About us

Dustin Grinnell is an American author with a background in research and science writing. He’s the author of The Healing Book (Finishing Line Press, 2023), the sci-fi thriller The Empathy Academy (Atmosphere Press, 2022), and the personal essay collection, Lost & Found (Peter Lang Group). He also hosts Curiously, a podcast that explores ideas at the intersection of science, art, and culture. Dustin holds an MFA in fiction from Lasell University’s Solstice Program, an MS in physiology from Penn State, and a BA in psychobiology from Wheaton College (MA).

Dustin is a lifelong science fiction fan raised on Michael Crichton, Ray Bradbury, The X-Files, and Black Mirror. He’s drawn to near-future sci-fi, technology-driven thrillers, and high-stakes medical dramas. While he loves conceptually rich, idea-driven science fiction, he’s equally interested in stories that explore love in all its forms, not just romance but also the bonds between friends and family. Think the movies Her, Arrival, and Interstellar. 

As an agent, Dustin seeks plot-driven narratives over lyrical or language-focused work. While his passion lies in speculative fiction rooted in science, he’s not the right fit for epic fantasy, magical realism, or fiction centered on cultural discourse and identity politics.

 

Sam Cooke is a Boston-based author and literary agent specializing in Young Adult fiction. Her YA debut, Love Always, Bailey (World Castle Publishing, 2023), became an Amazon bestseller across all formats. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lasell University’s Solstice Program and a BA in Theatre from the University of Central Florida. She now lives in Winthrop, MA with her cats and coaches group fitness classes.

Originally from the beaches of Florida, Sam is drawn to stories where setting and place act as their own character. In the YA space, she’s particularly interested in novels centered around relationships—familial, romantic, or otherwise—and seeks stories that speak honestly to the young adult experience. Think Morgan Matson, Sarah Dessen, and Nina LaCour.

In the adult market, she’s open to select New Adult romances that explore both the chaos and the beauty of life’s messier moments—à la Emily Henry.

While she loves picture books as a preschool teacher, she is not currently seeking them as an agent. She is also not looking for fantasy unless it’s grounded and character-driven, similar in tone to The Loop series by Ben Oliver.