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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

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 12 Oct 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 12 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fiction, nonfiction, american history, european history, american studies, political theory, race studies, cultural studies, literary fiction, music, art history, sports, graphic novels

Wants: Cover letter, CV, manuscript

Looking for

Christopher Vyce is founder and literary agent at The Brattle Agency. His interests include American and European history, American studies, political theory, race studies, cultural studies, literary fiction, music, art history, sports, and graphic novels.

How to submit

The Brattle Agency submission period is currently closed. The official submissions page says the next open period begins October 1, 2026. During an open period, writers should send a cover letter, a CV if appropriate, and enough of the manuscript to give a full impression to submissions@thebrattleagency.com.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, children's fiction, children's nonfiction

Looking for

Beth Phelan is a Senior Literary Agent at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. She represents middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction. She gravitates toward stories and characters that inspire, anything with humor and the bittersweet, powerful and unique storytelling, offbeat contemporary fiction, immersive fantasy, and profoundly resonant voices.

How to submit

Beth Phelan is currently closed to queries according to the official Gallt and Zacker submissions page. GZLA asks writers to query only one GZLA agent at a time and to choose another agent only if the first passes.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's books, illustrators, commercial fiction, literary fiction, diverse voices

Looking for

Marietta B. Zacker is Co-owner and Literary Agent at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. She is always looking for visual and narrative stories that reflect the world as it is rather than narrow bubbles, loves books that make readers feel, and avoids projects that set out mainly to teach a lesson. Across young adult, middle grade, and picture books, she looks for stories where young readers can identify with the actions and reactions of the characters, not the perspective of the author or illustrator, and where diversity is inherent and authentic. She is excited by soulful, insightful, well-crafted literary or commercial projects for any age group from young adult to the youngest readers.

How to submit

Marietta B. Zacker is currently closed to queries according to the official Gallt and Zacker submissions page. When GZLA agents are open, the agency asks writers to choose one person to query, query only one GZLA agent at a time, and use the agent link on the submissions page.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, mystery, suspense, memoir, pop culture, science, social commentary

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

She is looking for upmarket fiction, both literary and commercial, with dynamic characters and elevated language, enjoying elements of speculative fiction, magical realism, mystery, and suspense. In nonfiction, she seeks unusual personal narratives, pop culture and science, and social commentary.

How to submit

Email query letters to mail@dclagency.com and paste the first ten pages of your manuscript below your letter. Address your email to the specific agent. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but indicate which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
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 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, horror, science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, historical fiction, picture books, middle grade, young adult, romance, mystery

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages

Looking for

Laura would love to find fantasy, spec fiction, alternate history, and horror with fresh, original, unexpected reimaginings. She seeks retellings that reinvent underlying traditions, gothic suspense or thrillers, romantasy that is more romantic fantasy than fantasy romance, high concept rom-coms, and sexy historical romance. She also wants thrillers and mysteries with dynamic, unexpected characters and rich psychological insights.

How to submit

Click on the QueryManager link in the agent's bio, follow the prompts, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with a description of your work, previous publishing credentials, a short author bio, contact information, and for novels: first 10 pages of text.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Children's fiction, picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, middle grade non-fiction, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages, writing sample

Looking for

Offbeat projects that break the mold, with particular interest in queer and BIPOC literature and writers. He wants to read something that moves him and connects on an intellectual, emotional or spiritual level. He specifically wants to see more middle grade fiction and nonfiction, and graphic novels.

How to submit

Submit only via Query Manager. Include query letter in body and first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art if available. For graphic novels, include first 25 pages of script plus illustrated pages if author or illustrator.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Adult fantasy, young adult fantasy, science fiction, horror, speculative fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, crime fiction, young adult contemporary

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages, synopsis, comparable books

Looking for

Ernie Chiara specializes in adult and young adult fantasy, science fiction, and horror, speculative upmarket and literary fiction, BIPOC mystery, thriller, and crime fiction, and young adult contemporary. He wants character-driven stories with layered worldbuilding, original settings, immersive plotting, propulsive pacing, genre blends, distinct voice, and complex characters.

