6 Agents Seeking Nonfiction, Social Justice, Kidlit, Memoir, Literary Fiction and more

Updated 10/3/23

Here are six literary agents actively seeking clients. Rebecca Eskildsen is actively growing her list, with a particular interest in middle grade, YA, and adult fiction. She is looking to elevate LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices, among other underrepresented narratives. 

Delia Berrigan Fakis is looking for nonfiction, as well as literary and commercial fiction, mysteries, and children’s picture books. Alison Lewis represents a wide range of nonfiction and fiction, with a particular focus on journalism, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, science, literary fiction, memoir and essays. Kathryn Willms is seeking History; Memoir; Sports; Business; Biography; Health and Wellness; Women’s Issues; Culture; Current Affairs; Journalism; Food and Drink; Self-improvement; Science; Film.

Nicole Eisenbraun is looking for middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction, in all genres. Lisette Verhagen is seeking fiction and nonfiction, especially from immigrants and foreign language writers.

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.

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

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Ms. Rebecca Eskildsen of Writers House

I’ve been at Writers House since 2017, supporting Merrilee Heifetz with all client needs, from editorial to accounting, contract negotiation, and other administrative details. I have worked closely with a range of authors, including Neil Gaiman, the Estate of Octavia E. Butler, Alexandra Bracken, Beth Revis, Melissa Marr, Ellen Datlow, Kristen Orlando, Amanda Panitch, and Robin McKinley, among many others.

What she is seeking: I am actively growing my list, with a particular interest in middle grade, YA, and adult fiction. Across the board, I’m looking to elevate LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices, among other underrepresented narratives.  In middle grade, I’m looking for a range of fiction, from fun adventure stories to contemporary books that make kids feel seen. Mostly I want to see fresh, engaging voices, particularly narratives with a sense of humor and a strong emotional core. For YA, I’m looking for some darker themes and twisty, gripping stories, but also some lighthearted fun! Give me your ambitious “unlikable” girls (ugh - I’ll like them) and your funny, slow-burn romances. I’m looking for a more limited variety of adult books. I’d love to have my inbox full of contemporary rom coms. I’m also looking for sagas about families and/or friends, of any age or topic, and I’m looking for 20-something coming-of-age stories.

How to submit: Please send a personalized query letter and the first 15 pages of your manuscript, pasted in the body of your email, to me at reskildsen[at]writershouse[dot]com. The subject line should read “Query [genre] [TITLE].” Please include any information you feel is relevant.

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Ms. Delia Berrigan Fakis of Martin Literary Management

CURRENTLY CLOSED TO QUERIES

I grew up in Washington, DC, earned my BA in English from Drew University in Madison, NJ and my MS in Publishing from New York University in New York City. I spent the first 15 years of my career at John Wiley & Sons, the Doris S. Michaels Literary Agency, and was subsequently recruited to Hallmark Cards, Inc. headquarters in Kansas City to help lead the book division. 

What she is seeking: Adult Nonfiction in the areas of:

• Business
• Thought Leadership
• Memoir
• True Crime
• Narrative Nonfiction
• History and Current Affairs
• Religion and Spirituality

She will also take on select projects that strike her personal interest the areas in literary and commercial fiction, mysteries, and children’s picture books.

How to submit: Submit query letters to Delia@MartinLit.com

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Ms. Alison Lewis of Frances Goldin Agency

Alison Lewis joined the agency in 2022, following six years at The Zoë Pagnamenta Agency. A native of Boulder, Colorado, she studied English at Middlebury College and, for five years, was editor of the literary magazine American Chordata.

What she is seeking: She represents a wide range of nonfiction and fiction, with a particular focus on journalism, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, science, literary fiction, memoir and essays.

How to submit: Please send a query letter to atl@goldinlit.comn, please send a query letter and the first 10-15 pages in the body of your email. For all other nonfiction (e.g. history, biography, technology, etc.), please send a query letter. If you have a proposal prepared, please send it as an attachment. Word is preferred but not required.

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Ms. Kathryn Willms of The Rights Factory (CANADA)

Kathryn Willms has over 12 years of professional writing, editing, and management experience. Since 2017, she has run Kwill Communications, an editorial firm specializing in educational and academic work, as well as providing substantive, stylistic, and copy editing for non-fiction authors. Prior to this, she was vice-president and senior editor at Colborne Communications, where she managed, wrote, and edited projects for corporate, government, and education clients. As publisher at Iguana Books, she oversaw acquisitions, production, sales, and marketing for over 25 books, a list that included fiction, non-fiction, and children’s. Before her foray into publishing, she worked in financial services and as a sports reporter. She holds an MA in English from the University of Calgary and was awarded the Marsh Jeanneret Award for academic excellence while studying editing at Ryerson University. Over the course of her career, Kathryn has taken pride in building strong and supportive relationships with authors, and helping them find the right voice, structure, style, and audience for their work. She is excited to be continuing this work with The Rights Factory.

What she is seeking: History; Memoir; Sports; Business; Biography; Health and Wellness; Women’s Issues; Culture; Current Affairs; Journalism; Food and Drink; Self-improvement; Science; Film.

How to submit: All queries can be emailed to: kathryn@therightsfactory.com. See details HERE. 

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Ms. Nicole Eisenbraun of Ginger Clark Literary

Nicole Eisenbraun graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and now lives in Brooklyn. She is a member of the AALA Contracts and Copyright Committees.

What she is seeking: She is looking for middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction, in all genres. For fiction, she is particularly interested in great fairytale retellings with colorful twists and stories that tackle difficult subjects in unexpected ways. For nonfiction, she is looking for books focused on science, history, popular culture, and social issues. 

How to submit: Please email Nicole at nme (at) gingerclarkliterary (dot) com with ‘nmequery’ in the subject line, including just your query letter and contact information. 

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Ms. Lisette Verhagen of Peters Fraser & Dunlop (UK)

Lisette Verhagen joined PFD from David Godwin Associates, where she has been Head of Rights for the past five years. She is actively building a list with a strong focus on foreign-language clients for sale both to the UK and around the world. She is also working with International Rights Director, Rebecca Wearmouth, and the foreign rights team selling rights to China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

What she is seeking: "I’m especially looking for sweeping stories big in scope, strong narrative and original voices that need to be shared with the rest of the world. I especially have a weak spot for gripping immigrant novels that tell us something about ourselves and the world we live in. Submissions can be written in any language, as long as they have high potential to travel and are submitted with an extensive synopsis and author’s biography in English. Making foreign books travel has always been a dream to me, and I’m very excited to see that there is a growing interest in foreign authors from publishers all over the world."

How to submit: Please send the first three chapters of your novel or non-fiction project, as well as a full synopsis to lverhagen@pfd.co.uk. In the body of the email, please write a covering letter, including brief details about your writing career.