|
The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb,
represented by Irene Goodman Agency |
Irene Goodman Literary Agency
New York, NY
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Irene Goodman began her
agency in the loft of a tiny walk-up apartment in New York's Upper West Side in
1978. She had a phone, a typewriter, three clients, and a complete inability to
accept the idea that she wouldn't succeed. Since then the agency has grown into
a thriving international business, an airy suite of offices in New York's
Chelsea neighborhood.
The agency represents authors at every level – from multi
#1 New York Times bestsellers to talented newcomers. The agency represents
commercial and literary fiction and nonfiction of all stripes, for the adult,
young adult, and middle grade markets. “There is really only one criterion we
have,” says Irene, “is how much we love it and believe we can sell it.”
All seven agents at the Irene Goodman Agency are looking
for authors.
Whitney Ross is the newest member of the team, having joined the
agency this year. Like all new agents, Whitney needs authors.
Whitney worked as an editor at
Macmillan for nearly a decade, culminating in her role as a senior editor for
Tor Teen, Tor, and Forge. Over the course of her career, Whitney has had the
pleasure of editing many talented authors, including Susan Dennard, Cora
Carmack, Eric Van Lustbader, Steven Erikson, Katie McGarry, Ann Aguirre, Dan
Wells, and Stacey Kade.
Whitney represents middle grade, young adult, and adult
fiction across all genres, with an emphasis on historical, SF & fantasy,
romance, and contemporary fiction. She is also open to non-fiction submissions
in the areas of design, cooking, and fashion.
Whitney loves to read novels set in unusual time periods and
locations, whether that involves a fantastical element or not. She is rarely
able to resist the trickster king motif, and has a weakness for
read-between-the-lines subtle romances. Yet she's constantly surprised by books
not on her "wish list," and is always open to stories with compelling
characters and emotionally involving plotlines.
Whitney earned her B.A. in English Literature, a B.S. in
Entrepreneurship, and an M.S. in Publishing. In her spare time, she enjoys
competitive sports such as skiing and shopping, and tasting wines with her
winemaker husband.
Include the first ten pages in the body of your
email, along with a synopsis (3 – 5 paragraphs) and a bio.
Irene Goodman is particularly interested in fiction that hits the
sweet spot between literary and commercial –- it's a captivating story, it has
something important to say, it's not hard to read, and it's beautifully
structured and written. It can be women's fiction, an intelligent thriller, a
fun mystery, historical fiction, or middle grade and young adult fiction.
She
is avidly interested in nonfiction, focusing on pop culture, science,
Francophilia, Judaica, and lifestyle. Nonfiction can be for adults, young
adults, or middle grade.
Query Irene at: irene.queries@irenegoodman.com
Irene prefers a particular format to queries. First, paste in the first ten
pages of the manuscript. After that, include the synopsis. And finally, at the
bottom, include the query letter.
Miriam Kriss is passionate about modern urban fantasy, young adult
fiction, romance, and all other types of commercial fiction.
Include the first ten pages in the body of your
email, along with a synopsis (3 – 5 paragraphs) and a bio
Barbara Poelle is looking for high octane thrillers, edgy mysteries,
literary and upmarket fiction and YA.
Include the first ten pages in the body of your
email, along with a synopsis (3 – 5 paragraphs) and a bio.
Kim Perel is looking for platform-driven nonfiction in the areas
of lifestyle, wellness, memoir, politics and narrative nonfiction. She is also
looking for upmarket fiction and literary fiction.
Include the first ten pages in the body of your
email, along with a synopsis (3 – 5 paragraphs) and a bio.
Maggie Kane is a junior agent currently interested in middle grade, young adult,
and character-driven fiction. She can't resist a twist of the fantastical in
unexpected places, and her reading interests are varied, from magical realism
and fantasy/science fiction to idiosyncratic family sagas and literary
suspense. She'll happily follow a compelling voice wherever it leads.
Include the first ten pages in the body of your
email, along with a synopsis (3 – 5 paragraphs) and a bio.
Victoria Marini is looking for commercial and literary
Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction as well as upmarket commercial or literary
Adult fiction. She represents contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, magical realism,
and horror, and select narrative non-fiction. Victoria would not be the best
fit for prescriptive non-fiction, new age/religious/spirituality, popular
science, new adult, or regency romances.
Include the first ten pages in the body of your
email, along with a synopsis (3 – 5 paragraphs) and a bio.
|
Simon & Schuster editor Patricia Ocampo |
If you’re interested in and finding
an agent or publisher (someday soon or down the road), don’t miss the How to Get Published workshops on Saturday, Feb 24, in Oakville with literary agent Martha Webb (see here) and on Saturday, March 3, in St. Catharines with HarperCollins editor Michelle
Meade and author Hannah Mary McKinnon (see here).
If you’re interested in Kid Lit, be
sure to register for the Writing
for Children and for Young Adults mini-conference
on Saturday, April 21, in Waterloo with literary agent
Barbara Berson, Simon & Schuster editor Patricia Ocampo, and Young Adult author Tanaz Bhathena (see here)...
And Writing Kid Lit weekly
class, Thursday evenings, April 18 – June 13, in Burlington which
will feature guest authors Jennifer Mook-Sang and Kira Vermond (see here).
And don’t miss Writing Your Life with guest Ross
Pennie, on Saturday, March 10, in Toronto (see here), Writing Conflict: Fight scenes, Dialogue scenes &
Love scenes, Saturday,
April 7, in Midland (see here),
Secrets of Writing a Page-Turner, Sunday, April 8,
in Sudbury (see here),
and
Writing With Style, Sunday, April 29, in Brampton (see here).
The hottest ticket of the spring season, though, may be How to Write a Bestseller with New York Times
#1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong on Saturday, March
24, in Caledon at the Bolton Library (see here).
This spring, Brian
also offers a full range of weekly writing classes, from introductory to
intensive. (Details of all 7 courses here):
Welcome to Creative Writing, Wednesday, afternoons, April 18 – June 13, in
Burlington. See here.
Writing Personal Stories, Friday afternoons, April 13 – June 8, in Toronto.
See here.
Writing Kid Lit, Picture Books to
Young Adult, Thursday evenings, April 12
– June 14, in Burlington. See here.
Next Step in Creative Writing, Thursdays
afternoons, April 12- June 14, at the Woodside Library in Oakville.
Details here.
Intensive Creative Writing, Friday mornings, April 6 – June 15, in
Toronto. See here.
Intensive Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons, April 10 – June 11, in
Burlington. See here.
Intensive Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings, April 11 – June 13, in
Georgetown. See here.
Details
of all 7 courses here.
Read reviews of Brian’s courses and
workshops here.
See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including writing
workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park,
Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton,
Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa,
Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto,
Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York
Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
Navigation tips: Always check out the
labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of
postings. Also, if you're searching for a literary agent who represents a
particular type of book, check out this post.