Literary Fiction Literary Agents

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, young adult, children's books, biography, memoir, music, popular science, politics, social justice, adult illustrated, cookbooks, sports, health and wellness, fashion, art, design, popular culture

Wants: Query letter

Thompson Literary is always on the lookout for both commercial and literary fiction, as well as young adult and children's books. Nonfiction is their specialty, with interests including biography, memoir, music, popular science, politics, social justice, adult illustrated, cookbooks, sports, health and wellness, fashion, art, design, and popular culture.

All agents at Thompson Literary Agency are now accepting queries through Query Manager. Please click to view agent bios, which have specific query instructions for each.

Literary fiction, young adult, narrative non-fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

For adult fiction, she seeks innovative literary fiction that is sharp, subversive, evocative, and genre-bending works including speculative concepts, ghost stories, and magical realism. For Young Adult, she wants high concept and voice-driven novels that are atmospheric and haunting. In nonfiction, she gravitates toward community-oriented narrative nonfiction with engaging research, social/cultural histories, and intersectional work that questions existing institutions and systems.

Starting January 15, 2025, she no longer accepts unsolicited email queries. Submit queries via Query Manager form with query letter and first 5 pages in the body.

Narrative non-fiction, memoir, historical fiction, literary fiction, history, pop culture, cultural studies, women's studies, natural history, children's

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Katherine loves books that explore the lesser-known territories of human experience.

For fiction, include a cover letter listing previously published work, a one-page summary and the first five pages in the body of the email (not as an attachment). For non-fiction, query first. When a proposal is requested, include an author biography, overview, chapter-by-chapter summary, marketing and publicity plan, analysis of competitive titles, and sample chapters or text.

Commercial, contemporary, family saga, genre-bending, horror, lgbtq and, literary, multicultural, mystery, offbeat, quirky, short stories, suspense, thriller, upmarket, women's fiction, cultural, social issues, current affairs, history, journalism, lifestyle, narrative, nature and ecology, politics, pop culture, psychology, relationship and dating, science and technology, women's issues

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

She seeks writers driven by curiosity and discovery, whether through formal inventiveness in fiction or rigorous investigative journalism. She is drawn to poets who have turned to prose and writers whose dexterity with language allows them to articulate emotions or sensibilities. She loves moody atmosphere, setting-as-character, and fantastical elements in literary and upmarket fiction, particularly when genre elements explore where language fails us.

Send query letter and 5 sample pages to only one agent with the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject line, or submit through Query Manager. Do not send attachments, include all materials in the body of the email.

Non-fiction

History, current affairs/politics/economics, biography and memoir, narrative/literary non-fiction, sport/adventure, pop culture/film/music, popular science/psychology, ideas ('smart thinking'), narrative-led business

Email - andrewgordon@davidhigham.co.uk

Literary fiction, non-fiction

Wants: Literary fiction and non-fiction; does not represent science fiction or fantasy (per agent page)

Represents literary fiction and non-fiction. Clients include Sarah Bakewell, Heston Blumenthal, Frank Cottrell Boyce and A.S. Byatt. Also represents the literary estates of Angela Carter, Alasdair Gray and Nancy Mitford.

Email phoebe@rcwlitagency.com

Fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction

Wants: Strong commercial genre fiction (noir-ish thrillers/spy/gritty crime; also saga/romance/romcom) and surprising reading-group fiction; non-fiction with strong narrative voice in memoir/history and big ideas/smart thinking

Wide range of fiction and non-fiction, literary and commercial. Has a taste for the unlikely, likes to be surprised and transported. In fiction, loves stories that take him somewhere strange and wonderful. For non-fiction, loves books that reveal something new or inspire readers to imagine the world differently.

Email - submissions@sheilland.co.uk

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: literary and speculative (and overlap), all adult/YA fiction (not below YA). Non-fiction: untold/unknown stories, expert insights, narrative/serious non-fiction

Email - submissions@appletreeliterary.com

Literary and general fiction, non-fiction, poetry (select)

Original, distinctive voices, literary and general fiction including short stories, non-fiction with persuasive perspectives and interplay between personal/political (power, class, culture), literary memoir/auto-fiction borderlands, selective cookery/food writing and cookbooks

Email - nicolasubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk

Literary fiction and narrative non-fiction

Literary fiction with distinctive/off-kilter voice, high-concept literary, realist novels exploring moral/philosophical/political questions, non-fiction bold voices, investigative/essayistic work, cultural histories, literary true crime

Email - seren@lexingtonliterary.co.uk

Literary fiction, speculative fiction, translated fiction, history, journalism, politics, pop culture, music history

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, sample pages

Jennifer is most interested in literary fiction, speculative fiction, and translated fiction for the adult market, unusual history, journalism, politics, and pop-culture and music history. She is particularly drawn to eccentric and unusual stories and values a distinct narrative voice and a strong sense of place.

Submit through QueryManager portal with query letter, 1-page synopsis, brief bio including publishing history, and first 10-15 pages of manuscript for fiction.

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, reportage, social history, cultural history, memoir, poetry

Wants: Query letter, sample chapters

Alice represents a wide range of nonfiction, including voice-driven narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, reportage, social and cultural history, and memoir, literary fiction, and a select list of poets.

Send a query letter briefly describing your project and professional background, along with up to three chapters of sample material. Do not query more than one agent.

