Literary Fiction Literary Agents

Middle grade, young adult, new adult, adult fiction, fantasy, dystopian, mystery, horror, contemporary fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, science fiction

Wants: Query letter

Jenissa is looking for middle grade, YA, New Adult and adult projects, especially high-concept fantasy, near-future dystopia, mysteries in fresh settings, genre-blending horror and coming-of-age contemporary work centered on strong emotional journeys.

Submit through Jenissa Graham's QueryManager form from her official BookEnds profile.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, adult fiction, young adult, middle grade, short stories, narrative nonfiction, memoir, historical fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Leigh Feldman Literary is particularly interested in historical fiction, contemporary YA, literary fiction, memoir and narrative nonfiction. The agency is not interested in adult or YA paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, romance, thrillers, mysteries or picture books.

Email a query letter and the first ten pages of the manuscript or proposal to query@lfliterary.com.

Literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, young adult, middle grade, science, history, narrative nonfiction, graphic novels, comics

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, synopsis

Eddie represents literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, YA, middle grade, science, history, narrative nonfiction, graphic novels, and comics. He is looking for groundbreaking, genre-defining books that reflect the whole spectrum of human experience, with particular interest in fresh and diverse voices.

Submit through Eddie's QueryManager form with a query letter and roughly the first 5 pages pasted below the query. A 1-3 page synopsis may be included. Do not send attachments except art samples for graphic novels.

Romance, lgbtq and stories, literary romance, gothic romance, romantasy, paranormal romance, romcoms

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

David is actively seeking romance projects, especially LGBTQ+ stories, literary romance, gothic romance, romantasy, paranormal romance, charming romcoms, and cozy seasonal reads.

Submit to David through the QueryTracker link supplied on the official L. Perkins Agency page.

Young adult fiction, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Bridget is open to all genres of YA and has a soft spot for layered emotional contemporary, sophisticated or unusual SFF, and immersive historical fiction. She also represents literary SFF, historical fantasy, literary fiction with genre elements or interesting structure, contemporary fiction with speculative elements, and adult rom-coms.

Submit through Bridget's QueryManager form with a query and the first five pages. She is open for the first ten days of every month except December.

Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, literary fiction, journalism, technology, business, history, cultural criticism

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, proposal, ai disclosure

Laura Usselman represents narrative and idea-driven nonfiction and select literary fiction. In fiction, she likes distinctive prose with memorable characters. In nonfiction, she is especially seeking striking literary nonfiction, deeply reported journalism from the worlds of tech and business, immersive narrative history that illuminates the present, and smart cultural criticism on film, music, art, or sports.

Email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript or proposal in the body of the email to luquery@skagency.com. SKLA asks writers to disclose in the query if they have used or intend to use AI tools to assist in creating the work.

Fiction, non-fiction, poetry

Story-led and character-driven novels, rich worldbuilding (realist/speculative, contemporary/historical). Non-fiction: history, politics, philosophy, psychology, true crime, narrative sports writing, literary biography, academics, journalists, critics

Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with the subject line marked FAO Emma Paterson. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or fifty pages plus a short synopsis as Word-compatible files. For narrative non-fiction, send a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing, for subject-led non-fiction, send a proposal of approximately 5,000 words outlining the book and your credentials, plus at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Include a cover letter with a brief book description, any writing credits or relevant qualifications, and a short biographical note. Note whether you are submitting simultaneously to other agencies.

Fiction and non-fiction

Commercial/book club fiction (edging literary), thrillers with unusual location or speculative edge, historical with real figures, gothic/magical/haunted, speculative love stories, romcoms, fantasy with unique magic/folklore. Non-fiction from experts/creators including food writing, women's health, maternal/sport/mental health. Not sci-fi, erotica, graphic novels, children's/MG/YA, or poetry

Online form - https://www.greenstoneliterary.com or submissions

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, short story collections

Literary, book club, and commercial fiction, and short story collections.

