6 New Literary Agents Seeking Thriller, Science Fiction, Horror, Psychology, Memoir, True Crime, Narrative Nonfiction and more

Updated 8/12/22

Here are six new literary agents seeking clients. Tom Drake Lee is looking for commercial literary and genre fiction which tells stories and illuminates the human condition; fiction which has compelling plot, narrative and characters as well as non-fiction which tells us more about the world around us; nature writing, popular science, history and memoir. 

Mia Vitale wants fiction as well as cultural criticism, humor, pop culture, identity (with a particular interest in multi-racial identity), urban environments, reportage, and memoir. Charlotte Gillies gravitates towards works that explore interpersonal relationships and questions of existentialism through a comedic lens. 

Jared Johnson is interested in science fiction, fantasy (high, historical, or contemporary), magical realism, mystery, and thriller.  In nonfiction, he is looking for narrative-driven books, and accessible scholarship that engages with current social issues. 

Shannon Gallagher is interested in both fiction and nonfiction in all categories of children’s literature, from picture books to young adult, and she especially welcomes underrepresented perspectives.  Katherine Odom-Tomchin is seeking Thriller, Science Fiction, Horror, Psychology, Memoir, True Crime, Narrative Nonfiction, Science, LGBTQIA+, Underrepresented Voices.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change. 

NOTE: Don't submit to two agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. Note: Many agents are closed to queries during the summer. They usually re-open in the Fall.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Mr. Tom Drake Lee of DHH Literary (UK)

CURRENTLY CLOSED TO QUERIES

Tom graduated in English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Nottingham, after which he spent some time managing bookshops before moving into publishing as a sales representative for Bloomsbury and then PenguinRandomHouse. He was the sales director at Vintage for twelve years, where he worked with some brilliant prize winning and commercial authors including established writers such as Margaret Atwood, Rose Tremain, Julian Barnes, Anne Enright, Salman Rushdie, Toni Morrison, Michael Ondaatje, Ian McEwan and Nigella Lawson. Tom also helped establish the commercial success of Yuval Harari, Ocean Vuong, Edmund De Waal, Helen Macdonald, Ottessa Moshfegh, Richard Flanagan, Neel Mukherjee, Jo Nesbo, Abir Mukherjee, Merlin Sheldrake and Rukmini Iyer. Inspired by his work with agents and authors, in 2021 Tom “crossed over” and joined DHH as an Associate Agent and is starting to build a client list across fiction and non-fiction.

What he is seeking: Tom is looking for commercial literary and genre fiction which tells stories and illuminates the human condition; fiction which has compelling plot, narrative and characters. Tom is looking for non-fiction which tells us more about the world around us; nature writing, popular science, history and memoir.

How to submit: Please email a one-page synopsis, and the first three chapters of your book, to tdl.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com

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Ms. Mia Vitale of Park & Fine Literary and Media 

Originally from Chicago, Mia Vitale is a graduate of Harvard University and the Columbia Publishing Course. She was previously at The Wylie Agency. Mia works alongside John Maas and Sarah Passick to bring big ideas and big voices to the page. She is equally enthusiastic about literary fiction and narrative nonfiction.

What she is seeking: In fiction, she loves character driven stories, stories that play with form, and dialogue-heavy narratives. In narrative nonfiction, she loves propulsive stories that get at the heart of specific issues, communities, histories, or individuals. She is also interested in books about platonic female relationships, cultural criticism, humor, pop culture, identity (with a particular interest in multi-racial identity), urban environments, reportage, and memoir. She’s particularly compelled by both fiction and nonfiction that explores how we communicate (or fail to do so). She is especially passionate about finding new voices from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

How to submit: Send your query letter and accompanying material to queries@parkfine.com. All materials must be in the body of the email. For fiction submissions, please include a query letter and approximately the first 25 pages of your work. For non-fiction submissions, please send a query letter.

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Ms. Charlotte Gillies of Park & Fine Literary and Media 

Charlotte works alongside Theresa Park, supporting authors of principally bestselling commercial fiction as well as a short list of serious nonfiction. Prior to joining Park & Fine Literary and Media, Charlotte worked in television development at WarnerMedia. Charlotte holds a B.A. in Literature and Media Studies from Hunter College and currently resides in Brooklyn.

 
What she is seeking: She has a passion for storytelling in all its forms and gravitates towards works that explore interpersonal relationships and questions of existentialism through a comedic lens. She enjoys bold, character driven narratives, particularly from female perspectives, and always stays on top of the latest in TV, film, and pop culture.

How to submit: Send your query letter and accompanying material to queries@parkfine.com. All materials must be in the body of the email. For fiction submissions, please include a query letter and approximately the first 25 pages of your work. For non-fiction submissions, please send a query letter.

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Mr. Jared Johnson of Olswanger Literary

CURRENTLY CLOSED TO QUERIES

Jared is a recovering academic. After several years of academic research in the humanities and teaching writing and history, he turned his efforts toward pursuing a career in publishing. In 2021 he joined Olswanger Literary as a Literary Associate.

What he is seeking: "I am interested in science fiction, fantasy (high, historical, or contemporary), magical realism, mystery, and thriller.  In nonfiction, I am looking for narrative-driven books, and I am drawn to accessible scholarship that engages with current social issues. In particular, I am interested in works that challenge long-held cultural narratives." 

How to submit: Please direct queries to jared@olswangerliterary.com. If you are querying for fiction, send your query letter in the body of the email and the first 25 pages of your book as an attached document. If you are querying for nonfiction, please send your query letter in the body and book proposal as an attached document. In your subject line, please include the title of your book and its category and genre.

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Ms. Shannon Gallagher of Wernick & Pratt Agency 

Shannon Gallagher spent more than twelve years in the marketing departments at various adult trade publishers, including Rodale, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster. After moving from Brooklyn to upstate New York, she spent several years as a book reviewer and copywriter. When she saw an opening at Wernick & Pratt, she was intrigued at the thought of learning about both literary agencies and children’s literature, two facets of publishing she had not yet had the opportunity to explore. After two years learning as much as she possibly could from the accomplished, dedicated agents here, Shannon was thrilled to become an Associate Agent, where she could utilize her marketing experience -– getting the right information to the right people –- to better identify, encourage, and promote authors and illustrators.  A graduate of Bryn Mawr College (go, Seven Sisters!), Shannon lives with her husband and daughter in the beautiful Hudson Valley.

What she is seeking: Shannon is interested in both fiction and nonfiction in all categories of children’s literature, from picture books to young adult, and she especially welcomes underrepresented perspectives.  

How to submit: Please send all submissions to submissions@wernickpratt.com. Read their guidelines HERE.

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Ms. Katherine Odom-Tomchin of Folio Literary Management 

Kat is Folio’s Audio Rights Director, and she works hard to strategically place the agency’s audio rights with the most effective audio publishers possible. She also acts as a subagent for BenBella, an independent publishing house based in Dallas, TX known for publishing a range of nonfiction titles, and places audio rights for the storied authors of Harold Ober Associates and Emma Sweeney Agency.

What she is seeking: Thriller, Science Fiction, Horror, Psychology, Memoir, True Crime, Narrative Nonfiction, Science, LGBTQIA+, Underrepresented Voices.

How to submit: Please send your query letter and the first 10 pages of your manuscript (pasted in the body of your email) to ktomchin@foliolitmanagement.com. Include "query" and the title of your project in the subject line. If you don’t hear back within thirty days, consider it a pass.