Cole Lanahan
@colelanahan.bsky.social
Literary agent @TheSeymourAgency repping bold voices & unforgettable stories. Publishing pro, nonprofit exec, advocate, speaker. Coffee & dogs fuel my day.
📬 Queries open via QueryManager 1st–7th each month only.
📬 Queries open via QueryManager 1st–7th each month only.
I recently discovered Tears on a Withered Flower and obsessed. Please send me anything with similar vibes! #MSWL #Stalkerish #hefallsfirst #sheisolder
August 1, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I recently discovered Tears on a Withered Flower and obsessed. Please send me anything with similar vibes! #MSWL #Stalkerish #hefallsfirst #sheisolder
Someone just emailed me and asked for my number so they could call and yell at me. To be fair, the heads up is greatly appreciated!
a man in a black shirt is sitting in front of a wall that has butterflies on it
ALT: a man in a black shirt is sitting in front of a wall that has butterflies on it
media.tenor.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Someone just emailed me and asked for my number so they could call and yell at me. To be fair, the heads up is greatly appreciated!
Just a heads up to those that are waiting. I'm OOO the first two weeks of August and hope to get caught up with all of my requests during that time. Thank you all for your patience! <3
July 16, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Just a heads up to those that are waiting. I'm OOO the first two weeks of August and hope to get caught up with all of my requests during that time. Thank you all for your patience! <3
Let’s talk about the one-sentence hook. It's the line that makes someone say, “I need this book in my life.”
It’s your story’s first impression, and in a crowded market, it has to do more than just sound pretty. 🧵
It’s your story’s first impression, and in a crowded market, it has to do more than just sound pretty. 🧵
July 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Let’s talk about the one-sentence hook. It's the line that makes someone say, “I need this book in my life.”
It’s your story’s first impression, and in a crowded market, it has to do more than just sound pretty. 🧵
It’s your story’s first impression, and in a crowded market, it has to do more than just sound pretty. 🧵
Lead with your hook: the unique twist, premise, or promise that makes your story different from every other book on the shelf. If you can’t explain what makes your book special in one or two sentences, it might be time to sharpen that pitch.
#WritingTips #AmQuerying #PitchPerfect #WritingCommunity
#WritingTips #AmQuerying #PitchPerfect #WritingCommunity
June 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Lead with your hook: the unique twist, premise, or promise that makes your story different from every other book on the shelf. If you can’t explain what makes your book special in one or two sentences, it might be time to sharpen that pitch.
#WritingTips #AmQuerying #PitchPerfect #WritingCommunity
#WritingTips #AmQuerying #PitchPerfect #WritingCommunity
I'm going to add Understanding Show, Don’t Tell and Really Getting It by Janice Hardy to my list of recommendations for authors who are self-editing. After finishing it this weekend, I've found it to be a phenomenal resource.
May 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I'm going to add Understanding Show, Don’t Tell and Really Getting It by Janice Hardy to my list of recommendations for authors who are self-editing. After finishing it this weekend, I've found it to be a phenomenal resource.
If you are a writer following an agent on social media, what type of content are you hoping to see? Trends/Projections? Submission reading status updates? Writing/Craft tips? Cat pics? (Here's a picture of Wilford Brimley for tax.)
May 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
If you are a writer following an agent on social media, what type of content are you hoping to see? Trends/Projections? Submission reading status updates? Writing/Craft tips? Cat pics? (Here's a picture of Wilford Brimley for tax.)
Literally just ended a meeting with someone who said, "I'm so sorry. I have no idea how to end calls." And, Sir, that is a whole vibe, and I'm absolutely here for it. Plus, I love ending calls, so I got you.
April 29, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Literally just ended a meeting with someone who said, "I'm so sorry. I have no idea how to end calls." And, Sir, that is a whole vibe, and I'm absolutely here for it. Plus, I love ending calls, so I got you.
I'm only open to queries the 1st - 7th of each months. When I reopen in May I would like to receive all the nonfiction. What you might think I mean is "a lot of nonfiction." But what I really mean is, "all of it." #parksandrec #ronswanson #mswl
April 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I'm only open to queries the 1st - 7th of each months. When I reopen in May I would like to receive all the nonfiction. What you might think I mean is "a lot of nonfiction." But what I really mean is, "all of it." #parksandrec #ronswanson #mswl
Who knew that the secret to losing this stubborn perimenopause weight was the looming collapse of society as we know it? I'm down another pant size. Yay?
February 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Who knew that the secret to losing this stubborn perimenopause weight was the looming collapse of society as we know it? I'm down another pant size. Yay?
I can't wait for the world to be just as inspired by Nordine as I am.
February 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I can't wait for the world to be just as inspired by Nordine as I am.
My rescue cat Wilford Brimley is here to cleanse your timeline.
January 31, 2025 at 2:53 AM
My rescue cat Wilford Brimley is here to cleanse your timeline.
