Literary Agent Interview: Marisa Cleveland and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Marisa Cleveland here. She’s an agent at The Seymour Agency. 

Hi­ Marisa! Thanks so much for joining us. 

Thanks so much for having me! 

About Marisa: 

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

I have so many different ways to answer how I became an agent, so… in brief, I signed as an author with Mary Sue in 2010, started agenting in 2013 after Nicole sold my contemporary romance series (because I wanted to share the joy of selling other authors), discovered how much I didn’t know about this industry, transferred my clients to Nicole, continued to learn and build connections, and returned to agenting in 2020. As an agent, I’ve immersed myself in the picture book world, expanding slowly to the middle grade, young adult, and adult spaces. 

About the Agency: 

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

The Seymour Agency was founded by Mary Sue Seymour, who was named ACFW’s Agent of the Year in 2015. Now helmed by president Nicole Resciniti, ACFW’s 2012 Agent of the Year, The Seymour Agency strives to offer authors the representation and resources they need to succeed in the ever-evolving publishing industry. 

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 represent authors who write board books through to adult, fiction and nonfiction. What I am looking for is authors who write manuscripts I can’t put down until the last page and can’t stop discussing. Voice is definitely key for me. I’m comfortable in the picture book space, and I’m having fun moving into the middle grade and young adult space. Right now, writing this, I’d love to find more young adult fiction, and the most updated list of genres that interest me is on Query Manager. And for more detailed information about me, I have this page here. 

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

Young adult romance. I love reading young adult romance novels, and I think the world will never have enough romance stories. I read a lot of adult romance, too, but I don’t represent adult romance. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

Horror. Or any book where a dog is intentionally harmed. 

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? 

When you reach the point in your life where you’re living the dream, I hope you remember to appreciate the path you traveled to get there. Then, if you’re able, help someone else on their path. I want to work with authors who want to be part of the literary landscape beyond just writing books. We are all the CEOs of our lives, and for authors, that also means they are the CEO of their career. I want to represent books written by those authors who show up for themselves, for their publishing team (including me!), for their readers, and for other writers. 

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? 

Depends. I can be very editorial when it’s needed. If I don’t think a book is strong enough, I may ask the author for revisions in however many rounds it takes. If the author has a critique group and the manuscript is polished, I probably won’t need to ask for too many adjustments. I do have some authors who want to work with me from concept to final, and that’s more like a book coaching scenario for us until the work reaches the polished stage. 

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’m open by referral only on Query Manager (https://QueryManager.com/MarisaTSA). If any authors reading this think we’d be a stellar fit, please answer the required Referral question with the name: Natalie from Literary Rambles. 

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

Everything is so subjective. Filter words in the opening pages make it difficult for me to fall in love with the voice. Also, again subjective and my opinion, but since I feel like everyone is the CEO of their life, and that means authors are the CEO of their careers, when they are deciding to query an agent, they should know something about that agent that makes them think they would be a good fit. If the query is Dear Sir or just Agent or no name or another name, then I don’t feel I’d be the right agent to represent that author. 

Response Time: 

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

Too long. Emails are most never answered within an acceptable time, and according to Query Manager, my average time is 20 days, with 49 days being my slowest from the last time I opened to general queries. In the past, I’ve been much slower, which is why I end up closing, in an abundance of consideration for those waiting on me. I’d rather be closed and take my time with the fulls I have requested than be open and have someone waiting a year for a response. Hopefully by then, they’ve already found an agent who better aligns with their expectations and needs. 

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? 

It depends on the reasons for self-publishing or choosing a smaller press and the reasons for deciding on an agent. Advice is a funny thing, because what works for some will definitely not work for others, so here’s my advice: if you want to try to find an agent to represent you, and you have self-published a book or published with a small press, let the agent know your why. Why did you go that route first? Why do you want an agent now? Your motivation will help that agent decide if they are a good match for you and what you want to achieve. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I keep an updated list of my authors’ upcoming books here. I also share my deals and shout out my authors on Instagram here. 

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.

N/a 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

To check out the agency, please visit our website.

To query me (using Natalie from Literary Rambles as the referral), please use Query Manager.

To follow my journey on Instagram, please visit @thereisnobox. 

Additional Advice: 

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

You have a story to tell. Don’t let someone else tell your story. But you must learn your craft to tell it well, and whether you’re writing for an audience of one or more than one million, words have power and authors hold a write privilege that many will never experience.

