Rachel Beck, Agent

Liza Dawson Associates

(Rachel's Pitch Slots are FULL!)

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​​Rachel Beck joined Liza Dawson Associates in 2020 after working at a boutique literary agency for 4 years. She has been in the publishing industry since 2009 and worked at Harlequin editing romance novels for nearly 6 years before transitioning her skills to the agent world in order to be an advocate and champion for authors. She lives outside of Pittsburgh with her husband, three young children, and an endlessly entertaining cat.
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What Rachel is looking for:
 
I believe that the right book can change or heal a life, and I want to find those. But I’m also interested in lighter fiction that helps me escape or simply makes me laugh after a tough day. Or nonfiction that teaches me something about an obscure topic, thus opening up a new world.

 
Click the link to see Rachel's complete manuscript wishlist:​https://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/rachel-beck

Jeanne De Vita, Literary Manager

Martin Literary Management​​​

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While working in acquisitions and as a developmental editor for traditional publishers and freelance clients, Jeanne has edited hundreds of aspiring and established authors, including NYT, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestsellers. After more than a decade working with stories at various stages of the publishing cycle, including teaching both writing and editing at the college level, Jeanne brings a strong editorial vision and passion for the publishing industry to her clients. She is excited by strong voices and compelling stories across the sub-genres of fiction, with a specific interest in romance, fantasy, thrillers/mysteries/suspense, horror, and speculative fiction.
 
She has MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame and a BA in English from Iowa State University. Jeanne’s love for happy-ever-afters started in childhood, as her mother was a traditionally published romance author who wrote across the genres over her two-decades long career in publishing. Jeanne is committed to developing diverse voices and has run pro bono mentorships for underrepresented authors. Jeanne has volunteered extensively with medically fragile children, the arts, and survivors of gender-based violence. Jeanne is excited to discover new talent and to work with established authors searching for a caring, informed, and supportive advocate.

 
See Jeanne's detailed manuscript wishlist here: 
Jeanne De Vita – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website 

Mark Gottlieb, Executive VP & Agent

Trident Media Group​​​

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Mark Gottlieb is an executive vice president and highly ranked literary agent in overall deals and other individual categories. He is actively building his client list of authors using that same initiative and insight for identifying talented writers. Mark is excited to work directly with authors, helping to manage and grow their careers with all of the unique resources available at book publishing’s leading literary agency, Trident Media Group. Mark Gottlieb continues to represent numerous New York Times bestselling and prominent award-winning authors through his work at Trident Media Group. He has optioned and sold books to film and TV production companies. Following his time at Penguin Books, he previously ran the agency’s audiobook department and worked in international rights.
 
While at Emerson College, Mark studied writing, literature & publishing and was a Founding Member & President of the college’s Undergraduate Students for Publishing Club. He also founded Emerson College’s Wilde Press, an imprint of the Pub Club and home of the Book Project.
 
Mark has lectured on writing and publishing at the Yale Writers’ Workshop, Cambridge University’s MSt in Creative Writing program, Columbia Publishing Course, Emerson College WLP program, Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute, and elsewhere.
 
In his free time, Mark tutors free English language classes to adults from underprivileged immigrant families via the Literacy Volunteers program at Family Centers, a nonprofit organization offering education, health & human services. He mentors college students through Emerson College’s Emerge Mentoring Program, an exclusive online career community where students and alumni connect, network, share resources, and find mentors. He is also the Founder & President of the Stamford Literature, Arts & Culture Salon (SLACS).
 
Mark is actively seeking submissions in all categories and genres and looks forward to bringing new and established authors to the curious minds of their future readers.

Rebecca Podos, Senior Agent​

Neighborhood Literary

(Rebecca's Pitch Slots are FULL!)

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Rebecca Podos (she/they) began her career as a literary agent in 2011. A graduate of the MFA Writing, Literature and Publishing program at Emerson College, she is an author of Young Adult and Adult fiction. A complete list of her clients' published and upcoming projects can be found here.
 
Rebecca is looking for Young Adult and Adult genre fiction, with select non-fiction projects considered. Of particular interest in fiction right now: Character-driven fantasy rooted in folklore and culture; horror as a vehicle exploring otherness, identity, and trauma; fresh genre crossovers (cozy sci-fi, horror romance, etc.); queer contemporary and historical fiction; Romance and romcom with a strong commercial hook and upmarket prose. Of interest in non-fiction: Deep dives into nerdy topics (TTRPG's, cosplay, fandoms, etc.); a strong narrative voice paired with expertise, as in Why Fish Don't Exist; kid lit centering queer history.

You can view Rebecca's complete manuscript wishlist here:
https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/rebecca-podos-2/

Kim Carson Bodie, Associate Agent

Susan Schulman Literary Agent

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Kim joined Susan Schulman in 2025 after years of working thematically and geographically scattered jobs that mostly involved taking words out of the air and putting them on paper. She is a former journalist, university creative writing instructor, CutBank Fiction Editor, and Coffee House Press Editorial Intern.
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Kim is interested in reading adult commercial, upmarket, and literary fiction, horror, slipstream, bookclub-with-an-edge, creative nonfiction, pop culture, essay, and select memoir—particularly projects that feature strong voice, experimental structure, bold risks, and big swings. Kim gravitates toward themes of adolescence, monstrosity, class, innocence, memory, healing, freakishness, community, otherness, identity, the body, the natural world, and the concept of home.
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Kim received her MFA from the University of Montana, where you can still find her gathering dirt under her fingernails, between the pages of her books, and in the cracks of her computer keyboard. She can usually be spotted alongside her dog, Townes Van Dog.
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You can find Kim's complete manuscript wishlist here: Kim Carson Bodie – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

Irene Kaster, Agent

Heather Jackson Literary Agency​

(Irene's pitch slots are FULL!)

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Irene Kaster started at HJLit as an intern in 2022. She studied at Emerson College in Boston and holds a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing, and an MA in Writing and Publishing. She has worn various hats in publishing including intern, freelance editor, literary assistant, social media coordinator, bookseller, and ghostwriter—but above all, she is a bookworm. Irene is based in Colorado and spends her free time enjoying the outdoors and searching for the best coffee shops. 

What I'm looking for: My taste is vast and ever-changing as I read widely across several different genres. I’m always looking for books that surprise me, teach me something, introduce me to new sub-genres, subjects, and ideas, and books that make me laugh, cry, or both. Within fiction, I’m most interested in literary and commercial fiction (historical and contemporary), romance, fantasy, and suspenseful or dystopian horror. 

See Irene's complete manuscript wishlist here:
Irene Kaster – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website