Irene Goodman Literary Agency
27 W 24th St
# 700B
New York, NY 10010
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Irene
Goodman and her agency has
been around the publishing world for more than 30 years. Seven of the eight
agents at the agency are open to new authors, including Irene herself (though I
suspect she doesn’t take on as many new authors as she used to).
Pam Gruber recently joined Irene Goodman Literary Agency
as a literary agent, representing adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction,
graphic novels, and select narrative nonfiction. She was previously editorial
director at Rebel Girls. Like all new agents, Pam needs authors.
Pam began her career in publishing as an
editor, working for over ten years at Hachette Book Group with a number of
acclaimed authors and illustrators. From there, she went on to serve as the
Editorial Director at children’s media start-up Rebel Girls, where she saw
first-hand how a great book can expand into other entertainment mediums.
Originally from Philadelphia and raised by two
artists, Pam knew she wanted to work in publishing from a young age. She brings
an eye for detail to every book she gets her hands on, and her experience at a
publishing house gives her insight into how editors think, and what they’re
looking for.
Pam looks for work that is gripping from page one,
whether it makes her break out in a smile or gives her goosebumps (from
excitement, not fear!). She loves complicated female protagonists, innovative
twists on old tropes, and getting swept away by fully realized worlds – be they
portraits of the next town over or an imagined universe unlike our own.
Specifically Pam represents adult, young adult, and
middle grade fiction with literary voices and commercial hooks. She is
particularly interested in layered fantasy, speculative fiction, fantastical
realism, rom-coms, and coming-of-age stories with a twist.
She is also open to middle grade and YA graphic
novels, as well as select narrative non-fiction on lesser-known subjects.
Pam would not be the best fit for prescriptive
nonfiction, anthologies, potty humor, paranormal, or erotica.
For fiction, please include a query letter and the
first ten sample pages of your manuscript in the body of your email. For
nonfiction, simply send a polished query letter.
Maggie Kane was born and raised in northern Michigan and received
her BA in English and Humanistic Studies from Saint Mary's College in 2016. She
then moved to New York to pursue a career in publishing. Maggie has since
interned with Gelfman Schneider and ICM Partners as well as Inkwell Management
before arriving at IGLA. She's 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.
Query Maggie at: maggie.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, please include a query letter and the
first ten sample pages of your manuscript in the body of your email. For
nonfiction, simply send a polished query letter.
Whitney
Ross joined Irene Goodman in 2018. Before that
she 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, science fiction
& fantasy, romance, and contemporary fiction. She is also open to nonfiction
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. And she can’t wait to be surprised by
tropes turned upside down, and unusual takes on old favorites. 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.
For fiction, please include a query letter and the
first ten sample pages of your manuscript in the body of your email. For
nonfiction, simply send a polished query letter.
Kim
Perel began her career at Forbes magazine
working in an editorial capacity and later worked as an advertising copywriter.
For over five years, Kim was an agent at Wendy Sherman Associates where she conceptualized,
sold, and even authored numerous books for major publishers. She is passionate
about powerful writing and delicious sentences. She holds an MFA degree in
Creative Writing from The New School where she studied with world-renowned
professional writers in the areas of fiction and nonfiction. She also received
her undergraduate Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School
of Public Communications at Syracuse University. In her spare time, she
co-curates the popular H.I.P. Lit event series.
Kim is actively looking for engaging, voice-driven
literary fiction with a strong plot (from quirky family sagas to an ensemble
casts of characters), beachy reads, rom-coms with a twist, and commercial
fiction that's impossible to put down.
She is also interested in nonfiction from established
experts and influencers alike in the areas of lifestyle, wellness, memoir,
politics and reportage and research-driven narrative nonfiction.
For fiction, please include a query letter and the
first ten sample pages of your manuscript in the body of your email. For
nonfiction, simply send a polished query letter.
Barbara
Poelle began her publishing career as a
freelance copywriter and editor before joining the Goodman Agency in 2007, but
feels as if she truly prepared for the industry during her brief stint as a stand-up
comic in Los Angeles. Barbara is also the author of Funny You Should Ask: Mostly Serious
Answers to Mostly Serious Questions About the Publishing Industry
(Jan, 2020) based on her Writer's Digest column of the same name.
Barbara has found success placing thrillers, literary
suspense, Young Adult and upmarket fiction and is actively seeking her next
great client in those genres, but is passionate about anything with a unique
voice.
Barbara is looking for high octane thrillers,
edgy mysteries, literary and upmarket fiction and YA. “If your critique partner
has ever said your work reminds them of either Jordan Peele or Tina Fey,” says
Barbara, “now would be the time to leap into my queries inbox.”
