301 agents · 204 currently open to submissions
Narrative non-fiction attracts 100+ agents across the United States, though the category spans everything from immersive journalism and cultural criticism to personal essays with broader social themes. Some agents focus on investigative works in the tradition of books like *The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks*, while others prefer memoir-adjacent projects that blend personal experience with historical or scientific exploration. The category often overlaps with biography, popular science, and social commentary, making agent selection crucial for writers working at these intersections. Agents may specialise in particular subject areas such as environmental writing, medical narratives, or technology criticism, while others maintain broader interests across multiple non-fiction territories. Many expect a detailed book proposal rather than a complete manuscript, though submission guidelines vary significantly between agencies. Writers should examine each agent's recent deals and client announcements to understand whether they lean toward academic-adjacent works, mainstream commercial projects, or literary non-fiction with crossover appeal.
Literary fiction, upmarket commercial women's fiction, narrative nonfiction, children's books
Literary fiction and upmarket, commercial women's fiction. Narrative nonfiction. Children's books, especially middle grade and young adult.
Email queries only at jenniferlyonsagency (at) gmail (dot) com
Commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, historical fiction, fantasy, crime, adult fiction
Alice Speilburg represents commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction for the adult market. She is drawn to culturally relevant nonfiction, especially by journalists, and in fiction has particular interest in immersive historical adventures, myth-based fantasy, and atmospheric crime.
Alice Speilburg uses QueryManager. Her official agency profile says she is open to queries on the 10th through 16th of each month, but the linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries at this time and may close when she reaches capacity.
Literary fiction, nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, science, nature, social justice, politics, health, food writing, culture, graphic novels
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Adrienne has a strong interest in literary fiction and nonfiction. 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.
Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, history, religion, spirituality, politics, personal development, business, cultural issues
Wants: Query letter, proposal
Roger represents narrative and idea-driven nonfiction in history, religion and spirituality, politics, personal development, business, and cultural issues by leading scholars, journalists, activists, and musicians.
Roger Freet is currently closed to queries.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, mystery, thriller, middle grade, young adult, history, biography, current events, long-form journalism, popular science, children's books
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Gina represents literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction for adults and children. In fiction she looks for upmarket novels, mysteries and thrillers, middle grade, and young adult. Nonfiction interests include history, biography, current events, long-form journalism, and popular science.
Gina Maccoby is currently closed to submissions. When open, email a query with the word QUERY in the subject line to query@maccobylit.com with no attachments. Check the official agency site for reopening.
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.
Ya, mg, upmarket genre fiction, women's fiction, psychological thrillers, sf or f, psychology, self-help, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, bio, first 5-10 pages
YA, MG, upmarket genre fiction (especially women's fiction, psychological thrillers, and SF/F), psychology, self-help, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, works that speak to life in the twenty-first century
Send a short description, short bio, and 5-10 pages of text pasted into the body of the email. I do not open attachments
Women's fiction, commercial fiction, fantasy, young adult, romance, lgbt, middle grade, memoir, narrative nonfiction, personal finance, business, true crime, sports, popular culture, self-help, religion, health, parenting
Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction
High-concept book club fiction, queer fiction, destination novels, emotionally satisfying reads, cozy fantasy, horror with modern commentary, and adult dystopian fiction
Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.
Children's fiction, picture books, middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, middle grade non-fiction, graphic novels
Wants: Query letter, first 25 pages, writing sample
Offbeat projects that break the mold, with particular interest in queer and BIPOC literature and writers. He wants to read something that moves him and connects on an intellectual, emotional or spiritual level. He specifically wants to see more middle grade fiction and nonfiction, and graphic novels.
Submit only via Query Manager. Include query letter in body and first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art if available. For graphic novels, include first 25 pages of script plus illustrated pages if author or illustrator.
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.
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.
HG Literary
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, journalism, history
Wants: Query letter
She is interested primarily in literary and upmarket fiction and memoir, and especially stories grappling with racial, religious, sexual or national identity, narrative nonfiction, journalism, and history.
