There's a brand new Canadian literary agency: The READ Agency

The Read Agency

Toronto, Canada

https://thereadagency.com/

Olga Filina recently left 5 Otter Literary to create her own agency: The READ Agency. How new is this agency? Well, when I started preparing this post, her website wasn’t up yet and I had to get the scoop on how to submit straight from Olga. If you’re looking for representation, this strikes me as good opportunity to get in on the ground floor. ~Brian

Olga’s worked at every level of the publishing industry for over twenty-five years: bookselling, buying, directing literary festivals, editing, consulting, and agenting, and she’s a founding member and former executive treasurer of PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents.

“Understanding how books are sold and discovered allows me to position the clients I represent in both English language and translation markets,” says Olga. “I'm drawn to work that's intellectually stimulating, ambitious, or written from a perspective that hasn't yet been heard. As an immigrant, I have a particular affinity for stories of belonging, displacement, and international experience. If your book could be banned in the current political climate, I want to read it.”

If you have a project ready to share, here’s what you need to know to submit:

Currently, Olga is looking for literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, and projects from experts in their subject matter.

Plus, children's literature across all ages.  

She also has particular focus on underrepresented voices, international stories, and the global diaspora.

Query Olga at: submissions@thereadagency.com

Submit your query and the first ten pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email.

Full submission guidelines here.

Note: If you’re interested in getting published and meeting an agent, check out upcoming “How to Get Published” workshops here. We always have a literary agent as a guest speaker at these workshops.

See all our upcoming weekly writing classes, afternoon workshops, and glorious writing retreats here.

 

Three literary agents looking for authors ~ picture books through young adult, plus adult fiction & nonfiction

Crave by Tracy Wolff,
represented by Prospect Agency

Prospect Agency

551 Valley Road, PMB 377 
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

https://www.prospectagency.com/

Note: You can now get new postings on Quick Brown Fox delivered straight to your Inbox as I publish them. Subscribe to the new Quick Brown Fox page on Substack here:  https://brian999.substack.com/

You can also get an email about twice a month about what’s coming up in terms of writing classes, workshops, and retreats, plus providing links to the other material on the Quick Brown Fox blog. For that, add your name and email in the Sign-Up box in the righthand column. ~Brian 

Emily Sylvan Kim founded Prospect Agency in 2005. Currently, the agency has three agents, all looking for clients. The agency handles adult fiction and nonfiction, and all types of children’s books: board books through young adult, including rhyming picture books.

Rachel Orr specializes exclusively in children’s literature, where she represents a wide range of authors and illustrators including Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Cathy Carr, Mike Ciccotello, Cori Doerrfeld, Leeza Hernandez, Susie Lee Jin, and Molly Ruttan. 

Before joining Prospect in 2007, she was an editor at HarperCollins Children's Books, where she had the pleasure of working with such successful authors as Dan Gutman and Suzanne Williams. Because of her editorial background, Rachel continues to do a lot of hands-on work with her clients before sending their projects out on submission. 

Rachel is looking for short, punchy picture books (either in prose or rhyme) that are humorous and have a strong marketing hook. She also wants nonfiction picture books, especially biographies or stories with a historical angle.

Plus, she wants illustrators. 

In middle grade and young adult, Rachel is interested in both literary and commercial fiction, in all time periods and most genres. She does not want high fantasy (though she does love a good time travel) nor YA that’s too dark or edgy.

Like many agents and editors looking to acquire manuscripts, Rachel especially loves meeting authors, which is why we had her for a guest speaker at a Kid Lit workshop last February.

Query Rachel through the agency’s submission form here.

Charlotte Wenger was born and raised in Pennsylvania and Virginia. She worked for a publishing services company in Philadelphia until shipping up to Boston to earn her MA in Children's Literature from Simmons College. After gaining editorial, sales, and agency experience, she became an associate editor for Page Street Kids, where she loved working with debut talent and building relationships with authors and illustrators. 

Charlotte brings the same mindset to agenting, valuing the developmental and relational work that goes into creating successful stories and fostering long-lasting collaborations.

Charlotte is interested in working with authors and illustrators of children's books – board books through young adult, but especially picture books.

Charlotte is also seeking adult nonfiction, particularly biographies and memoirs. But she’s not looking for adult fiction.

Query Charlotte through the agency’s submission form here.

