Pam Gruber is a literary agent with Highline Literary Collective.
She is seeking: “My list spans adult and fiction categories, along with the occasional nonfiction project that strikes a personal chord. My clients write in all genres, including contemporary fiction, rom-com, speculative fiction, satire, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and graphic novel. As a former Big 5 editor, I’m a very hands-on agent who believes in collaboration, communication, creativity, and mutual respect. I gravitate toward stories that are cinematic and slightly left of center, with a strong hook and elevated yet accessible writing — often with a sense of humor. No matter the genre or audience, I’m drawn to work that’s gripping from page one, whether that’s due to the voice, world building, or premise. I love the thrill of discovery and I’m looking for those stop-everything-tell-everyone reads that will keep me up at night until they sell.
“I’d like to see more middle grade contemporary, a la the 8yo girl who drove herself to Target; YA with the vibes of an Olivia Rodrigo song; adult speculative fiction with a Studio Ghibli aura; genre mashups — HorrorMance anyone?; unexpected takes on familiar stories, like Kevin Can F*ck Himself; dystopia for adult readers; and platform or expert-driven nonfiction on aging and style.”
Clients: Tracy Banghart, Patrick Barb, G.M. Berrow, Jennie Burke, Chris Butera, Andrea Corbin, Kitty Curran, Deva Fagan, Erika Ho, Sarah G. Pierce, Heather Roth, J. Scott, Jeff Somers, Monica Sanz, Sam Tschida, Adam Trest, Katy Upperman
Pam became a literary agent when she realized her favorite part of the publishing business was working closely with authors and artists, helping them to shape not only their stories, but also their careers. She got her start in publishing as an editor, working for over a decade at Hachette Book Group and went on to serve as the Editorial Director at children’s media startup Rebel Girls before shifting gears.
As an agent, Pam aims to sign authors, not just individual books, and she believes in collaboration, communication, creativity, and mutual respect. She is a graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study where she crafted her own major combining studies in art history, linguistics, and folklore. This has led to an eclectic list of clients, writing in all categories from children’s and YA, to adult SFF, “weird” fiction, and contemporary rom-com. Pam’s authors love the collaborative process of finessing their projects from idea to finished manuscript with her, and appreciate her tenacious drive to find every book the right home. She brings an inscrutable eye for detail to every story she gets her hands on, and her prior experience at a publishing house gives her insight into how editors think, and what they’re looking for.
In her life outside of books (as if!), Pam is an aspiring art collector, avid window shopper, experimental baker, and Pilates enthusiast slowly fixing up the antique house she lives in with her husband, son, and feline familiars.