An image of Kat, a smiling white woman with long, wavy, dark blonde hair, wearing a dark blue dress with peach, white, and teal flowers and a denim jacket, holding two books with pages facing out. She is standing in front of an old stone/brick wall that is grey with bits of light terra cotta.

ABOUT ME

Kathleen Foxx: creator, editor, and literary agent.

I close my query inbox intermittently to try and keep up with queries.

Please have a look at the MSWL page before querying.

If you’ve been referred, please follow the instructions provided by your referrer.

I’ve recently started a Substack newsletter! I’m aiming for about once a month for a free newsletter that will cover all the things: writing, editing, and querying advice; industry news and hot topics; book news; and just how to navigate this industry in general. Paid subscribers get access to comment and chat features and can submit their queries to be critiqued in another monthly newsletter that only paid subscribers receive, encouraging growth, sharing, and learning. Founding members also get a query and synopsis review OR a review of their first ten pages. Subscribe below!

Subscribe to Kat’s Keynotes Here!

In early 2023, I joined The Rights Factory in Toronto. I bring writing, editing, executive management, and administrative experience to my role, in addition to being on a fabulous team of agent colleagues, furthering my ability to combine two of my biggest passions: storytelling and helping others succeed.

Before dipping my toes into the literary world, I began a career in executive management in the hotel and tourism industry, but it left my creativity begging for attention. I spent time living and travelling in Brazil and around the U.S. as well as living in western and northern Canada for fifteen years before returning to my roots in southern Ontario in 2019. I’ve since become a freelance fiction editor, and am now on the Story Nerd podcast team talking about all things writing and publishing and critiquing listeners’ queries and first ten pages on the show. Previously, I was the host and producer of the #badasswriters podcast, audio editor for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast, and co-founder/organizer/host of the first moodboard pitch event on Twitter, #MoodPitch. I’ve also proofread for a Canadian indie press. I’m the previous Primary Co-chair of Editors Canada Hamilton-Halton and International Rep for Crime Writers of Canada, both in 2022-23. I’m mostly on Instagram these days and have just started being more present on Substack. I also have a Substack newsletter called Kat’s Keynotes! (Subscribe to that today for all kinds of writerly advice, news, and more!)

Other than the above-mentioned things (and obviously reading!), I enjoy travelling, photography, creative cooking, hiking, and spending summers in Ontario’s beautiful cottage country. I’m a proud mom of five kids and two rescue kitties, Charlie and Ahsoka. A romantic to my core, I consider myself mostly country with a bit of big city splash, and am convinced my old soul resides somewhere in old world Europe.

I’m building my list of exceptionally talented authors! See my current client list here. I’m dedicated, professional, and an advocate and cheerleader for others. Recently, in true Kat fashion, I began hosting a client portal for my literary clients, providing a private space for camaraderie, connection, and inspiration with some beneficial apps for my TeamKat siblings to learn, grow, share, and thrive! Want to be a part of the team? See my manuscript wish list for details on what categories, genres, and elements I’m seeking!

(Image Credit: Layne Beckner)

NEWS!

QUERIES: To keep my inbox manageable, I will close intermittently (roughly every 300 queries received) to ensure I can go through them in a reasonable amount of time.

Note that I will no longer be able to respond to each and every query; if you don’t hear from me by 12 weeks, feel free to nudge. If you don’t hear from me another 4 weeks after that, please consider it a pass.

NEW!

In April 2026, I joined the Story Nerd podcast with Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, both authors and editors. Every Friday during the Hook Your Reader segment, I’ll be talking all things writing and publishing and critiquing queries and first ten pages. Sometimes we’ll have AMA episodes where listeners can send in their questions. For more details on how to submit, head to Valerie’s website and subscribe to her newsletter!

SUBMIT QUERYING, PUBLISHING, OR EDITING QUESTIONS USING THIS FORM! I’ll answer as many as I can in stories on my socials (mostly Instagram, FB, and Threads if it’s a post) and possibly also the Story Nerd podcast.

Did you know I’m also a freelance professional editor? I’ve been trying to ramp up my social media presence lately as I know I’ve been lacking (it’s so time-consuming!), and some posts I share or collaborate with my editorial account because it’s all connected in terms of being helpful to writers. Probably the most helpful posts are my #WordcraftWednesdays and #FoundationalFridays. The former focuses on line-level advice and the latter is for big-picture elements. I’m starting to upload wee videos of these slides/carousels to my You Tube channel (Foxx Editorial) to offer just a bit more advice than in the social media posts, so if that sounds like it might be helpful to you, check it out here. Don’t forget to like and subscribe if you want to see more! For now, it’ll just be #WordcraftWednesdays but I’m thinking I’ll likely add a #FoundationalFridays playlist as well. It’s bite-sized advice to help writers improve their writing and storytelling skills.

(You can also check out the original posts on her Literary Kat and Foxx Editorial IG, FB, and Threads!)

