AALA is the preeminent organization of and for professional literary agents in the United States.
For members, AALA regularly holds panels, educational programs, and social events. Our committees meet monthly to discuss important issues and prepare alerts and announcements on the latest industry developments in areas such as contracts, royalties, and legal practices. AALA serves as the hub for the literary agent community and is a valuable resource for information and networking.
For authors, AALA provides a searchable database of members for writers seeking representation. Members represent authors in all areas of the publishing process, handling the sale of rights through publication, and helping their clients develop successful publishing careers. Authors can be confident that our agents pledge to follow the highest standards of professional conduct in serving the needs of their clients. Agents must agree to adhere to the Bylaws and Canon of Ethics.
The Gailey & Impact Awards
Each year, AALA honors members whose service, leadership, and collaboration strengthen our community and uphold our mission.
The Gailey Award, established in 2022 and named in honor of longtime AALA president Gail Hochman, is the organization’s highest service honor, recognizing members whose steady commitment and generosity have profoundly shaped the Association. →Learn more about the Gailey Award Winners
The AALA Impact Award, introduced in 2025, celebrates members whose behind-the-scenes committee and project work has helped modernize and sustain the Association. → See the Impact Award honorees
Mission Statement
Since its founding in 1991, the Association of American Literary Agents has been a leading force in furthering the interests of agents, authors and other rights holders. Through regular educational programming, community-building initiatives, and advocating for agents and authors alike, the volunteer-run organization is dedicated to helping our members maintain and broaden their professional skills in a fast-changing publishing environment. Recognizing the historically exclusive nature of publishing, the AALA is committed to engendering a more diverse, equitable, participatory and inclusive publishing community. Members of the AALA must agree to adhere to its widely respected Canon of Ethics, thus ensuring that our membership maintains the highest standards of ethics and integrity in dealings with and on behalf of our clients and our publishing colleagues.
Meet the Board
Officers
Regina Brooks
Serendipity Literary Agency
President
Sonali Chanchani
Folio Literary Management
Vice-President
Sam Stoloff
Frances Goldin Literary Agency
Treasurer
Tess Callero
Europa Content
Secretary
Board Members
Jennifer Carlson
Dunow, Carlson, & Lerner
Jemiscoe Chambers-Black
Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Caroline Eisenmann
Frances Goldin Literary Agency
Susan Graham
Dunow, Carlson, & Lerner Literary
Lynn Johnston
Lynn Johnston Literary
Tamar Rydzinski
Context Literary
Eva Scalzo
Speilburg Literary
Maria Vicente
P.S. Literary
Jennifer Weltz
Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
Leslie Zampetti
Open Book Literary
Staff
Jazmia Young
Administrative Assistant
Curtis Brown, Ltd.
Jaime Wolf
General Counsel
Pelosi Wolf Spates
History
AALA is a nonprofit membership organization formed in 1991, and its antecedents date to 1928. Prior to the name change in 2020, AALA was known as the Association of Authors’ Representatives and included both literary and dramatic agents. The AAR was founded through the merger of two separate agent organizations, the SAR (Society of Authors’ Representatives) and the ILAA (Independent Literary Agents Association). For many years the SAR, founded in 1928, had been the only agents’ organization until the ILAA was founded in 1977. By 1990 both groups realized that having one single organization would be immeasurably more advantageous to the member agents, and the AAR was born.
Donate to AALA
AALA is a completely volunteer-run organization. In order to keep our programs and initiatives strong—and without raising membership dues—we’re asking for your help. We are delighted by our growing, diversifying membership and determined to meet their needs in ways that matter. Please consider supporting our work today with a gift. Please note that any donations made to AALA are non-tax-deductible and will not provide any tax benefits to the donor.