Ten Literary Agents Who Are Looking For New Authors
The Quest Continues
Your first step towards getting published has been completed. You have finished your book after months of writing, re-writing and editing. You are now ready for the next big step and that is finding a literary agent who will handle your manuscript. Of course you can attempt to find a publisher on your own, but your best bet is to hook onto an agent who has the necessary contacts in the literary world.
Who you know is very important in publishing and let’s face it, most first-time writers know very few people among the movers and shakers of this industry. Finding the right agent who already has established networks will save you a great many query letters to publishers who may or may not bother to read your work.
Listed below are ten agents who are looking for authors. Of course, armed with this list, the burden is still on you, the writer, to craft an excellent query letter that will capture the attention of these agents, but at least with this list you have a fighting chance of getting your foot in the door.
I have included contact information as well as the genre that each agent is interested in. You will also find submission tips for each agent.
Good advice!
- Common Query Letter Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Highlights some of the worst mistakes when it comes to writing an effective query letter with suggestions on how to fix them.
ANITA BARTHOLOMEW
Ms. Bartholomew works for the Salkind Literary Agency in Great Neck, New York, and she can be reached by email at anita@studiob.com.
She is looking for general and high-quality commercial fiction, especially mystery, suspense, thriller and fantasy. In nonfiction she is interested in narrative pieces i.e. memoir, history, politics and social issues.
To contact, send an email query letter in the body of the email, as well as the first five pages of the book and a synopsis that explains the story. Also include a bio and any other publishing history you might have.
LAURA BRADFORD
Laura runs the Bradford Literary Agency in San Diego, California. You can reach her at laura@bradfordlit.com.
Her fiction interests include all types of romance, romantic/erotica, women’s fiction, mystery, thriller and young adult. For nonfiction she is interested in most types including parenting, lifestyle, relationships, memoir, humor and pop culture.
For fiction, submit a synopsis and the first 30 pages in the body of the email. No attachments. For nonfiction send a proposal, outline, sample material, bio and competitive survey. Again, no attachments.
VERNA DREISBACH
Dreisbach Literary Management is located in El Dorado Hills, California. You can reach Ms. Dreisbach by email at verna@dreisbachliterary.com.
In fiction she is interested in young adult, literary and commercial fiction and especially mystery and thriller. In nonfiction she will look at biographies, memoirs, true crime, business and economics, spirituality, Native American and parenting.
To contact, send a query, genre, word count, author info and synopsis. Also include the first five pages of the manuscript in the body of the email.
KATE EPSTEIN
Kate is the owner of the Epstein Literary Agency in Randolph, Massachusetts. You can reach her at kate@epsteinliterary.com.
Fiction interests are limited to young adult and middle grade. Nonfiction interests include crafts, fashion, health, humor, inspiration, journalism, lifestyle, humor, memoir, parenting, pets and pop culture.
Send a query by email and include the word “query” in the subject line. Also include the first three pages for all memoir and fiction submissions. As with all other agents, no attachments are accepted.
JOSH GETZLER
Mr. Getzler works for Russell & Volkening in New York, New York. You can reach him by email at josh@randvinc.com.
He is interested in fiction that includes mystery, thriller, literary and commercial fiction and young adult. He is not interested in nonfiction at this time.
Send an email query and the first five pages of your work pasted to the body of the email. Do not send a synopsis.
MICHELLE HUMPHREY
Michelle can be reached through the Martha Kaplan Agency in New York. Her email is michelle.c.humphrey@gmail.com.
Her interests in fiction include young adult and middle grade. In nonfiction she will look at memoirs, women’s fiction, narrative history, psychology and women’s studies.
Send an email query letter as the first step. If she is interested she will request that you send more after the initial contact.
P.S. Humphrey is no longer taking on new projects....3/18/13
The Bible For Writers
Do You Have An Agent?
MEREDITH KAFFEL
Ms. Kaffel works for the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency in New York. You can reach her at Meredith@sll.com.
In fiction she is mainly interested in young adult and middle grade, but she will take a look at novels that “not only steal her heart, but complicate it.” In nonfiction she is interested in food, science, smart business, technology, feminism and cultural trends.
