Howard Morhaim, PRESIDENT
Howard Morhaim's publishing career has included time as a line editor, as a book doctor, and as an acquisitions editor in a variety of publishing houses in New York. In 1979, he established his eponymous literary agency, making use of his editing background to foster close relationships with his clients and their work. He represents renowned authorities in history, biography, art, architecture, science, and religion, as well as canonical authors in literary fiction, thrillers, mystery, science fiction, and fantasy.
Owing to a very full plate, Howard Morhaim is not accepting unsolicited submissions, only exclusive submissions that come as recommendations from colleagues or clients.
Kate McKean, vice president
Kate McKean joined HMLA, Inc. in 2006. She earned her master’s degree in fiction writing at the University of Southern Mississippi and began her publishing career at the University Press of Florida. She is proud to work with authors in a wide variety of genres including NYT best seller Alix E. Harrow’s THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES, NYT best seller Daniel M. Lavery’s TEXTS FROM JANE EYRE, E.J. Koh’s award-winning memoir THE MAGICAL LANGUAGE OF OTHERS, and Bobby Finger’s celebrated novel THE OLD PLACE. In addition to working with clients, she is an adjunct professor at New York University. She is the author of the forthcoming book WRITE THROUGH IT: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life, to be published by Atria in June 2025.
She is primarily interested in fiction for adults, young adults and middle grade readers in the areas of contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction set in the 20th Century, LGBTQ issues, fantasy, magical realism, and science fiction. In non-fiction, for adults or children/teens, she represents books by authors with demonstrable platforms in the areas of pop-culture, memoir, humor, creativity, and craft. She is also interested in graphic novels and memoirs for all ages.
She is NOT actively looking for, among other areas not listed above children’s picture books, poetry, or screenplays.
Kate McKean is open to accepting queries via Query Manager, only. She is closed to queries from August 1 to September 8, 2025.
DongWon Song, Literary Agent
DongWon Song is an agent at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency representing science fiction and fantasy for adults, young adult, and middle grade readers as well as select non-fiction. They were formerly an editor at Orbit, a product manager for an ebook startup, and have taught at institutions including Portland State University and New York University.
DongWon Song is closed to queries.
Eric Showers, Literary agent
Eric Showers is an agent at HMLA representing adult speculative fiction and nonfiction.
He’s most drawn, in speculative fiction, to narratives that explore hierarchies of power, novel world-building in secondary world fantasy, and protagonists with unique voices. THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT by Seth Dickinson, THE UNSPOKEN NAME by A. K. Larkwood, and GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir are books that have hit some of these notes most recently. He’s also looking for stories on the cozier side of speculative fiction, along the lines of Becky Chambers’s THE LONG WAY TO A SMALL ANGRY PLANET or Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS AND LATTES.
In nonfiction, he’s most interested in history and philosophy.
Eric Showers is open to queries.
Nina Richner, Literary Agent
Nina Richner is an agent representing adult fiction and narrative nonfiction. They joined HMLA in 2023 after earning their BA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Ohio University in 2020 and graduating from the Summer 2023 Columbia Publishing Course.
Nina is looking for literary fiction, horror/thriller, contemporary fiction, queer fiction, and magical realism. They are drawn to emotionally complex characters, family sagas (especially those that focus on mothers and daughters, or similar dynamics), voice-driven novels, and untold queer stories. The weird is of perennial interest, particularly unsettling and strange stories that aim to move the cultural needle. They are always on the lookout for psychological horror, particularly queer horror novels.
Novels that have piqued their interest are BUNNY by Mona Awad, ALL FOURS by Miranda July, DARKENBLOOM by Eva Menasse, DETRANSITION BABY by Torrey Peters, MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE'S SORRY by Fredrik Backman, WHERE'D YOU GO BERNADETTE by Maria Semple, and I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS by Iain Reid.
In nonfiction, they are most interested in narrative nonfiction such as memoirs and essay collections. Climate, psychology, and gender/queer studies are their top three categories of interest. Some favorite nonfiction titles include THE WATER WILL COME by Jeff Gooddell, IN THE DREAM HOUSE by Carmen Maria Machado, and BETTER by Arianna Rebolini.
Nina Richner is open to accepting queries via Query Manager.
August Collin, assistant
August Collin joined HMLA in 2025 after completing the Columbia Publishing Course, as well as internships with Massie, McQuilkin & Altman Literary Agents, Wave Literary, and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. She earned her BA in Global and Comparative Literature from Georgetown University in 2024. She enjoys memoir, short stories, and works that center Asian and AAPI voices.
August Collin is closed to queries.