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| The Quiet Girl by S.F. Kosa represented by IGLA |
Irene Goodman Literary Agency
27 W 24th St
Suite 804
New York, NY 10010
Note: You’re invited to an online How to Get Published
workshop with a literary agent as the guest speaker. Details here.
For all upcoming one-day writing workshops,
weekend retreats, and weekly classes, see here.
And if you’re not yet on my newsletter list, send
me an email at: brianhenry.sympatico.ca
Irene Goodman and her agency
has been around the publishing world for more than 30 years. All ten agents are
open to new authors, including Irene herself (though I suspect she doesn’t take
on as many new authors as she used to).
Margaret Danko is the newest member of the team at Iren Goodman Literary Agency (IGLA). Originally from the heart of the south, Margaret received her BA from Oberlin College before pursuing an MFA from Temple University. While there, she climbed the ranks to become an editor of TINGE Magazine, publishing fiction, essays, and poetry. She has worked as a freelance editor and media consultant.
A lover of the dark, the quirky, and the fantastical, Margaret has a keen eye for projects that take unexpected turns or are told from unusual perspectives.
She's actively looking for attention-grabbing voices especially literary fiction with teeth, historical fiction with a dash of magical realism, fresh literary and commercial suspense, spooky contemporary and fantasy YA, narratives with a deep sense of place and history, quirky and heartwarming family stories, and rom-coms full of charm and whimsy.
Margaret is also
interested in nonfiction in the areas of humor, lifestyle, popular science,
health/wellness, true crime, politics, and current affairs. She does not
represent Middle Grade or picture books.
Like
all new agents, Margaret needs authors.
Query Margaret at: submissions@paperoverboard.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
Lee O’Brien was originally from Long Island. They {Lee uses any pronoun} returned to New York to join IGLA after completing an MA in English literature from UC Davis. Since starting at IGLA in 2019, Lee has worked first as an intern, then as a junior agent and assistant.
Across all age categories, Lee is looking for books with clear stakes and an immersive world, as well as anything with lots of atmosphere, magic, monsters, intrigue, or a plot full of twists and turns. They’s actively seeking underrepresented voices, and they have a particular soft spot for queer romance (whether it’s an epic love story or a first crush), ace rep, and trans kids with swords.
Like
all new agents, Lee needs authors.
Query Lee at: Lee.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
Maggie Kane was born and raised in northern Michigan. She 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.
Maggie is currently interested in
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.
Like all new agents, Maggie needs authors.
Query Maggie at: maggie.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
Pam Gruber
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 startup Rebel Girls, where
she saw first-hand how a great book can expand into other entertainment
mediums.
Pam joined Irene Goodman in 2020 after she realized her favorite part of the publishing business was working directly with authors and artists, helping them to shape not only their stories, but also their careers.
She 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.
Originally from
Philadelphia and raised by two artists, Pam knew she wanted to work in
publishing from a young age. She brings an inscrutable 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 is looking for 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 non-fiction, anthologies, potty humor, paranormal, or erotica.
Like
all new agents, Pam needs authors.
Query Pam at: pam.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
Whitney Ross joined Irene Goodman in 2018.
Previously, 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
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.
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 plot lines.
Query
Whitney at: whitney.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
Maggie Kane was born and raised in northern Michigan. She 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.
Maggie is 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.
Like
all new agents, Whitney needs authors.
Query Maggie at: maggie.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
Kim Perel has
a combined decade of experience in magazine and book publishing. She 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.
Kim is passionate about discovering fresh voices and
championing debut writers.
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.
Query Kim at: kim.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
***
If you’re especially interested in writing for children, don't miss Writing Little Kid Lit course, offered online Thursday afternoons, July 8 – Aug 26 (see here) and Writing for Children and for Young Adults workshops online Sunday, July 11, with literary agent Maria Vicente of P.S. Literary (see here).
***
Victoria Marini began her career as a literary agent at Gelfman Schneider and ICM
Partners before joining the Irene Goodman Agency in 2016. Originally from rural
Pennsylvania, she worked at an orchard, before moving to New York and earning
her degree in English and Comparative Literature at Pace University.
Victoria is looking for
commercial and literary Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction as well as
upmarket commercial or literary Adult fiction. She represents contemporary,
mystery & thrillers, suspense, fantasy, sci-fi, magical realism, horror,
and very select narrative non-fiction.
Victoria would not be the
best fit for prescriptive non-fiction, debut memoir, new
age/religious/spirituality, popular science, new adult, or regency romances.
Query Victoria at: victoria.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
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. She’s the author of Funny You Should Ask: Mostly Serious Answers to
Mostly Serious Questions About the Publishing Industry (see here)
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, now would be the time to leap into my queries inbox.”
Query Barbara at: barbara.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
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, focusing instead on finding 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 YA and MG,
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 non-fiction projects but has been known to jump on the right one.
Query Miriam at: miriam.queries@irenegoodman.com
For fiction, include the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send just a query letter. No attachments.
Irene Goodman has sold over 1500 books and
counting. Her clients are regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Bookscan bestseller lists. She
began her career as the assistant to the agent who represented Stephen King,
and established her own agency shortly after that.
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 and
young adult fiction. She is avidly interested in non-fiction focusing on pop
culture, music, science, Francophilia, Judaica, and lifestyle. Non-fiction can
be for adults, young adults, or middle grade.
Query
Irene at: irene.queries@irenegoodman.com
Paste in the first 10 pages, then a short synopsis (3–5
paragraphs), then at the bottom, your query, all in the body of the email. No attachments.
Full submission guidelines 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 interviews with literary agents or a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.
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