Email: polly@georginacapel.com

Adult fiction, children's books, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, family saga, magical realism, mystery, crime fiction, suspense, coming of age, story collections, journalism, history, cultural criticism, true crime, middle grade, mental health, science, political activism, environmentalism

Wants: Query letter, brief bio, first fifteen pages

Reiko Davis represents both adult and children's books. On the adult side she seeks literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction, including historical and contemporary novels set in the U.S. and internationally, ambitious multigenerational family sagas, novels that rewrite what it means to be American today, stories with speculative or magical elements, offbeat novels with troubled but lovable protagonists, mystery/crime/suspense with a literary edge, later-in-life coming-of-age stories, linked story collections, immersive journalism, gap-filling history, cultural criticism, true crime that sheds light on larger social issues, and the occasional book on writing craft. In children's books she is actively looking for middle grade projects with big questions, emotional truth, storytelling, humor, and heart, plus MG nonfiction in mental health, science, political activism, environmentalism, and narrative history.

Email Reiko Davis at reiko@defliterary.com with Query and the project title in the subject line. Include a brief description of the project, a brief relevant bio, and for fiction the first 15 pages pasted in the body of the email. Do not send attachments. DeFiore prefers electronic queries, does not represent original screenplays, teleplays, or theater plays, and allows multiple DeFiore agents at once if disclosed.

Literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translation, narrative nonfiction, international fiction

Wants: Query letter, reading material

Sandra Pareja is an agent at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. She is looking for authentic, unconventional literary voices in fiction, nonfiction, and sometimes poetry. She reads and edits in English, Spanish, and Italian at a native level, can tackle manuscripts in French, Portuguese, and Catalan, and will consider works from other languages if attached to an English translator. Her official profile says she specializes in groundbreaking literary fiction from Spanish, English, French, and Italian and has an eye out for ambitious narrative nonfiction.

Email Sandra Pareja directly at sandra@mmqalit.com and strive to include as much reading material as possible. MMQA accepts electronic submissions only, does not represent screenplays, and asks writers not to query more than one agent at the agency at one time.

General fiction, literary fiction, anthology, biography, business, cooking, health, history, politics, current affairs, humor, lifestyle, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, pop culture, reference, sports, true crime, general nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Bill focuses heavily on sports and nonfiction, with AALA-listed interests including biography, business, cooking, health, history/politics/current affairs, humor, lifestyle, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, pop culture, reference, sports, true crime, general nonfiction, general fiction, and literary fiction.

Contact Bill Ames at bill@amesliterary.com for submission instructions, which vary based on genre, length, and topic.

Fiction, nonfiction, young adult, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, mystery, suspense, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded science fiction, grounded fantasy, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, aapi voices, underrepresented voices, lgbtq and

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Amy represents fiction, nonfiction, and YA. She is seeking upmarket and book club fiction, mystery or suspense elements, propulsive plots with beautiful writing, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded SFF by women of color, coming-of-age stories, global retellings, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, YA with murder and intrigue, immigrant stories, queer stories, girls working for justice, and light-hearted contemporary YA.

Use the QueryManager route linked from Amy Bishop-Wycisk's Trellis profile and review her current wishlist before querying.

Debut fiction, horror, new adult, science fiction, fantasy, romance, general fiction, literary fiction, business, finance, cooking, health, history, politics, current affairs, lifestyle, parenting, pop culture, science, sports, advice, relationships

Wants: Query letter

Irene is open to adult fiction and nonfiction across commercial and literary categories, including debut fiction, horror, new adult, science fiction/fantasy, romance, general fiction, literary fiction, business/finance, cooking, health, history/politics/current affairs, lifestyle, parenting, pop culture, science, sports, advice and relationships.

Submit through Irene Kaster's QueryTracker form. HJLit does not accept unsolicited manuscripts by email.

Narrative nonfiction, current events, history, journalism, science, literary fiction, commercial fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter

Andy encourages queries for narrative nonfiction, current events and history, journalism, science, literary and commercial fiction, and young adult fiction. He does not want poetry, short stories, adult romance, science fiction and fantasy, adult or teen paranormal, or film scripts.

Email queries to andyrossagency@hotmail.com. Keep the query under half a page, put Query in the email subject line, state the project category in the first sentence, and include a short book description and writing qualifications.

