Narrative Non-Fiction Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Romantic comedy, women's fiction, ghost stories, thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, young adult, middle grade, picture books, graphic novels, children's books

Wants: Query letter, first fifty pages, proposal, sample chapter, complete poetry collection, full picture book text, graphic novel pitch package

Katelyn Detweiler is a literary agent at Jill Grinberg Literary Management whose list spans all age groups and categories, with an emphasis on fresh perspectives and strong voices. She looks for voice and quality writing above all else. On the adult side, she wants smart, swoony rom coms, women's fiction with love in many forms, atmospheric ghost stories, thrillers or mysteries with emotional cores and compelling narrators, and sweeping historical or twisty dual-timeline intergenerational sagas. She is open to narrative nonfiction and memoirs that feel intimate, immersive, and as compelling as novels. In YA she likes fresh contemporary with humor and heart, magical realism, fantasy, speculative, historical, and light sci-fi grounded in teen experience. In MG she likes stories that capture the complicated moments of growing up, and she likes picture books that illuminate deeper truths in funny, inspiring, and unconventional ways.

Email submissions to info@jillgrinbergliterary.com and address the query directly to Katelyn Detweiler. Use the subject format QUERY: Title of Project by Your Name or Your Book's Age Category and Genre or ATTN: Katelyn Detweiler. Paste the query letter in the email body. For fiction, send the first 50 pages as a docx attachment. For nonfiction, send a query letter and proposal with overview or outline, chapter summaries, comparable titles, a sample chapter, biography, and bibliography. Picture book submissions should include the full text, and graphic novels should include a full pitch package.

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.

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.

Thriller, mystery, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, romance, science fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, biography, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, first chapter

Ronald is focused on cinematic stories with strong hooks and relatable characters, and is actively looking for thriller and mystery, historical and contemporary fiction, romance, grounded science fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir and biography, and middle grade.

Email a query letter to assistant@bookhaven.com with the word "Query" in the subject line and the first chapter attached as a Word document.

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 fiction, adult nonfiction, graphic novels, narrative nonfiction, commercial nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Jennifer Chen Tran works with a wide range of authors and artists, including entrepreneurs, journalists, physicians, thought leaders, James Beard nominated chefs, and graphic novelists. Her official profile says she is deeply committed to amplifying voices from persons with disabilities, BIPOC, LGBTQ, underrepresented, marginalized, and neurodiverse communities, and to books with lasting positive social impact that inform, entertain, and inspire.

Submit to Jennifer Chen Tran through the QueryManager form linked from the official Glass Literary submissions page. Glass prefers queries that describe the book concisely, are well-written and typo-free, show an understanding of the marketplace and where the book fits, and, for nonfiction, show why the author is the best person to write the book. If interested, Glass will request the complete manuscript or proposal.

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.

Journalism, narrative nonfiction, sociology, psychology, child welfare, politics, education, environment, history, memoir, voice-driven fiction, mystery

Wants: Query letter

Jenna Land Free is looking for journalism that takes readers deeply into a world they have not seen before; leaders in sociology, psychology, child welfare, politics, education, and the environment; history for a general audience; uncommon personal stories that offer perspective into something greater than the individual; voice-driven novels; and page-turning mysteries.

Email queries to jenna@foliolit.com. Jenna Land Free says she cannot reply to every submission individually, if you have not heard back within four weeks, it was not the best fit for her.

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.

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, 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

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.

Children's (mg or ya or crossover), adult commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction

Genre fiction and crossover children's, boy-led MG, teen fiction, graphic novel/illustrated MG or younger YA, quirky fantasy, dark/off-beat romantic comedy, domestic noir, cultural history/narrative non-fiction with strong voice

Email submissions@nurnberg.co.uk with a cover letter in the body of the email, a one-page synopsis and first three chapters or up to 50 pages as attachments. Mark the subject line FAO Gyamfia Osei. For non-fiction, send an overview, chapter outlines, and three sample chapters.

