PLEASE NOTE: I update this MSWL occasionally. Updated 7/25

Thank you so much for querying me. I am looking forward to reading your work. Please consider submitting to one agent at a time at Aevitas--the one who you best thinks fits your work.

I represent and welcome writers of all voices. Clients with books in the market include: Cambria Brockman, Sara Goudarzi, Cheryl Head; Irene Li and Margaret Li; Tamara Miller, Jennifer Morita, Wanda Morris, Kwame Onwuachi, Nishita Parekh, Sebastian Plata, Phoebe Rowe.

MSWL

Overall I’m looking for adult novels across genre, but especially mystery/thriller/suspense; book club fiction & women’s fiction (including historical fiction that feels like a window into a period--but reads in a compellingly urgent way.Ask yourself, why this book now?); grounded speculative or near-future sci-fi--BUT if the world building is extensive, it's probably not near future and not for me. No matter the type of fiction, I drawn to emotional heft, a strong voice, excellent writing, characters I care about, a propulsive plot, and a strong sense of place. I am also drawn to writers in genre (or not) whose novels are often about something else—relationships, an industry, a culture, a historical event—including those that help us understand ourselves and our world better. Always interested in unputdownable, twisty suspense that surprises me—the type of book you can’t wait to tell your friends about. I'm sometimes asked if I'm looking for a series in the crime genre--yes (!), but the first book must be a standalone with the potential to be a series.

A few writers who I admire. If your writing is similar, get in touch:

Megan Abbot, Kate Atkinson, Pat Barker, May Cobb, Alyssa Cole, Lily Brooks Dalton, Samantha Downing, Mark Edwards, Carol Goodman, Araminta Hall, Claire Keegan, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Peter Heller, Kazuo Ishiguro, Alma Katsu, Angie Kim, Jessica Knoll, Danya Kukafka, Attica Locke, Jess Lourey, Charlotte McConaughey, Liz Madeline Miller, Moore, Ann Napolitano, Celeste Ng, Alex North, Maggie O’Farrell, Ann Patchett, Tom Perrotta, Kiley Reid, Tracey Sierra, Simone St. James, Peter Swanson, Lisa Unger, PJ Vernon, Sarah Waters, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Heather Young, and Laura Zigman.

Notes:

I strongly encourage debut writers to work with beta readers, critique partners, writing workshops and so on to develop their writing as much as possible. Building a community with other writers will be invaluable to you.

Take advantage of all the excellent resources for writers out there, many with online access. Organizations and sites like AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs), WritersHelpingWriters.net, Loft Literary Center (with online classes), Grub St., or if you have a speciality like mysteries or thrillers check out Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers (ITW), Horror--HWA (Horror Writers of America) as well as podcasts and newsletters The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, Book Riot, The 5 a.m. Writers Club, The 7 a.m. Writers Club...there are lots more.

TIP: Read your pages aloud--no matter the genre, you'll be able to 'hear' when something isn't smooth, when it's overwritten, when you've overused a word too many times, and more.

The #1 mistake I see writers make is submitting their work to me too early and often it's because they've not received feedback from another (unbiased) reader. I expect to work with authors editorially (and enjoy the process) but I will do my best work if your manuscript is ready for me.

The #2 mistake I see debut writer make is creating an overcomplicated plot or having too many characters. As they revise, they forget that a character who may have been critical to the story in early drafts, no longer is.

The #3 mistake I see debut writers make is writing too long. An agent is there to guide you editorially but it should be in the best possible shape you can get it and that includes getting it as close to a standard word count for the type of book as possible.

I've signed many authors from querymanager. Some of these authors got passed over by many agents. It's not necessarily because I have a good eye (though I do!), it's because the authors never gave up and have continued to work on their craft and have made it so much better that when it was sent to my inbox, it was ready. If an agent gives you feedback, take it under consideration.

I don't have the capacity to respond personally to every query I receive. But if I do have any specifics that I think will be meaningful, I try to include them.