To all the creatives in my world 🌎, thank you for feeling life and sharing your emotions ❤️💔❤️ through art.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Marisa. 

Thanks again for having me! I hope anything I’ve said helps someone create something that helps someone fall in love with reading. 

Giveaway Details 

­Marisa 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 January 9th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky 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.

Happy Holidays Everyone! I'm on blog break until January 1st when I'll be participating in the New Year New You Giveaway Hop. I have a full schedule of author interviews with book giveaways, agent spotlight interviews with query critique giveaways, and giveaway hops in 2026. I hope to see you on January 1st!

 

 

Literary Agent Interview: Lynnette Novak Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Lynnette Novak here. She is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency.

Status Update on 1/18/2025: Lynette is open to submissions. She extensively revised her interview answers on 1/21/2025.

Status Update on 1/2/2026: Lynette is currently closed to submissions. But on her agency website page, she lists projects she'd be excited for when she reopens to queries. Check the agency website regularly to learn when she reopens to submissions.

Hi­ Lynnette! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Lynnette:

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

I mentored in Pitch Wars for two years (2015 and 2016) as a freelance editor. It was amazing. I loved having contestants send entries to me and enjoyed going through my slush pile to choose a manuscript I wanted to help a writer improve. That first year gave me the itch to become an agent and my Pitch Wars time in 2016 confirmed it. I pushed that feeling aside, believing you had to become an intern at an agency right out of university. I didn’t do that, so I thought I’d missed the boat.

At times, I divided my day between my elementary teaching job, freelance editing, and writing. You read that right! I used to write, so I know what writers go through and can totally relate! I wrote romantic suspense novels and was starting to get somewhere, winning awards or coming close. I even had an offer of representation from an agent for one of my books. So exciting!!! However, a conversation I had with another agent while attending the RWA conference as a Golden Heart Finalist threw me for a loop!

I told her how much fun I had as a Pitch Wars mentor and I wished I could be an agent too. She laughed. She said with seventeen years freelance editing experience, I could jump right into agenting.

Wait. What…

I had some thinking to do. There was no way I’d start two new careers at the same time (as an author and agent). My hair would all fall out! So, I asked myself which career path I NEEDED to pursue. Agenting. No question. I get to read for a living. I get to experience so many worlds, characters, and plots—much more than if I had been writing my own stories. And I get to work with talented editors, agents, and authors aka My Peeps! I contacted a handful of literary agencies, received three offers, and chose to work with The Seymour Agency in 2017.

Best. Decision. Ever.

About the Agency:

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

The Seymour Agency strives to offer aspiring and established authors the representation and resources they need to succeed in the ever-evolving publishing industry.

 

Our literary agents firmly believe in exploring every opportunity for our authors. From foreign and audio rights to film, television, and other multimedia and digital prospects such as gaming and apps, we strive to provide hands-on emotional, professional, promotional, and editorial counsel to each one of our authors.

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?

Currently looking for: (Always looking for BIPOC, diversity of all kinds, and LGBTQ+!!!)

Illustrators: Board book, picture book, illustrated MG, illustrated covers for kid lit and adult.

Picture books: fiction and nonfiction picture books (non-rhyming preferred).

MG genres: contemporary, magical realism, contemporary/grounded fantasy, horror

YA genres: rom-com, romantasy, fantasy, magical realism, horror

Adult fiction genres: horror, contemporary romance, romcom, and romantasy

Adult nonfiction genres: memoirs, narrative, spirituality/New Age, self-help, health/fitness, parenting/family, motivational/inspirational, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships & dating, and true crime. You must be an expert in the field and have a platform.

What kind of platform do you need for nonfiction? Are you a celebrity with a story to tell? An expert in the field (doctor, CEO, trainer, psychologist, etc.)? Do you have a direct route to the consumer? Are you a social influencer or public speaker?

She loves dark and suspenseful, mysterious twists, unique worlds, light and funny, a good love story, and lots of voice.

#MSWL: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/lynnette-novak/

What She Isn’t Looking For:

At the moment, I’m not looking for science fiction in any age category.

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

I’m not interested in thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction, literary fiction, Christian fiction, poetry, screenplays, novellas, sci-fi, or epic fantasies.

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?

It’s very important to me to represent marginalized voices so I can help get those voices into the world.

