LYNNETTE NOVAK

Agent – Seymour Agency

Prior to joining The Seymour Agency, Lynnette spent seventeen years freelance editing. She worked with new writers, advanced writers, as well as New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Lynnette earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Manitoba, where she specialized in English and French. She excelled in Advanced Creative Writing in university and studied writing for children and teens through the Institute of Children’s Literature. She was a Pitch Wars mentor in 2015 and 2016. Both her mentees acquired an agent. Lynnette has since closed her editing business and is excited to bring her
passion for the written word to agenting.

Although Lynnette was born and raised Manitoba, Canada, she now lives in Minnesota with her husband, twin girls, and many pets. Her personal interests include reading, writing, exercising at the gym (okay, that’s a love/hate relationship), working on an assortment of crafts, all things having to do with animals (if she could own a farm, zoo, and animal shelter, she would), and enjoying time with family and friends.

Follow Lynnette:
Threads: @lynnette_novak
Blue Sky: @lynnettenovak.bsky.social

Wishlist

Currently looking for: (Always looking for BIPOC, diversity of all kinds, and LGBTQ+!!!)

Illustrators: Board book, picture book, illustrated MG, illustrated covers for kid lit and adult.

Picture books: fiction and nonfiction picture books (non-rhyming preferred).

MG genres: contemporary, magical realism, contemporary/grounded fantasy, horror

YA genres: romcom, romantasy, fantasy, magical realism, horror

NA genres: contemporary romance, romcom, romantasy

Adult fiction genres: horror, dark romance, contemporary romance, romcom, romantasy, and women’s fiction

I’m not looking for: thrillers, mysteries, romantic suspense, historical fiction, literary fiction, poetry, novellas, sci-fi, or epic fantasies.

Adult nonfiction genres: memoirs, narrative, spirituality/New Age, self-help, health/fitness, parenting/family, motivational/inspirational, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships & dating, and true crime. You must be an expert in the field and have a platform.

What kind of platform do you need for nonfiction? Are you a celebrity with a story to tell? An expert in the field (doctor, CEO, trainer, psychologist, etc.)? Do you have a direct route to the consumer? Are you a social influencer or public speaker?

I love dark and suspenseful, mysterious twists, unique worlds, light and funny, a good love story, and lots of voice.

JOSH ADAMS

Agent – Adams Literary

Josh Adams, together with his wife Tracey, runs Adams Literary, a full-service boutique literary agency passionately committed to the representation of the finest children’s, YA, and adult talent, that they co-founded in 2004. 

A graduate of Dartmouth College and Columbia Business School, Josh represents a number of bestselling and award-winning authors, and particularly enjoys reading both contemporary realistic and fantasy middle-grade, YA, and adult crossover novels. When he’s not working, Josh enjoys watching films, traveling, and photography.

Photo credit: Abby Adams

Wishlist

I am primarily looking for a diverse and wide range of high-concept literary and commercial middle-grade, YA, and adult fiction, as I handle very few picture books and non-fiction projects. In particular, I enjoy sci-fi, fantasy, historical adventure, contemporary realistic, romantic comedies, and thrillers.

ALEX WOLFE

Associate Editor – Penguin Workshop

Alex Wolfe is an associate editor at Penguin Workshop, where she works on picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, and everything in between. She is particularly passionate about fiction that emphasizes humor, faced-paced plotting, distinctive artwork, and anything weird, whimsical, and absurd! Alex is also the author of Parks and Recreation Mad Libs and Roald Dahl: Phizz-Whizzing Christmas Book. When not editing, you can usually find her listening to a comedy podcast, watching musical theater, or drinking copious amounts of coffee.

Wishlist

Overview: I’m looking for commercial fiction that emphasizes humor, narratives from marginalized creators, strong female characters, fast-paced action, joyful stories, and anything weird, whimsical, and absurd!

Picture Books: Humorous stories of all types; twist endings or inventive story structure; joyful stories that pair cuteness with humor.

Chapter Books: Silly stories with a voice-driven main character or a pair of best friends; contemporary with strong, distinctive characters; light fantasy/sci-fi with worldbuilding that’s easy for kids to pick up quickly.

Middle Grade: Fast-paced adventure, magical realism, speculative fiction, grounded fantasy/science fiction, creepy (not gory) horror, contemporary with a strong hook and humor, and genre-bending stories.

Young Adult: Fast-paced grounded fantasy, magical realism, light science fiction, stories filled with adventure, hilarious contemporary stories.

Note: I am not looking for nonfiction, romantasy, gory horror, novels in verse, or most historical fiction (one potential exception being if there’s a unique speculative twist).

LISA MANGUM

Editor – Shadow Mountain

Lisa Mangum has worked in publishing for more than twenty-five years. She has been the managing editor for Shadow Mountain since 2014 and has worked with several award-winning and New York Times best-selling authors.

Lisa is also the author of four national best-selling YA novels (The Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello), several short stories and novellas, and a nonfiction book about the craft of writing based on the TV show Supernatural. Her most recent book Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. was released in November 2024.

