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.
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Describe your book in a sentence or two. Smart Search ranks open agents whose taste actually matches.
Literary fiction, business, finance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, religion, spirituality, science, advice, relationships
Wants: Query letter
Bethany represents literary fiction and nonfiction, including business/finance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, religion/spirituality, science, general nonfiction, advice and relationships.
Submit through the Wave Literary QueryTracker form.
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.
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.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, historical fiction, biography, memoir, history, young adult fiction
Wants: Query letter
He is particularly drawn to historical fiction and voice-driven narratives, especially when both dark and humorous. He is also looking for realistic young adult fiction.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits. Address queries to the specific agent.
Music, pop culture, narrative non-fiction, food, literary fiction, humor, science
Wants: Query letter, project summary, author credentials, sample pages
Writers in the world of music, pop culture, narrative non-fiction, food, young adult, literary fiction and humor. Also interested in science and any authors with great ideas and an equally strong platform. He tends to have a soft spot for all Beatle related projects.
Send query letter that includes a brief summary of your novel or the scope of your non-fiction project, a short description why you're writing the project, any specific credentials you have for writing the book in question, and the first five pages for fiction only.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, romance, thriller, mystery, middle grade, young adult, narrative non-fiction, essay collections
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
She seeks literary family sagas, genre-blending fiction, heists and cons that critique power systems, murder mysteries with humor, literary fiction about BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ protagonists, feminist revenge stories, whimsical fantasy, high-heat romance, historical fiction with unexpected settings, middle-grade adventures and slice-of-life, Young Adult queer and anticolonial revenge stories, narrative nonfiction connecting journalism to personal experience, and microhistories described as love letters to niche topics.
Submit via QueryManager submission form. Include polished query letter, bio, and manuscript pages according to genre guidelines. Select one agent at ALA to submit to initially.
Fiction and non-fiction
Romance, upmarket crime/thrillers, uncanny/eerie/weird literary, gothic/supernatural elements, voiced historical, memoir and narrative non-fiction, health/wellbeing proposals from experts
Email submissions@greeneheaton.co.uk with the full manuscript, synopsis, and a cover letter naming Judith Murray as the preferred agent in the subject line
Historical thrillers, literary fiction, upmarket genre fiction, book club fiction, science writing, food writing, history, nature writing, music journalism, memoir, cultural criticism
Wants: Contemporary crime and thrillers; historical fiction (esp historical crime); books with a fresh angle/clear identity; non-fiction on any subject with a strong angle and page-turning storytelling
Contemporary crime and thrillers, historical fiction and historical crime, upmarket and literary fiction with a fresh or distinctive angle, voices from marginalised or underrepresented communities, and non-fiction on any subject where the author has found the right angle and can make the material a page-turning story
Email submissions@greeneheaton.co.uk with covering letter in the body of the email. Fiction: attach first three chapters or around fifty pages plus a one-to-two page synopsis that reveals the ending. Non-fiction: attach three sample chapters or around fifty pages plus a chapter breakdown or synopsis. Attach files as Word documents, not PDFs. Include preferred agent name in the subject line.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter
Jody represents both literary and upmarket fiction, as well as narrative nonfiction. She enjoys books that are beautifully written while also containing a rich storyline, and she's especially looking for deeply drawn characters and voice-driven narratives. She's interested in untold stories, misunderstood populations, and anything that's plugged into the current cultural conversation. In nonfiction, she's seeking narratives related to culture, social justice, sports, food, history, literary memoir and journalism.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits.
Biography, history, current affairs, international relations, politics, arts, sciences, sports, popular culture, literary fiction, genre fiction
Wants: Query letter
He is looking for engaging stories that make complex ideas accessible to the curious reader and bold arguments that challenge the conventional wisdom. He is also interested in finding new, compelling voices in literary and genre fiction, especially novels that bridge the gap between the two.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits.
Literary fiction, literary memoir, children's books, idea-driven non-fiction
Wants: Query letter
Gail represents works of literary fiction, idea-driven non-fiction, literary memoir and children's books that she loves most to read.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits.
Literary fiction, non-fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, history, biography, food writing, cultural criticism, graphic novels, young adult fiction
Wants: Query letter
Emily seeks voice-driven literary fiction and non-fiction, including original writing that jumps off the page. She is drawn to beautifully crafted writing, characters that come fully alive on the page, and stories rooted strongly in their setting. Humor is always welcome.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and writing credits.
