ABOUT THE AGENT:

Wadzanai Mhute is an author, journalist, and former books editor at Oprah Daily and Oprah's Book Club where she edited and wrote about authors and books, helping to shape literary conversations on diverse platforms. She was also fiction editor at The Sunday Long Read.

She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College, where she received the Himan Brown Creative Writing Award, and an MSc. in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Wadzanai is currently serving on the National Book Critic's Circle Board.

A recipient of the MacDowell Fellowship in 2016, Wadzanai worked on her debut novel exploring three generations of women in Zimbabwe. Her deep understanding of both the creative process and the publishing industry makes her an invaluable advocate for the authors she represents.

Born in Zimbabwe, Wadzanai now lives in New Jersey. She founded Antsu Literary Agency with a vision to champion diverse voices and ensure that stories from all corners of the world find their place in the literary landscape.

WADZANAI IS SEEKING:

ABOUT THE AGENT:

Tamara joined DeFiore and Company in 2022. She started her career with internships at Macmillan and Writers House, then worked at ICM for five years. Tamara represents writer and illustrator clients in both the children’s and adult markets, with a particular focus on talented LGBTQ+ and BIPOC storytellers.

​She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University. She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents, and serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Literary Agents of Change, where she co-directs a mentorship program for early career agents from underrepresented backgrounds.

TAMARA IS SEEKING:

ABOUT THE AGENT:

Jessica Larios-Zarate of Wave Literary is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley where she earned a B.A. in English. She was part of the Writers House Mentor Initiative, and worked with literary agencies including Creative Media Agency and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Based in Northern California, Jessica’s favorite pastime is watching the fog roll down the coastal mountains. She is passionate about uplifting stories by authors with marginalized voices and intersectional identities.

JESSICA IS SEEKING:

ABOUT THE AGENT: Krista Van Dolzer is the newest literary agent at The Unter Agency, though she’s worked in and around the publishing industry for more than a decade. Her middle grade fiction has been published by Penguin Random House, Sourcebooks, Capstone, and Bloomsbury USA, and she’s hosted many query contests and pitch events for aspiring authors over the years. She currently lives in central Iowa with her husband and four kids and holds degrees in Mathematics Education and Economics from Brigham Young University.

KRISTA IS SEEKING:

ABOUT THE AGENT:
Ashley Hong is a literary agent with Gardner Literary representing adult nonfiction and select fiction. She is delighted to partner with authors and shepherd their creative work.
She was previously an editor at Penguin Random House, where she acquired and edited the New York Times bestselling This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley and A Rhythm of Prayer by Sarah Bessey. At PRH, Ashley edited and project managed titles across the Crown and Random House publishing groups, giving her a deep understanding and fondness for a wide breadth of books encompassing general interest, politics, business, history, cookbooks, wellness, Christian/Catholic writing, and more. Prior to book publishing, she cut her teeth in journalism by working at such outlets as Truthdig, CNN, and WNET, which instilled a love for narrative nonfiction in all its forms.

ASHLEY IS SEEKING:

ABOUT THE AGENT:

Emma Fulenwider is a literary agent with Wordserve Literary.

She likes working with thought leaders called to contribute their respectful insights into the problems we’re facing, and the ones we’re avoiding. 

She is a book junkie. From reading with a flashlight under the covers at the age of seven, her lifelong friendship with books has accumulated a Journalism degree at Cal Poly, a print magazine with Best Version Media, and a literary press with the Birren Center for Guided Autobiography. She believes that writing is a form of self-care, publishing is about serving others, and yes, you have to have a platform. A lay counselor and TEDx speaker, she brings a wealth of enthusiasm and energy to her role as a literary agent.
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Emma lives in California where she writes and reads and conspires with her husband to raise the two goofiest kids on Earth with the help of their mini Australian shepherd. Her greyhound is no help at all.

EMMA IS SEEKING:

ABOUT THE AGENT: Sahara Clement (she/her) is an agent and editor based in Philadelphia, PA. For over a decade, she’s worked closely with authors and artists to transform their ideas into beautiful books. Her publishing journey began on the Entertainment team at Chronicle Books and continued at Penguin Random House, where she built Clarkson Potter’s Culture list from the ground up. From NAACP Award–winning culture books and illustrated guides on race, gender, and sexuality to bestselling essay collections and photography books, Sahara’s portfolio reflects her passion for celebrating diverse and underrepresented voices.

SAHARA IS SEEKING:

​ABOUT THE AGENT:

Kristen Bertoloni at Trident Media Group is open to submissions and eager to find projects she’s passionate about. Kristen is looking for commercial fiction, specifically horror, thriller/suspense, and romance.
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She loves captivatingly creepy stories like THE YELLOW WALLPAPER by Charlotte Perkins Gilman as well as the gothic elements of MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Kristen is looking for horror novels with dark twists, ghosts, and romance.

MORE ABOUT WHAT KRISTEN IS SEEKING:

ABOUT THE AGENT:

Sara Shandler joined The Book Group in 2025 after twenty-six years in publishing, most recently as the Editor-in-Chief of Alloy Entertainment, where she collaborated with authors from the inception of their stories through publication. Sara’s introduction to publishing began around the dinner table with her can-do-anything hippie parents who encouraged her to write the bestselling book Ophelia Speaks, which gave voice to the experience of teenage girls and was published when she was just eighteen years old. 

Sara is proud to have worked on many New York Times best sellers, Book Club selections, and award winning novels, including two National Book Award finalists, a Printz Honor, Walter Dean Myers Award Honors, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Carnegie Medal, the William C. Morris Award, the Stonewall Award for Teens, the Lambda Literary Award and the Coretta Scott King-Steptoe Award for New Talent. Many of the novels Sara developed and edited have been successfully adapted to TV and film. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, three children and dog, and spends summers in Fire Island.  

SARA IS SEEKING:​

ABOUT THE AGENT:

Diego Harrison, a literary agent at SBR Media, has 15 years experience in the publishing industry and a deep love for books across many genres. He is looking for unique voices and storytellers who he can help reach unlimited success.

He is resolute in connecting his clients with the top publishers in the world, both big and small, as well as maximizing returns on works. This includes strategic partnerships and opportunities to elevate his clients to the highest financial and career gains.

Diego is open to new authors as he loves to develop careers, but also enjoys working with established authors who want to fully exploit their rights and expand their brand.

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