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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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Adult fiction, adult non-fiction, children's books, historical fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, fantasy, science fiction, biography, memoir, middle grade, young adult, picture books
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 10 pages
In Adult Fiction she seeks captivating settings and relatable characters that highlight virtues like empathy and self-sacrifice in historical, literary/upmarket, romance, or fantasy/science fiction genres. In Adult Non-fiction she wants well-researched titles that make complex topics accessible, biography and memoir that connect diverse readers, and books about poverty and justice. For children's literature, she loves books that can be read aloud and shared with families, especially middle grade, and seeks books with hopeful, informative, or lyrical tones.
Starting January 2026, queries must be submitted through QueryManager only. Address your query to the specific agent you think would be the best fit. Only send one query to Dunham Literary as agents share queries with each other when appropriate.
Fantasy, historical fiction, thriller, mystery, pop science, narrative non-fiction, history
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, sample pages
Claire seeks fantasy (especially non-western inspired worlds), historical fiction, thriller, and mystery with romantic or political subplots and immersive settings. She wants characters who chose to be heroes and stories with symbolic resonance. In nonfiction, she seeks pop-science books that use data to tell clear stories, narrative nonfiction between journalism and ethnography, and new histories touching present issues.
Send query letter with synopsis, bio, and opening 3-4 pages embedded in email body. Do not send attachments without request.
Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, suspense, romance, book club fiction, narrative non-fiction
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.
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.
Fiction, memoirs, historical fiction, cookbooks
She loves fiction spanning family generations, memoirs, historical fiction, and cookbooks with deliciously stunning photography.
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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
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.
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.
Women's fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, commercial fiction, horror, mystery, historical romance, poetry, picture books
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, bio, title/genre/word count
She seeks stories that surprise and delight with characters readers can't stop thinking about and sharp writing. She wants high-concept, twisty stories with strong voices in women's fiction, thriller, and speculative fiction. She's particularly interested in timely commercial fiction where the personal intersects with world events, stories about female rage and friendships, complex family dynamics, incisive horror with social commentary, and atmospheric mysteries set in close-knit communities.
Submit through Query Manager with a brief bio including writing credentials, title or genre or word count, query letter, and first ten pages.
Science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, picture books
Wants: Query letter
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.
Submissions should be sent via Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time at Root Literary.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's literature, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
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.
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.
Picture books, middle grade fiction, middle grade non-fiction, young adult fiction, young adult non-fiction, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter
High concept stories with high level writing that bring something new to shelves. For middle grade, she loves books with ensemble casts, books about good kids making bad decisions, quests and hijinks, spooky stories and mysteries, and historical novels that feel relevant. For young adult, she seeks books with atmospheric settings, lush writing, and romance threaded through but not primary. She is particularly interested in fantasy told from unique perspectives, ghost stories, accessible science fiction, magical realism, and contemporary stories that challenge assumptions.
Submissions through QueryManager only. Fiction requires completed manuscript. No simultaneous submissions to multiple agents at the agency.
Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, contemporary, fantasy, romance, suspense, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
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.
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.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, narrative non-fiction, memoir, history, pop culture, children's non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages
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.
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.
Non-fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages
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.
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.
Middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, picture books, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction from perspectives that may often feel left out of publishing, including stories from LGBTQIA and BIPOC creators. Kids/teen Graphic Novel and Picture Book illustrators and author-illustrators whose art has wit, heart, style and flair. She prefers upbeat stories and seeks queer, weird, funny, heartfelt, beautiful, nerdy projects.
Submit through QueryManager with a short query letter, author bio, contact information, and sample pages (first 10 pages for novels, full text for picture books, 10-20 sample spreads for graphic novels).
Children's books, preschool, picture books, novelty, middle grade, young adult, thriller, science fiction, speculative fiction
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages
Jamie looks for an intense emotional experience in all categories. She seeks manuscripts that stay with her, whether the sweet pang of an 'Jamie Weiss Chilton love you' picture book or the shock of recognition of an honest window to the tween or teen psyche. For younger age groups, she looks for the hook that will make a book a must-have parenting or educational resource.
Visit agent's bio page, click on QueryManager link, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with work description, previous publishing credentials, short author bio, contact information, and appropriate sample materials based on format.
Picture books, middle grade, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, author bio
Caryn looks for authentic, kid-appealing stories and art that disrupt the prevailing narrative in some way. She seeks characters that stick with her long after she has closed the book and loves stories that bring a good, cathartic cry, a huge belly laugh, some outrage, some new knowledge, and above all, hope. Social justice has been at the heart of her list since she started agenting.
Select one agent to query via QueryManager link on agent bio page. Submit query letter with work description, publishing credentials, author bio, contact information, and required sample materials based on format.
Children's books
Query Letter, Author Bio, Sample Pages
Click on the QueryManager link in the agent's bio, follow the prompts, and complete all required fields including query letter, author bio, contact information, and sample work. For novels: first 10 pages. For picture books: full text manuscript. For graphic novels: 10-20 sample page spreads or first 10 pages of script. For nonfiction: proposal and 1-3 sample chapters.
