Agent Spotlight: Laura Rennert

This week's Agent Spotlight features Laura Rennert of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.
Status: Laura will reopen to queries on 2/1/2026.

About: "Laura Rennert has been with the agency since 1998. She specializes in all categories of children's books, from picture books to young adult. On the adult side, she represents literary-commercial fiction, thrillers, horror, sci-fi/fantasy, speculative fiction, and select historical fiction. Her sweet spot in the market is literary voice and commercial conception. The common threads in the diverse range of projects Laura represents are an original, unexpected point of view, a fresh literary voice, a strong commercial hook—and conflicted characters who win your heart (sometimes against your will)." (From the agency website)

About the Agency:

"The Andrea Brown Literary Agency is a literary agency working to bring to light the voices and perspectives of new writers and artists, as well as nurturing and developing the careers of experienced creators. The agency is well known for its staunch advocacy for book creators, its exceptional care to its clients, and its tight-knit team. The company got its start representing children’s book creators but now, with 16 agents representing hundreds of creators, the agency’s client list spans all categories and genres in both adult and children’s literature. For information, visit andreabrownlit.com." (From the agency website)

Web Presence:
Andrea Brown Agency website. 

Publisher’s Marketplace page.
Author website.

Manuscript Wish List
Facebook.
AgentQuery, QueryTracker.
QueryManager.
What She's Looking For:

"Laura would love to find:

·       Fantasy, spec fiction, alternate history, and horror; fresh, original, unexpected reimaginings, especially those from less represented traditions or those that play with or reinvent classic or familiar tropes in unexpected ways. Bonus points for fantasy and spec fiction that explore real world issues, with inventive, multi-faceted world building, like SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN, THE MERCY MAKERS, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, DARKER BY FOUR, and the SCHOLOMANCE trilogy.

·       Retellings in all categories that feel like they’re reinventing the underlying tradition, myth, work to which they allude, (especially 19th century British Lit, Shakespeare, Dante, fairy tales, Asian mythologies). Some examples are Madeline Miller and Mary Renault’s takes on Greco-Roman mythology, Maggie Stiefvater’s THE SCORPIO RACES, Naomi Novik’s SPINNING SILVER. Wildly original reimagining of ‘classics’ in all different traditions (she loves mythology, folklore, fairy tales) in which the story feels like one only the author could tell it. For so many personal reasons, this author is the right person to tell this story.

·       Gothic suspense or thrillers in the vein of MEXICAN GOTHIC, focused on other regions and histories. She’d love one set in Japan.

·       Romantasy that is more romantic fantasy than fantasy romance

·       High concept Rom-Coms that have both a captivating romance and a successful, intriguing idea that drives the story.

·       Sexy historical romance in the vein of the TV show Bridgerton

·       Modern literary or dark academia mystery like A.S. Byatt’s POSSESSION.

·       Thrillers and mysteries with dynamic, unexpected characters; immersive, vivid world building; and rich psychological insights and authenticity like Tana French’s IN THE WOODS; Barry Eisler’s John Rain and Livia Lone series; Jonathan Lethem’s Motherless Brooklyn; and Attica Locke’s THE CUTTING SEASON. She loves thrillers and mysteries based on this principle from Michael Connelly: “The best crime novels are not about how a detective works on a case; they are about how a case works on a detective.”

·       Having lived in Japan on and off for four years, she would love to find a novel having anything to do with Japan or Japanese culture—in any category–like TOKYO EVER AFTER, by Emiko Jean, and FAULT LINES, by Emily Etani." (From the agency website)

 Laura is only accepting picture book submissions by referral.

What She Isn't Looking For:

“Romance, Western, Prescriptive Non-fiction, Spirituality” (Link).
Editorial Agent?
Yes.
Clients: 
You can find a listing of some Ms. Rennert's clients on the agency website.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Yes. at http://QueryMe.Online/LauraRennert.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):

Laura uses QueryManager to receive queries. Please follow the prompts in the form and complete all required fields. When submitting your query via QueryManager, you will receive a confirmation of receipt from this program.

• All submissions should include a short Query Letter to that agent introducing yourself and including a description of your work, as well as previous publishing credentials (if any), and publisher submission history.
• Following your Query Letter, depending on what you are submitting, you will be asked to include:
• Picture Book text: full manuscript text typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form
• Picture Book with illustrations (if you are an artist and writer): attach the full dummy (in pdf format) that includes 1-2 color samples, and provide a link to your online portfolio
• Illustrations: attach 2-3 illustration samples (in jpeg format), and provide link to online portfolio
• Fiction (chapter books, MG, YA, adult): first 10 pages typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form
• Graphic novel (art and text): attach 10-20 sample page spreads in jpg or pdf format, summary/synopsis typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form, and provide link to online portfolio
• Graphic novel (script only): first 10 pages of script typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form
• For nonfiction: a proposal and 1-3 sample chapters

• If you are an illustrator submitting art samples only (not a dummy), please put "SEEKING ART REPRESENTATION" in lieu of Title. And "0" or "1" for Word Count. In the sample section, simply write "n/a". Please upload sample art in pdf format and provide an online portfolio link. (From the agency website)

"Please let us know immediately, and we ask that you give us 2 weeks to review your submission once you've notified us of your offer." (From the agency website)

Please see the agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines. 
Response Times:
Varies by agent, but they will send you an email notifying you of their response.
What's the Buzz?
Laura Rennert is a highly respected agent who consistently ranks among the top dealmakers on Publisher’s Marketplace for children’s/YA. She has an amazing stable of authors, including many bestsellers and award winners, who seem very loyal and happy with her representation.
You may find Ms. Rennert at the Big Sur Writing Workshop twice a year and at other conferences listed on the ABLA website.
Contact:
Please see the Andrea Brown Literary website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 1/18/2026.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 5/26/2020.
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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.