685+ United States literary agents whose current PairPi record says they are open to submissions. Each listing includes a source link and last-checked date.
685+ verified agents · 685 currently open
Query letter, first 1-2 chapters
Writers from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.
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.
Mystery, suspense, thrillers, crime fiction, upmarket fiction
High-stakes narratives, complex characters, and stories that refuse to be put down. Crime novels with anti-hero main characters, mystery novels that keep him guessing, clear stakes, surprise endings
Check agent's submission page
Dark romance, romantic comedies, genre-bending romantasy, bold speculative fiction
Dark romance, sharp romantic comedies, genre-bending romantasy, and bold speculative fiction. Especially drawn to Queer and own voices, stories with complex emotions, unforgettable relationships, and high-stakes worldbuilding
Only accepts queries through QueryManager
Visit agent's website for details
See source page for more info
Query Stephanie
Commercial romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction, young adult fiction, cookbooks, food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle, wellness
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
In fiction, she is looking for commercial romance, adult and crossover fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction and select young adult fiction. She is drawn to stories that embrace genre conventions from a fun, fresh angle. In non-fiction, she is looking for cookbooks and food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle, and wellness, especially when approached from a specific, unique perspective.
Include the first ten pages of text only within the body of your email for adult fiction, adult memoir, adult non-fiction essay collection, or children's fiction and non-fiction.
Narrative nonfiction, memoir, personal development, business, cooking, select fiction, children's books
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
High-profile talent across narrative nonfiction, memoir, personal development, business, cooking, and select fiction and children's books
Email a query letter and accompanying material to queries@parkfinebrower.com, specify the agent name and category or genre in the subject line. Fiction queries include about the first 25 pages, YA or children's fiction include the first chapter or about the first 10 pages, nonfiction queries include a query letter.
Historical fiction, romance, magical realism, horror
Immersive, atmospheric stories across genres, especially historical fiction—gothic or moody tales, BIPOC romances rooted in heritage, and magical realism with political nuance. Feminist retellings that reclaim overlooked voices and narratives on identity and ancestry. Folklore-inspired horror
Check agent's submission page
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, young adult, pop culture, select non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, bio, first five pages
She seeks compelling stories with clear concepts, fresh voices and emotional heart that grab readers from the first page. She is especially interested in emerging writers and underrepresented voices, looking to develop long-term relationships.
Email a brief query letter containing information about your book, your bio, and the first five pages in the body of the email. Include the word 'query' and your book title in the subject line.
Non-fiction
Wants: Query letter
Laurie strives to maintain an eclectic list that spans history, science, nature, sports, adventure and the outdoors, health and wellness, self-improvement, investigative journalism, big ideas, women's studies, pop culture, food, technology, the traditional past and speculative future, and the offbeat. She is very interested in working with people of color and those from historically marginalized communities who are writing on these topics. She also represents a select group of artists.
Send a brief email describing you and your project to Laurie@defliterary.com. Please include the word "query" and your book title in the subject line. Attachments will not be opened unless requested. Submissions do not need to be exclusive.
Fiction, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, biography, first five pages
She gravitates towards fiction with memorable characters, captivating voices, and original plotting, and relishes a great page-turner as much as a literary masterpiece. She is intrigued by a wide range of nonfiction, from narrative to practical, especially focusing on lifestyle, parenting, women's issues, and memoirs that exhibit quirky perspectives. She does not work with science fiction, horror, romance, or paranormal novels.
Please email at Caryn@defliterary.com, using the word 'Query' and your book's title in the subject line. Please include a brief, compelling description of the book in the email, along with a short bio, and for fiction and memoir, please include the first five pages of the manuscript in the body of the email. Attachments will not be opened unless requested.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, narrative non-fiction, cultural history, creative non-fiction, food writing, young adult, middle grade
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
She seeks fresh, unexpected perspectives, particularly from underrepresented communities. She favors character-driven literary fiction that borrows from genre elements, narrative nonfiction that reorients understanding of history and culture, and creative nonfiction that appeals to heart, mind, and humor. For Young Adult she prefers realistic, emotional stories whether contemporary or historical.
Submit via Roma's QueryManager form. Include query letter, synopsis, comparable books, and upload first 20 pages for fiction or full proposal for nonfiction. One agent at a time, but can submit to up to three ALA agents if first passes.
Fantasy, horror, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, synopsis
He seeks hooky and high-concept books with commercial plots, strong craft writing, and compelling characters. He prioritizes underrepresented voices and LGBTQ+ stories. For middle grade, he wants epic adventures and magical stories with series potential. For young adult, he seeks dark stories, atmospheric horror, and unique formats.
