This Is What Agent Alert Subscribers Get Every Week

Happy Wednesday, writers!

Here are 12 agents who opened to queries in the past week (May 6 - 12), along with information about what they’re looking for, some of their published titles, and their query link.

If you missed last week: 46 other agents opened to queries. Check out the lists here and here!

Note that some of these agents may already be closed to queries.

Best of luck, and happy querying!

This newsletter is purely informational and is not an endorsement of any particular agent or agency.

1. Michael Bourret of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC

Michael represents a wide range of genres and age groups; his children’s list is broad, spanning from picture books to young adult, while on the adult side he represents narrative nonfiction, memoir, and commercial and literary fiction. Across the board, he has a special affinity for offbeat projects that break the mold, and a particular interest in queer and BIPOC literature and writers.

You can find more about what he’s looking for on his MSWL.

Published titles: The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Link to query 💌

2. Juliet Mushens of Mushens Entertainment

Juliet is looking for adult fiction across the genres – from reading group, to love story, to SFF, and most things in between. She is naturally drawn to books with high concept hooks, and page-turning plots. Juleit has a perennial interest in novels about cults, stylish crime fiction where the setting is also a character, love stories where you cry at the end, books about rich people being awful, subversive fantasy, funny and voice-y novels.

Published titles: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, Girl A by Abigail Dean

Link to query 💌

3. Danielle Chiotti of Upstart Crow Literary

Danielle specializes in upmarket and literary fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as select nonfiction. Thanks to her extensive editorial background, she enjoys working closely with authors to develop projects. She welcomes first-time authors with a unique voice and point of view. Danielle is actively seeking projects in a variety of categories.

For adult fiction, Danielle is seeking upmarket commercial fiction and literary fiction and literary thrillers. She prefers books that explore deep emotional relationships in an interesting or unusual way and unreliable narrators who challenge our notions of “good” or “bad”. She likes an unusually told or episodic narrative (novels told in short stories, verse, etc.).

For middle grade and YA: She is actively seeking fresh young adult and middle grade fiction across all genres. She is drawn toward gorgeous writing and strong, flawed characters. Her dream project for young readers is one that challenges and inspires, with a compelling voice that will make her stay up all night reading. She enjoys familiar narratives told in an unconventional way and stories that explore the limits of friendship.

For nonfiction: she is looking for compelling, voice-driven projects that shed a humorous or thought-provoking light on a previously unknown topic in the areas of narrative nonfiction/memoir, lifestyle, relationships, humor, current events, food, wine, and cooking.

She is not considering the following adult categories: romance, science fiction, or erotica.

Published titles: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw, Punch Me Up To The Gods by Brian Broome and Yona Harvey, The Instant Pot No-Pressure Cookbook by Laurel Randolph

Link to query 💌

4. Juliana McBride of Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency

Juliana loves commercial and literary fiction, stories that explore relationships as well as make her laugh, in women’s fiction, contemporary adult coming of age, new adult, light speculative fiction, young adult, cozy mysteries and cozy fantasies, and very select contemporary romance with a unique and strong hook.

All of the above aside, you can SURPRISE HER! These wishlists are always so hard because she has so many exceptions to her “rules”. If you think your manuscript might surprise and delight please please please send your query.

Check out her full MSWL here.

Published titles: Starlings and Six of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier

Link to query 💌

5. Marisa Cleveland of The Seymour Agency

Marisa loves working with authors who write for a broad range of readers - children and adults - within the fiction and nonfiction genres. She’s looking for manuscripts she can’t put down until the last page and can’t stop discussing with random strangers in bookstores. Voice is definitely key for her, and she wants to find her best friends and partners-in-crime protagonists long after the story ends, whether it’s in this world or an alternate universe.

Published titles: The Palace Rat by Lynne Marie and Eva Santana, The Wedding Shoe Snatch by Madhu Messenger and Darshika Varma, BroomMates by Brenda Reeves, Lynne Marie and Nico Ecenarro

Link to query 💌

Check out 7 more agent profiles:

6. Alice Speilburg of Speilburg Literary Agency

Alice is the founding agent of Speilburg Literary and has worked in book publishing for more than a decade. She is looking for commercial fiction that blends history, magic, mystery, horror, and adventure. She enjoys historical fantasy, folklore-inspired tales, atmospheric horror, and semi-cozy whodunits, particularly those featuring underestimated and overlooked women. She is also drawn to historical intrigue, espionage, and adventure with unlikely female companions, as well as dark naturalism and eerie, earthy settings in fantasy and horror.

