Literary Agent Interview: Jon Cobb Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Jon Cobb here. He’s an agent at HG Literary.

Status update on 9/25/2025: Jon is currently open to submissions.

Hi Jon! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Jon:

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 at HG Literary for a bit over 8 years now. I started off as an assistant to Josh Getzler, who hired me directly out of a graduate course he was teaching at NYU’s School of Professional Studies. While I started in that position purely as an assistant to Josh, I later transitioned to representing my own list of clients as well.

About the Agency:

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

HG Literary is a boutique literary agency, formed by Carrie Hannigan and Josh Getzler in 2011. Our agents have decades of combined experience in the publishing industry and represent a diverse list of best-selling and award-winning clients.

What He’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?

In children’s, I represent MG and YA. My tastes are pretty wide within those categories–contemporary, mystery, thriller, romance, speculative, fantasy–so I don’t want to close myself off to any potentially interesting projects!

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

I’m biracial and part Filipino, and would be interested in reading submissions of any genre from authors of Filipino descent. I’m also a sucker for grounded science fiction, particularly anything involving alternate universes, time loops, or other weird phenomena.

What He Isn’t Looking For:

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

I’m mostly interested in fiction, so nonfiction projects would be a better fit for another agent. While I’m a big fantasy fan, I am particularly interested in fantasy with unique and unexpected settings, so projects that feel too archetypal to the genre–wizards in pointy hats; knights in gleaming armor; dragons, castles, feudalism, etc.–tend to not interest me as much.

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 collaborative one, and I like to work with clients who are able to contribute equally to that relationship. That means being able to accept criticism and feedback. At the same time, it’s important for authors to make strong choices and not just roll over at the slightest resistance. I like to say that my editorial notes aren’t orders or decrees, but the start of a conversation. Often the best and most successful editorial passes on a manuscript come from me and the author working together, brainstorming, bouncing ideas off each other.

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 go through multiple editorial rounds with my clients before a project is ready for submission. We typically start with a developmental edit, often more than one round, where we will look at foundational issues and make big, structural changes to the plot; and then a closer line edit focusing on pacing. clarity, removing redundancies, etc. It’s rarely a quick process, but editors’ standards are incredibly high so it’s always worth it to polish a manuscript as much as possible before submitting it widely.

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 look for 4 things in the synopsis portion of a query letter: Character, Goal, Obstacle, Action Against Obstacle. Who is your main character? What are they trying to achieve/obtain/prevent? What obstacle stands in their way? And how are they going to act against that obstacle to achieve their goal? It’s a pretty basic rubric that won’t map 1-to-1 onto every story. But if you want to clearly communicate the arc of your story, answering those 4 questions is a good place to start.

Another thing I look for in every query letter is an author bio. It doesn’t have to be very long or detailed, and it doesn’t have to be full of honors or accolades either; I just want to get a feel for the person who wrote the attached manuscript, and a query always feels incomplete to me without it.

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

My colleague Josh Getzler introduced me to the term “the modifier zone.” It describes some authors’ tendency to try to impress agents and editors in their opening pages with lots and lots of adverbs, adjectives and other modifiers (or just generally an excess of flowery, purple prose). It’s a common mistake! Hopefully putting words to it will convince some of the authors reading to avoid the modifier zone.

Response Time:

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

My target is to respond to queries within 60 days of receipt. Once I request a partial manuscript, I can review it fairly quickly, within 1-2 weeks, but expect another 60 day wait for reviewing a full manuscript.

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?

Of course! Being published by a smaller press or self-publishing is neither a plus nor a minus for me. I’m willing to consider their work regardless. My advice to such authors is to be honest and thorough about your past publications when querying agents. The info is usually just a Google search away, so save the agent the trouble and direct them to your work.

Clients:

12. Who are some of the authors you represent?

Some of my authors include A.A. Vora, author of Spin of Fate and the upcoming Wheel of Wrath (Putnam); Brian Wasson, author of Seven Minutes in Candyland and the upcoming Two Truths and a Lionel (Quill Tree Books), and Shay Kauwe, author of the upcoming The Killing Spell (Saga).

