Cole Lanahan

The Seymour Agency

My Manuscript Wish List®

As a literary agent, I bring a diverse skill set to the publishing industry. I hold a degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State, and my professional journey includes impactful advocacy in the United States Congress for enhanced mental health initiatives. I’ve successfully led a multimillion-dollar mental health nonprofit, forged strategic corporate partnerships, and executed large-scale marketing campaigns.

When it comes to my literary preferences, I value an engaging narrative that captivates readers from start to finish. High-concept fresh plots, killer voice, and page-turning pacing are pivotal elements will always catch my attention. I am particularly passionate about promoting diverse voices, with a keen interest in BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors crafting stories they are genuinely passionate about, rather than adhering to perceived expectations.

While I am open to most commercial genres, please keep in mind I am NOT the right agent for:

  • Picture Books
  • Middle Grade
  • Children’s Graphic Novels
  • Children’s and YA Nonfiction
  • Books with a word count over 100K. A little over for fantasy is okay, but I’ve seen some astronomically large word counts, lately. With production costs rising so much in publishing, the likelihood of selling a debut with a word count over 100K is extremely slim.
  • Romcoms (my list is currently packed full and I will update this page if that changes)
  • Romances centered around sports
  • Books about Pirates
  • Books about thieves and heists
  • Historicals (I might be swayed by a historical romance, but it would really have to be really fresh)
  • Procedural Thrillers/Suspense (While I love domestic thrillers and suspense, anything involving main characters who are detectives, police, FBI, CIA, or military is not going to be my cup of tea)
  • Mysteries
  • Adult high fantasy (unless there’s a romantic element)
  • Adult Science Fiction (unless it’s grounded)
  • Christian/Inspirational/”sweet” romance
  • Any story with animal abuse on the page
  • Nonfiction memoirs or biographies (except for celebrities)
  • Nonfiction New Age
  • I have a ton of adult romcom and YA fantasy on my list, so I am being extra selective in those genres

At the moment, I am actively seeking YA horror, YA thrillers, dark and sexy romance, adult horror, YA/NA romantasy, and adult domestic/psychological thrillers. Additionally, I enthusiastically welcome submissions in the nonfiction genre. Keep those submissions coming—I’m eager to discover new fresh and exciting voices in the literary landscape.

**To better manage my time and give each submission the attention it deserves, I’m only open to queries from the 1st to the 7th of each month. I appreciate your understanding and look forward to reading your work during my open periods!**

 

Fun facts about me:

I love quilting, dog training, and performing in my three-piece acoustic trio.

Submission Guidelines

I only accept submissions through Query Tracker.

Guidelines & Details