Narrative Non-Fiction Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, history, memoir, culture, politics, science, natural history

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, first 30 pages

Literary and commercial fiction that put immersive storytelling and authentic emotional consequences front and center. In nonfiction, deeply reported narrative nonfiction, history and singular memoir

Send query letter and first 30 pages (fiction) or query letter and book proposal (nonfiction) to aram@mmqalit.com with 'Query' in subject line

Literary fiction, book club fiction, grounded speculative, horror, thrillers, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, poetry, ya

Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages

Literary and book club fiction, grounded speculative, horror, thrillers, narrative and practical nonfiction, as well as select poetry and YA

Email queries directly to Ashley at ashley@mmqalit.com with word 'query' and project title in subject line, include first 10 pages in body of email

Narrative nonfiction, creative nonfiction, big-idea books, journalism, culture, spirituality, religion, philosophy

Daring nonfiction that pushes boundaries and changes conversations. Voice-driven narrative and creative nonfiction, big-idea books, high-stakes journalism with receipts, fresh slants on culture and creativity, meaningful explorations of spirituality, religion, or philosophy

Check agent's submission page

Adult fiction, history, current events, narrative non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first chapter

Adult fiction, history, current events and narrative non-fiction

Query via Query Manager only

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, history, current affairs, science, investigative journalism, cultural criticism

Wants: Query letter, bio, first 10 pages

Bold voices and writers with a strong point of view; in nonfiction, she seeks perspective-changing ideas packaged in narrative form

For fiction submissions, please include your query letter, bio, and the first 10 pages of your manuscript in the body of your email. For nonfiction submissions, please include your query letter and bio and proposal if available.

Novelists, memoir, narrative nonfiction, celebrity books, academic nonfiction, journalism, commercial fiction, literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages

Lisa represents novelists and memoirists with narrative urgency, dramatic tension, multi-faceted characters, and a transporting sense of place, as well as experts, celebrities, academics, and journalists writing across nonfiction categories.

Email the first ten pages of the manuscript or proposal to lgsubmissions@defliterary.com in the body of the message. No hard-copy submissions and no attachments.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, adult fiction, young adult, middle grade, short stories, narrative nonfiction, memoir, historical fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Leigh Feldman Literary is particularly interested in historical fiction, contemporary YA, literary fiction, memoir and narrative nonfiction. The agency is not interested in adult or YA paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, romance, thrillers, mysteries or picture books.

Email a query letter and the first ten pages of the manuscript or proposal to query@lfliterary.com.

Fiction and non-fiction, dramatic rights

Narrative non-fiction (memoir/travel/nature/science/human experience), multigenerational family stories, sweeping love stories, twisty thrillers, also food/lifestyle/personal development/pop science/sport/nature/memoir

Email - williamsoffice@sophiehicksagency.com

Nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, history, science, sports, technology, business, pop culture

Wants: Query letter, full proposal

Howard Yoon works exclusively with nonfiction writers, especially reported narratives, memoir, history, science, sports, technology, business, and popular culture. He represents leading experts and thought leaders, and has a soft spot for underdog stories and voices of the underserved.

Query Howard Yoon via the contact or query button on his WME Books profile page. For nonfiction, include a query letter addressed to him and a full proposal. WME asks writers to query one agent at a time, if there is no response in six weeks, writers may try another WME Books agent.

Fiction and narrative non-fiction

Commercial and literary fiction (excluding SFF), narrative non-fiction; currently seeking voicy character-driven book club fiction, fresh crime, upmarket horror, and accessible eye-opening non-fiction

Email - mhoskins@unitedagents.co.uk

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, romantic comedy, memoir, psychology, narrative nonfiction, literary studies, art history, popular science, philosophy, cultural studies

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, picture book manuscript, referral note if applicable

Alex Reubert is a literary agent at HG Literary. He is pursuing books that demand he keep reading by style or story, including literature in translation, novels set outside the U.S., upmarket and literary fiction, narrators looking back on their lives, upmarket romantic comedy, memoir, psychology, narrative nonfiction, literary studies, art history, popular science, philosophy, cultural studies, and prose by poets or musicians.

Submit to Alex Reubert through his official QueryManager link. HG Literary asks for electronic submissions only. Unless an agent-specific form asks otherwise, send a query letter and the first five pages in the body of the query, no attachments. If it is a picture book, include the entire manuscript. Mention referrals in the first line. Query only one HG Literary agent at a time.