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://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jon-cobb/
https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-ambika-vora-jon-cobb
https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2024/08/23/august-agent-of-the-month-jon-cobb/

Links and Contact Info:

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

Please submit your query letter and the first 5 pages of your novel to me via QueryManager. Use the link below to reach me. Looking forward to hearing from you!

https://QueryTracker.net/query/Cobb

Additional Advice:

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

Any author looking for an agent is familiar with the word “no.” We agents say that a lot in our line of work, and we understand that it’s discouraging to hear. My advice is to not let that “no” discourage you to the point of giving up. Obviously, you shouldn’t flatly ignore criticism and feedback, but neither should you view rejection as a permanently blocked path. All you need is a single “yes.”

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Jon.

Giveaway Details

Jon 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 27th. 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

Thursday, January 16th I’m participating in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop

Monday, January 27th I have an interview with debut author Nicole Hewitt and a giveaway of her MG The Song of Orphan’s Garden

Saturday, February 1st I’m participating in the Heart to Heart Giveaway Hop

Monday, February 3rd I have an interview with Rosanne Parry and a giveaway of her MG A Wolf Called Wander

Wednesday, February 5th I have an interview with Shelly Page and a giveaway of her YA Brewed With Love and my IWSG post

Monday, February 12th I have an interview with Elly Swartz and a giveaway of her MG Same Page

Sunday, February 16th I’m participating in the Wish Big Giveaway Hop

I hope to see you tomorrow!

Literary Agent Interview: Ellen Goff Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Ellen Goff here. She is an associate literary agent at HG Literary.

Update on 7/9/2024: Ellen has been promoted to agent and international rights manager for children's & YA.

Update on 12/15/2025: Ellen is currently open to submissions.

Hi­ Ellen! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Ellen:

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

I always knew I was interested in moving to New York to work in publishing. After college, I interned with two different literary agencies, including a scouting agency. I knew then that I enjoyed the agency side rather than the publishing house/editorial track because of how closely we work with writers and the freedom we have to choose our areas of focus. One of the internships was with HG Literary, where I work now. I loved my time with the team and two of their senior agents needed an assistant. One worked in children’s literature and the other adult fiction, so I dove in and began working and reading in both worlds in 2017. I started in our foreign rights department as well in 2018, and then in late 2019-2020 began selling my own clients’ projects. Now in 2023, I assist partner & CFO Carrie Hannigan on our agency’s finance/bookkeeping team, I’m a foreign rights associate in our rights department, and the rest of time I devote to my own growing list of clients and their projects 

About the Agency:

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

We’re a boutique full service literary agency, so we offer the benefits of a small personal team where teamwork and collaboration with each other is paramount, while also offering all of the services of a larger agency: royalty statement auditing, editorial focus on manuscript development, and we also have a full foreign rights department where we sell our titles in translation abroad. We have physical offices in Manhattan, and typically all go in about 3 days a week at least for each other’s company and brainstorming facetime.

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 all age ranges, and have picture book clients, middle grade clients, and YA clients – and I love the clients that hop around between those three! In terms of on the page content, I enjoy about any genre (speculative, contemporary, fantasy) and format (novel, graphic novel, novel in verse). I really appreciate projects that have a layer of humor in them even if the overall tone is more serious or melancholy. Can’t say no to a good love story, too. Lastly, I’m definitely a sucker for a happy ending, and if not happy, then at least hopeful.

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

I’m always on the lookout for a good ghost story. Can’t get enough. Books on food, as well, or with food as a focus. I love learning about a new time period we weren’t exposed to in middle grade US history, so historical fiction that highlights new, overlooked stories and characters is of particular interest to me. And it may be the foreign rights associate in me, but I’ll perk up at any stories that take us on an international journey, through space or time.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

Personally, I am not the best fit for books about cancer, or stories with gratuitous violence toward girls and women.

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?

New and underrepresented voices (often with girl power at the center) are incredibly important to me. I’m also someone who tries to keep learning new things in my own free time, new skills, languages, talents, etc. Books that teach me something, but are also entertaining and approachable, are food for my rain.

