Lindsay Guzzardo, Founder
Literary Agent, Adult Fiction & Nonfiction
Lindsay Guzzardo began her career as an editor at Penguin. Through tenures at Penguin/Signet, Guideposts Books, and Amazon Publishing, she acquired and edited numerous bestselling and acclaimed titles, particularly in commercial fiction, women's fiction, and romance. She edited Guideposts Books’ first New York Times bestseller, A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh, and was one of the original editors brought onboard at Amazon Publishing, where she was pivotal in launching the Montlake Romance and Lake Union imprints. At Amazon, she acquired debut romantic suspense author Kendra Elliot, whose titles have sold 13 million+ copies, and Marina Adair's bestselling “Vineyard Series,” which was adapted into a hit movie trilogy for the Hallmark Channel.
Now a literary agent of adult fiction and nonfiction, Lindsay applies her comprehensive market knowledge and keen editorial instinct to identify and nurture exciting talent for Keystone Lit.
She is drawn to high-concept, commercial premises well told and will consider adult fiction and narrative nonfiction with a clear, marketable, compelling hook, and strong voice. Her personal tastes align with the following:
Fiction:
- Retellings of classic stories (either modern retellings or classic stories told from a different character’s perspective)
- Beach reads
- Fiction exploring family dynamics and relationships (particularly mothers/daughters and sisters)
- Amish romance/fiction
- Wholesome, clean fiction and romance
- Cozy, charming, small-town romance/fiction
- Rich, evocative historical fiction
- Fiction featuring historical figures
- European-set fiction, any era and tone
- Dark psychological and domestic suspense
- Family dramas that interweave past and present
Nonfiction proposals welcome from journalists and field experts in:
- History
- Biography
- Science
- Sports
- Narrative nonfiction
- Memoirs (must have a strong platform)
Note: Lindsay accepts submissions the first week of the month. Please submit via Query Manager.
Follow her on X/Twitter.
Read Darling Axe's interview with Lindsay here.
Lauren Colbaugh
Business Administrator
As Keystone's business administrator, Lauren Colbaugh brings organization and precision to the agency's operations. She holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering and has worked in the aerospace field. Her organizational strengths and love of reading made her a natural fit to support her sister Lindsay's agency.