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’ll bet you never guessed I’m an editorial agent. Did my seventeen years as a freelance editor give it away? LOL Of course, it depends on the project, but generally speaking, we do at least one big picture/developmental edit. I read the MS and give the author notes on what is and isn’t working. I make suggestions on how to fix issues, but I don’t expect the author to necessarily use my suggestions—although, they’re more than welcome to. What I’m really saying is, “There’s a problem here. Please fix it.”

After the author sends the revised MS back, I then open Track Changes and make comments about all kinds of things like stilted dialogue; buried dialogue; repetition; passive writing; information/backstory dump; not enough emotion; show, don’t tell; talking heads, POV slip; not enough conflict; stakes aren’t clear; scene feels rushed; GMCs need to be fleshed out; pick up the pace; and the list goes on.

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?

Please query me through Query Manager: https://QueryManager.com/QueryLynnetteNovak. I like a one-page query that includes a pitch and short bio. The first five pages should be pasted in the sample area of the form. If you start with a prologue, you can mention it, but I’d rather see the first five pages of the actual story unless I’ve requested to see more. Note: If I “heart” your pitch in a social media pitch party, I want you to send it to my query email address not Query Manager. I’ll reply to let you know if I’m interested. For nonfiction authors, please attach your proposal through the Query Manager system.

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

If the query is more about the author than the story, I might not be able to get a strong feel for the premise and could reject for that reason. Sell me on your writing. For nonfiction authors, publishers want you to have a platform, so I need to see that too.

Response Time:

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

That varies. It depends on my schedule at the time. I TRY to stay on top of queries by responding between 1 day and 1 month. No matter what, I ALWAYS respond, even if it takes a little longer, especially around holidays.

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?

I have hybrid authors who self-publish and are traditionally published (or seeking to be traditionally published), and I have clients whose first book was with a small press. I won’t represent a book that has already been published, even if it was self-published. Many publishers won’t touch them. I’d rather have a new story to shop. As far as advice goes, be transparent. You don’t want to start a professional relationship with your agent by “forgetting” to mention the book has already been published.

12. With all the changes in publishing—self-publishing, hybrid authors, more small publishers—do you see the role of agents changing at all? Why?

Publishing is constantly changing, so we adapt accordingly. As long as there are contracts to be negotiated, agents will still be around.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

Alice Lin

-Elizabeth Ese

-Genevieve Jack

-Hannah Kates

-Jenny C. Bell

-Kathy Kelly

-Miri White

-Marzieh Abbas

-Nora Nickum

-Sol Smith

-Zenda Walker

Interviews and Guest Posts:

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

N/A

9/2/2022 Update: Agent of the Month Intro, Part 1 Interview, Part 2 Interview at Writing and Illustrating 9/2022

1/19 2025 Update:

Manuscript Wish List 

MS Wishlist

Publishers Marketplace

Query Tracker

Twitter

Instagram

Links and Contact Info:

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

https://QueryManager.com/QueryLynnetteNovak

Additional Advice:

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

Having realistic expectations and a thick skin can make this industry a little more bearable.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Lynnette.

­Lynnette 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 September 3rd. If your e-mail 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 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.

Last updated: 1/19/2025
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 01/21/2025

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agent Spotlight: Joyce Sweeney Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Joyce Sweeney here. She is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency.

Hi­ Joyce! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Joyce:

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

I’ve been an agent exactly one year. I have been a client of The Seymour Agency for years and I was having lunch with Nicole Resciniti and she offered me the job. It was nothing I had ever even thought about but the minute I did think about it, my heart lit up.

About the Agency:

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

    

The Seymour Agency covers a wide range of genres and styles, adult and children’s authors. I think what it offers the most are a group of truly supportive agents. We all help each other and we commit to our authors and their dreams.

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 represent picture books, both fiction and non-fiction, and middle grade fiction. I have a wide range of interests and am always looking for under represented voices. I love STEM, lyrical and outrageously funny picture books. In MG I also gravitate toward humor, but I will look at fantasy, sci-fi and adventure as well.

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

I would like to see more LGBTQ projects and some great mysteries.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

Even when I think they are lovely, I tend to not get excited about super quiet books, especially with rural settings, small towns, etc. I’m usually not the right agent for historicals either, but the right one can break that rule.

I don’t rep YA or graphic novels. Or anything adult. And I am not a huge fan of bathroom and poop stories.

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?

We have joked among me and my clients that I like optimists. I like clients who understand this is a difficult task but who know how to be resilient and hopeful.  I like a lot of communication and collaboration. I am a sucker for a great voice or anything that stirs the emotions.   

