11 New Agents Seeking Genre Fiction, Romance, SFF, Kidlit, Picture Books, Memoir, LGBT and more

Here are eleven new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

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 several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

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

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Tali Shammas of Storm Literary Agency

Tali grew up devouring books by flashlight long past her bedtime. After several years practicing corporate law, she returned to her childhood love: reading and writing fiction. Tali interned with Creative Media Agency and joined Storm as an agent in 2026. With her legal knowledge and skills in client advocacy and contract negotiation, she looks forward to building a diverse client list.

What she is seeking: I am drawn to commercial hooks, lyrical writing, and voice-y characters who jump off the page and pull you in. I love books that weave in folk stories and mythologies, particularly those underrepresented in literature. Similarly, I am interested in non-Western settings. In fantasy, I adore a unique magic system. I am also a big fan of books about books. Across all genres and age groups, I would love to see projects from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, neurodiverse, and chronically ill communities.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE. Currently closed to queries.

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Rebecca Lommers of Katie Reed Literary

Rebecca Lommers graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor’s in English: Creative Writing, a Music Minor, and an Editing and Publishing Certificate. She is currently attending graduate school at Eastern Washington University to receive an MFA in Fiction. She has loved books ever since she learned how to read, and she always dreamed of reading books before they were published. She is incredibly excited to work with authors to help them achieve their writing dreams. She interned with Katie Reed for two years before being promoted to junior agent.

What she is seeking: Romance, upmarket fiction, domestic suspense or psychological thriller, Epic Fantasy, Dystopian scifi, Literary Fiction, YA/NA Crossover, Mythology Retellings, Fiction with a Fantastical Angle.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Jackie Garcia-Morales of Storm Literary Agency

Jackie Garcia-Morales is a mixed Puerto Rican neurodivergent professional and career changer from STEM to publishing. She began her career in trade marketing, publicity, and sales at Penguin Random House and Baker & Taylor, alongside work with boutique presses and freelance reviewing for Kirkus Indie and Publishers Weekly. She also has experience in academic and peer-reviewed publishing, including acting as editor of a nonprofit journal for clinical herbalism.

What she is seeking: Author-illustrators that want to work across fiction and nonfiction picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels (spanning age audiences). Particularly interested in STEM/STEAM, social-emotional learning, irresistible humor/silly, mystery, epic adventure, mindfulness/similar wellness concepts, and stories centering diverse or underrepresented lived experiences, including neurodiversity, disability, multicultural identity, and unconventional family structures, Nonfiction from experts, YA, YA Crossover, & New Adult.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE. Currently closed to queries

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Hollie Michaels of Martin-Newens Literary Management

While working toward her M.A. in Creative Writing (Scripts) from City University of London, Hollie worked for the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency as a reader. When she returned to NYC, she joined the Gersh Agency as an assistant in the Theatrical Department. While working in indie theater as a director and producer, Hollie taught theater from grades K-12 and continued teaching when she moved to CT and had kids. During that time, Hollie ventured deeper into publishing, expanding her background from playwright to writing books for kids.

​​Hollie is the author of the chapter book series, Golda and Ezra, published by Capstone, as well as an early middle grade, The Bad News Bestie. Her youth play, Children of Hooverville is published and widely performed by middle schools around the country. Her short comic Wimbly can be found in Kids Comics Unite anthology, Let’s Go!

Hollie lives in commuting distance to NYC, with her husband, two kids and two fur babies. In her free time, Hollie works on building a green thumb, camping, baking sugar free treats, exploring indie bookstores and seeing Broadway shows.

​What she is seeking: Hollie is excited to build her list of amazing authors and illustrators from kidlit to adult. She is looking for the following:​

Illustrators: I’m open to all styles – traditional and digital - send me your portfolio.
Please no AI.

Picture Books: I’m open to authors and author / illustrators. Please send me humor, dark humor, wacky humor, kids being kids, commercial fiction, nonfiction told in a fun / engaging way. I’m not the best fit for books that are didactic or lesson based.
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Middle Grade / Chapter Books: Please send me commercial, contemporary, fantasy, dystopian, mystery, horror. Anything with humor, heart, a strong voice, and unforgettable characters. Stories a young reader won’t want to put down.

Graphic Novels: I am open to pitch packets from chapter books, middle grade, young adult. I prefer author / illustrators only but if you have a background in writing for comics (and really know the language of writing graphic novels) I will be open to those authors as well.

Young Adult: I’m looking for commercial, fantasy, dystopian, romance, sci-fi, and horror.
​
New Adult: Romance, Fantasy and any genre mashups.

​Adult: I’m open to selective genres. I am looking for humor and a unique voice

Commercial, Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Romcom

Fantasy– I love cozy, witchy, everyday magic to magical worlds.

Horror -I prefer supernatural, speculative in this space and humor.

In all genres I am looking for a strong voice, a gripping story with emotional stakes, humor, and layered, unforgettable characters.

How to submit: You can submit to Hollie via Query Tracker here.

