New agents are great opportunities for writers,
as they are likely building their client list.
See all our new literary agent spotlights here.
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ABOUT THE AGENT:
Sara Kornienko is a literary agent with Barbara Bova Literary Agency. Sara holds a M.A. in English and a B.A. in English with minors in Creative Writing and Journalism from Florida Gulf Coast University. During her Master’s program, she was the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Florida Gulf Coast University’s literary journal, Mangrove Review. Currently, Sara teaches writing courses at her alma mater. In 2023, she joined Barbara Bova Literary Agency, and as a literary agent, she is excited to help authors along their writing journey and champion their amazing books.
“As an educator and avid reader, she believes stories have the power to connect us, forge understanding, and foster healing. She is passionate about sharing her love of writing and helping others find their unique voice so they can tell their own stories.”
Sara was born and raised in Kansas City, but after more than 10 years in Southwest Florida, she’s officially a Floridian—pulling her winter clothes out of the closet any time the temperature hits the 60s. When she’s not reading, she can be found at a local coffee shop, walking the beach, or playing tennis with her husband.
SARA IS SEEKING:
Sara represents Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Sports Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Suspense and Thriller.
“I love stories that…”
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Are thoughtful and multi-layered
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Revolve around lesser-known historical or contemporary events
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Focus on sports or the athlete experience
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Include diverse characters that portray a wide range of human experiences
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Have morally gray characters, or characters that mess up and show their vulnerability and humanity
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Include lots of sensory details and atmospheric writing that transports the reader into the scene or world
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Feature witches, Fae, or any other mythical creatures (I’m a fan of pretty much anything related to Irish or Scottish Folklore)
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Reimagine fairy tales
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Contain hidden or “underground” worlds
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Are set in a magical or dystopian world (or worlds)
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Include witty, funny characters
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Place characters in difficult situations (this can be external or internal challenges that change or redeem them)
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Develop strong connections and relationships between characters
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Explore themes of love, loss, friendship, family relations, or identity
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Make me feel and think deeply
“While I gravitate toward certain genres and plot elements, I’m not limited to these. I have a wide range of reading interests, so if you have a quality story that you believe I would be a good fit to represent, then query me!”
HOW TO SUBMIT:
As always, please review the agency’s submission guidelines before you submit.
You can send Sara a query at: https://QueryManager.com/SaraKKornienko
“I will also receive your query if it is sent through Barbara Bova Literary Agency at slushpile@yahoo.com”
Read more articles from our site:
- Learn about new agent Thais Afonso of Azantian Literary Agency, and consider pitching her.
- Getting ready to query? Review these 9 FAQ about query letters.
- Read these 8 tips for writing and selling articles to magazines, websites, and more.
- In the midst of editing? Review these 15 revision tips from published authors.
- Learn about new agent Rebecca Matte of Bradford Literary Agency, and consider pitching her.
