguin’s Dutton and Gotham imprints has given her an insider’s view of the publishing industry. With a knack for book promotion, she’s honed her skills building the careers of debut authors and #1 New York Times bestsellers.
Currently Looking For: Young adult (contemporary and paranormal), women’s fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romance, and the occasional quirky work of nonfiction.
Not Looking For: Serious nonfiction
Client List: New Agent
Jake Elwell, Harold Ober Associates
Bio: A New Hampshire native and English-History double major at Lake Forest College, Jake Elwell has worked on the agency side of publishing for over 20 years, five of them with Harold Ober Associates, one of the premier legacy literary agencies in America.
Currently Looking For: Jake’s interests include thrillers with a military or historical edge and narrative nonfiction, especially sports, history, biography, true crime and military.
Not Looking For: Science fiction, fantasy or speculative fiction of any kind; horror; romance; medical or legal thrillers.
Client List: Jim DeFelice, Chris Kyle, Andrew Peterson, Paul Lieberman, Jay Atkinson, Bill Yenne, John Douglas & Mark Olshaker, and Douglas C. Jones Estate
Paul Fedorko, N.S. Bienstock
Bio: Having built his career on both the publishing and literary agency sides of the book business, Paul brings expertise working directly with established authors, new writers and personalities on both fiction and non-fiction projects. Prior to joining Bienstock, Paul had been a literary agent at Trident Media Group for more than five years, ran The Paul Fedorko Agency and spent more than 20 years as a publishing and marketing executive at Bantam Doubleday Dell, Simon & Schuster and William Morrow working with many brand name as well as first-time authors. “Having worked on both sides of the book business, my passion is helping authors develop their projects and partnering them with the right editor and publisher.”
Currently Looking For: On the fiction side, contemporary and literary fiction, mysteries, thrillers and suspense (turn of the 20th century as well as WWII are of particular interest). In non-fiction, he is looking for business-related projects, humor, sports, travel, and biography.
Not Looking For: Fantasy, science fiction, or poetry
Client List: Carolyn Barnes, Rob Buyea, John Densmore, Craig Nova, John Perkins, Dan Rather, Christine Romans, Ali Velshi, and John Weisman
Beth Fleisher, Clear Sailing Creatives
Bio: Beth Fleisher / Clear Sailing Creatives is looking for books with a strong voice and setting.
Currently Looking For: Thrillers — whether action based or psychological — for the YA market, and even middle grade. Historical is another interest.
Not Looking For: N/A
Clients: N/A
Richard Florest, Rob Weisbach Creative Management
Bio: Richard Florest joined Rob Weisbach Creative Management in 2012. He was most recently the Director of Acquisitions at Open Road Integrated Media, the ebook publisher of authors such as Jack Higgins and Robert R. McCammon. He previously held editorial positions at Putnam, Miramax Books, and The Weinstein Company.
Currently Looking For: Richard enjoys thrillers and mysteries of all kinds, provided the story is set in a deeply imagined world.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: Rob Weisbach Creative Management represents a diverse list of critically acclaimed and bestselling authors.
Diana Fox, Fox Literary
Bio: Diana Fox is the owner of Fox Literary LLC, a boutique literary agency specializing in commercial fiction along with select works of literary fiction and nonfiction. Before founding her own agency, she spent several years at Writers House. To learn more about what kind of submissions Diana is looking for, please visit www.foxliterary.com.
Currently Looking For: Young adult, science fiction/fantasy, romance, women’s fiction, historical fiction, thrillers, noir/crime fiction, and graphic novels. On the nonfiction side, memoirs, biography, and smart narrative nonfiction are all welcome.
Not Looking For: Screenplays, poetry, category Westerns, non-literary horror, Christian / inspirational, or children’s picture books.
Client List: Claudia Gray, Seanan McGuire, Mira Grant, Robert Fulghum, Elizabeth Loupas, Claire Legrand, Cristin Terrill, Katharine Beutner, Hannah Harrington, Christine Merrill, Catherine Knutsson, Bettie Sharpe, Anna Katherine, and Prudence Shen.
Joshua Getzler, Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency
Bio: Josh left Harcourt in 1993 to get an MBA from Columbia Business School. After business school, Josh spent 11 years owning and operating a minor league baseball team (the Staten Island Yankees). He left baseball in late 2006 and rejoined the book world on the agent side. Josh worked at Writers House until November 2009, building a list of novelists, YA and children’s book authors, and the occasional nonfiction writer; then joined Russell & Volkening. In May 2011, Josh became a principal at Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency, an agency designed to navigate the changing world of 21st century book publishing.
