US Narrative non-fiction Literary Agents

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, commercial fiction, literary fiction, poetry, self-help

Aemilia Phillips represents fiction and nonfiction, with interests in narrative nonfiction, hybrid memoir, commercial and literary fiction, select poetry, and self-help. She is excited by diverse writing with impactful stories, social justice issues, nonfiction that challenges how readers think, smart cultural critiques, complex characters, commercial projects with literary intelligence, and stories with a touch of magic.

Aemilia Phillips is currently closed to queries according to the official Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency submissions page.

Middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, creative nonfiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy, contemporary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Andrea Cascardi represents fiction and nonfiction for adult and children's authors and illustrators. Her official submissions page says she has broad taste but fiction needs an unforgettable voice, smart plotting, a big hook, and unique perspectives. She wants MG and YA with heart, humor, diverse characters, magical realism, pacy adventures, multilayered historical fiction, rom-coms, illustrated middle grade, graphic novels, MG nonfiction, graphic novel memoir, adult women's fiction, twentieth-century historical fiction, rom-coms with a twist, and contemporary fiction with voice, heart, and humor.

Andrea Cascardi is currently only open to submissions through professional referrals, writing conferences or contests she personally attends, and queries she requests through social media pitch events. If she requests a submission, send the first five pages embedded in the query. Her contact page states she is currently not open to submissions.

Literary fiction, horror, speculative fiction, historical fiction, historical fantasy, narrative nonfiction, essays, graphic novels, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, full synopsis, first three chapters, first twenty five pages, graphic novel spreads, graphic novel rough pages, portfolio

Anna Ange is a junior agent at Liza Dawson Associates. She is looking for adult literary and genre crossover, literary-forward novels with horror, speculative, or weird elements, true horror, queer historical fiction and historical fantasy before 1900, narrative nonfiction or essays on niche and surprising topics, adult graphic novels in fiction and nonfiction, and spooky or horror-adjacent middle grade prose or graphic novels.

Anna Ange is currently closed to queries as of 2025-10-10. When open, prose queries should be sent to queryanna@lizadawson.com with the query in the email body, a full synopsis in a Word document, and the first three chapters or 25 pages in a Word document. Graphic novel queries should include a query, full story synopsis, at least five completed spreads, and any rough pages available. Anna does not accept script-only graphic novel queries. Query only one Liza Dawson Associates agent at a time.

Literary fiction, women's fiction, mystery, thriller, narrative nonfiction, memoir, graphic memoir, psychology, self-help, popular culture, women's issues, history, biography, lifestyle, careers, health, medicine, parenting, cooking, nutrition, gardening, gift books

Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises is interested in literary fiction, upscale commercial women's fiction, voice-driven mysteries and thrillers, narrative nonfiction especially by journalists, travelogues, memoirs including graphic memoirs, social issues and trends, psychology, self-help, popular culture, women's issues, history and biography, lifestyle, careers, health and medicine, parenting, cooking and nutrition, gardening, and quirky gift books.

Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises is currently closed to submissions so the agency can focus on existing clients.

Literary fiction, fiction, memoir, biography, self-improvement, spirituality, contemporary issues, narrative nonfiction, nonfiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter

Cynthia Cannell Literary Agency represents fiction as well as memoir, biography, self-improvement, spirituality, and nonfiction on contemporary issues.

The agency contact page says it is not currently accepting unsolicited queries. The public contact email is info@cannellagency.com, but writers should not send unsolicited queries while closed.

Fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, genre fiction, graphic novels, narrative nonfiction, memoir, young adult, children's literature

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Dara represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including literary and genre fiction, graphic novels, narrative nonfiction, memoir, young adult, and children's literature. She is drawn to social issues, historically under-represented voices, found and chosen family, crossover appeal, high concepts, clever premises, and strong character development.

Dara is currently closed to queries. When open, submit through her official online query form. Do not query two Hill Nadell agents simultaneously.

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, graphic novels

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Wales Literary Agency represents narrative-driven nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, and graphic novels. The agency does not represent self-help, how-to, children's books, romance, general genre fiction, mysteries, or screenplays.

Wales Literary Agency is currently open to submissions by referral only.

Narrative nonfiction, historical fiction, young debut authors

Heather is particularly interested in narrative nonfiction, historical fiction, and young debut authors with strong voices.