Cinematic speculative fiction, literary horror, fairytale retellings, coming-of-age, nonfiction

Character-driven books with heart and humor. She is looking for cinematic speculative fiction like Kaliane Bradley's The Ministry of Time or Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic; literary horror and imaginative fairytale retellings like Christina Henry's Lost Boys or The Chronicles of Alice; gut-wrenching coming-of-age books like Milkman by Anna Burns or Maurice by E.M. Forster; and well-researched, inspiring nonfiction like Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui

Please submit queries here

Narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction, memoir, sports, health, business, political books, pop culture, social justice, women's issues, underrepresented voices, commercial fiction, literary fiction, illustrated books, graphic novels, young adult, middle grade, children's books

Wants: Query letter, nonfiction proposal, overview, table of contents, chapter outline, target audience, marketing plan, competitive titles, author bio, sample chapters, synopsis, comparable titles, ten to twenty sample pages

Lisa Leshne is most passionate about narrative nonfiction and memoir highlighting extraordinary stories from diverse voices, women, underdogs, and leaders. She mainly acquires in sports, business, political, health, prescriptive, and pop-culture genres, and is always seeking exceptional literary and commercial fiction. The agency is especially interested in narrative and prescriptive nonfiction with social justice, women's issues, and underrepresented voices; sports, health, business, political, and pop-culture topics; exceptional commercial and literary fiction; and select illustrated, graphic novel, young adult, middle grade, and children's books.

Submit through The Leshne Agency's official QueryManager form for fastest response, or email submissions@leshneagency.com with a query letter. Do not do both. For email queries, put QUERY as the first word in the subject line followed by the title. For nonfiction, include a complete proposal with overview, table of contents and chapter outline, target audience, marketing or promotion plans, comparable titles, bio, and at least 2 fully written sample chapters. For fiction, include author information, title, genre, word count, hook or tag-line, brief synopsis, inspiration if relevant, comparable titles, and 10-20 sample pages.

Big idea nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, pop science, psychology, philosophy, prescriptive nonfiction, ecology, cultural history, social history, narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, biography, essays, criticism, cookbooks, literary fiction, commercial fiction

Wants: Query letter

Lauren Hall is especially interested in wide-ranging nonfiction, including big idea books, high-concept and outward-facing memoir, pop culture, pop science, psychology, philosophy, voicey prescriptive projects, ecology, cultural and social history, deeply reported narrative, investigative journalism, biography, essays and criticism, and select design-driven books and cookbooks. She is also interested in select literary and commercial fiction, particularly absurdist or surreal but not fantastical narratives and characters with vivid inner lives.

Email submissions to lauren@foliolit.com. Include the word QUERY and the title of the project in the subject line. Lauren Hall does not accept physical queries through the mail.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, grounded fantasy, science fiction, big idea nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, psychology, social science, philosophy, natural science, current affairs, journalism, nature and ecology, pop culture, self-help, true crime

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one sentence pitch, comparable books, first ten pages, full nonfiction proposal, ai disclosure

Lucy Cleland is Vice President and Senior Agent at Frances Goldin Literary Agency. Her nonfiction taste is anchored in how culture shapes people and how people shape culture, including big idea books, narrative nonfiction, pop culture and cultural criticism, history, psychology, social science, philosophy, natural science, and select memoir. In fiction she likes sticky or unusual concepts, literary fiction about social issues and human hearts, transportive historical fiction, and genre-bending contemporary work, particularly grounded fantasy and science fiction where a single twist changes the world. Marginalized perspectives are warmly welcomed.

Submit to Lucy Cleland through the official QueryTracker or QueryManager form linked from the Goldin submissions page. The form asks for a query letter, synopsis, one-sentence pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 10 pages, or a full proposal for nonfiction. Goldin asks writers to submit to only one agent at a time.

Literary fiction, noir, crime fiction, police procedurals, caribbean literature, diaspora literature, original fiction

Madison Smartt Bell is interested in literary fiction, noir, criminal procedurals, work from the Caribbean basin and other diasporas, and anything genuinely original and fresh.

Submit through Ayesha Pande Literary's official query form and select Madison Smartt Bell. APL asks writers not to submit to multiple APL agents simultaneously, if you have not heard back after 8 weeks, you may withdraw and submit to another agent. Queries submitted through mail or the contact page are not accepted.

Adult nonfiction, women's issues, pop culture, self-help, gift books, history, biography, literary legacies, narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, first ten pages, overview, table of contents

Laura Mazer specializes in adult nonfiction, especially women's issues, intelligent pop culture, counterintuitive self-help, packaged gift or concept books, geeky deep dives into everyday life, history, biography, and fresh celebrations of literary legacies, especially stories about women. She also represents select upmarket fiction.

