Literary Agent Interview: Cate Hart and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Cate Hart here. She is a literary agent at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. 

Status Update: Cate is currently closed to queries but plans to open to submissions the last week of October, 2026.

Hi­ Cate! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Cate: 

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

I began as an intern for a small boutique agency and worked up to a junior agent role while working remotely. Then I joined the Harvey Klinger Agency in 2019. I’ve been an agent for 13 years. Most of what I do involves reading queries and working with clients, whether on revisions of a current project or helping them figure out their next project or simply the next steps in their career. Since I’m not based in New York, I also find opportunities to meet with editors or catch up via calls. 

About the Agency: 

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

 For more than 25 years, Harvey Klinger Agency has represented numerous best-selling and award-winning authors in a wide array of genres and age groups. We take a personal, hands-on approach to working with our authors, from offering our editorial skills to guiding careers. We work aggressively to sell our clients’ film, TV and foreign rights. I love that we all work collaboratively together. 

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? 

Along with adult, I represent mostly upper MG and YA. I am open to all genres, but I’m more selective with Historical. While I love YA fantasy, there’s been such an influx in the genre, that I am looking for something really unique while still having a high concept and commercial feel. I enjoy like cross-genres, like historical fantasy or mystery with speculative elements. For submissions, I never really know genre-wise, but if the voice pulls me in and the narrative is strong and polished, I might just fall in love with it. 

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

I am still looking for unique, atmospheric gothic tales, whether Southern or more traditional. I’d love if the period is outside of the usual Victorian era, but I’m not opposed to that period either. I’m still looking for a fun, if not campy, upper MG or YA mystery. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

Unfortunately, I don’t represent Picture Books or Chapter Books. At the moment, I’m pretty selective with Middle Grade. I’m not the best for dystopians, though I feel like they may be making a slow come back. And while I am sure there are readers for it, ecological based stories are not the best for me either. I love historicals, but I am very selective for both MG and YA. For specific time periods I am not looking for: in or around the American Civil War, mid to late 20^th century, ancient civilization or really anything before the Elizabethan era. 

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 want to represent authors for their whole career. I attempt to be open and communicative and look for that from authors. The books I want to represent are ones could see myself picking up off the shelf and wanting to read. 

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 do work editorially with clients. Usually after I have read a submission and before I make an offer of representation, I have some overall notes that I share on the call. Then after coming on board, I do another read, expanding on those initial thoughts. I communicate with the author those notes to work on revisions. After revising those big picture items, we might do a round of line edits and then send out on submission. 

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 accept queries through QueryManager. I ask for the query letter, a short 1-2 page synopsis and the first five pages. 

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

I don’t have any specific dislikes that some might consider an automatic rejection, but I’m not a fan of queries that spend more time describing themes or things that should be inherent from introducing the main character and their motivations while giving the major beats of the story in the query. For first pages, I’m not a fan of prologues as they are tricky to pull off and most times aren’t needed. It can be hard to gauge where the story is going or get a good sense of the main character from a prologue. 

Response Time: 

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

I hate to admit I am a bit slower to answering queries and requested pages. I aim for 30 days, but sometimes I can be on the fence about a query or the requested manuscript and that can take me longer to respond. 

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 am open to authors who have self-published or published with smaller presses. I feel the best advice is to query with a new project and not a continuation of something already published. For authors who have previously published, those projects show an agent they are building a readership as well have a good understanding of the publishing business. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I maintain a small list of authors, but just a few are Amanda DeWitt, Lindsay Bandy and adult author Bonnie Blaylock. 

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. 

Admittedly, I haven’t done any in a while. Though there are so many great posts with advice out there that can really be applied to querying any agent. 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

Authors can query me through QueryManager at https://QueryTracker.net/query/CateHart 

Additional Advice: 

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

Keep querying and keep writing. Publishing really is about persistence. It is very subjective as well. Something that might not be great for one agent, could be just the right thing for another. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Cate! 

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. 

🎉 ENTER THE LITERARY RAMBLES QUERY CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY! 🎉 

Want to get your book pitch polished by a professional? Enter today for a chance to win a free query critique from literary agent Cate! 

How to Enter:

• Leave a Comment: Drop a comment below by October 31st  to lock in your entry. To protect your privacy from spam bots, please write your email address using the "name [at] gmail [dot] com" format.
• Bluesky Bonus: If you follow me on Bluesky, mention your handle in your comment for an extra entry!
• Sharing Bonus: If you share about this contest on your own social media sites or blog, let me know in the comments for extra entries.
• Blog Follower Bonus: If you follow Literary Rambles via Blogger or email subscription, let me know in the comments for an extra entry.