If you are submitting fiction, then send her a query letter and one-to-three chapters. For nonfiction send her a query and proposal.
SANDY LU
Sandy works for the L. Perkins Agency in Riverdale, New York. You can contact her at sandy@lperkinsagency.com.
Her fictional interests include mystery, thriller, psychological horror, paranormal romance, young adult and historical fiction. She is also interested in steampunk, spy novels and Asian or Asian-American fiction. For nonfiction she focuses on history, biography, memoirs, science, pop culture, food and Asian nonfiction.
To contact, send an email query and include a brief synopsis, bio and first five pages in the body of the email.
MATTHEW MAHONEY
Matthew words for Ralph M. Vicinanza, LTD in New York. He can be reached at matthew.mahoney@vicinanzaltd.com.
Fictional interests include commercial fiction, espionage, thrillers, debut fiction and writers with a unique voice. For nonfiction he will look at popular science, humor, narrative nonfiction, current events and pop culture.
To contact, send an email query with a quick synopsis and bio, and a writing sample attached as a Word document.
ELAINE SPENCER
Ms. Spencer works for The Knight Agency in Madison, Georgia. You can reach her via email at Elaine.spencer@knightagency.net.
For fiction she is interested in commercial literary, women’s fiction, romance, young adult and middle grade. For nonfiction she is only interested in pop culture.
To contact, send an email query and write “query” in the subject line. She will respond to all queries in up to two months time.
Good Luck to All
This is a tough business and as such it is nice to have an agent in your corner doing the in-fighting for you. A good agent is worth their weight in gold and just might mean some gold for you. They will present and sell your work to editors, negotiate contracts and make sure that you get paid. They understand the business, understand contracts and understand what editors are looking for.
I wish you well as you travel down the publishing road. It is a tough business to get established in, but the rewards are oh so satisfying. Do not give up! Believe in yourselves and keep moving forward, one step at a time.
2013 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
Related
Comments
Now all I need is a book!
This is wonderful, Bill. Thanks so much for being such a help.
Thanks, Bill. When I get to the point of needing one, I will keep this list in mind. I love these kinds of articles.
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You are very welcome Phoenix. Thank you for the visit.
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Thanks Kathryn.....I hope you get a book written soon. :) It is a great feeling of accomplishment.
Book marking this. Thanks Bill.
I hope this post makes it. I am having trouble opening HP today. Anyway, thanks for the information. I am filing it for future use, sooner than later. Your efforts and sharing are always appreciated. Blessings.
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Hi Sheri...thank you for stopping by once again.
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Dianna, there have been some issues on HP today....annoying but you finally made it with your comment. Thanks for hanging in there.
I think having billybuc is like having an agent. Your wise, informed, and helpful hints are sure to get many writers on their way. I can see books being dedicated to you!
Voted up, useful, and interesting. Shared too!
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Mary, that would just be way too embarrassing. LOL Thank you as always my friend. If these hubs help others then I think that's great.
I have never met a person, who's more helpful than you, Bill. This hub is going to help many of your readers, who are writers. Have a great week! :)
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Made, thank you so much. It is important to me to give back to people. I have seen enough selfishness in this world. If I want things to change then it begins with me. :) I miss you my friend. I hope you are well and happy.
You are making changes every day, Bill. Your writing is affecting many people, but you already knew that. :)
I'm well, thank you. I'd just need a couple of more hours every day or 8 days a week to keep up with everything, LOL! I'm trying to spend some time on HubPages tonight, because I miss you too. It's time to go to bed soon even if I'd rather stay up writing all night long.
Really need to get cracking on the editing process to get to this point. So, I have once again pinned this in hopes to utilize this great list once I am indeed done with editing. Thanks a ton as always Bill and of course voted up and shared, too!!
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Janine, I have a hub coming out this week dealing with editing. Maybe that will help you. Good luck and thank you.
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Made, I smile every time I see you pop up. Thank you for that gift. Take care of yourself and if you figure out how to get eight days in a week let me know. :)
Great hub! I'm really need to get to writing my book, and this is some great inspiration for that. Thanks Bill! Voted up and shared!