She regularly teaches at writing conferences across the country as well as hosts a writing weekend twice a year in Capitol Reef National Park. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah.

Wishlist

• Historical Fiction
• Historical Romance
• Cozy Mystery
• Contemporary Middle Grade
• Middle Grade Fantasy
• Contemporary Young Adult
• Young Adult Romance/Fantasy

MICHAEL CARR

Agent – Veritas Literary Agency

Michael Carr is a literary agent with a background in editing and writing who represents writers in a variety of genres, with a special emphasis on historical fiction, mystery and suspense, and science fiction and fantasy. Michael works carefully with clients to produce the cleanest, most professional manuscripts and enjoys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He speaks Brazilian Portuguese and Swahili, and before joining Veritas had professions as diverse as programming simulators for nuclear submarines and owning an inn in Vermont.

SHEYLA KNIGGE

Agent – High Line Literary Collective

Sheyla Knigge (SHAY-luh KUH-nig-gee) is a budding publishing professional who comes to the industry with a lifelong love of reading under her belt. Having worked under Victoria Marini since 2021 she has had the immense pleasure of perusing a variety of books that have gone on to do incredibly well and cannot wait to do the same for her own clients soon. With just over a year’s experience sleuthing through slush piles for the next best seller, she is itching to dive into more manuscripts with Highline Literary Collective. When she’s not working you can find Sheyla tucked away writing, getting more tattoos, or spending time with her family in the Appalachian Mountains.

Wishlist

BIPOC Literature, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical, Horror, LGBTQ, Middle Grade, New Adult, Thriller, Young Adult, #ownvoices, Adult, Adult Rom Com, Adult Romantasy, Author-Illustrator, BIPOC, BIPOC Fantasy, BIPOC Horror, BIPOC Mystery, BIPOC Sci-Fi, Category Romance, Children’s, Commercial MG, Commercial YA, Commercial adult fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Fantasy YA, Gothic Fantasy, Gothic Horror, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels (for all ages), Historical Fantasy; Fantasy Grounded In Reality, Historical Fiction YA, LGBT YA, LGBTQ Romance, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ Fantasy, LGBTQ+ rom coms, MG, MG Fantasy, Middle Grade, children’s graphic novels, commercial middle grade, contemporary MG, contemporary middle grade, crossover adult, crossover appeal, dark academia, dark fantasy, diverse, diverse and own voices, just one bed, just… all the tropes.

I’d like the next ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES, FURYBORN, A HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH, STALKING JACK THE RIPPER, THE FINAL EXAM, KINGDOM OF THE WICKED, BONE CRIERS DAWN, SERPENT AND DOVE, SORCERY OF THORNS.

KAMI HANCOCK

Managing Editor – Covenant Communications

With twenty years of editing experience, Kami has worked on everything from college dissertations to résumés to veterinary medical journals to books. She earned her BA in English from the University of Utah and helped launch a new veterinary journal and an online veterinary pharmaceutical database before starting at Covenant in 2015 and making a career out of her love of stories.

Wishlist

Currently accepting manuscripts Themed for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

• Fiction
  • Historical
  • Fiction
  • Romance
  • Suspense
• Nonfiction
  • Gospel Teachings
  • Teaching Helps for Youth, Children, Ministering, New Converts
  • Inspirational
  • Self Help
  • Parenting/Family
  • Youth
  • Children
  • Gift and Art Books
  • Cookbooks with a Latter-day Saint theme

We will not consider works that have been self-published previously.

AMY MICHELLE CARPENTER

Monster Ivy Publishing

Amy Michelle Carpenter is the publisher of Monster Ivy Publishing. Monster Ivy Publishing emphasizes clean but edgy books. She also currently works with Vinci Books as a marketing buyer under world renowned marketer James Blatch. She received her MA in Publishing under NYT Bestsellers Kevin J. Anderson. She has a background in editing with Eschler Editing and is an author herself. 

Wishlist

Monster Ivy is looking for “edgy, clean” teen and YA books at a PG-13 or less rating. We are especially on the look out for supernatural, fantasy, horror, social issues, grittier romance, psychological thrillers, gothic fiction, and hard-hitting Christian fiction.

CALLIE HANSEN

Product Manager – Shadow Mountain

Callie Hansen is Product Manager for Shadow Mountain Publishing with a background in marketing and a lifelong passion for storytelling. A writer and avid reader with a soft spot for children’s and young adult literature, she thrives on discovering and shaping stories that captivate readers of all ages.

When she’s not immersed in the publishing world, Callie plans Disney vacations for herself and others. Fueled by creativity, chocolate, and a deep love of stories, she’s always dreaming up her next great adventure—whether on the page or beyond.

Wishlist

• Young Adult Fantasy/Romance
• Contemporary Romance
• Middle Grade Fiction/Fantasy
• Cozy Mystery
• Mystery/Thriller
• Historical Fiction