Maria Vicente is a Senior Literary Agent and Senior Advisor at P.S. Literary Agency representing creators of innovative and beautiful books for readers of all ages.

With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry, Maria has played a key role in launching the careers of many bestselling, award-winning, and critically acclaimed authors and illustrators. From collaborating on manuscript drafts and proposals, negotiating book deals, and exploring adaptation opportunities, she is a dedicated advocate for her clients during every stage of the publishing process.

Maria serves on the Board of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and is also a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents (PACLA). She lives in New Brunswick, Canada, reading and selling books from the Atlantic Ocean shore.

Upcoming Events

  • Query Letter Workshop

    October 1st 6:00-9:00PM ET

    Live Virtual Class
    Q&A Session
    Professional Critique

    Learn More & Register

  • Query Letter Workshop

    November 5th 6:00-9:00PM ET

    Live Virtual Class
    Q&A Session
    Professional Critique

    Learn More & Register
BEAR IN THE AIR illustrated by Cat Min.jpg
SLICE OF MALLOW SECOND SLICE by Adam Foreman.jpg
RACC PACK PRINCE AND THE PAWPER by Stpehanie Cooke & Whitney Gardner.jpg
Becoming a Ballerina by Laura Obuobi.jpg
Tales of Exandria Artagan by Sam Maggs.jpg
WHO HQ MARIE ANTOINETTE by Bones Leopard and Robin Richardson.jpeg
Frankie and the Beastly Bog Song by Caitlin Rose Boyle
Sightseeing with Aliens by Insha Fitzpatrick
MIGHTY NEIN ORIGINS CADUCEUS CLAY by Kendra Wells.jpeg
WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE by Laura Obuobi and Anna Cunha.jpg
QUEER HISTORY A TO Z by Robin Stevenson.jpg
PILLOW TALK by Stephanie Cooke.jpg
MECHANIC SHOP FEMME'S GUIDE TO CAR OWNERSHIP by Chaya M. Milchtein copy.jpg
THE SHADOW AND THE GHOST by Cat Min.jpg
THE BAKER AND THE BARD by Fern Haught.png
Book cover of The Hills of Estrella Roja by Ashley Robin Franklin
Book cover of Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs.
BIGFOOT AND NESSIE 1 illustrated by Laura Knetzger.jpg
Book cover of Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films by Nina Nesseth.
Book cover of The Montague Twins: The Devil's Music by Nathan Page and Drew Shannon.

Recent Deals

  • The Book of Jupiter

    Contemporary Middle Grade

    Robin Stevenson's The Book of Jupiter, in which a 13-year-old's brother goes missing from their isolated community where doubts and questions are forbidden, and she must risk everything to uncover the truth behind the self-appointed prophet's message that they are all destined to one day return as stardust, to Katie Scott at Kids Can Press.

  • The Girl Who Loves Monsters

    Middle Grade Graphic Novel

    Insha Fitzpatrick & Ashley Robin Franklin’s The Girl Who Loves Monsters, a middle grade in which a horror-loving girl must save her town from her substitute teacher, who just might be a werewolf, after accidentally unleashing monsters through her town, to Kelsey Murphy at Viking Children’s, in a two-book deal.

  • Black Is

    Picture Book

    Author of Black Gold, Laura Obuobi's Black Is, a poetic narrative connecting the Black diaspora to the African continent, showing the beauty and power that was carried across oceans and evolved into new ways of being that have informed and created cultures and transformed the world, to Alyson Day at Harper Children’s. Illustrated by London Ladd.

  • Offbeat

    Middle Grade Graphic Memoir

    Mat Heagerty's Offbeat, a middle grade graphic memoir, in which the author's dyslexia has long been an academic challenge for him, but now it's affecting him socially, so to escape the bullying, he forms a band where he discovers he can be more than "that dyslexic kid," to Megan Peace at Graphix. Illustrated by Jim "Kett" Kettner.

  • Ren von Lugenbach's Absolutely Unnecessary Adventure

    Cozy Fantasy

    Fox de Winter's Ren von Lugenbach’s Absolutely Unnecessary Adventure, the author's debut, a sapphic cozy fantasy in which a prickly librarian and a curious stranger must find a missing antique book for a dragon with an affinity for knitting, to Juliana Nador at Union Square & Co.

  • Piper and May Take a Breath

    Picture Book

    Author-illustrator Sarah Noble's Piper and May Take a Breath, about two fox friends: one who has anxiety and is more cautious, the other who is more carefree and goes with the flow, to Catherine Lauding at Beach Lane Books.

Interviews

  • [EDIT] Magazine

    Small city, big words. Maria Vicente speaks about her role as a literary agent and championing diverse voices in publishing.

    Purchase
  • Logo for In the MIDst Podcast

    In the MIDst

    The state of middle grade publishing, the role of literary agents as gatekeepers within the industry, and more.

    Listen
  • Logo for Lit Match

    Lit Match Podcast

    WTF is a literary agent, how Maria supports her clients, and first chapters that hook.

    Listen
  • Logo for Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

    Eastern Penn Points

    A picture book focused interview with the Pennsylvania East branch of SCBWI.

    Read
  • Logo for the Unsilent Women podcast.

    Unsilent Women

    Maria and Poorva take a trip down memory lane and revisit stories from their childhoods to examine gender, race, and identity.

    Listen
  • Promotional image for the Story Effect podcast.

    Story Effect

    Abigail talks to Maria about two stories with timeless themes and characters: Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl and the film Josie and the Pussycats.

    Listen