You'll be the first to know, Bill. I'm sure you wouldn't mind having an extra day every week, too. That would give you more time to look for agents. :)
Great list Bill. I suspect that this is going to help quite a few people. I could see you doing this also. You're so helpful to everyone and you know the business better than anyone I know. Great job.
wow...what an extensive list. Bill you have touched every aspiring author by this hub :)
btw, what would be an estimate for these literary agents? any idea?
thanks!
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Made, the extra day would allow me to rest. :)
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Thanks Bill! Just trying to share the wealth. :)
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Ruchira, they usually work on a percentage of the deal they strike for you....the percentage differs from agent to agent, but you can figure around 10%.
Thanks my friend.
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Daughter, I hope you write that book soon. I have no doubt it will be good. Thank you!
Thanks again, Billybuc. I am looking for someone in the spirituality/Yoga/philosophy genre. I am on chapter seven of my second book. Keep up this invaluable work.
Thanx for the info, Bill. I suck up everything you send my way. If not for now, then down the road. You and I are Kismet to the enth degree, my friend. At least on my end anyway!
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Both ways, Sha, both ways. :)
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Manatita, best of luck to you my friend. Don't give up and keep sending your work out there. You just have to be in the right place at the right time.
Bill, you have shared very useful information for serious writers. Thank you. I have bookmarked this page for future use of the information you have given in it.
Voted up and shared with followers.
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Jainismus, it is always a pleasure having you stop by. Thank you my friend.
Thanks Billy for another really helpful hub, will bookmark for future use as well as votes & shared everywhere...we need all the help we can get, right!!
I'm really liking this new series of writing advice you've been doing! It's been awesome. I may even have time to use some of your advice soon because I'm handing in my notice at my 'day job.' They won't know that until tomorrow, though...
I will tuck this away, thank you!!
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Carter, we do indeed! If it weren't for the help of some fine people on HP I would be floundering in this writing business. :) Thanks for the visit.
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Natasha, hooray for you! Then what are you planning on doing if I may ask? Whatever it is, best of luck to you and thank you!
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You are welcome, Jackie! Thank you!
Great information. To take the time to put this together for other authors...very kind.
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Sonya, thank you for the following and welcome to my site. I am sure I am going to learn a great deal from you.
What a wonderful batch of useful information. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with everyone.
Voted up, useful, awesome and interesting.
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DzyMsLizzy, it is my pleasure. Thanks for the visit.
Thank you for the leads.
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My pleasure Martin! Thank you!
Thank you, Bill for the work that went into compiling this. I am sure it will be helpful to many.
You are just like our agent, Bill!
Thank you for once again sharing your wealth of knowledge here with us all. I will keep this for future reference!
Voted up +++ and sharing
Hugs and blessings, Faith Reaper
Hi, Billy..... Hope all is well with you. Haven't had a chance to be active in Hubpages for few days. Overloaded with life, LOL. I have to renew some of my certifications, so I feel like I am back in school again!!
Anyway, thanks for this, very valuable, list! I will pass it around..... I know some people are looking for agents. Great to see you again, and as always, you are very helpful!
Sharing and everything!
What a superbly written hub, voted up awesome and shared. I have been working on a book of poetry for the last couple of years, so this is some very much needed information and very helpful for me.
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Jim, if it does then I will be happy my friend. Thank you!
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Faith, I'm just trying to help others in this wonderful community. You do the same by supporting so many so graciously.
love and blessings,
bill
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Lizzie, it is always nice to see you. Overloaded with life.....I understand that for sure. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and take care of you and yours.
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Prettynutjob, best of luck with that book. I wish you the best of luck in getting it published. Thank you!
Good night! You are becoming more useful than my favorite dictionary. It's really cool of you to share this. It takes some effort to put together so much useful information in one place. I'm not ready for an agent. But, you have inspired me, you and another, to actually see if I could do this professionally. I was scared to even submit a sample at TextBroker. I'm happy to say that I got five of five articles accepted and got paid! It's chump change, but that's not the point. The point is without the encouragement and support from you and others like you who help out so much here, it would not have happened. If I can do it there, I can do it anywhere, and I thank you for nudging me in that direction. God bless you, my friend. You know... You're still teaching... just a much larger class.