Email submissions to submissions@wsherman.com. Include your last name, title, and Laura Mazer's name in the subject line. For fiction, paste a query letter and the first 10 pages in the email body. For nonfiction, send a query letter and author bio, the agency guidelines also ask for a table of contents and overview for nonfiction. Do not send attachments or query multiple Wendy Sherman agents simultaneously.

Science, business, economics, lifestyle, current events, pop culture, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, genre-bending fiction, horror, satire

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

Leila Campoli advocates for marginalized voices, counterintuitive ideas, and unique styles. She works with writers of science, business, economics, lifestyle, current events, pop culture, and literary and upmarket fiction. In nonfiction, she is particularly interested in books that offer a window into remarkable lives and ways of living. In fiction, she looks for speculative, genre-bending literary and upmarket fiction, weird fiction leaning into horror or satire, and stories set in extreme environments.

Email a query to submissions@calligraphlit.com. Include a brief synopsis, short bio, and 25 pages of sample material in the body of the email. Put Leila Campoli's name, the project title, and the genre in the subject line. Do not query Leila directly, all submissions must go to the shared submissions address.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural analysis, history of ideas, science

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample chapter

Phoebe Rhinehart enjoys well-observed literary fiction that explores the tragedy of the human condition in the everyday, intense interiority, and lyrical prose. Her nonfiction tastes include ambitious cross-disciplinary cultural analyses, histories of ideas, and the sciences, especially nonfiction where personality and passion come through.

Email info@thegernertco.com with a query letter describing the work, information about yourself, and a sample chapter if appropriate. Indicate in the query letter that you are querying Phoebe Rhinehart. Do not email individual agents directly, phone the office about unsolicited manuscripts, send original copies, submit by regular mail, or submit work generated by AI.

Literary fiction, mainstream fiction, memoir, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Yvette loves reading across genres and has a special fondness for literary fiction and memoir.

Submit through The Leshne Agency's current submission route for Yvette Greenwald. Follow current agency guidelines before querying.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction, horror, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, graphic nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, history, investigative journalism, nature, science, food, travel, pop culture, cultural criticism

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, full outline, sample art

Jane Chun is interested in stories centering marginalized communities and prose that is cinematic and atmospheric with good rhythm. In fiction and nonfiction she is drawn to compelling, fresh voices with intimacy, rich inner worlds, and emotional depth. She is interested in literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction across adult, middle grade, and young adult; select nonfiction; and graphic novels or graphic nonfiction. In fiction she is open to contemporary, historical, fantasy, science fiction, speculative, and horror. In nonfiction she is looking for memoir, narrative nonfiction, history, investigative journalism, books about nature, climate and science, and books about food, travel, pop culture, and cultural criticism.

Submit to Jane Chun through her official QueryManager form. If QueryManager is not working, email queryjane@transatlanticagency.com, but do not submit through both methods. For email queries, include the book title, category or genre, word count or estimated page count for graphic work, and author bio. Fiction should include a brief introduction, synopsis, and first ten pages in the body of the email. Nonfiction should include a brief introduction, full outline, and first ten pages of the manuscript in the body of the email. Graphic novels or nonfiction should include a brief introduction, synopsis or outline, and at least five illustrated pages with text, or ten script pages and sample art if five pages are not available.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, family saga, historical fiction, humor, lgbtq and, multicultural fiction, mystery, romance, short stories, suspense, thriller, women's fiction, cultural nonfiction, social issues, entertainment, film, food writing, journalism, memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, psychology, relationship and dating, true crime

Wants: Query letter, comparable books, first ten pages or proposal

Hannah Strouth is looking for literary and upmarket fiction as well as select nonfiction. She gravitates toward nuanced, emotionally deep work, stories about connection and disconnection, what haunts people literally or metaphorically, resilience, dark, edgy, or gritty stories, pop culture, narrative nonfiction, self-help, memoir, books that teach readers to be better humans or see the world through a fresh lens, and diverse voices and experiences.

Submit through Hannah Strouth's official linked QueryManager form. The form asks for author bio, project information, query letter, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, and the first 10 pages, or for nonfiction, the full book proposal. Greenburger says not to query more than one Greenburger agent at a time.

