Stephanie Winter, Agent at KO Media Management

Stephanie Winter is a multi-passionate booklover, specializing in visual works across genres and age categories, including graphic novels and nonfiction. From horror and thrillers to queer romance, her tastes in prose and illustration are varied and expansive. Stephanie holds a BA in English from the University of Toronto, a MA in English: Issues in Modern Culture from University College London, UK, and is a member of the Toronto Comic Arts Festival Board of Directors. Stephanie joined the KOMM team in early 2024 and brings with her 10+ years of combined academic, publishing, and bookselling experience.

Stephanie is primarily acquiring across three pillars: adult fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. She’s actively seeking titles with diverse and inclusive representation that offer smart, culturally aware, and enriching narratives. In fiction, she particularly enjoys Commercial and Upmarket projects (Rom-Coms, Thriller/Suspense, etc.) that offer millennial and/or queer-affirming perspectives. In nonfiction, she’s on the hunt for Pop Culture, Cultural Criticism, millennial Business and Finance, Narrative Nonfiction, How-To, and Lifestyle projects. Overall, she’s looking for stories that will engage with and change the way we view the world around us.

     

Member Reviews of Stephanie

Provides Thoughtful Query Review

I booked a 10-minute consultation with Stephanie Winter regarding my query letter. It was a wonderful experience in every way. I have missed being able to attend writing conferences in person and sometimes–okay, more than sometimes–it’s disheartening to get a rejection or to hear nothing from agents I query, particularly when the process feels so impersonal. I much prefer face-to-face interaction and this is as good as it gets for now.

Stephanie was kind and thoughtful in the feedback she provided. I’ve tweaked by query letter accordingly. It’s well worth a small investment to get more insight into whether a query letter is intriguing agents or causing them to quickly press the delete button as though it were a warmup for competing on “Family Feud.” I paid for this consultation as a personal gift last Christmas, a time of year when I can feel generous, even to myself. So glad I did!

Gregory Walters

I canít say enough positive things about my consultation with Stephanie. She was encouraging about my work and provided actionable, well-reasoned feedback on areas I might think about tweaking. I loved hearing her thoughts on voice, in particular, and how she was willing to answer other questions about the industry as well! I could have kept asking her questions all day, but feel like we covered a ton in what time we did have! I would definitely recommend a consultation with Stephanie to any author looking for a pair of expert eyes.

Debbie Trecek Volkens
Debbie Trecek Volkens

I’m excited to proceed forward with confidence with the querying process.

I really enjoyed my 1-on-1 critique session with Stephanie Winter. I feel my manuscript 1st page has been “turbo-charged.” In a mere ten minutes, Stephanie combined her erudite literary insight, knowledge of the publishing industry, and experience as avid reader and writer’s advocate, while always displaying a diplomatic balance of both praise and criticism, for her succinct and powerful recommendations to improve the first page of my manuscript. Now that I see the result, I’m excited to proceed forward with confidence with the querying process.

Dave Elliott

I really enjoyed the 10-minute session to discuss my query letter with Stephanie Winter, who was so warm and kind. Her excellent insights and suggestions were incredibly valuable, and they were delivered in a way that made it clear she sympathizes with us writers trying to craft the perfect query. All through our conversation, Stephanie made me feel like she was in my corner, and because writing is usually such a solitary endeavor, that was especially appreciated.

Bud Jennings
Bud Jennings

A dream to work with!

Stephanie was lovely! Her feedback was efficient, constructive, and professional. I really appreciated how she addressed larger themes (voice) while also digging in at the line-level to really improve my first 250 words. I absolutely recommend her consultations. She was a dream to work with!

Emily Holewczynski
Emily Holewczynski

Stephanie was lovely! Her feedback was efficient, constructive, and professional. I really appreciated how she addressed larger themes (voice) while also digging in at the line-level to really improve my first 250 words. I absolutely recommend her consultations. She was a dream to work with!

Emily Holewczynski
Emily Holewczynski

Always constructive suggestions

Stephanie is great! I originally had her look at my first query attempt in late August. After a lot of changes and iterations, I wanted her to take a look again. She ALWAYS has constructive suggestions, delivered in a kind and encouraging manner.  I highly recommend Stephanie for anybody else seeking feedback.

