Our Team
Elizabeth Copps, Founding Agent
In the summer of 2010, Elizabeth Copps did what any starry-eyed word nerd would do: she used her savings to move from Florida to New York City with the goal of doing something—anything—related to books.
When she was offered an internship with a boutique literary agency, she discovered her passion for publishing. For over a decade, Elizabeth has dedicated herself to the care and management of author careers. Her business philosophy is simple: to foster relationships across the industry that are equitable, transparent, and long-lasting.
She is excited to continue to build Copps Literary Services and her list of award-winning and eclectic clients from her current home of Denver, Colorado.
What Elizabeth is looking for: Fresh takes on timeless plots; stories that are thought provoking and discussion spurring. She loves complex characters who are brimming with personality and burst off the page. Who are irreverent and dark. Smart and sarcastic. Creative and wise.
She specializes in humorous and heartfelt contemporary novels, horror, and historical fiction for middle grade and adult audiences. She is also partial to gut-busting romantic comedies. In nonfiction, she loves platform-driven memoir and biography, as well as policy-driven, narrative nonfiction.
Elizabeth is NOT seeking: cozy mysteries, poetry, political thrillers, hard sci-fi, or epic fantasy projects.
For specifics, view Elizabeth’s latest Manuscript Wish List here.
Before submitting to Elizabeth, be sure to review the CLS submission guidelines here.
Connect with Elizabeth on Twitter
*Elizabeth is currently closed to queries.
Chelsey Emmelhainz, Agent
Chelsey Emmelhainz joined Copps Literary Services in 2021 after a decade as an editor of upmarket fiction and nonfiction. Upon graduating from the Denver Publishing Institute, she got her start at HarperCollins with William Morrow and Avon Books. She was most recently a senior editor at Crooked Lane Books.
As an editor, Chelsey worked on projects that cross the literary landscape: from Amish romance to upmarket thrillers and everything in between. Yet her true passion lies in helping authors refine their narratives to create compelling stories and advocating on their behalf. An editorial agent, she works tirelessly with authors to polish their work into commercial projects aimed at catching the eye of editors and publishers.
Chelsey is building a highly selective list, focused mainly on adult fiction and nonfiction. Regardless of genre, she is always looking for authentic storytelling and to elevate diverse voices.
Fiction: Chelsey loves high-concept adult fiction that expertly weaves complex, layered conflicts into a fast-paced narrative. She wants to see what your characters do when pushed to their limits. Her target genres include: horror, supernatural thriller, suspense, mystery, romance, and upmarket commercial fiction. Her ideal projects feature fresh, high-concept hooks and multifaceted, layered conflicts. She is especially interested in unique takes on modern relationships—be they romantic, platonic, or familial.
Nonfiction: While drawn to adult narrative nonfiction that features strong storytelling and author voice, Chelsey is ultimately seeking projects that aim to entertain while they educate. She gravitates toward American history, hidden history, true crime, platform-driven nonfiction in the social sciences (especially concerning politics, feminism, and social justice), as well as deep dives into specific subjects with a prescriptive approach, aiming to help the reader live a better life, such as Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus. Regardless of topic, Chelsey’s nonfiction authors bring a well-rounded platform and unparalleled expertise to their chosen subject matter.
Chelsey is NOT seeking: "Quiet" or “character driven” literary novels, fantasy and it's subgenres, political thrillers, military fiction, noir mysteries, short stories collections, science fiction, young adult, children's books, middle grade, poetry, graphic novels, or erotica.
For more information, view Chelsey’s latest Manuscript Wish List here.
Before submitting to Chelsey, be sure to review the CLS submission guidelines here.
Connect with Chelsey on Twitter or through Manuscript Academy.
*Chelsey is currently closed to queries.
Maeve MacLysaght, Agent & Foreign Rights Manager
In the summer of 2015, an intern showed up on the doorstep of a boutique literary agency and talked Elizabeth Copps into letting her stay. Several years later, having worked across the publishing industry and several coasts in foreign rights, sales, production, and most recently as an agent at Ladderbird Literary, Maeve MacLysaght has once again landed on the doorstep--this time at Elizabeth's persuading.
Maeve is a queer ex-classicist based in Oakland, CA. As an agent at Ladderbird Literary and now at CLS, her list is dedicated to increasing the amount of queer and BIPOC joy in the world.
What Maeve is looking for: Genre-blending commercial queer Fiction in YA/MG/Adult/Graphic Novels with a particular focus on BIPOC authors and authors of marginalized identities.
Maeve is NOT seeking: nonfiction, genre fiction that perpetuates the racist, colonial, imperialistic, sexist, ableist tropes of the past, non-intersectional representation; no victories at the expense of another group, or low stakes, excessive realism.
Nicole Payne, Agent
Many moons ago, a book-loving nerd was given a chance to live out her childhood dream of being a literary agent. Starting from reader to intern, Nicole Payne ultimately became an agent in the summer of 2016. Now she embarks on a new journey, joining Copps Literary Services in 2023.
What Nicole is looking for: Stories that have amazing voice, killer plot, magical words, and a uniqueness that can’t be matched. She focuses on young adult and adult fiction novels that specialize in romance, women’s fiction, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller and speculative fiction. She also hopes to receive more diverse voices and stories.
As she slowly delves into the nonfiction waters, Nicole would love to see more science-based books, especially in biology and forensics, as well as medicine, travel, and cookbooks.
Nicole is NOT seeking: early readers, middle grade, political novels, or erotica.