Literary fiction, historical fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, investigative journalism, popular history, children's books
Wants: Query letter
She is looking for fresh, lyrical, and voice-driven writing, suspenseful plots, emotional narratives, transporting settings, and unforgettable characters. Books that grapple with the dynamics of relationships (of all kinds, but especially from a female perspective), have a grounded speculative bent, or explore the current cultural landscape are all of perennial interest.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits.
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
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.
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.
Non-fiction, literary fiction
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
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.
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.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, mystery, suspense, memoir, pop culture, science, social commentary
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
She is looking for upmarket fiction, both literary and commercial, with dynamic characters and elevated language, enjoying elements of speculative fiction, magical realism, mystery, and suspense. In nonfiction, she seeks unusual personal narratives, pop culture and science, and social commentary.
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. Emails with attachments will not be opened.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, literary thrillers, crime, gothic horror, speculative fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels
Literary and upmarket fiction/non-fiction, genre-bending/speculative-adjacent literary, literary historical, family novels, literary thrillers/crime, gothic horror edges, non-fiction art/music/aging/neurodiversity/psychotherapy/sport/science, graphic novels
Submit by email following DHA's submissions guidelines at https://davidhigham.co.uk or submissions/
Debut fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, romance, general fiction, literary fiction, biography, film, television
Wants: Query letter, short bio, synopsis, chapter breakdown, first three chapters, book proposal
Priya represents fiction, nonfiction, authors, and screenwriters, with AALA-listed interests including debut fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, romance, general fiction, literary fiction, and biography.
Email submissions to contact@lotuslit.com with a short bio, query letter, brief synopsis, chapter breakdown, and first three chapters as a Word document. Nonfiction submissions should include a proposal and detailed information on competing books.
Narrative non-fiction, literary fiction
Narrative non-fiction with strong writing (science/nature/landscape/anthropology/history/politics/philosophy/gender/health/myth, environmentally aware). Internationally relevant literary fiction, character-led, warm/life-affirming or dark, lasting impression
Email jessicawoollard@davidhigham.co.uk and esmebright@davidhigham.co.uk — submissions should be sent to both the agent and her assistant Esme Bright
Reading group fiction, crime, thriller, psychological fiction, literary fiction, fantasy, historical fiction
Wants: Covering letter, synopsis, first three chapters, first 10, 000-15, 000 words, first fifty pages
Reading group fiction, crime and thriller, psychological novels, high-concept hooks, novels that feel ambitious and international, page-turners with a lot of twists and turns
Email submissions@mushens-entertainment.com with a clear subject line (e.g. Fiction Submission: TITLE), the cover letter in the body of the email, a synopsis as an attachment, and a PDF or Word document containing either the first three chapters, the first 10,000 to 15,000 words, or the first 50 pages. Address the email to Juliet.
Literary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy
One-Page Outline, First Three Chapters, First Fifty Pages, Author Bio
Email submissions@miccheetham.co.uk with a one-page outline, either the first three chapters or first fifty pages, and a brief author bio. Word attachments are preferred and should be double spaced.
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
She is a fan of magical realism, contemporary westerns, science fiction and all stories that quicken the pulse and imagination.
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.
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
Wendy specializes in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. She represents award winning literary novelists, short story writers, journalists, activists, anthropologists, scientists, doctors, and educators.
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.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, horror, magical realism, mythology reimaginings, fairy tale reimaginings, folklore reimaginings, cultural criticism, narrative nonfiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, food writing, short story collections, novellas
Wants: Cover letter, synopsis, first three chapters
Literary and upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, horror, magical realism, and reimaginings of myths, fairy tales, and folklore. Also cultural criticism, narrative nonfiction, big-idea nonfiction, and select cookbooks and food writing. Maria is the only agent at the agency who accepts novellas and short story collections.
Email submissions@mushens-entertainment.com with your submission addressed to Maria. For fiction, include a clear subject line (e.g. Fiction Submission: TITLE), a cover letter in the body of the email, an attached synopsis, and a PDF or Word document containing either the first three chapters, the first 10,000–15,000 words, or the first 50 pages. For non-fiction, include a proposal or the first 10,000–15,000 words of a completed manuscript. For short story collections (40,000–75,000 words total), include a synopsis and the full collection. For novellas (17,000–40,000 words), include a synopsis. Do not use AI to write or edit any part of your submission. Notify the agency if another agent requests your full manuscript or offers representation.
Literary fiction
See source page for more info
Email submissions@paperliterary.com with the agent's name, manuscript title, and your full name in the subject line. Include your query letter in the body of the email, and attach a one-page synopsis and the first three chapters (approximately 10,000 words) as Word documents. Address the email to Catherine Cho specifically.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, memoir, nonfiction, business, art, history, politics, sports, popular culture
Wants: Email query
Dan Mandel represents literary and commercial fiction, memoir, and nonfiction about business, art, history, politics, sports, and popular culture.
