Regina Brooks, founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency, has been elected president of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA).
Brooks previously served as a board member and VP of the AALA, where she created its communications committee and helped lead the organization's name change and rebranding in 2020. In her VP role, she was instrumental in organizing the professional program track, alongside AALA’s Lynn Johnson, for the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Book Show, which AALA coproduced with show founder Publishers Weekly. Brooks is also a founding member of the AALA's nonprofit, Literary Agents of Change, and a board member of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP).
Brooks succeeds Jennifer Weltz of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, who is stepping down after serving as president from 2022-2024. Weltz will continue to serve on the board.
“I am honored to assume the presidency of the Association of American Literary Agents," said Brooks in a statement, adding: "Agents are a critical part of the publishing ecosystem, and I am committed to amplifying AALA's impact, while continuing our mission to empower and elevate literary agents through education, advocacy, and fostering a vibrant sense of community and celebration.”
In the same election, members of the AALA elected Tess Callero of Europa Content, Jemiscoe Chambers-Black of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Caroline Eisenmann of Frances Goldin Literary Agency to their first terms on the board of directors. Members also elected Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts of HG Literary, Sonali Chanchani of Folio Literary Management, Lynn Johnston of Lynn Johnston Literary, and Jennifer Weltz of JVNLA to their second terms on the board.
Following the AALA’s 2024 membership election, the board further nominated and confirmed Kelly Sonnack of Andrea Brown Literary Agency and Bendimerad Roberts as co-VPs, while Leslie Zampetti of Open Book Literary and Sam Stoloff of Frances Goldin Literary Agency were confirmed as remaining secretary and treasurer, respectively.
