Kara Grajkowski is a literary agent with 3 Seas Literary Agency.

“As an elementary classroom teacher turned elementary behavioral interventionist, I am always looking to expand my classroom library with high-interest, low-readability books. If I can see my students and their interests in the project, it is a good fit for my classroom and a better fit for my query box. Please send me #OwnVoices stories!”

Middle Grade / Young Adult:

MG is my favorite of all types of books! I have a soft spot for contemporary fiction stories that my students can align with, especially if the main character doesn’t have it all figured out yet (I mean, who does anyway?!). I am searching for the best MG and YA fiction stories that have you smiling, crying, and growing right along with the characters. Bonus if the stories take place in urban settings and/or celebrate Black joy! I am not a good fit for fantasy or time travel stories.

Picture Books:

Picture books that highlight the beauty in diversity, community, and childhood are the best – right up there with humorous stories. I love any book that can make you giggle, especially if you can learn a valuable lesson in the meantime. Please send me books that break the fourth wall and/or have non-traditional narration styles like “Press Here” or “The Book With No Pictures”! I love to champion stories about disability, SEL, and/or regulation strategies. Also, educational picture books are up my alley, especially ones that can easily align with curriculum. I’m usually not a good fit for rhyming books (unless they’re funny!).

New Adult:

I (very selectively) take new adult rom coms. Fresh takes on traditional narratives are a plus for me, but I really look for sharp, witty storytelling.

Nonfiction:

I would love any nonfiction about education/issues in schools or mental health/trauma. No memoirs, please!

Fun facts about me:

I have two corgis – one is like a cat and the other is like a tornado.
My favorite part of the school day is teaching ELA, but I despise teaching the bossy r syllable type. Gurrrr.
I love hip hop music. You can never go wrong with a little Sada Baby in the background while you’re working.

Maggie Sadler is a literary agent with Howland Literary.

Maggie earned her joint Masters with honors in Comparative Literature and English from the historic University of St Andrews and her Masters in Literary Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where her literary interests ranged from folklore retellings to nineteenth-century maritime adventure fiction, and interrogating audience reception across creative mediums. Outside of the agency space, Maggie also works as an editor and writing coach. Maggie marries these complimentary experiences with an intentional, intelligent, and growth-minded approach as a literary agent.

Maggie primarily seeks literary and upmarket adult fiction with distinct character voices, lyrical prose, and propulsive plots. She loves books that unapologetically challenge and deconstruct genre, narrative, or structural conventions—books that take risks. She appreciates a careful, restrained hand with fabulist elements, one that gently asks the reader to reconsider the boundary between the real and the fantastic. Above all, Maggie craves stylish writing and wholly unique concepts that leave her feeling devastated over the palpable talent.

She is seeking:

• Literary fiction written in lyrical, artful prose with carefully crafted tension
• Literary fiction with speculative flavors—let’s get weird
• Upmarket fiction, especially with emotionally complex characters who explore evocative settings
• Untold and/or underrepresented historical fiction (pre-twentieth century, please)
• Urban Fantasy/Magical Realism rooted in our reality
• Folk and fairy tale retellings—the more stunning the twist, the better
• Work from Indigenous/First Nations authors, as well as other historically marginalized and underrepresented voices
• Narratives that interrogate themes of cultural identity, femininity, family legacy, rebellion against tradition, and self-discovery from a fresh, unorthodox perspective

An experienced traveler, Maggie also welcomes nonfiction travel narratives depicting remote locations and thought-provoking encounters in a raw, authentic, and intentional narrative voice.

Maggie is not looking to acquire high fantasy, hard sci-fi, commercial romance, or children’s books at this time.

Maggie would love to discover the next…

• Poet turned prose writer
• Folklore retelling of ambitious, perhaps even monstrous, women who are willing to sacrifice love for power
• An eerie, evocative Gothic setting à la Wuthering Heights
• Endearing and cozy upmarket fiction with the gentlest touch of magic, one that strikes the same notes, atmospherically, as Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle

Ritu Anand is a literary agent with D4E0 Literary.

Ritu has been a passionate storyteller since childhood. As a writer herself, she is on the same page with other writers and applauds their creativity.

Because she believes no good story should ever be filed away in a drawer but be shared with the world, she wishes to represent debut voices as an agent.

Ritu is looking for: kidlit, literary fiction, general fiction and historical fiction.

In Kidlit: Picture books, Middle Grade and Young Adult Novels.

In Literary Fiction: Drama, Fairy Tales and Fiction in Verse.

In General Fiction: Women’s Fiction, Drama, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Satire and Tragedy.

In Historical Fiction: Women’s Historical Fiction, Historical Romantic Fiction and Historical Fantasy.

Diverse and underrepresented Voices are encouraged to submit.