Query letter
See source page for more info
Find their QueryManager form and follow the form's instructions to upload your query letter and other requested information.
Stonesong
Prescriptive nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, spirituality, food and drink, lifestyle, creativity, personal development, business, illustrated gift books
Maria Ribas is a literary agent and Executive Director of Book Packaging at Stonesong. She represents prescriptive and narrative nonfiction in spirituality, food and drink, lifestyle, creativity, personal development, business, and illustrated gift books. She particularly enjoys working with writers, photographers, illustrators, bloggers, and influencers with strong platforms who understand how a thoughtfully produced and promoted book can grow their brands and businesses.
Maria Ribas is not accepting new clients according to her official Stonesong profile. The official Stonesong submissions page asks writers to query only listed open agents, Maria Ribas is not listed among the agents to query there.
Fiction, nonfiction, young adult, middle grade, graphic novels, picture books, pop culture, music, comedy, science, journalism, history, health, wellness, lgbtq and
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
Allison represents fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with interests including YA, middle grade, graphic novels, select picture books, pop culture, music, comedy, science, journalism, history, and health and wellness. Her submissions page says she is not currently looking for picture books or illustrators.
Stimola Literary Studio says Allison Hellegers is closed to unsolicited submissions and is only open to queries from industry professionals, existing clients, and authors who attended a conference or seminar where she was on staff. Referral or conference authors may email the spelled-out SLS address with query materials.
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Laura Gross is not open for queries at this time according to the official Laura Gross Literary Agency submissions page. The agency asks writers not to query by email or US mail.
Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
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The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.
Mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, fantasy, western
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
Gwyn accepts mystery, thriller, suspense, and all heat levels of romance in historical, contemporary, suspense, comedy, fantasy, and western subgenres. She especially likes unique characters, rarely used occupations, historical romance involving commoner characters, mysteries, fast-paced thrillers, large-scale schemes and scams, dark and gritty stories, and courtroom dramas.
The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.
Middle grade, young adult, picture books, illustration, author-illustrators, children's
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Jennifer represents authors, illustrators and author-illustrators with a distinct point of view and layered stories. She is interested in middle grade and YA with mind-expanding premises, survival stories, Dickensian sagas, puzzling plots, and middle grade about resilient kids sorting out messy lives.
Jennifer is currently closed to queries. Andrea Brown Literary Agency asks writers to select one agent, check that agent's bio and query status, and not query multiple ABLA agents simultaneously.
Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
See source page for more info
The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.
Mystery, psychological thriller, young adult science fiction, mental health, lifestyle
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
Kelsey accepts mysteries, psychological thrillers, YA science fiction, and occasional nonfiction in mental health and lifestyle. She likes stories with twists, unique formats or perspectives, inspirational storylines, humor, strong worldbuilding, dystopian YA science fiction, and stories that are mind-blowing or heart-tugging.
The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.
Young adult, new adult, adult fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, cookbooks, food writing, gardening, health, fitness, pets
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first twenty pages, full proposal
Kimberly seeks YA, New Adult and adult fiction, including mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, romantasy, fantasy and science fiction, plus adult nonfiction in cookbooks, food, gardening, health, fitness, natural healing and pets. She does not represent children's books, erotica, poetry, short stories, screenplays, novellas, literary/upmarket/women's fiction, or memoir.
Kimberly is currently closed to queries except for periodic windows. When open, fiction and nonfiction use separate QueryManager or QueryTracker forms from her submissions page.
Nonfiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, children's literature
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
Rachel accepts nonfiction, adult fiction, YA fiction, and children's literature. She likes nonfiction with historical elements, unknown or overlooked nonfiction stories, dark and gritty stories, fiction in the lineage of Alice Walker or James Baldwin, stories set in New York, YA fiction with series potential, and children's literature with diverse and unique characters.
The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.
Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
See source page for more info
The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.
Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters
See source page for more info
The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.
Young adult fantasy, young adult contemporary, romantasy, adult contemporary, thriller, grounded fantasy, women's fiction
Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction
Unique hooks, propulsive writing, YA fantasy/contemporary/romantasy/genre-bending, adult contemporary, thriller, grounded fantasy, romantasy, genre-bending, and women's fiction.
Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.
Fantasy, science fiction, horror, women's fiction, romance, mystery or suspense, young adult
Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction
Works with a unique premise and unforgettable characters, underrepresented viewpoints, twisty layered stories, and strong worldbuilding.
Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.
Science fiction or fantasy, literary fiction, science and nature
Science fiction/fantasy, literary fiction, science and nature nonfiction
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Middle grade fiction, young adult fiction
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.
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Children's illustration
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Check agent's submission page
Query letter, synopsis, 25 pages
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For submissions, please refer to the guidelines on our Contact page.
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