Email Dan Mandel at querydm@sjga.com. Greenburger asks writers to read each agent page, submit to only one Greenburger agent at a time, and query by email only, if there is no response within 8 weeks, writers may query another Greenburger agent.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, essays, expert-driven nonfiction, translation
Wants: Query form
Christopher Combemale is looking for a broad range of literary fiction and voice-driven upmarket fiction with an unexpected hook, including a literary campus novel. In nonfiction he is interested in narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism and essays, and expert-driven projects. He is drawn to international voices and writers in translation.
Submit to Sterling Lord Literistic through the official submissions page form. SLL says it can only respond to queries if interested in seeing more material and does not represent screenplays.
Fiction and narrative non-fiction
General fiction, book club, literary fiction, smart clean or lyrical prose, interesting form/structure, character-driven with unusual protagonists, stories exploring gender/race/class/sexuality, selective memoir/nature/social commentary
Email a concise cover letter with contact details and relevant background, a brief synopsis, and either the first three chapters or a detailed proposal to london@susannalea.com. Do not submit to more than one office.
Non-fiction and select fiction
Non-fiction: compelling narrative history, ideas books on urgent questions, absorbing biography and memoir, pop culture, humour, and entertainment. Fiction: memorable characters on gripping journeys, principally crime or literary-commercial crossover. Not considering children's, YA, sci-fi/fantasy, or screenplays
Send your work and a covering letter to wiseofficesubmissions@curtisbrown.co.uk. Gordon Wise and his team are taking on only a couple of fiction writers a year. They are not considering submissions for Children's, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, or screenplays. If you have not heard back within four to six weeks, this means they are unable to offer representation.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime fiction, non-fiction
Well-written commercial and literary fiction (incl women's fiction, award-winning crime, upmarket), interested in dysfunctional families, outsiders, messiness, working-class/regional voices (Irish/Scottish), diverse perspectives. Non-fiction: housing, class, feminism, social change, globalisation, sexuality and similar areas
Email - submissions@ryeliterary.com
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, genre fiction, narrative non-fiction, pop culture, psychology, history, science, art, business books, biography, memoir
Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages, writing sample
She looks for commercial fiction and is interested in brilliant novels, fun beach reads, gripping nonfiction narratives, inspirational memoirs or biographies, and instructional self-help titles.
Send query letter via email with full query in body of email, not as attachment. Include first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction in the body of the email below the query letter.
Fiction, narrative non-fiction, literary novels, cultural criticism, essays, pop culture
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
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.
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.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, mysteries, speculative fiction, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages
Kirby represents both literary and commercial authors. He seeks manuscripts that straddle the fence with upmarket expression combined with a genre element or plot device. For literary work, he's drawn to rich, sweeping stories that encompass a time or place, or tightly written, narratively innovative stories with award potential. His commercial interests include thrillers, mysteries and speculative fiction. He also represents nonfiction from leaders and journalists in science, culture and current affairs, plus pop culture including music and comedy.
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 the sample pages in the body of the email below your query. Direct your submission to an individual agent and send your material to submissions@janklow.com.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, young adult
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, brief bio, title/genre/word count
Literary/commercial novels that tackle timely issues and uncomfortable relationship dynamics. High-concept, character-driven novels with one foot in genre. Delightful and emotionally engaging novels that can be read repeatedly. Character-driven thrillers, speculative, science fiction and fantasy that illuminate the world through imagined worlds.
Submit through Query Manager with a brief bio including writing credentials, title or genre or word count, query letter, and first ten pages.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, non-fiction, pop culture, criticism, fantasy
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages
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.
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.
Adult fiction, young adult fiction, book club fiction, romantic comedy, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, horror, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, essays, current affairs, pop culture, psychology, nature, science
Wants: Query letter, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal
Dana Murphy represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for adults and select fiction for teen readers. She wants fiction with heart, humor, specificity, surprise, high-concept hooks, confident voice, rom-coms, book club fiction, literary fiction with form or genre elements, mysteries, thrillers, horror, found family stories, and narrative nonfiction or essay collections about culture, pop culture, criticism, power structures, object histories, big ideas, and deeply researched cultural history.
Submit through Dana Murphy's official QueryManager form linked from Trellis. The form asks writers to review her wishlist and provide author bio, title, word count, genre, query letter, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, and the first 20 pages or a full nonfiction proposal. Trellis asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window.
554+ 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.
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