US Literary Fiction Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, social history, cultural history, pop culture, fashion, food writing, art, music, women's issues, literary memoir

Wants: Query letter, first chapter

Susan Ramer has been at Don Congdon Associates since 1986. She looks for literary fiction, upmarket book club fiction, both contemporary and historical and especially American, and narrative nonfiction. She is drawn to authentic voice, unforgettable characters with an edge, unfamiliar well-crafted stories that are emotional in unpredictable ways, social history, cultural history, smart pop culture such as fashion, food, art, and music, women's issues, and literary memoir with a distinctive theme. She especially likes nonfiction that combines a personal thread with reporting and analysis of a broader social or cultural issue, and appreciates a sense of humor, especially on the dark side.

Submit to Susan Ramer through her official Don Congdon linked QueryTracker form. Don Congdon says Susan Ramer accepts queries only via QueryTracker. A query letter should be a one-page description or synopsis including genre, word count, comparable titles, and relevant background, with the first chapter included through the applicable QueryTracker section. Query only one Don Congdon agent at a time.

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.

Nonfiction, science, history, memoir, cultural criticism, investigative journalism, business, fiction, literary fiction, genre fiction

Wants: Query letter, first twenty-five pages

Ben works alongside Celeste Fine on bestselling nonfiction and fiction. He loves nonfiction that translates big ideas for broad audiences, especially science, history, memoir, cultural criticism, investigative journalism, and business. In fiction, he is looking for smart takes on genre and accessible literary fiction with social and historical context.

Email queries@parkfinebrower.com and specify Ben Kaslow-Zieve plus the category and genre in the subject line. Adult fiction submissions should include a query letter and roughly the first 25 pages. Nonfiction submissions should include a query letter.

Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, science, technology, nature, social justice, psychology, culture, literary memoir, cultural criticism, essays, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, psychological thriller, romantic comedy

Wants: Query letter, first ten to fifteen pages, proposal

Caroline Eisenmann is drawn to narrative and idea-driven nonfiction shaped by expansive curiosity, especially work that makes hidden structures more legible, including science, technology, nature, social justice, psychology, culture, capitalism, deeply reported narratives, literary memoir, cultural criticism, and essays. In adult literary and upmarket fiction, she responds to speculative elements used for emotional truth, obsession, ruthless narrators, intimacy and its discontents, social issues on a human scale, underrepresented voices, visceral prose, vivid consciousness, driving plot, upmarket psychological thrillers, and romantic comedies.

Send Caroline Eisenmann a query at ce@goldinlit.com. For fiction, memoir, essays, or narrative nonfiction, include a query letter and the first 10-15 pages in the body of the email. For other nonfiction, send a query letter and attach a proposal if prepared. Submit to only one Frances Goldin agent at a time.

Nonfiction, fiction, literary fiction, short stories, business, leadership, psychology, health, wellness, technology, memoir, public affairs

Wants: Query letter, first fifteen pages, proposal

Christy is Partner and Co-Head of UTA Publishing. She represents influential nonfiction authors and institutions as well as bestselling novelists and short story writers, with a list spanning business, leadership, psychology, health, wellness, technology, memoir, public affairs, literary fiction, and commercial fiction with strong storytelling and voice.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query form and select Christy Fletcher where available. UTA requires the first 15 pages of any manuscript or book proposal and asks writers not to query multiple UTA literary agents.

Literary fiction, literary horror, grounded fantasy, romance, queer romance, body horror, essay collections, new adult, young adult, lgbtq and, pop culture, fashion

Wants: Query letter, sample chapters

Dani is building her list and is looking for literary fiction that keeps her up at night, literary horror, grounded fantasy and romance with real emotion, atmospheric work, girlhood, nostalgia, queer romance, body horror, Los Angeles stories, and essay collections about home, the body, and family.

