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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

Adult fiction, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, historical fiction, grounded speculative fiction, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, mystery, adult nonfiction, spirituality, mind body spirit, food, agriculture, science, stem, natural living, animals, pets, community, culture, pop culture, health, wellness

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Looking for

Carleen is building a list in adult fiction and nonfiction. In fiction she likes contemporary genres, upmarket or literary voices, commercial work, historical genre blends, grounded speculative stories, thrillers, suspense, horror, mysteries, and romance with a strong subplot. In nonfiction she is interested in niche topics with wide appeal, including spirituality, food, agriculture, science, natural living, animals, culture, pop culture, and health/wellness.

How to submit

Submit through Carleen Geisler's QueryManager form. The form asks for a query letter, synopsis, genre, word count, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, publication history, and the first 10 pages, or a book outline for nonfiction.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Looking for

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

How to submit

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, popular fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, cookbooks, current affairs, true crime, women's issues, men's issues, multicultural issues, global issues

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio

Looking for

Andrea represents Spanish, Portuguese, and English-language authors. Indent is interested in literary and popular fiction, memoirs, narrative nonfiction, cookbooks, current affairs, true crime, women's and men's issues, and multicultural or global issues, with a primary focus on Latino and Latin American authors.

How to submit

Email a query letter to info@indentagency.com. Include a 1-2 page synopsis, author information, publishing background if any, and contact information. Do not send a full manuscript unless requested.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Speculative fiction, middle grade, young adult, horror, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Justina is looking for well-executed speculative fiction in most categories, including middle grade and young adult that asks complicated questions and offbeat adult books. She does not accept nonfiction, picture books, romantasy, contemporary, or previously self-published work.

How to submit

Submit through Justina's QueryManager form.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, cultural criticism, essays

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

Looking for

Alison MacKeen represents idea-driven books that cast new light on human experience, including wellbeing, work, relationships, inequality, cognition, and communication. She is also looking for literary nonfiction, including memoir, about under-covered people, places, and issues, voice-driven cultural criticism and essays, and offbeat wisdom literature.

How to submit

Send a query letter to submissions@calligraphlit.com with a brief synopsis, short bio, and 25 pages of sample material in the body of the email. Include the agent name, project title, and genre in the subject line. Do not query the agent directly, all submissions must go to the submissions address. No attachments, postal queries, or phone queries.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Contemporary romance, women's fiction, horror, folklore, dark academia, magical realism, young adult, mystery

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Megan is building a list in contemporary romance, women's fiction, horror, folklore-inspired stories, dark academia, magical realism, and young adult contemporary, romance, mystery, magical realism and horror. She especially likes atmospheric writing, compelling characters, found families, banter, and underrepresented voices.

How to submit

Submit through Megan Frayser's QueryManager form. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time and to review each agent's bio, wishlist, and QueryManager page before submitting.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Looking for

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

How to submit

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, graphic novels, graphic memoir, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Rob represents picture books, early chapter books, middle grade, juvenile and middle-grade graphic novels, adult nonfiction graphic novels, and graphic memoirs. He is especially interested in picture books that feel different and unique.

How to submit

Submit through Rob Broder's QueryTracker form. Query only one Martin-Newens representative at a time.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult fiction, young adult, middle grade, nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, true crime memoir

Wants: Online form submission

Looking for

Stephanie Rostan is Principal at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. About three quarters of her clients are fiction. She is drawn to unusual and vivid voices, genre-straddling stories, and intense emotion, whether funny, creepy, warm, or sad, that makes a book stick with the reader. She represents adult, YA, and middle grade projects. In nonfiction she likes projects that solve a problem or make readers see things in a new way, and she has also worked on narrative nonfiction and true crime memoir.

How to submit

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency's official online submission form linked from the official submissions page. Stephanie Rostan's profile lists srostan@lgrliterary.com, but LGR's public submissions route is the agency online form.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult fantasy, speculative fiction, thriller, suspense, book club fiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

James is currently looking for adult fantasy, speculative fiction, thrillers, suspense, and book club fiction. He seeks works from diverse, marginalized, and/or underrepresented voices and is eager to find plot-driven books with strong characters, commercial hooks, and memorable prose.

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager form linked from agent profile. Include query letter and other requested information as specified in the form. Query only one BookEnds agent at a time.

