Léonicka Valcius [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Transatlantic Agency.

“I am eager to work with writers of color, including (but not limited to) trans people of color, disabled people of color, religious minorities of color, and queer people of color.”

She is seeking:

Adult and Young Adult fiction: I like books I can read on a beach vacation: fun commercial fiction, romance that ranges from sweet to steamy, otherworldly fantasy, and sweeping historical fiction. I do not represent mysteries or thrillers.

Middle Grade and younger: I love humour, adventure, and make believe. I also enjoy stories about children navigating their changing relationships with family and friends. I strongly prefer books with at least one human character. I do not represent picture books.

Ron Eckel [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent and co-owner of CookeMcDermid.

As an agent Ron is particularly drawn to dark fiction, both commercial and literary, in the areas of horror, science fiction, fantasy, suspense, and psychological thriller. On the nonfiction side, Ron loves pop culture, music, pop science, and story-driven current affairs that start conversations.

Ron’s client list at CookeMcDermid includes international bestselling author, RUSH bassist, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Geddy Lee; culture writer, broadcaster and bestselling author Scaachi Koul; CBC Radio columnist, writer, broadcaster and producer Jesse Wente; horror writers Michael Wehunt and David Demchuk; and the Women’s Prize longlisted author Alicia Elliott. On his bedside table you will find equal amounts of fiction and nonfiction, but always, always at least one biography (authorized or not) of the Ramones.

A graduate of Simon Fraser University’s Master of Publishing program and a thirty year veteran of Canadian publishing, Ron worked with Penguin Canada, Westwood Creative Artists, and Random House of Canada before joining CookeMcDermid in 2009. He also co-owned Cooke International, an agency specializing in foreign rights management for a diverse group of publishing clients, until the end of 2021.

Ron is a former president and current member of PACLA (the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents) and you can find him on Instagram at @eckelron.

Jes Trudel (she/her/mx) is a literary agent with The Rights Factory.

Jes has been devouring stories longer than she can remember. Her favourite childhood books were Jack London adventures (which she never really outgrew). Jes’ experience includes working as a freelance editor for 15+ years, teaching creative writing to people around the globe, and founding WritingCommunity.ca in 2020 when the whole world went digital. She’s been a guest presenter with SCBWI, the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, Write For Kids, and TSNOTYAW podcast, and has contributed to BoldFace, Children’s Book Insider, and the SCBWI blog. She joined The Rights Factory in 2023 as an editorial assistant. She represents mainly authors of children’s literature, though her authors are multi-talented and interdisciplinary storytellers. As an editorial agent, Jes works with her clients to develop their manuscripts into the best version they can be.

At the moment, I’m accepting only children’s literature, including:
– Board books (BB)
– Picture books (PB)
– Chapter books (CB)
– Middle grade (MG)
– Young adult (YA)

In addition to traditional styles of storytelling, I also love graphic novels and novels in verse. I’m also open to short story and poetry collections for kids. I accept both illustrated and text-only manuscripts. If you are an illustrator only, I’m sorry, but I can’t represent you at this time (unless you create full-length wordless picture books).

My favourite BB/PB/CB categories are:
– Concept books with a strong hook
– Expository nonfiction
– High-concept fiction
– Low-concept or “quiet” fiction
– Nonfiction related to mental health, DEI, social justice, community building, and/or entrepreneurship
– I prefer lyrical over rhyming texts, but if you do have a rhyming story, please make sure the meter is perfect and the rhymes are not cliche/forced

My favourite MG/YA genres are:
– action/adventure
– contemporary
– mystery
– romance
– speculative
– suspense/thriller
– Nonfiction related to mental health, DEI, social justice, community building, and/or entrepreneurship

Thematically speaking, I especially like:
– complex adult/child relationships
– complex friendships
– non-traditional and found families
– anti-heroes
– unreliable narrators
– love triangles (romantic or platonic)
– slow burns and friends or enemies to lovers
– forced proximity (romantic or platonic)
– stories that verge on “too dark” for kidlit, but not in a graphic/gory way

I’m not a good fit for:
– horror
– paranormal
– historical fiction
– hard scifi
– epic fantasy
– books for the Christian market
– nonfiction related to food and beverages, politics, pop culture, religion, spirituality, sports, or finance

I’m looking to represent authors across their careers, through multiple age categories and genres. So if you’re interested in writing books for adults and are thinking representation by me might limit your options, I absolutely plan to represent adults books in the future, especially those of my existing clients.

