Self-Help Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, personal development, business, cooking, select fiction, children's books

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

High-profile talent across narrative nonfiction, memoir, personal development, business, cooking, and select fiction and children's books

Email a query letter and accompanying material to queries@parkfinebrower.com, specify the agent name and category or genre in the subject line. Fiction queries include about the first 25 pages, YA or children's fiction include the first chapter or about the first 10 pages, nonfiction queries include a query letter.

Fiction, memoir, health, wellness, business, psychology, self-help

Wants: Query letter, writing sample

Pine works with leaders and writers who inspire, extend horizons, coin new terms, invent new worlds, and reach millions of people. He represents authors, creators, and memoirists of particularly high originality. He has a commitment to books that evolve our popular understanding of health and wellness.

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 of your query.

Mysteries, thrillers, cozies, contemporary romance, romcoms, upmarket women's fiction, memoirs, narratives, cookbooks, self-help, mg fiction, ya fiction, historical narratives

Adult Fiction: High-stakes mysteries and thrillers, and funny cozies––especially ones featuring ensembles, intergenerational family dynamics, and/or main characters outside of law enforcement, military, or journalism; contemporary romance and romcoms; upmarket women's fiction. Adult Non-Fiction: memoirs, narratives, cookbooks involving family heritage, self-help with concrete takeaways, empowerment, cultural tradition, and parts of history not typically taught in school. MG and YA: commercial fiction, including contemporary fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, and thriller––including ones with spooky or paranormal elements––especially ones that grapple with identity and/or intersectionality with fresh perspectives.

Use QueryManager link provided

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

Speculative fiction, horror, romance, mystery, thriller, literary fiction, fantasy, young adult, self-help, spiritual, occult, nature memoir, nature non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages

In fiction, she is particularly drawn to speculative, atmospheric, and voice-driven narratives for both adult and young adult audiences. She has a soft spot for hybrid genres, such as horror-romance or speculative thrillers, and books with big hooks. On the non-fiction side, she is interested in self-help, spiritual (Marina loves the woo woo!), and the occult. She's also very keen to find poignant nature memoirs and other nature-based non-fiction.

Please use this format in the subject field of your email: 'Marina or BOOK TITLE or CREATOR NAME or GENRE'

Women's fiction, historical fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction, gift nonfiction, true crime, pop culture, motivational or self-help, business, finance, wellness, spiritual, diet, parenting, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction

Transportive upmarket and commercial fiction, strong female voices, sweeping love stories, historical fiction, new adult, romantic comedies, quirky mysteries, family dramadies, psychological thrillers, and broad nonfiction topics.

Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.

Nonfiction, popular reference, business, health, psychology, poker, spirituality, self-help, humor, cookbooks, pop culture, biography, women's issues, decorating, crafts, music

Wants: Query letter

Sheree is currently only considering nonfiction, including popular reference, business, health, psychology, poker, spirituality, self-help, humor, cookbooks, pop culture, biography, women's issues, decorating, crafts, music, and related adult nonfiction.

Email a one-page nonfiction query in the body of the email to shereebee@aol.com. Put Query and your name in the subject line. Do not send attachments unless requested.

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

Fiction and non-fiction

Most genres/categories for adults and younger readers (excludes plays, screenplays, poetry, 'self-help' non-fiction, picture books)

Email a brief outline and the opening three chapters (around 10,000 words) to mail@antonyharwood.com. Fiction writers who are unpublished should only submit once their manuscript is complete.

Fiction and non-fiction

Commercial and upmarket fiction (book club, crime and thriller, historical, contemporary), commercial women's/romantic fiction, some lifestyle/personal development non-fiction

Email hattiesubmissions@theblairpartnership.com

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

Non-fiction

Sport, current affairs, military history, history, biography, business and management, personal development, and other non-fiction

Email a description of the proposed book, a contents list, two or three chapters, and the author's credentials to info@robertdudleyagency.co.uk. Submissions should be in Word format rather than PDF.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Commercial fiction, romance, saga, crime, thriller, book club fiction, children's fiction, ya, non-fiction, business, finance, self-help, wellbeing, lifestyle, cookery

Commercial fiction (romance/saga, crime/thriller, book club), children's novels 9+ to YA, non-fiction including business/finance, self-help/wellbeing, lifestyle/cookery. Not sci-fi, short stories, or poetry

Email submissions@susanyearwoodagency.com with your name and title or genre in the subject line (e.g. Joe Bloggs, The Title, Book Club fiction). Attach the first 30 pages and a separately titled synopsis or outline. Include a cover email with a pitch sentence, a brief description of the submission, comparative authors published in the last three years, your writing background, and a paragraph on why you wrote the book. Attachments should be Word or PDF, 1.5 or double-spaced, with page numbers. Let the agent know if you are also submitting to other agents.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, mainstream fiction, children's, young adult, middle grade, picture books, memoir, wellness, self-help, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter

Cindy creates publishing opportunities for clients across a wide array of fiction and nonfiction. CAA client/title pages show representation across adult nonfiction, fiction, young adult, middle grade, and picture books.

