Literary Agents Open to Submissions

Commercial fiction, commercial non-fiction, food writing, cookery, memoir, biography, true crime, lifestyle, health, parenting

Wants: Commercial non-fiction and fiction, with focus on health and cookery (agency focus). submissions start with a brief email explaining book and target audience; no attachments.

Commercial non-fiction, food writing and cookery, memoir, biography, true crime, lifestyle, health, parenting, and commercial fiction

Brief email explaining book and target audience, no attachments initially

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, thrillers, mysteries

Literary fiction, narrative non-fiction (current affairs etc), and high-quality thrillers and mysteries

Email submissions directly to amd@theampersandagency.co.uk

Fiction

Commercial and literary fiction. Not: children's fiction, poetry, short stories, fantasy, science fiction, or horror

Email first three chapters, a synopsis of approximately one page, and a cover letter including your phone number, address, and any relevant personal information to teresachris@litagency.co.uk

Non-fiction writers and presenters

Bold voices from untraditional spaces, broad non-fiction with particular interest in politics, parenting, activism and memoir; clients across media including writing, broadcasting, live events and commercial opportunities

Email - nlucas@unitedagents.co.uk

Visit agent's website for details

See source page for more info

Query Stephanie

Fiction, nonfiction, commercial fiction, book club fiction, thriller, literary memoir, narrative nonfiction, commercial nonfiction, cookery, food writing

Wants: Non-fiction that informs understanding of world/society; life writing; topical/essayistic; cookery/food; experts writing accessibly. fiction: 'what if' novels; incisive/witty; moral dilemmas; fun romantic reads. not children/YA; not historical fiction; not adult sf/fantasy

Sile Edwards is a literary agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates building a list across adult fiction and non-fiction, with a focus on perspectives that have historically been excluded from the mainstream. She has worked on cookery and food writing, literary memoir, historical biography, commercial non-fiction, contemporary and commercial fiction, and thriller. She is not the right agent for children's or young adult writing, or for adult historical fiction, science fiction or fantasy.

Submit through the Andrew Nurnberg Associates submissions page and follow the agency guidelines, naming Sile Edwards as your chosen agent. Do not approach the agency generally.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, young adult, pop culture, select non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, first five pages

She seeks compelling stories with clear concepts, fresh voices and emotional heart that grab readers from the first page. She is especially interested in emerging writers and underrepresented voices, looking to develop long-term relationships.

Email a brief query letter containing information about your book, your bio, and the first five pages in the body of the email. Include the word 'query' and your book title in the subject line.

Visit agent's website for details

Anna Dawson is a junior agent currently building her own list of authors. She also looks after audio rights and permissions, as well as managing the agency's social media.

Email submissions to adawson@johnsonandalcock.co.uk

Children's fiction

Children's fiction from emerging readers to YA/crossover (not picture books)

Email the full manuscript as a Word document, a one-page synopsis, and a covering email to submissions@skylark-literary.com. Submissions by email only.

Literary fiction, book club fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, cookery, feminist fiction, feminist nonfiction

Wants: Literary/book club/upmarket commercial fiction; historical and women's fiction; open to speculative and romance crossovers; non-fiction that surprises/challenges; cookery/food writing; feminist narratives; underrepresented voices. not seeking children's/YA, crime, thriller or horror.

Laurie Robertson is an agent at Peters Fraser and Dunlop building a list of adult fiction and non-fiction. She is actively looking for literary, book club and upmarket commercial fiction with strong original voices, uplifting narratives, clever storytelling, strong emotional hooks and complex characters. On non-fiction she wants stories that surprise and challenge, narrative non-fiction that reads like fiction, and cookery from food writers who can transport the reader. She is always keen on feminist narratives across fiction and non-fiction and on voices from underrepresented backgrounds. She is not currently looking for children's or young adult, crime, thriller or horror.

Email one agent or assistant only, include a cover letter, full synopsis, and first 3 chapters or approximately 50 pages for fiction, or a detailed proposal for non-fiction. Find contact details at https://petersfraserdunlop.com or our-team/

Non-fiction

Wants: Query letter

Laurie strives to maintain an eclectic list that spans history, science, nature, sports, adventure and the outdoors, health and wellness, self-improvement, investigative journalism, big ideas, women's studies, pop culture, food, technology, the traditional past and speculative future, and the offbeat. She is very interested in working with people of color and those from historically marginalized communities who are writing on these topics. She also represents a select group of artists.