Currently Looking For: Literary and commercial fiction, mystery, YA and middle grade, historical novels, thrillers and noir. In nonfiction: Biography, business, history, sports, humor, and music.
Not Looking For: Religious fiction, illness memoirs, or picture books.
Client List: Nancy Bilyeau, Sheila W. Boneham, Ph.D., Dr. Otis Brawley, Krishnadev Calamur, Dana Cameron, Jeff Cohen, Gerald Elias, Joshua Gaylord (Alden Bell), Paul Goldberg, Traci Hall, Linda Hull, Whitney Johnson, Jennifer O’Connell, Roland Orzabal, James Phelan, Keith Raffel, Geoff Rodkey, Linda Sands, Samuel Thomas, Ph.D., Helen Wan, and Cali Yost.
Evan Gregory, Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
Bio: Evan Gregory is an Associate Agent at the Ethan Ellenberg Literary agency, and is currently seeking new clients. He attended Pratt Institute and cut his teeth at the Susan Golomb Literary Agency. In addition to servicing his own clients, Evan manages the subsidiary rights sales for agency clients such as John Scalzi, MaryJanice Davidson, Christine Warren, Gail Martin, and Eric Rohmann. He currently resides in Brooklyn. You can follow him on Twitter @EvanJGregory
Currently Looking For: Literary fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, science fiction, fantasy and women’s literature.
Not Looking For: Illness memoirs, religious/spiritual fiction/non-fiction, or poetry.
Client List: B.V. Larson, Travis Langley, Coscom Entertainment, Patty Blount, Adam Connell, Brian Jay Corrigan, J.M. Frey, Adam Harmon, Robin S. Rosenberg, Patricia S. Bowne.
Jill Grosjean, Jill Grosjean Literary Agency
www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/Wordsmith12
Bio: Jill Grosjean has been a literary agent for fifteen years, the last twelve as the head of her own agency. Prior to becoming an agent, Jill managed an influential independent bookstore. She also worked at a top advertising agency and in publishing. Jill’s interests are mysteries, women’s fiction and literary fiction, both contemporary and historical. Click here to see a list of published works.
Currently Looking For: Mysteries, literary fiction, historical fiction, young adult, women’s fiction, and select non-fiction.
Not Looking For: Science fiction or serial killer thrillers.
Client List: A few of Jill’s current authors are: Bernadette Pajer, author of A SPARK OF DEATH and the forth-coming FATAL INDUCTION, published by Poisoned Pen Press, Greg Garrett, the author of over a dozen critically-acclaimed books of fiction, memoir and non-fiction and Wayne Josephson, author of EMMA AND THE VAMPIRES, published by Sourcebooks and winner of the Best Book for 2010, in the young adult category, as chosen by USA Book News.
Erin Harris, Irene Skolnick Literary Agency
Bio: Erin Harris is an agent at the Irene Skolnick Literary Agency. A graduate of the MFA program in Creative Writing at The New School, she received her B.A. in Literature from Trinity College, where she was Presidential Fellow of the English Department. She is a member of Women’s Media Group.
Currently looking for: Literary novels with compelling plots and international settings; thrillers and mysteries, especially starring headstrong female protagonists (I’d love to find the next Tana French or Gillian Flynn); YA and middle grade novels.
Not looking for: High Fantasy, Science Fiction, YA featuring vampires, werewolves, or demons.
Client List: David Yezzi, Bryan Furuness, Carla Power, Rosalie Knecht, Stacy Tintocalis.
Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Bio: Paul began his career in publishing in the legal and sub rights department at Janklow & Nesbit Associates. He is actively building his list with both fiction and non-fiction. While not reading, you can find him drinking scotch, skiing or listening to music, though not necessarily in that order. If you’d like to submit to him, please send your query and first 15 pages all in the body of your email to plucas(at)janklow(dot)com.
Currently Looking For: For thrillers, he loves to get wrapped up in a well-told story, filled with believable characters. While not interested in legal and political thrillers, he’s open to everything else, including spins on other genres. The main thing I’m looking for in a book is a desire to turn the next page.
Not Looking For: Legal and political thrillers
Client List: N/A
Sandy Lu, L. Perkins Agency
Bio: Sandy Lu joined L. Perkins Agency in 2009 as an associate agent and is actively building her client list. She specializes in both quality fiction and non-fiction, with a particular interest in dark literary and commercial fiction, urban fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, psychological horror, and edgy young adult fiction. Her non-fiction categories include narrative non-fiction, history, biography, science, pop culture, and food writing. She is looking for submissions that will draw her in with a unique voice, make her miss her subway stop and keep her up at night. For more information, please visit www.lperkinsagency.com.
