United States Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Nonfiction, memoir, faith, culture, poetry, children's books

Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample pages

John Blase is listed as a literary agent at The Bindery and is associated with nonfiction, memoir, faith and culture, poetry-adjacent writing, and selected children's work.

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

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

Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample pages

Trinity McFadden 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 Trinity McFadden's profile on The Bindery about page. The agency states every project submitted is considered.

Mystery, crime, detective fiction, police procedural, climate fiction, women's fiction, christian devotionals, nature, ecology

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three pages, proposal

Maureen is a junior literary agent seeking mysteries, climate fiction, women's fiction, and select Christian devotionals. Her current QueryManager genre list also includes crime, detective, police, nature, and ecology.

Submit through Maureen Wise's QueryManager route. The current form asks for author details, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, one-sentence pitch, target audience, comparable books, AI disclosure, publication status, and the first three pages or nonfiction proposal pasted into the form.

Fantasy, high fantasy, romantasy, dark romance, horror, atmospheric horror, young adult, new adult, mythology, magical realism, historical fantasy, lgbtq and, neurodivergent voices, disabled voices, bipoc voices

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Shania is drawn to diverse literary worlds that subvert standard tropes in high fantasy, romantasy, dark romance, and horror. Her current QueryManager route says she is seeking YA and New Adult manuscripts, especially fantasy, plus chilling atmospheric horror, fairytale and myth retellings, LGBTQ+ relationships, neurodivergent and disabled characters, and BIPOC protagonists.

Submit through Shania Soler's QueryManager route. The current form requests author details, a query letter, synopsis, and the first ten pages uploaded as a Word document.

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.

Visit agent's website for details

See source page for more info

Query Stephanie

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.

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.

Adult fiction, young adult fiction, non-fiction, children's literature

Synopsis, Sample Pages

Complete a form available on genre submission pages for fiction, nonfiction, children's or Young Adult, and photography or illustration. Submit a synopsis and first fifty pages or first three chapters for fiction, proposal for nonfiction.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Short, punchy picture books that are humorous and have a strong marketing hook. Non-fiction picture books, especially biographies or stories with a historical angle. Literary and commercial middle-grade and Young Adult across all time periods and genres.

Submit a query letter, three chapters and a brief synopsis in a single document. For picture books, submit the entire manuscript. Use the online submission form and select Rachel Orr as your agent.

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, thought leadership, health, wellness, spirituality, science, psychology, culture, business

Wants: Query letter, proposal

Rachel works with original visionaries, culture-shifters, and thought leaders on nonfiction narrative projects and memoir, with emphasis on books that create broad cultural impact.

Submit nonfiction narrative projects and memoir through Wave Literary's QueryTracker form. Wave does not read screenplays or poetry and replies only if interested in exploring further.

Art, history, mind, body, spirit

Wants: Query letter

She is particularly interested in art, history, and mind/body/spirit titles.

Submit query addressed to Ellen Scordato at submissions@stonesong.com. Include the word 'query' in the subject line. For fiction, include first chapter or first 10 pages pasted into email body. For nonfiction, include bio, credentials, social media analytics, previous publications, and media information. Do not send attachments.

Commercial fiction, young adult, adult fiction, romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, dystopian, horror, thriller, cozy fantasy, romantasy, gothic horror, folk horror, psychological thriller, new adult, neurodivergent voices, disabled voices

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, comparable titles

Olivia specializes in commercial fiction for young adult and adult audiences. She is looking for romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, dystopian, horror, thriller, cozy fantasy, romantasy, nautical fantasy, gothic horror, folk horror, mythological retellings, psychological thrillers, genre-blending manuscripts, and speculative twists, with special interest in work from neurodivergent and disabled authors.

Submit through Olivia Emerick's QueryManager route. The current form asks for a query letter, one-paragraph pitch, target audience, comparable books, AI disclosure, publication status, and the first five pages uploaded as a file.

Nonfiction, true crime, pop culture, humor, gift books, music books, unique histories, business, celebrity, cookbooks, cultural and social issues, food, health and fitness, home decorating and design, how-to, journalism, lgbtq and, lifestyle, pets, self-help, women's issues

Wants: Query letter, book proposal, overview, author bio, market analysis, promotion plan, competitive analysis, table of contents, chapter abstracts, sample chapters, first twenty pages

Lindsey Smith is a literary agent and head of licensing and new ventures at Speilburg Literary Agency. She represents a wide range of nonfiction and especially loves true crime, pop culture, humor, gift books, music books, unique histories, and anything weird and wonderful.