Literary fiction, non-fiction, estates

Wants: Synopsis, three chapters, covering letter

Nemonie Craven Roderick is a director of Jonathan Clowes Ltd. Her clients include the Estate of Doris Lessing, the Estate of Elizabeth Jane Howard, the Estate of David Nobbs, Maureen Duffy, Miles Gibson, Simon Critchley, Toby Vieira, Delyth Badder, David Llewellyn, and Gruff Rhys.

Email - nemonie@jonathanclowes.co.uk

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, commercial non-fiction, children's fiction, ya

Wants: Agency is building its list and welcomes unsolicited submissions (see remit on site)

Commercial and literary fiction across all genres, commercial non-fiction, and children's and young adult fiction, with a particular interest in projects with book-to-screen adaptation potential

Email info@whisperingbuffalo.com marked for the attention of the Submissions Department. For fiction include a brief biography, one-page synopsis, and first three chapters (double-spaced) as a Word document attachment. For non-fiction include a proposal and sample chapter.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, select expert-driven practical nonfiction, horror

In nonfiction she is drawn above all else to lyrical writing and rigorous thinking, and is interested in climate change, nature, ecology, geopolitics, migration, pop culture, tech, psychology, and in works that might be defined as cultural anthropology. In fiction she is looking for horror—especially social horror, feminist horror, and folk horror—, literary fiction that flirts with genre, working class characters, and intimate novels. She is particularly interested in LGBTQ+ writing across categories. She does not represent books for children, including YA.

Accepts queries exclusively via query manager

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.

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

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

QueryManager submissions

Popular science nonfiction, fiction, literary fiction

Camille seeks fiction and nonfiction that inspire public engagement with nature, popular science nonfiction, and high-concept literary fiction about nature-human interactions.

QueryManager submissions

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.

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

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.

Fiction and non-fiction

Non-fiction: history, popular science, social issues, nature, money/life management, music, sport, film, technology, memoir, true crime, experts with wide appeal. Fiction: literary and well-written commercial, boundary-pushing style with emotional heart and plot, upmarket with satisfying arc, historical or contemporary, genre-mixing

Email submissions@watsonlittle.com with a cover letter in the body of the email, a synopsis, and approximately 10,000 words from the beginning of the manuscript for fiction, or a proposal including a sample chapter and chapter summaries for non-fiction. Address one agent only. No AI-originated or AI-edited material.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, non-fiction

Literary and upmarket fiction and non-fiction (incl lifestyle/wellbeing), stand-out stories with strong leading idea and emotional depth, humour/charm. Currently not looking for crime fiction

Email submissions@watsonlittle.com with a cover letter in the body of the email, a synopsis, and approximately 10,000 words from the beginning of the manuscript as a Word document. For non-fiction, send a proposal as a single document including a sample chapter and chapter list with summaries.

Fiction, non-fiction, literary estates

Non-fiction: history, current affairs, biography, geopolitics, intelligence studies, history of war. Fiction: international thrillers and espionage

Email submissions@nurnberg.co.uk with a covering letter in the body of the email, a one-page synopsis and first three chapters or 50 pages as attachments (for non-fiction: an overview, chapter outlines, and three sample chapters). Address the email for the attention of Michael Dean in the subject line.

Fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, climate fiction, speculative fiction, ya, narrative non-fiction

Literary, climate, and speculative fiction, occasional YA. Stories that hold up a mirror to our culture in new ways, queer and trans coming-of-age fiction (particularly from horror perspective). Narrative non-fiction chronicling recent history, cultural trends, technology, social rules. Work that is subversive in prose, style, or subject

Check agent's submission page

Literary fiction, non-fiction in cultural criticism, food, popular culture, journalism, science, current affairs

Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages

Plot-driven literary novels, non-fiction that is creatively critical, unique perspectives, a great cookbook, and above all, original prose

Send a query letter to monika@triangle.house describing your project along with the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email in a normal-sized font

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, speculative fiction, literary thrillers, narrative nonfiction, longform journalism, essays, academic crossover

Wants: Query letter, first 20 pages

Fiction that grapples with climate change; ambitious multigenerational novels or family sagas; speculative fiction; literary thrillers; dark or darkly comic domestic fiction. Narrative nonfiction on climate, environment, institutional corruption, big idea books, object histories. Academic writers with narrative sensibilities

Email emma@triangle.house with a query letter and first 20 pages (or full proposal) in the body of an email. Please include QUERY in your subject line

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 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 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

Upmarket commercial to literary fiction, distinctive voice/character-driven with strong hook/unusual perspective, multigenerational novels, gripping love stories, funny fiction, feminist/revisionary, experimental/form. Non-fiction: memoir and narrative, history, food writing/food system, nature/planet, popular science, genre-melding cultural writing

Email submissions@janklow.co.uk with your full name, the title of your work, and Claire Paterson Conrad's name in the subject line. For fiction: include a covering letter (in the email body), synopsis, and the first three chapters or first fifty pages as attachments. For non-fiction: include a covering letter, a full chapter-by-chapter outline, and a sample chapter. All documents should be double-spaced, size 12, in a reasonable font, and submitted as Word or PDF attachments — no external links. Responses are sent within 8 weeks if the agency wishes to read more.

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.

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, thrillers, mysteries

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction (current affairs etc), and high-quality thrillers and mysteries

Email submissions directly to amd@theampersandagency.co.uk

Literary fiction, cultural history

Wants: Query letter, first 1-2 chapters

Literary fiction and works of cultural history.

Queries should be emailed to submissions@inkwellmanagement.com. In the body of your email, please include a query letter and a short writing sample (1-2 chapters). You may specify the name of the agent to whom you are submitting in the subject line.