Jessica Larios-Zarate is a literary agent with Wave Literary (formerly with Savvy Literary.)

Jessica is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley where she earned a B.A. in English. She is passionate about uplifting stories by authors with marginalized voices and intersectional identities.

In regards to fiction, Jessica gravitates towards: commercial fiction, contemporary upmarket fiction, literary fiction, mystery/thrillers, and speculative fiction. She is particularly invested in stories that feature LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and/or disabled protagonists, especially when the books are not issue-driven. As for nonfiction, Jessica is interested in: narrative nonfiction and historical nonfiction.

In terms of historical nonfiction, she seeks: Ancient History, Historical Expeditions, Civil Rights Movements, and Indigenous History Books; no War History, please.

Jessica is an eclectic reader, and she adores books when they make her: laugh, cry, swoon, and/or surprised. Above all, she loves when a book makes her want to talk about it endlessly to everybody.

After participating in the Writers House Mentor Initiative, and interning at such literary agencies as Creative Media Agency and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, Jessica is ready to help champion new voices with exciting ideas and thrilling stories.

Carrie Howland is a literary agent and the President of Howland Literary, LLC, which she established in 2018.

She is a twenty-year veteran in the publishing industry. She worked for fourteen years as a literary agent at two New York City based agencies before founding her agency. Carrie now calls Southwest Michigan home!

Carrie holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Albion College, where she was the Poetry Editor of The Albion Review. Her poetry has appeared in various literary journals and magazines.

Carrie’s passions include music, pop culture, parenting, counseling and psychology, and the Midwest. She has been featured in several publications discussing her work as an agent including Poets & Writers, SCBWI insight, Akashic Books, and Slice Magazine.

In addition to her work as an agent, Carrie is a longtime animal rescue volunteer, having fostered and found permanent homes for over one hundred fifty dogs to date. She is also a member of the Junior League and an alumna of Delta Gamma Sorority. When not spending time with her husband and son, Carrie teaches group fitness classes at Pure Barre.

Carrie is accepting submissions for: adult literary and upmarket fiction, contemporary romance, short story collections, prescriptive nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, and essay collections.

Bethany Jett is a literary agent with MacGregor & Luedeke.

Bethany has an affinity for projects with strong commercial appeal and potential for literary recognition. Since becoming an agent, Bethany has drawn on over a decade of industry experience. A multi-award winning author with an MFA in Communication, she brings a sharp editorial eye and strong market instincts to every project she takes on. Bethany teaches at conferences nationwide and loves to help writers position their work with clarity and purpose. She is a lifelong planner enthusiast, proud boy mom, and military spouse who lives outside of D.C. with her family and their not-spoiled-at-all Pomeranian.

She seeks a variety of adult fiction, adult nonfiction, Christian works, and children’s picture books.

Genres: Children’s; Gift Books; Cookbooks; Commercial Fiction; Christian Nonfiction

Adult Nonfiction wishlist:

As a traditionally published nonfiction author, I understand the pressure around “platform, platform, platform.” I’ve been there, and now on the agenting side, I still find myself emphasizing its importance. I’m drawn to authors who have already created their brand and built their audience, even before a book deal comes into play.

I’m looking for:

COOKBOOKS!!!!!
How-to
Self-help
Christian Living
Lifestyle
Home & Garden
Gift
Bible studies

I’m not the right agent for:

Memoir or Narrative
Devotionals
Sports
Science / Technology
Politics
Projects that don’t have a tie-in to the author’s credentials or platform

Adult Fiction wishlist:

“I’m hooked on stories written in extremely deep POV and I appreciate writing that provides just enough information to the reader while letting their imagination take over…very “Master of Suggestion” Alfred Hitchcock-esque, if you will. I’m a sucker for small towns, anything in the South, and I adore an unreliable narrator…or two. I appreciate trigger warnings for suicide.”

I’m looking for:

Psychological thriller
Domestic Thriller
Suspense
Cozy mysteries
Historical
Book Club
Upmarket
Women’s Fiction
Romantic Comedy
Historial Romance
Romantic Suspense
Regency Romance
Magical Realism

I’m not the right agent for:

Science Fiction
Fantasy (outside of Magical Realism)
Biblical Fiction
True crime
Action/adventure
Political / government thrillers
Spy thrillers
Military science or war
High spice, erotica or sex “on the page”
Vulgarity or extreme violence
Horror
2nd person POV
YA-crossover or New Adult

Children’s: Picture Books wishlist:

My list has become increasingly focused in two specific areas:

1. Highly commercial concepts with strong hook appeal, like How to Babysit a Grandpa or How to Catch a Unicorn

2. Classic, literary-type prose or emotionally layered storytelling like BIG or The Rough Patch

Many of the stories I receive are lovely, but don’t quite align with the direction I’m currently building.