🌍 This giveaway is open internationally! You must be 13 years or older to enter. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

• Monday, October 25th: Interview with Jackie Garcia Morales and a giveaway of her MG Pesky Rules
• Monday, November 1st: Participating in the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop
• Wednesday, November 3rd: Interview with Angela Cheng and a giveaway of her YA The Fast Track
• Monday, November 9th: Interview with Karen Foxlee and a giveaway of The Wonderous Tale of Lavender Wolfe
• Wednesday, November 11th: Agent spotlight interview with Riley Jay Davis and a query critique giveaway 

I hope to see you on Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literary Agent Interview: Jenny Lewis and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Jenny Lewis here. She is an associate agent at Darhansoff & Verrill Literary Agents. 

Hi­ Jenny! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Jenny: 

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

 

Like almost everyone who ends up in publishing, I was always a bookworm and loved reading. Publishing was always in the back of my mind, but it felt more like a concept than a career—like a job you could only do if you were Kate Hudson in a 2005 rom-com. I settled on journalism as a back-up, but after my mom got sick, I changed courses. I moved back home to care for her, and found myself back in my childhood bedroom, looking to the books I loved growing up for the comfort and escape they once brought me. Publishing began to feel more tangible after that—it’s cheesy and idealistic, but I wanted to be a part of the process that brought these books to people who needed them as much as I did.

 

I landed an internship with Writers House, and before the end of my first day, I was hooked—it was entirely different than I had expected, but I loved that the job married editorial creativity with author advocacy. I got my first job at Sobel Weber Associates, where I worked for three years assisting and agenting. I briefly pivoted to the publishing house side, and while it was enlightening to see how things work on the other side of the table, I really missed working directly with authors. I made the move to Darhansoff and Verrill in June, and I’m thrilled to be building my list here. Publishing isn’t always as glamorous as rom-com heroines made it look, but I feel incredibly lucky to have landed in a role I love! 

About the Agency: 

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

Darhansoff and Verrill is a full-service boutique literary agency that has been in business since 1975, representing high-quality fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. We are agents and advocates, readers and editors, negotiators and mediators. The market may fluctuate and the industry may shift, but we remain steadfast champions of creative work. 

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 primarily looking for middle grade, YA, and adult fiction! Voice is always what hooks me first, above all else—I love when an author can balance humor and heart without turning too saccharine or too sarcastic. My taste varies across genres, but you can always check out my current wishlist here! I update it semi-obsessively and it’s perhaps overly comprehensive, so you can always check back to see my current taste. 

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

Growing up, I was obsessed with what I’ve come to call “orphan lit”—give me a middle-grade protagonist that would fit right in to a Dickensian novel and I’m hooked. I know it’s not as popular now as it was when I was growing up, but I do think there’s something timeless to the magic and whimsy in those stories. I’d love to see the next MOLLY MOON or SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS that speaks to the issues kids are facing today. 

In YA, I’d love to see more campus novels, especially if they feature a daring or outspoken female protagonist (think THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS). Boarding school and college novels almost always hook me, so long as they are based in the real world. I love a touch of snark in YA, so bring on your moody, angsty protagonists! 

In adult, I’m a sucker for “weird-girl lit”, and I’m always looking for messy protagonists that challenge me. Anything that sits at the intersection of horrifying and heartening is sure to hook me. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

I’m not necessarily one for strict genre works. I love a high-concept hook and genre blending, but I prefer works that are firmly grounded in the real world. Touches of magic or sci-fi are always welcome, but I’m probably not the right agent for fully-crafted fantasy worlds. Right now, I’m also not looking for picture books. 

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? 

The author-agent relationship is far more collaborative than many people usually realize from outside the industry, so above all else, I’m looking for authors who I can build a partnership with long-term. In that partnership, mutual and open-ended communication is extraordinarily important to me. Authors need to be receptive to critiques and editorial advice based on a quickly-shifting market, but I also think it’s important that an author feels empowered to speak up if those changes detract from their editorial vision of their work. I take the position that my editorial notes are a jumping-off point for us to collaborate on crafting the best version of your manuscript that we can. 

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? 

Yes! I love the editorial process, and it’s so rewarding to see authors have their editorial visions come to life. It’s not uncommon for me to go through a few rounds of edits with a client, first working through big-picture developmental or structural edits, and then moving on to line-edits before we go on sub. I aim to make the process as collaborative as possible. 

