US Literary fiction Literary Agents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, non-fiction, pop culture, criticism, fantasy

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Jessica represents fiction across the literary and commercial spectrum, journalistic nonfiction, and select pop culture and criticism. She is drawn to intimate narratives that examine complicated relationships, great love stories, immersive fantasy worlds, and propulsive plots grounded by unforgettable characters. In nonfiction, she seeks fresh, thoroughly-reported narratives that examine systemic injustice focusing on individuals impacted by climate change, women's rights, mental health, and race relations.

For fiction submissions, send an informative description, a brief synopsis and the first ten pages. For non-fiction submissions, send an informative description, a full outline, and the first ten pages of the manuscript. Please include the sample pages in the body of the email below your query. Please direct your submission to an individual agent.

Literary fiction, nonfiction

Bold, diverse voices in both fiction and nonfiction, particularly stories exploring strong or difficult women, unexpected narratives of place and identity, and the evolving ways we understand ourselves and one another. Also has a strong interest in food history, wine, and dance.

Submit through the Aevitas Creative Management contact and submissions form available on their website.

Debut fiction, mystery, new adult, paranormal fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, general fiction, literary fiction, parenting, advice, relationships

Wants: Query letter

Josi represents fiction and selected nonfiction, with interests including romance, dark romance, contemporary romance, fantasy/urban fantasy, paranormal, new adult, romantic suspense/crime, mystery, fresh perspectives, parenting, advice, and relationships.

Use Beck Literary Agency's Work With Us route or current submission form. Query materials should follow the current agency form instructions.

Literary fiction, nonfiction, cultural history, political nonfiction, hybrid memoir, literary criticism, biography, literature in translation

Wants: Query letter, bio, first five to ten pages

Elianna Kan represents international literary voices in any language, literary fiction, and literary nonfiction in English. She is particularly interested in voice-driven literary fiction and select nonfiction, including cultural history, political reportage, hybrid memoir, literary criticism, and biography. She reads and edits in English and Spanish and is a native Russian speaker, and is drawn to voice-driven narratives from underrepresented places.

Email queries directly to Elianna Kan at elianna@mmqalit.com. MMQA asks for a query letter briefly describing the project, relevant personal or professional information, the word Query in the subject line, and the first 5-10 pages pasted into the body of the email. Query only one MMQA agent at a time.

Literary fiction, reported nonfiction, popular history, memoir, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, first five to ten pages

Elias Altman specializes in sharp and moving narratives with psychological insight, timeless themes, and strong characters, including reported nonfiction by journalists, popular history by scholars, memoir by people who have really lived, and literary fiction by writers with precision, honesty, and heart.

Email queries to the attention of Elias Altman at info@mmqalit.com. MMQA asks for a query letter briefly describing the project, relevant personal or professional information, the word Query in the subject line, and the first 5-10 pages pasted into the body of the email. Query only one MMQA agent at a time.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, science, history, medicine, economics

Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages, synopsis

She seeks plot-driven literary and smart commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction across subjects including history, medicine, science, economics and women's issues. She looks for passion, erudition, and storytelling skill in every case.

Send query letter via email with full query in body, include first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction in email body. Query only one agent at agency at a time.

Nonfiction, fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, young adult

Tia Ikemoto is a CAA literary agent based in New York. She represents a diverse range of nonfiction and fiction across the commercial to literary spectrum. She is seeking fiction and nonfiction projects that resonate with a wide audience, and is drawn to compelling and propulsive storytelling, emotionally resonant narratives, and high-concept projects with unique hooks or fresh perspectives.

Use Tia Ikemoto's official CAA agent profile submission button or form. CAA says writers can find query instructions by clicking an agent profile and that open agents show a button or link on their profile to begin a submission.

Fiction, nonfiction, young adult, commercial fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, food, true crime, pop culture, history

Wants: Query letter

Lily represents fiction and nonfiction, including YA, from commercial to literary. She is actively looking for novels with strong hooks, propulsive plots, book club appeal, nuanced female perspectives, high-concept thrillers, speculative fiction, atmospheric settings, strange women in strange circumstances, and nonfiction on food, true crime, pop culture, and untold history with a feminist angle.

Submit through the Sterling Lord Literistic submissions form. The agency asks writers to complete the form by email and says it only responds if interested.

Literary fiction, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, upmarket women's fiction, food writing, cookbooks

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Elizabeth focuses on literary fiction, young adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, issue-based nonfiction, history, biography, food writing, cookbooks, memoir, and upmarket women's fiction.

Email a query letter to query@elizabethkaplanlit.com. Do not send attachments, fiction writers may paste the first ten pages into the body of the email. The agency replies only if interested.

Fiction, narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, lgbtqia and, bipoc voices

Wants: Query letter, comparable titles, author bio, opening sample pages

Liz Darhansoff founded Darhansoff & Verrill Literary Agents in 1975 and currently takes on select projects with an emphasis on fiction and narrative nonfiction. The agency seeks quality and idiosyncrasy in new projects and says it is a safe, supportive reader for LGBTQIA and BIPOC writers.

