ALEXANDRA WEISS
LITERARY AGENT & AGENCY MANAGER
Alexandra Weiss joined the world of publishing in 2016, focusing on book publicity and marketing, but quickly fell in love with agenting. In 2021, she joined Azantian Literary Agency where she represents fiction and nonfiction picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, and select adult fiction and nonfiction. Prior to publishing, she earned her BFA in creative writing and publishing from Columbia College Chicago. She is incredibly passionate about the projects she takes on and clients she represents, prioritizing collaboration and communication above all else. She is a hands-on editorial agent who isn't afraid to ask big questions, explore even bigger ideas, and champion her creators throughout the publication journey.
As agency manager, Alexandra supports Jennifer Azantian in day-to-day communications and oversees the agency's foreign rights, film/television, and other subsidiary rights communications.
Fun Facts About Me
1. I'm a self-taught baker and cookie artist.
2. A jellyfish stung over half of my body when I was a kid and it caused my skin to develop an allergic reaction to the ocean (I had to kiss my dreams of becoming a dolphin trainer goodbye, which was for the best).
3. I was a figure skater for over 10 years and once upon a time could do a cartwheel on ice.
Epic SFF (there are so many other ALA agents who are AMAZING fits for these genres!); I'm a better fit for cozy or contemporary SFF
Memoirs (I'd love to see you incorporate personal elements into your narrative nonfiction, but straight memoirs are not for me!)
Picture book-only texts
Stories heavy on violence, gore, or assault
Conservative or religious stories
Books about or heavily featuring police, military, wars, or genocide
Racist, homophobic, and anti-semitic tropes
Informational nonfiction
Nonfiction without the science to back up the claims
Graphic novel proposals for all genres
Stories about found families, blended families, and complicated families
Cozy, grounded fantasy for adults (think The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, House on the Cerulean Sea, and The Crescent Moon Tea Room)
Anything that could be comp'd to the video games Split Fiction or Spiritfarer
Stories heavy on heartbreak with a newfound sense of hope at the end
Dark, moody, and hauntingly beautiful writing for YA/Adult
Queer love, queer friendship, queer community
Magic! Witches! Spells! Curses!
Stories written by and about deaf and/or hard of hearing individuals
Narrative nonfiction that teaches me something new about the sciences, humanity, or our universe
A new take on dystopian fiction
Interesting formats: Epistolary novels! Novels-in-verse! Illustrated novels!
Please do not send Me:
Please Send Me:
WISHLIST
Across the board, I'm dedicated to representing marginalized creators and diverse stories. I'm actively seeking and prioritizing submissions from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, genderfluid, neurodiverse, and disabled voices for all ages and genres.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
I’m open to any and all types of graphic novels! From early reader/chapter book series to middle grade adventures to contemporary young adult slice-of-life novels – I want them all! I’m open to all genres but do tend to lean toward more contemporary and grounded stories. I'd also love to see some nonfiction graphic novels that cover fascinating topics for young readers.
YOUNG ADULT
I'm actively seeking more YA! Give me your fluffy, contemporary romcoms and cozy fantasies! I also want to see your innovative YA thrillers (think TRULY DEVIOUS). I like my scary with a side of romance or humor. Send me stories echo modern-day issues for young adults, whether that's set in a real world we know well or a new fantastical world that rings with familiarity. Forever and always, I'm interested in YA stories that take place outside of the US or feature mythology from non-western cultures.
MIDDLE GRADE
I'm currently taking on very little middle grade, and am mainly interested in expanding genres in this area, including horror, light fantasy, and interactive puzzle-adventures.
PICTURE BOOKS
At this time I am only seeking author-illustrator picture books submissions. I enjoy a lot of different art styles but generally lean toward art that's bold, playful and unexpected. As far as subject matter goes, I would love to find more books that explore different cultural traditions, non-western mythology and folklore, as well as hilarious books that make both children and adults giggle non-stop.
ADULT FICTION
I'm open to adult fiction with gorgeous, literary prose and high concept hooks. I adore books that take on different points of view and play with formatting (like THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES and WHEN WOMEN WERE DRAGONS). I also really enjoy stories that explore different point of views and timelines (like BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL) that stitch together storylines like a woven tapestry.
I'd love to see some cozy fantasies that explore familiar themes without getting lost in the setup of worldbuilding (think HOUSE ON THE CERULEAN SEA and THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES). When it comes to fantasy, I’m particularly interested in non-western folklore, pirates, vampires, and unique magic systems. For sci-fi, I’m much more picky, but if your work blends wholesome characters with realistic science (aka you can comp it to Andy Weir), please send it my way.
ADULT NONFICTION
I love working with scientists and/or experts in their field with passionate voices. Whether you’re an academic, a science communicator, journalist, comedian, or someone who has dedicated their life to a certain subject, please share your proposal with me. Some subjects I’m particularly interested in include: astrophysics and space exploration, marine sciences, all things cats, climate change and global warming, modern healthcare, and queer lives and experiences.