Sterling Lord Literistic asks writers to submit through the agency submissions route and choose only one SLL agent. Dani's Manuscript Wish List says submissions should be emailed to submissions@sll.com with a query letter and first three chapters.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, writing rooted in place, crime, literary suspense, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Duvall represents literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, with interests including writing rooted in place, especially the South, multigenerational storytelling, crime, literary suspense, and graphic novels.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query route and select Duvall Osteen where available. Do not query multiple UTA literary agents simultaneously.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, literary suspense, crime, thriller, speculative fiction, science fiction, narrative nonfiction, social history, human behaviour, irish literature, british writers, european writers

Wants: Query letter, first fifteen pages, proposal

Gráinne is looking for literary and commercial fiction, literary suspense, crime and thriller with a distinctive often feminist lens, intergenerational family stories, speculative and uncanny fiction, grounded science fiction, smart narrative nonfiction, social history, human behaviour, debut American voices, Irish literature, and British and European writers with US or international appeal.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query form and select Gráinne Fox where available. UTA requires the first 15 pages of any manuscript or book proposal and asks writers not to query multiple UTA literary agents.

Biography, memoir, history, science, nature, pop culture, cultural criticism, current events, politics, narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, thriller

Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages, proposal

Iris is seeking nonfiction in biography, memoir, history, science and nature, pop culture, cultural criticism, current events, politics, and narrative nonfiction, with special interest in intersectional feminism, nature, climate change, conservation, social and racial justice, and books sparked by a quirky obsession. In fiction she is seeking literary and commercial fiction with strong voice, plus upmarket mysteries and thrillers.

Email Iris Blasi at iris@arcliterary.com. Follow Arc Literary's guidelines: query letter, author bio, publishing history if applicable, first 25 pages for fiction, or nonfiction proposal with sample material. Do not query multiple Arc agents simultaneously.

Upmarket fiction, literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, cultural history, cultural criticism, sociology, anthropology

Wants: Query letter, first few chapters

Iwalani Kim is seeking adult upmarket and literary fiction and select nonfiction. In fiction she loves coming-of-age narratives, family dramas, stories that challenge systems of power, strong voice or place, realism with speculative elements, lush prose, wry humor, irreverent characters, and yearning. In nonfiction she is looking for memoir, cultural histories, cultural criticism, history, design and architecture, sociology, anthropology, and work from a leftist angle. She especially wants to work with underrepresented authors and Pacific Islander writers.

Email Iwalani Kim at ikim@sjga.com with the subject line Query: [book title] by [your name]. Include a brief pitch letter and the first few chapters in the body of the email. Greenburger says not to query more than one Greenburger agent at a time.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, social justice journalism, essays, aapi history, aapi culture

Wants: Query letter, first ten to fifteen pages, proposal

Jade Wong-Baxter is looking for adult literary and upmarket/book club fiction and narrative nonfiction. In fiction she is drawn to compelling voice with clear narrative momentum, coming-of-age narratives, queer identity, specific subcultures or hidden worlds, grounded speculative fiction, strong sense of place, AAPI and Asian diaspora stories, and immigrant-family novels. In nonfiction she wants projects that weave personal narrative with broader sociological curiosity, especially cultural criticism, social justice journalism, linked essays, and AAPI history or culture.

Email Jade Wong-Baxter at jwb@goldinlit.com. For fiction, memoir, essays, or narrative nonfiction, send a query letter and the first 10-15 pages in the body of the email. For other nonfiction, send a query letter and attach a proposal if prepared. Submit to only one Frances Goldin agent at a time.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, nonfiction, pop culture, academic nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first few chapters, full manuscript optional

Jeff Gerecke welcomes strong manuscripts of all genres. His official agency page says he is interested in commercial and literary fiction, serious nonfiction, pop culture, and academic subjects given a commercial spin for a wider audience.

Email queries to gagencyquery@gmail.com. Include QUERY in the subject line and include the first few chapters as a writing sample if you choose not to send the entire manuscript. General business inquiries should go to jeff@gagencylit.com, not the query address.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, suspense, thrillers, memoir, narrative nonfiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, sample chapter

Julie Stevenson represents literary and upmarket fiction, suspense and thrillers, memoir, narrative nonfiction, and YA. She is drawn to fiction with unforgettable characters, authorial command of voice, and strong narrative tension. She loves outsiders, weirdos, innovators, and work that explores the depths of human experience and facets of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, and regional background.