I’m not the right agent for:

Nonfiction
Didactic or overly message-driven stories
Generic animal stories
Rhyme
SEL
STEM/STEAM
Middle Grade
Young Adult
YA-crossover

Mindi St. Peter is a literary manager at BAMbooks.

Mindi is the Senior Literary Manager for BAMbooks, the literary division of BAM Management, a full-service talent management company. She represents authors who make her laugh, cry, or sleep with the lights on—sometimes all three. She’s been married to an engineer for twenty years (which absolutely deserves a medal) and lives with her doodle, Maisy, and her dragon, Thomas the Tinysaur—who, much to her chagrin, has more followers than she does.

Mindi also has two daughters—one in college and one in high school—who serve as her unofficial YA advisory board (because let’s be honest, teens always know best). Her biggest reading months are December and summer, though she’s rarely without a book in hand. Please don’t bother her in October (she’s watching/reading all the scary things) or December (she’s baking and binging Hallmark movies).

She is currently seeking graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, new adult, literary fiction, horror, supernatural romance, fantasy where she can pronounce the character names, and anything funny. She also loves Hallmark-style romances and cozy Scottish mysteries. She’s not looking for psychological thrillers, memoirs (unless they’re pop culture or entertainment-based), self-help, or hard sci-fi.

Mindi is drawn to stories with heart and humor—romcoms, frenemy romances, romantasies with swoon-worthy stakes, and good literary fiction with all the feels. She appreciates the wit of Janet Evanovich, the imagination of Jim Butcher, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. Current obsession: Fourth Wing.

Please do not pitch anything you have already independently or self-published.

Kim Carson Bodie is a literary agent with Susan Schulman Literary Agency.

Kim joined Susan Schulman in 2025 after years of working thematically and geographically scattered jobs that mostly involved taking words out of the air and putting them on paper. She is a former journalist, university creative writing instructor, CutBank Fiction Editor, and Coffee House Press Editorial Intern.

Kim is interested in reading adult commercial, upmarket, and literary fiction, horror, slipstream, bookclub-with-an-edge, creative nonfiction, pop culture, essay, and select memoir—particularly projects that feature strong voice, experimental structure, bold risks, and big swings. Kim gravitates toward themes of adolescence, monstrosity, class, innocence, memory, healing, freakishness, community, otherness, identity, the body, the natural world, and the concept of home. She will read anything that takes place at a carnival.

Kim received her MFA from the University of Montana, where you can still find her gathering dirt under her fingernails, between the pages of her books, and in the cracks of her computer keyboard. She can usually be spotted alongside her dog, Townes Van Dog.

Please keep in mind: She does not represent YA, MG, or children’s books. (She is open to new adult, though.)

I’m probably not the best fit for high fantasy or other speculative projects without grounded elements, in addition to pure romance or thrillers, with the exception of projects that use suspense as a tool to examine surprising social, scientific, cultural, or political elements of the world at large.

I welcome #OwnVoices projects and am particularly interested in representing authors from diverse backgrounds.

Here are some recent and not-so-recent books I would have loved to represent:

Stag Dance by Torrey Peters

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Jawbone by Monica Ojeda

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins

Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan

Writers and Lovers by Lily King

Butter by Asako Yuzuki

Dogs by C. Mallon

Biography of X by Catherine Lacey

The Wilds by Julia Elliot

Autobiography of Red by Ann Carson

Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee

How to Set a Fire and Why by Jesse Ball

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi

True History of the Kelley Gang by Peter Carey

Bear Down, Bear North by Melinda Moustakis

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Perma Red by Debra Magpie Earling

The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch

Us Fools by Nora Lange

Tara Kimberly is a literary with D4E0 Literary.

She seeks: Romantasy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, New Adult, Young Adult, Romance & Dark Romance.

Tara is interested in primarily Romantasy (adult and young adult and new adult) with a focus on strong female characters and all consuming stories. She is a self diagnosed Romantasy addict and loves diving into lush worlds with complex characters and messy interpersonal relationships that teach us about our own lives.

Prior to joining D4EO, she had a decade-long career as a $60M+ real estate agent, investor and coach. Interest in querying her debut novel introduced her to the world of publishing as soon as she found out about Literary Agents she realized she had spent the past ten years as an agent in the wrong industry. An ever proponent of messy action, she quickly course corrected – setting her sights on breaking into the publishing world.

