PairPi is a verified literary agent directory for writers looking for representation. Save shortlists, check submission details, and track every submission in one place.
Start a free account →Literary fiction has no fixed definition and everyone in publishing behaves as if it does. Agents usually mean voice, intention, control, and a reason for the book to exist beyond its plot. It is one of the most selective areas of submissions because taste is personal and lists are small. This page shows agents who explicitly represent literary fiction. The broad search toggle catches more who'd consider it under upmarket fiction, book club fiction, or a wider literary list.
Looking for literary fiction agents in a specific country?
Describe your book in a sentence or two. Smart Search ranks open agents whose taste actually matches.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, nonfiction
Deborah represents a large variety of prominent and bestselling writers across literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction.
Deborah Schneider is currently closed to queries. Gelfman Schneider says any queries not following current guidelines are deleted unread and that all listed agents are currently closed or referral-only.
Literary fiction, voice-driven memoir, narrative non-fiction
Literary fiction, voice-driven memoir, topical narrative non-fiction asking challenging questions. Currently not accepting unsolicited submissions
Email - esheinkman@pfd.co.uk
Narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, graphic novels
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Wales Literary Agency represents narrative-driven nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, and graphic novels. The agency does not represent self-help, how-to, children's books, romance, general genre fiction, mysteries, or screenplays.
Wales Literary Agency is currently open to submissions by referral only.
Fiction (literary to commercial), non-fiction
Varied list, bio notes temporarily closed to submissions due to limited capacity
Email bluntoffice@curtisbrown.co.uk with a cover letter, one-page synopsis (approx. 500 words), and up to 10,000 words of your manuscript. For non-fiction, send 2–3 sample chapters or 10,000 words, a chapter breakdown, and an overview explaining your book's relevance.
Literary and commercial adult fiction
A range of literary and commercial adult fiction
Check agent's submission page
Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, business, health, science, pop culture, current affairs, narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction
Wants: Personal recommendation only
Joëlle represents adult fiction and nonfiction. The agency no longer accepts children's books, YA, middle grade, picture books, screenplays, novellas or poetry.
Joelle Delbourgo Associates is currently closed to queries except through personal recommendation.
Narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, graphic novels
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Wales Literary Agency represents narrative-driven nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, and graphic novels.
Wales Literary Agency is currently open to submissions by referral only.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction
Penelope represents literary and commercial fiction in adult, YA, and middle grade, as well as some narrative nonfiction. She is looking for an engaging voice.
Penelope Burns is currently closed to queries. Gelfman Schneider says any queries not following current guidelines are deleted unread and that all listed agents are currently closed or referral-only.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, narrative nonfiction, serious nonfiction, literary fiction, magical realism, surrealism, experimental fiction
Wants: Query letter
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.
SLM lists Rachel as a junior agent, but the current submissions page only lists Jesseca, Eryn, Kate, Erika and Kristin as direct query recipients.
History, pop culture, science, memoir, investigative narrative nonfiction, issue-focused narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary thrillers, upmarket horror, family novels, coming of age
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.
Sophie Brett-Chin is currently closed to unsolicited submissions according to her official Folio profile.
Narrative nonfiction, literary commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, legal thriller, psychological thriller, domestic thriller, biography, history, science, sports, travel
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Anne-Lise Spitzer is president of Spitzer Agency. Current public materials describe interest in narrative nonfiction from writers with diverse voices, literary commercial fiction, mysteries, legal, psychological, and domestic thrillers, plus biography, history, science, sports, and travel.
The Spitzer Agency site says it is not accepting new clients for representation at this time.
Adult fiction, adult nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, family saga, friendship fiction, psychological suspense, campus novel, love story, progressive politics, popular science, psychology, self-development, gender, pop culture, food writing, media studies, agriculture, housing
Sarah Phair represents a range of fiction and nonfiction for the adult market. In fiction she focuses on upmarket and literary fiction accessible to a wide audience, with beautiful language and elevated ideas, and particularly likes family sagas, friendship-centered stories, complex psychological suspense, campus novels, anti-heroines, and good love stories. In nonfiction she is interested in progressive politics, popular science, psychology, self-development, gender, pop culture, food, media consumption, food systems, agriculture, and housing.