Email queries directly to julie@mmqalit.com. Format the subject as Query: BOOK TITLE, category. Include the first 10 pages of the manuscript, or for nonfiction a sample chapter, pasted into the body of the email with no attachments.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, food, running, art, global stories, social justice, mental health, medicine, environment

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Kate Johnson represents literary and upmarket fiction as well as a range of narrative nonfiction and select memoir. She is interested in food, running, obsessives, unconventional families, art, global stories, social justice, mental health, medicine, and the environment. She loves working with journalists. Across all her projects, she looks for authentic voices and books that uncover something off-kilter in the everyday or something relatable in the extraordinary.

Email queries to queries@wolflit.com and address the email to Kate Johnson. For fiction, send a query letter and sample manuscript pages. For nonfiction, send a query letter and full proposal. Query only one Wolf Literary Services agent at a time.

Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, literary fiction, journalism, technology, business, history, cultural criticism

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, proposal, ai disclosure

Laura Usselman represents narrative and idea-driven nonfiction and select literary fiction. In fiction, she likes distinctive prose with memorable characters. In nonfiction, she is especially seeking striking literary nonfiction, deeply reported journalism from the worlds of tech and business, immersive narrative history that illuminates the present, and smart cultural criticism on film, music, art, or sports.

Email a query letter and the first 10 pages of the manuscript or proposal in the body of the email to luquery@skagency.com. SKLA asks writers to disclose in the query if they have used or intend to use AI tools to assist in creating the work.

Fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, science, nature, journalism, current events, food, lifestyle, subcultures

Wants: Query letter, first fifteen pages, proposal

Lisa represents fiction and nonfiction. In fiction, she looks for literary and upmarket novels, contained settings, unique communities, family sagas, complex relationships, strong writing, voice, diverse voices, and page-turning momentum. In nonfiction she represents narrative, science, nature, journalism, conversation-changing current events, food/lifestyle, and deep dives into subcultures or topics that help readers live better.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query form and select Lisa Grubka where available. UTA requires the first 15 pages of any manuscript or book proposal and asks writers not to query multiple UTA literary agents.

Fiction, book club fiction, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, horror, mystery, crime fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, underrepresented voices

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

Logan Harper is a staff agent at Jane Rotrosen Agency. She is seeking a wide range of character-driven fiction and is particularly drawn to book club fiction, contemporary romance and romantic comedies, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, horror, mystery and crime, upmarket fiction, and literary fiction. She is eager to read and champion underrepresented voices and perspectives.

Email Logan Harper at lharper@janerotrosen.com and include all material in the body of the email with no attachments. JRA submissions guidance asks writers to query one agent only and to include a concise description, relevant biographical information, previous publishing history, and, for fiction, a synopsis and the first 3 chapters.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, medical suspense, legal thrillers, women protagonists, biography, memoir, history, psychology, health, self-improvement, business, entrepreneurship, management, finance, business parables

Wants: Query letter, proposal, book proposal, overview, author platform, marketing plan, comparative works, chapter summaries, sample chapters

Margret McBride is interested in a wide range of commercial and literary fiction and nonfiction, historical fiction, medical suspense, legal thrillers, and stories featuring strong female protagonists. Her nonfiction interests include biography, memoir, history, psychology, health, self-improvement, and business, especially entrepreneurship, management, and finance, with a particular weakness for perfectly executed business parables.

Submit to Margret McBride through her official QueryTracker or QueryManager link. The agency asks writers to query only one agent at a time. For nonfiction, send a complete polished proposal with overview, author platform, promotion or marketing plan, comparative works, chapter summaries, and at least 2 sample chapters.

Literary fiction, nonfiction, progressive politics, alternative medicine, science and technology, social commentary, american history, american culture, stage and screen writers who also write books

Wants: Query letter, first few pages, opening chapter, book proposal

Mary Evans founded Mary Evans Inc. after seventeen years at a literary agency and earlier work at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Viking. Her interests include great literature and nonfiction that describes or reveals formerly unknown or obscure worlds. She is particularly interested in progressive politics, alternative medicine, science and technology for the lay reader, social commentary, American history and culture, and anything that is a great read.

