We advocate for books that trust readers, are expressive and resonant, and honor publishing traditions while seeking innovation.
Our agency is built around layered meanings of representation, including advocacy for writers, the presence of many lives and voices in literature, and our responsibility to fully engage readers.
In the context of our times, we aspire to have a public-minded soul.
mkanin LITERARY
About Us
The Company We Keep
The agency will be a deliberately small creative partner to outstanding authors and illustrators.
We work in concert with:
creators of children’s books who focus on sparking imagination
creators of literary fiction for adults exploring complex lives; inviting readers to challenge preconceived notions of self and others (literary/speculative, too!)
creators of nonfiction written like fiction, including select work connected to current cultural concerns
Inspired By Art
Ars* in its original sense is the practice of fitting pieces together. We’re also animated by the concept that we find ourselves by examining the lives of others. Writing and reading make us more fully human.
*Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins
Addie and the Amazing Acrobats — Shauna Cagan
Argh! — Steven Varni
Bigger Than Me — Erica Simone Turnipseed
Daughters Healing from Family Mobbing — Stephanie A. Sellers
A Driving Anger — Anne O’Dwyer
If You Explored Inside a Cave — Brooke McIntyre
If You Went to the Bottom of the Ocean — Brooke McIntyre
Mud to the Rescue! — Tanya Konerman and Melanie Cataldo
Otis, King of Katmai — Tanya Konerman
Red Clay Suzie — Jeffery Dale Lofton
A Suitcase Full — Maryam Kia
Unlimited Ride — Amy Day Wilkinson
Vietnamese Food and Food Culture — Paul B. Kennedy
What I’ll Carry — Charlotte Sheer
Why Didn’t You Bitches Tell Me? — Jordanna Hertz and Shauna Cagan
Zazel — Rebecca Solow
Selected acquistions:
Mona Kanin, Agent
After working as a developmental editor and literary agent, Mona founded her own agency to be an advocate for imaginative, artistically ambitious books for adults and children—work that trusts readers, resists simplification, and holds value well beyond the immediate demands of the marketplace.
Courtni Foster, Associate Agent
Courtni values literature as both an escape and a means of reflection. Her aspiration to become a literary agent stems from a desire to discover singular voices and support writers in enhancing their work while maintaining its individuality. With expertise in life sciences, she is well-equipped to evaluate complex information, provide thoughtful feedback, and guide writers through the challenging publishing process. Courtni is building her list while working closely with agency founder Mona Kanin.