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United States Literary Agents

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

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Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, select expert-driven practical nonfiction, horror

Looking for

In nonfiction she is drawn above all else to lyrical writing and rigorous thinking, and is interested in climate change, nature, ecology, geopolitics, migration, pop culture, tech, psychology, and in works that might be defined as cultural anthropology. In fiction she is looking for horror—especially social horror, feminist horror, and folk horror—, literary fiction that flirts with genre, working class characters, and intimate novels. She is particularly interested in LGBTQ+ writing across categories. She does not represent books for children, including YA.

How to submit

Accepts queries exclusively via query manager

Last checked 30 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, genre blends, nonfiction, entertainment, sports, theater

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, synopsis

Looking for

Joshua represents science fiction, horror, mysteries, genre blends, and nonfiction including entertainment-industry books, sports, theater, and related popular culture. His form lists commercial crime, detective, police, fantasy, urban fantasy, graphic novel, horror, LGBTQ+, military or espionage, mystery, science fiction, suspense, thriller, business, entertainment, film, history, military, pop culture, show business, sports, and theater categories.

How to submit

Submit through Joshua's QueryManager form. JABberwocky asks writers to query only one agent at a time and handles only book-length material.

Last checked 30 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Adult nonfiction, illustrated books, cookbooks, lifestyle, design, art, pop culture, travel, humor or gift, health and wellness, self-care, personal finance, personal or professional development, select memoir

Wants: Query letter, sample manuscript pages for fiction, full proposal for nonfiction

Looking for

She loves working on illustrated books of all stripes—including cookbooks, lifestyle, design, art, pop culture, travel, humor/gift, health and wellness, and self-care, as well as personal finance, personal/professional development, and select memoir. She is drawn to fresh voices and perspectives and books that help people live better, more meaningful lives. She is not currently taking on fiction projects.

How to submit

Send a query letter and sample manuscript pages (for fiction) or your full proposal (for nonfiction)

Last checked 30 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Young adult fiction, adult romance, adult science fiction, adult fantasy, adult speculative fiction, middle grade fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 3 chapters

Looking for

Books that challenge societal norms, especially gender norms, stories featuring queer characters or characters with disability, neurodiversity, chronic illness, or mental health challenges, atmospheric fantasies, speculative mysteries, and stories with complicated sibling relationships.

How to submit

Submit queries through Query Manager. Include query letter, synopsis, and first 3 chapters for fiction. Provide content warnings especially for sexual assault or OCD behaviors.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Graphic novels, picture books, illustrated books, general fiction, authors, illustrators, content creators

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, portfolio link

Looking for

Kate represents authors and illustrators for graphic novels and picture books. KO Media welcomes all ages, including children's, middle grade, young adult, and adult, as long as there is a visual or illustrated component.

How to submit

Email query@komediamanagement.com with the subject line Query for Kate Rogers: Title. Paste query and samples only, attachments are not opened. Authors should paste the first five pages, picture book authors should paste the full text, and illustrators or content creators should include a portfolio link.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, business, finance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, religion, spirituality, science, advice, relationships

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Bethany represents literary fiction and nonfiction, including business/finance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, religion/spirituality, science, general nonfiction, advice and relationships.

How to submit

Submit through the Wave Literary QueryTracker form.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026Via QueryTracker
Represents

Horror, mystery, thriller, romance, cultural criticism, true crime, pop culture, lifestyle, illustrated books, general nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Claire represents a wide range of adult fiction and nonfiction, especially horror, standalone psychological thrillers, mysteries, romcoms, diverse characters and authors, friendship stories, revenge stories, sharp voices, cultural criticism, true crime, pop culture, lifestyle guides, and illustrated gift books for adults.

How to submit

Follow the instructions on Helm Literary's submissions page.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, chick lit, contemporary fiction, dark romance, erotica, family saga, fantasy, magical realism, urban fantasy, historical fiction, horror, romance, lgbtq and fiction, multicultural fiction, mystery, new adult, science fiction, suspense, thriller, women's fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one sentence pitch, comparable books, first five pages

Looking for

Shannon Snow is an Associate Agent at Rosecliff Literary and is actively building her list. She has eclectic reading taste across most genres in the commercial and upmarket space, seeks books with a unique angle and authors with engaging voices, depth, and nuance, and is especially drawn to vivid, well-developed characterization and stories that make her laugh, cry, or feel emotion. Her official linked form lists commercial, upmarket, romance, thriller, suspense, speculative, historical, horror, mystery, women's fiction, new adult, and young adult categories.