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 definitely an editorial agent, and I would say most of the HG Literary team is, too. For me, I take my clients through at least two-three revisions before we go on submission to editors. First, I’ll do a big picture revision with a writer that looks at plot, characters, structure, pacing, any gaping holes or unresolved narrative arcs. Next, I’ll do a more line-edit focused revision where we hammer out the smaller details and nuances of voice, etc. We might do a third revision if necessary. I tend to start big and broad and get narrower as we go along.

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?

A query and the first five pages pasted into the email are great. I don’t need a synopsis just yet, I like to be surprised when I read for the first time, but if I like the manuscript and keep reading a requested full, I’ll often ask for a synopsis. The first five pages will have to grab me. Voice, the problem, the risks, a unique set up or environment or atmosphere can do the trick, too. I always read pages before I request, you can count on that! A good query letter won’t save pages that don’t hook me.

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

A smidge of personalization goes a long way. No “Dear Agent.” If I only have a few minutes to review queries and respond, I’ll start with the ones that reference my wish list items or my clients’ existing books. I see a lot of folks trying to fit too much into their queries. We don’t need paragraphs – save extra background info or deep plot info for a follow up conversation with an agent if they’re interested in your work.

Response Time:

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

Agents’ reading time is often slow since we all wear a lot of different hats and have to prioritize existing clients. If I have a less busy week or am on vacation, I might be able to read a requested manuscript in a week. Other times, reading a full manuscript can take months. But typically, if I like the query and the first five pages, I’ll request to read more within a couple weeks, if not that day, if it really catches me. If a writer hasn’t received any response from me or a request to read more in 12 weeks, they should consider that a pass. However, always feel free to send a nudge after 8-12 weeks, just in case Spam took the query. 

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 indeed open to authors who have been published before; publishing history with independent presses can be a real benefit, especially since there are so many independent smaller presses doing some interesting and creative work. While I’m open to writers who have been published before, I will say it is easier to represent those writers on new projects going forward. It is tricker for agents to help writers try and re-publish projects that have been published before, especially projects that have been self-published. It’s often easier to start with a new fresh project if the writer is stepping into the world of traditional trade publishing for the first time.

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?

Certainly. Agents are becoming more editorial, for a start. Editors at any kind of publisher (small or large) are becoming increasingly busy, which means they don’t often have the bandwidth to take on promising projects that might just need a lot of editorial heavy lifting. Agents help in that area and shoulder some of the initial editorial work to give projects the best chance we can at landing a home during submission. Agents are also becoming more invested in the research process to find the best homes and avenues for success for our clients’ work. If a manuscript isn’t selling in a traditional way as a novel to a large publisher, we’re knocking on all sorts of new creative doors to see where the story might have life: podcasts, film and tv, illustrated work rather than only prose, greeting cards, speaking engagements, interactive guides, articles, audiobooks, stage rights, merchandise. We are trying more than ever to imagine the different lives a project can have that go beyond just the bookshelf.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

A selection:

Leslie Vedder (YA – The Bone Spindle, Razorbill)

Keith F. Miller, Jr. (YA – Pritty, HarperCollins)

Anna Lapera (MG – Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice, Levine Querido)

Adria Qui ñones (Picture Book – Mi Tierra, Reycraft)

Bunmi Emenanjo (Picture Book – I’ll See You In Ijebu, Barefoot Books)

Kealani Netane (Picture Book – Tala Learns to Siva, Scholastic)

Vivienne Chang (Picture Book – This Is Not My Home, Little, Brown)

Eugenia Yoh (Illustrator – This Is Not My Home, Little, Brown)

Emi Gennis (Graphic Novelist – What to Pack for Certain Death, Random House Graphic)

Bon Orthwick (Illustrator)

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

Links and Contact Info:

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

Query me at

ellen@hgliterary.com

or find me at

www.hgliterary.com

Additional Advice:

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

Read widely in your area! We can’t stress it enough. If you’re querying a YA novel, you should be reading tons of YA currently out on the shelves before you even started writing. Reading in your genre and age range will help make you a better writer, and give you comps. Comps aren’t always necessary, but I can tell a lot about your manuscript from your comps and how well versed you are in the current market space for your book. Also, popular comps that don’t actually fit your tone or narrative in your manuscript will also raise flags for me when I read, so go without comps rather that forcing comps into your query that might be popular but overall might not be great fits.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Ellen.

