kt literary

“Well-behaved girls seldom make history” – Kirkus

On June 13, New York Times bestselling author Jaleigh Johnson’s next middle grade fantasy, THE QUEST TO THE UNCHARTED LANDS, hits shelves. This is Jaleigh’s third book set in the magical world of Solace and it features a heroine who is an alchemist stowing away on an exploration to new lands.

Kirkus’s glowing review says, “Stella Glass won’t stand for being left at home while her healer parents embark on an exploratory voyage via airship to the uncharted lands. So, like any forward-thinking, industrious, stubborn trailblazer, she stows herself away in the ship’s hull. It isn’t long before she realizes she’s not the only one camping among the cargo…A full-throttle fanfare for those with a predilection for alchemy, adventure, and a little anarchy.”

Read Jaleigh’s “Inspirations for Solace” here.

Learn more about Jaleigh’s books on her website: www.jaleighjohnson.com

Say hi and congratulations on twitter @jaleighjohnson

I’m thrilled to welcome middle grade contemporary author, Conan Putnam, as KT Literary’s newest client. I found Conan’s delightful project in the slush and immediately fell in love with her writing and her protagonist, Lily, an adopted Chinese girl trying to understand who she is in the context of her past and within her adoptive Irish American family. The project has strong cultural and family elements, a crisp pace, Irish step dancing, and Lily’s long lost circus-performing sister, who helps ground Lily in her past and shows her it’s okay to embrace all of herself.

I asked Conan for a daunting round of revisions which she executed brilliantly, and I’m thrilled to be partnering with her to bring this amazing project to readers.

Be sure to follow her on twitter, @ConanPutnam, and wish her well!

Welcome, Conan! We’re happy to have you as part of the KT family.

Congratulations to Carrie Harris, whose graphic novel ON THE WALL releases today from One Peace Books!

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the biggest loser of them all?

Mira Mason has the world’s most useless superpower: she can pass through shiny objects. As far as powers go, it’s super-lame. Being a teenager is tough enough without throwing a useless power into the mix. The world is afraid of supes, but it’s silly to be scared of a girl who can phase through a salad fork with the greatest of ease.

All Mira wants to do is put the resident mean girl in her place, get her powers teacher off her back, and convince her crush with the mesmerizing eyes that she exists. But someone with a power like Mira’s is popping out of mirrors to spy on local girls like a total creeper. Mira just wants to be normal, but sometimes a girl and her superpowered friends have to make a stand.

Superheroes meet teen drama in this exciting new graphic novel written by Carrie Harris and drawn by Stipe Kalajži?.

Back when I was a wee literary agent, I read a hysterically funny YA novel called SUPERBLY USELESS that convinced me to sign new writer Carrie Harris. We went on to sell many books together, but SUPERBLY USELESS still had a place of honor in my heart for killer lines like this: I’m so focused on Bubbles that I’ve completely forgotten about the flunkies, who are plastered against the walls of the gym, making trite comments like, “Oh god!” and “Oh my god!” and “Like, oh my god!”

Now you can enjoy that same same great story in graphic novel form, with art by Stipe Kalajzic:

As Carrie says, “It has baby pools and accidental forkings and girl power and peeping toms and government agents and scary teachers modeled after my old high school English teacher, who was the first person to tell me that I should be a writer. I thought the best thing I could do to thank her was put a character inspired by her in a book, so I did. She WAS pretty scary.”

Grab a copy at Amazon, B&N, IndieBound, or your favorite local bookstore or comic book retailer. And send Carrie some Twitter love!

Congratulations to Michael J. Martinez whose MAJESTIC 12: INCEPTION hits stores today in mass market paperback!

“It’s a smart look at a Cold War in many ways even colder and scarier and deadlier than the one we barely survived.” -New York Times bestselling author Harry Turtledove

“It’s an amazingly inspired high concept that the author takes full advantage of and makes his own…. If you ever wondered what early Cold War spy feats would be like with the addition of civilian individuals with paranormal powers, MJ-­12 is the novel you have been waiting to read.” – Paul Weimer, Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

“A heady blend of super-spies and superpowers, MJ-12: Inception is Cold War-era science fiction done right. A taut thriller, and skillfully evocative” —New York Times bestselling author Chris Roberson

Book #2 in the series, MAJESTIC 12: SHADOWS releases in September 2017. Start reading now and join the adventure!