She is currently not accepting nonfiction or YA and she does not represent poetry, screenplays, picture books, or middle grade.

You can find more about what she’s looking for on her MSWL.

Published titles: The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert, Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out by Josh Noel, A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City by David Domine

Link to query 💌

7. Ginger Hutchinson of Movable Type Management

Ginger is looking for high-concept commercial, upmarket, and select literary fiction. She’s actively seeking archetypal stories with a strong hook, compelling characters and a rich sense of place. She values writers who are are constantly developing their craft, with emotionally grounded and atmospherically rich stories to tell.

Ginger is particularly interested in escapist books: beach reads in unique locations, crossover romance, mysteries and thrillers that transport me. She’d love to see some clever puzzle-solving mysteries with an underdog protagonist or ensemble.

She’s also curious to see stories of all genres set in specific hobby groups, such as filmmaking, ballet/dance, knitting/crochet. Ginger would particularly love a thriller that centers on an unusual career that lends itself to interesting psychological phenomena—like deep-sea fishing, cargo/container ships, long-haul trucking, railroad conductors…you see where this is going?

Ginger would be thrilled to hear from Indigenous/First Nations authors writing in any genre. You can learn more about her interests on her MSWL.

Link to query 💌

8. Alex Gehringer of The Bright Agency

Alex is a Children’s Illustration Agent at Bright. Both creative and savvy, she pairs talented illustrators with manuscripts that perfectly complement their unique strengths and artistic styles. From board books through middle grade, no matter the format, Alex is well-versed in building spectacular relationships between client and artist.

Published titles: Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary by Robb Pearlman, The Goonies: Illustrated Storybook by Brooke Vitale

Link to query 💌

9. Carrie Pestritto of Laura Dail Literary Agency, Inc.

Carrie is a big commercial and genre fiction lover who is particularly drawn in by unique voices, strong character development, high-concept plots, and transporting experiences. She’s currently on the lookout for adult fiction (contemporary romance, paranormal romance, mysteries, commercial and upmarket fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy), adult nonfiction (microhistories, memoir, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction or pop science), and select children’s fiction (MG, YA, SFF, and mysteries).

For a more detailed wishlist, please see her website.

Published titles: Murderous Minds by Dean A. Haycock, By Way of Sorrow by Robyn Gigl, The Stand-In by Lily Chu

Link to query 💌

10. Sarah Bowlin of Aevitas Creative Management

As an agent, Sarah is focused on bold, diverse voices in fiction and nonfiction. She’s especially interested in stories of strong or difficult women and unexpected narratives of place, of identity, and of the shifting ways we see ourselves and each other. She’s also interested in food history, wine, and dance.

Published titles: Hula by Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes, Flight by Lynn Steger Strong, How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti

Link to query 💌

11. Grace Milusich of Looking Glass Literary & Media

Grace is interested in pursuing both YA and adult pieces. She is passionate about atmospheric horror, thrillers, romance horror, and contemporary fiction. She enjoys projects featuring powerful themes, high-concept plots, strong voices, and commercial pacing. Grace is also a lover of the found family trope in all its forms!

Speculative fiction about ambitious characters will always catch her eye. Grace hopes to work on speculative projects featuring diverse protagonists and intersectional identities. She enjoys sharp/organic dialogue. She is a sucker for queer narratives, usually including romantic elements.

Horror projects inspired by folklore, mythology, and rural landscapes interest Grace. She loves projects that interweave horror with romance. She is also seeking horror in the YA space. If your book is a little twisty or strange, Grace would love to read it!

Grace is hoping to work on horror projects that feature BIPOC protagonists!

Published title: We Become Darkness by Grace Morrow

Link to query 💌

12. Janine Le of Janine Le Literary

Janine enjoys the balance of creative-minded and business-minded work and loves pushing her clients to reach their projects’ potential in the developmental stages and advocating for them from submissions onward.

Across the board, she is looking for:

• stories and illustrations with emotional resonance!

• originality (unique twists, fresh styles/approaches)

• great voice (we see through a distinct point of view that draws the reader in)

• engaging writing (rich sensory details, puns, or interactivity that add to the story)

• like poetry, she loves when form matches content in all genres

• swift reads (compelling voice, well-paced plots rather than non-stop action. Shorter book/chapter word counts)

• writers and artists who take their craft seriously and wow with revisions

• diverse perspectives (BIPOC, Latinx, disabled, chronically ill, neurodiverse, immigrant, refugee, adoptee, multiracial, religious minority, LGBTQIA, etc.

Published titles: Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott, Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Hear Me by Kerry O’Malley Cerra

Link to query 💌

Got any additions? 

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