Agent Spotlight: Victoria Marini

This week's Agent Spotlight features Victoria Marini of Irene Goodman Literary Agency.
Update on 7/6/2023: Ms. Martini has left Irene Goodman Literary Agency and is now an agent and founder at High Line Literary Collective. She is open to submissions. Check the agency website for her submission guidelines.
About: “Victoria Marini began her career as a literary agent at Gelfman Schneider and ICM Partners before joining the Irene Goodman Agency in 2016. Originally from rural Pennsylvania, she moved to New York in 2003, and began her literary career as an assistant at Sterling Lord in 2007. She is interested in both Literary and Commercial Middle Grade, Young Adult and Adult fiction with compulsive hooks and well-drawn characters. From literary page-turners, to commercial suspense, to magical realism, whimsical adventure, and edgy sci-fi & fantasy, she is always looking for unforgettable off-the-page characters, strongly plotted stories, and unique voices. She is a sucker for quirk, mystery, small town hysteria, atmosphere, secrets, things that go bump in the night, a bit of charm, a twist of magic, or a dash of humor.” (Link)
About the Agency:
"IGLA is a multifaceted, multitalented network of bold representatives who strive endlessly to provide a successful and expansive relationship with clients and colleagues across all media platforms. We pride ourselves in facilitating careers that both ignite passion, and allow for, as well as insist upon, a multi-lens worldview from both the writer and the reader - and we do it all with a tremendous amount of joy." (Link)
What She's Looking For:
From her website:
"In ADULT fiction, I am actively acquiring Upmarket Literary and Commercial novels with strong concepts and distinctive voices in a variety of genres ranging from psychological & domestic suspense, thriller, procedurals, Historical (particularly lesser known cultures, peoples, and histories) and mystery, to literary speculative, horror, or magical realism, to fantasy and sci-fi, to contemporary family sagas and humor!
"In YOUNG ADULT, I represent high concept contemporary and sci-fi/ fantasy whether it be heartwarming and funny, dark & edgy, supernatural and suspenseful, and I am always in the hunt for more!
"In MIDDLE GRADE I am a sucker for adventure, family, quests, and puzzles whether they be fantasy, sci-fi, commercial coming of age, or literary magical realism!
"In NON-FICTION: I represent narrative non-fiction, memoir, and select humorous/pop-culture non-fiction and I am actively acquiring True Crime and other narrative non-fiction that access lesser known stories from history and culture!"

From her Manuscript Wish List:

"I acquire an eclectic list of Middle Grade, YA and Adult fiction as well as select non-fiction, and I tend be convinced by strong storytelling & plots, distinct voices, and great characters. I’m always looking for contemporary middle grade and YA with high-concepts like Nic Stone’s CLEAN GETAWAY, Rebecca Stead’s LIAR & SPY, and Dhonielle Clayton & Sona Charaipotra’s TINY PRETTY THINGS. In fantasy, middle grade through adult with incredible worldbuilding and strong characters like those from Rick Riordan, Leigh Bardugo, and Katherine Arden, for example. I love unique retellings, subversive twists on tropes and genres, and underexplored settings and timelines. I’d love to see a novel about the Irish troubles or a southern gothic set in rural Louisiana, like WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. I’m looking for authentic boy YA like WINGER or KING DORK. Novels with strong tension and suspense that stems from secrets and consequences are always going to get me, whether they’re more literary, a la Donna Tartt’s THE SECRET HISTORY or Patricia Highsmith’s THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY or more commercial like BIG LITTLE LIES, and everything in between from Megan Abbott to Lexi Elliott. Domestic suspense, small-town hysteria, and claustrophobic novels like WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE or SO MUCH PRETTY. A great children’s gothic creeper like CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS or MADMAN’S DAUGHTER. I am hungry for road trip novels, and magical realism. Essentially, I’m just looking for a book with a voice that won’t let me go and characters I miss when I’m done. My wish-list evolves often, and I tweet and write about it as much as I can."From an Interview (09/10):
“I’d love to see strong YA with genuine characters, an exciting story, and a fully realized world. I’m looking for edgy contemporary YA and for a fresh take on paranormal /supernatural. The only thing that is probably not for me is a coming of age story.
“As for my wish list…I’d love a so-suspenseful-I-can’t-put-it-down women’s mystery. I desperately want a spooky fantasy in the vein of Neil Gaiman. I want a gothic novel. I’d love a fresh take on the classic American noir mystery for the YA audience. I’m also interested in acquiring speculative fiction. That being said, my tastes are very eclectic and I’m drawn to anything full of heart and imagination.” (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Prescriptive non-fiction, lifestyle or fitness non-fiction, picture books, erotica, New Adult, and Regency Romances (Link)
Dislikes (Don'ts):  
“If an author is rude, trashes the book industry, trashes others’ books, tries to tell me why they don’t want to follow guidelines or why their novel will make a million dollars, I am usually not going past the first paragraph. I also can’t stress enough the importance of checking out agent guidelines and bios before you submit. You would be surprised by how many queries I get for popular reference books, which I don’t represent. It is a waste of postage to query an agent who does not represent the genre in which you are writing.” (Link)
Editorial Agent?
Yes.  “I’d say I am a very editorial agent. I think my style would probably be classified as collaborative. I believe in talking, asking questions, and brainstorming. I maintain a close relationship with my bosses and industry friends whose advice is precious to me. I have an open door policy and share as much information as possible with my clients and want to know what visions my clients have for their books and future with me. I want my clients to feel confident, informed and comfortable. I’m very friendly.” (Link)
Web Presence:
Irene Goodman Literary Agency website.
Her website.
Twitter.
Publishers Marketplace.
QueryTracker.
Clients:
There is a list of agency clients on the website. Ms. Marini’s clients include: Lisa Amowitz, Hannah Sternberg, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: No.  
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify): Ms. Marini is currently closed to submissions.
Send a query letterand sample (of no more than 30 pages) in the body of an e-mail.
Please see the agency website and Ms. Marini’s website and Manuscript Wish List for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines. 
Query Tips:
“The query letters I am drawn to the most are the ones that get right to the point and are written with the author’s unique voice. Be original, engaging and informative. Tell me about your book. I don’t need statistics, marketing ideas, generic letters, and overly formal introductions.” (Link)
Response Times:
Unknown
What's the Buzz?
Victoria Marini is active on Twitter and her fun, friendly nature comes through there.  I definitely recommend following her.  Not only will you get occasional updates on queries and fulls, you’ll get a great peek at her personality and interests.  I’ve been nothing but impressed in my limited contact with her. 
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Agents Looking for Clients: Victoria Marini at Writing and Illustrating (09/2017)
Interview with Agent Victoria Martini at Midwest Writers Workshop (07/2013)
Query.Sign.Submit with Victoria Martini at I Write for Apples (07/2013)
Agent Q&A: Part Two at Operation Awesome (01/2013)
Interactive Interview with and Agent: Victoria Martini at Krista Van Dolzer (03/2011)
Agent Interview with Victoria Marini at Shiny (09/2010)
Contact:
Please see the Irene Goodman Literary Agency website and Ms. Marini’s website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 5/15/2020
Client Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed by Agent? 5/25/2020
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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's or teen fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.