Send a brief email describing you and your project to Laurie@defliterary.com. Please include the word "query" and your book title in the subject line. Attachments will not be opened unless requested. Submissions do not need to be exclusive.

Fiction, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, biography, first five pages

She gravitates towards fiction with memorable characters, captivating voices, and original plotting, and relishes a great page-turner as much as a literary masterpiece. She is intrigued by a wide range of nonfiction, from narrative to practical, especially focusing on lifestyle, parenting, women's issues, and memoirs that exhibit quirky perspectives. She does not work with science fiction, horror, romance, or paranormal novels.

Please email at Caryn@defliterary.com, using the word 'Query' and your book's title in the subject line. Please include a brief, compelling description of the book in the email, along with a short bio, and for fiction and memoir, please include the first five pages of the manuscript in the body of the email. Attachments will not be opened unless requested.

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: literary and speculative (and overlap), all adult/YA fiction (not below YA). Non-fiction: untold/unknown stories, expert insights, narrative/serious non-fiction

Email - submissions@appletreeliterary.com

Adult fiction, young adult fiction, non-fiction, children's literature

Synopsis, Sample Pages

Complete a form available on genre submission pages for fiction, nonfiction, children's or Young Adult, and photography or illustration. Submit a synopsis and first fifty pages or first three chapters for fiction, proposal for nonfiction.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Short, punchy picture books that are humorous and have a strong marketing hook. Non-fiction picture books, especially biographies or stories with a historical angle. Literary and commercial middle-grade and Young Adult across all time periods and genres.

Submit a query letter, three chapters and a brief synopsis in a single document. For picture books, submit the entire manuscript. Use the online submission form and select Rachel Orr as your agent.

Adult commercial fiction, young women's fiction, contemporary fiction with magic, mystery, thriller, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter, first chapter, first 10 pages

Melissa is always interested in developing her adult commercial fiction list, with a particular eye out for vibrant and fun young women's fiction, stories with magic, mysteries and thrillers by authors from underrepresented backgrounds, and upmarket book club fiction.

Review individual agent biographies and submit query addressed to one agent at submissions@stonesong.com. Include the word "query" in subject line. For fiction, include first chapter or first 10 pages pasted into email body. Do not send attachments.

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, thought leadership, health, wellness, spirituality, science, psychology, culture, business

Wants: Query letter, proposal

Rachel works with original visionaries, culture-shifters, and thought leaders on nonfiction narrative projects and memoir, with emphasis on books that create broad cultural impact.

Submit nonfiction narrative projects and memoir through Wave Literary's QueryTracker form. Wave does not read screenplays or poetry and replies only if interested in exploring further.

Art, history, mind, body, spirit

Wants: Query letter

She is particularly interested in art, history, and mind/body/spirit titles.

Submit query addressed to Ellen Scordato at submissions@stonesong.com. Include the word 'query' in the subject line. For fiction, include first chapter or first 10 pages pasted into email body. For nonfiction, include bio, credentials, social media analytics, previous publications, and media information. Do not send attachments.

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

Wants: Pdf portfolio, website link, art samples

Artists for children's illustration projects, especially work that connects clients and artists for education and religion publishing.

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.

Commercial fiction, young adult, adult fiction, romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, dystopian, horror, thriller, cozy fantasy, romantasy, gothic horror, folk horror, psychological thriller, new adult, neurodivergent voices, disabled voices

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, comparable titles

Olivia specializes in commercial fiction for young adult and adult audiences. She is looking for romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, dystopian, horror, thriller, cozy fantasy, romantasy, nautical fantasy, gothic horror, folk horror, mythological retellings, psychological thrillers, genre-blending manuscripts, and speculative twists, with special interest in work from neurodivergent and disabled authors.

Submit through Olivia Emerick's QueryManager route. The current form asks for a query letter, one-paragraph pitch, target audience, comparable books, AI disclosure, publication status, and the first five pages uploaded as a file.

Nonfiction, true crime, pop culture, humor, gift books, music books, unique histories, business, celebrity, cookbooks, cultural and social issues, food, health and fitness, home decorating and design, how-to, journalism, lgbtq and, lifestyle, pets, self-help, women's issues

Wants: Query letter, book proposal, overview, author bio, market analysis, promotion plan, competitive analysis, table of contents, chapter abstracts, sample chapters, first twenty pages

Lindsey Smith is a literary agent and head of licensing and new ventures at Speilburg Literary Agency. She represents a wide range of nonfiction and especially loves true crime, pop culture, humor, gift books, music books, unique histories, and anything weird and wonderful.