Submit through CAA Books Submittable from Cindy Uh's official CAA profile. The CAA profile is marked Accepting Submissions and links directly to the Books Submission form.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Crime fiction, thriller, mystery, psychological thriller, supernatural suspense, ghost stories, romantic suspense, historical fiction, women's fiction, middle grade, ya, horror, non-fiction, self-help, narrative non-fiction, memoir

Crime fiction encompassing thriller, mystery, and psychological thriller; supernatural suspense; ghost stories; romantic suspense; historical fiction; women's fiction; children's fiction at middle grade and YA level; horror; and non-fiction including topical, accessible works such as self-help, narrative non-fiction, and memoir. Does not represent science fiction, fantasy, short stories, poetry collections, erotica, or picture books.

Submit by email only. Fiction submissions should include a cover letter in the body of the email, a short bio, a synopsis, and three sample chapters as separate attachments. Non-fiction submissions should include a cover letter in the body of the email, a short bio, a proposal with chapter breakdown, and three sample chapters as separate attachments. Use the submissions page at https://shesto-literary.com or submissions or to send your materials.

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

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Commercial non-fiction (sport, lifestyle, self-help, leadership)

Commercial non-fiction, especially sport, lifestyle, self-help and leadership.

Email admin@davidluxtonassociates.co.uk with an approximately 300-word synopsis, a note on who the book appeals to and why you are qualified to write it, a chapter breakdown, a sample chapter, and a short bio or credits.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, middle grade, children's, picture books, illustration

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, credentials

Writers House represents adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, memoir, history, psychology, science, parenting, cookbooks, how-to, self-help, business, finance, young adult, juvenile books, picture books and illustrators.

Email an individual Writers House agent with a query letter, credentials, an explanation of what makes the book unique, a synopsis, and ten pages in the body of the email. Check individual Publishers Marketplace profiles for agent-specific requirements.

Fiction and non-fiction

Non-fiction across many areas (narrative, prescriptive, self-help, illustrated, cookery/history/philosophy/economics/memoir/tech/science/business/nature). Fiction: science fiction, horror, fantasy (incl upmarket body horror, book-club friendly SFF, time travel, inventive fantasy epic, underrepresented voices)

Email - sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com

Adult nonfiction, health, history, parenting, music, how-to, self-help, popular science, business, biography, sports, reference, cooking, writing, humor, spirituality, illustrated books, general interest

Wants: Query letter, proposal, sample chapters

Rita Rosenkranz represents almost exclusively adult nonfiction. Her list includes health, history, parenting, music, how-to, popular science, business, biography, sports, popular reference, cooking, writing, humor, spirituality, illustrated books, and general interest titles. She represents first-time and seasoned authors and looks for projects that present familiar subjects freshly or lesser-known subjects commercially.

Send a query letter by email to rrosenkranz@mindspring.com or by regular mail with SASE. If requested, send the proposal as a single Word document attachment labeled with the book project name. The agency does not accept screenplays, poetry, fiction, children's books, or YA books.

Adult nonfiction, business, technology, popular science, women's health, self-help, parenting, humor, illustrated nonfiction, photography, early readers, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, children's nonfiction, picture books

Wants: Query letter, first 20 pages, proposal

Myrsini considers adult and children's projects across categories except genre fiction. She is looking for voice-driven business and technology books, accessible science, women's health, self-care, progressive parenting, humor and illustrated projects, early readers, middle grade, YA, graphic novels, children's nonfiction, and picture books from writer-illustrators.

Submit to Myrsini Stephanides via QueryManager. Include sample material with the query: first 20 pages for fiction and a full proposal for nonfiction. Picture book submissions are only considered from author-illustrators. Do not query multiple Arc agents simultaneously.

Fiction, nonfiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, book club fiction, self-help, health, wellness, business, science, public affairs

Wants: Query letter, first twenty-five pages

Celeste represents a select list of bestselling fiction and nonfiction authors. She is currently looking for upmarket fiction that makes readers laugh or cry, one-of-a-kind thrillers with TV and film potential, and nonfiction authors helping readers navigate the world as it is today.

