Alison MacKeen

Alison MacKeen represents idea-driven books that cast new light on fundamental features of human experience—from well-being to work, relationships to inequality, cognition to communication—often by approaching them from unexpected angles. She is also actively looking for literary non-fiction, including memoir, which introduces readers to under-covered and unfamiliar people, places, and issues; voice-driven cultural criticism, including essays; and offbeat “wisdom literature.”

Alison is privileged to represent a range of talented thinkers and writers. She takes huge pleasure in working with them to hone compelling proposals and connecting them with the editors who have the vision and commitment to help them realize their books’ full potential. Recent deals have included Avery, Crown, FSG, Little Brown, Penguin Press, Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and W.W. Norton.

Before joining Calligraph, she was an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic and Park & Fine Literary and Media. Prior to that, she held editorial positions at Yale University Press, Princeton University Press, and Basic Books, among others.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Alison studied literature at McGill University and the University of Oxford before migrating to New York City, where she lives with her partner, kids, and cat.