INTERVIEW: Recently, I spoke with Valerie Francis on the Story Nerd podcast. Catch the episode here where we chat all about querying, agenting, and more! (This is the interview that led to Valerie asking me to join the podcast fam!)

INTERVIEW: I was recently interviewed by Katrina Couch for her Substack newsletter, The Aspiring Life. Read the full interview here to find out more about what makes me excited to find new clients, the realities of querying and self-publishing, and my advice for authors!

CONFERENCE UPDATES: Unfortunately, I have decided to cancel my attendance at American conferences for the foreseeable future. Given the current political climate and state of civil unrest in America, which seems to be worsening on nearly a daily basis the longer Trump is in office, I am not comfortable crossing into America at this time when my location and citizenship will be publicly known. I also personally know of some Canadians in various areas of America (including Florida, where I was headed for one conference) who have been wintering there for years and have now had friends and neighbours turn on them, bullying and targeting them simply for being Canadian because of Trump’s ridiculous notion that he can snap his fingers and annex Canada. In addition to concerns for my safety and wellbeing, I don’t wish to economically support a country that is attempting to take over our own, at least as much as I can help it. This has been a very distressing time for me as I’ve been deciding what to do because I don’t want to disappoint anyone, but I must prioritize my safety and peace of mind and that of my spouse and five young kids.

I do hope things get better in the USA so that Canadians and other foreigners can visit without feeling unsafe. With Trump at the helm, that is very unlikely. Perhaps when his term is up, and provided none of his minions have slithered into his place, I’ll be back doing in-person conferences in America. It’s rather unfortunate that he’s negatively impacting so many lives, relationships, and businesses, and please know that this is nothing personal against any authors who were looking forward to connecting with me!

Want to know what kinds of things I look for in opening pages? Check out this post on my editorial site, Foxx Editorial!

So far, I’ve confirmed my attendance at several conferences in 2025, both in person and online. Here’s where you can meet up with me:

JANUARY

24th – Jericho Writers Agent Critiques: Query, Synopsis, First 5pgs

FEBRUARY

8th – San Diego Writing Workshop (online), taking pitches

28th – Jericho Writers Agent Critiques: Query, Synopsis, First 5pgs

MARCH

28th -Jericho Writers Agent Critiques: Query, Synopsis, First 5pgs

APRIL

5th – Toronto Writer’s Conference (in person), taking pitches, panel participation

MAY

3rd – Detroit Writer’s Conference (in person), taking pitches, panel participation

14th-18th – Sleuthfest, St. Petersburg, FL (in person), taking pitches, providing critiques, panel participation

AUGUST

21st-24th – Killer Nashville (in person), taking pitches, participating in agent roundtables and panels, providing critiques

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2025 – there are some plans in the works, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Stay tuned for more news about conferences!

I attended the 2024 Killer Nashville International Writers Conference again this year. I also had a bit more time to explore Nashville and surrounding areas, and it’s beautiful! I’ll be heading back again next year and can’t wait! This conference will always hold a special place in my heart as will Clay Stafford, its founder and host, because attending it in 2023 helped kick-start my agenting career and it’s where I met one of my first clients, Kathryn Caraway! Although she decided to self-publish in the end, I’m grateful for the chance to work with her on this book, which is now out in the world: Unfollow Me.

  • Kat standing in front of a mirror wearing tight-fitting dark blue dress pants and an ivory sleeveless top with tiny blue pinstripes.
    Friday outfit!
  • Kat, a white woman with short blonde hair, stands with her hands on her hip in front of an old white truck with orange and yellow fruit and flowers in the truck bed. She's wearing a grey v-neck Nashville t-shirt and short denim shorts and brown cowboy boots, as well as sunglasses. She's smiling.
    Kat in downtown Nashville at Pearl’s Summer Spritz fruit truck!
  • Close-up of a smiling Kat (white woman, smiling with teeth, wearing sunglasses) with Luke Bryan's bar sign behind her. She's on a rooftop patio.
    Kat at Luke Bryan’s rooftop bar
  • A room full of banquet tables and authors with people speaking on stage.
    2024 Killer Nashville Awards Dinner
  • A room full of banquet tables and authors with people speaking on stage.
    2024 Killer Nashville Awards Dinner
  • A darkened room full of people at a social event at Killer Nashville.
    Shine ‘n’ Wine Shindig
  • A large Greek style building, exact replica of the columned Parthenon.
    Parthenon
  • A large Greek style building, exact replica of the columned Parthenon.
    Parthenon
  • Rob and Kat standing in front of the massive electric guitar in front of the Grand Ol' Oprey. Kat is on the right wearing a knee-length white dress and light denim vest and brown cowboy boots, Rob is on the left wearing a blue t-shirt, hat, and dark shorts. Both are smiling and wearing sunglasses. Standing in the shade.
    Grand Ol’ Oprey
  • Rob on the left (white man, hair slicked back, beard and moustache, wearing a blue striped button-down shirt and grey dress pants) and Kat on the right (white woman, short blonde hair, glasses, wearing a plum-coloured dress with a low-cut v-neckline). Standing in front of the Embassy Suites hotel. Both are smiling.
    All Snazzed Up for the Awards Dinner!
  • Kat standing in front of a mirror wearing black dress pants and a beautiful sequined sleeveless top with flowers on the front
    Saturday Outfit!
  • Kat in front of a mirror wearing off-white pants and a salmon-coloured sleeveless top
    Sunday Outfit!