I really want the next literary feminist rage novel like The Handmaids Tale, Vox, Night Bitch, and When Women Were Dragons. I'm currently closed to general queries, but if you have something like the above please use this special link: querytracker.net/query/ColeLa... #MSWL
Query Cole Lanahan at The Seymour Agency
QueryTracker.net
January 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I really want the next literary feminist rage novel like The Handmaids Tale, Vox, Night Bitch, and When Women Were Dragons. I'm currently closed to general queries, but if you have something like the above please use this special link: querytracker.net/query/ColeLa... #MSWL
Got on the scale today and realized I’ve lost ten pounds! It’s a new diet plan I like to call The State of the Country. All you do is read the news and it kills your appetite. No copay or prescription needed! #takecareofyourselves
January 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Got on the scale today and realized I’ve lost ten pounds! It’s a new diet plan I like to call The State of the Country. All you do is read the news and it kills your appetite. No copay or prescription needed! #takecareofyourselves
Oh my gosh how I've been sitting on my hands to keep from screaming about this amazing book!!!
I am SO EXCITED to finally be able to announce that Sourcebooks Fire will be publishing two of my books! My debut, THE DARKNESS GREETED HER, is an atmospheric YA horror full of monsters and the girls who fight them. Find this haunting book that’s a mix of The Honeys meets Smile in early 2026!
January 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Oh my gosh how I've been sitting on my hands to keep from screaming about this amazing book!!!
Reposted by Cole Lanahan
Believe survivors. Every day.
January 15, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Believe survivors. Every day.
That article was so very hard to read.
January 14, 2025 at 3:51 AM
That article was so very hard to read.
Oh Zuckerberg, what egregious behavior. I'm so tired of creatives getting stomped on by billionaires. Any agents local to the D.C. area (or willing to travel) want to organize a lobbying trip this summer? As someone who has experience in this avenue, I'm happy to take point. Let me know!
January 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Oh Zuckerberg, what egregious behavior. I'm so tired of creatives getting stomped on by billionaires. Any agents local to the D.C. area (or willing to travel) want to organize a lobbying trip this summer? As someone who has experience in this avenue, I'm happy to take point. Let me know!
If only I was as busy as I was when I was a baby agent and first thought, "Wow. I'm pretty busy." Those were the good 'ol days. #sobusy #whoneedssleep
January 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM
If only I was as busy as I was when I was a baby agent and first thought, "Wow. I'm pretty busy." Those were the good 'ol days. #sobusy #whoneedssleep
This is so random, I know. I would love to acquire a crochet how-to book for cat accessories. If you have one please email me directly Cole @ theseymouragency (dot) com. #mswl #writingcommunity If you also have a platform, that’s a huge plus!
December 31, 2024 at 6:18 PM
This is so random, I know. I would love to acquire a crochet how-to book for cat accessories. If you have one please email me directly Cole @ theseymouragency (dot) com. #mswl #writingcommunity If you also have a platform, that’s a huge plus!
Last minute offer! What a fantastic way to wrap up the year. Now I'm off to make my favorite kind of phone call!!! #amagenting #writingcommunity
a woman in a blue coat stands in front of a house with the number 280 on it
ALT: a woman in a blue coat stands in front of a house with the number 280 on it
media.tenor.com
December 18, 2024 at 8:35 PM
Last minute offer! What a fantastic way to wrap up the year. Now I'm off to make my favorite kind of phone call!!! #amagenting #writingcommunity
Heads up! With @querytracker.bsky.social down on the 20th for updates, that feels like a good time for me to close for submissions. If you want to query me, make sure you do so before Friday. #amagenting #writingcommunity #mswl
December 17, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Heads up! With @querytracker.bsky.social down on the 20th for updates, that feels like a good time for me to close for submissions. If you want to query me, make sure you do so before Friday. #amagenting #writingcommunity #mswl
The news is out! Katherine (not on bluesky) hit #2 her first week out! WOOHOO!!!
December 12, 2024 at 3:03 PM
The news is out! Katherine (not on bluesky) hit #2 her first week out! WOOHOO!!!
I was on the call with the publisher letting one of my authors know they hit the NYTimes list. That was very enjoyable and I would very much like to do that again. Many times again. 🥰
a man is standing in a kitchen and saying `` i loved every second of it , you don 't even know ! ``
ALT: a man is standing in a kitchen and saying `` i loved every second of it , you don 't even know ! ``
media.tenor.com
December 11, 2024 at 9:51 PM
I was on the call with the publisher letting one of my authors know they hit the NYTimes list. That was very enjoyable and I would very much like to do that again. Many times again. 🥰
Given my current workload, I think I'm going to have to close to queries in January. But before I do, I'd love to acquire a super steamy, dark, why choose romance. *grabby hands* #MSWL #amagenting #writingcommunity
December 5, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Given my current workload, I think I'm going to have to close to queries in January. But before I do, I'd love to acquire a super steamy, dark, why choose romance. *grabby hands* #MSWL #amagenting #writingcommunity