Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Authors and illustrators

Children's illustration and author-illustrator work

Online form - https://thebrightagency.com or uk or submissions or new?division=literary

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

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

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

Email sian@blakefriedmann.co.uk

Fiction, non-fiction, poetry

Popular science, investigative journalism, history, novels

Email submissions@janklow.co.uk with your name, the title of your work, and 'FAO Will Francis' in the subject line. Include a covering letter in the body of the email. For fiction, attach a synopsis and the first three chapters or first fifty pages. For non-fiction, attach a chapter-by-chapter outline and, if possible, a sample chapter. For poetry, attach a short pitch and 3-5 sample poems. Attachments should be in Word format, PDFs are acceptable. Do not include external links. Notify the agency if you receive a full manuscript request elsewhere.

Fiction and non-fiction

Crime fiction, unputdownable literary and commercial fiction, non-fiction that makes you think/question the world

Email submissions@lutyensrubinstein.co.uk with a covering letter, a short synopsis, and the first three chapters or up to 5,000 words. If you have a particular agent in mind, note this for Susannah Godman. No scripts, no postal submissions.

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

Wants: Query letter

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

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

Fiction and non-fiction

Literary and commercial fiction, children's and YA, non-fiction including memoir/biography, cookery, gardening, humour, history, lifestyle, mind-body-spirit, politics, popular science, psychology, travel

Email - submissions@sheilland.co.uk

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

Wants: Query letter

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

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

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

Wants: Query letter

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

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

Non-fiction, memoir, celebrity memoir, ghostwriting

Brings thirty-five years of editorial experience to help authors realise their vision. Background as an award-winning journalist, author of twenty-one books, and former Articles Editor at Mademoiselle. Has ghostwritten two number one New York Times bestsellers.

Online submission form

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

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

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

Fiction, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter

Mark Gottlieb is actively seeking submissions in all categories and genres and looks forward to bringing new and established authors to the curious minds of their future readers.

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

Commercial fiction, horror, thriller, suspense, romance, mystery, young adult, non-fiction, true crime, essays

Wants: Query letter

Kristen seeks commercial fiction including horror, thriller/suspense, and romance. She wants horror novels with dark twists, ghosts, and romance, plus young adult slashers. For mysteries/thrillers, she prefers ambiguous endings, contained whodunits, and surprising twists. In romance, she loves second chances, beach settings, and coming-of-age stories, plus crossover romance with fantastical elements. She also accepts respectful true crime and personal essay collections.

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

Literary fiction, thriller, young adult, memoir

Wants: Query letter

Great storytelling that gets into your head and heart, anything you can't stop thinking about. Books and stories that touch the soul, make you laugh or cry or both. Stories that haven't been told before or are told in a different way.

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

History, science, medical, politics, biography, literary fiction, poetry, theology

Wants: Query letter

Don roams widely in terms of subject areas and categories, but what catches his attention first is the author's voice. He is particularly drawn to historians, scientists, medical writers, political commentators, novelists, poets, and theologians.

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

Illustrators, children's illustration, educational publishing, religious publishing

Wants: Pdf portfolio, website link, art samples

Children's education and religion illustration projects, with a focus on pairing artists with children's publishing clients.

Use the official Bright submissions form. Illustrators should upload a PDF portfolio with at least 10 samples and a website or social media link. Author-illustrators should follow the relevant picture book or Middle Grade instructions and include art samples.

Illustrators, author-illustrators, children's illustration, picture books

Wants: Pdf portfolio, website link, art samples

Trade children's book illustrators and author-illustrators, with a focus on visual storytelling, portfolio development, and author-illustrated picture book stories.

Use the official Bright submissions form. Illustrators should upload a PDF portfolio with at least 10 samples and a website or social media link. Author-illustrators should follow the relevant picture book or Middle Grade instructions and include art samples.

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

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

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

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction

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

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

Non-fiction

See source page for more info

Submit work to submissions@aitkenalexander.co.uk, marking the subject line for the attention of one literary agent. For fiction, send the first three chapters or fifty pages together with a short synopsis as Microsoft Word compatible attachments, along with a cover letter including a book description, previous writing credits or qualifications if applicable, and a brief biographical note. For narrative non-fiction, send a short overview and up to ten thousand words of sample writing. For subject-led non-fiction, send a proposal of approximately five thousand words outlining the book and your credentials, along with no less than five thousand words of sample writing. Include details of simultaneous submissions or other agent interest. Ensure contact information is provided.

Children's books

Actively seeking new clients, MG adventure/series potential, YA romance and fantasy, horror/monster stories, contemporary teen, queer/found-family, SFF across YA/new adult (not grimdark)

Email - childrens@darleyanderson.com

Fiction, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

She is looking for the debut novel that is irresistible and non-fiction proposals which alter the way she sees the world. She describes herself as a fairly catholic, straight-ahead reader who doesn't flourish without well-rounded, declarative sentences.

Send query letter and 5 sample pages to only one agent, with the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject line. Do not include attachments - include all materials in the body of the email.

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.