✨ D E A L N E W S !!! ✨

In my second deal of the year (and since I began agenting less than a year ago), I’m stoked to announce that my client Nicole’s MOM BRAIN has been acquired in a two-book deal by Harper Muse! This is a joint deal between me and my mentor and The Rights Factory CEO, Sam Hiyate.

A pink and seafoam green graphic in the background of Hawaiian flowers. Text at top: ANNOUNCEMENT. A screenshot from Publisher's Marketplace that reads: Publisher's Marketplace Deal Report. Category: Fiction: General/Other. August 26, 2024. MOM BRAIN by Nicole Hackett. Imprint: Harper Muse. Author of THE PERFECT ONES Nicole Hackett's MOM BRAIN, in which a struggling mother uncovers the disturbing truth about a luxury Hawaiian retreat for overworked moms, to Laura Wheeler at Harper Muse, in a two-book deal, by Sam Hiyate and Kathleen Foxx at The Rights Factory (world English). Film/TV: karmen@therightsfactory.com. Translation: milly@therightsfactory.com

✨ D E A L N E W S !!! ✨

I’m SO THRILLED to share my very first deal announcement! So proud of you, Emily!

So far, I’ve confirmed my attendance at several conferences in 2024, both in-person and online. Here’s where you can meet up with me:

FEBRUARY

10th – Boston Writer’s Conference (online), taking pitches

17th – Southern California Writer’s Conference (online), providing online critiques

APRIL

5th – Buffalo Writer’s Conference (in-person), taking pitches, panel participation

MAY

11th – Ohio Writer’s Conference (online), taking pitches

1st – Pittsburgh Writer’s Conference (online), taking pitches

AUGUST

22-25 – Killer Nashville (in-person), taking pitches, participating in agent roundtables and panels, providing critiques

SEPTEMBER

25-29 – Sleuthfest, St. Petersburg, FL (in-person), taking pitches, participating in pitch tank and agent roundtables, providing critiques

As of Tuesday, October 3, 2023, I’m *officially open to queries* through Query Manager. You can submit your query and related materials to me here.

I’m also on the Manuscript Wishlist website at https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/kathleen-foxx/

The official announcement is out! What timing, too—on my birthday!

BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER.

An eggshell-white background with a screenshot of PublishersLunch: The Rights Factory, Kathleen (Kat) Foxx and Jes Trudel join as assistant agents. (Other text to the top and bottom of this announcement is blurred out as it is irrelevant.)
A screenshot from Quill & Quire: Industry News: Personnel Changes: The Rights Factory. Kathleen (Kat) Foxx joins The Rights Factory as an assistant agent. Previously, she was an editorial assistant at the agency and is a freelance fiction editor. Jes Trudel also joins as assistant agent. Previously, she was a freelance editor and an editorial assistant at the agency.

I recently joined David Gwinn for an interview and review of an author’s query and opening page on his Thriller 101 podcast. *Of course* the episode aired on my birthday 🤩, so I got to share that with the writing community that day, as well as my literary agent and first client signing announcements. Check it out here! >>> Thriller 101

Kat attended the 2023 Killer Nashville international writers conference from Aug 17-20! She critiqued a ton of first two pages, did ten agent roundtables to provide constructive feedback in small groups, and spoke on three panels and one breakout session. It was an incredible experience and a fantastic way to get her feet wet and meet some talented authors!

  • The TSNOTYAW crowd at Parnassus Books!
  • Kat, writer Hannah, agent Cece
  • Hannah and Kat
  • Kat about to go to the Killer Nashville awards dinner!
  • The Killer Nasvhille 2023 awards dinner program
  • The Killer Nashville Awards dinner – 1
  • The Killer Nashville Awards dinner – 2
  • Lovely friends at the awards dinner!
  • Kat giving a speech on never giving up: patience, persistence, and perseverance.
  • Kat outfit 1
  • Cece and Kat
  • Cece, Kat, and publisher Alex Brown
  • Kat answering questions on a panel
  • Kat Sunday outfit

I keep my editing and agenting clients separate to avoid a conflict of interest.

This means I’m unable to offer representation on a full manuscript I’ve been hired to edit, and I would never charge a literary client to edit their manuscript.

That said, if you’ve hired me for critiques of your query, synopsis, or opening pages, you are more than welcome to query me with the same project. Agents do this all the time through places like Manuscript Academy, conferences, etc., but paid work to edit an entire manuscript cannot lead to representing that manuscript.

MORE INFO AND CONTACT DETAILS

For additional tips on writing, editing, and querying, check out foxxeditorial.com, follow me on socials, sign up for my Substack newsletter, and listen to the Story Nerd podcast!

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