agent...
Haley Casey has always had a special place in her heart for stories, but it was when she wrote her first chapter book in fifth grade that her true love of literature was realized. In 2015, she graduated from The University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, and that fall, she attended the Denver Publishing Institute. She began her full-time career at Ogden Publications, where she was an editor for four years. There she worked with a variety of authors across multiple magazines, wrote articles, edited podcasts, and even styled photos—anything to add some creativity to her days. In 2020, she interned at Metamorphosis Literary Agency and Creative Media Agency, Inc. before stepping into her role as an associate agent at CMA. She also manages the digital arm of the company. Haley is actively building her list, and is ready to assist her authors in achieving their publishing goals.
submissions
what i'd like to represent...
adult
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- High-Concept Book Club Fiction (like Killers of a Certain Age or The Bandit Queens)
- This should be something you can pitch in one sentence.
- Please send me anything with a speculative element!
- Fantasy, like Gods of Jade and Shadow, Divine Rivals, or Heartless Hunter
- Accessible Science Fiction that comps to Hammajang Luck or Welcome to Night Vale
- Paranormal Mysteries, like those by Simone St. James
- Horror
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- Atmosphere is a must.
- If there’s a haunted house, such as in Just Like Home, Play Nice, or The Haunting of Hill House—the show especially—I’m your girl!
- I love genre blends in this space: horromance, SF-horror, horror-comedy, etc.
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- Romance
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- High-Concept or Cross-Genre Rom Coms
- Anita Kelly or Go Luck Yourself
- My favorite tropes include slow burn and rivals to lovers, but “disgustingly charismatic Character A and clever Character B who refuses to be charmed” is my kryptonite. And I need solid, believable banter.
- Paranormal
- I would love anything like the Night Huntress series.
- High-Concept or Cross-Genre Rom Coms
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- Nonfiction
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- Memoir and Narrative Nonfiction, like In the Dream House or The Billionaire’s Vinegar
- True Crime with a focus on people, like I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Killers of the Flower Moon, or The Art Thief
- Gardening, Sustainability, and Nature
- I would love a comp to Tasha Greer or Braiding Sweetgrass.
- High-Concept Book Club Fiction (like Killers of a Certain Age or The Bandit Queens)
young adult/children's
- Young Adult
- High-Concept Fiction
- If you’ve written something in a mixed-media format, please send it my way!
- I love humor, ensemble casts, and a romantic backbone, so please consider Community and Superstore comps.
- I would love to find the next Hello Girls, Thieves’ Gambit, or Challenger Deep
- Mystery
- I particularly love psychological and locked-room mysteries.
- Comps include Looking for Smoke or Needy Little Things.
- Horror, like those by Krystal Sutherland or Erica Waters
- Fantasy
- If it leans paranormal and reads like a show that would have aired on The CW, I’m interested!
- Bring me books like Little Thieves, Illuminae, or The Girl with No Reflection.
- Accessible Science Fiction, like Iron Widow, Warcross, or Coldwire
- Dystopian, especially a project like Delirium or Scythe
- High-Concept Fiction
- Middle-Grade
- Mystery, like What Happened to Rachel Riley?
- Fantasy
- My tastes in this genre are wide, but favorites include Amari and the Night Brothers, Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, and Gregor the Overlander.
- Horror, like Lockwood & Co. or Over the Garden Wall
- Young Adult
I’m focused in particular on uplifting minority voices, including stories by members of the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC authors, and authors with disabilities. I’m most interested in fiction manuscripts that fall somewhere just left of center, and while I prefer escapist manuscripts, I’m open to stories with darker themes—I just need levity to balance any heaviness. Send me thoughtful and meaningful magical realism for any age group; manuscripts that double as nuanced character studies; unique urban fantasies; clever fairytale retellings; and reimagined classics (such as Jane Austen or The Count of Monte Cristo).
I’m not looking for children’s picture books or chapter books. For adults, I’m the wrong fit for dark romance, literary fiction, political thrillers, cozy or high fantasy novels, hard sci-fi, cosmic or slasher horror, or satire. In nonfiction, please don’t send me biographies, self-help and how-to manuscripts, or religious, scientific, or academic texts.
some of my favorite (non-client) authors
what kind of writing inspires me?
Being an agent means I have to root for your work just as enthusiastically as you, so I have to fall in love with your engaging writing; your complex, flawed, and dynamic characters; and your plot, which should breathe new life into your favorite clichés. My reading taste varies widely, so tell me what makes your manuscript different! I’m especially interested in:
- Thoughtful and purposeful genre blends.
- Loose ends that are all tied up at the end.
- Lyrical prose that makes me stop to reread sentences again and.
- Characters that jump off the page and make me laugh, cry, and reevaluate what I think I know.
what I love about my job...
For as long as I can remember, I’ve defined myself by my love of reading. Now, I get to help decide what other bookworms will see on shelves. I get to work exclusively on passion projects alongside authors whose words I’ve fallen in love with, and then gush about those stories to anyone who will listen. I also get to be deeply immersed in the publishing industry, which I’ve only ever previously gotten to admire from afar. I’m looking forward to bringing new stories into the world!
where to find me...
Learn more about me and the books I’m seeking on Publisher’s Marketplace and Manuscript Wish List or connect with me on LinkedIn, Bluesky, or Instagram.