Email submissions to submissions@dvagency.com. Keep the query in the body of the email and do not send attachments or online links. Tell the agency about the book clearly and personally, where it would sit on shelves, comparable titles or authors, and a little about yourself, your writing history, and your professional background. The agency is happy to review a brief opening sample pasted in the email body, for essays or stories, limit the sample to 2 or 3 pieces.

Nonfiction, practical lifestyle, how-to, wellness, mindfulness, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, history, cultural criticism, ecology, food, social justice, illustrated books, literary estates

Wants: Query letter

Jenny represents award-winning nonfiction, including practical lifestyle and how-to projects, wellness and mindfulness, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction about history, cultural criticism, ecology and the natural world, food, and social justice. For adults and kids, she loves highly designed books that inform and inspire through text and image.

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.

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

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

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

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

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, nonfiction, literary criticism, essay collections, idea-driven nonfiction, technology, data, tennis

Wants: Query letter

Tyler is actively building a list of distinctive, voice-driven writers. He is drawn to literary and upmarket fiction with emotional depth and narrative momentum, and nonfiction centering marginalized voices, literary criticism, essay collections, ambitious idea-driven projects, data and its cultural implications, and tennis.

Submit through the Sterling Lord Literistic submissions form. The agency asks writers to complete the form by email and says it only responds if interested.

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

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

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

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

Fiction, narrative nonfiction, current affairs, memoir, food, culture, american west, literary fiction, thriller

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Bonnie represents writers of fiction and narrative nonfiction. She is looking for narrative nonfiction covering the natural world, current events, memoir, food and culture, and stories focused on the American West; in fiction her taste runs to literary, voice-driven and genre-bending fiction and smart thrillers.

Submit through Bonnie Nadell's official online query form. Do not query two Hill Nadell agents simultaneously. Hard-copy queries are also accepted with a query letter, first 10 pages, and SASE.

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

Wants: Query letter

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

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

Literary fiction, health nonfiction, young adult, short stories

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Ismita is seeking literary fiction, health-related nonfiction, YA, and short story collections. She is drawn to Southern settings, gritty realist writing, health or disability themes, and writing with a sense of humor.

Submit through Ismita's QueryManager form. Great Dog accepts queries only through QueryManager and asks writers not to query multiple Great Dog agents.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, memoir

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Chris represents literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, and memoir.

Direct your submission to an individual agent and send your material to submissions@janklow.com. For fiction: send an informative description, brief synopsis and first ten pages in the body of the email. For non-fiction: send an informative description, full outline, and first ten pages in the body of the email.

Popular history, science, narrative non-fiction, pop culture, memoir, literary fiction, horror, genre fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

He is actively acquiring popular history and science, narrative-driven nonfiction, smart pop culture, and outward-looking memoir. He seeks books that will shift paradigms, understanding of the world, and ourselves. In fiction he seeks select plot-driven literary and literary-crossover novels, particularly elevated horror or genre-inflected narratives.

For fiction submissions, send an informative description, a brief synopsis and the first ten pages. For non-fiction submissions, send an informative description, a full outline, and the first ten pages of the manuscript. Include sample pages in the body of the email below your query. Direct your submission to an individual agent.

Literary fiction, historical fiction, crime, mystery, thrillers, horror, women's fiction, romance, young adult fiction, memoirs, essays, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, brief sample in email body

Literary fiction; historical fiction; sophisticated genre (crime, mystery, thrillers, horror); upmarket character-rich women's fiction and smart romance; realism-based young adult fiction; memoirs, essays, and narrative nonfiction. Nonfiction interests include: music, sports, wellness, the natural world, animal welfare, feminism, true crime, sociology, and culture both pop and serious.

Submissions strictly via dedicated email address: submissions@dvagency.com

Nonfiction, cultural history, social history, popular science, philosophy, narrative nonfiction, memoir, investigative journalism, essays, cultural criticism, literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal

Allison Devereux leads Trellis Literary Management's nonfiction program. She is interested in cultural and social history, popular science, philosophy, deeply reported narrative, outward-facing memoir, investigative journalism, big idea books, essays and criticism, select illustrated projects, and select literary fiction by referral.

Submit through Allison Devereux's official QueryManager form. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager and asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window. Her form asks for author bio, why Trellis, title, word count, genre, query letter, comparable books, and the first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal.

Literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, audience statement

Anna Ghosh has wide and eclectic literary interests. She is particularly interested in literary narratives and books that illuminate some aspect of human endeavor or the natural world, and she is drawn to compelling storytelling in most guises. She does not typically represent genre fiction.

Send submissions to submissions@ghoshliterary.com with an email briefly introducing yourself and your work. Ghosh Literary says no specific format is required, but it is helpful to include qualifications for writing the book, including publications and recognition, who you expect to buy and read the book, and similar books and authors.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, general fiction, historical fiction, women's fiction, humor, drama

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages

Ritu is looking for kidlit, including picture books, middle grade and young adult novels; literary fiction such as drama, fairy tales and fiction in verse; general fiction including women's fiction, humor, realistic fiction, satire and tragedy; historical fiction, women's historical fiction, historical romantic fiction and historical fantasy.

Send a query letter and the first twenty pages of the manuscript to ritu@d4eo.com.