Sarah Phair's official profile links to QueryTracker for submissions, but the linked QueryTracker form is currently closed and says she is not accepting queries at this time.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's books, illustrators, commercial fiction, literary fiction, diverse voices
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.
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.
KT Literary
Science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative fiction, literary speculative fiction, climate fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Arley is primarily interested in adult speculative titles, including science fiction, fantasy, horror with speculative or fantastic elements, literary speculative fiction, and climate fiction.
Arley Sorg is currently closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.
Romance, fantasy, horror, lgbtq and, literary fiction, thriller, mystery, new adult, science fiction, young adult
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Des is a literary agent at Metamorphosis. The agency submissions page lists romance, fantasy, horror, LGBTQ+, literary, thriller, mystery, New Adult, science fiction, and young adult among Des's categories.
Des Salazar's QueryManager route says they are closed at this moment and to consider submitting again when they are accepting more work in January and July.
History, biography, art, architecture, science, religion, literary fiction, thrillers, mystery, science fiction, fantasy
Howard Morhaim represents authorities in history, biography, art, architecture, science, and religion, as well as canonical authors in literary fiction, thrillers, mystery, science fiction, and fantasy.
Howard Morhaim does not accept unsolicited submissions at any time. The agency says he only considers exclusive submissions that come as recommendations from colleagues or clients.
Book club fiction, literary fiction, nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction
Jamie Chambliss is drawn to literary and upmarket or book club fiction, and to narrative nonfiction, especially work dealing with food, pop culture, the quirks of human nature, stories within science and sports, and forgotten corners of history.
Jamie Chambliss is currently closed to queries according to her official Folio profile.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, biography
Joy Harris works primarily with literary fiction, strongly written commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction across a broad range of topics, memoir, and biography. She is drawn to a clear, original voice, an engaging point of view, and strong characters.
The Joy Harris Literary Agency is not accepting unsolicited submissions at this time according to its official contact page.
Fiction
Upmarket and literary adult/new adult fiction (genre-agnostic within upmarket/literary, sweet spot literary-speculative). Interested in high-concept/hooky work, uncommon voices, strong aesthetic, gothic/grounded fantasy, "weird girl lit", dark academia, select romantasy etc
QueryManager - https://querymanager.com or juliegourinchas
Adult nonfiction, memoir, journalism, reportage, hidden histories, prescriptive nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, historical fiction, graphic novels
Kayla Lightner is primarily looking for adult nonfiction that can masterfully straddle the line between storytelling and teaching readers something new about the world or themselves. Her interests include memoir, journalism and reportage, hidden histories, and prescriptive nonfiction. More selectively, she looks for smart, propulsive literary and upmarket fiction with a speculative or historical lens and graphic novels for all ages.
Kayla Lightner is currently closed to queries according to the official Ayesha Pande Literary team and queries pages. Queries submitted by any method, including the contact page, when an agent is closed will not be considered.
Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, new adult, adult fiction, romance, women's fiction, horror, dark comedy, satire, weird fiction, lgbtq and, black stories, paranormal romance
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Kaylyn is a junior literary agent interested in commercial, upmarket, and literary fiction for New Adult and adult audiences. She is seeking romance, women's fiction, horror, dark comedies and satires, weird fiction, Black stories and LGBTQ+ stories not centered around trauma, unique takes on classic stories, and paranormal romances.
Kaylyn Aldridge's QueryManager route is currently closed and says to check back in December, June, or July.
Fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, book club fiction, thrillers, mystery, speculative fiction, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, big idea nonfiction, wellness, history, sports, collaborative writers
Mark Tavani is VP of Business Strategy and Literary Agent at the David Black Literary Agency. He represents both fiction and nonfiction. His fiction list includes a wide range of literary and commercial fiction, book club novels, thrillers, mysteries, speculative fiction, and historical fiction, especially fiction that entertains and enriches readers. In nonfiction, he represents work that illuminates or inspires and works with experts and journalists, especially in narrative nonfiction, big ideas, wellness, history, and sports. He also represents collaborative writers who partner with authors in those spaces.
Mark Tavani is not accepting unsolicited queries at this time according to his official David Black profile. The general David Black submissions page lists the agents currently accepting new queries, and Mark Tavani is not listed there.
