VICTORIA PIONTEK, LIterary Associate
Victoria Piontek is a Literary Associate for Executive Agent Laura Rennert. She adores children's literature no matter the category or genre, but is especially drawn to charming picture books and middle grade stories that both pull at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone. Victoria likes to get lost in richly imagined worlds she's never seen before and is drawn to complex, diverse characters who experience and learn universal truths in a meaningful, life-changing way. While she enjoys all genres, fantasy is her first love. She also likes friendship stories, horse stories, Arthurian retellings, and science fiction that read like fantasy. She is passionate about picture books, both fiction and nonfiction, that express a complex idea in a simple way.
Prior to joining ABLA, Victoria taught English to middle school students in New York City and Education Methods to teachers at Pace University. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hollins University, an MST in Education from Pace University, and a BA in Journalism from the University of North Florida. If she's not reading, you can find her hiking in Marin County, where she lives with her husband, three children, and gigantic dog.
Prior to joining ABLA, Victoria taught English to middle school students in New York City and Education Methods to teachers at Pace University. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hollins University, an MST in Education from Pace University, and a BA in Journalism from the University of North Florida. If she's not reading, you can find her hiking in Marin County, where she lives with her husband, three children, and gigantic dog.
Hannah Streetman, Editorial Associate
Hannah Streetman is an Editorial Associate who works closely with Executive Agent Laura Rennert, primarily on adult and young adult manuscripts. She seeks out books with fresh concepts but stays for the vivid characters.
A voracious audiobook listener, Hannah likes any story with a compelling narrative voice and crackling dialogue. She loves books that surprise—whether through twisty suspense, an unreliable narrator, or a calculated subversion of genre expectations—and books that transport to a richly imagined setting. She’s a sucker for idiosyncratic humor, spicy romance, haunted houses, creative use of form, and lush, lyrical prose.
Prior to joining ABLA, Hannah worked as a freelance developmental editor, web editor for a trivia site, intern at Sasquatch Books, and editorial apprentice at Andrea Hurst & Associates. She earned an editing certificate and a BA in creative writing from Western Washington University, then ventured to New York City to attend the Columbia Publishing Course. When she’s not editing, she plans conferences and events for libraries and library-related organizations, including the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. She lives in Seattle with her three-legged cat and her library card.
A voracious audiobook listener, Hannah likes any story with a compelling narrative voice and crackling dialogue. She loves books that surprise—whether through twisty suspense, an unreliable narrator, or a calculated subversion of genre expectations—and books that transport to a richly imagined setting. She’s a sucker for idiosyncratic humor, spicy romance, haunted houses, creative use of form, and lush, lyrical prose.
Prior to joining ABLA, Hannah worked as a freelance developmental editor, web editor for a trivia site, intern at Sasquatch Books, and editorial apprentice at Andrea Hurst & Associates. She earned an editing certificate and a BA in creative writing from Western Washington University, then ventured to New York City to attend the Columbia Publishing Course. When she’s not editing, she plans conferences and events for libraries and library-related organizations, including the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. She lives in Seattle with her three-legged cat and her library card.
LAURA SCHOEFfEL, EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE
Laura Schoeffel is an Editorial Associate working closely with Executive Agent Laura Rennert, focusing mainly on adult and young adult fiction. She is drawn to works with an original or unconventional narrative voice, with a particular interest in international voices.
You can hook Laura with any good story well-told, especially when the writing sparkles on the page and is infused with clever humor. She gravitates to historical fiction and alternative histories that offer fresh perspectives, and loves stories that reimagine the classics. She looks for suspenseful literary fiction, mysteries and thrillers--and enjoys being caught off-guard by an unreliable narrator. Laura is also keen to find refreshing takes on the coming-of-age story, and has a special fondness for open-hearted, character-driven middle grade novels.
A native Canadian and a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Laura began her publishing career at HarperCollins Canada, where she was the Associate Editor, working in all genres. After moving to the United States, Laura pursued post-graduate studies in ancient Greek and Romantic literature before heading back into publishing. Prior to joining ABLA, she worked on various sides of the business in New York City: with the literary agent Janis Donnaud & Associates, in book packaging, as an editor, writer and researcher for a New York Times food columnist, and as a freelance editor of both fiction and non-fiction. Laura has lived on both coasts of the U.S. and Canada, in numerous states and provinces, and presently lives in the New York City area with her family.
You can hook Laura with any good story well-told, especially when the writing sparkles on the page and is infused with clever humor. She gravitates to historical fiction and alternative histories that offer fresh perspectives, and loves stories that reimagine the classics. She looks for suspenseful literary fiction, mysteries and thrillers--and enjoys being caught off-guard by an unreliable narrator. Laura is also keen to find refreshing takes on the coming-of-age story, and has a special fondness for open-hearted, character-driven middle grade novels.
A native Canadian and a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Laura began her publishing career at HarperCollins Canada, where she was the Associate Editor, working in all genres. After moving to the United States, Laura pursued post-graduate studies in ancient Greek and Romantic literature before heading back into publishing. Prior to joining ABLA, she worked on various sides of the business in New York City: with the literary agent Janis Donnaud & Associates, in book packaging, as an editor, writer and researcher for a New York Times food columnist, and as a freelance editor of both fiction and non-fiction. Laura has lived on both coasts of the U.S. and Canada, in numerous states and provinces, and presently lives in the New York City area with her family.
ALISON NOLAN, ROYALTY REVIEW EXPERT & AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR
Alison has been with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency since 2013. In her current role as Agency Administrator, Alison is in charge of the Agency database and payment systems. She supports all the agents with various agency-wide projects while also working as a royalty review expert for Laura Rennert. She came to the agency after enjoying six years as a children's bookseller and events manager. Prior to her career in publishing, she lived in Japan teaching English (and reading books!) to young children.
Kara Reynolds, Administrative Assistant
Kara Reynolds is an Administrative Assistant for Executive Agent Laura Rennert. A longtime reader and writer, Kara now enjoys seeing the business end of the publishing world in her work. As a reader, she's easily hooked by a good premise or trope, regardless of the genre. Her favorites include time travel and time loops, forced proximity romances, and any plot that hinges on mistaken identities. Kara loves K-dramas and is ready to give you a recommendation any time you're ready to dive into the world of Korean television.
Kara holds a Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Utah, but long ago decided that she'd rather write fiction than journal articles and patient letters. She used her degree to teach a class called Genetics 101 For Writers at the 2019 Storymakers Conference, which gave writers who wanted to include genetics in their work the background needed to understand the research they'd need to do.
Kara is a former president of the Whitney Awards, a literary award program associated with the Storymakers Conference. She spent three years as a contributor to Operation Awesome, a group writing blog that encourages and educates writers at all stages of their publishing journey. Helping people who say "I've always wanted to write a book" get into writing and achieve their goals is a passion of Kara's, and she's always willing to point a new writer towards good resources. Kara lives in Arizona with her husband and three children.
Kara holds a Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Utah, but long ago decided that she'd rather write fiction than journal articles and patient letters. She used her degree to teach a class called Genetics 101 For Writers at the 2019 Storymakers Conference, which gave writers who wanted to include genetics in their work the background needed to understand the research they'd need to do.
Kara is a former president of the Whitney Awards, a literary award program associated with the Storymakers Conference. She spent three years as a contributor to Operation Awesome, a group writing blog that encourages and educates writers at all stages of their publishing journey. Helping people who say "I've always wanted to write a book" get into writing and achieve their goals is a passion of Kara's, and she's always willing to point a new writer towards good resources. Kara lives in Arizona with her husband and three children.
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