Seth Fishman is a Los Angeles-based Gernert Company agent and published author himself who hunts for genuinely original voices and conceptually daring projects across adult fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and YA.
In brief
Fishman is a dual-identity figure in publishing — he's both an active literary agent and a published author of YA novels and picture books, giving him an unusually hands-on understanding of the creative side of the business.
His own agency page showcases children's books and YA fiction prominently, signaling that kids' and teen publishing are genuine passions, not sideline categories — writers in those spaces should note this.
His stated priority is the 'new voice' and the 'original angle,' which means high-concept, distinctive projects will fare better than competent-but-familiar ones; he is not a fit for writers who can only point to market trends as a reason their book exists.
His submission form was confirmed closed as of August 2023 — verify the live status before querying, as this is the most important practical fact for any writer considering an approach.
Fishman trained at Sterling Lord Literistic before joining The Gernert Company in 2010, and holds an MFA from the University of East Anglia — a background that blends literary sensibility with commercial instinct.
Lately
Fishman's current agency page foregrounds his identity as both agent and author, listing his own children's books and YA novels as prominent sections — a deliberate signal that he treats these categories as core to who he is professionally, not ancillary interests.
What Seth is looking for
Fishman is drawn to fiction built around a genuinely fresh concept or an unmistakable new voice — not just well-executed genre fiction, but work that reframes what a story can do. Breathtaking creative angles are the threshold.
His interests in nonfiction are described as wide-ranging, but the unifying filter is originality of idea. He wants nonfiction that reframes how readers understand a subject, not competent surveys of familiar territory.
Given that Fishman is himself the author of multiple picture books — including published and forthcoming titles — this is a category of genuine personal investment, not a courtesy listing. Expect a high bar for concept originality here; he knows the form from the inside.
Fishman has written YA himself, which means he's a credible evaluator of the category — and a tough one. He's looking for the same original-voice standard that applies across his list. Genre work (e.g., thriller, speculative) with a distinctive hook has a path in.
Not the right fit
On Seth's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Seth
Confirm the submission form is open before querying — it was closed as of August 2023 and may remain so; submitting to a closed form wastes everyone's time.
Lead with the original concept or voice, not the market category. Fishman's stated filter is 'breathtaking creative angle' — your query letter should make that angle unmissable in the first paragraph.
Because he is a published author himself (in both picture books and YA), he will read your sample pages with a practitioner's eye. Polish matters more here than with agents who only evaluate from the editorial side.
Children's book writers should note that Fishman writes picture books himself — he will benchmark your work against a high conceptual standard. A novel premise alone is not enough; execution must match.
His MFA background and literary career suggest that strong prose style can be a differentiator, particularly in adult fiction. Don't sand down your voice to sound 'accessible.'
Check his agency's current submission guidelines carefully — The Gernert Company may have house-wide formatting preferences that apply to all queries regardless of agent.