I will say that this industry is as exciting as it is exhausting. I will miss the connections I made with editors, writers, agents, and that I no longer will be able to champion good books. But I won’t miss how disrespectful some of those in the industry were. I hope things change. I tried my best.
09.02.2026 04:23 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0I am unfortunately no longer taking new clients as my agency closes 3/1 & I don’t have another to jump to. I’m reeling from this major change but I ask agent friends to please consider my clients for their lists—they are talented, creative, and above all, been the highlight of my agenting career
09.02.2026 04:11 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Seeing an increase in screenplay queries in my inbox. Sorry but I only represent novels!
19.01.2026 16:57 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Do you write about comics? If you do, you should consider applying to the Comics Criticism Mini Grant. All you need are two clips published over the past year. It is a very simple application!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Just you know, being randomly selected by tsa to go through extra security :)
14.11.2025 21:19 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Waiting for the results of the nyc mayoral election feels like it’s the presidential election 😩
05.11.2025 02:33 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0First Kissinger and now Cheney, Bluesky doesn’t disappoint
04.11.2025 19:14 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
I do have a new MSWL as i continue to connect with more editors (if we haven’t, let’s chat!):
- as always, I want to see fantasy of all kinds in MG, YA
- for adult, I want to see thrillers, generational and thought provoking contemporary, + speculative
Quick Update: I’ve been closed to queries since Sept and I’ve responded to all queries by then with a final decision or an expected timeframe for when you will receive one. If you sent a query/didn’t get a reply, please resend it when I open on December 5.
29.10.2025 21:22 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 1
Publishers Marketplace Deal Report Category: Digital: Fiction: Thriller BLACK WIDOW, WHITE SHROUD By Yasmeen Abdellatif Imprint: Shush October 13, 2025 Yasmeen Abdellatif's BLACK WIDOW, WHITE SHROUD, in which a Palestinian student and her friends try to get away with the murder of an FBI informant while attempting to honor his funeral rites, touching on government surveillance of Muslim communities, immigration, persecution and hope as it parallels with the occupation of Palestine, to Samiha Hoque at Shush, in a nice deal, for publication in spring 2026, by Atifa Begom at Crescent Literary (world).
Fashionably late to Blue Sky but sharing nonetheless! This novel is incredibly informative on how muslims were spied on post 9/11 and the implications it had (and continues to have) on community trust and immigration.
21.10.2025 03:22 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Channeling all my feelings of rage and helplessness at what is happening to mi gente right now into a VERY special new poetry collection.
Stay tuned.
all your ideas are worthy! 🫶🏽
11.05.2025 21:43 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
I’ll be taking (and providing live feedback for) one-on-one pitches at the 2025 Online Pittsburgh Writing Workshop on May 9-10! Sign up before slots fill up!
pittsburghwritingworkshop.com
School library update! We’ve almost filled an entire bookshelf at my school for unaccompanied migrant children. They are thrilled to have new books to read (in 8 different languages!) 📚
Thank you all SO MUCH for your kindness and generosity 🙏🏼
I’ll be opening to queries starting April 15! If you sent a query between December and now, you’ll have to resubmit for a response.
Can’t wait to read the great work you all have!
Hate to say it but this novel about infiltrating Muslim/activist communities is relevant as ever and is still open for editors to grab it. Can share details over email!
15.03.2025 01:05 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Just letting the publishing universe know it’d be great to have ✨good news✨ for my clients in Ramadan (March)
28.02.2025 03:54 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Exciting things are happening!
28.02.2025 03:09 — 👍 8 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0Exciting, congrats!!
27.02.2025 22:32 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Hoping it’s not AI, but I’ve seen an uptick in book proposals for fiction work instead of the manuscript when a query comes in. Please don’t do that. Only nonfiction needs a proposal, and I don’t take nonfiction either
18.02.2025 23:00 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A graphic for the "Practical Matters in Children's Book Publishing" workshop, March 16 and 18. Key topics covered during the program will include: • A guide to types of children’s books; • Getting support and feedback; • Researching types of publishers, editors, and agents; • Understanding the submission process; • How manuscripts are acquired; • Key terms in contracts and how they work; • What to expect in the publishing process; • and so much more! There will be time saved for a Q&A on the final night of the program.
Announcement! All the practical stuff in #kidlit publishing, coming up 3/16 + 3/18! Join me for a jam-packed 2-night course covering everything from book types to contracts and the publishing process—plus a chance to ask your pressing questions! More details: tinyurl.com/mtadfe5u
Please repost.
A reminder that fiction — books, film, games, what have you — is always political. The willful absence of “politics” in any work is itself a political choice and a political act. Who gets to tell (and sell) stories is political. It might be an undercurrent — covert, not overt. But it’s there.
04.02.2025 00:10 — 👍 8445 🔁 1610 💬 110 📌 71
I’m currently closed to general queries but I’ll be taking one-on-one live pitches at the 2025 San Diego Writing Workshop (virtual) on February 7-8. Hope to see you there!
sandiegowritingworkshop.com
The guarani moon spirit, Jaci.
I’m on sub again for my picture book, Jaci and the Jaguar: The Legend of Yerba Mate 🧉
FRY BREAD x CHANG’E ON THE MOON
The Guaraní moon spirit risks it all to descend to earth for one day. Confronted by the Amazon’s fiercest hunter, she is saved by a young boy. How can she reward his generosity?
I’m closed to queries as of Dec 1 and will reopen sometime early next year. Queries sent to me will be deleted, unread.
I may solicit in pitch events or via liking an “agent’s guide” post but otherwise, please send your query when I’m open next year! Thanks!
It’s my one year Agentversary with @atifabooks.bsky.social 🥳
I couldn’t have asked for a better, more supportive literary agent. Thanks for taking a chance on me, Atifa!
Learning about a white journalist wearing a hijab and trying to get muslims to talk about Hamas on the same day my client’s novel about informants in the Muslim community received a pass is just crazy. This has never been fiction for us and is *exactly* why these stories need to be published.
05.12.2024 23:28 — 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1Thanks, I try to keep things direct. Hopefully it’s not a hinderance to queriers
26.11.2024 17:08 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0