Email queries@parkfinebrower.com and specify Celeste Fine plus the category and genre in the subject line. Adult fiction submissions should include a query letter and roughly the first 25 pages in the body of the email. Nonfiction submissions should include a query letter.

Adult fiction and select non-fiction

Horror (literary to commercial, gothic, dark academia), literary/book-club, high-concept/time-slip, romcom/cozy romance, cosy fantasy, dystopian, non-fiction from experts (nature/climate/psychology/self-help/health/neurodiversity/science etc.)

Online form - https://hs-la.com or submissions/

Adult nonfiction, practical nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, cooking, food writing, psychology, self-help, mental health, wellness, lifestyle, women's issues, parenting, current events, pop culture, science, biography, memoir, young adult, middle grade, children's nonfiction, picture books

Wants: Query letter, first twenty five pages, proposal, sample chapter, full picture book text, graphic novel script

Stacey Glick is Vice President at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Her official profile says she wants to see more expert-driven prescriptive and narrative nonfiction. She is interested in adult practical and narrative nonfiction across categories including cooking and food, psychology, self-help, mental health and wellness, lifestyle, women's issues, parenting, current events, pop culture, science, biography, and memoir. On the children's side she represents select YA, middle grade, nonfiction, and picture books. She also notes an interest in cookbooks, culinary subjects, psychology, pop culture, current events, business, narrative nonfiction, and fresh approaches to existing subjects.

Email Stacey Glick at sglick@dystel.com. Dystel, Goderich and Bourret asks writers to query only one agency agent at a time, include the full query in the body of the email, and include the first 25 pages for fiction or a nonfiction proposal with sample chapter below the query. Picture book submissions should include the full text plus a dummy or sample art if available. Graphic novel submissions should include the first 25 pages of script and, for author-illustrators, 10 illustrated pages or other relevant materials.

Women's issues, pop culture, illustrated nonfiction, photography, history, politics, self-help, current events, narrative nonfiction, biography, business, lifestyle, cookbooks, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy, women's fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 20 pages, proposal

Dani represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. In nonfiction she is drawn to women's issues, pop culture, illustrated and photography projects, history, politics, self-help, current events, narrative nonfiction, biography, business, lifestyle, and cookbooks. In fiction she seeks contemporary and upmarket adult fiction, historical fiction, rom-coms, and women's fiction with compelling narrators and voice-driven writing.

Submit to Dani Segelbaum via QueryManager. Her form asks for a query letter and the first 20 pages of fiction or a full nonfiction proposal. Do not query multiple Arc agents simultaneously.

Nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, popular science, pop culture, social issues, cultural issues, business, self-help, success, motivation, psychology

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, proposal, pitch, comparable titles, target audience

Katie Kotchman specializes in nonfiction, especially narrative nonfiction including memoir, popular science, pop culture, and social and cultural issues, business in all areas, and self-help focused on success, motivation, and psychology. She is actively seeking new nonfiction clients with built-in platforms from whom she can learn something new. She accepts fiction by referral only. Her official QueryManager also emphasizes characters who struggle with dualities of nature or culture, cognitive dissonance, people who straddle different worlds, the Midwest, family secrets, and underdog stories.

Submit to Katie Kotchman through her QueryManager link from Don Congdon's official agents and submissions pages. Don Congdon asks writers to query only one agent at a time. Katie's QueryManager asks for a query letter, synopsis, one-paragraph pitch, target audience, comparable books, and the first 10 pages or, for nonfiction, the full book proposal.

Narrative nonfiction, mind body spirit, social and political science, health and wellness, current affairs, biography, psychology, self-help, business, spirituality, popular culture, lgbtq and, history, cooking, sports, memoir, literary fiction, suspense

Wants: Query letter, overview, sample pages, author bio, platform details

Tom Miller is a senior literary agent at Liza Dawson Associates. He develops and sells commercial and serious narrative nonfiction and select literary fiction. In nonfiction, he wants highly credentialed experts with strong networks and platforms in mind-body-spirit, narrative nonfiction, social and political science, health and wellness, current affairs, biography, psychology and self-help, business, spirituality, popular culture, LGBTQ+ topics, history, cultural and social history, science, cooking, and sports. He is open to exceptional memoirs by well-connected authors. In fiction, he is highly selective and wants beautifully written literary novels with compelling characters and story lines, LGBTQ+ fiction, and literary-quality suspense. He is not interested in thrillers, science fiction, romance, children's books, or fantasy.