Mary Evans Inc. accepts email queries at info@maryevansinc.com and also accepts mail submissions with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Query only one Mary Evans Inc. agent at a time. Include query in the subject line, a brief letter about the book with genre, summary or synopsis, word count, and a bit about your writing background. For fiction, include the first few pages or opening chapter as a single Word attachment. For nonfiction, include the book proposal as a single Word attachment.

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.

Adult fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, horror, memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice, cultural criticism, true crime, essay collections

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Meredith represents adult fiction and nonfiction, including transportive fiction, dark or darkly humorous stories, thriller/speculative/horror elements, voice-driven memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice writing, cultural criticism, true crime, and essays about race, class, and identity.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query route and select Meredith Miller where available. Do not query multiple UTA literary agents simultaneously.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, food, lifestyle, pop culture, history, business, big ideas, self-help, wellness, parenting, children's books, picture books, middle grade, young adult

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Neeti Madan is a partner at Sterling Lord Literistic. Her list includes literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and select lifestyle, food, pop culture, history, business, big idea, self-help, wellness, and parenting projects. She is interested in voice-driven fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, books with a strong platform or expertise, and work for young readers from picture books through YA.

Submit through Sterling Lord Literistic's official submissions page and select Neeti Madan if the form offers an agent choice. SLL uses its online submissions portal rather than email queries. Include the requested query materials and follow the instructions in the portal.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, narrative nonfiction, business, self-development, history, true crime, pop culture, humor, sports

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Peter represents commercial and literary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, young adult, narrative nonfiction, business, self-development, history, true crime, pop culture, humor, and sports.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query route and select Peter Steinberg where available. Do not query multiple UTA literary agents simultaneously.

Fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, short story collections, narrative nonfiction, memoir, essay collections, historical fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, young adult, diverse voices, immigrant stories, race, sexuality, cross-cultural themes, identity

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, sample chapter

Rayhane Sanders is a literary agent at Massie & McQuilkin. She specializes in fiction from commercial to literary, including short story collections, narrative nonfiction, and memoir, including proposals and essay collections. MMQA also says she is interested in literary fiction, historical fiction, upmarket commercial fiction including select YA, narrative nonfiction including essays, and select memoir, especially a diversity of voices from around the world, fresh voices, immigrant tales, and stories concerned with race, sexuality, cross-cultural themes, and identity.

Email Rayhane Sanders directly at rayhane@mmqalit.com. Send the first 10 pages of the manuscript, or for a proposal the sample chapter, copied and pasted at the bottom of the query email with no attachments. She responds only to queries she is interested in pursuing, if you have not heard back within 4-6 weeks, the project is not a fit.

Narrative nonfiction, speculative fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, children's books, commercial fiction, family saga, fantasy, graphic novels, historical fiction, humor, lgbtq and, literary middle grade, literary young adult, romance, science fiction, short stories, food, history, journalism, memoir, nature, pop culture, psychology, science, technology

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

Renée is seeking narrative nonfiction, adult speculative, upmarket, and literary fiction, and children's books. She is interested in work centering POC and LGBTQIA+ voices and is particularly drawn to Black writers across the African diaspora. Her current QueryManager genres span adult fiction, children's categories, and nonfiction including arts, culture, food, history, journalism, memoir, nature, pop culture, psychology, science, technology, and travel.

Submit through Renée Jarvis's QueryManager route. The current form asks for a query letter with bio, synopsis, AI disclosure, and the first 30 pages for fiction or a full proposal for nonfiction.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, history, biography, art history, cultural criticism, poetry

Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages

Rob McQuilkin is a partner at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. He specializes in fiction, memoir, history, cultural criticism, and poetry; MMQA's contact page says he focuses on literary fiction as well as narrative nonfiction and nonfiction in memoir, history, biography, art history, and cultural criticism.