Non-fiction

Big ideas, popular psychology, contemporary issues, economics/business (not how-to), popular science, history, biography, literature/pop culture, investigative journalism, narrative non-fiction

Submit via the online form at https://felicitybryan.com or submissions or submit-your-work/

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, popular culture, humor, nonfiction, fiction

Wants: Online submission form

Daniel Greenberg specializes in narrative nonfiction, memoir, popular culture, and humor, but will consider any project when he has a personal connection with the book and is excited to represent the author.

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan's official online submission form. Daniel Greenberg's official profile lists his LGR email, and the official submissions page directs submissions through the agency form.

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.

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.

Adult fiction, young adult fiction, book club fiction, romantic comedy, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, horror, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, essays, current affairs, pop culture, psychology, nature, science

Wants: Query letter, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal

Dana Murphy represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for adults and select fiction for teen readers. She wants fiction with heart, humor, specificity, surprise, high-concept hooks, confident voice, rom-coms, book club fiction, literary fiction with form or genre elements, mysteries, thrillers, horror, found family stories, and narrative nonfiction or essay collections about culture, pop culture, criticism, power structures, object histories, big ideas, and deeply researched cultural history.

Submit through Dana Murphy's official QueryManager form linked from Trellis. The form asks writers to review her wishlist and provide author bio, title, word count, genre, query letter, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, and the first 20 pages or a full nonfiction proposal. Trellis asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window.

Journalism, narrative nonfiction, food writing, cookbooks, fiction, humor

Wants: Online submission form

Danielle Svetcov represents journalism, narrative nonfiction, food and agriculture books, chef and restaurant books, cookbooks, funny books, fiction, and clients whose work is serious but amused, oppositional but reasoned, and willing to go deep into rabbit holes.

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan's official online submission form. Danielle Svetcov's official profile lists her LGR email, and the official submissions page directs submissions through the agency form.

Platform-driven nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, wellness, narrative nonfiction

Michael Johnston is a CAA Literary Agent based in the New York office. He creates publishing opportunities across agency departments, with a focus on platform-driven nonfiction, memoir, pop culture, wellness, and narrative nonfiction.

Submit through Michael Johnston's official CAA profile when the profile shows the submission button or link. CAA says to review the list of available agents, identify the agent aligned with the project, and use the agent profile submission link if the agent is open. CAA generally advises sending to one literary agent, particularly the one best aligned with the work. CAA does not represent screenplays through its book-submission process.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural history, politics, biography, arts

Wants: Query letter, short bio, first ten pages

Edward Orloff is interested in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, especially cultural history, politics, biography, and the arts.

Email queries to queries@mccormicklit.com and indicate in the subject line that you are querying Edward Orloff. Include a query letter describing the work, a short bio, and up to ten sample pages in the body of the email. Do not send attachments.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, crime, sci-fi, short story collections, poetry, narrative non-fiction, history, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, popular science, popular psychology, children's, ya

Wants: Cover letter and ~500-word synopsis and first 3 chapters; include contact details

Literary, book club, and commercial fiction including thrillers and YA; short story collections and poetry; narrative non-fiction with strong style; well-crafted crime and sci-fi; history, politics, science, psychology, true crime, travel, food, nature writing, investigative journalism, and popular psychology. Writers for children and young adults are also welcome.

Submit by email or post. The postal address is 29 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PS. For email, visit georginacapel.com or contact to find the address.

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, crime, sci-fi, poetry

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, well-crafted crime and sci-fi, building a curated list of poetry

Send a covering letter, a synopsis of approximately 500 words, and the first three chapters by post to Georgina Capel Associates Ltd, 29 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PS (mark envelope 'Submissions Department'), or by email to irene@georginacapel.com. Include your email address and or or telephone number. AI-generated content is not accepted.

Literary fiction, speculative fiction, narrative nonfiction, subject-led nonfiction, poetry

Wants: Literary-spectrum fiction (incl speculative); narrative-forward nonfiction with original idea/voice; not currently taking on new poets

Literary novels that prioritise plot and find fun, surprising ways to explore ideas or a moment in time — entertaining, thought-provoking, and ideally moving. Open to work that plays with and elevates genre. In nonfiction, drawn to original ideas with unique, narrative-driven telling, whether from journalists, memoirists, thought leaders, academics, or cultural figures. Not currently taking on new poets.

Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with the agent's name in the subject line. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or fifty pages plus a short synopsis as Word-compatible files. For narrative nonfiction, attach a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing. For subject-led nonfiction, attach a proposal of around 5,000 words and at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Include a cover letter with a book description, any writing credits or qualifications, and a brief bio. Do not submit directly to the agent's assistant.

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry

Literary fiction with clarity, energy and intention, ambitious structure/craft, tactile/idiosyncratic sentences, strange/spooked books, big family novels and love stories, literary genre-bending. Non-fiction: literary biography, social/cultural/oral history, creative scholarship, memoir/essay, interests include art, design, psychoanalysis, food, women's lives

Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with subject line marked FAO Harriet Moore. Include a cover letter with a short book description, any writing credits or qualifications, and a brief bio. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or 50 pages plus a short synopsis. For narrative non-fiction, attach a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing. For subject-led non-fiction, attach a proposal of approximately 5,000 words and at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Attachments should be Microsoft Word compatible. Submit to one agent only, no postal submissions. If you have not heard back within three months, treat this as a pass.

Literary fiction and narrative non-fiction

Fiction: stunning sentences, convincing narratives, on-the-page magic. Non-fiction: narrative, personal accounts with political context, transporting/teaching. Original voices and captivating storytelling

Email submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk with the subject line marked FAO Lisa Baker. For fiction, attach the first three chapters or up to fifty pages plus a short synopsis as Word-compatible files. For narrative non-fiction, include a short overview and up to 10,000 words of sample writing, for subject-led non-fiction, a proposal of approximately 5,000 words and at least 5,000 words of sample writing. Include a cover letter with a brief book description, any writing credits or qualifications, and a short biographical note. Submit to one agent only, do not contact agents' assistants directly.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, design, craft, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 50 pages

She is seeking new voices in fiction and narrative nonfiction, especially stories about dynamic relationships between complex but sympathetic characters, families, siblings, and motherhood, social commentary, unconventional settings and subcultures, our relationship with land, nature, and animals, and controlled experiments with form. She is particularly interested in work that investigates or reflects on the post-colonial world, marginalized and liminal spaces, and narratives by people of color. In non-fiction, she is primarily looking for idea-driven or voice-forward memoirs, personal essay collections, and narrative non-fiction of all stripes.

Send a query letter, synopsis, and the first fifty pages of the manuscript directly through Query Manager.

Literary fiction, horror, thriller, contemporary fiction, queer fiction, magical realism, narrative non-fiction, memoir, essay collections

Wants: Query letter, first three chapters, nonfiction book proposal

Nina is looking for literary fiction, horror/thriller, contemporary fiction, queer fiction, and magical realism. She is drawn to emotionally complex characters, family sagas (especially those that focus on mothers and daughters), voice-driven novels, and untold queer stories. She is always on the lookout for psychological horror, particularly queer horror novels. In nonfiction, she is most interested in narrative nonfiction such as memoirs and essay collections, with climate, psychology, and gender/queer studies as top categories.

Submit query via QueryManager profile. Include query letter and first three chapters for fiction or full nonfiction book proposal.

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, essay collections, cultural criticism, military history, intellectual history, narrative journalism, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, young adult, middle grade, upmarket women's fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Benjamin is interested in representing literary fiction, essay collections, cultural criticism, military and intellectual history, and narrative journalism. The agency also welcomes narrative/practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, literary fiction, young adult, middle grade, 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.

Fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, romance, mystery, thriller, memoir, narrative nonfiction, self-help, health, wellness, cookbooks, business, biography

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Denise says she will look at anything, with emphasis on strong writing and storytelling across fiction and nonfiction. Her stated interests include literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, romance, mystery, thriller, memoir, narrative nonfiction, self-help, health and wellness, cookbooks, business, and biography.

Submit through the Barone Literary online submissions form. Include a query letter, synopsis, and sample pages as requested by the form.