Currently Looking For: Sandy specializes in both quality fiction and non-fiction, with a particular interest in dark literary and commercial fiction, urban fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, psychological horror, and edgy young adult fiction. Her non-fiction categories include narrative non-fiction, history, biography, science, pop culture, and food writing.
Not Looking For: Romance, erotica, middle grade or picture books, religions/spirituality, politics/current affairs, sports, and how-to/self-help.
Client List: Jennifer Harlow, Michael Dempsey, and Michael Boccacino.
Daniel Mandel, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc.
Bio: Dan Mandel represents authors known for their innovative fiction or for their unique perspective on current events.
Currently Looking For: Literary and commercial fiction, as well as memoirs and non-fiction about business, art, history, politics, sports, and popular culture.
Not Looking For: N/A
Clients: N/A
Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
Bio: Jill Marr graduated from SDSU with a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing and a minor in History. She has a strong Internet & media background and over 10 years of publishing experience. She wrote for the literary magazine, Pages, and continues to write book ads for publishing houses and magazine pieces.
Currently Looking For: Commercial fiction, with an emphasis on mysteries, thrillers and horror, women’s commercial fiction and historical fiction. She is also looking for non-fiction projects in the areas of history, sports, politics, current events, self-help, inspirational, cookbooks, memoir (she especially loves travel and foodie memoirs), health & nutrition, pop culture, humor and music.
Not Looking For: YA, children’s books, sci-fi, romance or anything involving unicorns.
Client List: Some of Jill’s new fiction includes Bloodman (Thomas & Mercer), by Robert Pobi, The Silencer (St. Martin’s Press) by columnist, Solomon Jones; Flat Spin (The Permanent Press), a thriller from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Freed: Blues Highway Blues (Thomas & Mercer), a musical treasure hunt of a thriller from Eyre Price; and the Jaden Terrell’s series that includes Racing the Devil and A Cup Full of Midnight (The Permanent Press).
Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary, Inc.
Bio: Chip MacGregor is president of MacGregor Literary, Inc.. A 30-year publishing veteran and former associate publisher with Time-Warner Book Group, he began working as an agent 15 years ago, and has represented hundreds of titles, including numerous award-winners and bestsellers.
Currently Looking For: Well-written commercial thrillers, romantic suspense, and literary novels with a suspense or mystery element. We’re open to both contemporary and historical settings.
Not Looking For: Classical sci-fi, fantasy, cozies, porn, or most horror novels, unless they have a literary quality.
Client List: Vincent Zandri, Dave Zeltserman, Mark Bertrand, Les Edgerton, Dani Pettrey, Irene Hannon, and Mark Mynheir.
James McGinniss, McGinniss Associates
Bio: James was born into the publishing industry and comes from a family of publishing greats (son of bestselling author Joe McGinniss and esteemed editor Nancy Doherty, and brother to acclaimed novelist Joe McGinniss, Jr). During his tenure at Vigliano Associates, James worked closely with the agents there on a number of high level projects. Sensing a strong shift in the publishing industry, James made the timely move of founding this agency in order to help his clients flourish in the new market.
Currently Looking For: Thrillers/suspense.
Not Looking For: N/A
Clients: N/A
Peter Miller, PMA Literary & Film Management
Bio: Peter Miller has been a literary/film manager for over 35 years representing more than 1,000 books, including 17 New York Times bestsellers. He has made over 150 film deals, produced 17 movies, and exclusively manages a select group of authors who create fiction/non-fiction content with global marketing film and TV potential.
Currently Looking For: Peter is looking for cutting-edge authors who write fiction and non-fiction with global marketing potential & possible franchises that have motion picture/television potential. He prefers to work with authors who are cognizant of the ever-growing need for social media and web presence. Also authors who have the ability to adapt their work into screenplays and hopefully write about topics that could help change the world into a better place.
Not Looking For: Poets, pornographers
Client List: Lou Aronica, Raymond Benson, Jonathan Blank, Jay Bonasinga, Wensley Clarkson, Dieter Broers, James Dalessandro, Mike DeSimone / Jeff Jenssen, Anthony DeStefano, Dr. Bob Deutsch, Colby Devitt, David Dreman, Lisa Forest / Sean Hiler, Madelyne Alt, Thore D. Hansen, Rhodi Hawk, Dr. Jean-Pierre Isbouts, Dr. Alveda King, Demian Lichtenstein / Shajen Joy Aziz, Dr. Albert Marchetti, John Mariani, Niurka, Ann Pearlman, Mathew Phelps, Ian Punnett, Sir Ken Robinson, Dr. Barbara Royal, Chuck Whitlock, Angela Winters, Bear Woznick
Nick Mullendore, Loretta Barrett Books, Inc.