How to submit

Submit through Shannon Snow's official Rosecliff-linked QueryTracker form. The form asks for author details, one-agent confirmation, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, one-sentence pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, publication status, and the first 5 pages.

Last checked 29 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Children's fiction, adult fiction, women's fiction, speculative fiction, romance, fantasy, non-fiction, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, book proposal

Looking for

She loves women's fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, and debut fiction. On the children's side, she is interested in select Young Adult and Middle Grade. She loves strong characters and voice-driven stories that break out of the typical tropes of their genres, and she's always looking for unique new voices in stories.

How to submit

Use Suzie Townsend's QueryManager form. Include the query details and first five pages, or a full book proposal for non-fiction. Do not query more than one New Leaf agent at the same time.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, romance, fantasy, horror, mystery, thriller, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages

Looking for

She particularly loves speculative fiction, adventurous, character-driven stories with largely emotional stakes, stories featuring Caribbean characters/settings, and stories where queer characters find happy endings.

How to submit

Use Trinica Sampson-Vera's QueryManager form. Include a query letter and the first twenty pages. Do not query more than one New Leaf agent at the same time.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, popular culture, humor, nonfiction, fiction

Wants: Online submission form

Looking for

Daniel Greenberg specializes in narrative nonfiction, memoir, popular culture, and humor, but will consider any project when he has a personal connection with the book and is excited to represent the author.

How to submit

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan's official online submission form. Daniel Greenberg's official profile lists his LGR email, and the official submissions page directs submissions through the agency form.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Romance, women's fiction, young adult, middle grade, picture books, thrillers, mysteries, nonfiction

Wants: Querymanager form

Looking for

Cori Deyoe is actively looking to expand her list. She represents all subgenres of romance, women's fiction, young adult, middle grade, picture books, thrillers, mysteries, and select nonfiction.

How to submit

Submit through Cori Deyoe's official QueryManager link. 3 Seas does not accept email queries, asks writers to use the QueryManager links on agent pages or the submissions page, and says no response within 12 weeks should be considered a pass.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Nonfiction, cultural history, biography, art history, film, religion and spirituality, psychology, philosophy, popular science, self-help, health and nutrition, pop culture, subcultures, fashion, food narrative, cookbooks

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Dado Derviskadic loves working with writers who have deep and singular insight into their chosen world. In nonfiction he is primarily interested in cultural history, biography, art history, film, religion and spirituality, psychology, philosophy, pop science and motivational self-help, health and nutrition, pop culture and subcultures, fashion, food narrative, and cookbooks.

How to submit

Send queries to dado@foliolitmanagement.com with the query letter and first ten pages of the manuscript or proposal in the body of the email. Write QUERY in the subject line. If there is no response within 4 weeks, assume the project is not right for him.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, memoir, nonfiction, business, art, history, politics, sports, popular culture

Wants: Email query

Looking for

Dan Mandel represents literary and commercial fiction, memoir, and nonfiction about business, art, history, politics, sports, and popular culture.

How to submit

Email Dan Mandel at querydm@sjga.com. Greenburger asks writers to read each agent page, submit to only one Greenburger agent at a time, and query by email only, if there is no response within 8 weeks, writers may query another Greenburger agent.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, essays, expert-driven nonfiction, translation

Wants: Query form

Looking for

Christopher Combemale is looking for a broad range of literary fiction and voice-driven upmarket fiction with an unexpected hook, including a literary campus novel. In nonfiction he is interested in narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism and essays, and expert-driven projects. He is drawn to international voices and writers in translation.

How to submit

Submit to Sterling Lord Literistic through the official submissions page form. SLL says it can only respond to queries if interested in seeing more material and does not represent screenplays.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult fiction, children's fiction, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first 1-2 chapters

Looking for

A wide range of fiction from around the world for both adults and children as well as some non-fiction on subjects that intrigue her. Writing that is memorable and enduring. Particularly loves working with debut authors.