Heather Mitchell is currently closed to queries. Gelfman Schneider says any queries not following current guidelines are deleted unread and that all listed agents are currently closed or referral-only.

Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, business, health, science, pop culture, current affairs, narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction

Wants: Personal recommendation only

Joëlle represents adult fiction and nonfiction. The agency no longer accepts children's books, YA, middle grade, picture books, screenplays, novellas or poetry.

Joelle Delbourgo Associates is currently closed to queries except through personal recommendation.

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, graphic novels

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Wales Literary Agency represents narrative-driven nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, literary fiction, and graphic novels.

Wales Literary Agency is currently open to submissions by referral only.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction

Penelope represents literary and commercial fiction in adult, YA, and middle grade, as well as some narrative nonfiction. She is looking for an engaging voice.

Penelope Burns is currently closed to queries. Gelfman Schneider says any queries not following current guidelines are deleted unread and that all listed agents are currently closed or referral-only.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, narrative nonfiction, serious nonfiction, literary fiction, magical realism, surrealism, experimental fiction

Wants: Query letter

Rachel has a list spanning picture book, middle grade, young adult, narrative and serious nonfiction, and literary fiction. She is drawn to unique voices, diverse perspectives, immersive settings, complicated family relationships, young protagonists, magical realism, surrealism and experimental style.

SLM lists Rachel as a junior agent, but the current submissions page only lists Jesseca, Eryn, Kate, Erika and Kristin as direct query recipients.

History, pop culture, science, memoir, investigative narrative nonfiction, issue-focused narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary thrillers, upmarket horror, family novels, coming of age

Sophie Brett-Chin is a Literary Associate at Folio Literary Management who is actively building her list. In nonfiction she is looking for history, pop culture, science, memoir, and investigative and issue-focused narrative nonfiction. In fiction she is drawn to propulsive plots that are beautiful on a technical and craft level, including upmarket and literary thrillers, upmarket horror that uses and subverts genre tropes to probe larger societal issues, and big-hearted novels about family or coming of age. Across genres she likes work that interrogates adolescence, especially teenage girlhood, as well as books about religion and ritual and books about the ocean. She is not looking for children's books at any level.

Sophie Brett-Chin is currently closed to unsolicited submissions according to her official Folio profile.

Narrative nonfiction, literary commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, legal thriller, psychological thriller, domestic thriller, biography, history, science, sports, travel

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Anne-Lise Spitzer is president of Spitzer Agency. Current public materials describe interest in narrative nonfiction from writers with diverse voices, literary commercial fiction, mysteries, legal, psychological, and domestic thrillers, plus biography, history, science, sports, and travel.

The Spitzer Agency site says it is not accepting new clients for representation at this time.

Book club fiction, literary fiction, nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction

Jamie Chambliss is drawn to literary and upmarket or book club fiction, and to narrative nonfiction, especially work dealing with food, pop culture, the quirks of human nature, stories within science and sports, and forgotten corners of history.

Jamie Chambliss is currently closed to queries according to her official Folio profile.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, biography

Joy Harris works primarily with literary fiction, strongly written commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction across a broad range of topics, memoir, and biography. She is drawn to a clear, original voice, an engaging point of view, and strong characters.

The Joy Harris Literary Agency is not accepting unsolicited submissions at this time according to its official contact page.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, new adult, adult fiction, illustrators, contemporary fiction, magical realism, fantasy, horror, romance, romantic comedy, romantasy, women's fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, spirituality, self-help, health and fitness, parenting, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships and dating, true crime, bipoc voices, lgbtq and voices

Lynnette Novak is an agent at The Seymour Agency. When she reopens, she is especially excited about BIPOC, diverse, and LGBTQ+ projects; illustrators for board books, picture books, illustrated MG, and illustrated covers; fiction and nonfiction picture books; MG contemporary, magical realism, contemporary or grounded fantasy, and horror; YA romcom, romantasy, fantasy, magical realism, and horror; NA contemporary romance, romcom, and romantasy; adult horror, dark romance, contemporary romance, romcom, romantasy, and women's fiction; and adult nonfiction including memoir, narrative, spirituality/New Age, self-help, health/fitness, parenting/family, motivational/inspirational, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships/dating, and true crime by experts with platforms.

