United States Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Historical fiction, upmarket fiction, mystery, thriller, narrative nonfiction, science, creative nonfiction, psychological suspense

Wants: Query letter, book proposal

Gisa is open to historical fiction, upmarket fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Inspired Ink is especially drawn to compelling voices, emotionally resonant storytelling, immersive settings, psychological suspense, creative nonfiction, science-related nonfiction, and work that lingers beyond the final page.

Submit through Gisa Seeholzer's Inspired Ink Literary QueryTracker form.

Picture books, novelty books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, children's fiction, children's nonfiction, authors, illustrators

Wants: Cover letter, contact information, referral information, exclusive status, publishing history, first three chapters, synopsis, picture book manuscripts, full chapter book manuscript, proposal, sample chapters, portfolio link

Linda Pratt works with authors and illustrators who create work in all genres of children's literature, fiction and nonfiction. Her Q&A says she is drawn to stories exploring other cultures, fish-out-of-water stories, larger-than-life supporting characters, smart and witty dialogue, historical fiction with urgent stakes, elements of magical realism, emotional truth, and the unexpected when it fits the characters and story.

Email submissions to submissions@wernickpratt.com and indicate that the submission is for Linda Pratt. Include contact information, referral information if applicable, exclusive or non-exclusive status, background and publishing history, and any other work available for consideration. For novels, attach the first 3 chapters and a brief synopsis. For picture books, attach two different manuscripts. For chapter books under 7,500 words, attach the full manuscript. For MG or YA nonfiction, send a synopsis or proposal and 3 sample chapters. Illustrators should attach PDF samples and include a portfolio link. Do not send the same submission to multiple Wernick and Pratt agents simultaneously.

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.

Debut fiction, horror, new adult, paranormal fiction, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, romance, general fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis

Liz focuses on dark fiction at the intersection of fantasy, romance, thriller, and horror. AALA lists interests in debut fiction, horror, new adult, paranormal, science fiction/fantasy, thriller, romance, and general fiction.

Use the current Myth Literary submission route. AALA notes that nonfiction is closed, and asks for a complete query letter and full synopsis including spoilers.

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.

Adult nonfiction, graphic novels, picture books

Wants: First four pages of graphic novel or complete graphic novel proposal, self-illustrated picture book manuscript with at least two pages of full-color illustrations

Visual storytellers and their captivating art-driven literature. Adult non-fiction writers who are determined to break apart conventional wisdoms

Please *only submit* - attached as a pdf to a brief email introducing yourself, including 'Query' in the subject line

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.

Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators

Query Letter, First 10 Pages

Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.

Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators

Query Letter, First 10 Pages

Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.

Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators

Query Letter, First 10 Pages

Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.

Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators

Query Letter, First 10 Pages

Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.

Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators

Query Letter, First 10 Pages

Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.

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.

Adult nonfiction, popular science, science, medicine, mental health, journalism, narrative nonfiction

Luba Ostashevsky is interested in nonfiction popular science projects written by research scientists, medical or mental health professionals, or journalists. She likes books that give readers a sense of wonder about the world, preferably as part of an engaging narrative.

Submit through Ayesha Pande Literary's official query form and select Luba Ostashevsky. 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.

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.

Upmarket fiction, suspense, romance, book club fiction, young adult, nonfiction, cultural and social issues, journalism, lgbtq and, pop culture, science and technology, social justice, psychology, pop science, reportage, media, contemporary culture

Wants: Query letter, one sentence pitch, comparable books, first thirty pages, full nonfiction proposal, portfolio link, ai disclosure

Lauren E. Abramo represents a small list of clients at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret with interests across a wide range of categories and genres, focused on books by and about people from communities not well represented in publishing. Her fiction list is primarily upmarket but accessible, including suspense, romance, and book club fiction. Her nonfiction interests include social justice intersections, especially pop culture, psychology, pop science, reportage, media, and contemporary culture.

Submit to Lauren E. Abramo through her official QueryManager form. DGB asks writers to query one agent at a time. The form asks for book and author details, a query letter, one-sentence pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 30 pages for fiction or a full proposal for nonfiction, illustrated projects may include an online art sample or portfolio link.

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.

Nonfiction, faith, culture, memoir, practical nonfiction, children's books

Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample pages

Morgan Strehlow is listed as a literary agent at The Bindery. Her agenting is associated with nonfiction, faith and culture, memoir, practical nonfiction, and selected children's projects.

Use the agent-specific submission link from Morgan Strehlow's profile on The Bindery about page. The agency states every project submitted is considered.