How to submit

Queries should be emailed to submissions@inkwellmanagement.com. In the body of your email, please include a query letter and a short writing sample (1-2 chapters). You may specify the name of the agent to whom you are submitting in the subject line.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult romance, science fiction, fantasy, children's fiction, children's nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, author website

Looking for

Sara Megibow is President and Senior Literary Agent of Megibow Literary Agency. She represents authors who write picture books, fiction and nonfiction across subgenres, middle grade in all subgenres, young adult in all subgenres, adult romance in all subgenres, and science fiction/fantasy for the adult market in all subgenres.

How to submit

Email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to saraquery@megibowliterary.com, along with an author website if available. Megibow Literary does not accept pitches by social media, phone, mail, or platforms other than email, and a pass from one agency agent is a pass from the agency.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Query letter, short bio, first ten pages

Looking for

David McCormick has been a literary agent since 1998, first at IMG Literary and then as co-founder of his own agency. His official staff bio does not list a profile-specific wishlist beyond his agency role.

How to submit

Email queries to queries@mccormicklit.com and indicate in the subject line which agent you are querying. Include a query letter describing the work, a short bio, and up to ten sample pages in the body of the email. Do not send attachments.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Adult fiction, young adult fiction, book club fiction, romantic comedy, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, horror, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, essays, current affairs, pop culture, psychology, nature, science

Wants: Query letter, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal

Looking for

Dana Murphy represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for adults and select fiction for teen readers. She wants fiction with heart, humor, specificity, surprise, high-concept hooks, confident voice, rom-coms, book club fiction, literary fiction with form or genre elements, mysteries, thrillers, horror, found family stories, and narrative nonfiction or essay collections about culture, pop culture, criticism, power structures, object histories, big ideas, and deeply researched cultural history.

How to submit

Submit through Dana Murphy's official QueryManager form linked from Trellis. The form asks writers to review her wishlist and provide author bio, title, word count, genre, query letter, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, and the first 20 pages or a full nonfiction proposal. Trellis asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Speculative fiction, horror, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, romance, upmarket fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first five pages

Looking for

Danai Christopoulou loves speculative fiction of all flavors, from horror and thriller to sci-fi, fantasy, and romance, especially from marginalized voices. They are mostly focused on adult fiction but are interested in YA with crossover appeal, and like upmarket fiction with nuanced plots from BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent, and other traditionally marginalized groups.

How to submit

Submit through Danai Christopoulou's official QueryManager form. Tobias agents only accept submissions through QueryManager, do not query more than one Tobias agent at a time. Danai's form asks for author bio, pronouns, marginalized or BIPOC identification questions, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, AI-use disclosure, publication history, and the first 5 pages or a full nonfiction proposal.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Journalism, narrative nonfiction, food writing, cookbooks, fiction, humor

Wants: Online submission form

Looking for

Danielle Svetcov represents journalism, narrative nonfiction, food and agriculture books, chef and restaurant books, cookbooks, funny books, fiction, and clients whose work is serious but amused, oppositional but reasoned, and willing to go deep into rabbit holes.

How to submit

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan's official online submission form. Danielle Svetcov's official profile lists her LGR email, and the official submissions page directs submissions through the agency form.

Last checked 28 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, picture books, fantasy, horror, women's fiction, science fiction, pop culture, humor, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first twenty pages or proposal, artwork or portfolio link

Looking for

Emily S. Keyes is actively searching for children's literature and select adult genre fiction that is not serious literature. She is generally looking for books for young readers and the young at heart, especially work that fosters the joy of reading in kids. In nonfiction she is looking for nonfiction picture books, interesting nonfiction for middle grade and YA readers, especially from creators with a platform, and select adult nonfiction.

How to submit

Submit through Emily Keyes' official linked QueryManager page. The form asks for author information, title, word count, genre, query letter, optional synopsis, target audience, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal, and optional artwork, illustrations, or portfolio link.

Last checked 27 Sept 2026Via QueryManager

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