Young adult, adult fiction, romance, women's fiction, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, speculative fiction, science nonfiction, travel writing, cookbooks
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Nicole represents YA and adult fiction across romance, women's fiction, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, and speculative fiction, and is eager to champion diverse voices. In nonfiction she is focused on science-based works, especially biology, forensics, and medicine, plus travel narratives and cookbooks.
Nicole Payne is currently closed to submissions. The Confluence submissions page says to check for updates on when her QueryTracker will reopen.
Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Rose focuses on stylistically subversive and thematically layered fiction, upmarket and smart commercial fiction with inventive structures, emotional depth, distinctive voices, braided narratives, unexpected points of view, and prose that takes creative risks.
Rose Conway is closed to queries and the Confluence submissions page says she will reopen via QueryTracker on 2026-05-01.
Literary fiction, speculative fiction, mystery, crime fiction, thriller, history, narrative nonfiction, technology, science, psychology, design
Roz Foster is Senior Agent at Frances Goldin Literary Agency. She is drawn to contemporary literary fiction, especially literary speculative fiction, elevated mystery, crime, and thriller, dark stories with philosophical gravity, spare perceptive prose, and work with emotional and intellectual depth. In nonfiction she is interested in history, narrative nonfiction, technology, science, psychology, and design.
Roz Foster is currently closed to queries according to both her official profile and the official Frances Goldin submissions page.
Adult fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, romance, psychological thriller, cozy mystery, memoir, young adult, middle grade, humor
Saba Sulaiman is Senior Agent at Talcott Notch. She is currently closed, but when open she looks for adult upmarket literary and commercial fiction, romance except paranormal, character-driven psychological thrillers, cozy mysteries, and memoir; young adult in all subgenres except paranormal, fantasy, and science fiction, especially contemporary realistic YA with heart, humor, and personality; middle grade that is smart, accessible, funny, sweet, or written with flair; and humor nonfiction. She looks for strong voices, unconventional narratives, complex relationships, fresh perspectives, multicultural perspectives, and themes of immigration, displacement, and cultural adjustment.
Saba Sulaiman is currently closed to queries according to her official Talcott Notch profile.
Literary fiction, memoir, history, sociology, philosophy, cultural studies, journalism, current affairs, international affairs, narrative nonfiction, progressive nonfiction, graphic fiction, graphic nonfiction, environment, legal affairs, justice system, race, science history, technology history, food culture, food history, speculative fiction
Sam Stoloff is President and Principal at Frances Goldin Literary Agency. He is interested in books that advance public conversation on crucial issues and groundbreaking work, including literary fiction, memoir, history, accessible sociology and philosophy, cultural studies, serious journalism on contemporary and international affairs, and narrative and topical nonfiction with a progressive orientation. His interests include literary graphic fiction and nonfiction, environmental sustainability, legal affairs and the justice system, books that dissect the right wing and American imperialism, the history of race in America, the history of science and technology, food culture and history, and fiction ranging from psychologically realistic to first-rate speculative literature.
Sam Stoloff is not accepting unsolicited queries at this time according to his official Goldin profile and the official Frances Goldin submissions page.
Commercial fiction, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, crime fiction, young adult, narrative nonfiction, science writing, business books, history
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Sandra represents adult commercial and literary fiction, mystery, thriller and crime fiction, YA, narrative nonfiction, accessible science writing, business books, and history.
Sandra Bond is closed to all queries, her client list is full.
Children's fiction, adult fiction, children's nonfiction, adult nonfiction, picture books, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, romantic comedy, author-illustrated graphic novels
Sara Crowe is founder of Sara Crowe Literary. She has 25 years of publishing experience and 20 years representing clients. She represents a diverse group of children's and adult fiction and nonfiction, from picture books to graphic novels to literary fiction and adult romantic comedies. Her official submissions page says she is looking for author-illustrated graphic novels, middle grade and YA fiction, children's and adult nonfiction, and adult fiction, specifically romantic comedies and literary fiction, with special interest in underrepresented voices.
Sara Crowe is currently closed to queries according to the official Sara Crowe Literary submissions page.
