Tali Shammas is a literary agent with Storm Literary Agency.
Tali grew up devouring books by flashlight long past her bedtime. After several years practicing corporate law, she returned to her childhood love: reading and writing fiction. She signed with her literary agency in 2025, and soon became entangled in the fast-paced publishing industry.
Tali interned with Creative Media Agency and joined Storm as an agent in 2026. With her legal knowledge and skills in client advocacy and contract negotiation, she looks forward to building a diverse client list.
Tali is looking to work with clients over the span of their careers and is not afraid of a writer who wants to explore multiple genres. She is an editorial agent who loves to sink her teeth into a great manuscript and work with the writer to make the story shine.
Tali is a champion for underrepresented voices, and she gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. She also co-hosts a literary podcast called The Prose Pros.
Tali lives with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels.
Tali’s favourite authors include V.E. Schwab, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Alix E. Harrow, Nisha J. Tuli, Holly Black, Shelley Parker-Chan, Tracy Deonn, M.L. Wang, Rachel Gillig, Mona Awad, Ava Reid, Leigh Bardugo, Erin Morgenstern, Stephanie Garber, C.G. Drews, T. Kingfisher, Andrew Joseph White, Ashley Winstead, Liz Moore, Andrea Bartz, Carley Fortune, Lily King, and many more!
Tali is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA).
Submission Guidelines
Please submit to only one Storm agent at a time. Once an agent passes on a submission, you may submit to another agent (but only one agent can and will consider at a time). Thank you.
I am drawn to commercial hooks, lyrical writing, and voice-y characters who jump off the page and pull you in. I love books that weave in folk stories and mythologies, particularly those underrepresented in literature. Similarly, I am interested in non-Western settings. In fantasy, I adore a unique magic system. I am also a big fan of books about books. Across all genres and age groups, I would love to see projects from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, neurodiverse, and chronically ill communities. Specific wishes include:
Adult fiction:
Fantasy (all sub-genres)
Horror
Sci-fi
Thriller
Mystery
Romance/romcom
Suspense
Women’s fiction
Upmarket/book club fiction
And genre blends combining any of the above
Ultra specific asks in Adult fiction:
High-stakes fantasy where characters face impossible decisions
Boundary-pushing Queer horror, like Andrew Joseph White
Weird girl fiction, like Callie Kazumi and Monika Kim
Eco-fiction, including cottage gore and botanical body horror (think the aesthetic of the movie Gaia)
Thrillers with extremely high-concept hooks, like Marisa Walz’s GOOD INTENTIONS and Caro Claire Burke’s YESTERYEAR
Unhinged female protagonists, like Marisa Kashino’s BEST OFFER WINS
Young Adult fiction:
Stories that grapple with faith, sexuality, and/or cultural identity, like Ahmad Saber’s RAMIN ABBAS HAS MAJOR QUESTIONS
Mystery thrillers that keep me turning the page, like Katie Bernet’s BETH IS DEAD (retellings or not)
Stories that broach topics like neurodivergence and sexuality in an authentic way, like Andrew Joseph White’s THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH
Psychological horror that reads like a dark fairy tale, like C.G. Drews’s DON’T LET THE FOREST IN
Middle Grade fiction:
Fantasy, especially fairytale and myth retellings
Plot- and character-driven stories with literary writing and commercial appeal
Stories featuring boys as main characters
Action/adventure stories, especially those heavy on humour
Disability/neurodiverse/chronic illness representation
Stories that celebrate diverse cultures
Nonfiction wishlist:
Funny, authentic, and brutally honest stories, like anything by Jenny Lawson and Belle Burden’s STRANGERS
Unique and niche topics
Coffee table books