Submit through Query Manager form with query letter, 10-20 pages for novels, complete manuscript for picture books, and graphic novel proposals with sample pages.
Fiction, memoir, health, wellness, business, psychology, self-help
Wants: Query letter, writing sample
Pine works with leaders and writers who inspire, extend horizons, coin new terms, invent new worlds, and reach millions of people. He represents authors, creators, and memoirists of particularly high originality. He has a commitment to books that evolve our popular understanding of health and wellness.
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 of your query.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, design, craft, lifestyle
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 50 pages
She is seeking new voices in fiction and narrative nonfiction, especially stories about dynamic relationships between complex but sympathetic characters, families, siblings, and motherhood, social commentary, unconventional settings and subcultures, our relationship with land, nature, and animals, and controlled experiments with form. She is particularly interested in work that investigates or reflects on the post-colonial world, marginalized and liminal spaces, and narratives by people of color. In non-fiction, she is primarily looking for idea-driven or voice-forward memoirs, personal essay collections, and narrative non-fiction of all stripes.
Send a query letter, synopsis, and the first fifty pages of the manuscript directly through Query Manager.
Non-fiction, young adult
Query Letter, Writing Sample
Email queries to submissions@inkwellmanagement.com with query letter and short writing sample (1-2 chapters) in the body of the email. May specify agent name in subject line. Large attachments will be discarded.
Literary fiction, horror, thriller, contemporary fiction, queer fiction, magical realism, narrative non-fiction, memoir, essay collections
Wants: Query letter, first three chapters, nonfiction book proposal
Nina is looking for literary fiction, horror/thriller, contemporary fiction, queer fiction, and magical realism. She is drawn to emotionally complex characters, family sagas (especially those that focus on mothers and daughters), voice-driven novels, and untold queer stories. She is always on the lookout for psychological horror, particularly queer horror novels. In nonfiction, she is most interested in narrative nonfiction such as memoirs and essay collections, with climate, psychology, and gender/queer studies as top categories.
Submit query via QueryManager profile. Include query letter and first three chapters for fiction or full nonfiction book proposal.
Young adult, fantasy, horror, thriller, romance, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, first 1-2 chapters
Young adult, fantasy, light horror, thriller, the occasional rom-com, graphic novels, and almost anything with a strong female lead.
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.
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.
Mysteries, thrillers, cozies, contemporary romance, romcoms, upmarket women's fiction, memoirs, narratives, cookbooks, self-help, mg fiction, ya fiction, historical narratives
Adult Fiction: High-stakes mysteries and thrillers, and funny cozies––especially ones featuring ensembles, intergenerational family dynamics, and/or main characters outside of law enforcement, military, or journalism; contemporary romance and romcoms; upmarket women's fiction. Adult Non-Fiction: memoirs, narratives, cookbooks involving family heritage, self-help with concrete takeaways, empowerment, cultural tradition, and parts of history not typically taught in school. MG and YA: commercial fiction, including contemporary fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, and thriller––including ones with spooky or paranormal elements––especially ones that grapple with identity and/or intersectionality with fresh perspectives.
Use QueryManager link provided
Cookbooks, culinary, health, wellness, lifestyle, food narrative, women's non-fiction, caregiving, parenting, select non-fiction
Wants: Book proposal with all essential components including title page, concept/overview, author biography, markets, promotion plan, competition analysis, table of contents, chapter summaries, and complete sample material
Culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to chefs, restaurant owners, professional food writers, bloggers, online creators, and journalists, plus books about caregiving, parenting, and other select non-fiction genres
Full proposal required - see comprehensive guidance on website
Adult fiction, nonfiction
Adult fiction and nonfiction across many genres. Drawn to compelling and accessible stories
Query Nour
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, select adult
Query Letter, Synopsis, One-sentence pitch, First 20 Pages, Book proposal for nonfiction
Rebecca is only accepting submissions via her personal QueryManager link. Please include your title, word count, genre, one-sentence pitch, synopsis, and query letter. For fiction, please include the first 20 pages of your manuscript. For nonfiction, please include your book proposal.
Query letter, first 10 pages
See source page for more info
Query via agent's query form only
Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, biography, cultural studies, history, current events, hybrid work, memoir, popular culture, science
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, first 10 pages
Literary fiction and a wide variety of narrative nonfiction (including biography, cultural studies, history/current events, hybrid work, memoir, popular culture, and science)
Send queries directly to michael@mmqalit.com with subject line 'query' and include synopsis, publication history, brief bio, and excerpt up to 10 pages
Literary fiction, historical fiction, crime, mystery, thrillers, horror, women's fiction, romance, young adult fiction, memoirs, essays, narrative nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, brief sample in email body
Literary fiction; historical fiction; sophisticated genre (crime, mystery, thrillers, horror); upmarket character-rich women's fiction and smart romance; realism-based young adult fiction; memoirs, essays, and narrative nonfiction. Nonfiction interests include: music, sports, wellness, the natural world, animal welfare, feminism, true crime, sociology, and culture both pop and serious.