Middle grade, fantasy, adult literary fiction, contemporary young adult, young adult, adult fiction, speculative fiction, underrepresented voices, marginalized voices
Serene Hakim is an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary. She represents authors in a variety of genres from middle grade fantasy to adult literary fiction to contemporary YA. She is particularly interested in YA and adult fiction with international themes, a variety of cultures, and underrepresented or marginalized voices. She is currently primarily focusing on YA/MG and taking on adult writers more selectively. She loves books that are joy-filled and full of heart, stories that delve deep into grief, and books that explore different meanings of family, home, and identity, especially with a speculative bend.
Serene Hakim is closed to queries according to the official Ayesha Pande Literary queries page. Queries submitted by any method, including the contact page, while an agent is closed will not be considered.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary middle grade, historical middle grade, literary middle grade, mystery middle grade, contemporary young adult, historical young adult, literary young adult, young adult mystery, juvenile nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, popular science
Shari Maurer is an agent at The Stringer Literary Agency. The official Stringer site lists her fiction interests as picture books; middle grade contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery; and young adult contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery. In nonfiction, it lists juvenile YA and middle grade nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, and popular science.
Shari Maurer is currently closed to queries according to the QueryManager or QueryTracker form associated with Stringer Literary. The official Stringer site says the agency works with Query Manager only, deletes queries sent otherwise unread, and closes submissions from time to time to catch up.
Adult fiction, adult nonfiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, food writing, cookbooks, memoir
Sharon Bowers is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management. She began her career as an editor at HarperCollins and has been an agent for over two decades. She represents award-winning novelists and a diverse list of nonfiction, including chefs and food writers.
Sharon Bowers is currently closed to submissions according to her official Folio profile.
Nonfiction, health, wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food writing, drink writing, sustainability, running, fitness, memoir, narrative nonfiction, women's fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, crime fiction, mystery, thriller
Stephany Evans is an affiliate agent at Ayesha Pande Literary. Her official APL profile says she has represented nonfiction writers in health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food and drink, sustainability, running and fitness, memoir, and narrative nonfiction for more than 25 years. She also represents women's fiction from literary to upmarket commercial, romance, crime fiction including mysteries and thrillers, and the occasional literary or commercial novel not aimed at a female market.
Stephany Evans is permanently closed to unsolicited queries according to her official APL profile and is listed as closed on APL's official queries page. Queries submitted by any method while she is closed will not be considered.
Literary nonfiction, narrative journalism, commercial fiction, adult fiction, adult nonfiction
Stuart Krichevsky founded Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency in 1995 after a fifteen-year career at Sterling Lord Literistic. His official team profile says he has over four decades of agency experience, has represented dozens of New York Times bestsellers, and has a focus on literary nonfiction, narrative journalism, and commercial fiction.
Stuart Krichevsky is currently closed to queries according to the official Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency submissions page.
Commercial fiction, nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, music, inspirational, thriller, literary fiction, foreign rights
Susan Raihofer is Literary Agent and Foreign Rights Director at the David Black Literary Agency. She focuses on commercial fiction and nonfiction, including memoir, pop culture, music, inspirational work, thrillers, and a selective amount of literary fiction. Her official profile says her pop sensibility and literary heart come together around projects with soul and an edge.
Susan Raihofer is currently not accepting unsolicited queries according to her official David Black profile. The official David Black submissions page lists only other agents as currently accepting new queries.
Fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poc fiction, intersectional fiction, young adult, middle grade, women's fiction, suspense, thriller, romance, lgbtq and fiction, children's fiction, mystery, horror, literary fiction, memoir
Trodayne Northern is Co-President and Lead Agent at Prentis Literary. The official about page says his passion is good storytelling, that science fiction and fantasy are his first love, and that his genre interests are wide-ranging. The agency focuses on high-quality fiction, speculative and other, with rare memoir, and centers representation of traditionally marginalized groups. The official genres page lists agency interest areas including fantasy/science fiction, POC and intersectional fiction, young adult and middle reader, women's fiction, suspense/thriller, romance, LGBTQ+ fiction, children's fiction, mystery, horror, literary fiction, and limited memoir.
Prentis Literary's official submissions page says submissions are closed and that submissions will be discarded. Do not submit unsolicited material while closed.
558+ agents we've verified represent literary fiction specifically. Many others represent broader categories like commercial fiction or genre fiction — try Smart Search to find those too.
Filter the full directory by genre, country, submission method, and open status, then save agents and track your submissions.
Browse all agents