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 very editorial because I was a developmental editor and writing teacher for 25 years. I am super picky and usually a book has to go several rounds with me before it is ‘ready’ to submit.  This applies to everything, including PB’s. Sometimes it takes a lot of drafts to get those words perfect. 

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?

Our requirements for The Seymour Agency are on the website: a query email, and paste in the entire PB or first five pages of a fiction manuscript. Periodically, like now, I close to submissions so I can work on existing clients intensely. I usually announce on Twitter if I am open or closed. In the query I want to see a great pitch and signs that the author has been working hard on their craft for a while and didn’t just dash off their first idea. 

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

Sending me things I don’t represent. That just wastes everyone’s time. Hyperbole about the book’s amazing sales potential. Just give me a simple pitch and I can see what will work for me and what won’t. 

Response Time:

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

I respond to queries very fast. Requested manuscripts take longer because I am reading my clients’ work first and then I get to the requested list. But it is always fine for requested authors to check in and certainly to update me if another agent is showing interest.  If a manuscript is urgent, I will take it out of order. 

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?

I do not represent authors who have self-published. I have several clients who have published at small presses. I know that handicaps them in moving up to larger ones, but I take that as a challenge!

12. With all the changes in publishing—self-publishing, hybrid authors, more small publishers—do you see the role of agents changing at all? Why?

I don’t think self-publishing affects us that much. It has its own lane and we have ours.

When I began, I did not sub to the smaller houses, but I have since learned some of them are terrific and many clients are happier in a small home than a larger one.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

Gabriele Davis, Peggy Robbins Janousky, Aixa Perez-Prado, Katie Venit, and Lori Dubbin to name a few.

Interviews and Guest Posts:

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

https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/new-agent-spotlight-joyce-sweeney-of-the-seymour-agency/

Update on 4/25/2025

Interview at Writing and Illustrating Part1, Part 2, Part 3 

Links and Contact Info:

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

My website is joycesweeney.com

Query: joyce@theseymouragency.com  I’m on Facebook, Twitter @JoyceGrackle and Instagram Sweeney1217.

Additional Advice:

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

Keep querying! Because of the sheer numbers of queries, I have to turn down great work every single day. Keep going till you find the agent who can’t resist you.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Joyce.

Joyce 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 May 22nd. If your e-mail 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 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 e-mail 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.

 

Agent Spotlight: Nicole Resciniti

This week's Agent Spotlight features Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.
Status: Nicole is closed to submissions. Check the agency website to learn when she reopens to queries.
About: "Nicole Resciniti has been listed by Publishers Marketplace as a top dealmaker in the country and named as ACFW's Agent of the Year. She loves discovering new talent and helping established authors to take their career to the next level.

Nicole is a member of AAR, ACFW, RWA, and Mensa. She holds degrees in biology, psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. Like Mary Sue, Nicole taught in the public school system and has worn many hats before heeding her calling to become a literary agent—for which she will forever be indebted to Mary Sue Seymour." (From the agency website)

Nicole is the president of the agency.
About the Agency:
“The Seymour Agency strives to offer aspiring and established authors the representation and resources they need to succeed in the ever-evolving publishing industry. 

Our literary agents firmly believe in exploring every opportunity for our authors. From foreign and audio rights to film, television, and other multimedia and digital prospects such as gaming and apps, we strive to provide hands-on emotional, professional, promotional, and editorial counsel to each one of our authors." (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
Seymour Agency website.
Seymour Agency Facebook.
QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Action/Suspense/Thriller, Mystery, Cozies and Amateur Sleuth, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and YA/Children's/MG and all Romance, Women's Fiction, Inspirational and Cookbooks (From the agency website)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Poetry, erotica, or any genres not listed above
Editorial Agent?
“I may work with a client on a manuscript several times before it’s ready for submission. Editing is a big part of the job.” (Link)
Clients:
There are lists of  clients on the agency website.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No. 
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Nicole is closed to queries but other agents use QueryManager.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
See the Seymour Agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Response Times:
Unknown
What's the Buzz?
Nicole Resciniti is President of Seymour Agency and is a passionate agent for her clients.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews and Podcasts:

Podcast on YouTube on Query Letters and Publishing Tips at Rick Bleiweiss (12/21)
Contact:
Please see the Seymour Agency website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 1/21/2026
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 12/15/11.
***
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.