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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.

1224 agents · 684 currently open to submissions

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Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, domestic suspense, historical fiction, book club fiction, narrative nonfiction

Looking for

Amy Cloughley seeks authors with unique, clear voices and smart, tightly written prose. She leans toward grounded literary, upmarket, and commercial novels with a distinct sense of place, page-turning mystery, domestic suspense with sharp wit and unexpected twists, well-researched historical fiction, book club fiction with a fresh perspective, small-town contemporary characters, unexpected story arcs, suitable pacing, compelling protagonists, and narrative nonfiction immersed in a culture, lifestyle, discipline, or industry.

How to submit

Amy Cloughley is currently closed to unsolicited submissions. Her official Kimberley Cameron team page links to a QueryManager form, and the form currently states that she is not accepting queries at this time.

Last checked 21 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Ya, mg, upmarket genre fiction, women's fiction, psychological thrillers, sf or f, psychology, self-help, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, first 5-10 pages

Looking for

YA, MG, upmarket genre fiction (especially women's fiction, psychological thrillers, and SF/F), psychology, self-help, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, works that speak to life in the twenty-first century

How to submit

Send a short description, short bio, and 5-10 pages of text pasted into the body of the email. I do not open attachments

Last checked 21 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Narrative nonfiction, biography, memoir, commercial fiction, romance, women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, cozy mystery, middle grade, young adult

Looking for

Carrie Pestritto represents projects across a range of genres and is drawn to immersive writing, engaging voices, meticulous world-building, and compelling premises. LDLA lists her interests as adult narrative nonfiction, biography/memoir, commercial fiction with a literary twist, fresh chick-lit, romance, upmarket women's fiction, near-historical fiction from about the Gilded Age on, mystery/thrillers for a female audience, cozies, and high-concept commercial MG and YA in contemporary, historical, mystery/thriller, horror, or fantasy genres, especially featuring POC or marginalized characters, high stakes, and exciting plot lines.

How to submit

Carrie Pestritto is currently closed to queries. LDLA accepts queries via QueryManager only and says writers should submit to one agent at a time with one complete project. Carrie's official linked QueryManager page says she is not accepting queries at this time and suggests checking colleagues' bios while she is closed.

Last checked 21 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Science fiction, fantasy, paranormal mysteries, queer romance, speculative fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Looking for

Science fiction with feels; Immersive Fantasy; Heists with paranormal/supernatural elements; Genuine Magical Realism; Queer Romance and alternative relationship structures; Speculative fiction that falls between genre cracks

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager

Last checked 21 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, adult genre-blending upmarket and literary fiction, accessible sci-fi and fantasy, high concept rom-coms, memoir, essays, wellness titles

Looking for

Middle Grade and Young Adult projects (fiction and non-fiction), adult genre-blending upmarket and literary fiction, accessible sci-fi and fantasy, high concept rom-coms, and memoir, essays, and wellness titles in the non-fiction space

How to submit

Currently closed to queries, save for referrals and conferences

Last checked 21 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Mystery or thriller, historical, ya contemporary, new adult, narrative nonfiction, memoir

Looking for

Genre fiction, such as Mystery/Thriller, Historical, YA contemporary, and New Adult, as well as Narrative Nonfiction and Memoir, with a particular interest in underrepresented voices, untold multicultural stories, and any high concept or genre-bending works

How to submit

Currently closed for submissions

Last checked 20 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Women's fiction, commercial fiction, fantasy, young adult, romance, lgbt, middle grade, memoir, narrative nonfiction, personal finance, business, true crime, sports, popular culture, self-help, religion, health, parenting

Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction

Looking for

High-concept book club fiction, queer fiction, destination novels, emotionally satisfying reads, cozy fantasy, horror with modern commentary, and adult dystopian fiction

How to submit

Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.

Last checked 19 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Health, parenting, southern history, african-american interest, business, motivation, romance, young adult, children's, middle grade, christian living

Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction

Looking for

Rom-com, cozy mysteries, historical fiction, health and wellness, advice and relationship, and true crime

How to submit

Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.

Last checked 19 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Nonfiction, mystery or suspense or thriller, historical fiction, contemporary or commercial, sapphic romance

Looking for

Stories that reveal the truths of what it means to be a human in our difficult, often oppressive, world. Always looking for writing from historically underrepresented groups, with special place for LGBTQIA+ folks

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager

Last checked 19 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction

Looking for

Literary fiction and narrative nonfiction - ranging across history, cultural criticism, memoir, and biography - with the occasional young adult novel. She's particularly interested in distinctive voices, original perspectives, and writing that lingers

How to submit

Currently closed to general submissions but is selectively open to queries from authors she meets at conferences and other literary gatherings

Last checked 17 Jul 2026
Represents

Children's books, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, genre fiction, thrillers, historical fiction, romance, mysteries, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, full manuscript, illustration samples for children's books

Looking for

Clever voices and unreliable narrators, stories told from diverse perspectives, rich world building, strong character dynamics, and firsts—first love, first heartbreak, first loss, first divorce, etc. Novels featuring smart, strong, funny, and fierce women

How to submit

Email queries with specified subject headers to designated addresses

Last checked 16 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Fiction, nonfiction, picture books, young adult

Wants: Query letter, sample chapter

Looking for

Seth is looking for new voices, original ideas, and breathtaking creative angles in both fiction and nonfiction.