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? 

All submissions should be sent to submissions@dvagency.com! I’m the person at the agency who reads the lion’s share of the queries, and it’s one of the most fun parts of the job. The one thing I frequently see missing from queries is a clear articulation of the stakes. Authors can tend to leave that vague to avoid spoilers, but as an agent, I want spoilers. I want to see that you’ve thought through and can express your characters’ motivations, obstacles, and the stakes they face—it tells me a lot about your craft and your ability to implement the kind of edits we might need to make. Grounding your query in classical story structure (character à want à obstacle à action against the obstacle) is a really great approach—it’s classic for a reason! 

I also love a personable query—I know a lot of authors get caught up in the etiquette and formality of querying, but if you’re honest and personable, I’m endeared to you and your writing from the start. 

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

Purple prose! I notice a lot of authors over-writing their opening pages in the hope that it’ll hook or impress an agent, but it tends to turn me off fairly quickly; you don’t need to use an adverb to tell me something you could show me through your character’s actions. The best writing is honest and straightforward—that’s not to say it shouldn’t be artful or delicately crafted, but flowery prose is often distracting. Your opening pages should welcome us into the world and voice of your characters, and purple prose is an obstacle for agents and readers. 

Response Time: 

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

I always aim to respond to queries within 4-6 weeks. Once I request a full, I do my best to get back to them within 30 days. I try to keep it as short as possible, but I know how nerve-wracking it can be for authors—if I anticipate it’s going to take longer, I do my best to let the author know. Communication is one of the most important parts of the author-agent relationship, and I try to hold up my end of the bargain! 

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! Self-publishing is not necessarily a plus or minus for me--I approach all queries based on the quality of writing first. My biggest piece of advice for self-published authors looking for representation is to be open to collaboration, feedback, and delays. I’ve said it above, but traditional publishing is a far more collaborative (and far slower paced) than self-published authors often anticipate. As long as you come in with an open mind, we will too. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

Having just moved to Darhansoff and Verrill this summer, I’m still actively building my list. I don’t want to reveal anyone’s agented news before they’ve had the chance to do it themselves, but I’m looking forward to some reveals soon! 

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. 

My Publisher’s Marketplace page and Manuscript Wishlist are the best place to find this info—check them out to get a better idea of what I’m interested in before you query! 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

Queries should be sent directly to submissions@dvagency.com. Please indicate in the subject line if you’re querying me or one of my colleagues! I’m trying to stay off socials these days, but you can (sporadically) find me on Twitter and Bluesky.  

Additional Advice: 

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

A lot of other agents have offered this advice, but I think it’s worth repeating that “no” is a word both agents and authors are used to hearing a lot. Querying can be such a vulnerable and intimidating process, and it can haunt even the most talented writers. Above all else, I’d encourage authors to a) remember that querying at all is a (genuinely!) brave and hopeful act, and I applaud anyone who is brave and hopeful enough to endeavor on the path to publication, and b) to remember that rejection is almost never personal—I know it gets grating to hear (or not hear) rejections, but a “no” should never be a deterrent to moving forward. Keep writing, keep taking feedback, and keep going! 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Jenny! 

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. 

🎉 ENTER THE LITERARY RAMBLES QUERY CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY! 🎉 

Want to get your book pitch polished by a professional? Enter today for a chance to win a free query critique from literary agent Jenny! 

How to Enter:

• Leave a Comment: Drop a comment below by October 24th to lock in your entry. To protect your privacy from spam bots, please write your email address using the "name [at] gmail [dot] com" format.
• Bluesky Bonus: If you follow me on Bluesky, mention your handle in your comment for an extra entry!
• Sharing Bonus: If you share about this contest on your own social media sites or blog, let me know in the comments for extra entries.
• Blog Follower Bonus: If you follow Literary Rambles via Blogger or email subscription, let me know in the comments for an extra entry.

🌍 This giveaway is open internationally! You must be 13 years or older to enter. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

• Monday, October 25th: Interview with Jackie Garcia Morales and a giveaway of her MG Pesky Rules
• Monday, November 1st: Participating in the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop
• Wednesday, November 3rd: Interview with Angela Cheng and a giveaway of her YA The Fast Track
• Monday, November 9th: Interview with Karen Foxlee and a giveaway of The Wonderous Tale of Lavender Wolfe
• Wednesday, November 11th: Agent spotlight interview with Riley Jay Davis and a query critique giveaway 

I hope to see you on Monday!