Non-fiction

Gripping narrative non-fiction, mind-expanding history, biography, memoir, current affairs, sport, popular culture and popular science

Online form - https://www.aevitascreative.com or contact

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.

Picture books, novelty, pre-school, middle grade, narrative non-fiction, general non-fiction, gift, comics, graphic novels, activity books

Exceptional children's book creators, with a particular interest in inventive approaches to familiar themes, passion projects from diverse and exceptional new talents, and innovative formats that push the boundaries of children's publishing. Books that spark curiosity and wonder, especially visually extraordinary objects that reward repeated reading.

Review David Higham's submission guidelines before submitting. Send your work by email to isobelsubmissions@davidhigham.co.uk. If you do not receive a response within twelve weeks, the agent will not be pursuing your work.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, romance, crime, thriller, historical fiction, narrative non-fiction, true crime, cookery and food writing

Wants: Commercial to accessible literary fiction; plot-driven stories exploring big emotions; romance; family/friendship sagas; twisty crime/thrillers; grounded dystopian; narrative-led non-fiction (true crime/untold histories etc.)

Plot-driven fiction from commercial to the accessible end of the literary spectrum, including romance and rom-coms (particularly with queer love or interesting backdrops), sweeping family and friendship sagas, unputdownable crime and thriller standalones, upmarket psychological crime, contemporary and historical fiction (especially based on real events, with gothic elements, or focusing on underrepresented lives), narrative non-fiction that reads like fiction, literary true crime, untold histories, accessible books on complex topics, and cookery and food writing with uncomplicated recipes. Keen to hear from authors whose voices are underrepresented in publishing. Not currently taking YA, children's, poetry, fantasy, romantasy, science fiction, diet, or business projects.

Email sian@blakefriedmann.co.uk

Literary fiction, speculative fiction, short story collections, international fiction, upmarket fiction, genre fiction, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, journalism

Wants: Query letter

Audrey seeks literary fiction, grounded speculative fiction, story collections, international works, and upmarket and genre fiction with a literary bent. She is drawn to smart, voice-driven stories with a sense of humor and style. For nonfiction, she looks for select narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, and human-centered journalistic deep-dives, with particular interests in food and dining, fashion, nightlife, dance, the cultures of the contemporary Middle East, and the American South.

Send a query letter using the online form to one literary agent only. Query should include only a paragraph about yourself, a brief plot synopsis and contact information. Do not include manuscript, proposal, or writing samples until requested.

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, romantasy, thriller, book club fiction, retellings, memoirs, narrative non-fiction, essay collections

Wants: Query letter

Aurora seeks commercial and upmarket fiction, particularly narratives with romantic or fantastical threads. She loves romance from smart romcoms to romantasy, with favorite tropes including forced proximity and rivals-to-lovers. She's drawn to thrillers like Megan Miranda's work and upmarket fiction with interesting female dynamics and moral dilemmas. For nonfiction, she wants select memoirs, narrative nonfictions, and essay collections on pop culture, modern dating, women's issues, and respectful true crime.

Send a query letter using the online form to one literary agent only. Query should include only a paragraph about yourself, a brief plot synopsis, and contact information. Do not include manuscript, proposal, or writing samples unless requested.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, popular culture, history, politics, women's issues, biography, science, essays

Wants: Query letter

Ellen treasures working with brilliant authors of literary fiction and loves to handle well-written popular commercial fiction. She represents memoir, narrative non-fiction, popular culture, history, politics, women's issues, biography, science, essayistic work, and the odd quirky book. She enjoys guiding established authors' careers and loves discovering fresh talent and new voices.

Send a query letter using the online form to one literary agent only. Query should include only a paragraph about yourself, a brief plot synopsis and contact information. Do not include manuscript, proposal, or writing samples until requested.

Literary fiction, book club fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction

Distinctive voices, strong writing, literary-to-commercial sweet spot, short powerful novels, ambitious intergenerational stories, gothic, historical, some fantasy, experts writing popular science/health/social history

Email a covering letter, a short synopsis, and the first three chapters (or up to 5,000 words) to submissions@lutyensrubinstein.co.uk. If you have a particular agent in mind, let the reader Susannah Godman know. No plays or scripts, do not post unsolicited manuscripts.

Narrative non-fiction, wellness, literary fiction

Wants: Query letter

Amanda represents narrative nonfiction, wellness authors, and select literary fiction. Her favorite subjects include history, art, science, religion, nature, culinary arts, current affairs, gender studies, and cultural criticism. In literary fiction, she gravitates toward novels that address form, language, and larger themes of contemporary life. In wellness, she represents both prescriptive and narrative titles, including spiritual memoirs, creativity handbooks, health guides, and meditation companions.

