When Brazil was colonised by Portugal in the 16th century, it became the foundation for everything written by the people since.
This is because after the country claimed its independence in 1822, the Portuguese language was so entrenched in the culture, that today, two hundred years later, it remains the language of Brazilian literature.
Writing through the periods of Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Pre-Modernism, Modernism, Post-Modernism, right up to the contemporary period, Brazilian authors may have written with one language but not one voice.
They have demonstrated a versatility to style and genre, and especially poetry, that has seen them revered for centuries.
Unfortunately, many people in Brazil are illiterate, and those that can read, do so sporadically. Their reading habits are less than half those of the US, with only one in four of the population reading anything at all. This is due in large part to the widespread poverty in many regions and cities, most notably the favelas.
Books themselves are expensive in Brazil in relation to the monthly wage, and so it is very common for publishers to release a small print run to establish the potential of the book first.
But publishers outside of Brazil, see the country as one on the verge of a rapid literary expansion, and are taking progressive steps to improve literacy by opening up offices in Brazil itself.
Considering this history, the literary agencies operating today are relatively young in comparison with their worldwide counterparts. They also tend to predominately work as agencies in translation, by bringing the books of worldwide literary agencies to the Brazilian readership base. However, they can be approached by authors writing in Portuguese anywhere in the world, or of course those within their own borders.
Paul Christoph Literary Agency
The agency is based in Rio de Janeiro.
Website: LinkedIn Only
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions: paul@paulchristoph.com
Query Fiction and Non-Fiction: Query letter only.
MTS Agency
The agency is based in Rio de Janeiro.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: info@mtsagencia.com
Query Fiction and Non-Fiction: Query letter only, addressed to the Submissions Department and it will forwarded to a suitable agent.
Riff Agency
The agency is based in Rio de Janeiro.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions: agenciariff@agenciariff.com.br
Query Fiction and Non-Fiction: Query letter only.
Karin Schindler Agency
The agency is based in São Paulo.
Website: No
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Email submissions: suely@agschindler.com.br
Query Fiction and Non-Fiction: Query letter only.
H. Katia Schumer Literary Agency
The agency is based in Rio de Janeiro.
Website: No
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction | Esoteric | Spiritual | Self-Help | Biography | Psychology |
E-mail submissions: hkatia@schumer.com.br
Query Fiction and Non-Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, bio, and a sample chapter.
Vikings of Brazil
The agency is based in São Paulo.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Nordic Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions: pasi.loman@vikingsbr.com.br
Fiction and Nordic Non-Fiction: Query letter only.
Note: The agency only represents and is interested in Nordic literature.
Villas-Boas & Moss Literary Agency and Consultancy
The agency is based in Rio de Janeiro.
Website: Official Site
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: Using this online form
Query Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, bio and the first 10-15 pages. All within the body of the online submission form.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, chapter outline, bio, a list of competing books in the marketplace, and a sample chapter. All within the body of the online submission form.