Allison Malecha (Agent)
Allison Malecha joined Trellis Literary Management as Director of Foreign Rights after several years at Bettina Schrewe Literary Scouting, where she worked with major publishing clients in over twenty international markets, as well as with an independent film client. Prior to working as a literary scout, she spent five years in editorial at independent publishing house Grove Atlantic. As Director of Foreign Rights, Allison has brokered deals for Trellis authors in over two dozen territories and counting, and loves being the champion for our titles around the world.
Allison also represents a small, selective list of domestic clients split evenly between fiction and nonfiction. Within the realms of literary and upmarket fiction, she is drawn to messy family stories, outsider perspectives, and narratives that subvert your expectations. She’s also drawn to a strong sense of place. At the moment, she’d particularly love a gothic novel set somewhere fresh, or a complex novel about friendship. Authors she deeply admires include: Jesmyn Ward, Louise Erdrich, Katie Kitamura, James McBride, Miriam Toews, Charlotte McConaghy, Catherine Newman, Kawai Strong Washburn, Daisy Johnson, and Isabella Hammad.
In nonfiction, Allison is looking for writing that is generous yet galvanizing in the categories of: narrative nonfiction, particularly with a historical or international dimension; social science; pop science; pop psychology; and memoir that touches on larger current issues or on the author's field of expertise.
Allison Malecha's Availability During Manuscript Mart Week:
- Tuesday, May 13: 10:00–1:00 & 4:00–7:00
- Wednesday, May 14: 10:00–1:00 & 1:00–4:00
- Thursday, May 15: 10:00–1:00 & 1:00–4:00
- Friday, May 16: 10:00–1:00 & 1:00–4:00
Zoom Meetings with Allison will be scheduled within these time periods (all EDT), but are subject to change. If Allison must make a change to this schedule, we will arrange a mutually agreeable Zoom time outside of Manuscript Mart Week.
What I'm Looking For
In fiction, I'm particularly looking for fresh upmarket and literary voices writing messy family stories, complicated friendship stories, and narratives that subvert your expectations. I love a strong sense of place and/or fiction that draws on the world of food. At the moment, I would particularly like a gothic novel set somewhere fresh. In nonfiction, I'm looking for narrative nonfiction, particularly with a historical or international dimension; social science; pop science, including nature writing especially from underrepresented writers; pop psychology; and memoir that touches on larger current issues or on the author's field of expertise.
Sample Titles or Authors
THIS KIND OF TROUBLE by Tochi Eze (forthcoming)
FUNDAMENTALLY by Nussaibah Younis
TREATABLE by Dr. Sarah Wakeman (forthcoming)
Specializes In / Will Consider
FICTION: Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Horror, Short Story Collections, Thrillers/Suspense, Literary Fiction, Multi-Cultural/Global Fiction
NONFICTION: Investigative Journalism, Narrative, Nature/Ecology, Psychology, Science, Women's concerns, Medical, Multicultural/Global Perspectives, History