Not looking for: I am not the right agent for Erotica, Paranormal or Sci Fi Fiction.

Sandra Proudman is a literary agent with Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.

She is seeking:

I am continuing to look to diversify my list this year as its important to me to continue to strive for all kids to see themselves on the page as the heroes of their own stories. I am especially looking for marginalized and underrepresented voices and am especially looking for clients from Middle Eastern, South Asian, South American, and Indigenous backgrounds.

Picture Books and Early Readers: I would love to sign an author-illustrator that is doing work like Flavia Z. Drogo or Ben Clanton. I love character-driven stories full of light and humor. I also really enjoy STEAM topics, so if there is a chance for a kiddo to learn in your work, that’s always a plus!

Middle Grade: I would love to find a graphic novelist that is working on a speculative project in the vein of Wendell and Wild or Sweet Tooth.

Young Adult: I am particularly looking for romcoms and horror/thrillers in this age group. In terms of horror, I like the entire genre and am OK with body horror.

Adult fiction: I would love to find a horror like The Hacienda or Mexican Gothic. Or a beautifully written speculative story that’ll make me feel ALL of the feels.

She is not seeking: I am not the best fit for straight historical fiction or sports stories that don’t have a speculative angle. At this moment, I am being incredibly selective in MG, so it might be best to try my colleagues at GZLA first!

Amy Nielsen is a literary agent with The Purcell Agency. 

Amy spent nearly twenty years sharing her love of books with young readers on the other side of the writing aisle as a youth librarian. Daily immersion in story took root, and she started penning her 2024 YA debut, Worth It, behind her checkout desk.

She left the library after her youngest son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and began writing full-time. She also began working with other authors helping them to elevate their craft and go on to pursue publication deals. While she will always enjoy pursuing her own writing goals, helping other authors has become a passion. She is honored to now serve as a Senior Literary Agent at The Purcell Agency.

Amy also has a background in television production and creates book trailers for authors to use as a marketing tool. She started Mayflower Media where she works collaboratively with writers to bring the heart of their stories from the page to the screen.

In addition to her debut, Amy is the author of It Takes a Village: How to Build A Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family, the picture book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Teaching Television Production, Beyond the Morning Newscast. She is the co-author of the upcoming title Navigating the Wild World of Publishing: A Workbook for Indie and Self-Published Authors and the co-host of the Author(ish) podcast.

When not writing or reading she and her family can be found boating in Tampa Bay. You can find Amy at http://www.amynielsenauthor.com.

Amy’s Manuscript Wish List:

Picture Books
I’ll be looking for hyperbolic, zany storylines that teach a life lesson (even subtle) or ones with laugh-out-loud moments written simply to entertain.

Check out the legendary Robert Munsch and Michael Marchenko for what I’m hoping to see in my inbox.

Middle Grade
I’ll be looking for fast-paced stories mostly set in a contemporary setting that feature characters that think, act, and talk like real middle graders.

Young Adult
I’ll gravitate toward contemporary issue-driven plots where teens find themselves in situations they aren’t equipped to handle, but eventually figure it out.

Adult Fiction
I’ll lean into contemporary women’s fiction where the main characters are shattering glass ceilings despite obstacles, and defying stereotypes.

General Wishes

As the mother of an autistic child, I’d appreciate any story that features characters across the autism spectrum written authentically and free from stereotypes.

I’d swoon over a Gilmore Girls retelling with a paranormal or speculative element, anything that could comp my favorite song of all time, “Never Surrender” by Cory Hart or a story set in a coastal boating town.

I’m also always game for any fairy-tale retelling or re-imagining, especially if pulled into a contemporary setting.

I would love any age range where a dystopian plot mirrors a current social issue. Think Handmaid’s Tale versus the current political landscape of abortion. Or how the political landscape is impacting marginalized communities such as the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC.

In all age ranges and genres, I’m looking for:
Succinct and simplistic writing.
Diverse representation from authors to main characters, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, and persons with disabilities.

I wouldn’t be the best fit for:

Epic fantasy (if your story features a dragon or fae—probably not for me),

High-concept sci-fi (if most of your story doesn’t take place on Earth—probably not for me)

Historical fiction (unless it’s the 80s or 90s then bring it on) I’m fine with dual timelines as long as the majority of the plot is in a contemporary setting.

Erotica. I’m fine with some on-page-steam, but not if the plot centers around it.

Literary. If your story isn’t genre fiction, it’s probably not for me.

Sarah N. Fisk is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency.

Sarah is a former mechanical engineer who made the switch to publishing in 2011. They have worked in the publishing industry as an editorial assistant, author’s assistant, publicist, and art director. Sarah is a former Pitch Wars mentor, board member, and Agent Liaison. They host the podcast Queries, Qualms, & Quirks and have a passion for spreadsheets.