Submit queries through QueryManager.
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, 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.
Adult fiction, book club fiction, women's fiction, romance, romantic comedy, thriller, suspense, memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, women's issues
Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal
Allison Hunter is acquiring literary and commercial adult fiction, especially upmarket book club and women's fiction, romance and rom-coms, thrillers, and domestic suspense. She likes great storytelling, unforgettable characters, female friendship stories, campus novels, love stories, family epics, class and cultural identity, smart beach reads by underrepresented authors, select memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, women's issues, and books speaking to the current cultural climate.
Submit through Allison Hunter'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, 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.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, domestic suspense, historical fiction, book club fiction, narrative nonfiction
Amy Cloughley seeks authors with unique, clear voices and smart, tightly written prose. She leans toward grounded literary, upmarket, and commercial novels with a distinct sense of place, page-turning mystery, domestic suspense with sharp wit and unexpected twists, well-researched historical fiction, book club fiction with a fresh perspective, small-town contemporary characters, unexpected story arcs, suitable pacing, compelling protagonists, and narrative nonfiction immersed in a culture, lifestyle, discipline, or industry.
Amy Cloughley is currently closed to unsolicited submissions. Her official Kimberley Cameron team page links to a QueryManager form, and the form currently states that she is not accepting queries at this time.
Fantasy, historical fiction, thriller, mystery, pop science, narrative non-fiction, history
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, sample pages
Claire seeks fantasy (especially non-western inspired worlds), historical fiction, thriller, and mystery with romantic or political subplots and immersive settings. She wants characters who chose to be heroes and stories with symbolic resonance. In nonfiction, she seeks pop-science books that use data to tell clear stories, narrative nonfiction between journalism and ethnography, and new histories touching present issues.
Send query letter with synopsis, bio, and opening 3-4 pages embedded in email body. Do not send attachments without request.
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.
Narrative nonfiction, biography, memoir, commercial fiction, romance, women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, cozy mystery, middle grade, young adult
Carrie Pestritto represents projects across a range of genres and is drawn to immersive writing, engaging voices, meticulous world-building, and compelling premises. LDLA lists her interests as adult narrative nonfiction, biography/memoir, commercial fiction with a literary twist, fresh chick-lit, romance, upmarket women's fiction, near-historical fiction from about the Gilded Age on, mystery/thrillers for a female audience, cozies, and high-concept commercial MG and YA in contemporary, historical, mystery/thriller, horror, or fantasy genres, especially featuring POC or marginalized characters, high stakes, and exciting plot lines.
Carrie Pestritto is currently closed to queries. LDLA accepts queries via QueryManager only and says writers should submit to one agent at a time with one complete project. Carrie's official linked QueryManager page says she is not accepting queries at this time and suggests checking colleagues' bios while she is closed.
Mystery or thriller, historical, ya contemporary, new adult, narrative nonfiction, memoir
Genre fiction, such as Mystery/Thriller, Historical, YA contemporary, and New Adult, as well as Narrative Nonfiction and Memoir, with a particular interest in underrepresented voices, untold multicultural stories, and any high concept or genre-bending works
Currently closed for submissions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Adult general fiction, women's fiction, young adult, middle grade, chapter books, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Adult general fiction and debut, women's fiction, especially friendship stories and romance, young adult issue-driven, middle grade friendship stories and mysteries, as well as chapter books (both fiction and nonfiction), narrative nonfiction for adults on topics such as health, pop culture, and memoir.
All submissions should be sent through Query Tracker. Query should include agent personalization, metadata with title, word count, age range, genre and comp titles, pitch paragraph, and author bio. Include synopsis and first ten pages.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
She loves highly commercial Board Books, quirky and clever picture books, rich narrative nonfiction, commercial chapter books, and contemporary or genre-bent Young Adult. She's always seeking stories that center neurodiverse, disabled, and LGBTQ+ characters.
All submissions should be sent through Query Tracker. Query should include agent personalization, metadata with title or word count or age range or genre or comp titles, pitch, and author bio. Include synopsis and first ten pages.
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.
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