For fiction, please include a query letter and the
first ten sample pages of your manuscript in the body of your email. For
nonfiction, simply send a polished query letter.
Miriam
Kriss, Vice President of the Irene Goodman
Literary Agency, has been a literary agent since 2004 with a focus on
commercial fiction. She doesn't look for specific stories; rather, she looks
for a voice she can fall in love with and champion. This strategy of taking on
only clients she's passionate about has led to six-figure deals for first-time
authors and numerous client appearances on the USA Today and New York Times
bestseller lists.
Miriam is open to all genres of commercial fiction,
from picture books through adult. She's especially on the hunt for female-driven
epic fantasy and thrillers, diverse voices in young adult and middle grade, and
any novel that pulls her in and makes her forget she's reading. Basically, if
it's fun to read she probably represents it.
She's incredibly selective in her nonfiction projects
but has been known to jump on the right one.
Query Miriam at: miriam.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, please include a query letter and the
first ten sample pages of your manuscript in the body of your email. For
nonfiction, simply send a polished query letter.
Irene
Goodman has been a leading member of the
publishing community for over 30 years and still loves every minute of it. She
has sold over 1,500 books and counting. Her clients are regulars on the New
York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Bookscan bestseller
lists. Her list includes current affairs, pop culture, food, Jewish interest,
Francophilia, lifestyle, upmarket fiction, middle grade, young adult,
thrillers, historical fiction, and mysteries.
Originally from the Midwest and still trying to lose
the accent, Irene has a B.A. and a master's degree from the University of
Michigan. She and her husband divide their time between New York and the
Berkshires, and have two grown children.
Irene 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 or young adult fiction.
She is avidly interested in nonfiction focusing on
pop culture, music, science, Francophilia, Judaica, and lifestyle. Nonfiction
can be for adults, young adults, or middle grade.
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.
 |
| Scholastic Books executive editor Anne Shone |
If you’re interested in meeting an agent and in getting puiblished, don’t
miss our upcoming How to Get Published workshops
Saturday, Oct 3, in Toronto with Evan Brown of Transatlantic
Literary Agency (see here) and Saturday, Oct 24, in Guelph with
Paige Sisley of the CookeMcdermid agency (see here).
And if you’re
specifically interested in writing and publishing Kid Lit, don’t miss Writing for Children and for Young Adults, with Anne Shone, Executive Editor, Scholastic Books, Saturday, September
12, local to be determined. Details here.
In the meanwhile, though, the best way of upping your game as a writer
may be with a weekly course. This summer, Brian Henry’s offering an
Introductory course and two Intensive courses online and accessible anywhere in
the world:
Online: Intensive
Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons, July 7 – Aug 25. First
reading emailed June 30. Details here.
Online: Intensive
Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings, July 8 – Aug
26. First reading emailed July 1. Details here.
Beyond
that, Brian’s post-lockdown workshop schedule continues to take shape:
July
Algonquin Park Writing
Retreat: Join me for a magical weekend at Arowhon Pines
Resort, an outpost of luxury in the middle of the wilderness, for a
writing retreat. Thursday, July 9 – Sunday, July 12. Details here.
Burlington: Raising the
Stakes: How to increase your story's tension, Saturday, July 18.
Details here.
Southampton
Art School: Join me in this lovely beach town on Lake Huron for two
workshops: How to Build Your Story, Saturday, July 25 (see here) and How to Write
Great Characters, Sunday, July 26 (see here).
August
September
Alliston: Writing for Children and for Young Adults with Anne Shone, Executive Editor, Scholastic Books, Saturday, September 12. Details here.
Alliston: Writing for Children and for Young Adults with Anne Shone, Executive Editor, Scholastic Books, Saturday, September 12. Details here.
October
Toronto: How to
Get Published with Evan Brown of Transatlantic Literary Agency,
Saturday, Oct 3. Details here.
Guelph: How to
Get Published with literary agent Paige Sisley of CookeMcDermid,
Saturday, Oct 24. Details here.
London: How to Write
Great Characters, Saturday, October 31. Treats for everyone in
costume. Details here.
November
Jackson's
Point: Writing Retreat at the Briar's Resort on Lake Simcoe, Friday, Nov
13 – Monday, Nov 16. Details to come.
See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including writing workshops,
weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston,
Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown,
Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kitchener-Waterloo, London,
Midland, Mississauga, New Tecumseth, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St.
Catharines, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel,
Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
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