Literary Fiction Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Adult literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, essays, pop culture, arts, history, stem, linguistics, sports, philosophy, underrepresented voices

Mariah Stovall represents adult literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, and essay collections by writers with strong voices and interdisciplinary perspectives. Across genres she is drawn to outsiders and stylish, inventive storytelling, especially where subcultures, social movements, and complex individuals intersect with pop culture, the arts, history, STEM, linguistics, sports, and philosophy. She is especially passionate about advocating for authors from underrepresented, marginalized, and minoritized groups, including writers without MFAs.

Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager, but Mariah Stovall's official linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries. When she reopens, follow the instructions on her QueryManager page and do not submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, memoir, history, biography, business, young adult, middle grade, self-help, psychology, science

Rees Literary Agency represents literary and commercial fiction, memoirs, history, biography, business, young adult and middle grade, self-help, psychology, and science. The official contact page lists Lorin Rees as an agency contact at Lorin@reesagency.com.

Email Lorin Rees at lorin@reesagency.com. The official site does not publish more detailed Lorin-specific submission materials in the exposed text.

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, lifestyle, health, illustrated books, literary fiction, journalism, science, international authors, debut fiction

Lindsay Edgecombe represents narrative nonfiction, memoir, lifestyle and health, illustrated books, and literary fiction. She is drawn to projects with strong narrators, obscure journeys, and political backbones, and she is an eclectic reader who will take on any project she is passionate about. Her list includes journalists, scientists, internationally bestselling novelists, debut novelists, New Yorker cartoonists, bloggers, and Instagram stars.

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan's official online submission form.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya

Laura Mamelok represents a range of fiction and non-fiction at Susanna Lea Associates' New York office. Her interests include literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, and select young adult with crossover appeal.

Check agent's submission page

Historical fiction, multicultural fiction, cozy mystery, romance, science fiction, speculative fiction, suspense, thrillers, upmarket women's fiction, fantasy, action and adventure, literary fiction, military fiction, advice and relationships, biography, business, economics, leadership, diet, health and medical, history, politics, current affairs, how-to, humor, lifestyle, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, religion, spirituality, self-help, true crime, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters, first fifty pages, author bio, marketing plan, book proposal, target audience, competitive analysis, chapter outline, sample chapters

Leticia Gomez is CEO and Founder of Savvy Literary Services and a literary, film, and television agent who champions underrepresented voices, especially underserved writers and readers. Savvy has placed fiction and nonfiction with traditional publishers and lists interest in historical, multicultural, cozy mystery, romance, speculative, suspense/thriller, upmarket women's fiction, fantasy, action/adventure, literary fiction, military, and a broad range of nonfiction including advice, biography, business, health, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, self-help, and true crime.

Complete the official Savvy submission form and email submission documents directly to Leticia Gomez at leticia@savvyliterary.com. Include Leticia's first name in the query letter and submit to only one Savvy agent. Fiction submissions should include a query or elevator pitch with title, genre, and word count, a synopsis, the first 3 chapters or 50 pages, a detailed author bio, and a marketing plan. Nonfiction submissions should include a query and a polished book proposal with overview, target audience, marketing plan, competitive analysis, author bio, chapter outline and descriptions, and at least 3 sample chapters.

Fiction, nonfiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, visual books, film and television friendly projects

Wants: Query letter, online form

Kerry Sparks represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction and is always looking for books that combine a solid hook, great writing, and an undeniably fresh but relatable voice. Given her film and television background, she often gravitates toward books with a cinematic feel or visual element that could lend itself to film or television adaptation.

Submit to Levine Greenberg Rostan through the official online submission form. Kerry Sparks lists her LGR email on her profile, but the official agency submissions page directs authors to the online form for submissions.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, contemporary fiction, multicultural fiction, short stories, biography, history, cultural issues

Wants: Query letter, biographical information, previous publications, first thirty pages, proposal

Kiele Raymond seeks bold new voices in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. She is open to queries and particularly interested in narratives set in and around the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the American Southwest. She treats each project with editorial care and is interested in stories that examine individual and cultural modes of sense-making. She also likes authoritative-yet-evasive narrators, anti-heroes bound to institutions or ecosystems, and histories that show the importance of subversive communities and local action.

Submit to Kiele Raymond through her QueryManager link from the official Thompson Literary bios page. Her QueryManager asks for a query letter, salient biographical information or previous publications, and an upload of the first 30 pages or, for nonfiction, the full proposal.

Nonfiction, women's interest, current affairs, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, business, wellness, personal growth, literary fiction, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters, proposal, sample chapters, bio, publishing history

Kathy Schneider is looking for nonfiction with a focus on women's interest, current affairs, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, and platform-driven books in the business, wellness, and personal growth categories. She is also interested in adult literary and upmarket fiction.