Bio: Nick Mullendore is the Vice President and Director of Foreign Rights for Loretta Barrett Books, Inc. With a particular interest in popular science, Nick’s tastes tend to run just outside the mainstream. Counter-cultural, counter-intuitive, thought-provoking, relevant—if any of these describe a project, then it will probably hold an appeal.
Currently Looking For: Nonfiction – popular science (especially physics and astronomy), politics and current events, sports, spectacular memoirs, strong promotional platforms. Fiction – Scientific thrillers, spy/espionage thrillers, fresh takes on the hard-boiled/noir genre, dark humor, reality-based apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, well-written, strongly-plotted stories with a good sense of pace and character.
Not Looking For: Evangelical fiction, fantasy/urban fantasy, traditional sci-fi, romance, historical sagas, westerns, or children’s books
Current Client List: Nonfiction: Ray Kurzweil (author of The Singularity Is Near and the forthcoming How to Create a Mind from Viking), K. Eric Drexler (author of Engines of Creation and the forthcoming Radical Abundance from Public Affairs), Patrick Tucker (editor of The Futurist magazine and author of the forthcoming A Future Ever Certain from Current Books), Phil Plait (“The Bad Astronomer”). Fiction: Theresa Rebeck (head writer for the NBC series “Smash” and author of Three Girls and Their Brother and Twelve Rooms with a View), Mariah Stewart (bestselling author of the “Chesapeake Diaries” series of books, David Edison (author of the forthcoming novel The Waking Engine from Tor)
Jeff Ourvan, Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency
www.jenniferlyonsliteraryagency.com
Bio: Jeff joined the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency in 2011 after practicing law for many years. He’s lived in New York, Los Angeles, and Japan and is an experienced writer, editor, and communications consultant. His agenting philosophy is to serve and fight hard for his writers.
Currently Looking For: Page-turning thrillers, mysteries, non-paranormal YA, sports-related and all nonfiction.
Not Looking For: Children’s books.
Current Client List: Rami Ollaik, Christina Farley, A.M. Gardner, Jessica Jiji, and Elke Gazzara.
Ayesha Pande, Ayesha Pande Literary
Bio: Ayesha Pande has worked in the publishing industry for twenty years. Before becoming an agent six years ago, Ayesha was a senior editor at Farrar Straus & Giroux. She has also held editorial positions at HarperCollins and Crown Publishers. She is a member of AAR (Association of Author’s Representatives), PEN, the Asian American Writer’s Workshop, and sits on the advisory board of the German Book Office. She has attended numerous writing conferences including Muse and the Marketplace, Aspen Summer Words and the Miami Writer’s Institute. She has taught college level courses in editing. She holds a master’s degree from Columbia University.
Currently Looking For: Thrillers, literary and commercial fiction, well-written books with a strong driving narrative and engaging characters.
Not Looking For: Fantasy, science fiction, horror, cozy mysteries, and mystery series.
Current Client List: Shilpi Somaya Gowda, Danielle Evans, Patricia Engel, and Michael Shilling.
Gina Panettieri, Talcott Notch Literary Services
Bio: Gina Panettieri is President of Milford, Ct-based Talcott Notch Literary and is a 22-year publishing industry veteran as an agent, and has also worked as a freelance editor and writer, and is author of THE SINGLE MOTHER’S GUIDE TO RAISING REMARKABLE BOYS, published by Adams Media.
Currently Looking For: Fiction – mystery, thrillers, suspense, horror, science fiction, romance, mainstream, action-adventure; nonfiction – memoir, true crime, history, career, cookbooks, medicine and fitness, travel, parenting, self-help, humor, test prep and study guides, coffee table books, juvenile fiction and nonfiction for middle-grade and young adult.
Not Looking For: Poetry, short story collections by new writers, novellas, and textbooks.
Client List: Ron Franscell, Nancy Holzner, Greg Bergman, Brette Sember, Drew Eric Whitman, Wayne Simmons, Dr. Bruce Cohen, Paula Munier, Dr. Teresa Aubele and Susan Reynolds, Stacy Laabs and Sherri Field, Beth Fehlbaum, Brian Thornton, Kim Lutz, Dr. Karyn Purvis, Dawn-Michelle Baude, Sandra Dark and Dean Hill, Dr. Seth Meyers, Tom Hager, Scott Deitche
Kathryn Patten, Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Inc.