Nancy Pellowski

Pinpoints Exact Query Improvements

Stehanie honed in exactly on what I needed to do to polish up my query. It’s amazing what can be learned in just ten minutes. Thanks Stephanie!

Deborah Norkin

Strengthens Writing with Detailed Advice

Stephanie Winter is an amazing and VERY talented agent. She offered such detailed and refined advice that truly strengthened my writing. She is sweet, welcoming, and enthusiastic. 10/10 would recommend to EVERYONE!

Arien Skiba
Arien Skiba

I canít say enough positive things about my consultation with Stephanie. She was encouraging about my work and provided actionable, well-reasoned feedback on areas I might think about tweaking. I loved hearing her thoughts on voice, in particular, and how she was willing to answer other questions about the industry as well! I could have kept asking her questions all day, but feel like we covered a ton in what time we did have! I would definitely recommend a consultation with Stephanie to any author looking for a pair of expert eyes.

Debbie Trecek Volkens
Debbie Trecek Volkens

Really helped strengthen my query!

I had a super session with Stephanie Winter. My novel is dual perspective, and I’ve struggled trying to get both protagonists stories in the query. But Stephanie provided some great ideas and really helped strengthen my query!

Linda Simoni-Wastila

Fixing Character Faults and Depth

Stephanie was personable and sweet during our conversation. She helped me realize some faults in my characters and suggested resources that could help me fix them.

Tobie Carter

Gives Actionable Query and Page Edits

Stephanie provided constructive, actionable feedback on my query letter and pages. Very helpful and I am working on incorporating the changes that she suggested.

Brandon Keller
Brandon Keller

Prepared, Informative, and Supportive

My consult with Stephanie Winter was everything I could ask for. She was prepared, informative, kind and supportive!
She professionally managed to deliver a lot of advice in ten minutes.

Thank you for all your work to provide this quality platform.

Linda Vazzana

Linda Vazzana

10/10 would recommend to EVERYONE!

Stephanie Winter is an amazing and VERY talented agent. She offered such detailed and refined advice that truly strengthened my writing. She is sweet, welcoming, and enthusiastic. 10/10 would recommend to EVERYONE!

Arien Skiba
Arien Skiba

I highly recommend her to other writers!

Stephanie was wonderful. Her comments were encouraging and constructive. I was nervous at the start, but within a few minutes I felt like I was talking to a good friend- and a supportive one. I highly recommend her to other writers!

Nancy Pellowski

Energizes Writers with Query Feedback

Stephanie was wonderful. She walked me through specific items to strengthen my query and opening pages while making sure to point out what works. I feel energized to revise my query package after her feedback.

Kerry Chaput

Provides Warm and Insightful Feedback

My consult with Stephanie took place in the aftermath of a big nor’easter that left me with an iffy Internet connection. But that didn’t dim Stephanie’s brilliance. Her comments were insightful, her tips were helpful, and her affect was warm and understanding. The consult was productive, fun, and the confidence booster I needed to keep plugging away in the Query Trenches. (It also was a great distraction from the tree branch that smashed my car windshield.) I wholeheartedly recommend Stephanie for consults … and anything else she takes on in the book world. Kudos to Manuscript Academy for all the talent you attract and invaluable services you provide!

Carolyn Cowen

Work with Stephanie

LIVE Meetings: Meet face-to-face, from home. Choose Zoom, Google Meet, or phone, and speak for the appointed time about your query, first page, and/or first ten pages (for longer meetings). Does not include written notes, but is a chance to have an honest discussion about your work, and to ask follow-up questions. International meetings welcomed.

HYBRID is a live meeting at the appointment time, with written notes.

WRITTEN Critiques: Get detailed, thoughtful notes on your work. Comes with large-scale edits (character, world, plot, tension, concept, conflict, and similar as needed) in an editorial letter and small-scale, line-by-line notes as needed (for longer critiques, an average of three per page). Work arrives in your inbox within 24 hours of thedate on the calendar.