Ellen Goff

Ellen (she/her) graduated from The University of Chicago with a BA in English, a minor in Cinema and Media Studies, and a focus in Creative Writing. She has worked everywhere from The White House under the Obama administration to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At HG Literary, her client list consists of authors writing for all age groups, from picture books to middle grade to young adult to adult, in both fiction and nonfiction. She also represents illustrators, for kidlit and adult projects, as well as graphic novelists. In addition to building her own domestic list, she is the International Rights Manager of the company’s Children’s & YA list. In her elusive free time, Ellen runs an active writing workshop and critique group in the heart of New York City. 

Having grown up in a family of mostly women, she is always hungry for stories celebrating girl power and intersectional feminism, but also narratives that don't shy away from asking questions about gender and exploring gender roles. She has a soft spot for southern stories that remind her of her home state of Kentucky, and is a perpetual sucker for a darn good love story.

For picture books, Ellen is only taking on new clients who are author-illustrators, and gravitates toward projects that highlight the sparse and simple.

She is interested in all genres and formats of MG and YA, especially anything spooky, graphic novels, novels-in-verse, and projects that allow her to travel vicariously through place and time.

In adult, she represents fantasy and romance and their intersection.

Ellen might be convinced on a nonfiction project if it involves food.

To Query: Please email your query and the first five pages of your manuscript (pasted at the bottom of your email) to ellen@hgliterary.com. 

Take a peek at Ellen’s clients below!

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