Lynnette Novak is currently closed to all queries according to the official Seymour Agency about page. The page says to watch her MSWL page for updates when she reopens, but no current open official query route is listed.

Fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, book club fiction, thrillers, mystery, speculative fiction, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, big idea nonfiction, wellness, history, sports, collaborative writers

Mark Tavani is VP of Business Strategy and Literary Agent at the David Black Literary Agency. He represents both fiction and nonfiction. His fiction list includes a wide range of literary and commercial fiction, book club novels, thrillers, mysteries, speculative fiction, and historical fiction, especially fiction that entertains and enriches readers. In nonfiction, he represents work that illuminates or inspires and works with experts and journalists, especially in narrative nonfiction, big ideas, wellness, history, and sports. He also represents collaborative writers who partner with authors in those spaces.

Mark Tavani is not accepting unsolicited queries at this time according to his official David Black profile. The general David Black submissions page lists the agents currently accepting new queries, and Mark Tavani is not listed there.

Nonfiction, business, film and tv, food, health, journalism, lifestyle, narrative nonfiction, politics, pop culture, science, self-improvement, social justice, women's issues, fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, underrepresented voices

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages, full nonfiction proposal, ai disclosure

Matt Belford is a literary agent at The Rights Factory. He is primarily looking for nonfiction projects with unique takes and fresh ideas to explore. In adult science fiction and fantasy, as well as adult graphic novels, he is looking for character-driven work where he can laugh and cry with the characters. No matter the genre, he is looking for underrepresented voices. His listed interests include business, film/TV, food, health, journalism, lifestyle, narrative nonfiction, politics, pop culture, science, self-improvement, social justice, women's issues, fantasy, science fiction, and graphic novels.

Matt Belford's official Rights Factory profile says he is currently not accepting new queries. The profile links a QueryManager form, but the profile-level closed note is treated as controlling for this remediation. If he reopens, use the linked QueryManager form, The Rights Factory asks writers to query only one Rights Factory agent at a time.

Literary fiction, speculative fiction, mystery, crime fiction, thriller, history, narrative nonfiction, technology, science, psychology, design

Roz Foster is Senior Agent at Frances Goldin Literary Agency. She is drawn to contemporary literary fiction, especially literary speculative fiction, elevated mystery, crime, and thriller, dark stories with philosophical gravity, spare perceptive prose, and work with emotional and intellectual depth. In nonfiction she is interested in history, narrative nonfiction, technology, science, psychology, and design.

Roz Foster is currently closed to queries according to both her official profile and the official Frances Goldin submissions page.

Literary fiction, memoir, history, sociology, philosophy, cultural studies, journalism, current affairs, international affairs, narrative nonfiction, progressive nonfiction, graphic fiction, graphic nonfiction, environment, legal affairs, justice system, race, science history, technology history, food culture, food history, speculative fiction

Sam Stoloff is President and Principal at Frances Goldin Literary Agency. He is interested in books that advance public conversation on crucial issues and groundbreaking work, including literary fiction, memoir, history, accessible sociology and philosophy, cultural studies, serious journalism on contemporary and international affairs, and narrative and topical nonfiction with a progressive orientation. His interests include literary graphic fiction and nonfiction, environmental sustainability, legal affairs and the justice system, books that dissect the right wing and American imperialism, the history of race in America, the history of science and technology, food culture and history, and fiction ranging from psychologically realistic to first-rate speculative literature.

Sam Stoloff is not accepting unsolicited queries at this time according to his official Goldin profile and the official Frances Goldin submissions page.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, crime fiction, young adult, narrative nonfiction, science writing, business books, history

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Sandra represents adult commercial and literary fiction, mystery, thriller and crime fiction, YA, narrative nonfiction, accessible science writing, business books, and history.

Sandra Bond is closed to all queries, her client list is full.

Adult nonfiction, food writing, drink writing, health, medicine, wellness, narrative nonfiction, personal finance, business, memoir, essays, cultural criticism, pop culture, art, design, music, collaborative writing, cookbooks, leadership

Sarah Smith is President and Literary Agent at the David Black Literary Agency. She represents a wide list of critically acclaimed and commercially successful authors, including bestselling and award-winning nonfiction. She is interested in books that teach readers something new or offer a novel perspective, particularly food and drink, health, medicine, wellness, narrative nonfiction, personal finance, business, memoir, essays, and cultural criticism. She loves working with experts and is always interested in pop culture, art, design, music, the cultural zeitgeist, and collaborative writers who partner with authors on cookbooks, memoir, leadership books, and more.