Fiction, non-fiction

Speculative fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime and thriller, serious non-fiction (big ideas/subversive assumptions, serious histories, narrative non-fiction re contemporary events/issues)

Email alexander@greyhoundliterary.co.uk with a cover letter pitch in the body of the email. For fiction, attach the first three chapters and a synopsis. For non-fiction, attach a proposal and sample writing. Do not submit by post. Do not submit to more than one agent at the agency.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, romance, book club fiction, culture and society non-fiction, cookery

Literary and commercial fiction alongside romance novels with strong book club appeal. In non-fiction, writing that explores culture and modern society, as well as cookery in all its forms, from narrative food writing to practical cookbooks.

Submissions can be sent by email to honor@rcwlitagency.com.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, suspense, thrillers, memoir, narrative nonfiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, sample chapter

Julie Stevenson represents literary and upmarket fiction, suspense and thrillers, memoir, narrative nonfiction, and YA. She is drawn to fiction with unforgettable characters, authorial command of voice, and strong narrative tension. She loves outsiders, weirdos, innovators, and work that explores the depths of human experience and facets of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, and regional background.

Email queries directly to julie@mmqalit.com. Format the subject as Query: BOOK TITLE, category. Include the first 10 pages of the manuscript, or for nonfiction a sample chapter, pasted into the body of the email with no attachments.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, history, biography, art history, cultural criticism, poetry

Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages

Rob McQuilkin is a partner at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. He specializes in fiction, memoir, history, cultural criticism, and poetry; MMQA's contact page says he focuses on literary fiction as well as narrative nonfiction and nonfiction in memoir, history, biography, art history, and cultural criticism.

Email a query to the attention of Rob McQuilkin at info@mmqalit.com. Include Query in the subject line, a brief description of the project, relevant personal or professional information, and the first 5-10 pages pasted into the body of the email. Query only one MMQA agent at a time, if one agent passes, you may query another. MMQA accepts electronic submissions only and does not represent screenplays.

Adult literary fiction, book club fiction, narrative non-fiction, children's books, historical fiction, family sagas, memoir, self-help, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, first chapter, brief bio, book description

She responds to voice and character-driven stories that draw her in and give her a new perspective on a world she doesn't know, or make her think more deeply about a world she does know. She seeks books with a heart and writers with wonderful storytelling abilities. She is particularly interested in finding emerging and underrepresented voices, and loves books that focus on diversity and explore the experiences of BIPOC people.

Send an email query to querymiriam@defliterary.com with a brief description of your book, a brief relevant bio, the first chapter pasted in the body of your email, and what you feel the heart of your book is in one or two sentences. Attachments will not be opened.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, pop culture, biography, journalism, memoir, self-help

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Mason seeks innovative, boundary-pushing literary fiction, engrossing upmarket and commercial fiction, and nonfiction that amplifies traditionally underrepresented voices in publishing. He is particularly interested in working with queer authors and LGBTQIA+ themes.

Send a brief email describing yourself and your project to mason@defliterary.com with the word "QUERY" in the subject line and the first five pages of your manuscript or proposal pasted in the body of an email. Attachments will not be opened unless requested.

Fiction and narrative non-fiction

Commercial genre fiction (romcom, crime, thrillers), accessible literary/reading group, narrative non-fiction (often by women), emotional family drama, multigenerational stories, female-led crime, social-issue thrillers

Email - sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com

Fiction, narrative non-fiction

Crime, thrillers, epic family sagas, book club literary fiction, memoir

Email sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com with a covering letter, synopsis, and the first 3 chapters or first 30 pages. No postal submissions.

Fiction and non-fiction

Literary and upmarket fiction, literary thrillers, smart women's fiction. Non-fiction on serious subjects in innovative ways (history, science, memoir, cookery, cultural criticism, social issues, psychology)

Email imogen@marjacq.com

Fiction and non-fiction

Literary and commercial fiction and non-fiction (good writing, great literature)

Submit via the RCW submissions page at https://rcwlitagency.com or submissions or with a cover letter, synopsis, and first 3 chapters or 50 pages for fiction, or a proposal of up to 20 pages for non-fiction. Submit to one agent or assistant only.