Joanna MacKenzie An agent with Nelson Literary Agency (see other agents at this agency). About I owe my love of books to the librarian of my childhood bookmobile, who, after I had worked my way through The Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High, lifted the velvet rope and let me into the grown-up section, where I discovered V.C. Andrews. And to my father, who gave me Cat’s Cradle, Wuthering Heights, and One Hundred Years of Solitude for my fifteenth birthday. A seasoned publishing professional with nearly twenty years on the agenting side, I’m driven by the stories my authors tell, both with the novels they write and with the careers they build. I represent New York Times bestsellers, Edgar and Anthony Award nominees, and critically acclaimed storytellers writing in all areas of adult and young adult fiction. Country & Year Established United States Agent since 2002 Professional Associations Member of AALA AI Policy Human-created work preferred, but limited AI use may be permitted in some circumstances (see their site for details) Statistics Synopsis FasterJoanna MacKenzie's overall average response time is faster than most agents. Fiction Temp Closed • High-concept, twisty stories with a strong voice in the areas of women’s fiction, thriller, and speculative.• Timely commercial fiction in which the personal intersects with the world at large, offering a biting commentary on the times we’re living in and making readers sit up and say, “Yes, that, exactly!”• Stories across all genres about female rage, female friendships, and reclaiming female power. As the world continues to be a massive source of anxiety, I’m looking for stories where women emerge victorious or ban together to ride off into the sunset.• Stories that explore complex and challenging family dynamics and unlikely (and possibly toxic) friendships.• Incisive, cerebral horror that engages with social or cultural commentary.• Voicey, confident, atmospheric mysteries set in close-knit communities; creepy islands and Midwest-set stories are a plus.• Because I came to Chicago by way of Poland and Canada, I’m always looking for stories about the immigrant experience.• Elin Hilderbrand and/or Louise Penny for the Third Coast—I’d love to see a clever sleuth out of a resort town in Michigan.Audience:Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults, Young adults.Genres: General Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Women's Fiction Action-Adventure Open to all/most Subgenres Fantasy Subgenres: Contemporary, Magic Realism Horror Open to all/most Subgenres Mystery/Crime Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Crime, Detective, Police Procedural Romance Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Contemporary, Romantic Fantasy, Romantic Suspense Suspense/Thriller Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: NovelStyles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Society/Culture: See guidelines.Submissions:Method: QueryTracker. Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to agent's webpage Report: Submission/Query Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookX (Twitter) @joannamackenzie For the Agent: Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Agent Impersonation Scams are becoming commonplace.A legitimate agent will not contact you and request money to represent you. Never pay an agent an up-front fee. That is not how literary agent representation works. Agents earn a commission only after they've landed a publishing deal for you. Also, agents scarcely ever contact writers. If an agent that you haven't queried contacts you about representation, be suspicious. Look up the agent and check if the email address is correct for that agent/agency. Joanna MacKenzie Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the agency or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: Group by submission Include outliers Include other agents at the same agency Accuracy We have received 8 reports from 8 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 9 min | 17.7 mean avg | 17.0 median | 22 max days (4.4 std dev) Pending 1 response is pending (69 days waiting). This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The agent will try to make a decision within 28 days. Do not query on the status of your submission before 42 days have passed. Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 16 Mar 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 27 Feb 2026. Date compiled: 06 Sep 2026 22:39 UTC (10 minutes ago). Work submitted to this agent was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted by this agent also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Other Agents at this AgencyKristin Nelson Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the agent or agency being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the agent/agency meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the agency/agent.Unless the agency's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.For agency submissions, it is standard to submit a query letter and sample instead of the full manuscript. Do this unless otherwise instructed.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 20 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only