Literary Agent Interview: Syrone Harvey and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Syrone Harvey here. She is a junior literary agent at Belcastro Agency. 

Hi­ Syrone! Thanks so much for joining us.

Thank you so much for the invite. I love the Literary Rambles platform and the amazing resources that it provides! 

About Syrone: 

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

I actually started agenting in a not-so-conventional way. For years, I juggled roles- as a non-profit caseworker, and as a writer/journalist/magazine editor. I balanced things for a while, then merged into writing, editing and proofreading. I eventually interned with several independent publishers, before finally stepping into agenting. It’s been an awesome journey. I also successfully wrote and published a 4-book children’s series with my twin sister. 

About the Agency: 

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

Belcastro Agency is an independent, full-service literary agency. We represent and support a wide array of genre. The agency’s individual, client-oriented approach is what I really appreciate. We are an editorial agency, and enjoy the process of development with our writers. Belcastro Agency is hands-on and career focused. Our clients and their projects truly matter. 

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? 

Right now, my wish list is pretty open. I represent creative, imaginative, PB’s. MG and YA’s that are real, emotionally driven, and offer strong, marginalized voices. With Adult Fiction, I am interested in rich, compelling stories, with multi-layered, characters. I especially love a family and friendship trope with heart-stirring concepts. 

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

Anything with surprises, especially stories that catch me off guard is appealing. Like most agents, I am looking for the unique factor, stories that keep me hooked and pulled in from the beginning to the end. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

I’m not interested in horror, paranormal or sci-fi. Absolutely no sexual assault, abuse, graphic violence or erotica. No short stories, novellas or poetry collections. My wish list is available on the Belcastro website. 

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? 

The author-agent relationship is a unique one. It’s important that share a great working connection. Communication is key. I love the collaborative process, especially with debut authors. It’s an honor and a thrill to support the work and dreams of debut authors. 

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 a developmental agent. I work closely with my clients to ensure the success of their manuscript. I focus on making sure that the manuscript is solid and ready to go on submission. Because this is a collaborative process, it’s important that there is a good working relationship. It’s also essential that my clients and I share the same vision for their project. It definitely has to be mutual.   

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? 

We use a submission link which leads to a query form. I suggest that querying writers check out my wish list on the Belcastro website before submitting. The query link is available on the webpage. The query form will request a query, bio, synopsis and the first 20 pages. I will send a request for more, if I am interested in reading the full manuscript. 

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

Get to the point. Balance and flow are essential. The query letter is about the story. It’s a turn off for me, when a writer spends more time talking about their background and writing process before actually introducing the story. I want to engage with the concept of the story and need to be drawn in from the beginning. 

Response Time: 

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

My response time is based on my work flow. I periodically close my query inbox to new submissions, simply because I want to give myself sufficient time to review and read through each project that I receive. I realize that waiting is nerve-wracking, but sometimes a little extra time could be a good thing. 

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?

While I don’t represent projects that have previously been self-published, I do work with authors who have previously published with smaller publishers, or have a new project needing representation. Don’t be afraid to submit new projects. On rare occasions, a publisher may offer a second glance at a previously self-published project, but it’s more desirable to receive something that has not yet been published or has been previously represented. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent?

Many of the writers that I represent are debut authors. I love working with novice authors due to the developmental aspect of things. I currently represent a variety of genre, which I love. It’s so much fun working with different types of projects, and the authors with different writing styles. 

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. 

I often work with Writing Day Workshops- https://www.writingdayworkshops.com/ 

My wish lists can also be found on multiple websites: 

Query Tracker- https://querytracker.net/ 

Manuscript Wish List- https://manuscriptwishlist.com/ 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

Use this link to follow my wish list and access my query form- 

https://www.belcastroagency.com/submit-a-story/ 

Additional Advice: 

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

Make sure that your project ready and is well edited. When choosing people to review your work, be objective. Make sure that you choose beta readers that will be honest, and will openly share their thoughts. Family members and close friends aren’t always as objective as you might need. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Syrone! 

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.

 Giveaway Details

Syrone 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 19th. 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. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Monday, September 14th, I have an interview with M.K. England and a giveaway of her MG Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth 

Wednesday, September 16^th, I’m participating in the Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop 

Monday, September 21st, I have an agent spotlight interview with Tali Shammas and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, September 28th, I have an interview with Isaac Fitzsimmons and a giveaway of his MG Astra Fox and the Rise of the Wonderworkers

I hope to see you on Monday!