Download Agents Heather Flaherty Agent, The Bent Agency Suzie

Agents
Heather Flaherty
Agent, The Bent Agency
I grew up in Massachusetts, between Boston and the Cape, and started working in New York
City as a playwright during college. This pushed me towards English as a focus, and after a
lot of country-hopping in my early twenties, I wound up finally beginning my publishing
career in editorial, specifically at Random House in the UK. That's also where I became a YA
and Children's Literary Scout, which finally landed me back in NYC, consulting with foreign
publishers and Hollywood regarding what the next big book will be. Now as an Agent, I'm
thrilled to turn my focus on growing authors for that same success.
Currently I'm looking for YA fiction across-the-board, though my heart does sway towards
issue-related YA with humor and heart - not depressing, or mopey. I also love love love
hard, punchy, contemporary YA that’s got no hesitations when it comes to crazy. I'm also
always up for seeing contemporary stories with Sci-Fi or Fantasy elements, as well as a
clever respin of an old or classic tale. And then, lastly, really good horror and ghost stories…
not gory-for-gory's sake or overly disgusting, but cringing, dark, bloody twisted, and even
lovely. That said, the one thing I love above all else in a YA novel, regardless of sub-genre,
is a strong and specific character voice. A real person, not another “everygirl.”
As for the Middle-Grade I'm looking for, I want it stark, honest, and even dark; either
contemporary or period, as long as it’s accessible. Coming-of-age stories, dealing-withdifficulty stories, witness stories (adult issues seen through the child’s p.o.v kinda thing),
anything that makes you want to hold the narrator's hand… for your own comfort, as well as
their’s. I am also ok with these stories having slight magical or fantasy elements as well –
as long as they're subtle.
In New Adult, I like to see story… not just romance and/or erotica. For me, it should pretty
much be a great YA novel for an older audience.
On the non-fiction side, I'm looking for strong teen memoirs about overcoming crushing
situations.
Suzie Townsend
Agent, New Leaf Literary & Media
After teaching high school English for several years, Suzie Townsend moved to publishing
and worked her way up from intern to agent. Now at New Leaf Literary & Media, she
represents adult and children's fiction and spearheads the Client Care program. She is
actively looking to build her list. In adult, she's specifically looking for all things romance,
fantasy, and crime fiction. In Childrens' she loves YA and is dying to find great high concept
literary Middle Grade projects. She's an active member of AAR, RWA, and SCBWI. She
drinks too much diet orange soda, has a Starbucks problem, and lives in New York with two
dogs who know that chewing on books is not okay. More information on Suzie can be found
on publisher’s marketplace
(http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/sztownsend81/). She also keeps a blog
(http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com) and tweets @sztownsend81.
Lori Perkins
Agent, L Perkins Agency / Publisher, Riverdale Avenue Books
Formerly the Editorial Director at Ravenous Romance, Lori maintains her client list and
writes a popular blog where you can read about the goings on at the agency, submission
updates and her personal and professional take on life and agenting.
http://www.agentinthemiddle.blogspot.com. Follow her on twitter at @loriperkinsRAB
Publisher of Riverdale Ave Books, Lori Perkins has worked in the publishing industry for
more than 25 years as a journalist, editor, author and literary agent. Originally a journalist
who owned a newspaper in Manhattan, she has been a literary agent for two decades, with
8 titles on the New York Times best seller list. She was awarded the Outstanding
Achievement award as an Author Representative from Romantic Times Magazine as well as
The Agent of the Year Award from the Romance Writers's NYC chapter. Lori Perkins wrote
The Insider's Guide to Getting an Agent (Writer's Digest Books), has edited twenty erotica
anthologies and more than 100 erotic novels, as well as published erotica under a
pseudonym. She has taught writing and editing as an adjunct professor at N.Y.U's Center
for Publishing for two decades.
Riverdale Avenue books publishes ebooks and audio books monthly under five imprints,
including pop culture, LGBT, horror, science fiction, fantasy, erotic memoir, and erotica and
erotic romance.
Editors
Chelsy Emmelhainz
Associate Editor, Avon Harper Collins
Associate Editor Chelsey Emmelhainz edits a wide range of fiction projects but is most
drawn to smart, sophisticated commercial narratives. With a special love for debut authors,
she is looking for unique voices that are amusing, honest, and perhaps even a little
controversial. Upcoming titles include Jessica Tom’s smart, commercial fiction debut Bad
Taste; No Awkward Goodbyes, a “hipster mystery” by debut author Libby Cudmore; and an
atmospheric coming-of-age novel by Tamara Valentine called The Yemaya Stone. Chelsey
also actively acquires contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense for Avon Books and
Avon’s digital-first romance line, Avon Impulse; and gritty psychological suspense for
William Morrow’s digital-first thriller and mystery line, Witness.
Eileen Rothschild
Associate Editor, St. Martin's Press
Eileen Rothschild started at St. Martin’s over seven years ago as the primary romance and
young adult marketing manager. In this role she helped to create and develop St. Martin’s
e-book original program. She fell in love with the excitement of reading a new voice for the
first time and being able to bring that voice and story to readers everywhere. Her love of
authors and compelling stories led her to the current role of Associate Editor and E-Original
Content Coordinator. She is actively looking for all areas of romance, romantic new adult,
commercial women’s fiction, and young adult fiction.
Abby Zidle
Senior Editor, Gallery and Pocket Books
Abby Zidle is a senior editor at Gallery and Pocket Books acquiring commercial fiction and
nonfiction, including romance, suspense, women's fiction, memoir, and popular culture
titles. Her authors include everything from New York Times bestsellers to debut novelists—
recent titles include Far Gone by NYT bestselling author Laura Griffin; the #1 NYT
bestselling memoir Becoming Sister Wives; the Swept Away series by indie author-turnedNYT bestselling author J.S. Cooper; and The Life Intended, the new novel by international
bestseller Kristin Harmel. Prior to working at Gallery and Pocket, she was an editor for
Harlequin’s HQN line. She began her career in publishing at Bantam Dell, after abandoning
the glamorous life of a Ph.D. student (the only job that pays worse than editorial assistant).