Bio: Kathryn Patten is a new associate with Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Inc. She came to the agency as a writer who was interested in learning about all aspects of the publishing industry and she quickly worked her way up from intern to associate agent. Kathryn is excited about working with writers, both published and unpublished, and she is actively building her client list. At this time, Kathryn is particularly interested in acquiring YA (all subgenres) and Middle Grade Fiction.
Kathryn is a member of the SCBWI and in her free time she enjoys working on her own writing. She also loves to travel to new and exciting places and while she grew up in South Africa, she has lived in six different countries. Kathryn currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, her son, a dog and a cat. Kathryn can be contacted via email: kpattenbee@aol.com. Please be sure to put ‘For Kathryn Patten’ in the subject line.
Currently Looking For: Kathryn is drawn to stories that are unique, character-driven, offer a touch of magical-realism and challenge what might be considered to be the norm. For YA, she would love to find a high-concept story that is somewhat dark/edgy, a thriller that forces her to sleep with the lights on, a romance that has her falling in love with the characters, or realistic fiction that evokes her deepest emotions. For middle grade fiction, she is specifically interested in acquiring books for boys. Kathryn will also be scouting for all of the genres represented by the agency.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: New Agent
Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency
Bio: Nicole Resciniti is an agent at The Seymour Agency. She is currently accepting submissions and actively building her client list.
Currently Looking For: She represents romance (all genres), YA, action/suspense, mysteries, commercial thrillers, Christian/Inspirational, and sci-fi/fantasy/UF. In nonfiction, she prefers medical, scientific, and political material, as well as how-to proposals from qualified professionals.
Not Looking For: N/A
Clients: N/A
Janet Rosen, Sheree Bykofsky Associates
Bio: Janet Rosen worked as associate book editor at Glamour and the senior books and fiction editor at Woman before turning to agenting at Sheree Bykofsky Associates, where she represents a range of nonfiction and a limited amount of fiction. She has been the president of the NYC chapter of the Women’s National Book Association., and her writing has appeared in Glamour, Publishers Weekly, Paper, and other print and online publications. During off hours, Janet writes and performs comedy and has been featured in the Marshalls Women in Comedy Festival.
Currently Looking For: Janet is looking for distinctive nonfiction and fiction. She likes biography, history, social science with an angle, and books about words and language. For mystery and other fiction she seeks strong character, plot, sense of place and style. Would love to find the American Denise Mina. Looking at some memoir– in addition to the narrator’s life there must be another element the reader learns about. Prescriptive (how to) nonfiction that is well platformed and a bit counter-intuitive.
Not Looking For: Sci fi, romance, parenting, or cookbooks.
Client List: Nancy Ancowitz; Jill Dearman; Aaron E. Carroll, M.D. and Rachel C.Vreeman, M.D.; Rod L. Evans, Ph.D.; Barbara Foster and Michael Foster; Michele Carlo, and Bruce Holbert.
John Rudolph, Dystel and Goderich Literary Management
Bio: John Rudolph joined Dystel & Goderich in late 2010 after twelve years as an acquiring children’s book editor. He began his career at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers as an Editorial Assistant and then moved to the G. P. Putnam’s Sons imprint of the Penguin Young Readers Group, where he eventually served as Executive Editor on a wide range of young adult, middle-grade, nonfiction, and picture book titles. John currently splits his client roster between adult projects and children’s books.
Currently Looking For: John is always eager to discover fresh new voices and highly original stories regardless of category, though he’s probably known as a “boy book” kind of guy. He is particularly interested in thrillers, horror, sci-fi, and other commercial men’s fiction. He is also actively looking for narrative nonfiction across the board, and on the children’s side, he is keenly interested in middle-grade and young adult fiction.
Not Looking For: Picture books, prescriptive nonfiction, or romance.
Client List: Joe Oestreich, author of HITLESS WONDER (Lyons Press, 2012); Craig Heimbuch, author of AND NOW WE SHALL DO MANLY THINGS (Morrow, 2013); Adam Lazarus, author of MONTANA VS. YOUNG (Da Capo, 2013); Ericka Blount Danois, author of SOUL TRAIN’S MIGHTY RIDE (Backbeat, 2013), Shandy Lawson, author of LOOP (Hyperion Young Readers, 2013); Allison van Diepen, author of THE GAME (Simon/Pulse, 2013) and August McLaughlin, who John signed up at AgentFest 2011.