How to submit

Ernie Chiara is currently closed to unsolicited queries and is considering queries by personal referral or event request only. When open, he accepts submissions exclusively through QueryManager, email and social-media queries are deleted unread.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, chapter books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, adult fiction, middle grade nonfiction, young adult nonfiction, adult nonfiction

Looking for

Award-winning authors and illustrators of picture books and chapter books that present the world in unique and unusual ways, with characters that live vividly on and off the page. In nonfiction across middle grade, young adult, and adult categories, book ideas and platforms that tell untold stories by creators offering a distinctive perspective on current issues, hopes, and fears of both today and tomorrow.

How to submit

Tricia accepts queries by request or referral, or from people who have attended conferences where she is faculty. Submit your query through the contact page on her website or through the agency's contact and submissions form.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Online Form
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 10 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's literature, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages

Looking for

Kelly champions writers and artists in nearly every category, format, and age group within children's literature. She works with debut authors and illustrators as well as bestsellers and award-winning creators.

How to submit

Click on the QueryManager link in the agent's bio, follow the prompts, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with description of your work, previous publishing credentials, short author bio, contact information, and sample work as specified for your format.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, contemporary, fantasy, romance, suspense, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages

Looking for

She loves both contemporary and fantasy as well as the spooky and unexpected. She loves multi-generational stories, matrilineal magic, and is always happy to see high-concept contemporary romance. She also enjoys darker suspenseful reads and loves atmospheric settings that feel like a character. For picture books, she works on both fiction and nonfiction with interest in environmental and STEM themes, animals, emotional intelligence, and books for youngest readers including vehicle books.

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager with query letter, author bio, publishing credentials, contact information, and sample pages. For novels: first 10 pages. For picture books text only: full manuscript. Response even if passing.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, picture books

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Kurestin wants to work with creators who are creatively ambitious, who have a wide range of ideas and are always pushing themselves to write what's most interesting and challenging to them. She's particularly drawn to illustrators with a strong sense of dynamic use of panels and movement on the page, and always loves a creature.

How to submit

Submissions should be sent via Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time at Root Literary.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, thrillers, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, nonfiction, health, science, environment, true crime, memoir, spirituality

Looking for

Elizabeth Kracht represents literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction, crossover YA, and nonfiction. She appreciates writing with depth, an introspective voice, thematic layers, multicultural themes and characters, and strong settings. Her nonfiction interests include high concept, health, science, environment, prescriptive nonfiction, investigative nonfiction, true crime, voice- or adventure-driven memoir, sexuality, spirituality, and animal or pet stories.

How to submit

Elizabeth Kracht is currently only open to queries and pitches through conferences, online events, workshops, and referrals. Kimberley Cameron and Associates uses QueryManager for submissions and asks writers to tailor submissions to each agent's interests, but her public QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting unsolicited queries.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Adult fiction, horror, science fiction, speculative fiction, romance, young adult, picture books, graphic novels, lgbtq and voices, underrepresented voices

Looking for

Sera Rivers is a literary agent at Speilburg Literary Agency. In adult fiction she is interested in subversive horror, grounded science fiction, speculative fiction, and underrepresented voices in the vein of Emily Henry. In kidlit she is interested in young adult LGBTQIA+, horror, non-Western folklore, culture and heritage, thriller, grounded science fiction, and speculative; picture books by author-illustrators only, especially horror and work by underrepresented authors and illustrators; and graphic novels by author-illustrators only.

How to submit

Sera Rivers is currently closed to queries according to the live official linked QueryTracker form. Her official Speilburg profile says she opens to adult fiction during the first 7 days of each month and is closed to unsolicited children's-book submissions except through conferences, requests, and referrals.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Form
Represents

Children's books, young adult, middle grade, picture books, illustrated books

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, portfolio

Looking for

Victoria owns Storm Literary Agency and represents authors and illustrators, with a list focused on children's literature across age categories and genres except erotica romance.

How to submit

Victoria Selvaggio is currently closed to submissions according to Storm Literary Agency's official about or submission guidance.

Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, stem, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal, portfolio

Looking for

Heather considers picture books, middle grade, YA, and adult fiction and nonfiction. Her interests include books that explore currently untapped spaces, STEM picture books, layered MG/YA nonfiction, and stories that inspire readers to seize opportunities in their own lives.

How to submit

Heather Cashman is currently closed to submissions according to Storm Literary Agency's official about or submission guidance.

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.

