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.
Recent Deals
-
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, 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 Laudone at Beach Lane Books.
-
Lenna & Caterpillar
Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Laura Knetzger's Lenna & Caterpillar, about a young priestess and her cat-insect hybrid companion who travel on a quest, to Calista Brill at First Second.
Interviews
-
![]()
WordCraft Podcast
Jenna Morton from WFNB talks to Maria Vicente about the literary agent’s role as a creative business partner.
-
![]()
[EDIT] Magazine
Small city, big words. Maria Vicente speaks about her role as a literary agent and championing diverse voices in publishing.
-
![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.
-
![Logo for Lit Match]()
Lit Match Podcast
WTF is a literary agent, how Maria supports her clients, and first chapters that hook.
-
![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.
-
![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.
-
![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.