Send a query letter using the online form to one literary agent only. Query should include only a paragraph about yourself, a brief plot synopsis and contact information. Do not include a manuscript, proposal, or writing samples until requested.

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction

Literary fiction and narrative non-fiction, award-winning food writers, academics, stylish prose, sly humour, complex characterisation, challenging ideas and identity

Email zross@unitedagents.co.uk with a one-line elevator pitch, two or three comparable books, and a back-cover blurb. Attach a one-page synopsis and the first three chapters (fiction), or a proposal with a twenty-page writing sample (non-fiction).

Literary fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy, gothic, horror, crime, psychological thriller, speculative fiction, ya, middle grade, memoir, narrative non-fiction, true crime

Literary and upmarket commercial fiction of all kinds, especially meditative or moving novels about modern life with warmth and heart alongside sharpness. Historical and period fiction that sheds light on untold stories, ambitious cross-centuries narratives, and historical mysteries. High-concept love stories and romantic comedies with depth. Gothic, horror, murder mysteries, ghost stories, psychological thrillers, speculative and magical realist fiction, and novels with a true-crime feel. A small list of YA and middle grade that feels current and contemporary with a real conversation at its core — not currently seeking fantasy or anything younger than middle grade. On the non-fiction side: memoirs of extraordinary people, narrative non-fiction on subjects the author is passionate about, books on mental health, untold stories across popular science, history and popular culture, and a brilliant true crime book. Particularly keen on LGBTQI+ stories and diverse voices from across the globe. Not currently looking for cookery, wellness, or lifestyle.

Email submissions@greeneheaton.co.uk with your covering letter in the body of the email. Include the agent's name in the subject line. Fiction: attach the first three chapters or around fifty pages plus a one-to-two page synopsis that reveals the ending, as Word documents. Non-fiction: attach three sample chapters or around fifty pages plus a chapter summary or synopsis, and explain why you are best placed to write the book and who the intended readership is. AI-generated or AI-edited content is not accepted. No postal submissions.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, literary non-fiction, commercial non-fiction, ya, children's books, biography, memoir, history, popular culture, humour

Quality women's fiction including romantasy and love stories, smart contemporary thrillers with a difference, a great northern novel set in the north east or midlands, biography, memoir, history, popular culture, humour

Email synopsis and three sample chapters as a Word attachment, plus author biography, to info@sarah-such.com. No unsolicited manuscripts or telephone enquiries.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, psychological thrillers, domestic thrillers, social thrillers, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, literary memoir

Wants: Query letter

She primarily seeks literary fiction and upmarket fiction that is contemporary, emotionally and psychologically acute, and not necessarily plot-centric. She is drawn to slightly speculative and satirical works that question the status quo, and gravitates toward anything that verges on the absurd, obsessive, or humorous. She has a particular love of short fiction, especially linked collections or novels-in-stories. She also looks for dark and propulsive psychological, domestic, and social thrillers. In nonfiction, she represents very select projects in narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, and literary memoir.

Send a query letter using the online form to one literary agent only. Query should include only a paragraph about yourself, a brief plot synopsis and contact information. Do not include a manuscript, proposal, or writing samples unless requested.

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction

Unusual stories grounded in the real world but with strange and surreal elements, with a focus on human relationships, queer characters and alternative culture. Diverse and unexpected perspectives that offer new ways of seeing and have something urgent to say about the contemporary world. Particularly interested in debut writers.

Email submissions@rebeccacarterliterary.com with the subject line 'Submission: [your name] [TITLE OF SUBMISSION]'. Address the submission to Tilda (not both Tilda and Rebecca). Include a covering letter in the body of the email. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or up to 10,000 words plus a short synopsis. For non-fiction, attach a detailed proposal and, if possible, a sample chapter. Attach files as Word documents or PDFs, do not include external links. Typescript should be 1.5 or double spaced with page numbers. Files should be saved as '[your name] [TITLE OF SUBMISSION] [document type]'.

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

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

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

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

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

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

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

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

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, personal development, narrative non-fiction, memoir

Literary and upmarket fiction, and in non-fiction expert voices in personal development, narrative non-fiction, emotive memoir, and books that engage with politics, culture and the status quo with intellectual depth. Passionate about bringing undiscovered ideas and fresh conversations to the mainstream.