Emily Sylvan Kim is the president of Prospect Agency. As an agent, she aims to excel at identifying and nurturing each author's unique strengths and helping to grow long, sustainable publishing careers. Emily is a member in good standing at the AAR. She is also a founding member of the breakout literary production company, et al Creative.

In adult fiction, Emily is looking for commercial and upmarket women's fiction, self-published authors looking to explore a hybrid career, established romance authors and strong debut authors writing mainstream romance.

Emily is also seeking memoir and high interest nonfiction.

In the children’s market, she wants literary and commercial young adult fiction and select middle grade and early reader fiction with strong commercial appeal.

Query Emily through the agency’s submission form here.

See Prospect Agency’s full submissions guidelines here.

Literary agent Jaqcui Lipton will
be the guest speaker for our Feb 25, 2024
"How to Get Published" workshop (see here) 

If you’re interested in meeting an agent and in getting published, check out our upcoming How to Get Published workshops. Details here.

If you're interested in writing for young people, join us for a one-day Writing for Children and for Young Adults workshop with a children’s book editor or literary agent as the guest speaker or for a weekly Kid Lit class. See here {and scroll down}.

Don't miss out on our writing retreats. See details here {and scroll down – because there's usually more than one).

To reserve a spot or for more details about any course, workshop or retreat, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.

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 a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.  

Eight agents at Canadian agency P.S. Literary seek fiction and nonfiction for adults, teens and kids

The Inkwell Chronicles by J.D. Peabody
represented by P.S. Literary

P.S. Literary Agency

2010 Winston Park Drive
2nd Floor
Oakville, Ontario
Canada

http://www.psliterary.com/

Note: You can hang out and chat with quick brown foxes and vixens on my Facebook page (here). Just send a friend request to Brian Henry. Also, if you're not yet on my newsletter list, send me an email, including your locale to: brianhenry@sympatico.ca ~Brian

P.S. Literary is a full-service literary agency with eight agents, representing everything from picture books through young adult, and literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction for adults. Their goal is to support clients from draft to post-publication and to pursue foreign, audio, digital, TV/film, and serial rights on their behalf. P.S. has launched many new authors on their careers.

All eight agents at P.S. Literary are looking for new authors – fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young people.

Stephanie Winter is an Associate Agent. She first joined the agency as an intern before becoming the agency’s Relations Assistant. Stephanie holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto in English Literature and an M.A. in English: Issues in Modern Culture, from University College London.

Stephanie acquires across three main pillars: nonfiction, graphic novels, and picture books for young readers, in addition to select adult fiction in upmarket and thriller categories. Stephanie lovingly describes her list as geeky, young at heart, and queer-affirming. Some of Stephanie’s projects include Danny Loves Pasta (DK, 2023), The Case for Cancel Culture (Macmillan, 2023), and The Embroidered Closet (Abrams, 2022).

Query Stephanie at: query@psliterary.com

Include the first 10 pages of text or the full text of fiction or nonfiction picture books pasted into the body of your email. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample art. Address your query to Stephanie’s attention.

***

Note: Stephanie will be the guest speaker for our upcoming online How to Get Published  workshop, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Details here.

***

Rose Ferrao is an Associate Agent and is the newest member of the team at P.S. Literary. Like all new agents, she needs authors. Rose began her career in publishing in London, working in nonfiction at Bloomsbury and in science fiction, fantasy and horror at Orbit Books. She has a B.A. in English Literature and Film from Queens University and an M.A. in publishing from University College London. 

Rose is acquiring both fiction and nonfiction.

In fiction, she is looking for commercial romance, adult and crossover fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction, and select young adult fiction. She is drawn to stories that embrace genre conventions from a fun, fresh angle.

In nonfiction, she is looking for cookbooks and food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle and wellness, especially when approached from a specific, unique perspective.

She welcomes and encourages submissions from neurodivergent writers.

Query Rose at: query@psliterary.com

Include the first 10 pages of text pasted into the body of your email. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample art. Address your query to Rose’s attention.

Cecilia Lyra is an Associate Agent and is acquiring a wide range of both fiction and nonfiction for adults. 

In terms of nonfiction, no title is too serious or too accessible for her taste, and she is seeking original and provocative expert-led proposals in psychology, history, current affairs, science, politics, narrative journalism, nature and the environment, wellness, spirituality, business and economics, mathematics, parenting, lifestyle, pop culture, and memoir.

