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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

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 18 Sept 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 18 Sept 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 18 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

General fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, biography, history, african american literature

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Looking for

The Philip G. Spitzer Literary Agency lists genres and specialties as general fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, biography, history, and African American literature.

How to submit

The agency is not accepting new clients for representation at this time.

Last checked 18 Sept 2026
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 17 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
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 17 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romance, romantic comedy, women's fiction, thriller, psychological suspense, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Looking for

Tara is seeking completed works with vibrant, fresh voices in romance, especially romantic comedies, women's fiction with fresh hooks, thrillers, psychological suspense, and contemporary young adult.

How to submit

Tara is closed to submissions until further notice except for personal recommendations and works requested at conferences or events. When open, One Track accepts electronic submissions through QueryManager with a query letter, synopsis, and attachment of the first three chapters.

Last checked 17 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
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 16 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, narrative nonfiction, serious nonfiction, literary fiction, magical realism, surrealism, experimental fiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Rachel has a list spanning picture book, middle grade, young adult, narrative and serious nonfiction, and literary fiction. She is drawn to unique voices, diverse perspectives, immersive settings, complicated family relationships, young protagonists, magical realism, surrealism and experimental style.

How to submit

SLM lists Rachel as a junior agent, but the current submissions page only lists Jesseca, Eryn, Kate, Erika and Kristin as direct query recipients.

Last checked 16 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, middle grade, children's, author-illustrators, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Julie considers fiction and nonfiction projects for children ages 0-12, including authors and author-illustrators of picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and middle grade. She wants kid-forward work with charm, strong writing, unexpected twists, empowerment, real kid life, nature, global perspectives and inclusive approaches.

How to submit

Julie accepts queries exclusively through QueryManager when open. She is currently closed to unsolicited queries, emailed or snail-mail queries will not receive a reply.

Last checked 16 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
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 16 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

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

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Looking for

Flannery Literary represents authors writing books for children and young adults, looking for strong writing, unique viewpoints, memorable stories, intriguing characters and thought-provoking dilemmas for young readers.

How to submit

Flannery Literary is currently not accepting queries.

Last checked 16 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Romance, women's fiction, southern gothic, alternate history, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, western, middle grade, young adult, nonfiction

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

Looking for

Nikki is interested in romance, women's fiction, Southern Gothic, alternate histories, grounded science fiction and fantasy, speculative thrillers, fresh westerns, MG and YA with cottage-core or floral magic elements, YA thrillers, and nonfiction on craft, screenwriting, North Carolina history, culinary subjects, hobbies, arts and crafts, and plants or herbs.

How to submit

Nikki 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 16 Sept 2026Via Email
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.

Last checked 14 Sept 2026
Represents

Children's fiction, adult fiction, select nonfiction, picture books

Wants: Query letter, author bio, first five pages, picture book text

Looking for

Leslie focuses on under-represented voices, especially work centering disability, poverty, women, neurodivergence, Judaism, Islam, and non-Western religions. She seeks books with a strong commercial premise, distinct prose, and multiple layers of meaning.

How to submit

Leslie accepts submissions only via QueryManager. Her usual process is to open to unsolicited queries for the first full week of each month, but the current form says she is closed until the new year. Required materials are a query letter, short bio, and first five pages, or complete picture book text or dummy.

Last checked 14 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
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 14 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, illustrated novels, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, children's, adult crossover, author-illustrators

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Lori considers fiction and nonfiction projects from picture books to New Adult/adult crossover books, plus author-illustrators creating picture books, illustrated novels and graphic novels. She is drawn to character-driven stories with accessible, authentic and unforgettable voices.

How to submit

Lori accepts queries solely through QueryManager when open. She is currently closed to unsolicited queries, emailed or snail-mail queries will not receive a reply.

Last checked 14 Sept 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.