Victoria Sanders, Victoria Sanders and Associates
Bio: After receiving her BFA from New York University, and earning her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Victoria Sanders worked in the Legal & Contracts department at Simon & Schuster. Realizing that she could satisfy her taste for the art of the deal and her desire to be involved in the creative end of book development as a literary agent, Ms. Sanders trained as an assistant in two top New York City agencies before founding her own, Victoria Sanders & Associates, in 1992
Currently Looking For: Thriller/suspense and women’s fiction.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: Victoria’s client list includes #1 International bestselling thriller author Karin Slaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author Denene Millner, Pulitzer Prize and New York Times bestselling author Nick Chiles, American Book Award winner Jeff Chang, Kyle Williams, Sarah Pekkanen, Amy Hatvany and the Zora Neale Hurston Trust, among many others.
Katharine Sands, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
Bio: A literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, Katharine Sands has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books. She is the agent provocateur of Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye, a collection of pitching wisdom from leading literary agents. She has been a guest expert on writing and publishing for Poets and Writers, The American Society of Journalists and Authors, New York University, and the New York State Council on the Arts.
Currently Looking For: When reading fiction Katharine wants to be compelled and propelled by urgent storytelling, and hooked by characters.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: Helen Lee, Andy Partridge, Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil, Laura Levin and John O’ Hara, Marvin Woods, Dr. Brenda Brasher, Sue Woodman, Dr. Nancy Groce, among others.
Yishai Seidman, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency
Bio: Yishai Seidman joined Dunow, Carlson & Lerner in 2009 after stints at Artists & Artisans and Writers House. He is actively seeking literary and crime fiction and tends to be drawn to stories with strong voices and unusual settings.
Currently Looking For: Literary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Thrillers, Noir, Narrative Non-Fiction, True Crime. Regarding Crime stories, Yishai has a particular interest in Southern Gothic/Country Noir type stories.
Not Looking For: Fantasy, Romance, Hard Sci-Fi
Client List: Scott O’Connor, Mark Dapin (Met at Thrillerfest 2011), and Sean Bernard
Victoria Skurnick, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency
Bio: Victoria Skurnick is with the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency, and represents both fiction and nonfiction. Among her authors are Senator Tom Daschle, Alice LaPlante, Harry Dolan, Robert Rotenberg. She is looking for literary fiction, thrillers, narrative nonfiction, history, and pop culture. But, with her background as editor-in-chief of The Book-of-the Month Club, and editorial stints at St. Martin’s Press, Pocket Books and Holt, Rinehart & Winston, she is open to just about every kind of book except SF and fantasy.
Currently Looking For: Literary fiction, thrillers, narrative nonfiction, history, and pop culture. But, with her background as editor-in-chief of The Book-of-the Month Club, and editorial stints at St. Martin’s Press, Pocket Books and Holt, Rinehart & Winston, she is open to just about every kind of book.
Not Looking For: Science fiction or fantasy.
Client List: Victoria’s client list includes Senator Tom Daschle, Alice LaPlante, Harry Dolan, Robert Rotenberg, among others.
Meredith Smith, Creative Trust Agency
Bio: Meredith Smith joined Creative Trust as literary manager in 2009. She began her career in publishing at Rodale and later worked at Hachette Book Group as associate editor. At Creative Trust she represents high concept commercial fiction and select nonfiction titles.
Currently Looking For: Plot-driven commercial suspense in the areas of thriller, mystery, literary or historical.
Not Looking For: Category science fiction, category Westerns, fantasy, nonfiction, screenplays, children’s books.
Current Client List: USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak. Corban Addison, whose debut novel A WALK ACROSS THE SUN released this January 2012 with Silver Oak and has eleven translations sold. New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee, coauthor with Ted Dekker (also a client of Creative Trust Literary Group) of the dystopian thrillers in the Books of Mortals series published by Center Street, Hachette Book Group.
Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger, Inc.
Bio: A literary agent for over ten years, Andrea Somberg represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including projects aimed at a young adult and middle grade audience. Previously an agent at the Donald Maass Agency and Vigliano Associates, she joined Harvey Klinger Inc. in the spring of 2005. Her client list is quite full, however she is always actively looking to take on new authors.
Currently Looking For: Fiction; literary, commercial, women’s fiction, romance, thrillers, mystery, paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, young adult, and middle grade. In nonfiction, memoir, narrative, popular science, pop-culture, humor, how-to, parenting, self-help, lifestyle, travel, interior design, crafts, cookbooks, business, sports, and health & fitness.
Not Looking For: Picture books or chapter books.
