3 Established Literary Agents Seeking Genre Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Kidlit, Literary Fiction, Humor and more

Updated 11/4/23

Here are three literary agents actively seeking clients. All work with established agencies with good track records.

Sarah Khalil is seeking serious narrative nonfiction with an eye towards social, economic and environmental justice; pop/cultural criticism and histories; cross-cultural narratives; and writing from Caribbean, MENA, and Muslim creators; all deeply explored by experts—academics, journalists, and those with lived experiences and something important to say about them. Big ideas, radical thought, and propulsive writing are the cornerstones of her taste.

Alex Rice is especially drawn to stories in adult fiction that explore one’s identity and sense of self, family sagas, female friendship, and a fresh start on life. Alex is fond of storylines that fundamentally challenge the protagonist in some facet of life, pushing them to question their views on morality and purpose. She’ll also consider select genre books in romance, mysteries, and some thrillers when looking for a more escapist read. In the children’s realm, Alex looks for stories with a fast-paced plot that still delivers a poignant message. 

Anthony Mattero accepts non-fiction submissions in the categories of pop-culture, humor, music, sports, and pop-business. In fiction he’s looking for submissions that blend the elusive literary/commercial line, but with a plot that doesn’t let you go. Of particular interest are novels highlighting history, underrepresented communities, and under-told points of view, as well as psychological thrillers and humorous critiques on modern society.

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. 

__________________________

Ms. Sarah Khalil of Calligraph

Prior to Calligraph’s founding, Sarah was at Kneerim & Williams for four years, developing several of the agency’s best-selling and award-winning authors alongside Jill Kneerim and Katherine Flynn, including Margaret Burnham, Matthew Desmond, Stephen Greenblatt, Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt, and Brett Sokol. She has worked at Beacon Press and the IP law firm Sennott, Williams, & Rogers. She holds an MA in Publishing & Writing from Emerson College and a BA in English Literature with a minor in History from the American University of Beirut. 

What she is seeking: Sarah Khalil is seeking serious narrative nonfiction with a lens toward social, economic and environmental justice; anti-imperialist thought; pop/cultural criticism and histories; cross-cultural narratives; and writing from Caribbean, MENA, Muslim and LGBTQIA+ creators; all deeply explored by experts—academics, journalists, and those with lived experience. Big ideas, radical thought, and propulsive writing are the cornerstones of her taste. She is also seeking select fiction in the same space.

How to submit: Please send a query letter to submissions@calligraphlit.com with a brief synopsis of your work and a short bio, along with 25 pages of sample material in the body of the email (no attachments will be opened). Include the name of the agent you are querying in the subject line of the email, along with the title of your project and its genre. 

__________________________

Alex Rice of Creative Artists Agency

Alex Rice graduated from Miami University Ohio with a degree in English Literature. She began her publishing career at Foundry Literary + Media before joining CAA in April 2018. She is based in the New York office and works across all departments to create publishing opportunities for the agency’s clients, with a focus on women’s and commercial fiction, pop culture and criticism, and young adult and middle grade across all genres.

What she is seeking: With an eye towards a more commercial, upmarket audience, Alex is especially drawn to stories in adult fiction that explore one’s identity and sense of self, family sagas, female friendship, and a fresh start on life. Alex is fond of storylines that fundamentally challenge the protagonist in some facet of life, pushing them to question their views on morality and purpose. She’ll also consider select genre books in romance, mysteries, and some thrillers when looking for a more escapist read. In the children’s realm, Alex looks for stories with a fast-paced plot that still delivers a poignant message. She’s drawn to characters with a strong sense of self that are then challenged in that belief. She tends towards compelling, voice-driven narratives and is always looking for new and diverse stories through which we see the world differently. She’s not afraid of the dark and loves an edgy, twisted narrative as well.

How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE.

__________________________

Anthony Mattero of Creative Artists Agency

Anthony Mattero began his career at ICM in the TV Lit department and transitioned to book publishing in 2009 where he has worked ever since.  He joined CAA in 2018. Mattero graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a B.A. in Television, Radio, and Film and a B.S. in Political Science. is based in the New York office and represents many of the world’s leading comedians, journalists, musicians, actors, athletes, and doctors in their book pursuits, including Jamie Foxx, Dwyane Wade, Wesley Lowery, Chris Bosh, Jo Koy, Natasha Leggero, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Arthur Brooks, Dr. Brian Klaas, Commander Michael Hayes, Dr. Michael Bennett, Dr. Shane Campbell Stanton, Hilarie Burton, Rachel Lindsay, Carmelo Anthony, Mayim Bialik, and more.

What he is seeking: Anthony accepts non-fiction submissions in the categories of pop-culture, humor, music, sports, and pop-business. In fiction he’s looking for submissions that blend the elusive literary/commercial line, but with a plot that doesn’t let you go. Of particular interest are novels highlighting history, underrepresented communities, and under-told points of view, as well as psychological thrillers and humorous critiques on modern society.

How to submit: Use the agency's form HERE.