Sarah Smith is not accepting unsolicited queries at this time according to her official David Black profile and the official David Black submissions page, which lists only other agents as currently accepting new queries.

Adult nonfiction, platform-driven nonfiction, big idea nonfiction, science, research, prescriptive nonfiction, current affairs, narrative nonfiction, health, fitness, wellness, business, psychology, history, social issues

Scott Hoffman is one of the founding partners of Folio Literary Management and is listed as Founding Partner and Agent Emeritus. He specializes in platform-driven nonfiction, including big idea books by thought leaders grounded in science or research, branded prescriptive titles that help readers transform some aspect of their lives, and issue-driven narrative nonfiction that engages with current events. He is interested in experts in health, fitness, wellness, and business; books about psychology, business, history, or social issues from academics and thought leaders; and books that can hook him on concept alone.

Scott Hoffman is not taking on any new clients at this time according to his official Folio profile.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary middle grade, historical middle grade, literary middle grade, mystery middle grade, contemporary young adult, historical young adult, literary young adult, young adult mystery, juvenile nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, popular science

Shari Maurer is an agent at The Stringer Literary Agency. The official Stringer site lists her fiction interests as picture books; middle grade contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery; and young adult contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery. In nonfiction, it lists juvenile YA and middle grade nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, and popular science.

Shari Maurer is currently closed to queries according to the QueryManager or QueryTracker form associated with Stringer Literary. The official Stringer site says the agency works with Query Manager only, deletes queries sent otherwise unread, and closes submissions from time to time to catch up.

Nonfiction, health, wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food writing, drink writing, sustainability, running, fitness, memoir, narrative nonfiction, women's fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, crime fiction, mystery, thriller

Stephany Evans is an affiliate agent at Ayesha Pande Literary. Her official APL profile says she has represented nonfiction writers in health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food and drink, sustainability, running and fitness, memoir, and narrative nonfiction for more than 25 years. She also represents women's fiction from literary to upmarket commercial, romance, crime fiction including mysteries and thrillers, and the occasional literary or commercial novel not aimed at a female market.

Stephany Evans is permanently closed to unsolicited queries according to her official APL profile and is listed as closed on APL's official queries page. Queries submitted by any method while she is closed will not be considered.

Adult fiction, adult nonfiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, women's fiction, memoir, history, biography, psychology, popular culture, current affairs, science, parenting, cookbooks

Robin Straus Agency represents high quality adult fiction and nonfiction, including literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, women's fiction, memoir, history, biography, psychology, popular culture, current affairs, science, parenting, and cookbooks.

Robin Straus Agency is not accepting new unsolicited submissions at this time according to the official submissions page.

Adult nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, architecture, history, politics, natural history, true crime, science, environment, women's issues, parenting, cooking, psychology, health, wellness, diet, business, spirituality, picture books, lifestyle, sustainability, reference, sports, travel, gardening

Regina Ryan Books is a Manhattan-based boutique literary agency primarily representing adult nonfiction. Its areas of interest include well-written narrative nonfiction, architecture, history, politics, natural history especially birds, true crime, science especially the brain, the environment, women's issues, parenting, cooking, psychology, health, wellness, diet, business, non-religious contemporary spirituality, children's picture books, lifestyle, sustainability, popular reference, sports, narrative travel, and gardening.

Regina Ryan Books is currently closed to submissions according to the official submissions page.

Fiction, narrative nonfiction

Pamela Malpas is an agent at Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. She represents work in several categories of fiction and narrative nonfiction and is an AALA member.

Pamela Malpas is currently closed to queries according to the official Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency profile page.

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, nonfiction, history, military history, biography, narrative nonfiction

Michael Congdon is President of Don Congdon Associates. He has represented a variety of commercial and literary fiction as well as nonfiction, including history, military history, biography, and narrative nonfiction.

Michael Congdon is no longer taking on new clients and is permanently closed to queries according to the official Don Congdon Associates agents page.

