Agent Spotlight: Holly Root

This week's Agent Spotlight features Holly Root of Root Literary.
Status: Open to submissions, but the other agents at Root Literary (Taylor Haggerty, Melanie Castillo, Molly O'Neill, and Kurestin Armada) are growing their clients lists more actively, so currently most likely to refer a project in-house.

About: ""Reading as much as you do in this job, it's easy to become overly analytical. My favorite books are the ones so assured in their execution that the only input my critical mind can muster is 'That was fun. How soon can we tell everyone we know about it?' I'm delighted to be in a position of perpetual discovery." (Link)
About the Agency:
“Literary agent Holly Root launched over two dozen New York Times bestsellers before founding Root Literary in 2017. The agency's clients benefit from our agents' proven skills in identifying talent, negotiating advantageous deals, and advocating for our books all the way from submission to publication. We offer our clients broad-based industry insights as well as individualized strategic thinking to empower each author to define and pursue their own unique path to success.
"We love what we do, and we do it best in partnership with storytellers who combine artistry with the drive to build a lasting body of work.” (Link)
Web Presence:
Root Literary Website.
Publisher’s Marketplace page.
Twitter @hroot.
@rootliterary
AgentQuery.
QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:  
Genres / Specialties:
Our primary focus is commercial fiction for kids and adults. We also represent select nonfiction projects. (Via email)From an Interview (05/2011):
“I love being genuinely surprised (I should clarify this is ‘surprised,’ not ‘baffled’). What does that look like? A fresh spin on a genre I thought I was completely tired of, the execution that reminds me I actually LOVE [whatever genre I forgot that I love], the concept I can't get out of my head, the character who is flawed and frustrating and yet totally, completely lovable for those vulnerabilities. I'm really a fan of lots of kinds of books; it's so much about voice for me that I've fallen for all manner of things against my better sense and only after I've sold it had to be like, ‘Um. Right. I guess I do [chick lit/steampunk/witch/Amish/high fantasy/etc] now.’” (Link)
You There God? It's Me, Margaret involves, but is not strictly about, a young girl's faith." (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Poetry or screenplays (Via email)
Editorial Agent?
"I’m a pretty editorial agent; the competition is so stiff these days that I can’t imagine not being that way. There’s definitely a point where you just have to put it out and let the market speak but if I see a way to make a ms that much tighter, why wouldn’t I jump on it?" (Link)
Clients:
There is a page of client books on the agency website.
Ms. Root’s client include: Becky Albertalli, Winnie Archer/Melissa Bourbon, Rae Carson, JC Cervantes, Mark Cheverton, Diana Cosby, Jessica Clare, Manda Collins, Megan Crane, Kari Lynn Dell, Meredith Duran, Addison Fox, Alan Gratz, Jasmine Guillory, Kristin Harmel, Kelly Harms, Rachel Hawkins, Vivien Jackson, Amanda Joy, SJ Kincaid, Celia Kyle, Christina Lauren, Victoria Lee, Sarah MacLean, Ashley Poston, CJ Redwine, Victoria Schwab, Rebekah Weatherspoon, among others, among others!
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Send a query letter and the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of an e-mail.  No attachments.
Please check the Root Literary website for the most current information.
Response Times:
The agency sends an automated response to a query that indicates their response time.
What’s the Buzz?
Holly Root a top-notch agent with an incredible list of clients and sales. Her clients adore and gush about her every chance they get and she’s one of the sharpest, funniest agents I’ve come across. Definitely follow her on Twitter.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Holly Root on Entrepreneurial Mindset as a Literary Agent Podcast at 88 Cups of Tea (Date unknown) 
Holly Root on The Rise of Rom-Coms and Publishing in the Coronavirus Podcast at Sarah's Books (04/2020)
Agents: Who They Are and How to Get One at Track Changes (04/2020).
How to Query Root Literary with Holly Root Podcast at Middle Grade Ninja (07/2019).
Literary Agents Evaluating Manuscripts Podcast at Middle Grade Ninja (07/2019).
Literary Agent Holly Root Podcast at Middle Grade Ninja (04/2019).
Switching Agents Interview at Jane Friedman (11/2018.
New Agency Alert: Root Literary at Writer's Digest (05/2017).
LitChat with Holly Root at LitChat (07/2016)
Interview with Holly Root at I Want Her Job (10/2011).
7 Questions For: Literary Agent Holly Root at Middle Grade Ninja (05/2011).
Hilarious Interview with Agent Holly Root at The Last Word (03/2010).
Brief interview with Holly Root at Jill Myles blog (01/2010).
Contact:
Please see the Root Literary website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 5/25/2020.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 6/2/2020.
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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.