Email a query to the attention of Rob McQuilkin at info@mmqalit.com. Include Query in the subject line, a brief description of the project, relevant personal or professional information, and the first 5-10 pages pasted into the body of the email. Query only one MMQA agent at a time, if one agent passes, you may query another. MMQA accepts electronic submissions only and does not represent screenplays.

Literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translation, narrative nonfiction, international fiction

Wants: Query letter, reading material

Sandra Pareja is an agent at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. She is looking for authentic, unconventional literary voices in fiction, nonfiction, and sometimes poetry. She reads and edits in English, Spanish, and Italian at a native level, can tackle manuscripts in French, Portuguese, and Catalan, and will consider works from other languages if attached to an English translator. Her official profile says she specializes in groundbreaking literary fiction from Spanish, English, French, and Italian and has an eye out for ambitious narrative nonfiction.

Email Sandra Pareja directly at sandra@mmqalit.com and strive to include as much reading material as possible. MMQA accepts electronic submissions only, does not represent screenplays, and asks writers not to query more than one agent at the agency at one time.

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

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

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

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

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, speculative fiction, psychological suspense, environmental fiction, feminist fiction

Wants: Online form submission

Sarah Bedingfield is Senior Agent at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She reads most types of literary and upmarket commercial fiction, especially works with powerful imagination, revelatory character arcs, compulsive plotting, unpredictable points of view, timeless themes, motherhood, human connection, feminist issues, light speculative elements, darker can't-look-away tension, wild and unexpected settings, nature or environment, and voices that need to be heard. She does not typically represent fantasy or science fiction but is interested in grounded approaches to what might be off about our world.

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency's official online submission form linked from the official submissions page.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, nonfiction, science writing, memoir, history, cultural criticism, journalism

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Sarah represents literary and upmarket fiction and a wide range of nonfiction, including science writing, literary memoir, revisionist history, cultural criticism, and urgent journalism.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query route and select Sarah Fuentes where available. Do not query multiple UTA literary agents simultaneously.

Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, investigative journalism, cultural criticism, sociology, psychology, history, politics, science, technology, social justice, memoir, essays, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, fabulism

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Sonali Chanchani is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management, focusing primarily on nonfiction that advances current social and cultural conversations and centers historically underrepresented voices and perspectives. She represents narrative and idea-driven nonfiction, especially investigative journalism, cultural criticism, deeply researched paradigm-shifting work in sociology, psychology, history, politics, science, technology, and social justice, plus memoirs and essay collections that speak to larger social concerns. She also represents select literary and upmarket fiction, especially novels engaging contemporary social and cultural issues, atmospheric stories with speculative or fabulist twists, emotional insight with humor, and themes of identity, belonging, community, and inheritance.

Email Sonali Chanchani at sonali@foliolit.com with a query letter and the first 10 pages of the proposal for nonfiction or manuscript for fiction pasted in the body of the email. Include QUERY and the title of the project in the subject line.

Literary fiction, international fiction, voice-driven fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, topical nonfiction, women's voices, global perspectives, class issues, race issues, picture books, middle grade, lifestyle, food writing, wine writing, design, pop culture, craft, gift books, humor

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, first twenty pages, contact form

Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank founded Fairbank Literary Representation. The agency tastes tend toward literary and international fiction, voice-driven novels with a strong sense of place, big memoir that goes beyond the me-moir, topical or narrative nonfiction with women's voices, global perspectives, class and race issues, children's picture books and middle grade from illustrator/artists only, quality lifestyle books such as food, wine, and design, pop culture, craft, gift books, and humor. The agency is most likely to pick up works of social or cultural significance, newsworthy work, or work that gives delight in the words, images, or ideas on the page.

Email queries to queries@fairbankliterary.com or use the official Fairbank Literary contact form. Paste the first 10 pages of the work below the query. Do not attach files unless you are a children's illustrator. Mail queries may include up to the first 20 pages, but phone queries are not accepted.