As for fiction, Cecilia’s taste gravitates towards books by women, for women, whether commercial, upmarket, or literary. She can’t get enough of: family sagas, female friendship, edgy psychological suspense, closed-setting novels, anti-heroines, smart romances, comedy of manners, found family, and stories with light speculative elements. Above all else, Cecilia is looking for a story she can’t put down.

Query Cecilia at: query@psliterary.com   

Include the first 10 pages of text. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample art. Address your query to Cecilia’s attention.

Maria Vicente is acquiring fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages. She looking for literary fiction and upmarket speculative fiction {fantasy, magical realism, horror}; young adult novels, middle grade novels, graphic memoirs, and graphic nonfiction; and narrative nonfiction for kids, teens, or adult readers about culture, arts and entertainment, history, and science topics.

“She welcomes and encourages submissions from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled creators.”

You can view her detailed manuscript wish list here. 

Query Maria at: query@psliterary.com  

Include the first 10 pages of text or the full text of fiction or nonfiction picture books pasted into the body of your email. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample art. Address your query to Maria’s attention.

Eric Smith is eagerly acquiring fiction and nonfiction projects. 

He’s actively seeking out new, diverse voices in young adult (particularly sci-fi and fantasy), middle grade, and literary and commercial fiction (again, loves sci-fi and fantasy, but also thrillers and mysteries).

In terms of nonfiction, he’s interested in cookbooks, pop culture, humor, middle grade, essay collections, and blog to book ideas.

You can view his detailed manuscript wish list here. 

Query Eric at: query@psliterary.com  

Include the first 10 pages of text. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample are. Address your query to Eric’s attention.

Claire Harris is acquiring both fiction and nonfiction projects for adults. She’s actively seeking projects that spotlight people, places, and events that are often overlooked or not given the attention they deserve. 

In fiction, she’s looking for adult rom-coms, contemporary fiction, psychological thrillers, select horror, and cozy mysteries – all for millennial audiences. Claire is happiest when reading manuscripts with unexpected endings or new twists on classic genre tropes.

For nonfiction, Claire is seeking a range of projects, including lifestyle guides, pop culture celebrations, pop psychology, cultural criticism, humor, true crime, essay collections, and illustrated books for adults.

Query Claire at: query@psliterary.com 

Include the first 10 pages of text. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample are. Address your query to Claire’s attention.

Carly Watters is currently acquiring both fiction and nonfiction.

In terms of fiction, she is seeking women’s fiction, upmarket adult, commercial adult, domestic suspense, literary mystery and thrillers, historical, contemporary romance, and smart book club fiction.

In terms of nonfiction, she is looking for pop science, business, psychology, cookbooks, unique memoirs, lifestyle (health, wellness, relationships, parenting), narrative, and platform-based nonfiction (must have demonstrable expertise and a quantifiable market). 

Query Carly at: query@psliterary.com  

For fiction queries, format your email subject line as: Fiction: TITLE / GENRE / AUTHOR NAME

For nonfiction queries: TOPIC / TITLE / AUTHOR NAME

Include the first 10 pages of text. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample are. Address your query to Carly’s attention.

Curtis Russell is currently acquiring both fiction and nonfiction. 

In terms of fiction, he is seeking literary, commercial, mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, young adult, middle grade, and picture books.

In terms of nonfiction, he is looking for business, history, politics, current affairs, memoir, health, wellness, sports, humor, pop culture, pop science, and pop psychology.

Query Curtis at: query@psliterary.com  

Include the first 10 pages of text or the full text of fiction or nonfiction picture books pasted into the body of your email. If your work is illustrated, please include a link to your portfolio or sample art. Address your query to Curtis’s attention.

See P.S. Literary’s full submission guidelines here.

Katie Hearn, Editorial Director at Annick Press
will be the guest speaker for our Kid Lit workshop
Sunday, June 25, 2023. Details here.

If you’re interested in meeting an agent and in getting published, don’t miss our upcoming How to Get Published workshop. Details here.

If you’re particularly interested in writing Kid Lit, don’t miss our upcoming Writing for Children and for Young Adults workshop. Details here.

Check out upcoming Writing Retreats here {and scroll down}.

See all upcoming weekly classes, writing retreats, and one-day workshops here.

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.