Adult literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, essays, pop culture, arts, history, stem, linguistics, sports, philosophy, underrepresented voices

Mariah Stovall represents adult literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, and essay collections by writers with strong voices and interdisciplinary perspectives. Across genres she is drawn to outsiders and stylish, inventive storytelling, especially where subcultures, social movements, and complex individuals intersect with pop culture, the arts, history, STEM, linguistics, sports, and philosophy. She is especially passionate about advocating for authors from underrepresented, marginalized, and minoritized groups, including writers without MFAs.

Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager, but Mariah Stovall's official linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries. When she reopens, follow the instructions on her QueryManager page and do not submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window.

Adult literary fiction, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, magical realism, gothic fiction, narrative nonfiction, travel, health and wellness, ecology, nature, cultural criticism, indigenous voices, first nations voices, bipoc voices, queer voices, translation

Maggie Sadler primarily seeks adult literary and upmarket fiction with distinct character voices, lyrical prose, and propulsive plots. She likes work that challenges or deconstructs genre, craft, or structural conventions; grounded magical elements; folklore and fairy-tale retellings, especially non-Western; unusual concepts; unreliable narrators; liminal spaces; atmospheric magical realism; gothic work outside the Deep South; historical fiction foregrounding marginalized perspectives; adult narratives in translation; and adult narrative nonfiction on travel, health and wellness, ecology and nature, and cultural criticism. She welcomes debut Indigenous, First Nations, BIPOC, and queer storytellers.

Howland Literary uses QueryManager for submissions, but Maggie Sadler's official linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries during a short medical break.

Adult fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, thrillers, mystery, book club fiction, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, women's issues, cross-cultural nonfiction, history, humor, quirky nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Liza Dawson specializes in smart, plot-driven bestselling fiction; memorable, confidently written literary fiction; page-turning thrillers with spycraft, foreign intrigue, or unusual careers; mysteries with brainy detectives; literary fiction for book clubs; and breakout historical novels. In nonfiction she is drawn to cross-cultural and women's issues by experts, narrative history, memoirs about escape from closed or repressive societies, and books by journalists and poets making sense of place, race, the environment, Wall Street, Washington, or the South.

Liza Dawson is currently closed to queries according to her official profile. Her profile says to send only a query letter in the body of the email to queryliza@lizadawsonassociates.com, and the agency submissions page says to query only one Liza Dawson Associates agent at a time.

Adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, romance, retellings, beach reads, family drama, amish romance, clean fiction, historical fiction, psychological suspense, domestic suspense, history, biography, science, sports, memoir

Lindsay Guzzardo is founder of Keystone Literary Agency and a literary agent for adult fiction and nonfiction. She is drawn to high-concept, commercial premises with clear, marketable hooks and strong voices. Her fiction tastes include classic retellings, beach reads, family dynamics, mother-daughter and sister relationships, Amish romance and fiction, wholesome clean fiction and romance, cozy small-town romance and fiction, rich historical fiction, fiction featuring historical figures, European-set fiction, dark psychological and domestic suspense, and past/present family dramas. She welcomes nonfiction proposals from journalists and experts in history, biography, science, sports, narrative nonfiction, and memoir with a strong platform.

Submit through Lindsay Guzzardo's official QueryManager form during the first week of the month. The linked QueryManager page was checked on 2026-05-25 and says she is not accepting queries at this time because she opens during the first week of the month.

Nonfiction, self-help, psychology, health, narrative nonfiction, memoir, parenting, business

Jan Baumer represents solely nonfiction. She is particularly interested in measurable experts in their field, including impressively credentialed authors or authors with a built-in following, who want to change minds, change the world, or change how people think, interact, and live day to day. Her categories include smart self-help, psychology, expert and research-driven health, narrative nonfiction, memoir, parenting, and business, and she is open to well executed nonfiction proposals outside those lanes.

Jan Baumer is currently closed to submissions according to her official Folio profile.

Middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, narrative nonfiction

Jacqui Lipton represents fiction and nonfiction from middle grade through adult, with selected projects for younger readers. Her official personal page says she is particularly interested in platform-driven nonfiction with a compelling narrative voice, mysteries with unique protagonists or settings, compelling plots and high stakes, and that she is not currently seeking high fantasy and considers science fiction selectively.

Jacqui Lipton is currently closed to general queries according to her official QueryManager page at The Tobias Literary Agency. The page says invited, conference, referral, and revise-and-resubmit submissions should use the invited-submission route and that general submissions are expected to reopen later.