­Ellen 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 20th. 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 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.

 

 

AGENT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH WENDI GU AND QUERY CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Wendi Gu here. She is an associate literary agent at Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

Update as of 5/5/2022. Wendi is currently an agent at Sanford Greenburger Associates. 

Status update on 12/15/2025: Wendy is currently an agent at HG Literary. She is currently closed to submissions except for referrals only. Check the agency website to find out when she reopens to queries. 

Hi­ Wendi! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Wendi:

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

I was on my way to Singapore to do an internship, and my flight connected through New York City. I had a few hours to kill, so a friend’s mom gave me quick car tour of Manhattan, as I hadn’t been since I was a toddler. Even from within the mini-van, I knew that I had to live here after college. I’d been a Midwestern suburban girl my whole life, and I was completely enamored by what I saw and felt.

I’d always loved books the most, and I’d always been curious about book-making. And when I learned that that publishing industry thrived in New York, I saw my path bright and clear before my eyes. So for my final college internship summer, I applied wildly to every publishing internship I could find. I landed one with Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and became her literary assistant after I graduated from Northwestern University in 2013. I learned so much with Brenda. She taught me how to pitch, sell, and advocate for my clients. With her encouragement and support my list began to grow.

About a year ago, I started at Janklow & Nesbit to join Brooks Sherman start the kid lit department!

As an agent, I want to work with books that unveil a little-known piece of American history. These unsung hero stories are important pieces of our country’s story. I also love contemporary, deeply emotional stories about underdogs who learn to find their voice.

About the Agency:

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

Janklow & Nesbit offers incredible support for their clients. It’s like having an army behind you. All of my colleagues are very, very good at making deals for their authors and illustrators. The publishing industry can feel very byzantine to navigate at times, but the team of agents (combined with our legal and accounting teams) are always looking ahead for their authors.

I would also like to take the opportunity to plug JNA’s growing children’s book department, fearlessly lead by Brooks Sherman!

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 fiction and nonfiction picture books, middle grade, and YA. I am looking for multicultural stories, coming-of-age stories that deal with mental health and family relationships, and female friendship. For funny, I don’t much like slapstick. Weirdo humor is a plus. Otherwise, give me a book that makes me cry! I am a big, sloppy, softie.

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

Immigrant stories! And, Asian-American everything.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

I’m not as interested in high fantasy or science fiction, but not closed to it! For example, I loved how Tomi Adeyemi’s CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE deals with colorism, and Dylan Farrow’s HUSH deals with female empowerment.

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?

Making a book is deeply personal stuff, yet we’ve created an entire industry out of it. With every client, I endeavor to find a strong balance of the professional with a personal touch. As business partners, it’s important that we communicate clearly, openly, and with accountability, but that both sides try to keep the relationship an enjoyable!

   

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! Most of the books I work on go through at least two rounds of edits before submission. I like to start the process with a call or in-person conversation, and then I’ll send them the manuscript with track changes. These track changes are a mix of line edits and comments. While I like writing edit letters, I often find that it’s easier to point to the exact moment that requires attention.

I should also add that I love editing picture book biographies. I love editing picture book texts in general – right now, that is my bread and butter.

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?

They should follow the agency guidelines at www.janklowandnesbit.com.

Update on 2/11/2023

Email Wendi at wgu@sja.com. "For novels, please include the query and first ten pages in the body of the email. For picture book illustrators and author/illustrators, please attach your dummy or portfolio as a PDF or link." (From the agency website)

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

Make sure I know why you thought I might be the right agent for your book!

Response Time:

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

I try to respond within 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately, I cannot respond to each and every query, but if I am interested, I try to make it known to the author within that time frame.