Submissions strictly via dedicated email address: submissions@dvagency.com
Literary fiction, memoir, politics, journalism, cultural history, biography
Wants: Query letter
Literary fiction and nonfiction in the areas of memoir, politics, journalism, cultural history, and biography. In fiction: beautiful writing, unforgettable characters, family stories, socially engaged writing, and compelling plots
Send queries to the attention of Max Moorhead at max@mmqalit.com
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, non-fiction
Query Letter, Writing Sample
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 of your query or address your query to the agency at large.
Graphic novels, young adult contemporary, young adult science fiction, young adult fantasy, adult romance, adult non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, biography, first 10 pages
He loves lyrical prose, wordplay, and humor. He is especially excited about working with queer, neurodivergent, BIPOC, and disabled creators. In Young Adult, he seeks contemporary realistic fiction and science fiction/fantasy. In adult fiction, he wants queer romance. For nonfiction, he prefers accessible, queer, and neurodivergent works.
Fill out his submission form via QueryManager. Submit one agent at a time, but can submit to up to three ALA agents if one passes. Include polished query letter, bio, and complete work.
Fantasy, romance, mystery, horror, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, science fiction, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, biography, sample pages
She seeks accessibly-written novels that transport readers and make them forget the world around them. She loves deep POV, compelling hooks, and confident voices. She's particularly interested in fantasy, romance, mystery, horror, and upmarket or commercial fiction, especially with speculative elements. In nonfiction, she wants paradigm-shifting, platform-driven books that make readers reconsider what they know about the world.
Submit through Query Manager only. Include query letter, bio, and 10-20 polished pages for novels. No email submissions accepted unless requested or on referral.
Young adult fantasy, middle grade, young adult mystery, adult mystery, folk tales, mythology, graphic novels, adult narrative non-fiction, true crime, investigative journalism
Wants: Query letter, first chapter, synopsis, sample chapter
She is particularly eager to acquire BIPOC/underrepresented voices and prioritizes stories of joy where identity isn't the focus. She's especially excited about stories rooted in history, mythology, and legends, particularly those that are lesser-known or underrepresented in traditional publishing. She's very interested in stories that explore the intricacies of multicultural identities and loves stories of immigration and first/second generation Americans who struggle balancing values.
Submit queries only through QueryManager. For fiction, include a query letter, first chapter, and synopsis with genre and word count. For nonfiction, include a full proposal with query letter and sample chapter.
Science fiction, fantasy, horror
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 10-20 pages
Stories from BIPOC who are born and raised in the Global South. Work that burns down the patriarchy and colonizers, contains gaming Easter eggs, has emotional resonance like indie games, and political complexity like anime. Dragons, sapphic power couples, cozy Studio Ghibli-like stories, BIPOC vampires, dark academia with e-sports or tabletop gaming, and stories where emotional intelligence is valuable.
Select one agent to submit to. Submit to one agent at a time, but if one passes, you can submit to up to three agents at ALA. Submit 10-20 polished pages for novels. Must be complete manuscript.
Memoir, pop culture, commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, horror, romance, cookbook, non-fiction
Voice-driven pop culture writing that brings fresh perspective to contemporary culture, non-fiction histories that recast narratives by centering unexpected or previously unheard voices, and adult commercial fiction featuring diverse casts and original stories, particularly in mystery, thriller, romance, and horror
Submit via Query Manager only. Darga does not represent children's books, political or crime thrillers, fantasy or science fiction, or non-fiction in the self-help, how-to, or business categories.
Non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, bio
Laura specializes in serious nonfiction, especially in the areas of science and nature, along with substantial titles in history and other areas by academics, experienced professionals, and journalists.
Send a query letter and bio via email, outlining the general idea of your book proposal and why you are the best person to write this book. Do not send attachments without a request to do so.
Adult speculative fiction, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first three chapters
He is most drawn to narratives that explore hierarchies of power, novel world-building in secondary world fantasy, and protagonists with unique voices. He is also looking for stories on the cozier side of speculative fiction. In nonfiction, he is most interested in history and philosophy.
Email query letter and the first three chapters of your novel or full non-fiction book proposal
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