Submit through Lindsey Smith's official linked QueryTracker or QueryManager form. For nonfiction, include a query letter and proposal with overview, author information, market analysis, promotion plan, competitive analysis, table of contents, chapter abstracts, and sample chapters. After submitting to Lindsey, wait for a response before querying another Speilburg agent.

Fiction, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Doug has been an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic since 2003. His list consists of fiction and narrative nonfiction for all ages, ranging from literary to commercial work.

Submit through Sterling Lord Literistic's submissions page and choose only one SLL agent to query. The agency says it can only respond if interested in seeing more material.

Adult fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime fiction, mystery, cozy mystery, historical mystery, suspense, thriller, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, book club fiction, romantic comedy, contemporary romance, women's fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters, proposal, author bio, pitch

Sandy Harding is Senior Literary Agent at Spencerhill Associates. She is seeking mainly upmarket commercial and literary fiction for the adult market, including women's fiction for book clubs, smart page-turning thrillers, suspense with complex protagonists, mysteries of all sorts including cozies, historical, and traditional mysteries, and romance. Her official submissions page adds engaging adult upmarket and commercial fiction, crime fiction of all sorts, historical and contemporary upmarket fiction, book club reads, romantic comedies, and contemporary romance. She is drawn to complicated protagonists, multiple points of view, diverse voices, and writing with a captivating voice and story.

Submit through Sandy Harding's official Spencerhill linked QueryManager form. Spencerhill accepts submissions only through Query Manager, asks writers to query one agent, and says a response from one agent should be considered a response from all. Sandy's form requests a query letter, author biography, book details, synopsis, first 3 chapters or full nonfiction proposal, pitch, target audience, and similar books.

Children's, young adult, romance, science fiction, fantasy, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, sample pages

She enjoys clever, heartfelt, and commercial middle grade and Young Adult in prose or graphic novel format across genres. In adult science fiction and fantasy, she seeks contemporary fantasy, near future science fiction, and romantic fantasy. She's drawn to character-driven stories about family and friendships from diverse protagonists, especially those passionate about arts, STEM, activism, and geeky fandoms.

Submit through QueryMe.Online or thaole platform. Do not send queries to multiple agents at SDLA. Include query letter, 1-page synopsis, brief bio with publishing history, and first 10-15 pages for fiction.

Fiction, history, biography, environmental issues, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages

Neil Olson is an agent at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. He has been in publishing for more than 30 years and is primarily interested in fiction, history, biography, and environmental issues.

Email Neil Olson at neil@mmqalit.com. Include Query in the subject line, a query letter that briefly describes 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.

Literary fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, cultural history

Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages

Maria Massie is a partner at Massie McQuilkin & Altman and specializes in literary fiction, memoir, and cultural history. MMQA's contact page says Maria seeks literary fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction and will not accept commercial fiction or YA.

Email a query to the attention of Maria Massie 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.

Children's picture books, pop culture, cookbooks, gift books, general nonfiction, brand extensions, lifestyle or design books

Children's Picture Books, Pop Culture, Cookbooks, Gift Books, General Nonfiction, Brand Extensions, Lifestyle/Design Books. NOT interested in Memoirs or Medical/Reference. Typically Sports and Self-Help are not a good fit. Also does not represent Travel Books.

Use Query Manager submission form

Young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, graphic novels, women's fiction, romance, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, psychological thriller, narrative nonfiction, biography, culture, social justice, history

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first five pages, comparable books, full nonfiction proposal, ai disclosure

Michelle Witte founded Mansion Street Literary Management and represents MG and YA fiction, graphic novels, adult fiction, and narrative nonfiction. In YA she is looking for rom-com, historical, science fiction and fantasy, horror, psychological thrillers, and mashups of those categories; in MG, fun voices in adventure, contemporary, mystery, humor, horror, speculative, science fiction and fantasy, plus select graphic novels. In adult fiction she seeks women's fiction, romance, and speculative work. For nonfiction she is interested in biographies, culture, social justice, and history with a fresh lens and a personal element.

Submit to Michelle Witte through the official QueryManager link on the Mansion Street submissions page. Her form asks for project details, query letter, synopsis, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 5 pages or a full proposal for nonfiction. Mansion Street says if you do not hear back within 8 weeks, consider it a pass.

