Agent Spotlight: Emily Gref

This week's Agent Spotlight features Emily Gref of Lowenstein Associates.

Status: Open to submissions.

About: “Emily Gref is an Associate Agent at Lowenstein Associates, as well as our digital strategist. She also handles foreign and subrights. Her interests are wide and varied. In Young Adult and Middle Grade she is looking for all genres, but has a weak spot for fairy tale, folklore, and mythology retellings. Emily is also interested in fantasy and science fiction, as well as literary and commercial women’s fiction.

“In non-fiction she is looking for strong narratives and books by recognized experts with a wide-reaching platform. Books that lend themselves well to digital platforms are especially of interest. Non-fiction projects she’d like to take on include narratives about linguistics, anthropology and history. She is also open to biographies and memoirs with a strong voice and unique hook.” (Link)

About the Agency:

“Founded in 1976 by Barbara Lowenstein, Lowenstein Associates is a full-service agency, representing a varied and gifted roster of authors from New York Times bestsellers to Pulitzer Prize nominees.

“We have a unique approach to selling books and handling our authors' careers, combining the kind of personal, hands-on attention that the corporate-style agencies don't have the time to give, with the strong negotiating muscle and stellar reputation the boutique agencies can't match. As an example, in the past year, we have sold over 250 ebooks and audio books from our robust backlist.

“Lowenstein Associates represents a diverse array of over 100 writers including authors of bestselling commercial fiction, award-winning narrative non-fiction and exceptional literary fiction, prominent cultural icons and leading experts in medicine, psychology, contemporary issues.” (Link)

Web Presence:

Lowenstein Associates website.

Sky Lavender and Cornerless (blog).

Twitter.

QueryTracker.

What She's Looking For:

Genres / Specialties:

Fiction: Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult.

Non-Fiction: Biography & Memoirs, General Non-Fiction, Narrative. (Link)

From her Bio (as above):

“In Young Adult and Middle Grade she is looking for all genres, but has a weak spot for fairy tale, folklore, and mythology retellings. Emily is also interested in fantasy and science fiction, as well as literary and commercial women’s fiction.

“In non-fiction she is looking for strong narratives and books by recognized experts with a wide-reaching platform. Books that lend themselves well to digital platforms are especially of interest. Non-fiction projects she’d like to take on include narratives about linguistics, anthropology and history. She is also open to biographies and memoirs with a strong voice and unique hook.” (Link)

What She Isn't Looking For:

Unknown.

Editorial Agent?

“We will help you conceptualize, create and hone your material.” (Link)

Clients:

Kristen Ciccarelli.

Sales:

No known sales; Ms. Gref is a new agent.  

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes.

Snail-Mail: Yes.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines:

Please see the Lowenstein Associates website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines. 

Tip:

“Starting a story w/ a conversation isn't necessarily a bad thing, but as a reader it makes me feel like I'm forced to overhear strangers. I have to care about the characters before I care about what they're saying.” (Link, Link)

Response Times:

The agency’s stated response time is 4-6 weeks. Stats on the web are limited but show Ms. Gref responding to queries within 1-6 weeks and requested material within 4-6.

What's the Buzz?

Emily Gref is a new agent at Lowenstein Associates. She signed her first client in April of 2012 and another in June. She is actively building her list. 

Prior to joining Lowenstein Associates, Ms. Gref held several internships including for Penguin, Scholastic, and Serendipity Lit.

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

None found.

Around the Web:

Lowenstein Associates thread at AbsoluteWrite.

Client Kristen Ciccarelli’s agent story at her blog, Musings on Books, Art, Music, and Life in General (06/2012).

Contact:

Please see the Lowenstein Associates website for contact and query information.

Profile Details:

Last updated: 7/5/12.

Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.

Last Reviewed By Agent? 7/5/12.

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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's and/or teen 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.