How to submit

Seth Fishman is currently closed to queries. The Gernert Company asks writers to email info@thegernertco.com when querying open agents, indicate which agent they are querying, and include a query letter plus a sample chapter if appropriate.

Last checked 13 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, narrative nonfiction, parenting, relationships

Wants: Query letter, sample chapter

Looking for

Ellen likes women's upmarket and commercial fiction, smart original thrillers and mysteries, sweeping or revisionist historical fiction, witty YA with big topics, narrative nonfiction, and books on parenting and relationships.

How to submit

Ellen Coughtrey is currently closed to queries. The Gernert Company asks writers to email info@thegernertco.com when querying open agents, indicate which agent they are querying, and include a query letter plus a sample chapter if appropriate.

Last checked 13 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, romance, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, fantasy romance, paranormal romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, psychological thriller, young adult, contemporary ya, ya mystery, ya thriller, ya fantasy

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Looking for

Christine is interested in upmarket fiction, women's fiction with crossover or multicultural appeal, romance including contemporary, romantic comedy, mystery/suspense, fantasy/paranormal, mainstream mystery/suspense, psychological thrillers, and emotionally layered contemporary, mystery, thriller, or fantasy young adult.

How to submit

Book Cents is currently closed to new submissions except by referral. When open, submit e-queries through the site submit button with a query and the first five pages. Book Cents does not send personalized responses unless interested.

Last checked 13 Jul 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Literary fiction, adult nonfiction, picture books, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Mona seeks smart, resonating literary fiction and nonfiction for adults that speaks to cultural currents. She is closed except by referral and plans a one-month July 2026 opening for exceptionally crafted picture books from author-illustrators, adult literary fiction, and adult narrative nonfiction.

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager only when open or by referral. Do not query multiple Great Dog agents.

Last checked 12 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Children's books, middle grade, young adult

Looking for

Sandra Proudman is listed by Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency as a team member/agent. The official submissions page did not expose a detailed current Sandra-specific wishlist in this run because she is currently closed to queries.

How to submit

Sandra Proudman is currently closed to queries according to the official Gallt and Zacker submissions page.

Last checked 10 Jul 2026
Represents

Literary fiction, nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, graphic novels

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Looking for

Adrienne has a strong interest in literary fiction and nonfiction. Wales Literary Agency represents narrative-driven nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, and graphic novels.

How to submit

Wales Literary Agency is currently open to submissions by referral only.

Represents

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, commercial fiction, literary fiction, poetry, self-help

Looking for

Aemilia Phillips represents fiction and nonfiction, with interests in narrative nonfiction, hybrid memoir, commercial and literary fiction, select poetry, and self-help. She is excited by diverse writing with impactful stories, social justice issues, nonfiction that challenges how readers think, smart cultural critiques, complex characters, commercial projects with literary intelligence, and stories with a touch of magic.

How to submit

Aemilia Phillips is currently closed to queries according to the official Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency submissions page.

Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, fantasy, science fiction, horror, romance

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Alexandra Levick is growing picture book, middle grade, young adult, and adult lists. She is interested in author-illustrated picture books and illustration portfolios, spooky or strange middle grade, YA across contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, and adjacent genres, and adult speculative, genre-bent, upmarket, literary, romance, horror, and fantasy work. She likes distinctive voice, strong themes, transportive stories, complex characters, layered narratives, intersectional feminist work, humor in dark stories, atmospheric YA horror, socially conscious horror, non-Western or diaspora folklore, dark futures with hope, ocean stories, rural stories, confined settings, and romances that stop her in her tracks.

How to submit

Alexandra Levick is currently closed to unsolicited queries. When open, she asks writers to query only one Writers House agent at a time and to send a personalized query letter plus the first ten pages pasted into the body of the email with no attachments through QueryManager, or by accommodation email only if needed.

Last checked 9 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, creative nonfiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy, contemporary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Looking for

Andrea Cascardi represents fiction and nonfiction for adult and children's authors and illustrators. Her official submissions page says she has broad taste but fiction needs an unforgettable voice, smart plotting, a big hook, and unique perspectives. She wants MG and YA with heart, humor, diverse characters, magical realism, pacy adventures, multilayered historical fiction, rom-coms, illustrated middle grade, graphic novels, MG nonfiction, graphic novel memoir, adult women's fiction, twentieth-century historical fiction, rom-coms with a twist, and contemporary fiction with voice, heart, and humor.

How to submit

Andrea Cascardi is currently only open to submissions through professional referrals, writing conferences or contests she personally attends, and queries she requests through social media pitch events. If she requests a submission, send the first five pages embedded in the query. Her contact page states she is currently not open to submissions.

