Hi!

Founded in 2025, Neighborhood Literary is a boutique agency based out of Philadelphia. Dedicated to working with a diverse roster of authors and championing unique, out-of-the-box books, Neighborhood Literary brings over fifteen years of publishing experience into everything we do.

While we represent authors from all over, a core goal of our agency is to actively engage in the writing communities in our respective hometowns. From free workshops to write-ins at bookstores, you can get a sense of what we’re up to on our neighborhoods page, and of course, on social media.

Want to join the team, and add your neighborhood? Please reach out.

  • Eric Smith

    FOUNDER + AGENT

    With over fifteen years of experience in publishing, both at a house and an agency, Eric Smith (he/him) has worked with numerous New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors across genres and categories.

    Eric is currently closed to queries, save for referrals and conferences. He is always looking for Middle Grade and Young Adult projects (fiction and non-fiction), adult genre-blending upmarket and literary fiction, accessible sci-fi and fantasy, high concept rom-coms, and memoir, essays, and wellness titles in the non-fiction space.

    Again, he’s closed to queries save for referrals and conferences, but if you need to reach out, his email is eric@neighborhoodliterary.com.

  • Rebecca Podos

    SENIOR AGENT

    Rebecca Podos (she/they) began her career as a literary agent in 2011. A graduate of the MFA Writing, Literature and Publishing program at Emerson College, she is an author of Young Adult and Adult fiction. A complete list of her clients' published and upcoming projects can be found here.

    Rebecca is looking for Young adult and Adult genre fiction, with select non-fiction projects considered. Of particular interest in fiction right now: Character-driven fantasy rooted in folklore and culture; horror as a vehicle exploring otherness, identity, and trauma; fresh genre crossovers (cozy sci-fi, horror romance, etc.); queer contemporary and historical fiction; Romance and romcom with a strong commercial hook and upmarket prose. Of interest in non-fiction: Deep dives into nerdy topics (TTRPG's, cosplay, fandoms, etc.); a strong narrative voice paired with expertise, as in Why Fish Don't Exist; kid lit centering queer history.

    While Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@neighborhoodliterary.com, Rebecca only accepts queries through the QueryManager system. Please be prepared to include a query letter and the first three chapters of your manuscript here.

    Rebecca responds to all queries, but feel free to withdraw and re-query if another Neighborhood agent seems like a fit.

  • Aashna Avachat

    AGENT

    Aashna Avachat joined Neighborhood as an agent after five years of experience at literary agencies.

    She is an author of YA books and has interned and assisted at various agencies. Previously, she was an assistant at Andrea Brown Literary Agency for over three years.

    She is currently building a list focused on authors of color and is looking for kidlit, commercial adult fiction, select non-fiction, and illustrators.

    You can find her specific MSWL here. Aashna only accepts queries through QueryManager

  • Donovan Levine

    ASSOCIATE LITERARY AGENT

    Donovan Levine is an associate literary agent and AALA member based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Donovan is looking for genre fiction, such as Mystery/Thriller, Historical, YA contemporary, and New Adult, as well as Narrative Nonfiction and Memoir, with a particular interest in underrepresented voices, untold multicultural stories, and any high concept or genre-bending works. 

    When not doing agent work, he can probably be found at a local dive bar cheering for Philly sports teams.

    Query letters can be sent directly to donovan@neighborhoodliterary.com

    He’s open to queries the first week of the month, and then closed until the 1st of the next month.

  • GiannaMarie Dobson

    ASSOCIATE LITERARY AGENT

    GiannaMarie Dobson (she/her) is a neurodivergent and disabled associate agent excited to build a list prioritizing disabled voices.

    She has interned and freelanced in publishing since 2021 and has sensitivity read manuscripts for publishers such as Ballantine Books at PRH, PRH UK, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Andrews McMeel, Faber Children's, and Image Comics.

    She is currently looking for MG and YA fiction as well as adult SFF. GiannaMarie only accepts queries through QueryManager.

  • Tianna Kelly

    ASSOCIATE LITERARY AGENT

    Tianna Kelly (she/they) is a literary agent building a list that reflects her love of dark romance, sharp romantic comedies, genre-bending romantasy, and bold speculative fiction.

    She’s especially drawn to Queer and own voices, stories with complex emotions, unforgettable relationships, and high-stakes worldbuilding—and she’s always looking for projects that blur the line between love and disaster (in the best way).

    With over three years of experience in publishing marketing, she brings a sharp eye for positioning, audience, and platform development to every project.

    While she can be reached at tianna@neighborhoodliterary.com, she only accepts queries through QueryManager.

  • J.D. Myall

    LITERARY ASSISTANT

    J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University's MFA Alumni Association and host of the Craft Chat Chronicles podcast, where she interviews authors and publishing professionals.

    Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Writer’s Digest and HuffPost.

    Her debut novel, Heart's Gambit, releases in February of 2026. When she’s not conjuring magic, murder and mayhem, she mentors writers through workshops at www.jdmyall.com.