Fiction, nonfiction, women's issues, children's books, picture books, middle grade, young adult, history, science, pop culture, memoir, big ideas, graphic novels, subsidiary rights, film rights, television rights, stage rights

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, outline, picture book dummy, graphic novel sample

Susan Schulman is Founder and Literary Agent at Susan Schulman Literary Agency. The agency represents its own clients domestically and internationally and specializes in subsidiary rights. It has particular interest in fiction and nonfiction books for, by, and about women and women's issues, all levels of children's books including picture books, middle grade, and young adult, history, science, pop culture, memoir, and authors/projects that explore big ideas about the world and being human. Susan is currently looking with particular interest for projects in the vein of The War That Ended Peace, Caste, Quiet, and 1599.

Send submissions to the individual agent best positioned to represent the work, using the official Susan Schulman Literary Agency submissions guidance. For fiction, send a description, brief synopsis, and first 10 pages pasted below the query. For nonfiction, send an informative description, full outline, and first 10 pages pasted below the query. For picture books, send a project description, complete outline, dummy, and at least one full-color sample. For graphic novels, send 10 illustrated pages with text as a PDF and a synopsis in the email body.

Fiction, nonfiction, faith, culture, memoir, practical nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample pages

Ingrid Beck is listed as a literary agent at The Bindery. Her list is associated with adult fiction and nonfiction with faith, culture, memoir, and practical nonfiction elements.

Use the agent-specific submission link from Ingrid Beck's profile on The Bindery about page. The agency states every project submitted is considered.

Fiction, non-fiction, adult books, juvenile books, illustrators

Query Letter, First 10 Pages

Writers House asks writers to email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript to one agent at a time, postal submissions are not accepted.

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.

Nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, personal narrative, narrative journalism, psychology, women's issues, history, education, science, health, wellness, sports, humor, food, culture, natural history, animals, religion, spirituality, african american issues

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

Joanne Wyckoff represents a wide array of nonfiction and has experience working with academics and experts in diverse fields to develop books for a broad market. She has a particular love of memoir, narrative nonfiction, personal narrative, and narrative journalism, and is always looking for writers with strong, original voices who explore a subject in new and surprising ways. Her list includes psychology, women's issues, history, education, science, health and wellness, sports, humor, food and culture, natural history and animals, religion and spirituality, and African American issues.

Email queries to submissions@carolmannagency.com and include Joanne Wyckoff's name in the subject line. For nonfiction, send a query letter with a brief bio, a synopsis or proposal, and the first 25 pages of the manuscript pasted into the body of the email. Attachments will not be opened. A pass from one agent is a pass from the agency, so do not submit to more than one Carol Mann agent.

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.

Book club fiction, commercial fiction, psychological suspense, domestic suspense, women's fiction, young adult, romance, health, wellness, psychology, memoir, current events, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters, proposal, sample chapters

Jennifer Weis specializes in high-concept, cleverly plotted book club fiction of all categories and nonfiction with new voices and new angles on perennial subjects. Above all, she is looking for books with a hook, a strong voice, and a powerful plot. The Weis Agency submissions page says it seeks high-concept, intricately plotted fiction of all categories, including psychological and domestic suspense, women's fiction, selected young adult, high-concept thrillers in unusual settings, and romance with a positive conclusion. In nonfiction, the agency wants new voices, fresh angles on provocative subjects, authors with platform, and compelling narratives that read like fiction, including health and wellness, psychology, memoir, current events, and narrative nonfiction of special interest to women.

Submit to Jennifer Weis via email at jweis@theweisagency.com or through the QueryTracker page linked from the official Weis Agency submissions page. Fiction submissions should include a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters attached as a Word document. Nonfiction submissions should include a query letter and proposal with author credentials, detailed outline, and sample chapters attached as a Word document.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, children's fiction, illustrated books

Fiona Kenshole represents children's and YA authors from picture books to older teenage. She is hungry for middle grade, especially animal stories, stories about the natural world and saving the planet, funny books, commercial YA page-turners, quirky contemporary, humor, unreliable narrators, wilderness adventures, immigrant stories, sister stories, practical feminism, ghost stories, and funny picture books, especially clever British-style humor and author-illustrators.

Submit to Fiona Kenshole through the official Submit Here link on her Transatlantic profile, which points to QueryMe. Transatlantic asks writers to review each agent's mandate, submit to one agent at a time where possible, disclose simultaneous Transatlantic submissions, and not submit by mail.

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.

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.

Narrative nonfiction, music, pop culture, cookbooks, illustrated projects

Nonfiction authors including artists, witches, and revolutionaries; cookbooks about more than food, illustrated projects that inspire delight, and other nonfiction books that seek to change the world

Please use Query Manager to send Kara a query.