Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Chelsea Eberly of Greenhouse Literary Agency

Chelsea Eberly is a literary agent and the Director of Greenhouse Literary Agency.

She represents authors of middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, and women’s fiction, as well as illustrators who write picture books.

As a former Senior Editor at Random House, she edited the Newbery Medal winning When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller as well as numerous award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors such as Tamora Pierce, Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas, Mark Siegel, and Kim Johnson to name only a few. She has a deep understanding of how publishers think and is an expert advocate for her clients. Chelsea is also a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree, which recognizes “the rising stars of the US publishing industry.”

 

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Maggie Sadler of Corvisiero Literary

Maggie Sadler is a literary agent with Corvisiero Literary.

Maggie is motivated to apply her knowledge of literature and craft to the industry as an Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Maggie earned her joint degree in Comparative Literature and English in 2016 from the University of St Andrews, a historical university tucked away in a tiny windswept Scottish town along the North Sea. A sea sprite at heart, Maggie returned to the North Atlantic coast to earn her Master’s in Literary Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2019. The intricate, vivid, and deep-rooted folk traditions Maggie encountered in both Scotland and Newfoundland further enriched her literary interest in folklore, mainly the seafaring lore intrinsic to small North Atlantic communities.

After these unexpected adventures, Maggie now calls rural Michigan home, where she daydreams amongst the wildflowers with her rascally horse. She is currently working on a novel of her own, full of wild coasts, mysterious sea chests, and feral girls with monstrous secrets.

She is seeking:

Maggie will evaluate every pitch with sensitivity and a desire to uplift up-and-coming writers. However, she is especially interested in finding unorthodox narrative voices that possess subtle, yet insightful perspectives.

In adult fiction, Maggie enjoys:

  • Nuanced, entrancing Magical Realism that forces the reader to reconsider what “real” truly means.
  • Folklore retellings of ambitious, perhaps even monstrous, women who are willing to sacrifice love for power.
  • Genre-bending literary fiction with an unexpected and intelligent use of language.
  • Pre-1900 historical fiction, particularly any untold stories of boundary-pushing women and women from traditionally underrepresented communities.
  • Themes of femininity and the natural world, cultural identity, family legacy, rebellion against tradition.

In new adult and young adult fiction, Maggie seeks:

  • #OwnVoices Magical Realism that is strongly rooted in history and non-Western folklore.
  • Maritime fiction that evokes the spirit of nineteenth-century adventure fiction, particularly with fierce, feminine pirate queens à la Elizabeth Swann and Eleanor Guthrie.
  • Upmarket fiction helmed by sharp, charming anti-heroes.
  • Very select endearing, cozy fantasies that strike the same notes as Howl’s Moving Castle or The Hobbit, yet with heroines that are equal parts gentle and resilient.
  • Themes of cultural identity, self-actualization, bravery in the smallest (literally and figuratively) of people, and setting as character (bonus points for dark academia).

In middle grade fiction, Maggie is very selective, looking primarily for that sparkling, intelligent, and authentic voice. Maggie hopes to find:

  • Nostalgic adventure romps featuring a rag-tag band of endearing and witty misfits. I’m especially hoping to find the next The Goonies or Stranger Things, in novel form!
  • Subtly articulated and tactfully negotiated upmarket fiction that explores themes of loneliness, multiculturalism, unique family dynamics, or differing abilities (i.e. intellectual, emotional, and/or physical).
  • Animal stories that reach across generations with sensitivity and grace, whose protagonists gently welcome the reader in for a cup of tea and a bit of cake.

An experienced traveler, Maggie also welcomes travelogues depicting remote locations and thought-provoking encounters in a raw, authentic, and intentional narrative voice that blurs the boundaries between the literary and the nonfiction.

Maggie is NOT a good fit for:

  • High or epic fantasy, particularly in the adult sphere
  • Science fiction; no space exploration or aliens, please
  • Thrillers, especially stories inspired by true crime
  • Military or political fiction
  • Humor or satire
  • Commercial romance
  • Graphic novels​
  • Casts of paranormal creatures (fairies, ghosts, werewolves, and vampires)
  • MG narratives in the vein of Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or The Fairly OddParents
  • Intense depictions of animal abuse, murder, sexual abuse, sexual trauma, or torture