Update on 2/11/2023

Around the Web

Manuscript Wish List

MS Wish List

Query Tracker

Twitter

Interviews and Podcasts

Interview at EasternPennPoints (03/2020)

Interview at Only Picture Books (02/2019)

Interview at Kirkus Review (Date unknown but after Wendi moved to her new agency)

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Wendi.

­Wendi is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follower button if you're not a follower) and leave a comment through November 10th.  If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter either 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.

Profile Details:
Last updated: 2/11/2023.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent: 10/29/201

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: Josh Getzler

This week's Agent Spotlight features Josh Getzler of HG Literary.
Status as of 12/15/2025: Closed to submissions.
About: “Josh left Harcourt in 1993 to get an MBA from Columbia Business School. After Business School, Josh spent 11 years owning and operating a minor league baseball team (the Staten Island Yankees). He left baseball in late 2006 and rejoined the book world on the agent side. Josh worked at Writers House until November 2009, building a list of adult novelists, YA and middle grade authors, and the occasional nonfiction writer; then joined Russell and Volkening. In May 2011 he partnered with Carrie Hannigan, and has been actively and happily running his list.
"Josh represents more than 60 authors, including Geoff Rodkey (NYT Best Selling THE TAPPER TWINS series from Little, Brown), Paul Goldberg (THE YID—Picador), Todd Moss (The Judd Ryker thriller series from Putnam), EJ Copperman/Jeff Cohen (The best-selling HAUNTED GUEST HOUSE series from Berkley Prime Crime among others), EM Powell (The FIFTH KNIGHT series from Thomas & Mercer with more than 150,000 sales), Jessica Burkhart (Best Selling CANTERWOOD CREST series), Asha Dornfest (PARENT HACKS out from Workman) and Gerald Elias (the Daniel Jacobus mystery series from Severn).  (From the agency website)

About the Agency:
“HG Literary is a boutique literary agency, formed by Carrie Hannigan and Josh Getzler in 2011 (then called HSG). Our agents have over forty years combined experience in the publishing industry and represent a diverse list of best-selling and award-winning clients.
"HG is a full-service literary agency that through collaborative and client-focused representation manages all aspects of an author’s career, from manuscript shaping, to sale and publication, subsidiary rights management, marketing and publicity strategy, and beyond. Our diverse and skilled team represents all types of fiction and non-fiction, for both adults and children, and has strong relationships with every major publisher as well as familiarity with independent and start-up publishers offering a different approach to publishing. Our clients have access to the resources and expertise of every member of our agency team, which includes contracts professionals, a film/TV rights director, foreign rights managers, and royalty and accounting specialists. Most importantly, our worth is measured by the success of our clients, and so you will find in each HG agent not only a staunch advocate but a career-long ally." (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
HSG Agency website.
Publisher’s Marketplace page.
Twitter @jgetzler.
QueryTracker.
AgentQuery.

MS Wish List.   
What He's Looking For:
Genres / Specialties:
General Fiction, Mystery, Suspense/Thriller, History, Sports, Historical Novels (especially mysteries), Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction (Link).
"Josh is particularly into foreign and historical fiction; both women’s fiction (your Downton Abbey/Philippa Gregory Mashups), straight ahead historical fiction (think Wolf Hall or The Road to Wellville); and thrillers and mysteries (The Alienist, say; or Donna Leon or Arianna Franklin). He’d LOVE a strong French Revolution novel. So send in your ruthless doges and impious cardinals…and your farmhouse cozies! (He does love cozies…) Give him atmosphere, let him learn something about another time or another place (or both), and kill off nasty Uncle Mortimer in the process—Josh will be yours!
"Josh has also been taking on a significant amount of middle grade fiction, which has been a particular sweet spot. Settings that are just a little off seem to be a real favorite, along with contemporary/funny books about kids. Not so much high fantasy or science fiction, and definitely not picture books. (There are many others who specialize in these books, including Carrie Hannigan at HG.) Please don’t send religious fiction–he doesn’t have contacts in the Christian book market.
"In nonfiction, he’s very interested in increasing his list in history (including micro-histories), business, and political thought–but not screeds." (From the agency website)