Submit through Lindsey Smith's official linked QueryTracker or QueryManager form. For nonfiction, include a query letter and proposal with overview, author information, market analysis, promotion plan, competitive analysis, table of contents, chapter abstracts, and sample chapters. After submitting to Lindsey, wait for a response before querying another Speilburg agent.

Illustrators, children's illustration, middle grade, non-fiction, poetry

Wants: Pdf portfolio, website link, art samples

Artists and visual storytellers for children's books, with a background in Middle Grade fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and illustrated storytelling.

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, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Doug has been an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic since 2003. His list consists of fiction and narrative nonfiction for all ages, ranging from literary to commercial work.

Submit through Sterling Lord Literistic's submissions page and choose only one SLL agent to query. The agency says it can only respond if interested in seeing more material.

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.

Fiction, children's books, nonfiction, thriller, suspense, historical fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction, young adult, middle grade, romantasy, memoir, cookery, lifestyle, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Covering letter, synopsis, first three chapters, first fifty pages, outline, sample chapter, bio

Hellie Ogden is co-head of WME UK Books and represents fiction, children's books, and nonfiction. She is actively taking on new clients and wants bold storytelling, moving prose, vivid thought-provoking characters, standout debut work, high-concept thrillers and suspense with fresh hooks and daring twists, historical fiction with original courageous ideas, page-turning literary fiction about millennial experience, nostalgia, sexuality and family complexities, upmarket book club fiction with commercial hooks, female-led mysteries, emotionally deep fiction, YA with big heart and voice, romantasy, middle grade adventure with magic, memoir, standout cookery, lifestyle writers, moving narrative nonfiction, and work with social following and cross-media potential.

Submit through Hellie Ogden's official WME profile or query button. Include the author full name and work title in the email subject line. Fiction submissions should include a covering letter, synopsis, and either the first three chapters or first fifty pages. Nonfiction submissions should include a covering letter, full chapter outline, and if possible a sample chapter. Include a bio with all submissions. Query one WME agent at a time.

Children's, young adult, romance, science fiction, fantasy, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, sample pages

She enjoys clever, heartfelt, and commercial middle grade and Young Adult in prose or graphic novel format across genres. In adult science fiction and fantasy, she seeks contemporary fantasy, near future science fiction, and romantic fantasy. She's drawn to character-driven stories about family and friendships from diverse protagonists, especially those passionate about arts, STEM, activism, and geeky fandoms.

Submit through QueryMe.Online or thaole platform. Do not send queries to multiple agents at SDLA. Include query letter, 1-page synopsis, brief bio with publishing history, and first 10-15 pages for fiction.

Fiction, history, biography, environmental issues, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages

Neil Olson is an agent at Massie McQuilkin & Altman. He has been in publishing for more than 30 years and is primarily interested in fiction, history, biography, and environmental issues.

Email Neil Olson at neil@mmqalit.com. Include Query in the subject line, a query letter that briefly describes 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, memoir, narrative nonfiction, cultural history

Wants: Query letter, first five to ten pages

Maria Massie is a partner at Massie McQuilkin & Altman and specializes in literary fiction, memoir, and cultural history. MMQA's contact page says Maria seeks literary fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction and will not accept commercial fiction or YA.

Email a query to the attention of Maria Massie 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.

Nonfiction, illustrated books, fashion, biography, autobiography, crafts, health, cookery, children's picture books, history, natural history, popular culture, true crime, select fiction, illustrators

Wants: Publishing history, CV, synopsis, three sample chapters

Isabel Atherton is an experienced literary agent and founder of Creative Authors. The agency represents commercially strong titles in fashion, biography especially music, autobiography, crafts, health, cookery, children's picture books, history, natural history, popular culture, true crime, select fiction, and illustrators. Creative Authors is not currently looking for new fiction clients but is considering well-crafted nonfiction and illustrated books. It is not looking for fantasy, science fiction, poetry, short stories, plays, scripts, or fiction at present.

Submit through the Creative Authors Join Us form with publishing history and CV, synopsis, and three sample chapters. Creative Authors does not accept paper submissions, does not charge a reading fee, and asks writers not to telephone about unsolicited submissions.

Adult science fiction, adult fantasy, adult horror

Wants: First six chapters, genre comparisons, project paragraph

John Jarrold acts as a literary agent for over forty authors. The agency specialises in representing science fiction, fantasy, and horror novelists for the adult market. It is not taking on clients in other fiction or nonfiction areas, YA, children's fiction, or screenwriting.