They love books that challenge societal norms, especially gender norms. They have a personal interest in stories featuring queer characters or characters with disability, neurodiversity, chronic illness, or mental health challenges. Great or complicated sibling relationships are their kryptonite. They also enjoy intriguing villains, mysteries woven into other genres, characters they can’t get out of their head, and smart heroines.

Basics:

• Young Adult (all fiction genres)
• Middle Grade (all fiction genres)
• Adult Romance
• Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and everything under the speculative fiction umbrella except hard, genre horror
• Select Adult nonfiction

Particular Areas of Interest:

• atmospheric fantasies or contemporary stories that feel like atmospheric fantasies
• speculative mysteries or mysteries woven into other genres
• books that challenge societal norms, especially gender norms
• personal interest in stories featuring queer characters
• personal interest in characters with disability, neurodiversity, chronic illness, or mental health challenges
• great or complicated sibling relationships (think: siblings who will kill for each other or kill each other (or both!))
• authentic small town, southern, or midwestern settings
• intriguing villains
• characters I can’t get out of my head
• smart heroines
• con artists who are not cis men
• books that are compulsively readable
• social justice issues woven into commercial plots
• themes: anticapitalist, pro-labor, conservationism, anti-disaster capitalism, etc

For Adult SFF

• I especially love grounded fantasy and near-future sci-fi.
• I am particularly looking for books with a strong hook and plot, but also very strong writing (aka upmarket SFF)
• No Military Sci-Fi, please
• Not for me: anything that comps Game of Thrones, Goblin Emperor, or a Memory Called Empire

For Adult Romance

• Pretty much all subgenres that are traditionally published
  • but historical needs to have a high concept, a nice hook, and/or a great voice for me
• I prefer romance books with a medium or high heat level, or a lot of sexual tension
• No pregnancy or baby-based storylines, please (it’s not triggering, I’m just not interested!)
• Romance has a happy romantic ending, by definition

For nonfiction

• Primarily interested in books with a social justice angle, progressive thought leadership OR
• Books that provide a new perspective on culture, food, current affairs, finance, food, history, science, nature, or relationships.
• Author platform is very important
• Especially interested in disabled or neurodiverse creators, especially those writing from an intersectional lens
• If the book could’ve been an older You’re Wrong About episode, I’d like to see it
• Other areas of interest: scam/fraud, capitalism, labor interests, chronic illness, environmental/climate change, cryptids, non-murder mysteries, relationship equity, or books that make me FASCINATED with a topic I previously didn’t care about (a la THE JOY OF SWEAT)
• Nos: parenting, religion, memoirs without one of the first two bullet points.

Not for me:

• Hardcore genre horror (horror elements are ok! Horror in MG is great)
• I am not interested in stories that center around who gets to rule an empire
• I cannot read stories that center around sexual assault or have on-the-page rape scenes
• Graphic Novels
• Portal fantasies unless it’s really unique
• Stories set in recent historical times (80s, 90s, aughts) need to have a solid reason for the time period for me
• Any adult genres not listed above (i.e. non-speculative books need to be genre romance. other adult genres that “have a romance” are not for me.)
• Disabled characters who serve solely as an able-bodied main character’s catalyst.
• If the main motivation is related to being a parent, it’s probably not for me.
• Romances between a minor and a non-minor that are not critiqued on-the-page

Rose Conway is a literary agent with Confluence Literary Agency.

Rose joins CLA as an expansion of her dedicated work to inform and empower authors in the dynamic industry landscape.

Her publishing career began with a fortuitous internship at Simon & Schuster U.K. There, she first learned about the role of a “Literary Agent” and directed her career to being the ultimate cheerleader, critic, confidante, and champion for creative writers. In 2021, she diverted to explore hybrid publishing as the editorial manager for a leading professional publisher, ensuring that creative writers could earn a living and have the flexibility to pursue their own projects. Two years later, witnessing authors navigate mounting obstacles in the publishing landscape with increasingly contradictory and inconsistent advice, Rose founded Foreword Literary Consulting, LLC as a trusted resource for strategic guidance.

As an Agent with Confluence Literary Agency, Rose channels her consulting expertise into author representation.

Her list focuses on stylistically subversive and thematically layered fiction: work that leads with artistry and allows deeper themes to emerge naturally. She seeks upmarket and smart commercial fiction with inventive structures, emotional depth, and distinctive voices. Think braided narratives, unexpected POVs, and prose that takes creative risks.

In building her list, Rose is interested in career-oriented writers and her goal is to help authors lay the foundation for sustainable career growth. Rose holds a Masters in Publishing from London College of Communication and a double Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication Studies from Villanova University. She lives in Columbia, Maryland with her husband.