What He Isn't Looking For:

Picture books

Editorial Agent?
“While I will gladly take a clean novel in a heartbeat, I typically am a VERY hands-on editor before submitting. I’ve worked on projects for YEARS before submitting them, and I’ve sent a couple out with very few tweaks.” (Link)
Clients:
There are pages of client titles on the agency website.
Mr. Getzler’s clients include: Osahon Akpata, Authoress, Frankie Bailey, Ph.D, Sheila Webster Boneham, Ph.D., Dr. Otis Brawley, A.B. Bourne, Krishnadev Calamur, Dana Cameron, Jeff Cohen, James Crowley, Lolly Daskal, David Deutsch, Asha Dornfest, Jack Dougherty, Victoria Dougherty, Gerald Elias, Lisa Falco, Paul Goldberg, Keir Graff, Traci Hall, Lauren Hennessy, Steve Hermanos, Steve Hockensmith, Linda Hull, Whitney Johnson, Christine Koh, Toni LoTempio, Mary McCoy, Beth Anne Miller, Todd Moss, Jennifer O'Connell, Karen Odden, Karen Olson, Brian O'Reilly, James Phelan, Elaine Powell, Geoff Rodkey, Tania Roxborogh, Linda Sands, Samuel Thomas, Ph.D., Helen Wan, Cali Yost, among others.
Query Methods: Mr. Getzler is closed to queries.
E-mail: No.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Yes (Only).
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
See the HG Agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.  
Query Tips:
See this interview with Mr. Getzler at Operation Awesome, and this interview at Cats, Books, and… More Cats!
Response Times:
He responds to all queries. Silence just means that he has a long queue.
What's the Buzz?
Josh Getzler is an established agent with a good list of clients and sales. He specializes in mysteries, thrillers, and historical fiction but represents other genres, including young adult and middle grade. Picture book queries should be sent to his colleague Carrie Hannigan.
Keep up with Mr. Getzler on Twitter.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Agent Q&A Part One: Revisions at Operation Awesome (01/2013).
Agent Q&A Part Two: Querying at Operation Awesome (01/2013).
Agent Q&A Part Three: Marketing & Publicity at Operation Awesome (01/2013).
Agent Chat #7: Josh Getzler at Write On (09/2011).Literary Agent Josh Getzler – In Rocco’s Hot Seat (Part 1) at Cats, Books, and… More Cats (07/2011).   
Literary Agent Josh Getzler – In Rocco’s Hot Seat (Part 2) at Cats, Books, and… More Cats (07/2011).   
Agent Interview: Josh Getzler of Russell & Volkening at Elissa Cruz’s blog (04/2010).
Blog Stuff:
Mr. Getzler’s selected posts on the Hey, There’s a Dead Guy in the Living Room blog (no longer posting there) include:
The Query Guideline Story (08/2013).
What I Do (06/2013).
The Modifier Zone Redux (02/2013).
2012: An Agent’s Year (01/2013).
Around the Web:

14 Agents Share Their Query Letter Top Tips and Pet Peeves at Emma Lombard (03/20)

Mr.Getzler's Twitter #MSWishListAn Interview with E.M. Powell - A QueryTracker Success Story- (04/2012).
Contact:
Please see the HG Agency website for additional contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 1/31/2023.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 10/24/13.
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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/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.

Agent Spotlight: Carrie Hannigan

This week's Agent Spotlight features Carrie Hannigan of HG Literary. She is a partner and literary agent at the agency.
Status Update on 12/16/2025: Carrie is currently closed to submissions.

