lit agent tasneem motala
@seraphecda.bsky.social
✒️ literary agent at belcastro agency + 🗓️ programming advisor for the muslim literary festival + 🎨 branding expert at litmotif + 👚 merch designer at popdiary
kpop multistan and d20 enthusiast
find me everywhere: https://linktr.ee/seraphecda
kpop multistan and d20 enthusiast
find me everywhere: https://linktr.ee/seraphecda
Pinned
Nov to Dec Updates!
GENERAL QUERIES: closed until sometime in 2026
BIPOC QUERIES: still and always open
BRANDING SERVICES: 3 slots available until New Year's!
POPDIARY SHOP: open! please check out my cute apparel designs uwu
all relevant links can be found here:
linktr.ee/seraphecda
GENERAL QUERIES: closed until sometime in 2026
BIPOC QUERIES: still and always open
BRANDING SERVICES: 3 slots available until New Year's!
POPDIARY SHOP: open! please check out my cute apparel designs uwu
all relevant links can be found here:
linktr.ee/seraphecda
publishing be rough like that -- and tbh until the book is OUT and that advance is (inshallah) earned out, royalties are a long wait away for most too.
I got an abnormally large advance ($100k) for my debut duology I sold two years ago. Minus taxes and my agent’s cut, I've seen roughly 50% of that (last chunk is paid out when I submit the complete (edited, not just drafted) second book. First book isn't out until next spring.
I have two day jobs.
I have two day jobs.
November 25, 2025 at 11:55 PM
publishing be rough like that -- and tbh until the book is OUT and that advance is (inshallah) earned out, royalties are a long wait away for most too.
my birthday is ages away (literally in july) but im gonna put this out there: id be ecstatic if i had a bunch of money to blow at a crane game place in toronto w my friends 💜
November 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
my birthday is ages away (literally in july) but im gonna put this out there: id be ecstatic if i had a bunch of money to blow at a crane game place in toronto w my friends 💜
what's with the influx of advice online like "in your twenties [thing] will happen, and it's very important that you [verb] the thing"
in my twenties all i did was try to build my future, suffer mentally, drive myself into (what i now understand was) autistic burnout, & lose 3+ years of my life
in my twenties all i did was try to build my future, suffer mentally, drive myself into (what i now understand was) autistic burnout, & lose 3+ years of my life
November 25, 2025 at 9:35 PM
what's with the influx of advice online like "in your twenties [thing] will happen, and it's very important that you [verb] the thing"
in my twenties all i did was try to build my future, suffer mentally, drive myself into (what i now understand was) autistic burnout, & lose 3+ years of my life
in my twenties all i did was try to build my future, suffer mentally, drive myself into (what i now understand was) autistic burnout, & lose 3+ years of my life
rewatching lego batman which is still the best batman movie
November 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
rewatching lego batman which is still the best batman movie
these are rly good. I've tried the melon mint and the lavender lemon, and today im trying the grapefruit basil one!
they're dumb expensive tho but meh, a treat is a treat, and theres 5mg of fibre SO
they're dumb expensive tho but meh, a treat is a treat, and theres 5mg of fibre SO
November 24, 2025 at 1:05 AM
these are rly good. I've tried the melon mint and the lavender lemon, and today im trying the grapefruit basil one!
they're dumb expensive tho but meh, a treat is a treat, and theres 5mg of fibre SO
they're dumb expensive tho but meh, a treat is a treat, and theres 5mg of fibre SO
Reposted by lit agent tasneem motala
In the US, Muslims are seen as antisemitic by default. I've experienced this my whole life.
November 23, 2025 at 4:38 PM
In the US, Muslims are seen as antisemitic by default. I've experienced this my whole life.
Reposted by lit agent tasneem motala
this just shows how the Western family unit has completely broken down because in Asia we all have uncles to fulfill this function in our lives
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
this just shows how the Western family unit has completely broken down because in Asia we all have uncles to fulfill this function in our lives
thinking about time as a nonrenewable resource just clicked smth in my brain, idk what it was or what change it'll cause me to make (if any!), but it certainly did Something.
November 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
thinking about time as a nonrenewable resource just clicked smth in my brain, idk what it was or what change it'll cause me to make (if any!), but it certainly did Something.
i started kickboxing and have done two classes so far and wow today my body HURTS AAA
November 23, 2025 at 4:38 PM
i started kickboxing and have done two classes so far and wow today my body HURTS AAA
Reposted by lit agent tasneem motala
I said what I said
It is extremely funny to me that Erika Ishii said this in a year she was the protagonist in a major video game
November 23, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I said what I said
still not over the absolute insanity that was the White House press junket w Mamdani
November 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
still not over the absolute insanity that was the White House press junket w Mamdani
Reposted by lit agent tasneem motala
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
2 options, personally!
1) sometimes people suck at writing pitches, so until I personally have time to take a look at the sample pages there's just No Decision
OR!!
2) it's one of those pitches that i could totally be into but i'm going thru one of those "i don't want this RIGHT NOW" phases
1) sometimes people suck at writing pitches, so until I personally have time to take a look at the sample pages there's just No Decision
OR!!
2) it's one of those pitches that i could totally be into but i'm going thru one of those "i don't want this RIGHT NOW" phases
Curious to know how you/other agents you know deliberate on queries (response timeline makes sense in my brain for fulls but for initial pitch, it's not just a hell yes or no for you?)
November 22, 2025 at 4:01 AM
2 options, personally!
1) sometimes people suck at writing pitches, so until I personally have time to take a look at the sample pages there's just No Decision
OR!!
