California

California is one of the strongest states for literary agents outside New York, with a concentration of agencies in Los Angeles and the greater Bay Area. Los Angeles in particular gives agents there close proximity to the film and television industry, which makes California agents especially active in book-to-screen deals and in representing authors whose work has strong adaptation potential.

The state's agents also tend to have a notable presence in genre fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and YA in particular, reflecting California's broader entertainment and media ecosystem. Authors working on projects with crossover appeal beyond the page often find California-based agents especially well positioned.