Agent Spotlight: Emma Patterson

This week's Agent Spotlight features Emma Patterson of Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc. 
Status: Open to submissions.
About: “Emma Patterson represents fiction ranging from dark, literary novels to historical and upmarket fiction; narrative non-fiction that includes memoir, investigative journalism, and popular history; and young adult fiction along similar lines. She is drawn to both domestic and far-flung settings (while remaining on Earth) that are original and transporting. She is looking for fresh, lyrical, and voice-driven writing, suspenseful plots, emotional narratives, and unforgettable characters. Query by email only..” (From the agency website)
About the Agency:
“Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc. is a full-service literary agency whose work representing authors’ interests has spanned most of the 20th century and continues in this digital age. We aim to give our select list of clients every benefit of our experience and expertise in shaping their writing projects, negotiating their contracts, and increasing their visibility throughout the world.
“Founded by Carl Brandt as an adjunct to the Mary Kirkpatrick Dramatic Agency around 1913, the agency’s original roster of literary clients included the bestselling authors of the time. A succession of family members culminating in Carl Brandt’s son, Carl D. Brandt, expanded the firm to Brandt & Brandt Literary Agents, Inc. In 2001, Gail Hochman became president of Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc. Currently, our staff of senior agents and developing younger agents handles a wide-ranging roster of writers in numerous genres, from literary fiction and memoir to mystery and thriller to history/biography and narrative non-fiction, as well as children’s books. We represent classic titles which have been in print for decades as well as a list featuring 40 to 50 new titles each year.” (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
Brandt and Hochman website.
AgentQuery.
QueryTracker.
Twitter.
What She's Looking For:
Genres / Specialties:
Fiction: Commercial, Historical, Literary, Mystery, Short Story Collections, Family Saga, Women's Fiction, Young Adult.
Non-Fiction: Biography, Memoirs, Current Affairs; Politics, Food & Lifestyle, History, Current Affairs, Multicultural, Narrative, Pop Culture, Entertainment, True Crime, Journalism. ( Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
Picture books, Screenplays, textbooks 
Editorial Agent?
“I love working with writers – I love reading a book and not being able to put it down, I love talking to writers about all the amazing parts of their work, I love having an editorial back-and-forth with writers to make their book the best possible book it can be, and most of all, I love the pride and admiration I feel for the writer when other people adore their book as much as I do.” (Link)
Clients:
There is a list of agency clients on the website. Ms. Patterson’s clients include:
Patrick Arden, Louise Aronson, Rita Mae Brown, Kim Church, Sarah Cornwell, Eileen Cronin, Laura Furman, Gregg Herken, Brandon Jones, James Morrow, Lenore Myka, Anne Riley, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Email a query letter that is no longer two pages long at epatterson@bromasite.com. (From the agency website)
Response Times:
Ms. Patterson only responds if interested.
What's the Buzz?
Emma Patterson joined Brandt and Hochman in January of 2013 after eight plus year with the Wendy Weil Agency. She represents a small but growing list of clients who seem to adore her and is open to both middle grade and young adult fiction. Houses she’s sold to include Random House, Knopf, St. Martin’s Press, Harper, Algonquin, Norton, Spenser Hill Press, and Dzanc Books.
Interviews and Podcasts: 
Q&A With Emma Patterson at Scripts & Scribes (05/2015)

Contact:
Please see the Brandt and Hochman website for additional contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 2/13/25.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 5/8/14.
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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

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