 

Three literary agents at Prospect Agency seek adult fiction and nonfiction and kid lit, board books through YA

Prospect Agency

551 Valley Road, PMB 377 
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

https://www.prospectagency.com/

Note: You can hang out and chat with quick brown foxes and vixens on my Facebook page (here). Just send a friend request to Brian Henry. Also, if you're not yet on my newsletter list, send me an email, including your locale to: brianhenry@sympaticpo.ca ~Brian

Emily Sylvan Kim founded Prospect Agency in 2005. Currently, the agency has three agents, all looking for clients. The agency handles adult fiction and nonfiction, and all types of children’s books: board books through young adult, including rhyming books.

Rachel Orr specializes in children’s literature, where she represents a wide range of authors and illustrators including Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Cathy Carr, Mike Ciccotello, Samantha M. Clark, Cori Doerrfeld, Leeza Hernandez, Susie Lee Jin and Molly Ruttan. 

Before joining Prospect in 2007, she was an editor at HarperCollins Children's Books, where she had the pleasure of working with such successful authors as Dan Gutman and Suzanne Williams. Because of her editorial background, Rachel continues to do a lot of hands-on work with her clients before sending their projects out on submission. 

Rachel is looking for short, punchy picture books (either in prose or rhyme) that are humorous and have a strong marketing hook. She is also looking for illustrators – especially those who want to write. 

In middle grade and young adult, Rachel is interested in both literary and commercial fiction. She is mostly drawn to contemporary, realistic stories, but finds it hard to say no to a good time travel.

Query Rachel through the agency’s submission form here.

Note: Rachel will the be the special guest speaker for our online Writing for Children and for Young Adults workshop Sunday, March 5. Details here. To reserve your spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca  

Charlotte Wenger was born and raised in Pennsylvania and Virginia. She worked for a publishing services company in Philadelphia until shipping up to Boston to earn her MA in Children's Literature from Simmons College. After gaining editorial, sales, and agency experience, she became an associate editor for Page Street Kids, where she loved working with debut talent and building relationships with authors and illustrators. 

She brings the same mindset to agenting, valuing the developmental and relational work that goes into creating successful stories and fostering long-lasting collaborations.

Charlotte is also seeking adult nonfiction, particularly biographies and memoirs.

Query Charlotte through the agency’s submission form here.

Emily Sylvan Kim is the president of Prospect Agency. As an agent, she aims to excel at identifying and nurturing each author's unique strengths and helping to grow long, sustainable publishing careers. Emily is a member in good standing at the AAR. She is also a founding member of the breakout literary production company, et al Creative.

In adult fiction, Emily is looking for commercial and upmarket women's fiction, self-published authors looking to explore a hybrid career, established romance authors and strong debut authors writing mainstream romance.

Emily is also seeking memoir and high interest nonfiction.

In the children’s market, she wants literary and commercial YA fiction and select middle grade and early reader fiction with strong commercial appeal.

Query Emily through the agency’s submission form here.

Read more about the agents at Prospect and their interests here. See their submissions guidelines here.

Author Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
guest speaker for
"Finding Your Voice" workshop

If you’re interested in meeting an agent and publishing your book, join us for an upcoming How to Get Published workshop. See here.

And if you’re particularly interested in writing for children or for young adults, join us at an upcoming one-day Kid Lit workshop or weekly course. See here {and scroll down).

See details of all upcoming writing retreats, one-day workshops, and weekly classes here. 

Beyond that, Brian’s schedule continues to take shape.

Spring courses:

Online: Intensive Creative Writing, Tuesday evenings, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m., April 18 – June 20, first readings sent April 11. Details here.

Online: Writing Personal Stories, Tuesday afternoons, April 11 –  May 30, 2023. Details here.

Online: Welcome to Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings, April 12 – June 7. Details here.

In-person: Welcome to Creative Writing, Thursday evenings, April 20 – June 15, 2023, in Burlington. Details here.

A one-day workshop:

Online: Finding Your Voice, Saturday, April 15, with author Laurie Elizabeth Flynn. Details here.

Writing Retreats:

New: Late summer Writing Retreat in Algonquin Park at Arowhon Pines Resort. Tuesday, Sept 4 – Friday, Sept 8. Details here. We still have lots of room in this retreat.

See details of all upcoming writing retreats, one-day workshops, and weekly classes here. 

To reserve a spot or for more details about any course, workshop or retreat, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

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 a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.