Sam Farkas

I am open to most categories and genres as I actively build my list.

In Adult Fiction, I am looking for upmarket fiction with irresistible writing and a strong hook. Regardless of genre, I’m drawn to voice-driven narratives, unforgettable characters, and layered stories that feel both timely and timeless.

I am especially interested in:

• lyrical and immersive fantasy with “book club appeal,” along the lines of The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
• biographical historical fiction that explores the lives of lesser-known figures, especially scientists and activists
• high-concept contemporary romance
• “romantasy” that’s truly swoony, with crisp, accessible writing and tight pacing
• female-centric suspense; twisty, edge-of-your-seat stories that are impossible to put down
• fast-paced thrillers with a light speculative element; think Blake Crouch
• retellings of myths and legends that haven’t yet gotten their due; I’m probably not right for Greek myth retellings, but I still love fairytales, and I’m especially looking for non-western stories
• haunting and atmospheric horror with incisive social commentary, like Mexican Gothic and The Only Good Indians

In Adult Non-Fiction, I’m looking for:

• food and beverage writing, especially memoir, that makes me want to run off to become a chef/sommelier/etc. (not cookbooks); think Cork Dork and Koshersoul
• immersive narrative history that reads like a novel, along the lines of Erik Larson
• millennial self-help for the pandemic age; books about communication, making friends in adulthood, and “reentering” society after isolation
• cultural history and analysis, especially of film and TV, that remains relevant today; my “pie-in-the-sky” book is an oral history of the Disney period between the Renaissance and the Revival
• essay collections that explore timely topics, such as Hood Feminism, How To Be An Antiracist, and Can’t Even
• beautifully written pop science that does a deep dive into a single subject, like Entangled Life and The Book of Eels

In Young Adult and Middle Grade, my favorites are always bold, out-of-the-box books with strong hooks and irresistible writing. In these categories, especially, I like to be surprised.

In MG, I’m drawn to:

• contemporary that makes me laugh or cry; bonus points if it can do both
• contemporary with a light speculative element, such as Felix Yz and The Fourteenth Goldfish
• stories about kids realizing that the adults in their lives are flawed
• heavily illustrated humorous MG, like The Last Kids on Earth and Dork Diaries
• lyrical and transportive fantasy that makes you believe in magic, along the lines of The Thief Lord, Nevermoor, and The Girl Who Drank the Moon
• funny and fantastical adventures set in our own world, such as Ring of Solomon and Freddie vs. the Family Curse
• mysteries!
• books that seamlessly weave together multiple timelines; think Holes

In YA, I’m drawn to:

• fun and fast-paced high-stakes fantasy that pays homage to beloved tropes while still making them feel fresh
• weird; books like Grasshopper Jungle and Spontaneous, that take on the unexpected and the bizarre
• voice-driven, beautifully written contemporary that doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects
• tightly plotted thrillers and mysteries; think The Inheritance Games, Trouble Is A Friend of Mine, and Sadie
• atmospheric horror in the vein of She Is A Haunting and Wilder Girls

I will consider select Picture Books—kid-friendly texts that beg to be read again and again, out-of-the-box non-fiction, and books that celebrate our multicultural world.

In all categories and genres, I am seeking diverse and underrepresented voices.

I am not the right agent for: political or legal thrillers; police procedurals; cozy mysteries; elves, orcs, or other non-human fantasy characters (vampires, witches, etc. are okay!); Christian fiction or non-fiction; satire; business and finance; diet and wellness.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to info@jillgrinbergliterary.com

Submissions should be sent to info [at] jillgrinbergliterary [dot] com.

Your email subject line should follow this general format: QUERY: [Title of Project] by [Your Name] / [Age Category/Genre] / ATTN: Sam Farkas

Please paste your query letter in the body of the email and attach the first fifty (50) pages of your manuscript as a docx file. Do not attach zip folders, Pages files, links to Google Docs, or links to download materials from file sharing sites. You will receive an auto-response confirming your submission was received.

Note: While I appreciate content warnings, they are not necessary for me personally. Feel free to include or exclude depending on your preference.

Guidelines & Details