Status Update on 10/22/2025: Steven is open to submissions.
About: “Steven Axelrod has been an agent for over 30 years and president of his own agency for more than 25 years. Prior to agenting, he was an editor at The Literary Guild, managing editor at Harcourt Brace and a reader for a number of paperback houses. His present clients include two-time Edgar Award-winning mystery author S.J. Rozan, as well as many top women’s fiction authors, including #1 New York Times bestsellers Christine Feehan, J.R. Ward and Julia Quinn, as well as multi-New York Times Bestsellers Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Elizabeth Phillips , Suzanne Brockmann and Catherine Anderson."
Status: Accepting submissions.
What He's Looking For:
Chick Lit, Fantasy (paranormal), Mystery, Romance, Thrillers/Suspense, Women's Fiction, Young Adult. (Link, Link)
“In terms of fantasy, he is only interested in paranormal fantasy.” (Link)
What He Isn't Looking For:
Picture books, screenplays, high fantasy.
About the Agency:
Founded in 1983 (Link).
In 1994 the agency joined with The Rowland Agency to form the Axelrod & Rowland Agency; however, they appear to have separated in recent years. (Link)
Pet-Peeves:
Unknown.
Editorial Agent?
Unknown.
Web Presence:
Website (under construction).
Twitter.
LinkedIn.
AgentQuery, QueryTracker
Clients:
Amanda Hocking, Jayne Ann Krentz, Suzanne Brockmann, Christine Feehan, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Julia Quinn, Catherine Anderson, Anne Frasier, and S.J. Rozan
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: Yes.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Send a query letter only. Include a SASE if querying by snail-mail.
See the agency website for contact information (including e-query address).
What's the Buzz?
Steven Axelrod is considered a top notch agent, well known for his award-winning, bestselling mystery and women’s fiction clients and years in the business. He accepts young adult fiction according to all the databases, but I am not aware of any YA clients or sales at this time. I couldn’t find any specifics on what he might be looking for in the YA realm, but I think he’s definitely worth a query.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
None that I could find online.
Contact:
Please see the agency website and one of the query databases above for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 12/29/2022
Status: Accepting submissions.
What He's Looking For:
Chick Lit, Fantasy (paranormal), Mystery, Romance, Thrillers/Suspense, Women's Fiction, Young Adult. (Link, Link)
“In terms of fantasy, he is only interested in paranormal fantasy.” (Link)
What He Isn't Looking For:
Picture books, screenplays, high fantasy.
About the Agency:
Founded in 1983 (Link).
In 1994 the agency joined with The Rowland Agency to form the Axelrod & Rowland Agency; however, they appear to have separated in recent years. (Link)
Pet-Peeves:
Unknown.
Editorial Agent?
Unknown.
Web Presence:
Website (under construction).
Twitter.
LinkedIn.
AgentQuery, QueryTracker
Clients:
Amanda Hocking, Jayne Ann Krentz, Suzanne Brockmann, Christine Feehan, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Julia Quinn, Catherine Anderson, Anne Frasier, and S.J. Rozan
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: Yes.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Send a query letter only. Include a SASE if querying by snail-mail.
See the agency website for contact information (including e-query address).
What's the Buzz?
Steven Axelrod is considered a top notch agent, well known for his award-winning, bestselling mystery and women’s fiction clients and years in the business. He accepts young adult fiction according to all the databases, but I am not aware of any YA clients or sales at this time. I couldn’t find any specifics on what he might be looking for in the YA realm, but I think he’s definitely worth a query.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
None that I could find online.
Contact:
Please see the agency website and one of the query databases above for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 12/29/2022
Agent contacted for review? Yes
Last reviewed by agent? N/A
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com
Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com
Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.