 ABOUT THE AGENT:
Courtney Donovan is a junior agent with Writers House. Writers House was founded in 1974 and is one of the largest full-service independent agencies in the world. Courtney began her career at the agency first as an intern and then as an assistant to Steven Malk, and she has worked closely with him and his wonderful list of authors and illustrators over the past six years. Courtney is now actively building her own list as a junior agent.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Ava Lauren Grayson is a literary agent based in Los Angeles who joined Lowenstein Associates in 2026. She was previously as an editor at Quill and Flame Publishing House for several years, following an internship supporting the literary department at Echo Lake Entertainment. Ava is a modern romantic with a taste for all things magical and dramatic. She is passionate about reading romantic yearning, empowering female heroines, and coming-of-age stories, and is actively building her list in the literary fiction, horror, romantasy, gothic, YA, genre-blends, romance, fantasy, and narrative nonfiction spaces. Ava reads widely and is willing to consider projects in any genre as long as the writing is compelling and immersive. She is seeking debut authors, own stories, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ stories. She is also an author and award-winning director with a background in theater, photography, and fashion. Recently awarded the Denis Diderot Grant for the Château d’Orquevaux Writers Residency, Ava has had short stories published with Azala Press, Dragon Bone Publishing, Havok Publishing, and more. Her debut YA space-fantasy duology THE STARGAZERS is to be published in 2026/2027 by Quill and Flame. Through hip librarian productions, Ava creates book trailers and other social media content for authors. When she’s not working, you can probably find Ava rewatching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, sitting at a French cafe, or reading a book with her cat.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Maureen Wise is a junior literary agent with Metamorphosis Literary Agency. Maureen writes mystery novels under the pen name Iris March and non-fiction under her own name. Maureen previously served as a literary agent assistant/ apprentice at Linda S. Glaz Literary Agency and has worked in the sustainability field her entire career. An Ohio native, Maureen enjoys running, hiking, and reading.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Nour Sallam is now a literary agent at Helm Literary. Nour represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, and she's always on the hunt for compelling and accessible stories that spark “brain butterflies.” As an Arab woman and immigrant, Nour is drawn to books that amplify joy and connection or feature nuanced narratives. She loves working closely with authors at all stages of their publishing careers, and she considers herself to be an editorial agent. Nour is based in Canada (hello from the North!) and sits on the advisory committee of BIPOC of Publishing in Canada. She is also a member of the AALA.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Danai Christopoulou is an Associate Literary Agent with Tobias Literary Agency. Danai is a Pushcart Prize nominated SFF author and editor. After a long career as a journalist and copyeditor (their articles and opinion pieces have featured in magazines such as Glamour, House & Garden and Marie Claire since 2004), Danai has been a freelance editor and new talent mentor for mentorships such as QueeryFest. Danai edits for Hugo-nominated magazine khōréō, and reviews short fiction for HavenSpec. Originally from Greece, Danai currently resides in Sweden.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Katie Ferriello is the newest agent to join the Mansion Street Literary Management team. Her focus is on romance and fantasy, as well as children’s fiction. She particularly loves fantastical worldbuilding, deeply emotive characters, and strong voices. Katie earned her BA in English from Manhattan University and a M.Ed. from Fordham University. Motivated by her love of reading, she taught middle school English for sixteen years. Later, her passion for books and business led her to intern at multiple agencies. Grateful for her English degree, business experience, and contract/negotiation knowledge, she is excited to apply those experiences to helping writers navigate their literary careers. Though born in New York, she currently lives in Utah where she spends her free time camping, mountain biking, and skiing.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Phoebe Schmidt joined Britt Siess Creative Management after working as an independent scout and a book-to-film agent at Paradigm Talent Agency. She works primarily with upmarket science fiction and fantasy. She is a hands on agent with a developmental approach, and loves projects that turn everyday life upside down.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Justina Ireland joined Handspun Literary Agency in 2026 as a junior agent. She is also an award winning and New York Times bestselling author of numerous books as well as a writer of both comics and television. Justina is a United States Army Veteran and holds a BA in History from Georgia Southern (previously Armstrong Atlantic State University) and an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Layla Fallah is a Kurdish author, artist, and advocate for diverse storytellers. She is a literary assistant at BookEnds Literary Agency. An active member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), Layla is the literary assistant to agents Emily Forney and James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency, where they support 100+ clients, including award-winning, critically-acclaimed, and bestselling authors and illustrators. In addition to their role at BookEnds, Layla co-directs the PB Rising Stars Mentorship, a program dedicated to mentoring emerging authors and illustrators from historically underrepresented communities. In all things, Layla is wholeheartedly committed to breaking down barriers in publishing and creating space for diverse voices and visual storytellers. With each story they tell (or sell), Layla hopes to open a doorway for readers who have yet to see themselves reflected in books, and to shine a light on the quiet, everyday magic that surrounds us. When her pen is at rest, Layla can be found painting Kurdistan, planting seeds, or collecting picture books from the public library.  ABOUT THE AGENT:
Rita Veras is an Associate Agent at Rosecliff Literary. She started writing short stories and poetry at a young age, inspired by her upbringing in the Dominican Republic. Rita is passionately dedicated to uplifting BIPOC voices, enhancing representation, and championing diverse narratives. For nearly twenty years, Rita has empowered countless entrepreneurs to become successful business owners. Now, with her results-driven approach, she has returned to the literary world to inspire aspiring authors on their journey to publication. |