Client List: Eric Cellelo, Eva Christina, Pat Croce, Sarah Beth Durst, Sarah Kallio and Stacy Krastins, Jennifer Lewis, Susan Sachs, Meaghan Mountford, Kathryn and Ross Petras, Paula Quinn, Cheryl Rainfield, James Marshall, Gina Rosetti, Jessica Warman, Heth and Jed Weinstein, and Adrian Winter.
Erica Spellman-Silverman, Trident Media Group
Bio: Erica Spellman-Silverman is a literary agent at Trident Media Group representing both fiction and non-fiction and some YA authors. Erica was a Senior Vice-President at both ICM and William Morris in New York City. Erica has taught at Tisch Graduate Film School of NYU.
Currently Looking For: Commercial and literary fiction, thrillers, and commercial non-fiction.
Not Looking For: Children’s books and romance.
Client List: Erica represents thrillers LIVING PROOF, Kira Peikoff, EQUITY OF EVIL, Rudy Mazzocchi, THE KRYPTOS CUNUNDRUM, Chase Brandon among others. Her nonfiction books this year include SMART MAMA, SMART MONEY (Rosalyn Hoffman), LESSONS FROM MADAME CHIC, Jennifer Scott. Her YA authors include Erin Cashman (THE EXCEPTIONALS) and Kate Maddison (THE INCREDIBLE CHARLOTTE SYCAMORE.
Erica also represents book to film deals for Robert Gottlieb, Chairman of Trident Media Group. This year deals have included HITLERLAND (Andrew Nagorski), the works of Sherrilyn Kenyon, Catherine Coulter, and JAPANTOWN by Barry Lancet, and T. Jefferson Parker.
Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary Agency
Bio: Marlene Stringer founded Stringer Literary Agency in December 2008. Prior to this time, she spent almost seven years with the Barbara Bova Literary Agency.
Currently Looking For: As a full service literary agency based in Naples, Florida, Marlene represents a wide range of commercial fiction in the areas of romance, mystery, thriller, contemporary and urban fantasy, women’s fiction, YA and MG, historical and earth-based science fiction. She also reps select non-fiction.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: Among her clients are authors Alex Bledsoe (the Eddie LaCrosse series, Memphis series, The Tufa Series); Alyxandra Harvey (The Drake Chronicles, Haunting Violet, and Stolen Away); Bethany Wiggins (Shifting, Stung); Erica Hayes (Shadowfae series and Blood Cursed, The Revelation Series); Michelle Diener (In A Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King’s Secrets), Andrea Thalasinos (An Echo Through the Snow, She Left For Lunch), Gabi Stevens (Fairy Godmother Trilogy); Beth Orsoff (Vlad All Over), Suzanne Johnson (Royal Street series); Susannah Sandlin (The Penton Vampires Series), YA author Shari Maurer (Change of Heart); Liane Merciel (The Ithalas Series); Geoffrey Wilson( The Land of Hope and Glory series);MG authors Jen K Blom (Possum Summer), Gary Ghislain (How I Stole Johnny Depp’s Alien Girlfriend), and Randi Barrow(Saving Zasha, Ivan); Julian Dawson’s …and on piano, Nicky Hopkins, and a number of others.
John Talbot, Talbot Fortune Agency, LLC
Bio: John is a literary agent with twenty-plus years of commercial book publishing experience. Prior to becoming an agent, he was a Senior Editor at Putnam Berkley, where he had the honor of working with such global bestsellers as Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, and Jack Higgins. He began his editorial career at Simon & Schuster.
Currently Looking For: High-end suspense and cozy mysteries.
Not Looking For: Though John is most interested in the above categories, he works with a wide range of authors and is open to anything that would fit within the Thrillerfest parameters.
Client List: John’s client list includes Jessica Beck, Joe Buff, Chris Cavender, Cleo Coyle, Jessie Crockett, Christine DeSmet, Charlee Ganny, Art Garner, David Jacobs, J. Sydney Jones, Brian Kevin, John Mackie, Edith Maxwell, Liz Mugavero, J.J. Murphy, Jerome Preisler, George Wallace and Don Keith, Jerry Clark and Ed Palattella, Barbara Ross, Brad Taylor, and Anna Loan-Wilsey.
Christina Ward, The Ward & Balkin Agency, Inc.
Bio: Christina Ward joined forces with Richard Balkin to become The Ward & Balkin Agency, Inc., in January 2011. Previously she was a solo agent for 19 years, and an acquiring editor at Little, Brown and Company prior to that. Kit’s background in literary fiction extends in many directions and into many historical periods and subject areas, and this applies to her taste in thrillers, mysteries, and suspense fiction as well. Quality of writing and depth of characterization weigh as heavily as powerful narrative and elements of suspense in her choice of books, both for her personal reading and for the agency’s representation. Among the authors she has worked with over the course of her career as editor and agent are Martha Grimes, Nicholas Kilmer, Kate Ross, and Dana Cameron.