Email querytom@lizadawson.com with a query letter including a detailed overview of the nonfiction or fiction project, no more than 25 pages of sample writing, a concise author bio, and network or platform details pasted into the email body. Do not send attachments or snail mail.

Serious nonfiction, history, journalism, parenting, food writing, health, wellness, sports, self-help, memoir, science, nature, pop culture, big ideas, legal thriller, middle grade, young adult, picture books, graphic novels, children's nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first fifteen pages, author bio

Suzy Evans is a literary agent, attorney, author, and founder of Suzy Evans Literary Agency. In adult books she is looking for serious nonfiction, especially historians moving from academic to trade audiences and journalists with unique and significant things to say; smart parenting books with useful original hooks; food, health, wellness, sports with crossover appeal, self-help by experts with established platforms, riveting memoir, science and nature, pop culture, big idea books about controversial issues, small quirky books that surprise her, legal thrillers, and timely important books by and about smart, strong women. In children's books she loves middle grade and seeks lively engaging nonfiction, wacky or hilarious commercial MG fiction with series potential, graphic novels that bring history, literature, and historical figures to life, coming-of-age MG, YA fiction tackling difficult issues boldly, sweet lyrical picture books, contemporary MG/YA exploring diversity, and high-concept thrillers with film potential.

Email Suzy Evans at suzy@evansliterary.com. For fiction, send a query and the first 15 pages of the manuscript. For nonfiction, send a query with a concise author bio. Suzy Evans says she reads all queries personally.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial women's fiction, romantic comedy, domestic suspense, thriller, pop culture, pop science, psychology, self-help, parenting, memoir, business, lifestyle, health, wellness

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Melissa represents adult fiction and nonfiction. In fiction she is seeking literary, upmarket, and commercial women's fiction, romcoms, domestic suspense, and thrillers, especially multigenerational stories, sibling relationships, outsider experiences, place-specific stories, and people fighting injustices or difficult societal circumstances. In nonfiction she looks for commercial pop culture, pop science/psychology, self-help, parenting, memoir, business, lifestyle, and health/wellness projects with strong voice, expertise, and platform.

Send a query letter and, for fiction, the first 10 manuscript pages pasted in the email body to melissa@foliolit.com. Include QUERY and the project title in the subject line.

Literary fiction, mainstream fiction, suspense, southern voices, family secrets, love stories, memoir, narrative nonfiction, self-help, popular psychology, parenting, lifestyle, pop culture, health, wellness, spirituality, food

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, author bio, table of contents, overview

Wendy Sherman founded Wendy Sherman Associates Literary Management in 1999. She loves voice- and story-driven fiction between literary and mainstream, with a passion for Southern voices, suspense with a well-developed protagonist, family secrets, mother-daughter relationships, and realistic love stories. She is also interested in nonfiction with a unique twist by authors with strong media platforms, including memoir, narrative nonfiction, practical and prescriptive nonfiction, self-help and popular psychology, parenting, lifestyle, pop culture, health, wellness, spirituality, and food.

Send all email submissions to submissions@wsherman.com. Include your last name, title, and the name of the agent in the subject line. For fiction, send a query letter and the first 10 pages pasted in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send a query letter and author bio, the guidelines also ask for a double-spaced table of contents and overview for nonfiction. Do not send attachments unless requested, do not query direct personal email addresses, and do not query multiple agency agents simultaneously.

Adventure, children's books, juvenile, young adult, mainstream fiction, mystery, politics, law, romance, thriller, women's fiction, comic books, graphic novels, business, commerce, contemporary culture, popular culture, how-to, self-help, mind body spirit, relationships, sports

Wants: One page query letter, book proposal, sample chapter, complete manuscript

Paul S. Levine is a literary agent and publishing attorney. His fiction interests include adventure, children/juvenile/YA, mainstream, mysteries, politics and law, romance, thrillers, women's fiction, comic books, and graphic novels. His nonfiction interests include business/commerce, children/juvenile/YA, contemporary and popular culture, how-to and self-help, mind/body/spirit, politics and law, relationships, and sports. He is not interested in science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Email Paul S. Levine a one-page query letter, preferably by email, at paul@paulslevinelit.com. No query-related phone calls. If interested, the agency will request material: for nonfiction, a book proposal and sample chapter, for memoir, a proposal and complete manuscript, for fiction, a complete polished manuscript. All requested submissions should be PDF attachments.