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Connecting voices and ideas
in our ever-changing world.

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NEXT LEVEL LIT is a boutique literary agency in NYC representing authors who use their voices to create change and bring evolution through storytelling.

The journey from a book idea to a book-on-the-shelf can be daunting, but having a well-informed guide helps transform those jitters into excitement. NEXT LEVEL LIT takes clients through every step of the book publishing process: from developing book ideas that get traction with publishers, to finding the best partners for podcasts, film, TV and more, the resources at NEXT LEVEL are designed to do just that--take your work to the next level. Let’s go!

 

NEXT LEVEL LIT is based in New York City and founded by JL Stermer.

ABOUT
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A native New Yorker, JL has worked in theater, fashion, network TV and hospitality before finding her way to publishing. After attending Temple University in Philadelphia and The Fashion Institute of Technology, JL earned her BA in English from Columbia University.

 

With over a decade of agenting experience prior to starting NEXT LEVEL LIT she and her team are uniformly dedicated to getting authors book deals that build and grow careers.

 

When she's not at her desk, JL can be found roaming the city streets feeling energized by the creativity. She loves park benches, preferably with coffee and a donut.

About
JL Stermer

JL Stermer Next Level Lit photo by Geo Yankey

Photo by Geo Yankey

BOOKS

Books

AUTHORS

writers
Amy Nicholson is the host of the podcast 'Unspooled' and critic for KPCC's Film Week.

Amy Nicholson

Comedian Angelina Spicer, Howard University graduate, wife, and mother, became an accidental activist after postpartum depression treatment.

Angelina Spicer

Barrie Miskin, Queens-based writer and teacher, explores motherhood, womanhood, and mental health. Her work appears in Hobart, Motherwell, and Medium.

Barrie Miskin

Chloe Angyal, author of Turning Pointe and senior editor at VICE News, writes on gender and power. Her work has appeared in major publications.

Chloe Angyal

David Farley, author of Underground Worlds and An Irreverent Curiosity, writer on food, travel, and culture for top publications

David Farley

Dené Logan, a Marriage and Family Therapist and Spiritual Teacher in Los Angeles, helps couples build fulfilling relationships rooted in truth and mutual fulfillment.

Dené Logan

Dibs Baer is an LA-based entertainment writer and the author/co-author of six books, including Lady Tigers in the Concrete Jungle: How Softball and Sisterhood Saved Lives in the South Bronx

Dibs Baer

Elyse Myers is a writer, comedian, and content creator known as "The Internet’s Best Friend," sharing relatable stories, mental health advocacy, and more.

Elyse Myers

Gabriel H. Sanchez is a photo editor at The New York Times and co-author of IN THE LIMELIGHT. Former BuzzFeed writer known for photography and cultural history.

Gabriel H Sanchez

Gianluca Russo is a fashion reporter for Teen Vogue and freelance writer. Known for his "Plus Us" column at NYLON, he advocates for size inclusivity and body positivity.

Gianluca Russo

Haera Shin is a native New Yorker and Beverage Director at Momofuku, overseeing cocktail and beverage operations across its locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

Haera Shin

Heather R. Huhman is an infertility warrior and coach who helps people navigate the complicated world of fertility treatments

Heather Huhman

Jason Rogers is an Olympic medalist and LA-based writer. His work, which focuses on masculinity and mental health.

Jason Rogers

Jeffrey L. Bowman, a 2x award-winning author and former Madison Avenue advertising executive, is now the co-founder and CEO of Reframe, a SaaS company that automates people operations for personalized workplaces.

Jeffrey L Bowman

Kati Morton, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a Master's in Clinical Psychology. She shares mental health information on her YouTube channel, which has over 1.4 million subscribers, and is known for addressing eating disorders and self-harm.

Kati Morton

Kelsey Timmerman is a New York Times Bestselling author known for WHERE AM I WEARING? and WHERE AM I EATING?. He co-founded the Facing Project, connecting communities through stories, and his writing has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor and NPR.