Alexandra D’Amico [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent and co-associate film/TV agent.

Alex represents authors who write in the commercial and genre fiction spaces, as well as prescriptive and narrative nonfiction. Alex is actively seeking titles with diverse and queer inclusive representation, especially by authors who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

She is currently looking for horror and cozy horror, romcom/romance, horroromance and dark romance, cozy low stakes fantasy / cozy romantasy, historical, book club, and speculative fiction for adult readers. In nonfiction, Alex is looking for pop culture and lifestyle projects, and work that leans into her personal interests in spirituality, the occult, ice hockey/PWHL, queer identity, and expert-led historic nonfiction.

Alex is not the agent for YA fantasy, war stories, historical fiction centered around the world wars, or any intentionally divisive narratives.

Alexandra D’Amico joins The Rights Factory after working in publishing since 2019. Alex completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto with a specialist in English and a minor in History, after which she attended Humber College’s Creative Book Publishing program. Alex worked as Rights and Contracts Coordinator for Beverley Slopen then at the Transatlantic Agency as Literary Assistant before being promoted to Associate Agent. Alex also spent three years as Executive Assistant for PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents. With a background in teaching and over a decade of client care experience, she takes a client-first approach to agenting. Alex’s clients have appeared on the USA Today, Globe and Mail, New York Times Best Sellers lists. She takes pride in building lasting, loyal relationships with clients, and advocating for her authors’ individual career goals. While based in Toronto, Alex represents clients across North America and internationally.

 

 

Gemma Paynter [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with PS Literary.

Gemma is actively acquiring general adult fiction as well as nonfiction that subverts expectations.

In fiction, she loves immersive atmosphere, sharp observation, twisty storytelling, and offbeat wit. She is especially interested in folktale-inspired horror and fantasy, gothic mystery and romance, fantasies featuring mundane magic, puzzle-driven mysteries, and cozy stories that feel hopeful yet grounded, like a Studio Ghibli movie. She has a soft spot for “weird girl” literary fiction, general fiction, unreliable narrators, and true rom-coms — make her laugh! She is drawn to work that takes an irreverent, witty approach to the macabre and is always on the lookout for projects that capture the strange, uncanny magic of “Twin Peaks.” She encourages submissions from underrepresented voices, especially those centering characters who don’t often get to be the protagonist.

In nonfiction, she is drawn to narrative projects that bring niche subjects to a wide readership, particularly those that blend memoir with expertise. Her interests include pop culture, pop science, fashion, design, literary commentary, and the history of subcultures and counterculture. 

Moe Ferrara [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with TriadaUS.

Moe is very interested in children’s literature (picture books, middle grade, young adult + graphic novels in those ages). That said, the right adult fiction will catch her attention if it’s also in her favorite genres of contemporary, fantasy, horror, or romance.

Becoming a literary agent was fitting for the girl who, as a small child, begged her dad to buy her a book simply because “it has a hard cover.”

Moe Ferrara’s career path zigzagged a bit from a violin performance and music history double major in college to her JD from Pace Law School. Agenting called her name in the spring of 2015 and after spending almost ten years with BookEnds, Moe was thrilled to join Team Triada as a Senior Literary Agent in 2025. A Pennsylvania native, she is the mum of a rambunctious corgi who is a master at stealing treats. When not working, Moe still keeps up with her violin skills and you can often find her in a pit orchestra, playing violin for her favorite musicals. (Careful, don’t ask her to pick her favorite show or you’ll get a 90 minute dissertation on Stephen Sondheim and/or general Broadway trivia.)

She speaks fluent sarcasm, song lyrics, and movie quotes — and probably has Ted Lasso playing in the background while she works. She’s particularly keen to find books with pain-in-the-ass heroines, dark and creepy settings with lyrical voices, and books with well-thought out twists and turns. Fantasy should be easily accessible and horror should not make her need to keep the lights on! Send her your LGBT+ books that are about more than just a coming out story. Overall, though, she loves being surprised by books she never knew she wanted!