2) it's one of those pitches that i could totally be into but i'm going thru one of those "i don't want this RIGHT NOW" phases
1) sometimes people suck at writing pitches, so until I personally have time to take a look at the sample pages there's just No Decision
OR!!
2) it's one of those pitches that i could totally be into but i'm going thru one of those "i don't want this RIGHT NOW" phases
every time i see lisa gilroy in something im like "THAT'S MY GIRL!!!" (as a dropout addict and fellow canadian). most recently, it was in A Man on the Inside S2 and idk how she does it but no one can outdo her in the category of "insufferable white woman" and i love it.
November 22, 2025 at 2:54 AM
every time i see lisa gilroy in something im like "THAT'S MY GIRL!!!" (as a dropout addict and fellow canadian). most recently, it was in A Man on the Inside S2 and idk how she does it but no one can outdo her in the category of "insufferable white woman" and i love it.
who else just saw the new mel winterblessed skin and wants to play league again?
November 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
who else just saw the new mel winterblessed skin and wants to play league again?
this week we accidentally ended up streaming a "reunion" of The Good Place with:
- Nobody Wants This S2 (Kristen Bell + D'Arcy Carden)
- A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Jameela Jamil)
- A Man on the Inside (Ted Danson)
now we need to complete the crew with William Jackson Harper and Manny Jacinto!!
- Nobody Wants This S2 (Kristen Bell + D'Arcy Carden)
- A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Jameela Jamil)
- A Man on the Inside (Ted Danson)
now we need to complete the crew with William Jackson Harper and Manny Jacinto!!
November 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
this week we accidentally ended up streaming a "reunion" of The Good Place with:
- Nobody Wants This S2 (Kristen Bell + D'Arcy Carden)
- A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Jameela Jamil)
- A Man on the Inside (Ted Danson)
now we need to complete the crew with William Jackson Harper and Manny Jacinto!!
- Nobody Wants This S2 (Kristen Bell + D'Arcy Carden)
- A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Jameela Jamil)
- A Man on the Inside (Ted Danson)
now we need to complete the crew with William Jackson Harper and Manny Jacinto!!
Reposted by lit agent tasneem motala
This is fantastic!
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Solange Opens Free Digital Library Of Rare Black Books
Solange has launched a digital library archive of Black and brown authors where readers can borrow books at no cost.
peopleofcolorintech.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
This is fantastic!
btw since im here and posting, if my laptop can handle it would anyone be interested in "office hour" streams? i did a couple early on in my agenting career but was thinking of changing up the format a bit.
November 19, 2025 at 4:14 AM
btw since im here and posting, if my laptop can handle it would anyone be interested in "office hour" streams? i did a couple early on in my agenting career but was thinking of changing up the format a bit.
"so hey why start a branding business and not do freelance editorial?"
bruh, my attention span is trash. i do enough editorial work for my clients as an agent and i'm good at it, but if i did it on a freelance basis i'd burn out TT__TT
bruh, my attention span is trash. i do enough editorial work for my clients as an agent and i'm good at it, but if i did it on a freelance basis i'd burn out TT__TT
November 19, 2025 at 4:10 AM
"so hey why start a branding business and not do freelance editorial?"
bruh, my attention span is trash. i do enough editorial work for my clients as an agent and i'm good at it, but if i did it on a freelance basis i'd burn out TT__TT
bruh, my attention span is trash. i do enough editorial work for my clients as an agent and i'm good at it, but if i did it on a freelance basis i'd burn out TT__TT
alternatively: there are so many people out there, including fellow agents, who do editorial, pitch, and querying services. i used to as well! but i feel like my expertise in marketing is a lot more valuable to y'all because there are very few guiding resources for marketing in comparison to editing
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 AM
alternatively: there are so many people out there, including fellow agents, who do editorial, pitch, and querying services. i used to as well! but i feel like my expertise in marketing is a lot more valuable to y'all because there are very few guiding resources for marketing in comparison to editing
so when the book's out and you're officially a published author, how much do u look forward to marketing the very thing you put your heart, soul, time, and effort into to the world?
or would u rather not?
or would u rather not?
November 19, 2025 at 3:56 AM
so when the book's out and you're officially a published author, how much do u look forward to marketing the very thing you put your heart, soul, time, and effort into to the world?
or would u rather not?
or would u rather not?
added a matcha mix to my usual smoothie today and its banger actually.
November 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
added a matcha mix to my usual smoothie today and its banger actually.
is it too soon to talk about the cloudward, ho! finale bc i wanna just acknowledge how olethra/ludmila is a vibe
November 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
is it too soon to talk about the cloudward, ho! finale bc i wanna just acknowledge how olethra/ludmila is a vibe
this leather vest top is so cool, but the way they styled it in the photos is so boring. just paired it with jeans.
this would be so interesting layered up in a steampunk or post-apocalypse look tho, right??
ciderhere.com/yBJhvO
this would be so interesting layered up in a steampunk or post-apocalypse look tho, right??
ciderhere.com/yBJhvO
Faux Leather Faux Leather Asymmetrical Neck Metal Detail Zip Through Tank Top For Daily Casual
Check out this this cute Faux Leather Asymmetrical Neck Metal Detail Zip Through Tank Top featuring a Asymmetrical Buckle Button Pocket Zipper design for Daily Casual on CIDER. Free shipping available...
ciderhere.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:38 PM
this leather vest top is so cool, but the way they styled it in the photos is so boring. just paired it with jeans.
this would be so interesting layered up in a steampunk or post-apocalypse look tho, right??
ciderhere.com/yBJhvO
this would be so interesting layered up in a steampunk or post-apocalypse look tho, right??
ciderhere.com/yBJhvO