Thanks. I could really use this hub to start on my writing career outside hubpages!
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Poetvix, I had no idea you had started a freelance career. Hooray for you. Textbroker is a tough gig, and it is chump change, but it's a start, and we all started with chump change. Keep your eyes out for better paying gigs...they are out there if you are persistent. Best of luck to you and if I can be of any help please feel free to contact me.
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vkwok, I love to hear that. Good luck to you my friend.
Thanks Bill...as I said earlier, what do we do without you, eh? This is fantastic all throughout. Loads of useful information. Thank you for sharing. Certainly voting up, pinning and passing along.
I'm getting there...one step at a time.
Love from the sky~
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Cris, I like to think that others on HubPages are willing to help writers. This is a community and not a competition, or so I believe. :) You are very welcome and thank you for stopping by.
hugs back atcha
bill
This is extremely useful information, just wanted to say a big thank you for sharing it. Many writers are looking for just this type of information.
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Express it is my pleasure. If this helps someone then I am a happy member of HP. :) Thank you!
Another excellent hub.
So is one supposed to finish and polish a book before approaching an agent? I always wonder is it worth the trouble to do all that when at the end you might be told that due to your lack of experience you wasted your time writing a whole book on something that has been done much better by someone else and there is no market for this one...
Great Job billy well done ;)
Thanks for sharing this informative hub.
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Ron, that is the question now isn't it? :) I wish I had an answer for you. I do know that an agent won't look at you unless you have finished a book. Of course there is always self-publication.
Thanks for stopping by and welcome back.
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LadyFiddler, you are very welcome and thank you for the visit.
Wow, good job! These are great resources for someone trying to get their book published.
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Thank you Gail! I hope this helps someone.
Hi Bill,
Just in time for me...just completed my 2nd book, and am ready for publication. I have already authored a children's book and it's selling through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
You have done a great job on this hunt...and I really appreciate your efforts...thanks again for doing my homework!!! Good luck on your book...you are a true talent!
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Kim, fantastic news and congratulations on finishing your book. Thank you, too, for your kind words. I love to write, as you do, and I like to think our love of writing shines through in our words. :)
Well, I certainly like the encouragement you offer. I have decided to go the self publishing route for my first book to start out. I've heard a lot of agents will still take your work (provided they like it). Thank you for all your effort compiling this! Much appreciated, Kathi
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Kathi, best of luck to you with self-publishing. That is the route I took with my first novel. For my second one I will try this route first and see what happens. Thank you for another visit and I hope you are well.
Thanks for doing all the hard work! Lots of great advice too beyond finding an agent.
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My Moments, you are very welcome and I'm glad you found me. :) Welcome to HubPages!
A fabulous list. Thanks again, Billy, for helping us try to get ahead.
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My pleasure, Deb, and thank you!
Thanks for writing this Hub! I am a writer who has not been published yet, so I do not know if these agents will give me a chance, but I will utilize your contact list.
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cbarbar, best of luck to you in getting published. It's a struggle but it only takes one agent and you are on your way.
This is so very helpful, Bill. Again, I need to write the darn book first....but I'll bookmark this list for the future! I have a question for you, in regards to an agent and self-publishing. If you chose to self-publish, can you still submit it to an agent for review? I mean, would the agent still be able to shop the book around to a publisher--if you already have it in e-book format? Or do you have to choose? Thanks again for sharing so much of your knowledge with us. It is deeply appreciated!
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Melissa, how are you? I hate it when someone I like drops off the face of the Earth. :) I know, I know, busy with that job and family life. Weak excuses if you ask me. LOL
To answer your question, yes, you can submit to an agent after self-publishing....in fact I would encourage you to do that...but first...write the book. :)
Thank you my Minnesota friend...is it spring yet?
