The agent is looking for diverse and engaging stories across various genres, including commercial fiction, nonfiction, contemporary romance, mystery, historical fiction, fantasy, microhistories, memoirs, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction, and pop science. They are particularly interested in unique voices, strong character development, high-concept plots, and transporting experiences.
Superhero or mythology stories in kidlit; hard-boiled mysteries.
Carrie Pestritto is a literary agent at Laura Dail Literary Agency who specializes in commercial and genre fiction. She is drawn to unique voices, strong character development, high-concept plots, and transporting experiences across multiple genres including contemporary romance, mysteries, historical fiction, and fantasy.
LDLA accepts queries via QueryManager only. We do our best to answer every query letter within 4 weeks, though circumstances may vary. If you receive a manuscript request, response time is closer to 12 weeks. Please wait to follow up until after the full length of time has passed. However, if you receive an offer of representation from another agent, please let us know immediately so we can respond within the timeframe you require. Please only submit to one agent at a time with one project at a time, making sure that your manuscript or proposal is complete and ready to be sent if requested. You may submit to another agent if one passes. If you are querying after a Twitter pitch contest such as #pitmad or #DVpit, and more than one LDLA agent has liked your tweet, you may query simultaneously. We just ask that you let us know if more than one of us is considering your project.
Last verified: March 10, 2026
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