2026 Writer to Agent Overview

Serene Hakim has been part of Ayesha Pande Literary since 2015. She represents authors in a variety of genres, from MG fantasy to adult literary fiction to contemporary YA. Her clients include Kristen Arnett, Jean Chen Ho, Kaela Rivera, Ream Shukairy, Shannon C.F. Rogers and Jihyun Yun. Serene is particularly interested in both YA and adult fiction that has international themes, highlights a variety of cultures, and focuses on underrepresented and/or marginalized voices. At the moment, she is mostly focusing on YA/MG and taking on adult writers more selectively. Specifically, she's looking for writing that explores different meanings of identity, home, and family, and in general would love to find more Middle Eastern writers. She loves books that are joy-filled and full of heart, as well as stories that delve deep into grief.

Paloma Hernando got her start at Einstein Literary Management in 2020, where she built a list focusing on graphic novels and illustrated books, and joined APL in the fall of 2024. Coming from a background of independent comics and the DIY scene, Paloma has always been attracted to well-told stories with a passionate drive behind them. Paloma is also accepting prose works and is seeking any book that tells genre stories in new ways. The only thing she likes more than trope-y fun is the chance to break it down into something new. Paloma also represents illustrators for literary projects and is always on the lookout for strong visual styles. As a daughter of Argentinian immigrants, Paloma views publishing globally and would love to work with any bilingual or international projects.

Before joining Ayesha Pande Literary, Annie Hwang began her career at Folio Literary Management where she had the pleasure of working with debut and seasoned authors alike. At APL, she primarily represents voice-driven literary fiction that plays with genre, though she also takes on nonfiction and poetry on occasion. Her authors include John Paul Brammer, Franny Choi, Jezz Chung, Lilly Dancyger, Carson Faust, Faylita Hicks, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Jihyun Yun. In particular, she is drawn to what she likes to think of as “literary fiction with teeth”—ambitious novels that are daring in their approach that also grapple with the complexities of the world with nuance and finesse. Above all, Annie is always on the hunt for gifted storytelling that stretches its genre to new heights. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she hails from Los Angeles where she earned her B.A. in English from UCLA.

Kayla Lightner is an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary. Her clients include award-winners like Annabelle Tometich, Isabel Yap, and Minda Honey. A believer in fearless curiosity, Kayla loves adult fiction and nonfiction that straddles the line between storytelling and teaching readers something new.

Jamie Chambliss is an agent with Folio Literary Management. Her clients include Rowan Beaird, Lauren Hough, Rachel Rodgers, Daniel Wallace and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. Prior to joining Folio, she was at Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, working on both fiction and nonfiction and in editorial and marketing. She’s drawn to literary and book club fiction and narrative nonfiction, especially dealing with food, pop culture, the quirks of human nature, the stories within the worlds of science and sports, and the forgotten corners of history. Prior to book publishing, she was a magazine journalist, covering, among other things, books, the arts, and sports narratives. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sonali Chanchani (she/her) is an agent at Folio Literary Management, where she represents literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction. In fiction, she’s looking for smart, funny novels about identity and coming of age; braided narratives of friendship and family; and novels with a speculative twist. In nonfiction, she’s drawn to narratives and collections that speak to larger social and cultural concerns. Across the board, she’s particularly interested in character-driven stories that center historically underrepresented voices. Sonali earned her degree in English and narrative studies from the University of Southern California and began her career in publishing at Kaya Press. She is the Vice President of the Association of American Literary Agents and the Co-Chair of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She is also the President of the nonprofit organization Literary Agents of Change.

Erin Harris has worked in publishing for over a decade and serves as a Senior Vice President and literary agent at Folio Literary Management, where she represents literary and upmarket fiction and select narrative non-fiction. She is excited to add new talent to her list! Her clients include New York Times Bestsellers, National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalists, winners of the Lambda Literary and Stonewall Book Awards, Indie Next Pick authors and authors selected for the national book clubs Reese Witherspoon’s “Hello Sunshine,” Good Morning America, The Today Show’s Read with Jenna, Barnes & Noble, and Target. Erin is a member of the AALA (Association of American Literary Agents) and received her MFA in Creative Writing from the New School. She lives in Brooklyn and is a co-curator of the literary event series HIP Lit. To learn more about her authors and agenting practice, please visit her Publisher’s Marketplace page.

Margaret Sutherland Brown is an agent at Folio Literary Management eagerly seeking literary and upmarket fiction as well as select narrative nonfiction. She came to Folio from Emma Sweeney Agency, LLC, and before she became an agent, she worked on the editorial side of book publishing, primarily at St. Martin’s Press. Among her award-winning clients are bestselling authors Lauren Belfer, Janet Burroway, Edgar Cantero, Lynn Cullen, Lucy Ferriss, Vanessa Hua, Alka Joshi, Vaddey Ratner, and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.