Learn about Michael’s books on his website: www.michaeljmartinez.net
Say hi and congratulations on twitter @mikemartinez72

Congratulations to international bestselling author Gerald Brandt – his debut cyberpunk THE COURIER has been nominated for Canada’s prestigious Aurora Award for Best Novel!

The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) administers the Aurora Award for “excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy works and activities.” We’re thrilled that Gerald’s amazing book has been recognized and is in such brilliant company!

Check out the Aurora Award Ballot for Best Novel here!

THE COURIER
The first installment in the San Angeles trilogy, a thrilling near-future cyberpunk sci-fi series

Kris Ballard is a motorcycle courier. A nobody. Level 2 trash in a multi-level city that stretches from San Francisco to the Mexican border—a land where corporations make all the rules. A runaway since the age of fourteen, Kris struggled to set up her life, barely scraping by, working hard to make it without anyone’s help.

But a late day delivery changes everything when she walks in on the murder of one of her clients. Now she’s stuck with a mysterious package that everyone wants. It looks like the corporations want Kris gone, and are willing to go to almost any length to make it happen.

Hunted, scared, and alone, she retreats to the only place she knows she can hide: the Level 1 streets. Fleeing from people that seem to know her every move, she is rescued by Miller—a member of an underground resistance group—only to be pulled deeper into a world she doesn’t understand.

Together Kris and Miller barely manage to stay one step ahead of the corporate killers, but it’s only a matter of time until Miller’s resources and their luck run out….

Learn more about the San Angeles trilogy on Gerald’s website: www.geraldbrandt.com
Say hi and congratulations on twitter @GeraldBrandt

It may be only the first second day of June, but with BookExpo happening in NYC this week, publishing is already looking to the fall. And so are we! I’m thrilled to announce a great review of Susan Adrian‘s middle grade novel NUTCRACKED, which School Library Journal called, “engaging”! The full review requires a subscription to read, but I’ve pulled our favorite quotes below. Please feel free to share widely, and preorder the book on IndieBound, B&N, Amazon, or at your favorite local bookstore!

And send Susan some love on Twitter.

Enter the magical world of The Nutcracker in a whole new way with this perfect Christmas stocking stuffer!

Christmastime, ballet, and magic! Georgie has waited for this moment her whole life—to dance the part of Clara in The Nutcracker ballet. And when she finally gets the part, it’s like a dream come true. . . .

Literally.

Every time Georgie dances with the Nutcracker doll, she leaves the ballet studio and enters a world where everything around her—the old wooden furniture, the Christmas tree, the carefully wrapped presents—is larger than life. It’s so magical, Georgie can’t wait to return again and again.

Then the Nutcracker’s magic seeps into the real world, putting Georgie’s friend in danger. Everything is falling apart, and it’s almost Christmas! Can Georgie save her friend, the Nutcracker, and most of all, herself?

Huge congratulations to debut author K Arsenault Rivera whose THE TIGER’S DAUGHTER has been chosen as a prestigious Book Expo Buzz Book!

“The Tiger’s Daughter is a love letter to my favorite kind of fantasy – rich, expansive…simply exquisite.” –NYTimes bestselling author V.E. Schwab

Entertainment Weekly covered the launch of THE TIGER’S DAUGHTER in an exclusive earlier this year and the excitement just keeps growing!

Book Expo starts today in New York City and is a huge publishing event. Bookstores, libraries, reviewers and readers will have a chance to pick up advanced reader copies of THE TIGER’S DAUGHTER – we’re so excited!

THE TIGER’S DAUGHTER
Even gods can be slain

The Hokkaran empire has conquered every land within their bold reach?but failed to notice a lurking darkness festering within the people. Now, their border walls begin to crumble, and villages fall to demons swarming out of the forests.

Away on the silver steppes, the remaining tribes of nomadic Qorin retreat and protect their own, having bartered a treaty with the empire, exchanging inheritance through the dynasties. It is up to two young warriors, raised together across borders since their prophesied birth, to save the world from the encroaching demons.

This is the story of an infamous Qorin warrior, Barsalayaa Shefali, a spoiled divine warrior empress, O Shizuka, and a power that can reach through time and space to save a land from a truly insidious evil.

A crack in the wall heralds the end…two goddesses arm themselves…K Arsenault Rivera’s The Tiger’s Daughter is an adventure for the ages.

