Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Seven literary agents at Irene Goodman Agency seek fiction for Middle Grade, YA, and Adults, and nonfiction

The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb,
represented by Irene Goodman Agency
Irene Goodman Literary Agency
New York, NY

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in your email in the box to the right under my bio, and get each post delivered to your Inbox, and if you’re not yet on my newsletter list, send me an email, including your locale to: brianhenry@sympatico.ca ~Brian

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.

To reserve a spot in any workshop, retreat, or weekly course, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Read reviews of Brian’s courses and workshops here.

See Brian’s complete current schedule hereincluding 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.

1 comment:

  1. Awesome post! I took a workshop with you a few years back, Brian, and it was encouraging. I am writing full-time now and getting ready to query my young adult fantasy novel. Thanks for your support!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.