Currently Looking For: Historical, contemporary, psychological, legal, medical, and many other categories are all of potential interest when the literary quality of the work transcends genre classification.
Not Looking For: Paranormal and fantasy thrillers.
Client List: Among the authors she has worked with over the course of her career as editor and agent are Martha Grimes, Nicholas Kilmer, Kate Ross, and Dana Cameron.
John Willig, Literary Services, Inc.
Bio: John Willig has worked in the publishing industry for 35 years. As an editor with top firms and agent, he has negotiated over 700 publishing agreements and represented many leading thought leaders. In 1991, he founded Literary Services Inc. (www.LiteraryServicesInc.com). John’s clients have authored numerous award-winning books in a wide variety of non-fiction categories.
Currently Looking For: A life-long avid reader (and collector) of crime/mystery books and thrillers, John has begun to represent authors in this exciting genre…initially focusing on those with historical/political/corporate themes. He’s also very interested in works that open readers to undiscovered worlds and cultures.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: N/A
Lois Winston, Ashley Grayson Literary Agency
Bio: Lois Winston is an agent with the Ashley Grayson Literary Agency as well as a critically acclaimed, award-winning author of novel length fiction and non-fiction. Established in 1976, the agency consists of three agents and handles both literary and commercial fiction, middle grade and young adult fiction, and some non-fiction.
Currently Looking For: Mystery (amateur sleuth, soft-boiled, contemporary, and historical), thrillers, suspense, romantic suspense, YA, and women’s fiction.
Not Looking For: Westerns, regency set novels, or inspirational/Christian novels; nothing featuring vampires and/or shape-shifters of any sort; no category length romances or erotica.
Client List: Lois client list includes bestselling authors John Barnes, Bruce Coville, Christopher Pike, Carrie Vaughn, and Barb Hendee, as well as Ava Madison/Margaret Grace/Camille Minichino, Isaac Adamson, Geoffrey Landis, Jill Archer, and more.
Jason Yarn, Paradigm Agency
Bio: Jason Yarn is a literary agent with Paradigm, one of the nation’s top entertainment agencies. After a stint in L.A. working in the intern-mines for Miramax, he joined Writers and Artists as an assistant and transitioned to Paradigm where he worked with authors like Warren Ellis, Denis Leary, Steven Johnson, Aaron McGruder, John Dean and Daniel Mendelsohn. As an agent, his clients include the New York Times Bestselling authors Dirk Hayhurst, Jeff Gottesfeld, and Fred Van Lente, as well as the James Beard Award Nominated and IACP winning Hank Shaw, IACP Award Nominated Jane Ziegelman, and debut authors like John Love (FAITH), Mark Henshaw (RED CELL) and Kurtis Wiebe (PETER PANZERFAUST).
Currently Looking For: Jason has a diverse list and is currently seeking narrative non-fiction and commercial middle-grade/YA/adult fiction in the areas of thrillers/suspense, science fiction, fantasy, and military/espionage.
Not Looking For: N/A
Client List: Jason’s client list includes Dirk Hayhurst, Jeff Gottesfeld, and Fred Van Lente, Hank Shaw, Jane Ziegelman, John Love, Mark Henshaw, Kurtis Wiebe
Marian Young, The Young Agency
No Agency Website
Bio: Marian Young is a literary agent and owner of The Young Agency and represents a wide range of commercial fiction in the areas of mystery and thrillers.
Currently Looking For: Mystery and thrillers.
Not Looking For: N/A
Current Client List: Bret Lott, Carolyn Haines, Crystal Zevon, Maury Klein, Thomas Lakeman, and Christopher Coake
Karen Gantz Zahler, Karen Gantz Literary Management
Bio: Karen Gantz Zahler attended Vassar College and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Cardozo Law School where she was elected to the Law Review. She is a literary property lawyer and literary agent.
Currently Looking For: She represents a wide range of commercial fiction.
Not Looking For: N/A
Clients: N/A
Barry Zucker, McGinniss Associates
Bio: After working in the industry for a number of years (and loving every minute of it), Barry made the leap to full agent, secure in his knowledge of publishing trends and his relationships with key contacts. In addition to being an enthusiastic and hungry agent, Barry is also the Agency’s business specialist and overall rights manager.
Currently Looking For: Thrillers/suspense.
Not Looking For: N/A
Clients: N/A