PairPi

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

Refine search
Represents

Children's fiction, young adult fiction, genre fiction, speculative fiction, non-fiction, illustration

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Susan Graham represents illustrators across format and age categories, genre and speculative fiction, select nonfiction, and children's and young adult prose. They are very interested in children's and young adult nonfiction.

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 a 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

Science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, horror, romance, literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Ambitious worldbuilding, strong voices, fast-paced plotting, cross-genre elements, dark romance, and anything slightly unhinged.

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 a 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

Fiction, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

She represents nonfiction of all kinds, including photography, humor, pop culture, history, memoir, investigative journalism/current events, and science. On the fiction side, she seeks out novels that pay equal attention to voice and plot.

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 a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but please indicate in your letter which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Fiction, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages

Looking for

In nonfiction, she is interested in bold contemporary voices, extraordinary untold stories, investigative journalism, pop culture, biography, memoir that often blends personal narrative with cultural analysis, food writing, and narrative nonfiction projects. In fiction, she is looking for voice- and character-driven novels, especially upmarket or literary fiction that resonates emotionally.

How to submit

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

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Fiction, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

She has a soft spot for dark, literary fiction, and is on the lookout for writing that immediately draws her in, bold voices, unlikeable narrators, and stories that linger.

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 a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but please indicate in your letter which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, biography, memoir, current affairs, cultural criticism, science, sports, children's

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

He works primarily with quality fiction – literary, historical, strongly written commercial – and with voice-driven nonfiction across a range of areas including narrative history, biography, memoir, current affairs, cultural trends and criticism, science, and sports.

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 a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but indicate in your letter which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Non-fiction, literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Erin primarily works with authors of nonfiction and select literary fiction for adults, with special interest in memoir, secret histories, music biography and pop culture, science, humor, cultural criticism, and untold stories of all kinds.

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.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Children's

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

He is keen to develop partnerships with authors and artists who wish to look beyond the obvious and strive for the exceptional.

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 a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but please indicate in your letter which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

He seeks exclusively nonfiction, including promising, eloquent, scholarly authors with general readership cross-over potential in all fields of history (American, European, Indigenous, Asian, African) as well as psychology, the environment, and biography.

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 you think might be the right fit. 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

Epic romance, historical romance, literary fiction, family dramas, romantic comedies, dark comedies, dystopian, urban fiction, picture books, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis (1-2 pages), first 5 pages

Looking for

Epic and historical romance; literary fiction with vivid, natural settings; family dramas, romantic comedies, dark comedies, dystopian, urban fiction; Non-fiction on self-improvement, parenting, alternative education, holistic health

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager database

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, mg fiction, ya fiction, adult commercial fiction, fantasy, mystery or thriller, upmarket women's fiction

Looking for

Picture Books: Author/Illustrators ONLY. MG fiction: funny, mad-cap adventures; epic fantasy; magical realism; high-concept twists; strong plots and voices. YA fiction: commercial and high-concept fiction (all genres). Plot-driven and escapist books. Humor, imagination, adventure, romance. Adult commercial fiction (accessible fantasy, mystery/thriller, upmarket women's fiction). Fun, escapist reads. Great hooks. Great writing.

How to submit

Use QueryManager link provided

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, near historical fiction, narrative non-fiction, adventure, popular science, history, politics, current affairs, social history, memoir, biography

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

Looking for

Wendy specializes in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. She represents award winning literary novelists, short story writers, journalists, activists, anthropologists, scientists, doctors, and educators.

How to submit

Make your submission letter to the point and as brief as possible. Include a short synopsis of your work, an author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email, no attachments please.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, science fiction, horror, western, women's fiction, middle grade, young adult, narrative non-fiction, true crime, memoir

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

Looking for

She is a fan of magical realism, contemporary westerns, science fiction and all stories that quicken the pulse and imagination.

How to submit

Make your submission letter to the point and as brief as possible. Include a short synopsis of your work, an author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email, no attachments please.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, upmarket adult fiction, grounded fantasy, adult romance, narrative non-fiction, graphic novels, picture books

Looking for

Michaela is most strongly interested in finding middle grade and young adult projects of all genres, upmarket adult fiction, and grounded fantasy. They are also open to select adult romance, narrative nonfiction for both children and adults, graphic novels, and picture books. Specifically seeks sibling stories.

How to submit

Submit only via Query Manager. Include full query in body, first 25 pages for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art if available. Query only one agent at the agency at a time.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romance, science fiction, fantasy, gothic tales, horror, cozy mysteries, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages, one-sentence pitch

Looking for

Saritza seeks commercial fiction by diverse authors, particularly romance with complex characters, propulsive science fiction, character-driven fantasy, atmospheric horror, cozy mysteries, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction about culture and food, and all Young Adult/Middle Grade genres especially science fiction and romance.

How to submit

Submit via QueryManager link with query letter, author bio, contact information, and first 10 pages for novels. Include one-sentence pitch. Follow submission guidelines on agency website.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fiction, non-fiction, memoir, popular culture, pop science, sports, self-help, inspiration, cookbooks, humor, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Looking for

DeFiore responds favorably to projects that demonstrate real storytelling talent with strong narrative drive and mastery of voice. In non-fiction he favors memoir, popular culture, pop science, sports, self-help and inspiration, cookbooks, humor and lifestyle. In fiction he seeks all sorts of novels except romance or western, for both adult and young adult readers.

