Carrie Pestritto is a Vice President at Laura Dail Literary Agency who champions immersive, high-concept storytelling across commercial fiction, romance, mystery, historical fiction, and select nonfiction — with a consistent eye for distinct voices and marginalized representation.
In brief
Her confirmed deal record skews toward commercial fiction, romance, mystery/thriller, and YA — with NYT bestseller Kalyn Josephson (RAVENFALL, THIS DARK DESCENT) as her highest-profile client, signaling genuine commercial muscle in genre-adjacent fiction.
Repeat client Kalyn Josephson (two confirmed deals) is the clearest evidence of her long-term author partnerships; Claire Kann and Lily Chu round out a romance-leaning commercial fiction core that her wishlist fully supports.
Despite describing herself primarily as a fiction agent, her wishlist includes a genuinely robust nonfiction appetite — microhistories, narrative nonfiction, focused memoirs, and prescriptive/pop science — making her a viable target for nonfiction writers who do their homework.
She is selective with children's projects right now, explicitly noting she is only taking on a limited number of new MG/YA clients; writers in those categories should approach with exceptional, high-concept material.
Her submission form was observed as CLOSED in May 2026 — always verify live status before querying, as this can change without notice.
Lately
Her agency profile highlights that her clients have achieved New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestseller status, and have appeared on numerous Best of the Year lists — reinforcing that she actively develops authors toward commercial breakout.
What Carrie is looking for
Light, witty, and escapist in feel — she wants modern relationship dynamics with genuine humor and a flirty energy. A wedding backdrop is always welcome, and she has specifically called out a Ren Faire setting as something she'd love to see. She is not the right match for romance that pivots on social media fame or influencer culture.
Locked-room, cozy, historical, and amateur-sleuth styles are all on her radar. She gravitates toward international settings, sassy protagonists, and a lighter touch — nothing hard-boiled. She has flagged interest in cosplay-themed mysteries and cruise-ship settings as especially enticing right now.
Engaging relationship dynamics and a hooky premise are the entry requirements. She is comfortable with a darker thread or genre-blending elements, and cult-escape narratives catch her attention. Think book-club-ready with a compelling hook.
Transportive settings from roughly the 1800s onward, ideally woven through with romance or mystery. She has a particular fondness for Victorian and Gilded Age settings and wants to feel genuinely transported by the prose.
She wants absorbing, lower-stakes fantasy with meticulous world-building rather than epic sweep. Witch-centric narratives and projects that evoke a Studio Ghibli-like warmth and wonder are especially appealing. She is not currently interested in epic fantasy centered on princesses or dragons.
She openly describes herself as an ardent fan of the form — a tight, deeply researched narrative built around a single subject, object, or idea is exactly what she is hunting for.
She prefers memoirs anchored to a specific event, defined period, or singular goal rather than cradle-to-present life chronicles. Timely or genuinely unusual subject matter is a must. She is not the right fit for inspirational memoirs, illness or medical narratives, or stories centered on infertility or addiction.
Immersive, journalist-driven deep dives are what she is after. True crime and rigorous long-form investigations are especially welcome here.
She wants expert authors who bring a real platform to the work — credentials and an established audience matter here.
She is only taking on a limited number of new children's projects at this time. When she does engage, she wants high-concept, tightly plotted stories with inclusive casts, relatable tropes, and a quirky edge. Adventure, mystery, and compelling character arcs all appeal. She is generally not drawn to superhero or mythology-driven kidlit. SFF in this space must have detailed world-building and a strong character-relationship core. Contemporary mysteries should be set outside a school environment.
Whether fiction or nonfiction, she actively prioritizes projects with BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented voices and perspectives at their center.
Not the right fit
On Carrie's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Carrie
Her form was closed as of May 2026 — check the live submission page before doing anything else; she will not accept emailed queries.
Submit only one project at a time, and only to one LDLA agent at a time — the agency enforces this strictly. The exception is if multiple LDLA agents expressed interest via a Twitter/X pitch contest, in which case simultaneous submission within the agency is permitted if you disclose it.
Make your genre and rep clear in the first line: she responds to high-concept premises and marginalized rep, so if your book has BIPOC, AAPI, or LGBTQ+ leads, say so up front.
If your project has an unusual or vivid setting — a Ren Faire, a cruise ship, a cosplay convention, a Victorian drawing room — foreground it immediately; she has specifically named these as draws.
For nonfiction, lead with your credentials and platform before diving into the concept; she wants experts, not generalists.
Avoid pitching her a project that fits her 'not seeking' list — even a strong manuscript in hard-boiled crime, influencer romance, or epic princess-and-dragon fantasy is unlikely to interest her given her stated preferences.
The agency targets a four-week query response and twelve-week manuscript response; wait the full window before following up. If you receive an offer of representation elsewhere, notify her immediately.