Mackenzie Brady Watson

Selected Titles
HIDDEN FIGURES: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space RaceHIDDEN FIGURES: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space RaceWE WERE ONCE A FAMILY: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in AmericaWE WERE ONCE A FAMILY: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in AmericaWHOEVER YOU ARE, HONEYWHOEVER YOU ARE, HONEYEMOTIONAL LABOREMOTIONAL LABORTHE DARK QUEENS: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval WorldTHE DARK QUEENS: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval WorldPROMISES OF GOLDPROMISES OF GOLDTHE BOYS IN THE LIGHTTHE BOYS IN THE LIGHTTHE LAST KINGS OF HOLLYWOODTHE LAST KINGS OF HOLLYWOODAFTER THE LAST BORDERAFTER THE LAST BORDERA ZOOM WITH A VIEWA ZOOM WITH A VIEWBIRDS OF AMERICABIRDS OF AMERICACITY LIMITSCITY LIMITSTHE HEADACHETHE HEADACHEMANY LOVEMANY LOVE

Mackenzie began her career in publishing in 2010 and spent 10 years at Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency before it merged with DeFiore & Co in 2026. Her clients have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, and frequently win or are finalists for some of publishing’s highest honors, such as the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the NBCC Award, ALA Carnegie Medal, various PEN awards, and the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize.

She is actively looking for compelling, deeply researched narrative non-fiction that guides readers toward a better understanding of the societal forces and systems that shape their lives, whether it takes the form of "big idea" books, literary journalism, feminist history, science, or cultural criticism. 

On the fiction side, she is interested in stories that are deeply rooted in place (especially if that place is Maine), examine the formative relationships (romantic or platonic) of youth or the lives we could’ve led. She’s also hungry for literary mystery, a juicy love triangle, and anything that can make her laugh. 

In addition to being an agent, she is also a Founding Board Member of the 501(c)(3) non-profit INKLUDED, whose mission is to make the publishing industry more accessible and inclusive.

Query instructions:

Please send your query letter and either your full proposal (for non-fiction) or 20 pages of your manuscript (for fiction/poetry) in the body of an email addressed to mbwquery@skagency.com. Please also disclose the nature of any AI use in your initial query. Mackenzie aims to read all queries within two weeks. If at any point you receive an offer of representation, please let Mackenzie know. Unfortunately, due to the volume of queries she receives, she will be in touch only if she’s interested in reading more material.