How to submit

Send a persuasive e-mail to Querybrian@defliterary.com indicating the kind of book you are writing, a brief description of the book's contents, anything about your life experiences that will make readers take notice, and demonstrate creativity, confidence, and precision in the prose.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Non-fiction, fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Lerner represents non-fiction writers in the areas of science, psychology, history, cultural studies, true crime and memoir.

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 a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but please indicate in your letter which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Fiction, narrative non-fiction, literary novels, cultural criticism, essays, pop culture

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Looking for

Marya seeks books that immerse, critique, delight, or illuminate. She represents literary novels, cultural criticism, voice-driven essays with a humorous or critical edge, and pop culture writing.

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. Include sample pages in the body of the email below your query. Direct your submission to an individual agent and send material to submissions@janklow.com.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Romance, women's fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first chapter, one paragraph pitch

Looking for

She is looking for historical fiction, funny witty modern romances, anything medieval, and exciting historical romances and fiction based on real characters. She wants women's fiction, rom-coms and romances including romantasy, horromance, and cozy romance that are timely, fresh, high-concept with unique hooks. She seeks stories around immigration, cultural differences, mother-daughter stories, dysfunctional families, and found family themes.

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager only. Include query letter, synopsis, one paragraph pitch, target audience description, and first chapter or full proposal for nonfiction.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fantasy, mystery, horror, speculative fiction, romance, picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one paragraph pitch, first 3 chapters

Looking for

She is primarily looking for bold, emotional narratives with layered characters, lyrical and atmospheric writing, voicey genre-blending tales, big stakes, speculative worlds filled with haunting quietly wondrous magic, sharply funny rom-coms and coming of age narratives, witty and heartfelt picture books, and fearless storytellers tackling big ideas. She loves working with and supporting marginalized authors and their stories.

How to submit

Submit materials via Query Manager.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Speculative fiction, literary science fiction, upmarket book club fiction, thrillers, fairy tale retellings, magical realism, horror, suspense

Looking for

Dorian is actively building her list in YA and adult fiction, especially speculative fiction, literary science fiction, upmarket book club fiction, thrillers, reimagined fairy tales, magical realism, unique voices, contemporary novels with mystery, horror, suspense, and innovative storytelling.

How to submit

QueryManager submissions

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fiction, narrative non-fiction, idea books, entertainment, sports, cookbooks, design, satire, science fiction, thriller, spy stories, young adult, humor

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Looking for

Luke seeks books that are prime examples of their type, successful at what they're trying to be with natural storytelling and strong voices. He particularly enjoys satire, high concept science fiction, big ambitious novels, humor, thrillers and spy stories.

How to submit

Direct submission to Luke Janklow at submissions@janklow.com. For fiction: send informative description, brief synopsis and first ten pages in email body. For non-fiction: send informative description, full outline, and first ten pages in email body.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Commercial fiction, horror, non-fiction, young adult horror

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Lane represents a broad range of commercial fiction and serious nonfiction. In fiction, he is especially interested in projects broadly defined as horror. He is always looking for projects by underrepresented voices both in horror, fiction in general, and nonfiction. In nonfiction, Lane focuses on the sciences, cultural studies, history, pop-culture, and celebrity projects.

How to submit

Submit through Query Manager only. Fiction requires completed manuscript. Nonfiction requires full-length proposal. Cannot query multiple agents simultaneously.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, middle grade fiction, middle grade non-fiction, young adult fiction, young adult non-fiction, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

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.

How to submit

Submissions through QueryManager only. Fiction requires completed manuscript. No simultaneous submissions to multiple agents at the agency.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, non-fiction, pop culture, criticism, fantasy

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Looking for

Jessica represents fiction across the literary and commercial spectrum, journalistic nonfiction, and select pop culture and criticism. She is drawn to intimate narratives that examine complicated relationships, great love stories, immersive fantasy worlds, and propulsive plots grounded by unforgettable characters. In nonfiction, she seeks fresh, thoroughly-reported narratives that examine systemic injustice focusing on individuals impacted by climate change, women's rights, mental health, and race relations.

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.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Commercial women's fiction, ya, contemporary romance, thrillers, suspense, historical fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Looking for

Commercial women's fiction with a fresh and fun hook, all genres of YA (especially diverse stories), contemporary romance, thrillers and suspense, the occasional historical fiction, and anything that might be read in a day on the beach

How to submit

Complete the form with query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Form
Represents

Literary fiction, nonfiction

Looking for

Bold, diverse voices in both fiction and nonfiction, particularly stories exploring strong or difficult women, unexpected narratives of place and identity, and the evolving ways we understand ourselves and one another. Also has a strong interest in food history, wine, and dance.

How to submit

Submit through the Aevitas Creative Management contact and submissions form available on their website.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via Online Form

US Agents by Genre

US Age-Led Searches

Agents in Other Countries

Frequently asked questions

PairPi's US directory lists verified literary agents based in the United States. Filter by genre, submission method, and current open status. Every listing links to the agent's official submission guidelines and shows when the information was last checked. Smart Search lets you describe a book and find US agents who might want it.

Find the right literary agent

Filter the full directory by genre, country, submission method, and open status, then save agents and track your submissions.

Browse all agents