She views the agent – author relationship as a deeply personal and mutually beneficial one. She wants to work with authors that dare to dream of massive success, a fulfilling career, and the willingness to put in the necessary work to get there. With a strong emphasis on social media marketing herself, she is looking for authors who are eager to work together to grow their own marketing efforts. She is most active on TikTok under the handle @tarakimberlybooks and as demystifying the publishing industry for debut authors is one of her core missions as an agent, she routinely does live Q&As on her page. She also runs a free writers group for authors looking for an online mecca of support and resources throughout their publishing journey. It is called Happily Ever Authors and is hosted on the Skool platform.

In YA, she loves:

Books that feel like a Taylor Swift song. I want to feel deeply for your characters, be invested in their growth, and relate to their flaws.

Books that feel like CW/Freeform shows. Think Reign, Gossip Girl, The Bold Type, Outer Banks etc. I want to be invested in many characters and the world as a whole.

Vampires with a witchy vibe. Specifically a coven of female vampires with a unique twist to the normal Twilight plot. Romance and other monsters are a plus!

Fairytale or legend retellings, especially through a hispanic lens. I would love a Romantasy about La Llorona or something similar!

I would love a book that explores gender roles in a way that doesn’t demonize choices, but instead romanticizes both ends of the spectrum. I want to be rooting for both ends to get what they want.

Warning books that explore red flags in relationships and the insidious nature of abusive ones. I would love one of these with a male POV as well.

A warm & fuzzy book normalizing confident women while shedding light on misogynistic behavior that is constantly normalized in our society. I love worlds that feel full and natural while at the same time highlighting deficiencies in our own.

In New Adult/Adult, she loves:

Adventure fantasy. Think quests with HIGH stakes as well as a compelling & emotional reason why the main character needs to complete their mission. Bonus points if there is an angsty romance aspect.

Mermaids. I want something like Aquaman but for the girls. Give me all the sea creatures, sea witches, crocs, sharks, etc. Sprinkle in a mature, yearning romance & I’m sold!

Vampires with a witchy vibe. Specifically a coven of female vampires with a unique twist to the normal Twilight plot. Romance and other monsters are a plus!

Fairytale or legend retellings, especially through a hispanic lens. I would love a Romantasy about La Llorona or something similar!

Spicy, lush and captivating fantasy romance. I want devotion like Darius, ruthlessness like Xaden, masculinity like Rhys. I want an FMC that is a girls girl. She knows her worth, is open to love, and embraces her femininity. I want all of this inside of a royal court with monsters, high stakes, and complex interpersonal dynamics. Think ACOTAR meets GOT. Tropes I enjoy: touch him/her & die, forced proximity, forbidden love & feminine rage.

I want action. A compelling plot with twists and turns that I don’t see coming. I want morally grey characters who rationalize bad behavior instead of just doing evil stuff and never thinking about it. I want side characters that I love just as much as the main characters. I want a dark, dangerous world. Think A Rain of Shadows & Endings meets Gild.

Dark academia with a strong, angsty romantic element.

Intro to Fantasy. Simple world building that feels accessible to readers just discovering fantasy. Quick pacing that is engaging but not complex. The emotional component between the characters must be 1000/10.

Romantasy from a male POV. A tortured, self sabotaging, gaslighting, morally grey soul that we are rooting for.

A mature FMC – maybe a mother? On a quest to save her child. I want a fierce, one tracked mind type in a world pitted against her. I want to feel her torture, her agony and her determination.

Star Wars for the girls. Aliens, monsters, space flights, girl power, a centralized mission that propels the plot and naughty romance between different ranks, good and evil, different species, etc.

I’m open to all romance (except historical), but have a soft spot for sports romance, mafia romance, billionaire romance, and love against all odds. I WOULD LOVE A NARCO ROMANCE!!

I love plus size and strong Romance FMCs. Bonus points if they are funny with an edge. I love stories where women lift one another up and girl power is a central theme even though everyone has their own voice. Think Sex & the City or Friends vibes.

Don’t Waste Your Pitch If…

There is no romantic element to your manuscript. I need romance in
EVERYTHING so if you don’t have even a romantic subplot, I’m not the
agent for you.

Space opera or epic high fantasy can be used to describe your book.
Brandon Sanderson as a comp is an immediate no from me-I’m a
simple girl.

Trauma is the main element. I appreciate a good healing arc, but if
sexual assault, domestic violence or suicide is a main element in your
book, it’s not a good fit for me. Automatic no for me is SA between the
main love interests.

Thriller or horror can be used to describe your book. I’m a big scardy cat
& don’t want anything to give me nightmares.

Terminal illness, sickness/COVID themes are prevalent in your book.