Represents

Poetry, picture books, graphic novels, contemporary fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, young adult

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Tasneem is looking across categories for work from marginalized authors, especially under the BIPOC umbrella. Interests include genre-inflected poetry, picture books, graphic novels, contemporary MG/YA/adult, fantasy, YA/adult science fiction, and YA/adult romance.

How to submit

Tasneem is currently closed to queries. The official Belcastro page links her QueryManager route, the linked form says she is closed until further notice, with a separate BIPOC-exclusive form noted there.

Last checked 9 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Non-fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Looking for

In nonfiction, she seeks big-idea books examining technology, race, disability, queerness, inequality, science, politics, cultural histories, and close studies. In fiction, she seeks literary and commercial works that reveal new connections and fuller ways to be human, prioritizing writers whose sentences thrum with voice and style.

How to submit

For fiction submissions, send an informative description, a brief synopsis and the first ten pages. For non-fiction submissions, send an informative description, a full outline, and the first ten pages of the manuscript. Please include the sample pages in the body of the email below your query. Please direct your submission to an individual agent and send your material to submissions@janklow.com.

Last checked 9 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

History, pop culture, science, memoir, investigative narrative nonfiction, issue-focused narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary thrillers, upmarket horror, family novels, coming of age

Looking for

Sophie Brett-Chin is a Literary Associate at Folio Literary Management who is actively building her list. In nonfiction she is looking for history, pop culture, science, memoir, and investigative and issue-focused narrative nonfiction. In fiction she is drawn to propulsive plots that are beautiful on a technical and craft level, including upmarket and literary thrillers, upmarket horror that uses and subverts genre tropes to probe larger societal issues, and big-hearted novels about family or coming of age. Across genres she likes work that interrogates adolescence, especially teenage girlhood, as well as books about religion and ritual and books about the ocean. She is not looking for children's books at any level.

How to submit

Sophie Brett-Chin is currently closed to unsolicited submissions according to her official Folio profile.

Represents

Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, business, health, science, pop culture, current affairs, narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction

Wants: Personal recommendation only

Looking for

Joëlle represents adult fiction and nonfiction. The agency no longer accepts children's books, YA, middle grade, picture books, screenplays, novellas or poetry.

How to submit

Joelle Delbourgo Associates is currently closed to queries except through personal recommendation.

Last checked 8 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, psychological thriller, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, young adult, science fiction, paranormal romance, thriller, nonfiction, cookbooks, memoir, self-help, lifestyle

Looking for

Mariah is interested in upmarket and commercial adult fiction, women's fiction, psychological thrillers, contemporary romance and rom-coms, young adult science fiction, paranormal romance, thrillers and contemporary romance, plus nonfiction including cookbooks, memoirs, self-help, lifestyle and how-to.

How to submit

Mariah is currently closed to submissions.

Represents

Thriller, adult fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, opening pages

Looking for

Zach is primarily seeking thrillers and adult fiction, especially those set in rural places, mountainous regions, or other hard-to-reach corners of the world. He is open to non-fiction pitches in hiking, skiing, music, board games, golf, and other outdoor activities categories. He is not looking to represent fantasy or science fiction at this time.

How to submit

Send a query letter with a synopsis of your book, your bio, and the opening 3 or 4 pages embedded in the body of your email. Do not send an attachment without a request to do so.

Last checked 8 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fantasy, adventure, romance, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, sample pages

Looking for

Morgan is seeking Middle Grade and Young Adult fantasy/adventure with a particular interest in graphic novels. She is also interested in picture books, Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult romance. She loves unique narratives, strong voices, and impressive world-building but is also drawn to small-town vibes and sports settings.

How to submit

Submit query letter with synopsis, bio, and opening 3-4 pages embedded in email body. Do not send attachments without request.

Last checked 8 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romance, contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, speculative romance, horror romance, monster romance, dark romance, dystopian romance, new adult romance, romantasy, speculative fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, young adult, upper middle grade, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first chapter, synopsis

Looking for

She is looking for high-concept, commercial-leaning stories with propulsive and accessible narratives. She particularly wants dark romance, horror/monster romance, genre-mashups, fresh takes on historical romance and dystopian, mystery/thriller and suspense stories with female protagonists, and cozy crime stories with humor and charm.

How to submit

Submit queries only through QueryManager. Include a query letter, first chapter, and synopsis for fiction. Include genre and word count in the cover letter. Query only one agent at a time.

Last checked 8 Oct 2026Via QueryManager

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