Represents

Picture books, board books, middle grade, christian fiction, memoir, suspense, mystery

Looking for

Andrea represents children's and adult books. Her listed favorite children's books are picture books, board books, and middle-grade fiction; her favorite adult books are Christian fiction, memoirs, suspense, and mystery.

How to submit

Inscriptions is currently closed for submissions. The official site says not to email manuscript submissions and to follow the site submission guidelines when open.

Last checked 9 Jul 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, memoir, graphic novels, picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult

Wants: Personalized pitch letter, first five pages

Looking for

Anjali Singh focuses on literary fiction and memoir and represents graphic novel writers and illustrators across all age ranges.

How to submit

Anjali Singh is currently closed to queries except by referral. For permitted referral queries, send a personalized pitch letter with the first five pages of the manuscript in the body of the email and the project title in the subject line to queries@anjalisinghagency.com. She will likely respond only if interested.

Last checked 9 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, horror, speculative fiction, historical fiction, historical fantasy, narrative nonfiction, essays, graphic novels, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, full synopsis, first three chapters, first twenty five pages, graphic novel spreads, graphic novel rough pages, portfolio

Looking for

Anna Ange is a junior agent at Liza Dawson Associates. She is looking for adult literary and genre crossover, literary-forward novels with horror, speculative, or weird elements, true horror, queer historical fiction and historical fantasy before 1900, narrative nonfiction or essays on niche and surprising topics, adult graphic novels in fiction and nonfiction, and spooky or horror-adjacent middle grade prose or graphic novels.

How to submit

Anna Ange is currently closed to queries as of 2025-10-10. When open, prose queries should be sent to queryanna@lizadawson.com with the query in the email body, a full synopsis in a Word document, and the first three chapters or 25 pages in a Word document. Graphic novel queries should include a query, full story synopsis, at least five completed spreads, and any rough pages available. Anna does not accept script-only graphic novel queries. Query only one Liza Dawson Associates agent at a time.

Last checked 9 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poc fiction, intersectional fiction, young adult, middle grade, women's fiction, suspense, thriller, romance, lgbtq and fiction, children's fiction, mystery, horror, literary fiction, memoir

Looking for

Autumn Frisse is listed by Prentis Literary under Acquisition and is described as the agency gatekeeper who gives submissions a thorough look-through and can pass suitable work on for consideration. The agency focuses on high-quality fiction, speculative and other, with rare memoir, and centers traditionally marginalized groups. The official genres page lists fantasy/science fiction, POC and intersectional fiction, young adult and middle reader, women's fiction, suspense/thriller, romance, LGBTQ+ fiction, children's fiction, mystery, horror, literary fiction, and limited memoir.

How to submit

Prentis Literary's official submissions page says submissions are closed and that submissions will be discarded. Do not submit unsolicited material while closed.

Last checked 9 Jul 2026Via Form
Represents

Literary fiction, women's fiction, mystery, thriller, narrative nonfiction, memoir, graphic memoir, psychology, self-help, popular culture, women's issues, history, biography, lifestyle, careers, health, medicine, parenting, cooking, nutrition, gardening, gift books

Looking for

Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises is interested in literary fiction, upscale commercial women's fiction, voice-driven mysteries and thrillers, narrative nonfiction especially by journalists, travelogues, memoirs including graphic memoirs, social issues and trends, psychology, self-help, popular culture, women's issues, history and biography, lifestyle, careers, health and medicine, parenting, cooking and nutrition, gardening, and quirky gift books.

How to submit

Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises is currently closed to submissions so the agency can focus on existing clients.

Represents

Fantasy, romance, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first fifteen pages, synopsis, author bio

Looking for

Brianna is interested in fantasy, romance, and young adult.

How to submit

Brianna is currently closed. When Holloway is open, email submissions@hollowayliterary.com with the required subject header, query content, word count, genre, pitch, author bio, and first 15 pages pasted in the body.

Last checked 9 Jul 2026Via Email
Represents

Children's books, middle grade, young adult, adult nonfiction, adult books

Wants: Closed to queries

Looking for

Carrie Hannigan is a partner and literary agent at HG Literary. She specializes in children's books and represents a select, limited list of adult books. Her profile highlights children's, YA fantasy, and select adult nonfiction clients.

How to submit

Carrie Hannigan is closed to queries. HG Literary's official profile and submissions page both state that Carrie is closed to queries.

Represents

Adult romance, romance, graphic novels, young adult, contemporary ya, memoir, adult nonfiction, lgbtq and, multicultural, art, cooking, crafts, diy, environmentalism, plants, animals, parenting, media criticism, feminism, queer theory, new adult

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Claire represents adult romance, graphic novels, young adult, nonfiction, memoir, and select picture books. They prefer funny, lighthearted, romantic, hopeful books with fast pace, high stakes, emotional development, commercial accessibility, a romantic main or subplot, and a strong hook.

How to submit

Claire is currently closed to queries. When open, submit through QueryManager only, the agency says email submissions will not be reviewed. Queries should address them as Claire or Mx. Draper.

Last checked 9 Jul 2026Via QueryManager

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