Commercial, contemporary, family saga, genre-bending, horror, lgbtq and, literary, multicultural, mystery, offbeat, quirky, short stories, suspense, thriller, upmarket, women's fiction, cultural, social issues, current affairs, history, journalism, lifestyle, narrative, nature and ecology, politics, pop culture, psychology, relationship and dating, science and technology, women's issues

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

She seeks writers driven by curiosity and discovery, whether through formal inventiveness in fiction or rigorous investigative journalism. She is drawn to poets who have turned to prose and writers whose dexterity with language allows them to articulate emotions or sensibilities. She loves moody atmosphere, setting-as-character, and fantastical elements in literary and upmarket fiction, particularly when genre elements explore where language fails us.

Send query letter and 5 sample pages to only one agent with the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject line, or submit through Query Manager. Do not send attachments, include all materials in the body of the email.

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

Fiction, non-fiction

All genres with 'wow' factor, voice-driven/emotional, currently seeking an exquisitely written love story, not accepting children's/YA at present

Email submissions@mariannegunnoconnor.com with your name and book title in the subject line. For fiction, include a brief bio, three chapters or fifty pages if chapters are short, a synopsis, and a one-line summary. For non-fiction, send a full proposal and a sample chapter. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable but notify the agency if you receive interest elsewhere.

Adult and children's, picture books, illustrators

Adult and children's chapter books, picture books (text only), illustration

Chapter books: synopsis and first chapter (if under 3 chapters, send whole manuscript). Picture books: text only. Illustrators: samples

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.

Children's writers and illustrators (agent)

Strong, sharp storytelling with humour and adventure, not currently accepting picture book texts

Email

Fiction and non-fiction, estates

Fiction: originality/style, literary to commercial, imaginative setting, strong voice, compelling premise, active SFF list, high concept, intelligent crime/thrillers, genre-transcending. Not taking new YA/children's, no plays/film scripts. Non-fiction: politics, narrative history, sport, natural history, quirky memoir, popular culture, inventive angles

Email - ed@johnsonandalcock.co.uk

Visit agent's website for details

See source page for more info

Email the appropriate regional office with a concise cover letter (including contact details and relevant background), a brief synopsis, and either the first three chapters or a detailed proposal. French-language submissions go to paris@susannalea.com, UK, ANZ, and Commonwealth submissions to london@susannalea.com, North American submissions to ny@susannalea.com. Do not submit to more than one office. Postal and fax submissions are not accepted.

Fiction, non-fiction, memoir, popular science, historical fiction, crime, thrillers

See source page for more info

Send a submission package to london@susannalea.com. See the submissions page for more details on how to submit to the London office.

Fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, CV, first 3 chapters or 50 pages

Fiction and non-fiction, literary and commercial. He enjoys unexpected stories that transport him somewhere strange and wonderful. Specific fiction interests include strong commercial genre fiction, noir-ish thrillers, spy fiction, gritty crime, saga, romance and romantic comedy, alongside original reading-group fiction. In non-fiction, he seeks strong narrative voices in memoir and history, and big ideas or smart thinking that reveal the world or suggest how it could be different.

Email submissions@sheilland.co.uk with Piers Blofeld, the book's genre and title in the subject line. Submit one work at a time, mention other works in the cover letter and send your strongest. Include a concise typed cover letter with a short synopsis and a brief introduction explaining why and how long you have written and whether you write in other genres or categories. For non-fiction, explain your choice of subject and suitability to write it. For fiction, include a one-page synopsis covering the full story, significant twists and ending, for non-fiction, a brief outline covering the subject, market position and your qualifications. Include a short CV of relevant qualifications and previous publications, plus the first three chapters OR around 50 typed pages. Wait for a request before sending the full manuscript. Use at least 1.5 line spacing, margins and pagination. Give the actual word count for completed works or an estimated word count for proposals. For self-published work, state availability, copies sold and remaining rights or territories. Do not post original artwork or photographs. Submissions that have used AI technology are not accepted.

Personal development, professional development, health, medicine, business, science

Jeff represents authors sharing insights about personal and professional development, health and medicine, business, and the sciences. He seeks books that help readers grow by providing new knowledge, perspectives, and tools to change their lives.

Send a proposal and sample chapter by email to info@curiousmindsagency.com. The agency notes it cannot respond to every submission due to volume.

Fantasy, speculative fiction, romantasy, ya, adult fiction, satire

Safae represents adult, YA, and crossover fiction with a focus on fantasy, speculative fiction, romantasy, and satire. She is drawn to dynamic, voice-driven narratives that carry a sense of urgency—stories that are emotionally impactful with a strong hook and smart-mouthed dialogue. She enjoys both dark, gritty narratives and quirky, offbeat stories, as well as fresh spins on familiar tropes such as enemies-to-lovers, fake relationships, and forbidden love. She also supports translators working from languages of the Global Majority. She is not looking for poetry, short story collections, novellas, picture books, middle grade fiction, or memoirs.

Email: safae@rcwlitagency.com

Adult romance, adult romantic comedy, adult science fiction and fantasy, adult speculative, crossover romance, crossover romantic comedy, crossover science fiction and fantasy, crossover speculative, young adult science fiction and fantasy, young adult speculative

Wants: Query letter, first 5 pages

Allegra is only accepting queries from marginalized writers and represents romance, romcom, Science Fiction and Fantasy and speculative fiction across adult, crossover, and young adult categories.

Submit through QueryManager form with query letter, first 5 pages, and confirmation of marginalized writer status. Address query to Allegra without titles that could misgender.