James McGowan
Senior Literary Agent
James McGowan (he/him) is a senior literary agent at BookEnds Literary Agency and Director of BookEnds Jr. He represents critically acclaimed and award-winning authors and illustrators for all ages.
Over the past decade, James has worked in every department at the agency–from social media to subsidiary rights and finance–all of which inform his holistic approach to representing clients. In addition, he is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents where he's worked on multiple committees and is the co-chair of the membership committee. In 2025, he was awarded the inaugural AALA Impact Award for committee service and was named a Publisher's Weekly Star Watch Honoree.
James currently lives in Staten Island, where he graduated with a Master’s in literature from the College of Staten Island. He is the author of the picture book GOOD NIGHT, OPPY!
To learn more about him, visit the BookEnds website, his website, or follow him on Instagram.
Email: jmcgowan@bookendsliterary.com
*Please do not send any queries via email.
Open to Queries
Wish List
James is looking for fantasy and speculative fiction in all its forms—from sweeping epic fantasies in intricate second worlds to grounded stories where magic reshapes ordinary lives. He is drawn to plot-driven books, strong characters, and commercial hooks. James is looking for stories that readers can obsess over and build fandoms around.
James is most drawn to epic and political fantasy. Think books with immersive worldbuilding, complex characters, political intrigue, dangerous magic, and high stakes. He loves flipping back to a map to understand where a character’s going, or referencing a family tree to understand the implications of a certain dynamic. He loves books that have a unique pantheon of gods, or that retell myths, legends, and folklore from cultures around the world. He likes political scheming or morally complicated characters. Some of his favorites include: The Fifth Season, City of Brass, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, Game of Thrones, The Empire Burns at Dawn, and The Poet Empress. (James is especially on the hunt for a dragon book in this space.)
James also enjoys cozy fantasy, but especially books with stakes or something unexpected beneath the surface. A strong sense of humor is always a plus. He’s open to contemporary fantasy that brings magic or mythology to recognizable modern settings like AM Kvita’s An Unlikely Coven. Distinctive magical systems and protagonists with something to lose (or everything to gain) are key. James loves historical fantasy and would love to find more books that use a real historical period/event as the foundation for a story that feels fresh, immersive, and transformative. Think The Familiar, Babel, or even something more epic. He’s interested in seeing more genre blends, whether it’s a mystery in a second world like The Tainted Cup or The Raven Scholar, or a blend of science fiction and fantasy like Jade City. He loves books that play with form, structure, perspective, or genre expectations.
While science fiction makes up a smaller portion of his list, he is especially keen to find an epic and political space opera along the lines of Red Rising and The Expanse.
Above all, James is looking for a strong voice, unforgettable characters, emotional depth, and a premise that makes him eager to know what happens next. He’s happy to be surprised, so if your manuscript doesn’t fit neatly into one of these sub-categories, send it anyway.
