Literary agents based in the United States. Browse verified listings with submission guidelines, open status, and direct links to agency websites.
1207 agents · 679 currently open to submissions
Narrative nonfiction, memoir, literary fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample chapter
Alia is interested in narrative nonfiction, memoir, and literary fiction.
Email info@thegernertco.com with a query letter describing the work, author information, and a sample chapter if appropriate. Indicate which agent you are querying, do not email agents directly.
Nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, sample chapter
Erika is looking for nonfiction projects that make an argument, narrate a history, or provide a new perspective.
Email info@thegernertco.com with a query letter describing the work, author information, and a sample chapter if appropriate. Indicate which agent you are querying, do not email agents directly.
Query letter, first ten pages
See source page for more info
Submit through Sydnie Thornton's official QueryManager link from the Word One Literary submissions page. The agency asks writers to send a query letter and first 10 pages to the agent of choice.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Romance, women's fiction
Scott focuses Greyhaus Literary Agency on romance and women's fiction.
Check agent's submission page
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, nonfiction, mystery, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, middle grade, biography, history, pop culture, sports, business, wellness, narrative nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio
Jonathan represents a select fiction and nonfiction list including mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, middle grade, biographies, history, pop culture, sports, business, wellness, and general narrative nonfiction.
Email a query through the protected email listed on the Lyons and Salky literary representation page with a synopsis and short author biography in the body of the email. Do not include attachments or sample chapters.
Science fiction, fantasy, horror
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, first 5 pages
Maximilian is acquiring science fiction, fantasy, and horror with an eye toward philosophy, postmodernism, deconstruction, and underexplored cultures.
Email a query to one L. Perkins Agency agent at a time with synopsis, bio, and first five pages in the body of the email.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators
Query Letter, First 10 Pages
Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.
Commercial fiction, literary fiction, young adult, children's books, biography, memoir, music, popular science, politics, social justice, adult illustrated, cookbooks, sports, health and wellness, fashion, art, design, popular culture
Wants: Query letter
Thompson Literary is always on the lookout for both commercial and literary fiction, as well as young adult and children's books. Nonfiction is their specialty, with interests including biography, memoir, music, popular science, politics, social justice, adult illustrated, cookbooks, sports, health and wellness, fashion, art, design, and popular culture.
All agents at Thompson Literary Agency are now accepting queries through Query Manager. Please click to view agent bios, which have specific query instructions for each.
Narrative non-fiction, memoir, historical fiction, literary fiction, history, pop culture, cultural studies, women's studies, natural history, children's
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Katherine loves books that explore the lesser-known territories of human experience.
For fiction, include a cover letter listing previously published work, a one-page summary and the first five pages in the body of the email (not as an attachment). For non-fiction, query first. When a proposal is requested, include an author biography, overview, chapter-by-chapter summary, marketing and publicity plan, analysis of competitive titles, and sample chapters or text.
Adult nonfiction, history, memoir, popular science, parenting, narrative nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, full proposal, bio
Dara Kaye represents adult nonfiction that tells great stories, from serious history and memoir to pop science and parenting. She is drawn to projects with international potential, books that make the familiar world feel new and surprising, academics, journalists, experts who communicate original research to mainstream audiences, and memoirists with memorable perspectives.
Query Dara Kaye through the WME Books profile or submissions flow. For nonfiction projects, send a query letter, attach the full proposal as an MS Word document, and include your bio. WME asks writers to query one agent at a time and says writers may try another WME Books agent if they have not heard back in 6 weeks.
Query letter, first 10 pages
Emotionally resonant narratives that explore the messiness of being human—family, aging, identity, love, and regret. Protagonists who make bad decisions for the right reasons
Query via agent's query form only
Mystery, high-concept suspense, domestic suspense, psychological thriller, book club women's fiction, commercial fiction, crime fiction, underrepresented voices
Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages
Michelle Richter is Vice President of Fuse Literary. She represents leaders in the crime fiction community, award-winners, and debut authors, and wants to boost underrepresented voices in her favorite genres. She is especially eager to find high-concept crime fiction with catchy hooks, twisty plots, and complex lead characters. She likes emotionally engaging fiction with a voice that immediately identifies the author, and welcomes BIPOC, LGBTQ, and disabled voices in fiction. She loves twists, unreliable narrators, isolated locales and locked rooms, stories of family secrets, friendships, and sibling relationships, and book club fiction that makes readers think and feel.
Submit to Michelle Richter only through QueryManager. Fuse says unsolicited submissions to email or social media will be deleted unread. For conference, press, or rights inquiries only, use michelle@fuseliterary.com.
Adult fiction, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction, memoir, commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, magical realism, horror, rom-com, women's fiction, science fiction
Wants: Pitch
Jen represents adult, YA and middle-grade fiction, plus narrative nonfiction and memoir. She does not represent picture books, novellas or high fantasy.