Email the first six chapters as a Word document attachment using the address shown on the official John Jarrold site. Include one paragraph about the work and comparisons with two or three recently successful authors in the same genre. The agency charges no reading fee and is always open for submissions. Follow up by email if the submission is not dealt with in two weeks.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, narrative memoir, family saga, high society fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, contemporary fiction, upmarket suspense, psychological thriller, postcolonial fiction, translated fiction, classical retellings

Wants: Cover letter, synopsis, first three chapters, first ten thousand words, proposal, writing sample

Rachel Yeoh is a literary agent building a list in literary, upmarket, and book club fiction, as well as select narrative nonfiction. She is actively looking for literary, upmarket, book club, global stories, human experience, social critique, class conflict, speculative fiction, family sagas, contemporary fiction, upmarket suspense, psychological thriller, postcolonial literature, translated fiction, classical retellings, and narrative memoir.

Submit through the relevant Madeleine Milburn online form and select Rachel Yeoh where available. Adult fiction submissions require a cover letter pasted into the form and one attachment containing a one-page synopsis plus the first three chapters or first 10,000 words. Nonfiction submissions require a cover letter and one document containing a 5,000 to 10,000 word sample and proposal. Do not submit by post or directly to email addresses.

Literary fiction and non-fiction (international or translated)

Voice-led literary fiction and non-fiction that cross borders, plays with form/genre, open to submissions in all languages

Synopsis and bio in English preferred

Children's fiction, children's nonfiction, young adult, middle grade, picture books, illustrators

Wants: Covering letter, brief pitch, first three chapters, synopsis, complete picture book text, illustration samples

Becky Bagnell founded Lindsay Literary Agency. The agency specialises in writing for children, from picture books to Young Adult fiction and nonfiction for young people. It is currently open to submissions, particularly from diverse or underrepresented authors. It is full for picture book scripts, but actively looking for YA in any genre, middle grade with a strong concept or hook, epic middle-grade fantasy, younger 5-7 stories around 5,000 words, voice-led YA, high-concept YA, contemporary love stories, and romantasy.

Email info@lindsayliteraryagency.co.uk. For novels, attach the first three chapters and a single-page synopsis as two separate double-spaced Word documents, and put a covering letter in the email body with brief author information and a 2-3 sentence pitch. Picture book submissions should include a covering letter and complete story in Word format, illustrators should send small PDF samples and a link to online work. Postal submissions are not accepted.

Children's picture books, pop culture, cookbooks, gift books, general nonfiction, brand extensions, lifestyle or design books

Children's Picture Books, Pop Culture, Cookbooks, Gift Books, General Nonfiction, Brand Extensions, Lifestyle/Design Books. NOT interested in Memoirs or Medical/Reference. Typically Sports and Self-Help are not a good fit. Also does not represent Travel Books.

Use Query Manager submission form

Commercial fiction, nonfiction, education, self-help, business, technology, fantasy, science fiction, art, film, television, true crime, spirituality, religion

Wants: Query letter, sample chapter, author bio

Global Lion says it is accepting submissions for all genres, including commercial fiction and nonfiction, education, self-help, business, technology, fantasy, science fiction, interesting subjects, art, and making-of books on film and television.

Submit through the Global Lion site or query route with full name, preferred email, standard query letter including title, genre, word count and audience, a sample chapter of about 20 pages or chapter synopsis, a short author biography, and links to social media or website URLs if available. Global Lion accepts exclusive submissions only.

Young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, graphic novels, women's fiction, romance, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, psychological thriller, narrative nonfiction, biography, culture, social justice, history

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first five pages, comparable books, full nonfiction proposal, ai disclosure

Michelle Witte founded Mansion Street Literary Management and represents MG and YA fiction, graphic novels, adult fiction, and narrative nonfiction. In YA she is looking for rom-com, historical, science fiction and fantasy, horror, psychological thrillers, and mashups of those categories; in MG, fun voices in adventure, contemporary, mystery, humor, horror, speculative, science fiction and fantasy, plus select graphic novels. In adult fiction she seeks women's fiction, romance, and speculative work. For nonfiction she is interested in biographies, culture, social justice, and history with a fresh lens and a personal element.

Submit to Michelle Witte through the official QueryManager link on the Mansion Street submissions page. Her form asks for project details, query letter, synopsis, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 5 pages or a full proposal for nonfiction. Mansion Street says if you do not hear back within 8 weeks, consider it a pass.