New adult or adult: romance, romantasy, and fantasy, young adult, middle grade, picture books

New Adult/Adult: Romance, Romantasy, and Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books. NOT interested in Graphic Novels for any age group or Early Readers, Chapter Books, or Board Books.

Use QueryTracker submission form

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

Non-fiction, adult fiction, picture books, young adult

Wants: Synopsis, first 50 pages, proposal

She is especially interested in nonfiction including memoirs, true crime, self-help, business, nature, travel writing, medical, STEM, psychology, health and fitness, music and film, food and drink, investigative journalism, social theory, and cultural commentary. She is also looking for adult fiction, specifically psychological thrillers, suspense, horror, and humor. Kelly also represents a limited number of children's projects, including picture books and young adult titles, with a particular interest in stories that feature Vikings, pirates, or mythology.

Complete a form available on genre submission pages. No query letter required though welcome in addition to the form. Submit synopsis and first fifty pages or first three chapters for fiction, proposal for nonfiction.

Horror, fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels

Strong commercial genre concepts with beautiful prose across horror, fantasy, science fiction, and graphic novels for all age ranges. Stories with big, campy stakes but surprising emotional cores, lovably immoral characters, queer-coded villains, and romantic moments amid chaos. Prioritizes queer and BIPOC joy, creating space for marginalized authors to rework the tropes that historically oppressed them.

Submit your query through Query Manager at the link provided. Maeve only accepts queries via this platform.

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.

Query letter, sample pages

See source page for more info

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.

Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, biography, literary fiction, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages, bio

Lane Zachary is looking for fiction and nonfiction that are beautifully crafted and have the capacity to change the way readers see and live in the world. Her background includes memoirs and biographies, and the official MMQA about page lists her long publishing career and authors recognized by major prizes and bestseller lists.

Email queries directly to lane@mmqalit.com. Include the word Query in the subject line, include a query letter describing the project plus relevant personal or professional information, and paste the first 5-10 pages into the body of the email. Query only one MMQA agent at a time.

Non-fiction

Wants: Synopsis, first fifty pages, proposal

She seeks clients who deeply, practically, or humorously examine faith, who pinpoint cultural intersectionality, and who entertain in unique ways. She has a focus on debut and seasoned writers who explore spirituality, radical cultural change and self-reflection via nonfiction.

Complete a form available on genre submission pages. Submit a synopsis of the work that details the plot, in addition to the first fifty pages or first three chapters of your manuscript for fiction and proposal for nonfiction. Query letters are not required but are welcome in addition to filling out the form.

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.

Illustrators, artists, children's illustration, picture books, publishing, art licensing

Wants: Jpg samples, art samples

Professional children's illustrators and commercial artists for publishing, licensing, greeting cards, products, and related illustration work.

Use the official artist submissions page. Submit JPG samples for consideration and state interest in Advocate Art Agency. Applications are reviewed with ITSme and Advocate Art agents.

Fiction, speculative fiction, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 10 pages

Fiction, focusing on novels with speculative elements, strong writing, and a lot of heart; also maintains an eclectic non-fiction list

Electronic submissions should consist of a query letter detailing the book in question and your qualifications, as well as the reason you're reaching out to the particular agent being queried. For fiction, you should also include a synopsis and the first ten pages of a novel or one short story from a collection in the body of the email. For non-fiction, please include a synopsis in the body of the email.

Commercial nonfiction, commercial fiction, health and well-being, psychology or self-help, politics and current affairs, memoir, personal finance, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, women's bookclub fiction

Wants: Query letter

Women's bookclub fiction, Epic juicy generational sagas, Historical mysteries and thrillers, Genre mash-ups, A great triplets thriller, Activist fiction or fiction that illuminates a topical or societal issue in a new way, Experts bringing new ideas that can help people in their everyday lives

Query via QueryTracker only - we do not accept unsolicited proposals or manuscripts

Contemporary romance, thrillers, suspense, ya or na romance, commercial fiction, romantic comedies, fantasy, paranormal romance

Emotionally driven stories and swoony character arcs, contemporary romance, thrillers, suspense, YA/NA romance, commercial fiction, romantic comedies, and fantasy or paranormal romance, but only when the romance leads the way

Check agent's submission page

Romance

Romance in all its forms and has a strong interest in championing Black, Diverse, and BIPOC authors and characters

Check agent's submission page