JIM McCARTHY

Literary Agent

Vice President; Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

An avid fiction reader, Jim’s interests encompass both literary and commercial works in the adult, young adult, and middle grade categories. He is particularly interested in literary fiction, underrepresented voices, fantasy, mysteries, romance, anything unusual or unexpected, and any book that makes him cry or laugh out loud.

Jim has represented more than 100 authors. His forthcoming books include:

• (YA) Serena Kaylor's Long Story Short, following a homeschooled math genius whose parents want her to come out of her shell before she leaves for college; when her parents insist on her going to a Shakespeare summer camp, this bookworm finds herself lost in a sea of drama geeks, and comes to realize that life, and love, can't be lived by the (text)book. 

• (MG) Tehlor Kay Mejia's Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows, the third installment in the series where a girl, haunted by monsters both psychological and literal, must find her way once more into the magical void to confront her most fearsome enemy yet (to be published by Rick Riordan Presents/Disney-Hyperion).

Jim recalls his childhood quest for “a new favorite book,” noting today that “I have never really stopped that search. No matter how many good, or great books I read, I always have faith that I’ll come across something that I like as much or more than my current favorite. Those moments of discovery are what have kept me reading as much as I always have …For me, the most exciting aspect of working at DG&B is the chance that I may have another one of these moments, and that this time I can help in some way to get that book published.”

Jim will participate mainly in non-critique activities at our workshop, but will be introduced to your manuscripts—and to you.

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