Follow K’s debut journey online at: www.karsenaultrivera.com
Say hi and congratulations on twitter @ArsenaultRivera

Happy Book Birthday to New York Times bestselling author Jason M. Hough whose INJECTION BURN hits shelves today!!!

INJECTION BURN is the next in Jason’s Dire Earth series originally pitched as “Firefly meets Johns Scalzi” and called, “a nicely crafted, ambitious, thrilling piece of entertainment” by Locus.

A television deal was announced last week!

And the next book in the series, ESCAPE VELOCITY, releases next month.

We’re in for an exciting summer!

INJECTION BURN
Part one of a thrilling action-adventure sci-fi duology featuring indomitable characters, incredible worlds, and plenty of rip-roaring action and thrills!

Rescue operation—or suicide mission?

Skyler Luiken and his ragtag crew of scavengers, scientists, and brawlers have a new mission: a long journey to a distant planet where a race of benevolent aliens are held captive behind a cloud of destructive ships known as the Swarm Blockade. No human ships have ever made it past this impenetrable wall, and Skyler knows not what to anticipate when they reach their destination.

Safe to say that the last thing he expects to find there is a second human ship led by the tough-as-nails captain, Gloria Tsandi. These two crews—and their respective captains—initially clash, but they will have to learn to work together when their mutual foe closes in around them and begins the outright destruction of their vessels—along with any hope of a return to Earth.

Learn more about Jason’s books on his website: www.jasonhough.com
Say hi and congratulations on twitter @JasonMHough

Querying authors! This is your heads up that I’ll be closing to queries for the summer starting on June 1st. Note: this means me (Kate Testerman), and only me. Sara, Renee, and Hannah will all remain open, and we may have some great news shortly about another fab agent here you can query! IN the meantime, if you have your heart set on querying me, please do so before June 1st. If you’ve already queried me, I’ll do my best to respond to those by June 1st as well. If I have your partial or other material, I’m getting caught up now, and will hope to respond wiothint my styated timeframe of two months. If it’s been more than than, please feel free to follow-up.

As always, our most up-to-date query and submissions guidelines are on the website: http://ktliterary.com/submissions/.

“Recommended for fans of graceful prose and dark eroticism akin to Anne Rice’s “Beauty” series.” – starred review, Library Journal

Congratulations to international bestselling author Tiffany Reisz on this gorgeous, glowing review from Library Journal!

THE RED releases July 11 and we just inked a big audiobook deal last week. Keep the good news rolling in and here’s to many happy readers!

Read an excerpt of THE RED here!

Library Journal review:
In this titillating tale of art and the arcane, The Red Gallery owner Mona Lisa St. James enters a naughty bargain to save her mother’s dream and receives more than she ever could have imagined. Drowning in debt after her mother’s death, Mona sees no choice but to sell the gallery, until the appearance of a handsome man holds dangerous promise. Malcolm approaches her with a devilish proposition: “carte blanche” to ravage her as he pleases in exchange for saving The Red. Mona’s lust is taken to new heights as Malcolm uses classic art to inspire playful and often sinister sexual forays. When fantasy and reality become blurred, however, will Mona be able to survive their agreement with her heart unscathed? Reisz (The Mistress) paints a deliciously deviant picture as Mona becomes a piece of living artwork for a truly insatiable patron.

Learn more about Tiffany’s books on her website: www.tiffanyreisz.com
Say hi and congratulations on twitter @tiffanyreisz

Congratulations to Trish Doller, whose new novel IN A PERFECT WORLD releases today from Simon Pulse.

From the jacket copy:

From critically acclaimed author Trish Doller comes a gorgeous, hopeful, and heartbreaking novel, set in Cairo, Egypt, about the barriers we tear down for the people and places we love most.

Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall.

But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known.

With this move, Caroline predicts she’ll spend her time navigating crowded streets, eating unfamiliar food, and having terrible bouts of homesickness. But when she finds instead is a culture that surprises her, a city that astounds her, and a charming, unpredictable boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about life, love, and privilege.

The reviews are stunning. PW praises it for “the complexities of an interfaith, intercultural romance” and calls it “a tender story that’s both realistic and hopeful.” SLJ says “heated romance simmers” and Booklist likes how it “questions and challenges stereotypes”. The Horn Book says “Doller has crafted a respectful guide for anyone interested in understanding a different culture, with a healthy dose of romance and family drama mixed in for good measure.”

