Ten agents at The Knight Agency seek middle grade, young adult and adult fiction, plus nonfiction

Magic Dark and Strange by Kelly Powell
represented by The Knight Agency

The Knight Agency

232 Washington St

Madison, Georgia

U.S.A.  30650

https://knightagency.net/

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Deidre Knight established The Knight Agency in 1996. Since then it has grown to include has ten agents, representing middle grade, young adult and adult fiction – mostly popular fiction, but also literary fiction with commercial possibilities, and a range of nonfiction. All the agents are accepting queries. As always, though, your best bets for finding representation are probably with the associate agents:

Jackie Williams is the newest member of the team, and like all new agents, she needs authors. Jackie was previously with Chronicle Books. She’s interested in middle grade, young adult and adult fiction and in nonfiction.

In MG, YA and adult, Jackie is seeking all types of science-fiction, fantasy, and horror. She likes novels that span generations similar to Cixin Liu’s THREE-BODY PROBLEM, Justin Cronin’s THE PASSAGE and Netflix’s Dark. Wildly imaginative magic systems like N.K. Jemisin's THE FIFTH SEASON and Samantha Shannon's THE BONE SEASON. Or magical realism and surrealism books like THE MEXICAN GOTHIC and Haruki Murakami's work.  

She also loves novels with light-hearted magic such as THE EMPEROR's SOUL, the SHADOWSHAPER CYPHER series, and THE WAYWARD CHILDREN's series. Geeky books that inspire nostalgia like Stranger Things and READY PLAYER ONE. And, science-fiction and fantasy mixed with romance like DARK MATTER and THE NIGHT CIRCUS.

She enjoys mysteries, thrillers, and suspense with smart female protagonists and/or unreliable narrators, like the LOU NORTON series, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, THE OTHER SISTER, SHARP OBJECTS, and YOU. 

The City We Became by NK Jemisin
represented by The Knight Agency

She says she’s into contemporary books with a unique take on sports, dance, and hip-hop like Love & Basketball, Pose, or The Get Down. She’s also interested in books that explore status and beauty like THE BELLES, and grief and loss like THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER. 

With literary fiction, she prefers if it has commercial appeal or includes elements of other genres; authors like Celeste Ng, Steph Cha, and Tana French are particularly great at this.

In nonfiction, she’s seeking memoirs, inspirational, and mind/body/spirit books that expand the readers' empathy and self-awareness like EDUCATED and WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR. 

Productivity, self-improvement, and practical nonfiction that promotes business, entrepreneurship, creativity, success, or leadership like ATOMIC HABITS and DIGITAL MINIMALISM. 

Lifestyle and funny gift book topics, like AM I OVERTHINKING THIS? 

Like everyone else, she’s interested in bringing more underrepresented communities to the publishing forefront, whether it's #ownvoices or diverse characters, identities, and cultures,.

Query Jackie through her query manager here.

Janna Bonikowski is eager to find well-crafted, inclusive stories with tight pacing, authentic characters, distinctive voices, and – above all – imaginative, fresh concepts. She loves books that make her laugh out loud or take her down dark and twisted paths; books centered around family, friendship, or strong women; and stories that hook er from the start and don’t let go. If a story is sassy and bold, memorable and unique, or sparks conversation, she wants to read it. More than anything, she wants to be surprised.

She Tweets here.

Query Janna through her query manager here.

Kristy Hunter is actively building her list and searching for projects that surprise her with their uniqueness. “I often find that it’s the story I least expect that pulls me in and doesn’t let go,” says Kristy. “It all comes down to the voice and a strong hook!” She represents young adult and adult fiction.

In adult fiction, she’s looking for:

High concept women’s fiction such as ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman and THE HUSBAND’S SECRET by Liane Moriarty. As well, as stories that are literary but with commercial appeal such as LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng and LILY AND THE OCTOPUS by Steven Rowley. She especially loves projects that capture the complicated nature of family.

Rom-coms set in wonderful urban settings such as THE HATING GAME by Sally Thorne and CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan

Mainstream titles with hints of magic like THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger and THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern.

Into the Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon,
represented by The Knight Agency

In Young Adult fiction, she’s looking for:

Fantasy projects that allows her to be transported in a way that feels new and fresh. She’d especially love to find a contemporary fantasy with a wonderful atmospheric setting. She  wouldn’t say no to paranormal…but it would truly have to be something hasn’t seen before

Magical realism

Historical projects that are serious in nature like CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein, as well as those that are more playful like THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE by Mackenzi Lee. She especially loves historical mysteries and projects set in the Victorian and Regency periods.

Cotemporary YA stories that are fun and unique, and overall present the perfect escape – even if they address larger issues. THINK DUMPLIN’ by Julie Murphy, TO ALL THE BOYS I LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han and WHEN WE COLLIDED by Emery Lord.

Thrillers and mysteries—either contemporary or historical. My favorites include LITTLE MONSTERS by Kara Thomas and WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart.

And of course, like everyone else, she’s looking for OwnVoices projects and projects featuring a diverse cast of characters, across all genres.

Query Kristy through her query manager here.

To read what all agents at The Knight Agency are looking for, see the agency’s submissions page here.

Literary agent Paige Sisley en route to
our 2018 workshop in Collingwod

If you're interested in meeting an agent and in getting published, 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).

If you’re especially 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, in Mississauga (see here) and the Writing Kid Lit  weekly class this fall on Thursday evenings, online (see here).

Beyond that, Brian’s workshop schedule continues to take shape:
August & September workshops

Online: "You can write great dialogue," Saturday, Aug 15.  Details here.

Online: How to Make Yourself Write," Saturday, Aug 22.  Details here.
Burlington: Raising the Stakes: How to increase your story's tension,
Saturday, Sept 26. Details here.

Writing Retreats:

Algonquin Park: Join me for a magical weekend at Arowhon Pines Resort, an outpost of luxury in the middle of the wilderness, for a writing retreat. Two sessions:  Friday, Aug 28 – Monday, Aug 31 (Wait list only. See here) and Labour Day weekend, Friday, Sept 4 – Monday, Sept 7 (Spaces still available. See here).

Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe: Give yourself four days of inspiration, instruction, and creativity at the Briar’s Resort & Spa, Friday Nov 13 – Monday, Nov 16. Details not posted yet, but will be much the same as 2019. See here. 
To reserve a spot, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca  

Weekly Classes

Online: Welcome to Creative Writing, Thursday afternoons, Sept 24 – Dec 3. See here.

Online: Writing Kid Lit, Thursday evenings, 
Sept 24 – Nov 26. Details here.

Burlington: Intensive Creative Writing, Tuesday mornings, Sept 15 – Dec 15. Spaces still available.  See here.

Online: Intensive Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings, Sept 16 to Dec 9 –almost full or wait list. See here.

Online: Intensive Creative Writing, Friday mornings. Sept 18 – Dec 4 –almost full or wait list. See here.

See Brian’s complete current schedule  here, including online and in-person 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, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Southampton, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, 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. If you're searching for more interviews with literary agents or a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.