I wish it was spring! Yes, it has been extremely busy at work...and my ninth grader made it to state in wrestling and finished top 8--very proud mama! But, today it snowed and was only 37 degrees. Last year on this same date, it was 73 degrees. You never know what you are going to get in March...I am really hoping to get more active again, but probably not till June...but keep writing and I'll keep reading, promise! You are my inspiration.
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Awww, Melissa, that was sweet of you. Thank you! Congratulations with that ninth grade wrestling dynamo. That is very cool and I know you are very proud. As for the weather....it's rain season here, and I need to see the sun badly. :)
This is fantastic for any aspiring writer, thanks Bill for sharing! Now that I've decided to write a non-fiction book and forget the fiction for a while, I need to find some publishers for that. But that will probably only be toward the end of the year. Sharing across and voted up!
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Thanks, Mel, and good luck with that book. I hope you write a hub about the process of writing a book.
Very helpful, Bill, but I'm afraid my genre is out of date.
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Will, thank you, and I tend to believe the same thing about mine. :)
If Karma is real, and I think it is, you must have such a bank of good Karma that something truly amazing is heading your way. Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking some of the exhausting leg work out finding agents interested in submissions. You sir are a gem.
Thank you for this. The book isn't ready yet, but I will be bookmarking this for future reference. Thundermama is correct, 'you are a gem'.
What a great source of all things in the literacy world you are! Bravo Bill, and thank you so much for providing such detailed info! When the time comes, this will be used! Voted +++ Shared, Pinned!!
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Thunder, I am just giving back to a community that has been so good to me. Thank you for your kind words. You are appreciated.
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Blond, thank you very much. I don't handle praise well so I'll just say I hope this helps you when that book is done. Good luck with it and your writing future.
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Suzie, I hope this helps you my dear, and I hope you are doing well. I think I saw something new by you so I'll swing by soon....thank you for being such a loyal friend.
Michelle Humphrey, as of December 2012, is no longer taking new queries. :-(
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Thank you Sonya!
No...thank you! I only found that out after sending my query based on this article. That's okay...one down, two more possibilities to go.
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Sonya, these are always time sensitive. I appreciate the heads up so I could update it. This agent game is fluid and constantly changing. It's a wonder more of us writers are constantly depressed. :)
I have got to hand it to you. This is an incredibly useful hub, both here on hubpages and for anyone who wants to publish. I hope lots of people get lots of deals from this!
Thanks for this! This is an incredibly useful hub, with all of the information on the agents needed so there is no time wasted (for the writer or the agent)! I am in the beginning stages of my very first book, so this information is very handy to have bookmarked for when I have a solid foundation and a solid book proposal!
I'm saving this info, BB -it's great! Now...if I can just finish one of the novels I've started. lol
Voted up, etc!
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Thank you Glimmer! I hope it does help someone. I think it would be cool if someone reading this hub found an agent and made it big. :)
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Jami, thank you so much and best of luck with that book. Keep us posted about your progress on it.
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Habee, I understand. I have three going right now. LOL I need to take my own advice.
Great hub! saved it for future reference. Do you happen to know of any agents interested in children's books? Elementary level.
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Lindalou...if you don't have a copy yet, get a copy of The Writer's Market...it is a great resource of agents and publishers and it will tell you what genre each agent and publisher covers....it is well worth the money and you can find one for cheap on ebay. :) If you can't do that, drop me a line and I'll do a little research for you.
Thank you for stopping by and good luck with your children's book.
I sent an email to all those listed.
Lets see
And thanks
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Good luck Hemant and thank you!
Thank you. Was there a criteria you used to generate your list of 10? How did they "make your cut"?
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Robert, no criteria at all. These were agents I have been in touch with and I know, or at least knew when I wrote this, that they were actively looking for new writers.
Thank you. Knowing and being in touch with them is a good criteria.
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You are welcome, Robert! Thanks again.
Nice hub... most will definitely need this information! ;)
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I'm glad you found this helpful, amazmerizing...thank you for another visit.
This is a very helpful hub for the aspiring writers. I hope I find some similar information about literary agents in India!
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So do I, Swalia! Best wishes to you, and thank you!
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