Esty Loveing-Downes

An agent with Howland Literary, LLC (see other agents at this agency).

About

Esty holds a BFA in creative writing from Ringling College of Art + Design and an MFA in fiction from Queens University of Charlotte. Aside from serving as creative writing adjunct faculty at her alma mater, she interned at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Tobias Literary Agency, and ArtHouse Literary Agency before becoming an Associate Literary Agent at ArtHouse in 2023 until that agency’s close in 2025, when she joined Howland Literary Agency. Esty is looking for romance in adult, new adult, or YA spaces, upmarket fiction, adult or YA grounded fantasy, and literary fiction. Before working in publishing, Esty worked as a pediatric LPN. At home, she has five children, three dogs, one husband, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Country

United States

AI Policy

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In YA and adult romance, Esty is looking for grounded fantasy like DIVINE RIVALS or EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCOLPAEDIA OF FAERIES, strong leads like CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE, fae stories with romance tropes like THE CRUEL PRINCE, cozy magic like THE EX-HEX, compelling, tropey, and readable books like FUNNY STORY, character-driven journeys like THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, or the fairy tale vibes of SPINNING SILVER.
In upmarket, Esty is looking for titles featuring women like LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, updated classics like Ann Napolitano’s Little Women retelling, HELLO, BEAUTIFUL, and wlw knockouts with queer representation like THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO. She’s also looking for speculative fiction like THE NIGHT CIRCUS or magical realism like Carmen Maria Machado’s HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES.
Esty would also like to see literary fiction with artful realism like THE RABBIT HUTCH and TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW, the yearning of NORMAL PEOPLE, characters challenging society like OUR MISSING HEARTS, or books like THE INCENDIARIES, LUSTER, OUTLAWED, and SEVERANCE that examine marginalized characters, injustice, or religion. Characters examining systems of oppression through twisty plots in books like THE NICKEL BOYS, SALVAGE THE BONES, and INTERIOR CHINATOWN are welcome, and mythological retellings like Madeline Miller’s CIRCE, especially those set outside of Europe. This is a home for fresh retellings, fairy tales, and artful, rebellious prose.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults, New adults, Young adults.

Genres:

General
Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres
Romance Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Romantic Fantasy
Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres

Lengths:

Novel

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Submissions:

Method: QueryTracker.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.

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Esty Loveing-Downes Submission Statistics

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Accuracy

We have received 2 reports from 2 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Other Information

The agent will try to make a decision within 120 days.
Do not query on the status of your submission before 120 days have passed.
Most recent response reported was received on 06 Feb 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 19 Dec 2025.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 02:32 UTC (7 hours, 26 minutes ago).

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Your Submissions

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Rebecca Angus
Erin Clyburn CLOSED
Victoria Dillman CLOSED
Carrie Howland

Gabriela Laracuente Sanchez CLOSED
Ashlee MacCallum
Cassie Mannes Murray CLOSED

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Dates

Last Updated: 03 Jul 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.