Our Team
Elizabeth Copps, Founding Agent
In the summer of 2010, Elizabeth Copps did what any starry-eyed word nerd would do: she used her savings to move from Florida to New York City with the goal of doing something—anything—related to books.
When she was offered an internship with a boutique literary agency, she discovered her passion for publishing. For the past 15 years, Elizabeth has dedicated herself to the care and management of author careers. Her business philosophy is simple: to foster relationships across the industry that are equitable, transparent, and long-lasting.
She is excited to continue building Copps Literary Services and her list of award-winning clients from her current home of Denver, Colorado.
What Elizabeth is looking for: Thought-provoking stories with commercial appeal that spark discussion across adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction.
She loves lush, atmospheric prose and complex, vivid characters who are irreverent, witty, and wise. She's particularly excited by stories that blend genres in unexpected ways.
Generally, she is drawn to horror and speculative fiction that push boundaries and ask big questions. She’s interested in sharp social commentary, especially stories that explore identity and power through a genre lens. Send her macabre humor, gothic settings dripping with atmosphere, and petrifying psychological dramas. And, horror that reflects current socio-political and ecological issues. Anything that taps into our collective anxieties.
In adult and YA fiction, she enjoys modern twists on mythology + folklore (the darker the better). In middle grade, she’d like to see spooky stories with light magical elements that don't shy away from deeper themes while remaining age-appropriate.
Family dramas, stories centering around female friendship, and technology’s impact on relationships and identity are all compelling.
Additionally, both historical and contemporary projects that tackle social justice and/or mental health issues.
And, unexpected romances are always fun to see, i.e. "The Dead Romantics", “Love, Theoretically”, and “Butcher and Blackbird”.
Elizabeth is NOT seeking: cozy mysteries, poetry, political thrillers, hard sci-fi, or epic fantasy projects.
Chelsey Emmelhainz, Agent
Chelsey Emmelhainz joined Copps Literary Services in 2021 after a decade as an editor of upmarket fiction and nonfiction. Upon graduating from the Denver Publishing Institute, she got her start at HarperCollins with William Morrow and Avon Books. She was most recently a senior editor at Crooked Lane Books.
As an editor, Chelsey worked on projects that cross the literary landscape: from Amish romance to upmarket thrillers and everything in between. Yet her true passion lies in helping authors refine their narratives to create compelling stories and advocating on their behalf. An editorial agent, she works tirelessly with authors to polish their work into commercial projects aimed at catching the eye of editors and publishers.
Chelsey is building a highly selective list, focused mainly on adult fiction and nonfiction. Regardless of genre, she is always looking for authentic storytelling and to elevate diverse voices.
Fiction: Chelsey loves high-concept adult fiction that expertly weaves complex, layered conflicts into a fast-paced narrative. She wants to see what your characters do when pushed to their limits. Her target genres include: horror, supernatural thriller, suspense, mystery, romance, and upmarket commercial fiction. Her ideal projects feature fresh, high-concept hooks and multifaceted, layered conflicts. She is especially interested in unique takes on modern relationships—be they romantic, platonic, or familial.
Nonfiction: While drawn to adult narrative nonfiction that features strong storytelling and author voice, Chelsey is ultimately seeking projects that aim to entertain while they educate. She gravitates toward American history, hidden history, true crime, platform-driven nonfiction in the social sciences (especially concerning politics, feminism, and social justice), as well as deep dives into specific subjects with a prescriptive approach, aiming to help the reader live a better life, such as Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus. Regardless of topic, Chelsey’s nonfiction authors bring a well-rounded platform and unparalleled expertise to their chosen subject matter.
Chelsey is NOT seeking: "Quiet" or “character driven” literary novels, fantasy and it's subgenres, political thrillers, military fiction, noir mysteries, short stories collections, science fiction, young adult, children's books, middle grade, poetry, graphic novels, or erotica.
For more information, view Chelsey’s latest Manuscript Wish List here.
Before submitting to Chelsey, be sure to review the CLS submission guidelines here.
Connect with Chelsey on Twitter or through Manuscript Academy.
*Chelsey is currently closed to queries.
Nicole Payne, Agent
Many moons ago, a book-loving nerd was given a chance to live out her childhood dream of being a literary agent. Starting from reader to intern, Nicole Payne ultimately became an agent in the summer of 2016. Now she embarks on a new journey, joining Copps Literary Services in 2023.
What Nicole is looking for: Stories that have amazing voice, killer plot, magical words, and a uniqueness that can’t be matched. She focuses on young adult and adult fiction novels that specialize in romance, women’s fiction, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller and speculative fiction. She also hopes to receive more diverse voices and stories.
As she slowly delves into the nonfiction waters, Nicole would love to see more science-based books, especially in biology and forensics, as well as medicine, travel, and cookbooks.
Nicole is NOT seeking: early readers, middle grade, political novels, or erotica.
Milo Szyszka, Reader
Milo Szyszka first found his passion for publishing in childhood when he made books ‘written’ by several of his stuffed animals (author photos + drawings included) published under his fabricated publisher, stocked only on his bedroom’s bookshelf.
In 2024, he was offered the amazing opportunity to work with Copps Literary Services as a reader. Prior to this, he interned with journals and publishers such as Inverted Syntax, Spears Books, and Switchback Books, and worked as a freelance editor.
His tastes are vast and varied, but mainly center around speculative stories, such as horror (gothic, folk, paranormal, cosmic, etc.) and fantasy (dark, cozy to epic, fabulist, etc.). He especially loves literary stories with (many/heavy) speculative elements, stories from queer and BIPOC perspectives, and stories tackling social justice issues.