Last checked 7 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, illustrated books, biography, history, politics, public life, music, architecture, art, design, food, culinary culture, memoir, cultural criticism, counterculture, place-based writing

Looking for

William Clark represents serious narrative nonfiction, select literary and upmarket fiction, and illustrated books with cultural authority by authors whose work combines narrative force, intellectual rigor, and a distinct point of view. He is especially drawn to biography, history, politics and public life, music, architecture, art and design, food and culinary culture, memoir with a larger lens, cultural criticism, counterculture, and place-based writing.

How to submit

Representation queries are accepted only through the official representation-query form on the William Clark Associates website. They are not accepted by telephone, postal mail, or courier mail.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Contemporary fiction, historical fiction, memoir, expert nonfiction, narrative nonfiction

Looking for

Trena Keating is co-founder and agent at Union Literary, where she represents both fiction and nonfiction authors. She is most interested in books that draw readers into new perspectives and settings. She loves contemporary fiction with strong narratives, innovative historical fiction, memoirs with compelling voices, groundbreaking expert-based nonfiction, and accounts that broaden the lens on human experience.

How to submit

Trena Keating accepts submissions through QueryTracker and by email. The official Union Literary agents page lists tk@unionliterary.com as her contact.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Email or QueryTracker
Represents

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

Wants: Short description, short bio, first five to ten pages

Looking for

Tamar Rydzinski is President of Context Literary Agency. The official submissions page says she is looking for middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction of all types, adult commercial fiction except political espionage, and adult narrative nonfiction.

How to submit

Email querytamar@contextlit.com with a short description, short bio, and 5-10 pages of text pasted into the body of the email. Tamar Rydzinski does not open attachments. Context Literary asks writers to query only one agent at a time, if that agent passes, they may query another.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, social history, cultural history, pop culture, fashion, food writing, art, music, women's issues, literary memoir

Wants: Query letter, first chapter

Looking for

Susan Ramer has been at Don Congdon Associates since 1986. She looks for literary fiction, upmarket book club fiction, both contemporary and historical and especially American, and narrative nonfiction. She is drawn to authentic voice, unforgettable characters with an edge, unfamiliar well-crafted stories that are emotional in unpredictable ways, social history, cultural history, smart pop culture such as fashion, food, art, and music, women's issues, and literary memoir with a distinctive theme. She especially likes nonfiction that combines a personal thread with reporting and analysis of a broader social or cultural issue, and appreciates a sense of humor, especially on the dark side.

How to submit

Submit to Susan Ramer through her official Don Congdon linked QueryTracker form. Don Congdon says Susan Ramer accepts queries only via QueryTracker. A query letter should be a one-page description or synopsis including genre, word count, comparable titles, and relevant background, with the first chapter included through the applicable QueryTracker section. Query only one Don Congdon agent at a time.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult nonfiction, health, history, parenting, music, how-to, self-help, popular science, business, biography, sports, reference, cooking, writing, humor, spirituality, illustrated books, general interest

Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample chapters

Looking for

Rita Rosenkranz represents almost exclusively adult nonfiction. Her list includes health, history, parenting, music, how-to, popular science, business, biography, sports, popular reference, cooking, writing, humor, spirituality, illustrated books, and general interest titles. She represents first-time and seasoned authors and looks for projects that present familiar subjects freshly or lesser-known subjects commercially.

How to submit

Send a query letter by email to rrosenkranz@mindspring.com or by regular mail with SASE. If requested, send the proposal as a single Word document attachment labeled with the book project name. The agency does not accept screenplays, poetry, fiction, children's books, or YA books.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, general fiction, historical fiction, thriller, women's fiction, science, popular science, self-help, health, wellness

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Looking for

A.J. is seeking middle grade and YA in all genres, plus adult literary, general, historical, thriller, and women's fiction. They are drawn to books that merge literary sensibility with compelling plot and are also interested in fresh nonfiction ideas in science, popular science, self-help, and health/wellness from authors with platforms.

How to submit

A.J. Van Belle is currently closed to queries, with conference pitches noted as an exception. When open, submit through the query route linked from their Booker Albert profile.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via QueryTracker
Represents

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, memoir, biography, history, science narratives, medical narratives

Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages

Looking for

Jane is interested in women's commercial fiction and big think non-fiction. She loves to read commercial and literary fiction, memoir, biography and history, with particular interest in current events, politics, legal subjects, science and medical narratives.

How to submit

Send query letter via email with full query in body, include first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction in email body. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art as PDF attachments under 20MB.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, women's fiction, thriller, mystery, psychology, science, history, biography, diet, health, fitness, how-to, self-help, narrative non-fiction

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

Looking for

Harvey loves great adult commercial and literary fiction and nonfiction books with a strong narrative voice in all disciplines, written by authors who already have an established professional platform in their field of expertise.