Kelsey Timmerman

Professional headshot of LaRon Batchelor, consumer packaged goods executive, grocery distribution leader at Whisha, and founder of Passport Food & Beverages

LaRon Batchelor

Lyndsey writes about women's college basketball and the WNBA for The Athletic and Just Women's Sports. Her work has appeared in outlets like The Ringer and espnW, and she received a Notable Mention in the 2018 Best American Sports Writing anthology.

Lyndsey D'Arcangelo

Melanie is a comedian, journalist, and storyteller based in Lyon, France. She writes for outlets like Harper’s Bazaar, The Washington Post, and Glamour, covering diverse topics from travel to serious features.

Melanie Hamlett

Melody Simpson, founder of Melanin in YA, a database focused on Black representation in young adult publishing. She contributed to the feminist horror anthology BETTY BITES BACK.

Melody Simpson

Mette Ivie Harrison is the national best-selling, award-winning author of The Bishop’s Wife, published in 2014 with Soho Press.

Mette Ivie

Author Scott Leeds is represented by JL Stermer, Next level Lit, NYC

Scott Leeds

Shakeia Taylor, a freelance columnist and baseball historian focusing on the Negro Leagues and women in baseball. An advocate for diversity in sports journalism, her award-winning prose highlights race and culture in baseball, featured on platforms like SB Nation and MLB.com

Shakeia Taylor

Steve Eichner, a photographer based in NYC since 1986, known for capturing moments in nightlife and fashion, including A-list celebrities. His work has been featured in major publications and he served as house photographer for iconic venues.

Steve Eichner

Susanna Gibson is a survivor of image-based sexual abuse and the founder of a nonprofit MyOwnImage.org dedicated to combatting technology-facilitated violence

Susanna Gibson

Tamryn Spruill, an author and journalist, covers women’s basketball with an intersectional lens. She is writing her first book on the WNBA and has won the LA Press Club's 2020 Southern California Journalism Award for Best Sports Commentary.

Tamryn Spruill

Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, is a licensed holistic psychotherapist, author, and mental health content creator. She co-hosts the Cheaper Than Therapy Podcast and leads soul-based retreats, using her expertise in Depth, Buddhist, and Yoga Psychology to connect with others and share her journey of self-improvement.

Vanessa Bennett

Zach Wahls is the Iowa Senate Democratic Leader, known for his viral testimony advocating for LGBTQ rights and his bestselling book My Two Moms.

Zach Wahls

AS SEEN ON
CONTACT
CONTACT

Questions, requests, comments?
Send me a message at jlstermer@nextlevellit.com and I'll get back to you.

Note: I do not accept queries to my inbox, please use the submission form.

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CONSULTATION SESSIONS

JL Stermer is now offering one-on-one consultations for writers looking to have a focused conversation about where they are on their publishing journey. Whether you're just getting started with a new idea or would like some insight on your current strategy, these sessions will leave you feeling inspired about the next steps to becoming a published author. 

Sub Rights

SUB RIGHTS

For interest in film or dramatic rights please email me directly: jlstermer@nextlevellit.com

SUBMISSONS
submit your work at Next Level Lit

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Next Level Lit is currently reviewing fiction and non-fiction projects.

 

Please submit your query letter + the first five pages of your manuscript or book proposal.

 

Fiction: adult & YA, contemporary, upmarket, commercial: family stories, coming-of-age, rom-coms, general fiction that is giving readers a new perspective on a world they already know OR a peek into a world they wish they knew.

 

Nonfiction: prescriptive, narrative, memoir: style & fashion, art & culture, mental health, spirituality, self-help, sports, humor, pop culture/business/science/tech, social justice, human rights, feminist issues, men’s issues, projects that are on the leading edge of important conversations we are having today.

 

Queer, neurodivergent, POC, and all underrepresented voices are always welcome!

 

Due to the volume of submissions, I am unable to respond to every query, but please know that each is read and considered with care. If we are a potential match, you will hear back within in 4-6 weeks.

 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your work and ideas. Putting yourself out there is the first step and the hardest part!

Submisson form
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