Scott Waxman

"The great thing about being an agent is that it never gets boring. Each book allows you to enter a new world. Also, we like to continue to challenge ourselves by working with different kinds of authors.

I've been known for a long time as a non-fiction agent and do represent a large number of established authors who write contemporary journalism, sports, history and narrative non-fiction. I continue to welcome projects in these categories and am also very interested in developing our business and military titles. Whether you are an established journalist or a blogger with a great platform: I want to hear your idea for the next best-seller.

I also want to see great fiction, both literary and commercial. Like my non-fiction tastes, I tend to enjoy character-driven stories that really speak to me on some emotional level. And I always welcome commercial male fiction-thrillers and mysteries in the style of Harlan Coben, Lee Child or Richard Price-that grabs hold of the reader from the first sentence and is chock-full of twists, turns and intrigue. Favorite authors on the literary side include Michael Chabon, Ian McEwan, Philip Roth and Cormac McCarthy.

In regards to middle grade fiction for boys, I'm particularly interested in the reality-based genres of adventure and sports, though I am eager to read more clever fantasy and science fiction for boys; authors that I admire include Gary Paulson, Louis Sachar and Mike Lupica.

If you think your work will make me miss my train stop, please go ahead and send it to me."

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Byrd Leavell

"My entire career as an agent is committed to one driving focus: working with great clients to create successful books. It boils down to a very simple approach: signing talented, driven writers and then working with them to create a submission that blows people out of their chairs, sending that submission to the right editors who are committed to overcoming the odds and creating bestsellers, and then working after the deal, every single step of the way, with both the publisher and author to ensure that the finished book is flawless in content, packaged perfectly, and promoted effectively."

A graduate of the University of Virginia and the Radcliffe Publishing Program, Byrd Leavell has been an agent for eight years and in that time has represented two of the most popular humor books ever in Tucker Max’s I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL and Justin Halpern’s SH*T MY DAD SAYS. He handles narrative non-fiction, sports, humor, and commercial fiction that reads like you just grabbed hold of a speeding train; his clients include Scott Sigler, Drew Magary, Gavin McInnes, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Pete Sampras, Babe Walker, Total Frat Move, Cody Lundin, Mark Frauenfelder, Seamus McGraw, Clay Travis, and John. L. Parker Jr.

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Holly Root

"My favorite part of being an agent is the thrill of discovery. Being the first to experience a new world or a brand-new author simply never gets old. Couple that with the joy of sharing that wonderful book with editors and eventually readers and you’ve got the reason I truly love my job.

I’m drawn to well-told commercial novels in a variety of genres. I’m much more likely to keep reading if I know from that perfectly-executed first page that this character (or author, in the case of nonfiction) is someone who interests me, someone whose story I’d like to get lost in for the next two hours. I know I’ve found a winner when I encounter writers whose skills on the page make me know beyond any doubt that I’m in excellent hands.

I’m currently seeking middle grade and young adult fiction, women’s fiction (both commercial and upmarket), urban fantasy and romance. I also represent select nonfiction projects.

I do not represent poetry, screenplays, picture books, thrillers, or erotica."

Prior to joining the Waxman Literary Agency in 2007, Holly Root worked at the William Morris Agency and Trident Media Group.

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