How to submit

Submit via email with a short synopsis of your work, an author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email. Do not send attachments.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Grounded genre fiction, upmarket romance, psychological thrillers, folk horror, book club fiction, narrative non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, one sentence pitch, first 20 pages, comparable books, biography

Looking for

Gracie is interested in grounded genre fiction, upmarket romance, psychological thrillers, folk horror, book club fiction, and narrative nonfiction examining culture and social issues. Across young adult and adult categories, she's interested in underrepresented voices, inventive storytelling, and delicious prose.

How to submit

Submit via Query Manager only. Include query letter, one sentence pitch, first 20 pages, and comparable books. Do not query via email.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, historical fiction, women's fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, first 5 pages

Looking for

She is interested in a wide range of fiction and always on the lookout for underrepresented authors. In general, she loves quirky-off beat storytelling that can deliver heartfelt and thoughtful messaging, characters with richly developed relationships, and stories that center around a fantastical or often-overlooked setting.

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. Do not query more than one agent at Harvey Klinger, Inc. at a time.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Music history, music journalism, memoir, biography, narrative non-fiction, media, film, tv, essay, literature, pop culture, young adult fiction, middle grade fiction

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

Looking for

David specializes in music-related nonfiction, biography, narrative nonfiction, and young adult and middle-grade fiction. He seeks contemporary, adventure, thriller, and mystery in Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction.

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 6 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Nonfiction, health, medical, religion, spirituality, self-help, parenting, current affairs, history, narrative nonfiction, fiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, first twenty five pages, synopsis or proposal

Looking for

Carol Mann specializes in nonfiction, including health and medical, religion, spirituality, self-help, parenting, current affairs, history, and narrative nonfiction, while also taking on occasional fiction.

How to submit

Email queries to submissions@carolmannagency.com and include Carol Mann's name in the subject line. For fiction, send a query letter with a brief bio and first 25 pages pasted into the body. For nonfiction, send a query letter with brief bio, synopsis or proposal, and first 25 pages pasted into the body. Attachments are not opened.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Romance, fantasy, upmarket or women's fiction, mystery or thriller, young adult fiction, middle grade fiction

Looking for

Voice-driven YA and romance that balances heart, humor, and hope. High-concept setups with emotional depth: the summer that changes everything, the cruise that goes hilariously off course, the fantasy quest that doubles as a love story, or the play that blurs the line between acting and truth. She loves lush, escapist settings—coastal towns, vibrant cities, magical kingdoms, faraway ships.

How to submit

Before you hit submit on any queries please verify her #MSWL.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Other
Represents

Literary fiction

Wants: Query form

Looking for

Annie Hwang is an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary representing what she describes as literary fiction with teeth.

How to submit

Submit to Annie Hwang through the Ayesha Pande Literary query form. Complete all required fields, do not submit to multiple APL agents simultaneously, and do not submit by mail. If no one responds within 8 weeks, writers may withdraw and submit to another APL agent, a no from one APL agent is a no from the entire agency.

Last checked 6 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Children's fiction, children's nonfiction, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, adult fiction, women's fiction, picture books, adult nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, history, science and technology, art, biography, parenting, cooking and food, health and wellness, lifestyle, advice, relationships, personal finance, social justice, diverse voices

Wants: Query letter, one sentence pitch, first twenty pages, full nonfiction proposal, artwork or portfolio link

Looking for

Marie Lamba represents fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. In fiction she is currently seeking middle grade and young adult fiction and graphic novels, especially diverse points of view; general adult fiction, women's fiction, and adult graphic novels; select established illustrators and picture book authors; original rom-coms; contemporary and historical work; fresh non-gory ghost stories; fantasy and speculative elements; unique and funny romantasy; hidden treasures, artifacts, ancient civilizations, folklore, fairy tales, and books that are original, moving, or hilarious. In nonfiction she represents children's and adult work, including inspiring memoirs, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, history, science and technology for lay readers, art, biography, parenting, cooking and food, health and wellness, lifestyle, advice and relationships, personal finance, social justice, diverse voices, and books that improve society or help the environment.

