Literary Agent Interview: Taj McCoy and Query Critique Giveaway

 Today I’m thrilled to have agent Taj McCoy here. She’s an agent at Laura Dail Literary Agency. 

Hi­ Taj! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Taj: 

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent. 

I started agenting in 2022, which is the same year that my debut novel released––I’m a romance author and a literary agent. After I secured my first literary agent and book deal, my agent and I started talking about the similarities between my former career in law school admissions and career development and agenting. After a lot of encouragement, I started assisting an agent to learn more about the publishing process. I assisted for a year before seeking my first role at Rees Literary Agency, and I joined the Laura Dail Literary Agency earlier this year in February. 

As an agent, I consider myself a generalist––my clients write across all age ranges, in fiction and nonfiction, and I also represent a few illustrators. For the most part, I try not to speak in absolutes when it comes to what genres I will or won’t consider, though that may change later on. 

About the Agency: 

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors. 

LDLA has a robust clientele with a wide range of literary works over the course of nearly 30 years. The team isn’t massive, but I think we have a team of thoughtful and experienced agents who are looking to build lists of strong and talented creatives. We’re each different in our approaches, which is great, because we collaborate and tap into the team for different perspectives on pitches, sublists, etc. The team is quick to boost client news, both from individual agent accounts and the agency account, and we’re constantly considering different ways to carve out opportunities for our clients. 

What She’s Looking For: 

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres? 

I’m a generalist, representing everything from pictures books to MG and YA on the fiction and nonfiction side. I also represent adult projects on the fiction and nonfiction side. I’m open to all genres, though right now, I’d say I’m looking specifically for spooky and adventurous MG and YA, Adult mysteries and thrillers, and romance always (Adult and YA). I am always looking for creatives from underrepresented backgrounds. Amplifying marginalized voices is a priority for me. 

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in? 

See above. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in? 

I am not the right fit for epic fantasy, war stories, or stories that delve into sexual assault or child abuse. 

Agent Philosophy: 

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent? 

I believe that an agent-author relationship is a partnership. We have to be able to openly communicate. I’m looking for authors who are actively trying to grow and improve as writers, who are open to feedback, and who are familiar with editorial revisions. I am always looking for creatives from underrepresented backgrounds. Amplifying marginalized voices is a priority for me. 

Editorial Agent: 

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors? 

I am an editorial agent. Typically my clients and I will do at least one round of revisions before going on submission to editors. I’ll provide clients with both in-document feedback and an edit letter so that they have a sense of big-picture areas of focus and concrete examples of when/where that feedback could be employed. 

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting) 

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter? 

I only consider queries via QueryManager. A query letter should include a short premise of the story, the stakes, the word count, the age range and genre, and ideally some comp titles. I also like a brief intro to the author. 

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you? 

As long as the queries include the above, I don’t have additional preferences. 

Response Time: 

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript? 

Typically, I’ll respond to queries within 12 weeks. Requests for more pages often take longer, and that’s because there are constant interruptions with client work. I don’t onboard new clients when I have a bunch of current client needs to attend to, so folks who have sent full manuscripts unfortunately do have longer wait periods. 

Self-Published and Small Press Authors: 

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them? 

Yes, I have several indie authors and hybrid authors on my list. Indie authors looking for representation query the same as any other. If an indie author is trying to get representation to sell print rights to something that’s already been published, sales data will be extremely important. Platform may also be something strongly considered, as well as goals and whether there are any fresh projects that haven’t been published previously that could be potentially sold via traditional publishing. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

Natasha Bishop, Morgan Elizabeth, Quiana Glide, Dr. Michelle Grant, Alexia LaFata, Karmen Lee, Kelly Mangan, Asia Monique, J.L. Seegars, Tracy Simmons, Zoe B. Wallbrook 

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

13. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you.

https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-taj-mccoy 

Links and Contact Info: 

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web.

https://querytracker.net/query/tajmccoy 

Additional Advice: 

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered?

Finish the book. Authors (myself included) have a bad habit of continuing to edit and revise and polish the first half of the book, while the second half sort of just never happens. We get so caught up in perfecting that first bit that we never finish. Stop editing and finish the book. Allow your draft to be rough but complete. Then dive into revision rounds and see the magic happen! 

Oakland-born law grad, Taj McCoy is a romance author, literary agent, and higher education consultant. After working with Rees Literary Agency for nearly three years, Taj joined the Laura Dail Literary Agency in 2025 and aims to widen the entryway for marginalized authors and to normalize Black joy, fat joy, celebrations of culture, and love without limitations. She represents Adult Fiction (commercial, romance/rom-coms, women's fiction, mystery/thriller, upmarket), Adult Non-Fiction (memoirs, narratives, cookbooks, self-help, empowerment, cultural tradition and history), Children's Fiction (Picture books; MG and YA contemporary, mystery, romance, thriller, fantasy), Children's Non-Fiction (historical narratives, picture books), and illustrators. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Taj. 

Giveaway Details 

­Taj is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through June 28th. If your email is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. 

If you follow me on Twitter or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway. 

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com 

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Friday, August 1st I’m participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop 

Monday, August 4th I have a guest post by debut author Isabel Knight and a giveaway of the first book in her Enchantria series 

Wednesday, August 6th I have an interview with author Lillie Vale and a giveaway of her YA Hit Me With Your Best Charm 

Monday, August 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Krista Van Dolzer and a query critique giveaway 

Saturday, August 16th I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop 

Monday, August 18th I have an interview with debut author Ryan James Black and a giveaway of his MG The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham 

Wednesday, August 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Shelly Romero and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, August 25th I have an interview with author James Ponti and a giveaway of his MG Hurricane Heist 

I hope to see you on Friday!