Submit to Kathy Schneider through her official JRA contact form. JRA asks writers to submit to one agent at the agency and include a concise description of the work, relevant biographical information, previous publishing history, and for fiction a synopsis plus the first three chapters, or for nonfiction a proposal and sample chapters.

Narrative nonfiction, science, health, memoir, history, politics, self-help, investment, business, women's issues, lgbtq and issues, parenting, humor, craft, cooking, lifestyle, entertainment, commercial fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first several chapters, proposal

Joy Tutela represents narrative nonfiction, science, health, memoir, history, politics, self-help, investment, business, women's and LGBTQ+ issues, parenting, humor, craft, cooking, lifestyle and entertainment, commercial and literary fiction, middle grade, and young adult.

Joy Tutela accepts new queries through the Manuscript Wishlist page linked from her official David Black profile. The David Black submissions page says writers should query only one agent at a time, include a concise query letter, and for nonfiction attach a proposal while fiction queries should include the first several chapters. The agency accepts queries by email submission or via QueryTracker or Manuscript Wishlist only, and does not accept queries by phone, mail, or fax.

Memoir, biography, food writing, graphic nonfiction, essays, pop science, pop culture, self-help, historical narrative, humor, business, high concept suspense, women's fiction, literary fiction, verse novels, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, first chapter, graphic excerpt, proposal

Gordon Warnock seeks fresh voices, timely and timeless projects, socially responsible nonfiction by authors with strong expertise or platforms, memoir and biography, food narrative and history, graphic and illustrated nonfiction, essays on social issues, pop science, pop or geek culture, self-help, historical narrative, humor, how-to, business and career, high-concept suspense, book club women's fiction, literary fiction, verse novels for YA and MG, and graphic novels for adults, YA, and MG.

Query Gordon Warnock by email at querygordon@fuseliterary.com or through conferences he attends. For text-based works, paste the first chapter below the query, for memoir, paste the first chapter, for graphic nonfiction or graphic novels, attach a 10-page sequential PDF excerpt of finished artwork not exceeding 50 MB. Unsolicited submissions by paper mail or social media will be discarded unread.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, young adult, middle grade, contemporary children's books, lgbtq and, stem

Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, first ten pages, full nonfiction proposal, ai disclosure

Lauren Scovel represents fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. She is looking to amplify underrepresented stories and voices across genres, especially literary and upmarket-crossover fiction, narrative nonfiction, and contemporary middle grade and YA with a timely, distinctive story, propulsive plot, and diverse cast. In adult fiction she is drawn to off-beat or speculative projects and work aimed at a millennial audience; in narrative nonfiction she likes stranger-than-fiction stories with expertise, curiosity, and beautiful writing; in children's projects she is especially interested in LGBTQIA+ and STEM subject matter.

Submit to Lauren Scovel through the official QueryTracker or QueryManager form linked from the LGLA submissions page. The form asks for author details, biography, book details, query letter, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 10 pages, or the full proposal for nonfiction.

Commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, mystery, romance, children's books, women's fiction, general fiction, literary fiction, trade nonfiction

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

The agency works with commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, thrillers and mysteries, romance, children's books, women's fiction, general fiction, literary fiction with a strong narrative hook, and trade nonfiction.

Email agent@ethanellenberg.com, indicating the agent, manuscript title, and genre in the subject line. Paste all materials in the body: for fiction, query letter, 1-2 page synopsis, and first 50 pages, for nonfiction, query letter, outline, and sample chapters up to 50 pages.

Fiction and non-fiction

Literary/book club/romantic fiction, character-led "gentler" crime in communities, non-fiction including relationships, pop culture, social history, food, some cookery/illustrated. Not currently considering memoir

Email juliet@blakefriedmann.co.uk with your cover letter as the body of the email. Attach a full synopsis of 250-300 words and the first three chapters or first 10,000 words as Word documents (.doc or .docx). Name each attachment with the book title and your name. Include your title and name in the subject line. Do not send PDFs or external links.

Adult fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, magical realism, grounded fantasy, thrillers, romance, essays, cultural criticism, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one paragraph pitch, comparable books, first twenty pages, full nonfiction proposal, ai disclosure

Nicole Cunningham is a literary agent at Trellis Literary Management. She represents adult fiction across literary, upmarket, and book club categories, as well as select nonfiction. She is drawn to immersive, smart, voice-driven writing, line-level quality and control, propulsive plots with deep character work, upmarket novels with magical or speculative elements, grounded fantasy, thrillers with a strong sense of place, book club novels with heart and bite, literary or upmarket fiction with romance at its center, high-concept hooks with literary sensibility, fresh essay collections, cultural criticism, and well-researched entertaining narrative nonfiction.