Adult fiction, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, historical fiction, grounded speculative fiction, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, mystery, adult nonfiction, spirituality, mind body spirit, food, agriculture, science, stem, natural living, animals, pets, community, culture, pop culture, health, wellness

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Carleen is building a list in adult fiction and nonfiction. In fiction she likes contemporary genres, upmarket or literary voices, commercial work, historical genre blends, grounded speculative stories, thrillers, suspense, horror, mysteries, and romance with a strong subplot. In nonfiction she is interested in niche topics with wide appeal, including spirituality, food, agriculture, science, natural living, animals, culture, pop culture, and health/wellness.

Submit through Carleen Geisler's QueryManager form. The form asks for a query letter, synopsis, genre, word count, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, publication history, and the first 10 pages, or a book outline for nonfiction.

Literary fiction, popular fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, cookbooks, current affairs, true crime, women's issues, men's issues, multicultural issues, global issues

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio

Andrea represents Spanish, Portuguese, and English-language authors. Indent is interested in literary and popular fiction, memoirs, narrative nonfiction, cookbooks, current affairs, true crime, women's and men's issues, and multicultural or global issues, with a primary focus on Latino and Latin American authors.

Email a query letter to info@indentagency.com. Include a 1-2 page synopsis, author information, publishing background if any, and contact information. Do not send a full manuscript unless requested.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, genre fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Jess is actively seeking compelling literary and commercial fiction, most genre fiction, and select young adult. She is probably not the right fit for nonfiction.

Send a query letter and the first ten pages of the manuscript to jess@d4eo.com.

Narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, illustrated books, biography, history, politics, public life, music, architecture, art, design, food, culinary culture, memoir, cultural criticism, counterculture, place-based writing

William Clark represents serious narrative nonfiction, select literary and upmarket fiction, and illustrated books with cultural authority by authors whose work combines narrative force, intellectual rigor, and a distinct point of view. He is especially drawn to biography, history, politics and public life, music, architecture, art and design, food and culinary culture, memoir with a larger lens, cultural criticism, counterculture, and place-based writing.

Representation queries are accepted only through the official representation-query form on the William Clark Associates website. They are not accepted by telephone, postal mail, or courier mail.

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.

Middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, general fiction, historical fiction, thriller, women's fiction, science, popular science, self-help, health, wellness

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

A.J. is seeking middle grade and YA in all genres, plus adult literary, general, historical, thriller, and women's fiction. They are drawn to books that merge literary sensibility with compelling plot and are also interested in fresh nonfiction ideas in science, popular science, self-help, and health/wellness from authors with platforms.

A.J. Van Belle is currently closed to queries, with conference pitches noted as an exception. When open, submit through the query route linked from their Booker Albert profile.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, memoir, biography, history, science narratives, medical narratives

Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages

Jane is interested in women's commercial fiction and big think non-fiction. She loves to read commercial and literary fiction, memoir, biography and history, with particular interest in current events, politics, legal subjects, science and medical narratives.

Send query letter via email with full query in body, include first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction in email body. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art as PDF attachments under 20MB.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, women's fiction, thriller, mystery, psychology, science, history, biography, diet, health, fitness, how-to, self-help, narrative non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, synopsis, first five pages

Harvey loves great adult commercial and literary fiction and nonfiction books with a strong narrative voice in all disciplines, written by authors who already have an established professional platform in their field of expertise.

Submit via email with a short synopsis of your work, an author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email. Do not send attachments.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, historical fiction, women's fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, first 5 pages

She is interested in a wide range of fiction and always on the lookout for underrepresented authors. In general, she loves quirky-off beat storytelling that can deliver heartfelt and thoughtful messaging, characters with richly developed relationships, and stories that center around a fantastical or often-overlooked setting.

Make your submission letter to the point and as brief as possible. Include a short synopsis of your work, an author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email, no attachments please. Do not query more than one agent at Harvey Klinger, Inc. at a time.

Literary fiction, psychological thrillers, poetry, children's books, narrative nonfiction, cookbooks

Wants: Query letter, brief sample in email body

Literary fiction, psychological thrillers, poetry, children's books, narrative nonfiction, and cookbooks

Submissions strictly via dedicated email address: submissions@dvagency.com

Literary fiction

Wants: Query form

Annie Hwang is an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary representing what she describes as literary fiction with teeth.

Submit to Annie Hwang through the Ayesha Pande Literary query form. Complete all required fields, do not submit to multiple APL agents simultaneously, and do not submit by mail. If no one responds within 8 weeks, writers may withdraw and submit to another APL agent, a no from one APL agent is a no from the entire agency.

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.

Debut fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, romance, general fiction, literary fiction, biography, film, television

Wants: Query letter, short bio, synopsis, chapter breakdown, first three chapters, book proposal

Priya represents fiction, nonfiction, authors, and screenwriters, with AALA-listed interests including debut fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, romance, general fiction, literary fiction, and biography.

Email submissions to contact@lotuslit.com with a short bio, query letter, brief synopsis, chapter breakdown, and first three chapters as a Word document. Nonfiction submissions should include a proposal and detailed information on competing books.