Emmy Nordstrom Higdon is a literary agent with The Rights Factory.

Emmy (they/them) is a PhD student at McMaster University, a bookseller at Another Story book shop, a blogger at Books Beyond Binaries, and a member of the planning team for the Festival of Literary Diversity. They are a trans non- binary colonizer originally from Newfoundland, now based in Tkaronto (Toronto, Ontario). Emmy keeps busy with research projects, spending time with their family (including adopted dogs and cats), embroidery, vegan cooking, and … obviously, a lot of reading.

Emmy grew up on fantasy novels and 90’s kidlit horror like Bunnicula and Goosebumps. They represent authors of literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction for adults and young adults. They specialize in #OwnVoices literature, particularly from the LGBTQ2S+ community.

EMMY IS SEEKING:

“I am is particularly interested in work that is fast-paced, voicey, character driven, and accessible. Murder is my comfort read.”

Fiction for Adult and YA:

While atmospheric stories with lots of plot twists are my favourites, I’m eager to read literary fiction, feminist thrillers, book club, millennial, dark fantasy, paranormal horror, contemporary Gothic, and magical realism.

Nonfiction for Adult and YA:

On the nonfiction side, my interests include memoir, deep dive journalistic accounts, investigative true crime, activism, essay collections, and progressive political and social commentary. Please send me more nonfiction!

What I Love:

• #OwnVoices stories with diverse representation, especially…
• LGBTQ2S+, especially non-binary, trans, QTPOC
• polyamory
• disability, physical and/or psychiatric
• autism spectrum
• neurodivergence, especially plurality/multiplicity/DID
• deafness, hard of hearing, sign language speakers, deafblind
• sex work
• Indigenous, especially living in what is currently called Canada
• fat characters, body positivity
• Millennial voices and characters (aka, “new adult”)
• Morally ambiguous feminine protagonists
• Accessible world building
• Elderly feminine characters
• Small/closed settings (think cult, island, exclusive boarding school, isolated town, etc.)
• I have a soft spot for the ocean, and coastal settings in general
• Anything spooky
• Traditionally feminine sports (think ballet, cheerleading, roller derby, gymnastics, etc.)
• Intense friendship stories
• Hauntings of any flavour
• Rich people problems, particularly if they come with pretty dresses
• Stories rooted in (dark) folklore and fairytales