Alexandra Weiss is a hands-on editorial agent at Azantian Literary Agency who champions marginalized and diverse creators across picture books, middle grade, YA, graphic novels, and select adult fiction and nonfiction — with a particular appetite for non-western mythology, cozy fantasy, and science-driven nonfiction.
In brief
Weiss entered publishing through book publicity and marketing in 2016, which means she thinks about how a book sells from day one — a useful ally for commercially minded authors.
Her stated wishlist skews heavily toward diverse and marginalized voices across every category; this is a consistent, foundational commitment, not a trend qualifier.
She wears two hats at Azantian: active literary agent and agency manager, overseeing foreign rights, film/TV, and subsidiary rights communications — giving her clients unusually broad infrastructure support for a boutique agency.
Middle grade is explicitly a low-volume priority for her right now; writers with MG projects should note she is highly selective and focused on horror, light fantasy, and puzzle-adventure specifically.
Picture books have a hard gate: she only accepts submissions from author-illustrators — writers without illustration work should not query her in this category.
Lately
Weiss's agency page was updated to reflect her dual role as both literary agent and agency manager at Azantian, where she now oversees foreign rights, film/TV, and other subsidiary rights communications in addition to her client list.
What Alexandra is looking for
Weiss is actively building her YA list and wants variety: fluffy contemporary romcoms, cozy fantasies, and suspenseful thrillers that balance scares with romance or humor. She's especially drawn to stories that reflect real pressures facing today's teens — whether the setting is realistic or fantastical — and has a standing enthusiasm for YA set outside the United States or rooted in non-western mythologies. Think grounded stakes, contemporary resonance, and strong voice.
Weiss is selective with adult fiction but very specific about what excites her: literary prose paired with a high-concept hook, and structural ambition — multiple POVs, braided timelines, or playful formatting. For fantasy, she gravitates toward cozy, low-worldbuilding-overhead settings and is particularly drawn to non-western folklore, pirates, vampires, and inventive magic systems. Sci-fi is a harder sell unless the work blends warmly human characters with scientifically grounded premises.
She wants to work with genuine experts and passionate communicators — academics, science journalists, comedians, or anyone with deep subject-matter fluency. Priority topics include astrophysics and space exploration, marine sciences, cats, climate change, modern healthcare, and queer lives and experiences. A strong authorial voice is non-negotiable; dry expertise without personality is unlikely to land.
One of her broadest categories: she welcomes graphic novels across all age ranges, from early reader and chapter-book series through middle grade and YA. While she's open to all genres, she personally leans toward contemporary and grounded stories. Nonfiction graphic novels for young readers — covering fascinating real-world topics — are a specific gap she wants to fill.
Weiss only accepts picture book submissions from author-illustrators — writers without accompanying artwork should not query this category. She is drawn to bold, playful, and visually unexpected art styles, and her subject-matter priorities include books celebrating diverse cultural traditions, non-western mythology and folklore, and genuinely funny books that land for both kids and adults simultaneously.
She is taking on very few middle grade projects at this time and is narrowly focused: horror, light fantasy, and interactive puzzle-adventure formats are her targets. General MG — adventure, contemporary realism, school stories — is not what she is looking for right now.
Not the right fit
On Alexandra's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Alexandra
Use her submission form — email queries are not the correct channel, even though her address is publicly listed.
Lead your query letter with the diversity angle if it applies authentically: she has explicitly said she prioritizes marginalized and underrepresented creators, and burying this information does you no favors.
For adult fiction, name your structural hook upfront — if your novel braids timelines, alternates POVs, or plays with format, say so in the first paragraph. This is a specific aesthetic she has flagged as exciting.
For YA, make the contemporary resonance explicit: even if the book is set in a fantasy world, explain why it will feel immediate and relevant to today's teenagers.
For sci-fi, lead with the science credibility: she is selective here and the comp to Andy Weir suggests she wants to know the research is real before she evaluates the story.
For nonfiction, establish your credentials and your platform early in the proposal — she is specifically seeking experts and passionate communicators, so your authority on the subject matters as much as the writing.
Do NOT query picture books unless you are also the illustrator. A query letter that pitches text-only picture book work will likely be declined regardless of quality.
For graphic novels, include sample pages or art if at all possible — she cares about visual style, especially for picture book and early reader formats.
Middle grade queries should state the subgenre immediately and specifically (horror, light fantasy, or interactive puzzle-adventure). If it doesn't fit one of those three buckets, hold the query.
Avoid vague comp language ('in the tradition of…') for any category; name specific recent titles and briefly explain what your book shares with them and where it diverges.