Heather Carr is an agent at The Friedrich Agency where she represents award-winning and bestselling fiction and nonfiction for adults. She’s seeking literary fiction and high-concept commercial fiction including that which dabbles in the surreal and suspenseful. She particularly enjoys when genre elements are used to explore the places where language fails us. In nonfiction she’s looking for intersectional, voice-driven narrative projects and her areas of interest include science, nature, social justice, and culture.

Lucy Carson joined The Friedrich Agency in 2008, and she has since cultivated a list of fiction and narrative non-fiction for the adult trade audience. In addition to brokering domestic publishing deals for her own clients, Lucy also oversees all Film, Television & Dramatic business for the wider agency list. During her 17 years with The Friedrich Agency, Lucy has worked with established bestselling authors such as Sue Grafton, Elizabeth Strout, Ruth Ozeki, as well as launching debut careers, such as Leila Mottley, Alison Espach and Rachel Harrison. She is exclusively looking for adult fiction, and has a particular appetite for upmarket horror novels and books that play with genre in surprising and inventive ways.

Marin Takikawa is an agent and foreign rights director at The Friedrich Agency. Born in Tokyo and raised in Singapore and NYC, she joined TFA in early 2021 and now handles selling international rights for authors like Alison Espach, Jane Smiley, the Estate of Frank McCourt, in addition to representing her own list. She's looking for subversive and daring literary fiction filled with verve and energy across the adult and YA spaces (speculative and/or genre-blending is a plus!) as well as select intersectional narrative nonfiction.

Regina Brooks is the founder and president of Serendipity Literary Agency LLC, based in Brooklyn, New York. Serendipity is the largest African American-owned agency in the US, and Brooks is the author of Never Finished, Never Done, Writing Great Books for Young Adults (now in its second edition), and You Should Really Write A Book: How to Write, Sell, and Market Your Memoir. Brooks is the agent behind many notable authors and illustrators whose awards include the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott Award, the Michael Printz Award, and PEN Literary Award honors, as well as winners of the NAACP Image Award, the Edgar Award, and the Kirkus Prize.

Amy Bishop-Wycisk (why-zick) joined Trellis Literary Management in 2023 after eight years with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. She's cultivating a wide-ranging list in upmarket and book club fiction, grounded sci-fi and fantasy, light horror, speculative fiction, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, and select YA, with a special interest in underrepresented voices, especially from the AAPI community. She loves a high-concept premise paired with elegant writing and a good splash of humor.

Michelle Brower has spent over fifteen years as an agent, first at Wendy Sherman Associates and most recently as a partner at Aevitas Creative Management. She cofounded Trellis Literary Management in 2021. Her list spans the spectrum of literary and commercial fiction, and she is primarily interested in work that focuses on storytelling and emotional connection. She is looking for book club novels (a commercial idea with a literary execution), literary fiction, literary suspense, genre fiction for a nongenre audience, and upmarket women’s fiction.

Nicole Cunningham is a literary agent at Trellis Literary Management, where she recently joined after nine years at The Book Group. She represents adult literary, upmarket, book club, and genre fiction, with a love of books with sharp teeth and soft insides, as well as select nonfiction.

Stephanie Delman spent ten years building her list at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates before cofounding Trellis Literary Management in the fall of 2021. Stephanie is focused on adult fiction: stylish writing, high-concept literary thrillers, upmarket and book club fiction with a powerful emotional core, socially conscious fiction, as-yet-untold historical fiction, and literary novels that play with genre and tip a toe into surrealism or horror. Stephanie studied writing seminars at Johns Hopkins University and considers herself a “hands-on” agent, both editorially and as an advocate. She was raised in Northern California and now lives in Brooklyn with her family.

Natalie Edwards joined Trellis Literary Management at its founding in the fall of 2021, after previous stints at Janklow & Nesbit and Curtis Brown, Ltd. In fiction, she looks for upmarket and literary projects that combine an accessible voice with a page-turning plot. She loves contemporary workplace sendups, grounded speculative novels, complex family and friendship stories, immersive historical fiction (especially from underrepresented perspectives and moments in time), and anything and everything queer. In nonfiction, she gravitates toward compelling journalistic narratives, issue-driven hybrid memoirs, hidden histories, cultural criticism, and “systems” books that blow open the inner workings of everyday things we take for granted. Across her list, she enjoys working with projects that feature quirky, unconventional jobs; fascinating subcultures; nefarious scams; and undeniable voices brimming with humor and heart. Originally from Pasadena, CA, Natalie holds a BA in English from Bowdoin College. She lives with her wife in Brooklyn.

Allison Hunter is a founding partner and literary agent at Trellis Literary Management. Allison is acquiring literary and commercial adult fiction and nonfiction, focusing on upmarket book club and women’s fiction and narrative nonfiction. She loves great storytelling and unforgettable characters and is always looking for female friendship stories, campus novels, great love stories, family epics, pop culture, women’s issues, and books about class and cultural identity. She would especially love to find a smart beach read by an author underrepresented in that category.