About: “Carrie was lucky enough to find her way to agenting quickly after moving to New York City. (There was a brief stint in the Rolling Stone Art & Photo Department and a similarly brief career at Glenn Horowitz Bookseller, a rare book and archive dealer.) After 16 years working at Russell & Volkening with the esteemed Timothy Seldes, she and her colleagues opened HG Literary in 2011 (then called HSG). Carrie specializes in children’s books but also represents a select, limited list of adult books.
"Some of her children’s book clients include: #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Vashti Harrison (BIG – Little, Brown, 2023; LITTLE LEADERS: BOLD WOMEN IN BLACK HISTORY – Little, Brown, 2017; SULWE by Lupita Nyong’o, winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award – Simon & Schuster, 2019). The #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein (The LEMONCELLO Series – Penguin Random House; The MAX EINSTEIN Series with James Patterson; THE ISLAND OF DR. LIBRIS – Penguin Random House, 2015; THE SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE – Penguin Random House, 2020). Author/illustrator and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor winner Jonathan Fenske (BARNACLE IS BORED – Scholastic, 2016; I'M FUN, TOO! the first-ever LEGO® picture book – Scholastic, 2018). Author/illustrator and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor winner Jennifer Morris (MAY I PLEASE HAVE A COOKIE? – Scholastic; FLUBBY IS NOT A GOOD PET – Penguin Workshop, 2019). And New York Times bestselling YA fantasy author Laurie Forest (THE BLACK WITCH series – Inkyard Press) and Indie bestselling YA fantasy author Leslie Vedder (THE BONE SPINDLE series – Razorbill Books). 

"Among Carrie’s adult clients are: Actor and Comedian Tracy Dawson (LET ME BE FRANK – HarperDesign, 2022); Ian Rosenberg, director and Emmy-nominated producer (THE FIGHT FOR FREE SPEECH – NYU Press, 2021); and Marilyn Chase, previously a journalist and senior special writer at the Wall Street Journal (EVERYTHING SHE TOUCHED: THE LIFE OF RUTH ASAWA – Chronicle, 2020)." (From the agency website)
About the Agency:
“HG Literary is a boutique literary agency, formed by Carrie Hannigan and Josh Getzler in 2011 (then called HSG). Our agents have over forty years combined experience in the publishing industry and represent a diverse list of best-selling and award-winning clients.
"HG is a full-service literary agency that through collaborative and client-focused representation manages all aspects of an author’s career, from manuscript shaping, to sale and publication, subsidiary rights management, marketing and publicity strategy, and beyond. Our diverse and skilled team represents all types of fiction and non-fiction, for both adults and children, and has strong relationships with every major publisher as well as familiarity with independent and start-up publishers offering a different approach to publishing. Our clients have access to the resources and expertise of every member of our agency team, which includes contracts professionals, a film/TV rights director, foreign rights managers, and royalty and accounting specialists. Most importantly, our worth is measured by the success of our clients, and so you will find in each HG agent not only a staunch advocate but a career-long ally." (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
HG Literary website
Publisher’s Marketplace page
QueryTracker

Twitter

Facebook
What She's Looking For:
From Her Publisher’s Marketplace Page:
"I represent all types of children's books from picture books through middle grade and YA. I also represent adult fiction and non-fiction books.
"In children's books I am looking for picture books (no rhyming, please), middle grade and YA. While I do represent some fantasy, it really has to stand out from what is already on the market." 
What She Isn't Looking For:
Rhyming picture books
Editorial Agent?
“Yes, I am an editorial agent. I always revise and edit with my clients as it is rare for a manuscript to be perfect when it first comes in. Even at the picture book level!” (via e-mail 9/2013)
Clients:
There are pages of client titles on the agency website and in her bio above.
Query Methods: Carrie is currently closed to submissions.
E-mail: No.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Yes. "Carrie accepts unsolicited queries through Query Tracker at http://QueryMe.Online/Hannigan." (Link)
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Use the Query Tracker Online-Form
See the HG Literary website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.  
Response Times:
Carrie responds within 8 weeks.
What's the Buzz?
Ms. Hannigan is a long-established agent with verified clients and sales. She is open to all types of children’s books (except rhyming picture books) and appears to represent author-illustrators as well.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
None found online.
Contact:
Please see the HG Literary website for additional contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 2/14/2023.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 4/17/2023.
***
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/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.