Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Lindsay Auld of Writers House

Lindsay Auld is a literary agent with Writers House LLC.

“I started at Writers House in the West Coast office, and have worked with a wide range of New York Times bestsellers, award-winners, and debut authors and illustrators. After studying literature at Bowdoin College, I joined Teach for America before beginning my publishing career at Harcourt Children’s Books and then Writers House.

“I’m seeking books in the picture book, middle grade, and young adult categories, including illustrated and graphic novel submissions. I’m particularly drawn to mysteries, fantasy, historical fiction, friendship stories, romance, magical realism, adventure, and books with humor–light or dark or both. As someone who is an environmentalist at heart, I would be happy to read submissions with an environmental element or streak. I would also love to see manuscripts from diverse and underrepresented authors and artists. I’ve always been passionate about children’s and young adult literature, and, as an agent, I’m eager to help bring fresh voices, characters and stories to a new generation of readers.”

Get to Know An Agent in Attendance: Annie Bomke of Annie Bomke Literary Agency

Annie Bomke is a literary agent with Annie Bomke Literary Agency.

Annie is a literary agent with over a decade of experience in the publishing industry. Her books include Gus Moreno’s critically acclaimed literary horror novel This Thing Between Us, the Macavity Award winning Dodging and Burning by John Copenhaver, and People magazine pick Double Exposure by Ava Barry. Her interests span a range of genres—from hard-nosed business books to otherworldly historical novels. Authors have called her the pH test for good writing, and a bedrock for literary quality control.

Annie has loved the publishing industry since her position as an Editorial Assistant at Zoetrope: All-Story, a literary magazine founded by Francis Ford Coppola.

She represents a wide variety of adult and YA fiction and nonfiction, including commercial and literary fiction, upmarket fiction, mysteries (from hilarious cozies to gritty police procedurals and everything in between), historical fiction, women’s fiction, psychological thrillers, literary/psychological horror, self-help, business, health/diet, cookbooks, memoir, relationships, current events, psychology, and narrative nonfiction.

Annie spends her free time reading, going for walks in the park, and dancing. Her favorite authors include Haruki Murakami, Margaret Atwood, Ray Bradbury, Tana French, and Paul Auster.

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Ben Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency

Ben Miller-Callihan is a literary agent at Handspun Literary Agency.

Ben (he/him/his) joined Handspun Literary Agency as an agent in 2019, after working behind the scenes since the agency’s founding in tech support and bookkeeping roles, as well as more than a decade teaching high school English.

His interests include humor, YA, fantasy and speculative fiction (especially decolonial sci-fi and fantasy), crossover fiction a la William Gibson and Erin Morgenstern, the macabre (for all ages), off-the-beaten-path folklore, Deaf culture and community, and anything food-related. Writers from historically excluded communities are especially welcomed.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky (B.A., English), and New York University (M.A., English Education), he lives in San Diego with his human, canine, and kitchen appliance families.

He is not currently accepting early reader or picture book submissions.

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Antoinette Van Sluytman of Irene Goodman Literary Agency

Antoinette Van Sluytman is a literary agent with Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

Antoinette is a junior agent and Natalie Lakosil’s assistant. She is also a writer, freelance illustrator/fine artist, graphic designer, poet, martial artist, and history enthusiast during her free time with a bachelors in Graphic Design and Interactive Media. She is a member of the AALA and MDI committee, and volunteers at the African Diaspora Museum & Research Center in San Diego, and at writing nonprofit organization WriteHive, as an outreach coordinator, artist professional in residence, and diversity ally. She considers herself an entrepreneurial scholartist who advocates for countering literary hegemony through speculative radicalism and diverse narratives within art and writing.

Antoinette is interested in all genres of speculative fiction, specifically cosmic horror, dark fantasy, epic fantasy, sci-fi, in addition to historical fiction. Antoinette maintains special interest in adult projects but is also open to select YA and graphic novels.

In general she loves lyrical prose that challenges narrative conventions, ambitiously immersive worlds inspired by different cultures, morally gray and dysfunctional but lovable characters with fun dynamics, and new takes on old tropes. She is drawn to atmospheric and lyrical prose and complex philosophical/psychological themes across all genres. Some general themes she enjoys are adventures, antiheroines, quirky concepts you might find in an anime, dark fantasy, and anticolonialism. In historical fiction she’s interested in finding stories inspired by non-western mythologies or about the untold stories of female heroines around the world such as Tomoe Gozen, Queen Amanirenas, or Sayyida-Al-Hura. Please do not send her military fiction or fae/vampire/elemental magic fantasy. Some favorite books of hers are BLACK SUN, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, and DEATH NOTE.

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Ameerah Holliday of Serendipity Literary Agency

Ameerah Holliday is a literary agent with Serendipity Literary Agency.

Ameerah is a dancer and self-proclaimed poetess from San Diego, California whose pronouns are she/her/hers. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from San Diego State University. Holliday is a former editorial assistant intern for Poetry International and currently serves as editorial director for the San Diego Poetry Annual and editor for Kids! San Diego Poetry Annual.

Ameerah has attended the San Diego Comic-Con every year since 2011, is a published poet, and has a cat named after a villain from The Vampire Diaries.

What She’s Looking For:

Ameerah is primarily interested in middle grade, young adult, and (new) adult fiction. She enjoys contemporary literature, supernatural/paranormal stories (bonus points for witches!), RomComs, literary fiction, and novels in verse. Holliday looks for writing that explores diverse experiences with elements of intersectionality. She is drawn to stories that take you on a journey through growth, and she loves a good friendship story!