Email a synopsis and sample material to hello@bergstromstudio.co.uk

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

Jessica Rios is based in the New York office of Susanna Lea Associates, which represents a range of fiction and non-fiction. The agency seeks 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. They focus on projects with strong potential across all rights including translation, film, television, and audio.

Check agent's submission page

Picture books, cookbooks, middle grade, young adult, science fiction, fantasy, horror, suspense, contemporary fiction, upmarket women's fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir

Jennifer Wills is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency. She is interested in a wide range of picture books and cookbooks, especially author-illustrators of sweet and wacky picture books and cookbooks with health-conscious, budget-friendly, or celebrity-chef recipes. In fiction she is interested in middle grade and YA with a sci-fi/fantasy, horror/suspense, or contemporary bent, and upmarket women's fiction with a sense of humor. In nonfiction she welcomes narrative nonfiction and memoir. She wants a great hook, a distinct voice, and work that can make her laugh out loud or ugly cry.

Query Jennifer Wills through her official Seymour QueryManager link: https://querymanager.com or query or JenniferWills. The current Seymour profile also lists jennifer@theseymouragency.com as a contact email, but the public query route is QueryManager.

Literary fiction, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, upmarket women's fiction, food writing, cookbooks

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Elizabeth focuses on literary fiction, young adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, issue-based nonfiction, history, biography, food writing, cookbooks, memoir, and upmarket women's fiction.

Email a query letter to query@elizabethkaplanlit.com. Do not send attachments, fiction writers may paste the first ten pages into the body of the email. The agency replies only if interested.

Children's books, narrative nonfiction, biography, sport, music, autobiography, crime fiction, weird fiction

Wants: Synopsis, first three chapters, covering letter, detailed outline, sample material

Paul Moreton is Managing Director of Bell Lomax Moreton. He is interested in children's books across all age ranges, narrative nonfiction, biography, sport, music, autobiography, crime fiction, and anything a bit weird and wonderful.

Email submissions@belllomaxmoreton.co.uk. For fiction, children's and young adult fiction, or narrative nonfiction, send a short synopsis including the full plot for fiction, the first three chapters or no more than 50 pages double spaced, and a covering letter with any previous publications. For illustrated nonfiction send a detailed outline, sample material if available, and previous publication information. Query one Bell Lomax Moreton agent at a time.

Women's fiction, book club fiction, fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, horror, romance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, true crime, cultural issues, lgbtq and, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter

Haley is building a list in adult women's fiction, book club fiction, grounded genre fiction, romance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, true crime, cultural, LGBTQ+ and women's issues, plus young adult and middle grade across contemporary, mystery, fantasy, science fiction and horror.

Submit through Haley Casey's QueryManager form. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time and to review each agent's bio, wishlist, and QueryManager page before submitting.

Fiction and narrative non-fiction

Fiction: literary and genre including historical/speculative/crime/romance, distinctive voice/worldbuilding, moral dilemmas, families/relationships, darkness and humour. Non-fiction: history/memoir/current affairs/cultural criticism/popular science/travel/food, experts with surprising takes

Email anna@johnsonandalcock.co.uk with a short covering letter including a blurb and author info. For fiction, include a synopsis of no more than two pages and the opening 50 pages. For non-fiction, include a proposal with introduction, chapter breakdown, and sample material totalling around 50 pages. Attachments in Word .doc or .docx format, at least 1.5 line spaced, page-numbered, A4. Submit to one agent only, do not blind-copy.

Fiction, narrative nonfiction, current affairs, memoir, food, culture, american west, literary fiction, thriller

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Bonnie represents writers of fiction and narrative nonfiction. She is looking for narrative nonfiction covering the natural world, current events, memoir, food and culture, and stories focused on the American West; in fiction her taste runs to literary, voice-driven and genre-bending fiction and smart thrillers.

Submit through Bonnie Nadell's official online query form. Do not query two Hill Nadell agents simultaneously. Hard-copy queries are also accepted with a query letter, first 10 pages, and SASE.

Commercial fiction, upscale fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, women's fiction, romance, memoir, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, business, parenting, young adult, middle grade

Wants: Query letter

Paige is looking for unique stories, fresh voices, snappy dialogue, unexpected twists, commercial and upscale fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, women's fiction, romance, and narrative or prescriptive nonfiction from authors with a platform and new ideas.

Submit through Paige Wheeler's QueryManager form. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time, if querying Paige, send to her first because she does not accept pitches previously submitted to another CMA agent.