Grab your copy today on IndieBound, Amazon, B&N, or at your favorite local bookstore!

And give Trish a shout on Twitter to congratulate her!

A huge round of congratulations to New York Times bestselling author Jason M. Hough on this exciting TV deal!!!

From Publishers Marketplace:
Television rights
NYT bestselling author Jason Hough’s DIRE EARTH series, including new releases INJECTION BURN and ESCAPE VELOCITY, along with a pilot titled THE IMMUNES, co-written by Mike Le and Jason M. Hough, to producer Robert Lawrence, by Jerry Kalajian of Intellectual Property Group and Sara Megibow of kt literary.

INJECTION BURN releases next week from Del Rey and readers are going to love it as much as Hollywood does!

INJECTION BURN
Part one of a thrilling action-adventure sci-fi duology featuring indomitable characters, incredible worlds, and plenty of rip-roaring action and thrills!

Rescue operation—or suicide mission?

Skyler Luiken and his ragtag crew of scavengers, scientists, and brawlers have a new mission: a long journey to a distant planet where a race of benevolent aliens are held captive behind a cloud of destructive ships known as the Swarm Blockade. No human ships have ever made it past this impenetrable wall, and Skyler knows not what to anticipate when they reach their destination.

Safe to say that the last thing he expects to find there is a second human ship led by the tough-as-nails captain, Gloria Tsandi. These two crews—and their respective captains—initially clash, but they will have to learn to work together when their mutual foe closes in around them and begins the outright destruction of their vessels—along with any hope of a return to Earth.

Learn more about the DIRE EARTH series and Jason’s other books on his website: www.jasonhough.com
Say hi and congratulations on twitter @JasonMHough

A huge round of congratulations to international bestselling author Tiffany Reisz on her recent audiobook deal!

We are thrilled to partner with Tantor on three upcoming erotica stories in Tiffany’s much-loved ORIGINAL SINNERS series. Book #1 – THE RED – releases this July. Read an excerpt of THE RED here!

From Publishers Marketplace:
Audio rights
Tiffany Reisz’s THE RED, a standalone novel of erotica fantasy, along with MICHAEL’S WINGS and THE CHATEAU, to Scott Smith at Tantor, in a nice deal, in a three-book deal, for publication in 2017, by Sara Megibow of kt literary.
Translation: rights@ktliterary.com
Hollywood: sberard@apa-agency.com

Learn more about the ORIGINAL SINNERS series as well as Tiffany’s other bestselling and award-winning books on her website: www.tiffanyreisz.com

Say hi and congratulations on twitter @tiffanyreisz

As summer comes creeping closer, it’s time for another round-up of places you can look forward to finding KT Literary agents and staff in the coming months. We hope to see you there!

BookExpo America (Hannah)
New York, NY
May 31-June 2, 2017
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/Home/

RWA Desert Dreams Conference(Renee)
Phoenix, AZ
June 3, 2017
http://desertroserwa.org/desertdreams

Denver ComicCon – Ask An Agent panel with the full contingent of KT Literary agents!
Denver, CO
June 30-July 2, 2017
http://popcultureclassroom.org/denvercomiccon

SCBWI Annual Summer Conference (Kate)
Los Angeles, CA
July 7-10, 2017
https://www.scbwi.org/events/46th-annual-summer-conference-in-los-angeles-la17/

Regis University MFA program (Sara)
Denver, CO
July 29, 2017
http://www.regis.edu/CCLS/Academics/Degrees-and-Programs/Graduate-Programs/MFA-Creative-Writing.aspx

Ghost Town Writers Retreat (Sara)
Georgetown, CO
August 4, 2017
http://ghosttownwritersretreat.com

Flathead River Writers Conference (Kate)
Kalispell, MT
September 23-24, 2017
http://www.authorsoftheflathead.org/default.asp

Arapahoe County Library – How to Get an Agent Seminar (Hilary)
Centennial, CO
October 21, 2017 at Koelbel Library
October 26, 2017 at Smoky Hill Library
https://arapahoelibraries.org/

Sirens Conference (Sara)
Vail, CO
October 26-29, 2017
https://www.sirensconference.org

World Fantasy (Sara)
San Antonio, TX
November 2-5, 2017
http://wfc2017.org/wfc2017/