The benefits of finding the right agent for your fiction

If you are looking to work with a literary agent, here is a list of agents who are considered to be at the top of their profession and who are open to working with new writers. These agents represent a variety of categories and genres, so you should be able to find one that is a good fit for your work.

It is not always easy to tell which representatives are truly seeking new writers and which ones do not have time to review submissions. Literary agents act as gatekeepers by taking the best new material and submitting it to publishing houses and production companies for consideration. Because editors at these establishments are often busy, they may not be able to properly review book submissions. In this case, agents play an important role in the literary marketplace by selling work on behalf of writers. Thus, if you are selling fiction, it is likely that you will need an agent.

The Case Walker Literary Agency presents more than clients, % of which are nonfiction books and % novels. Seeking new and established writers, the agency is particularly interested in fiction that falls into the following categories: ethnic, experimental, family saga, feminist, gay/lesbian, glitz, hi-lo, historical, humor/satire, literary, mainstream/contemporary, multicultural, multimedia, mystery/suspense, regional, short story collections, spiritual, translation, young adult, women’s.

To become an agent, Ms. LeBaigue spent years with Sony Pictures and Warner. She is interested in sign, biography/autobiography, cooking/foods/nutrition, crafts/hobbies, current affairs ethnic/cultural interests, gay/lesbian issues, government/politics/law, how-to, interior design/decorating, memoirs, nature/environment, photography, popular culture, science/technology, sociology, sports, true crime/investigative, women’s issues/studies. Fiction areas of interest: action/adventure, feminist, gay/lesbian, literary, mainstream/contemporary, mystery/suspense, thriller, women’s, Southern voices.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Ferrari-Adler was with Sobel Weber Associates. She specializes in literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and commercial fiction. Other areas of nonfiction interest to her include history, memoir, women’s cookbooks, and cultural studies. Winifred Golden is actively seeking literary fiction, ethnic fiction, suspense, thrillers, commercial fiction, and science fiction. She will consider nonfiction if the author has expertise and high credentials. Her subjects of nonfiction interest are broad, but she is particularly interested in narrative nonfiction and health/medicine.

The following are areas of interest for Richard Brown: nonfiction with a faith-based angle, fiction, short story collections, novellas, and short stories. He specializes in religious books in these categories.

Conclusion

These are only a few of the many things that you should keep in mind when querying agents about your work. Do your research, be professional, and don’t give up. The right agent is out there for you, and with the right amount of effort, you’ll find them.