Adult fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, literary thriller, historical fiction, psychological suspense, speculative fiction, memoir

Wants: Querymanager submission

Stephanie Delman is Founding Partner and Literary Agent at Trellis Literary Management. She focuses on adult fiction: stylish writing, high-stakes and high-concept literary thrillers, upmarket fiction, sweeping and underrepresented historical fiction, psychologically propulsive suspense, maximalist storytelling in ambition rather than word count, and literary novels that play with genre. She likes fiction grounded in reality but tinged with surrealism or horror, books that are many things at once, projects using gothic traditions or speculative elements to upend narrative conventions, and work with tenderness, vulnerability, and humor. A small part of her list is braided or speculative memoir by authors with established platforms and diverse perspectives.

Submit through Stephanie Delman's official Trellis linked QueryManager form. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager, asks writers to choose the best-fitting agent and follow that agent's QueryManager instructions, and asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review period.

Literary fiction, graphic novels, serious nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, history, philosophy, current affairs, literary studies, cultural studies, biography, memoir, music, photography, racial justice, economic justice, international writing

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, short story, proposal

Stephanie Steiker is an agent at Regal Hoffmann & Associates. She is open to submissions in serious and narrative nonfiction as well as literary fiction, including graphic novels. In nonfiction, her interests are history, philosophy, current affairs, literary and cultural studies, biography and memoir, music, photography, and issues of racial and economic justice. She is enthusiastic about international writing, reads in French, Spanish, and Polish, and likes prose written by poets.

Email Stephanie Steiker at stephanie@rhaliterary.com. Regal Hoffmann asks for electronic submissions with a query letter describing the book, qualifications, and why the writer is querying that agent. For fiction, include a synopsis and the first 10 pages of a novel or one short story from a collection in the body of the email. For nonfiction, include a synopsis in the body of the email and, if available, attach a clearly labeled full proposal.

Adult fiction, children's books, literary suspense, family saga, nonfiction, young adult, middle grade, coming of age, romance, fantasy, suspense, picture books, children's nonfiction

Wants: Pitch, bio, synopsis, first five pages, full picture book text, illustration samples

Tanusri Prasanna represents compelling new voices in adult and children's books. In fiction she is specifically interested in literary suspense and multigenerational family sagas, and welcomes diverse perspectives, contexts, and storytelling styles. She also looks for select accessible and wide-reaching nonfiction that helps make sense of our times. In YA and middle grade she is drawn to contemporary coming-of-age stories, charming and relatable romances, ambitious world-building fantasies, well-plotted voice-driven suspense, and stories set in schools or interesting neighborhoods told from fresh viewpoints. For picture books, she likes meaningful and lyrical stories as well as books that bring alive the wonder and complexity of the world with humor and heart, and she is interested in select nonfiction for young readers.

Email Tanusri Prasanna at tpsubmissions@defliterary.com. For adult fiction and YA or MG projects, include the pitch and bio, a short synopsis under 1 page, and the first 5 pages pasted in the body of the email. For picture books, include the entire text in the body of the email. For illustrated projects, provide sample illustrations and links to a website or Instagram page.

Upmarket fiction, literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, horror, magical realism, camp, kitsch, middle grade, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first ten to fifteen pages, proposal

Tess Weitzner is Rights Director and Agent at Frances Goldin Literary Agency. She is primarily looking for upmarket fiction, literary fiction, and narrative nonfiction narrow and deep in scope that might use unreliable narrators, interrogations of power and violence, reclamations of identity, or dark-as-night humor. Fresh takes on horror, magical realism, camp, and kitsch are welcome. In children's books she is looking for contemporary middle grade and YA stories that are fun, engaging, seemingly quiet, and crack open larger questions or underrepresented experiences. She is not accepting science fiction, fantasy, or picture books at this time.

Email Tess Weitzner at tw@goldinlit.com. Frances Goldin asks writers to submit to only one agency agent at a time. For fiction, memoir, essays, or narrative nonfiction, send a query letter and the first 10-15 pages in the body of the email. For other nonfiction, send a query letter and attach a proposal if one is prepared. Submissions must be original author work and not generated or co-written using AI tools.