Submit to Nicole Cunningham through her official QueryManager or QueryTracker form. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager. Do not submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window. Nicole's form asks for author details, why Trellis, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, one-paragraph pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal.

Adult thriller, horror, speculative fiction, mystery, grounded science fiction, young adult thriller, young adult horror, young adult speculative fiction, young adult contemporary, young adult literary fiction, young adult historical fiction, picture books

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, full manuscript for picture books, sample art

Jennifer March Soloway is actively building her Starling list and is drawn to complicated, deeply human characters and stories about the difficulty of getting along with others. She is seeking adult literary psychological thrillers, horror, gothic, grounded science fiction, page-turning mysteries with unexpected twists, stories that blur the real and imagined, beautiful line-level writing, horror about motherhood, rural settings, scandal, and messy characters. In Young Adult she wants thriller, horror, speculative, contemporary, literary, and historical work, including high-school horror, dark speculative stories, psychological thrillers, grounded science fiction, creepy doll stories, coming-of-age, recovery from addiction, friendship breakups, and historical stories that show how the past led to the present.

Submit through Jennifer March Soloway's official QueryManager form linked from her Starling profile. Starling asks writers to query one Starling agent with one project at a time and only through the agent query form. The query form asks for a query letter and the first 10 pages, or the full manuscript for a picture book, and supports sample artwork where applicable.

Literary fiction, nonfiction, history, journalism, music, film, sports, biography, narrative nonfiction, criticism, essays, hybrid nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Jim Rutman represents adult literary fiction and nonfiction. In fiction, he is interested in audacious novels that test the form and prioritize language. His nonfiction interests are wide ranging, including history, journalism, music, film, sports, biography, traditional narrative approaches, criticism, and essays. He is often drawn to interdisciplinary and hybrid treatments and authorities seeking to complicate long-held assumptions.

Submit to Sterling Lord Literistic through the official submissions page online form. SLL says it can only respond to queries if interested in seeing more material and does not represent screenplays.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, literature in translation, graphic novels, criticism, genre-bending writing

Wants: Query letter

Jessica Friedman represents literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction, as well as literature in translation and select graphic novels. She is interested in distinctive voices and writing that challenges the expected stylistically, formally, or otherwise. She is particularly drawn to voice-driven prose, thoughtful criticism, genre-bending writing, and underrepresented narratives.

Submit to Sterling Lord Literistic through the official submissions page online form. SLL says it can only respond to queries if interested in seeing more material and does not represent screenplays.

Narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, memoir, biography, science, social issues, women's issues

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

Eve MacSweeney is developing narrative nonfiction and literary fiction that speak to emotionally driven stories, singular voices, and compelling social issues, especially as they concern the lives of women. Her official profile also notes memoirs focused on the criminal justice system, science-based investigation, biography, and literary fiction.

Email submissions@calligraphlit.com with a query letter, brief synopsis, short bio, and 25 pages of sample material in the body of the email. Include Eve MacSweeney's name, the project title, and genre in the subject line. Do not query Eve directly, send attachments, or submit by postal mail or phone.

Literary fiction, short stories, novels, narrative nonfiction, immersive journalism, personal essay, pop culture, memoir, anti-lifestyle, adult nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, proposal, manuscript

Kent D. Wolf represents literary fiction, including story collections and novels, and narrative nonfiction in immersive journalism, personal essay, pop culture, memoir, anti-lifestyle, and anything that aims to dismantle prevailing power structures. He is drawn to writing that is bizarre, profane, unsettling, dark, darkly funny, and literary-uncanny, and to writers who move the cultural needle through direct confrontation, self-interrogation, genre blurring, language bending, and strong writing.

Email submissions to submissions@neonliterary.com and specify in the subject line that you are querying Kent. Neon asks for a query letter, proposal, and or or manuscript. Attachments should be compatible with Microsoft Word or Google Docs, or writers may paste the file in the body of the email. Personal emails should be used only when invited.

Narrative nonfiction, journalistic nonfiction, memoir, commercial fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, folk tale, poetry

Wants: Query letter, sample chapter

Sophie is interested in smart narrative and journalistic nonfiction, memoirs from radical new voices, commercial and literary fiction with sci-fi, folk-tale, or speculative elements, and urgent poetry that plays with genre.

Email info@thegernertco.com with a query letter, author information, and a sample chapter if appropriate. Indicate that the query is for Sophie Pugh-Sellers.

Fiction, non-fiction, children's, memoir, biography, natural history, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, women's fiction, health, fitness, young adult, faith, popular culture

Wants: Query letter, first 50 pages

Laura represents a wide range of fiction, nonfiction and books for children. Her interests include memoir and biography, natural history, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, women's fiction, health and fitness, children's and young adult, faith issues and popular culture.