Spooky, creepy & dark are definitely my vibe, but gore or slasher vibes
are decidedly not. If your book gives Quentin Tarantino (excessive gore
for the sake of gore), I’m not your girl. The only exception for this is
fantasy. I love a stabby FMC.

Talking animals. Dragons are the only exception. Monsters are different,
but I don’t want sentient pets or side characters.

Michelle Z. Jackson is a literary agent with The Jackson Literary Agency.

Michelle is on the hunt for writers with a strong voice and masterful descriptive writing, stories with memorable characters, a great premise, a twist on an old tale and original concepts.

In adult fiction, she seeks: Commercial, Historical, Humor, New Adult, Romance, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Literary (subgenres: Contemporary Romance, Inspirational, Multicultural, Psychological Thrillers, Romantic Comedy)

In young adult fiction, she seeks: Contemporary, Historical, Christian, Romance

Twenty-five years ago, Michelle began her literary journey when she wrote and self-published her first book. In 2014, she became a traditionally published author with Urban Christian, a division of Penguin Random House. Michelle then went on to write for Brown Girls Publishing before self-publishing and co-authoring more romances. Driven by a desire for excellence, Michelle honed her writing craft, learning from some of the best in the business before securing contracts with Harlequin’s Mira, Special Edition and Love Inspired imprints. Prolific, Michelle has penned over 30+ romance and/or women’s fiction novels.

A lifetime educator, Michelle enjoys cultivating and helping other authors achieve their literary goals. In 2021, Michelle decided to pursue a career as a literary agent. To accomplish this, she participated in Carly Watters’ Literary Agenting course, landed a yearlong internship with Olswanger Literary before acquiring her own clients as a Literary Associate. Michelle then transitioned to LCS Literary Services as a Literary Agent.

While growing her client list, Michelle interned with AALA Literary Agents of Change for two years, where she mentored under two agency owners for well-established literary agencies, as she secured deals and made connections with major publishing and indie imprints. Due to her strong work ethic, Michelle was promoted to Senior Literary Agent at LCS Literary Services before opening her literary agency. She is an active member of AALA.

Authors who work with Michelle can expect professionalism, a collaborative relationship, as well as open and honest communication during their journey to publication.

Gina Panettieri is a literary agent with Talcott Notch.

“Being an agent is really all I can imagine doing. Books, and the amazing people who write them, have been the focus of my life for more than two decades. I remember packing to move my house and needing a separate small truck just for all the books, and I had given away countless volumes to the libraries for fundraisers already! But so many of them were treasured friends I couldn’t bear to part with, no matter the effort required to maintain the relationship.

“And this specific role I play, being given the chance to find and nurture new books, to work with some of the most creative and talented writers, scientists and psychologists, cooks and criminologists, experts from every field of study, makes what I do feel so different from work that my inbox feels like Santa’s magical Christmas bag. It’s always full, always overflowing, but brimming with the potential of something spectacular. All I’ve got to do is pull the little ribbon…

“Perhaps that’s why I have such trouble limiting myself to just a few genres. I find it all fascinating! History, business, self-help, science, gardening, cookbooks, crafts, parenting, memoir, true crime and travel. Teach me something new, something I couldn’t find somewhere else, something based on original research and that’s the hook I’m looking for.

“With fiction, I love quirky, edgy characters. Send me women’s fiction, paranormal, urban fantasy, horror, science fiction, historical, mystery, thrillers and suspense.

“Those rare moments I’m not reading or editing or talking about reading or editing or arguing about contracts, sleeping on the train, or tweeting about industry news, I adore classic films and old-time radio shows.”

Kaylyn Aldridge is a literary agent at Metamorphosis Literary.

Kaylyn has been a ferocious reader ever since she learned how to read. Growing up, Kaylyn spent almost all of her free time devouring the stacks of books she would get from the library. When she wasn’t deep in a story, she would write her own. Creating worlds and characters was one of the major ways Kaylyn expressed herself.In her free time, Kaylyn loves to research underground internet subcultures. She believes that diverse perspectives are key to understanding cultures, communities, and nuances of the human experience. When she is not working or reading, she likes to feed the local magpies.

She seeks young adult, new adult, and adult fiction across the following categories: romance (all heat levels welcome); coming-of-age stories; LGBTQ+ fiction; and commercial fiction.

She especially enjoys: Black stories and LGBTQ+ stories not centered around trauma; dark, weird, and offbeat stories (think Jennifer’s Body, Ginger Snaps, Fresh, or Teeth); unique takes on classic stories; paranormal romances (vampires, werewolves, ghosts, etc.)​.

She is NOT a good fit for: historical Fiction (across all genres); science fiction (any genre); or epic/high fantasy (across all genres).

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