How to submit

Submit only through Marie Lamba's official QueryManager page. JDLA asks writers to query one JDLA agent at a time and says it does not accept snail mail queries. Marie says emailed queries, social-media queries, and regular postal mail queries will be deleted or not considered. Her QueryManager form asks for author details, query letter, one-sentence pitch, publication status, the first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal, and an art or portfolio link if applicable.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romance, romantasy

Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal

Looking for

Alyssa Morris focuses on romance and romantasy, especially indie published authors looking to move into traditional or hybrid publication. She likes cozy slow burns, witty banter, interesting trope inversions, fanfiction concepts applied to commercial fiction, all romance subgenres except dark romance without explicit consent, and romantasy with skillful worldbuilding, unique concepts, non-Western myth, or older characters.

How to submit

Submit through Alyssa Morris's official QueryManager link from Trellis. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager and asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fiction, nonfiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, book club fiction, self-help, health, wellness, business, science, public affairs

Wants: Query letter, first twenty-five pages

Looking for

Celeste represents a select list of bestselling fiction and nonfiction authors. She is currently looking for upmarket fiction that makes readers laugh or cry, one-of-a-kind thrillers with TV and film potential, and nonfiction authors helping readers navigate the world as it is today.

How to submit

Email queries@parkfinebrower.com and specify Celeste Fine plus the category and genre in the subject line. Adult fiction submissions should include a query letter and roughly the first 25 pages in the body of the email. Nonfiction submissions should include a query letter.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Adult nonfiction, business, technology, popular science, women's health, self-help, parenting, humor, illustrated nonfiction, photography, early readers, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, children's nonfiction, picture books

Wants: Query letter, first 20 pages, proposal

Looking for

Myrsini considers adult and children's projects across categories except genre fiction. She is looking for voice-driven business and technology books, accessible science, women's health, self-care, progressive parenting, humor and illustrated projects, early readers, middle grade, YA, graphic novels, children's nonfiction, and picture books from writer-illustrators.

How to submit

Submit to Myrsini Stephanides via QueryManager. Include sample material with the query: first 20 pages for fiction and a full proposal for nonfiction. Picture book submissions are only considered from author-illustrators. Do not query multiple Arc agents simultaneously.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Children's fiction, children's nonfiction, illustration, picture books, author-illustrators, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult

Looking for

Tracy Marchini Literary represents fiction, nonfiction, and illustration for children and teens. Tracy Marchini is especially looking for illustration portfolios, author-illustrator picture books, chapter-book-length graphic novels, hilarious picture book texts, and middle grade and young adult fiction. She welcomes submissions from communities traditionally underrepresented on bookshelves, including LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and disabled communities, and welcomes intersectional stories. Her current wishlist emphasizes joy, humor, truth, out-of-the-box humor, slightly subversive stories, characters with big ideas and bigger plans, new picture book concepts, unconventional nonfiction relatable to today's kids, middle grade and YA novels that compel one-night reading, illustration portfolios that mix traditional and digital media in a distinctly human way, and young graphic novels that blend the fantastic with the relatable.

How to submit

Submit through Tracy Marchini's QueryManager only. She is open to queries on the 10th of the month during September through April. Do not email or submit unsolicited queries outside QueryManager, they will be deleted unread.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, historical fiction, cookbooks, lifestyle, film rights, television rights

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first twenty pages, author bio, market positioning

Looking for

Susan Finesman runs Fine Literary Management, a boutique literary agency based in Los Angeles that is carefully seeking new clients. Her official about page says she continues to be interested in all kinds of books, especially work with unforgettable characters, stories that make her laugh or cry, twists and turns of a great page-turner, honest memoir, historical fiction, and nonfiction that is honest and thoughtful. Cookbooks and lifestyle are particular areas of interest.

How to submit

Email Susan@FineLiterary.com with QUERY and the title in the subject line. For fiction, send a query letter, brief synopsis, and the first 20 pages pasted in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send a query letter and brief synopsis, explaining why you are writing the book and where it fits in the marketplace. Make name, contact information, referral if any, and publishing or academic history obvious.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Young adult, fantasy, middle grade, picture books, romance, women's fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, commercial fiction

Wants: Query manager submission

Looking for

Samantha Wekstein is Senior Agent at Thompson Literary Agency. In YA, she loves creative and epic fantasies and realistic stories with multi-dimensional female characters, and she is interested in elevating diverse voices, particularly through feminist narratives. She seeks middle grade of all stripes, especially stories about friendship, adventure, or encountering tragedy for the first time. She is also on the lookout for whimsical, meaningful, and funny picture books. On the adult side she is drawn to commercial voices in romance, women's fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy.

How to submit

Submit through Thompson Literary Agency's official Query Manager route, the official submissions page says all Thompson agents are now accepting queries through Query Manager and points writers to the bios for agent-specific instructions.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026Via Online Form

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