Email Laura directly at lbp@cbltd.com and attach the first 50 pages of your project. Include 'lbpquery' in the subject line.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, non-fiction, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, first fifty pages, full proposal

James Farrell seeks literary and upmarket adult fiction, non-fiction, and occasionally science fiction. He is especially seeking voices from underrepresented backgrounds.

Direct queries to jtf@cbltd.com with the first fifty pages of your manuscript or a full proposal in the body of your email, and include the title, genre, and 'jtf query' in the subject line.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, young adult, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 50 pages, full proposal

Kerry is particularly drawn to character-driven work, unconventional plot structures, unreliable narrators, complicated family relationships, and speculative elements that challenge our ways of thinking about the world.

Email query letters to Kerry at kd@cbltd.com and include either the first fifty pages of your manuscript or your full proposal in an attachment as a Word document.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, creative non-fiction, young adult literary fiction, middle grade literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 30 pages, author biography

Katie Grimm seeks plot-driven literary and upmarket fiction, narrative and creative nonfiction, and literary fiction for young adult and middle grade audiences. She looks for voice-driven books with a heartbeat and sense of purpose, particularly interested in the darker and weirder side of human history, previously under- or misrepresented experiences, and narratives that contribute to larger cultural conversations.

Send query via Query Manager at https://querymanager.com or KGRIMM with query letter, first 30 pages, and author biography.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, young adult fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Alexandra is particularly interested in upmarket and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction and memoir, and select literary Young Adult.

Email queries to acf@cbltd.com with a synopsis and the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email with QUERY in the subject line.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, chick lit, mystery, suspense, thriller, picture books, middle grade, young adult, memoir, celebrity biography, arts, popular culture, self-help, health, spiritual

Wants: Query letter, first pages, synopsis, bio

She seeks literary fiction with unique voices and commercial fiction including women's fiction, mysteries, and thrillers. For children's books, she wants picture books and character-driven middle grade and Young Adult with distinctive voices. In nonfiction, she represents memoirs, celebrity biographies, books about arts and popular culture, and empowering self-help titles.

For fiction queries, send the first twenty pages in the email body to jenndec@aol.com with a one-paragraph bio and synopsis. For nonfiction, attach the complete proposal as a Word document with a sample chapter, plus bio and synopsis in the email body.

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

Fiction and non-fiction

Commercial women's fiction with strong hook/twisty plots/emotion/drama, eclectic list. Agency also considers crime/mystery/suspense/thrillers, horror, historical, commercial and literary, non-fiction including politics/current affairs, environment, lifestyle, popular science, self-help/how-to, true crime

Email submissions@cmm.agency with a one-paragraph author biography, a one-paragraph blurb or hook including genre and audience, a short synopsis covering plot, setting, theme and characters, and the first three chapters as an attachment. Manuscript must be double or 1.5 line-spaced, with wide margins, in a font no smaller than 12-point (preferably Times New Roman), fully page-numbered, with your name, address, contact number and email on the first page.

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.

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: literary prize-winners to upmarket reading group, well-written crime, ambitious/surprising, messy family stories, longing/relationships. Non-fiction: art, culture, music, food, nature, mental health

Submit via the online portal at https://felicitybryan.com or submissions or submit-your-work/ — upload a synopsis or proposal and the first 3–4 chapters.

Fiction and non-fiction

Crime, thriller, general fiction, literary fiction, non-fiction proposals (case-by-case)

Email - bill@billgoodall.co.uk

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 non-fiction

Fiction: literary/well-written including pacey thrillers. Non-fiction: accessible, estimable writing with commercial potential (journalists/experts/scholars/public figures, fascinating true stories)

Email - submissions@jonathanpegg.com

Memoir, geography, economics, politics, history, nature writing, biography, science, travel, literary fiction

Wants: Genres include memoir; geography; economics; politics; history; nature writing; biography; science; travel; and literary fiction.

See source page for more info

Email james@jameslockhartagency.com with a covering letter in the body of the email and the first 30 pages attached as a Word doc or PDF.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, current affairs, politics, pop culture, popular science, history, journalism, memoir, biography

David Kuhn is co-CEO of Aevitas Creative Management. His official Aevitas profile says he represents literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, current affairs, politics, pop culture, popular science, history, journalism, memoir, and biography.

Submit through the official Aevitas contact or submissions page if David Kuhn is available in the agent dropdown. Aevitas asks writers to include a query letter and, for nonfiction, a proposal if available, for fiction, include sample pages as directed by the form. Do not send unsolicited material outside the official route.