Esty Loveing-Downes is a debut-friendly literary agent at Howland Literary whose dual creative-writing degrees, nursing background, and personal history as a parent inform her hunger for emotionally raw, socially conscious fiction across romance, upmarket, literary, and grounded fantasy.
In brief
Esty is currently CLOSED to queries as of January 18, 2026 — verify her submission form before reaching out.
Her wishlist is tightly focused on adult and YA fiction only; she does not represent picture books, nonfiction, or genre categories such as thriller, horror, or high fantasy.
She has a strong ideological through-line: BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices, anti-colonialist and anti-Church themes, adoptee narratives, and stories that either exuberantly celebrate or burn everything down — pitches that don't engage with at least one of these axes are a weaker fit.
She names an unusually long list of author touchstones (Raven Leilani, Tomi Adeyemi, Madeline Miller, V.E. Schwab, Zadie Smith, Lauren Groff, Jhumpa Lahiri, and others) — these are the clearest public signal of her taste range and are more actionable than her genre labels.
She came to agenting from a career as a pediatric LPN and teaches creative writing as adjunct faculty — expect someone who reads closely for craft and character psychology, not just commercial hook.
Lately
Her current agency page confirms she joined Howland Literary after her previous agency closed in 2025, and that her submission portal is the required path for all queries — email is reserved for non-submission contact.
What Esty is looking for
Esty wants romance with genuine emotional stakes and a strong sense of place or magic. She is drawn to grounded fantasy woven through romance — think mythology, fae, fairy-tale architecture — rather than epic world-building. She also wants contemporary romance that is tropey and fun but still character-led. Cozy magic, vivid leads, and readability all score points. Queer romance, particularly wlw, is especially welcome.
She is looking for upmarket novels centered on women, especially those with queer representation or that update or reimagine classic narratives. She values emotional resonance and literary prose paired with commercial accessibility. Speculative elements and magical realism are welcome here as long as the character work is the engine. She gravitates toward stories that feel culturally urgent without being didactic.
This may be where Esty's tastes run deepest. She wants prose that takes formal risks — the kind of sentence that makes a reader stop and question whether a writer is 'allowed' to do that. She is drawn to artful realism, stories of social and institutional oppression, mythological retellings (especially those anchored outside a European cultural frame), and fiction that examines religion, race, and injustice through psychologically complex characters. Fresh and rebellious voice is non-negotiable.
Esty distinguishes clearly between grounded fantasy — rooted in emotional interiority, folklore, mythology, or a recognizable world with magical elements — and high fantasy, which she does not want. Fairy-tale retellings, mythological reimaginings, and magic-adjacent narratives work here as long as the emotional core and characters drive the story rather than plot-heavy world-building.
Beyond romance and fantasy, she is open to YA fiction more broadly — particularly stories featuring BIPOC protagonists, LGBTQIA+ teens, adoptee experiences, or narratives that push back against colonialist or religious systems of power. She names authors like Tomi Adeyemi, Joanna Ho, Holly Black, and Kate DiCamillo as touchstones, suggesting range from lush adventure to quiet, character-centered realism.
Not the right fit
On Esty's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Esty
Her form is currently closed (last confirmed 2026-01-18) — check for reopening before drafting your query.
All submissions must go through her online form; emailing her directly is explicitly for non-submission inquiries only.
Lead your query letter with the emotional register of your book — she has stated clearly that she wants either exuberant celebration or scorched-earth intensity; name which pole your story occupies.
If your manuscript features an adoptee protagonist, LGBTQIA+ characters, BIPOC perspectives, or engages with anti-colonial or anti-Church themes, say so explicitly and early — these are stated priorities, not bonuses.
For literary fiction, quote or describe one sentence or passage that demonstrates your formal risk-taking; she has said the 'are you allowed to do that?' quality is what she's hunting for.
If your comp titles overlap with the authors she names as touchstones (Raven Leilani, Tomi Adeyemi, Madeline Miller, V.E. Schwab, Zadie Smith, Lauren Groff, etc.), use them — she has publicly claimed these writers as the range she wants to work within.
Do not conflate grounded fantasy with high fantasy in your pitch; specify how your magic system or fantastical element is rooted in character psychology, folklore, or a real-world cultural tradition rather than elaborate invented world-building.
For mythological retellings, flag the cultural origin of your mythology — especially if it is non-European, as she has singled this out as a particular area of interest.