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US Historical fiction Literary Agents

157 agents · 92 currently open to submissions

Historical fiction spans everything from meticulously researched epics like Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy to commercial sagas set during World War II, making agent selection crucial for writers in this expansive category. At least 60 agents represent historical fiction, but their preferences vary significantly between literary historical novels, commercial women's historical fiction, historical romance, and historical mysteries or thrillers. Some focus on specific eras such as medieval Europe, the American Civil War, or twentieth-century conflicts, while others seek fresh perspectives on underexplored periods or voices. The category often overlaps with literary fiction when emphasizing prose and character development, or with commercial fiction when featuring faster pacing and broader appeal. Many agents appreciate historical fiction that connects past events to contemporary themes without heavy-handed parallels. When submitting, ensure your synopsis clearly establishes both the historical setting and the central conflict, as agents need to quickly assess both your research foundation and storytelling approach.

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Represents

Literary fiction, historical fiction, book club fiction, business, history, memoir, popular culture, science

Looking for

Narratives in business, history, memoir, popular culture, and science that offer insight and practical wisdom; literary and historical fiction; and books designed to help readers live more meaningful lives

How to submit

Submit queries through Aevitas Creative Management's contact and submissions form. Include standard query materials appropriate to your genre.

Last checked 28 Jun 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Literary fiction, international fiction, narrative nonfiction, historical biography, memoir, business, science

Looking for

Both seasoned authors and new voices in fiction and nonfiction. She specializes in literary fiction and has a soft spot in her heart for international fiction hailing from the homeland of authors like William Trevor, Edna O'Brien, and Zadie Smith, not to mention Rohinton Mistry, Mario Vargas Llosa and J.M. Coetzee and Nadine Gordimer. She is also interested in continuing to build a narrative nonfiction list in the genres of historical biography, memoir, business, and science

How to submit

Email: christina@unionliterary.com

Last checked 11 Jun 2026Via Email
Represents

Contemporary romance, historical fiction, cozy mysteries, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction

Looking for

Strong openings, engaging characters, unexpected twists, satisfying endings, lighter contemporary romance, non-WWII historical fiction, cozy mysteries, and heartwarming or entertaining middle grade.

How to submit

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

Last checked 8 Jun 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, adult fantasy, romance, diverse fantasy, rom-coms, historical romance

Looking for

Bethany is seeking middle grade and young adult fiction in all genres, as well as adult fantasy and romance. She is especially interested in diverse fantasy, rom-coms, and historical romance. Bethany is always looking for new voices and diverse perspectives.

Represents

Romance, historical fiction, book club fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, opening pages

Looking for

Christine is drawn to stories with high stakes and tension. The first pages must draw her in with action and curiosity. Lyrical writing, along with emotionality, physicality, and interiority, are all key components she looks for in a manuscript.

How to submit

Send a query letter with a synopsis of your book, your bio, and the opening 3 or 4 pages embedded in the body of your email. Do not send an attachment without a request to do so.

Last checked 3 Jun 2026Via Email
Represents

Science fiction, fantasy, horror, upmarket fiction, historical fiction

Looking for

Jordan is primarily pursuing genre and upmarket fiction for adults with a focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy and horror. She loves intergenerational stories that grapple with the complexities of families and culture through time and anything with an unreliable narrator or a speculative bent. She's always on the hunt for books that feature female wit and rage, bodies of water as foreboding, and eruptive moments of catharsis. She also considers historical fiction or retellings with a fresh approach and compelling perspective.

Represents

Fiction, nonfiction, young adult, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, mystery, suspense, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded science fiction, grounded fantasy, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, aapi voices, underrepresented voices, lgbtq and

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Looking for

Amy represents fiction, nonfiction, and YA. She is seeking upmarket and book club fiction, mystery or suspense elements, propulsive plots with beautiful writing, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded SFF by women of color, coming-of-age stories, global retellings, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, YA with murder and intrigue, immigrant stories, queer stories, girls working for justice, and light-hearted contemporary YA.

How to submit

Use the QueryManager route linked from Amy Bishop-Wycisk's Trellis profile and review her current wishlist before querying.

Last checked 26 May 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Cookbooks, investigative journalism, self-help, health, wellness, social science, popular science, culture, narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, literary mystery, magical realism, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, first chapter, first 10 pages, author platform

Looking for

Kim primarily specializes in nonfiction and is actively seeking expertise- or platform-driven cookbooks, investigative journalism, self-help, health, wellness, social science, pop science, culture, and narrative nonfiction that adds nuance or makes niche subjects accessible. On a highly selective basis, she also considers adult upmarket and literary fiction, including contemporary and historical realism, literary mystery, magical realism, and near-future science fiction.

How to submit

Stonesong accepts electronic queries at submissions@stonesong.com, but the current submissions page does not list Kim among the named query recipients. Verify current route before querying Kim.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Narrative nonfiction, military, sports, celebrity memoir, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, romance, music, style, business, home improvement, cookbooks, self-help, science, theater, fiction, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Doug represents a mix of fiction and nonfiction, including narrative nonfiction, military, sports, memoir, thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction, young adult fiction, romance, music, style, business, home improvement, cookbooks, self-help, science, theater, and general fiction/nonfiction.

How to submit

Query by email. Historical agency guidance lists query@dgliterary.com as the submissions address and asks writers not to send sample material unless requested.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, historical fiction, biography, history, narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, politics, current events, sports, economics, psychology

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Esmond represents fiction and nonfiction, with interests including literary and commercial fiction, historical fiction, biography, history, narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, politics/current events, sports, economics, and psychology.

How to submit

Aevitas provides a contact and submissions form for agency inquiries. Verify current availability before submitting because the agent profile does not publish a specific open-query status.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Business, health, politics, history, cookbooks, pop culture, jewish interest, lifestyle, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, romance, young adult, middle grade, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Irene's interests include business, health, politics and history, cookbooks, pop culture, Jewish interest, Francophilia, lifestyle, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romance, historical fiction, middle grade and young adult fiction.

How to submit

The official site has a contact form and states IGLA represents newcomers, but does not publish explicit current query guidelines.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Online Form

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