“Trust that the reader gets it and move on!“
—Ashley Lopez, Massie McQuilkin & Altman Literary Agents
Every other year, the Writers’ League of Texas brings notable literary agents and book editors to Austin for its Agents & Editors Conference. As we look ahead to the 31st A&E Conference, taking place June 26–28, 2026, we’re happy to share Q&As with some of our visiting agents and editors here.
An Interview with Ashley Lopez
Ashley Lopez is an agent at Massie McQuilkin & Altman Literary Agents with over a decade of publishing experience. Formerly the Director of Foreign Rights and an agent at WLA Books, she has worked on international and New York Times bestsellers, bringing a global perspective to her authors. Ashley received her MFA in Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College. A member of the Association of American Literary Agents, Ashley represents literary and book club fiction, grounded speculative, horror, thrillers, narrative and practical nonfiction, as well as select poetry and YA.
How would you describe your personal approach to working with an author?
Ashley Lopez: Curiosity-led. I want to understand why authors are making these choices on the page so I can help them make better ones. As an editorially-minded agent, I can’t make a manuscript a more honest version of itself without a clear understanding of the author’s compulsions. I want to know what’s important to them when we’re launching their book and what doesn’t feel as exciting. And I want them to feel comfortable enough to be honest with me so that I can feel trusted enough to give tough love when necessary.
What do you look for in a debut author?
AL: I look for authors who have a strong sense of what their book is and what they themselves are offering. There can be a kind of “I’ll be anything you want me to be” quality to some first-time authors, which is completely understandable. It’s a high hurdle out of the unsolicited query pile and into the head and heart of an agent. But if the author doesn’t have a sense of what they want and what will work for them, I’m afraid I won’t be able to help shape their career authentically.
What’s one piece of advice you find yourself giving time and time again?
AL: “The reader already knows this.” So many authors (and people generally) spend so much precious page space (and so much of their one wild and precious life) repeating information that has been absorbed. Trust that the reader gets it and move on!
What excites you the most about the publishing industry today?
AL: The people. There’s such incredible talent and so many generous minds in this industry.
Tell us about a recent book/project that you worked on that excited you and you want everyone to know about?
AL: My author P. Paramita’s debut novel APPETITE is coming out from The Dial Press on August 4, 2026. The way this book came together was not the norm. Paramita first connected with Dial through their open submissions period, and the editor who eventually bought the book loved it. But the novel also needed more time to cook (editorially speaking) before a publisher could seriously consider it for their list. That’s where I came in. Three rounds of revisions and a title change later, Dial said yes. APPETITE is shaping up to do really well—the cover is STUNNING—and I’m so excited for this novel to be in the world. It’s one of those rare experiences in publishing where the right people all came together to launch an author who really wanted this and was willing to put in the work.
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Thanks, Ashley!
Click here for more information on the 2026 Agents & Editors Conference, a weekend-long event in Austin, TX (June 26-28) that focuses on the craft of writing, the business of publishing, and building a literary community.