Last checked 14 Sept 2026
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 14 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, fiction, memoir, biography, self-improvement, spirituality, contemporary issues, narrative nonfiction, nonfiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Cynthia Cannell Literary Agency represents fiction as well as memoir, biography, self-improvement, spirituality, and nonfiction on contemporary issues.

How to submit

The agency contact page says it is not currently accepting unsolicited queries. The public contact email is info@cannellagency.com, but writers should not send unsolicited queries while closed.

Last checked 14 Sept 2026Via Email
Represents

Visit agent's website for details

Looking for

Ann Rittenberg founded Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency after editorial and agenting roles in publishing. The current official submissions answer says the agency is no longer accepting submissions.

How to submit

Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency is no longer accepting submissions. The official answers page preserves old guidelines for posterity but states the agency is no longer accepting any submissions, the contact form must not be used for submissions or queries.

Last checked 13 Sept 2026Via Form
Represents

Adult fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, horror, memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice, cultural criticism, true crime, essay collections

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Looking for

Meredith represents adult fiction and nonfiction, including transportive fiction, dark or darkly humorous stories, thriller/speculative/horror elements, voice-driven memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice writing, cultural criticism, true crime, and essays about race, class, and identity.

How to submit

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query route and select Meredith Miller where available. Do not query multiple UTA literary agents simultaneously.

Last checked 12 Sept 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, suspense, romance, book club fiction, narrative non-fiction

Looking for

Sharon's list includes upmarket fiction of all sorts, from smart, complex women's fiction to unexpected suspense fiction and romance to hearty, unforgettable book club fiction. She also occasionally takes on compelling, fierce narrative nonfiction by journalists, experts, or emerging voices with a promising platform.

How to submit

Submit only through Query Manager. Include query letter in the body with first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction.

Last checked 9 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, narrative non-fiction, memoir, history, pop culture, children's non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages

Looking for

Jim is particularly interested in literary fiction, underrepresented voices, fantasy, mysteries, romance, anything unusual or unexpected, and any book that makes him cry or laugh out loud. He wants to see more children's nonfiction.

How to submit

Submit to Jim McCarthy only via Query Manager at https:// queryManager.com or JimMcCarthy. Include query letter in body with first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction.

Last checked 9 Sept 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, historical fiction, book club fiction, business, history, memoir, popular culture, science

Looking for

Narratives in business, history, memoir, popular culture, and science that offer insight and practical wisdom; literary and historical fiction; and books designed to help readers live more meaningful lives

How to submit

Submit queries through Aevitas Creative Management's contact and submissions form. Include standard query materials appropriate to your genre.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Children's books, nonfiction, science, nature, stem, picture books, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Looking for

Lisa is a literary agent at Storm with a background in biology, environmental science, educational/trade writing, and children's publishing. Her interests align strongly with children's nonfiction, science, nature, STEM, and kidlit.

How to submit

Follow Lisa Amstutz's Storm Literary submission guidelines when available, no current direct query route was confirmed in this pass.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Represents

Middle grade fiction, young adult fiction

Looking for

She is actively building her list in all genres of middle grade and young adult fiction. Her taste can be summed up as 'eclectic,' and she is drawn to high-concept commercial projects with a literary aura, unexpected hooks, strong A/B plots, and distinct voices. She's especially passionate about supporting diverse and underrepresented creators from all backgrounds. A lover of anthropomorphic characters, she dreams of repping the next blockbuster animal novel or series.

How to submit

Check agent's submission page

Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Represents

Romance, fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, romantasy, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, cozy fantasy

Looking for

Heather is interested in representing works of popular fiction, mainly concentrated on romance of all genres and sub-genres other than inspirational—with a particular interest in romantasy (and if there are dragons, all the better!), humorous contemporary romance, and paranormal romance—as well as fantasy (particularly cozy fantasy), urban fantasy, and science fiction with strong romantic elements.

How to submit

Check agent's submission page

Last checked 18 Oct 2026

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