Email Jen Nadol with a pitch at Jen.Nadol@theunteragency.com. If there is no response within three months, consider it a pass.
Science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, horror, speculative fiction
Wants: Query letter, first 5 pages, comparable books
Cameron is especially looking for projects that combine genre style plotting with literary quality writing. She is interested in anything speculative, including science fiction and fantasy, mystery and suspense, horror, and projects with multi-cultural, international, environmental, and LGBTQIA+ themes.
Fill out the online form at the QueryTracker link. Include query letter with genre and word count, first 5 pages pasted in the body, and comparable books. Do not query via email.
Visit agent's website for details
See source page for more info
Query via QueryManager or email query@newleafliterary.com with word 'Query' in subject line plus agent's name
Literary fiction, mainstream fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, historical fiction, contemporary women's fiction, young adult, middle grade, memoir, biography, history, business, psychology, pop culture, popular science
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 5 to 10 pages, writing credentials
Maria Carvainis Agency represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction with special interest in literary and mainstream fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, historicals, contemporary women's fiction, young adult and middle grade, memoir, biography, history, business, psychology, pop culture, and popular science.
Email a query letter, a synopsis of the work, the first 5 to 10 pages, and a note of any writing credentials to mca@mariacarvainisagency.com. Attachments must be Word documents or PDF files. Queries are also accepted by post.
Fiction, thriller, book club fiction, cinematic fiction, film and television adaptation
Wants: Query letter, first twenty-five pages
Charlotte works with Celeste Fine on bestselling fiction. She is seeking surprising thrillers, book club novels with staying power, and atmospheric, cinematic stories that can expand into film and television.
Email queries@parkfinebrower.com and specify Charlotte Cohen Sunderland plus the category and genre in the subject line. Adult fiction submissions should include a query letter and roughly the first 25 pages in the body of the email.
Nonfiction, how-to, health, wellness, science, technology, nature, outdoors, true crime, history, investigative journalism, international relations, sports, parenting, business, illustrated books, brand books
Wants: Query letter
John is building a wide-ranging nonfiction list including how-to, health and wellness, science, technology, nature and outdoors, true crime, quirky history, investigative journalism, international relations, sports, parenting, business, illustrated books, and brand-led book programs.
Email john@defliterary.com with QUERY: at the beginning of the subject line, followed by the book title. Include a brief description of yourself and the project. Attachments are not opened unless requested.
Chick lit, commercial, contemporary, cozy fantasy, cozy romantasy, crime, detective, police, family saga, fantasy, fantasy: magical realism, fantasy: urban, graphic novel, historical, horror, lgbtq and, literary, middle grade, military, espionage, multicultural, mystery, new adult, offbeat, quirky, romance, romantasy, suspense, thriller, upmarket, women's fiction, young adult
Query Letter, Synopsis, One Paragraph Pitch, Comparable Books, First 10 Pages
Submit through Query Manager. Unsolicited queries sent to his email address will be deleted unread.
Novelists, memoir, narrative nonfiction, celebrity books, academic nonfiction, journalism, commercial fiction, literary fiction
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
Lisa represents novelists and memoirists with narrative urgency, dramatic tension, multi-faceted characters, and a transporting sense of place, as well as experts, celebrities, academics, and journalists writing across nonfiction categories.
Email the first ten pages of the manuscript or proposal to lgsubmissions@defliterary.com in the body of the message. No hard-copy submissions and no attachments.
Young adult, new adult, adult fiction, speculative fiction, genre fiction, fantasy, mystery, romantasy
Wants: Query letter
Ramona is looking for YA, New Adult, and adult stories, especially fiction with speculative elements, genre mashups such as horror/romance or fantasy/mystery, found family, heists, magic, enemies-to-lovers romantasy, strong lore, and world-building.
Submit through Ramona Pina's QueryManager form linked from her BookEnds profile. BookEnds asks writers to submit to one BookEnds agent at a time and follow the form instructions.
Middle grade, young adult, new adult, adult fiction, fantasy, dystopian, mystery, horror, contemporary fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, science fiction
Wants: Query letter
Jenissa is looking for middle grade, YA, New Adult and adult projects, especially high-concept fantasy, near-future dystopia, mysteries in fresh settings, genre-blending horror and coming-of-age contemporary work centered on strong emotional journeys.
Submit through Jenissa Graham's QueryManager form from her official BookEnds profile.
PairPi's US directory lists verified literary agents based in the United States. Filter by genre, submission method, and current open status. Every listing links to the agent's official submission guidelines and shows when the information was last checked. Smart Search lets you describe a book and find US agents who might want it.
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