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Celsie Moseley of Context Literary Agency

Celsie graduated from Baylor University in 2021, earning a B.A. in English Literature. After a year teaching English in South Korea, she went on to earn her publishing certificate from the Columbia Publishing Course Oxford in 2022. Previously, she was the promotions assistant at the University of Chicago Press where she assisted the wider publicity team in executing their book campaigns. In her spare time, Celsie loves to read genre-bending SFF with strong characters and unique premises. When she’s not reading, she can often be found playing video games on her PC.

What she is seeking: Celsie is looking for unique voices, atmospheric stories that pull you under from the very first page, and worlds that feel as intimate as they are expansive. She is interested in themes that explore power, corruption, rebellion, class systems, climate change, liminal spaces, and intersectionality. In kidlit, she's seeking whimsical and heartfelt MG and high concept YA fiction. On the adult side, she seeks genre-bending SFF, horror, and book club/upmarket fiction.

How to submit: Please send a short description, short bio, and 5-10 pages of text pasted into the body of the email to querycelsie@Contextlit.com

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Jenny Lewis of Darhansoff & Verrill Literary Agents

Jenny joined as an associate agent in 2026. She began her publishing career as an intern at Writers House before working with Sobel Weber Associates and WW Norton.

What she is seeking: Fiction, memoir, history. She’s actively growing both her children’s and adult lists—across genres, she has a particular bent towards works that are voice-driven, immersive, and combine humor with a razor-sharp bite.

How to submit: Please send the first 50 pages in an email to submissions@dvagency.com

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Hannah Teachout of Folio Literary Management

In 2022, Hannah completed her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts and began as an intern at Folio in 2023. I have worked as a bookseller, festival organizer, and freelance editor before landing at Folio Literary Management where I’ve had the privilege to support Lauren Spieller and John Cusick and their lists of talented clients and am now building my own list.

What she is seeking: Across Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction, I’m looking for stories with high concepts, gripping and memorable voices, and characters you don’t want to let go of when the book ends. This could be fantasy, horror, thriller, romance, bookclub, etc, but I tend to prefer fast-paced, tight plotting no matter the genre. I’m a sucker for projects that cross shelves (think horror-romcom or other mash-ups!) and I’m always looking for underrepresented voices telling all sorts of stories, with adventure and joy and hope at their heart.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Ms. Brianna Aideen of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

Brianna Aideen joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency after interning for both JDLA and Triada US. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Film and Creative Writing. When she’s not reading, she’s painting, writing, or pointing out the production mistakes in feature films.

What she is seeking: Brianna represents Adult, New Adult, and some YA fiction. I am mostly focused on Adult or New Adult genres, but I won’t pass up a brilliant YA. I love all things fantasy and romance, give me all the tropes.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Grace Garrahan of Europa Content

Grace joined the agency as Associate Agent and Agency Coordinator after three years with The Robbins Office and previous experience at Lucinda Literary. Before she joined the agenting world, Grace worked in the events industry, where she formed a lifelong passion for food and bev. She currently lives in Brooklyn where she enjoys going to concerts, trying new restaurants, and walking until she finds hidden gems.

What she is seeking: She is interested in popular psychology, self-development, pop culture, and some memoir. In the fiction space, she is drawn to literary-leaning commercial fiction and mysteries/thrillers.

How to submit: Please email the first 25-50 pages of your manuscript to

grace@europacontent.com

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Ms. Stuti Shah of The Rights Factory

Prior to joining The Rights Factory, Stuti worked in international rights at Transatlantic Agency, advising on publishing contracts and collaborating with authors, publishers, and co-agents across domestic and international markets, giving her a close look at what makes a project stand out and a deal work for everyone at the table.

Before moving into publishing, she practiced at a top-tier law firm, and that experience has shaped how she reviews deals and advocates for her clients. When Stuti believes in a project, she is a fierce and dedicated advocate for it, in her authors' corner at every stage of their publishing journey.

What she is seeking: She's interested in commercial and upmarket fiction and narrative-driven nonfiction for adult and YA readers, including book club fiction with an edge, historical fiction, thrillers and psychological suspense, cosy mysteries, speculative and genre-blending fiction, fantasy, sci-fi & cli-fi, dark academia, coming-of-age sagas, romcoms, contemporary relationship fiction, and funny or whimsical fiction. On the nonfiction side, she prefers memoir, true crime, and narrative nonfiction with a compelling voice. Stuti is also actively seeking concept-driven books with cross-format or adaptation potential for film and TV.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Kelsey Day of Aragi Agency

Kelsey Day (they/them) is an associate literary agent at Aragi Inc. Assisting Nicole Aragi, they cut their teeth working with bestselling phenomena such as Colson Whitehead, Tommy Orange, and Ocean Vuong.

What they are seeking: 

Fiction: BIPOC Literature, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary

Non-Fiction: Cookbooks, Illustrated, LGBTQ, Psychology, Self-help, Spiritual, Tarot/Astrology, Wellness, Witches/Witchcraft

How to submit: Use their querytracker form HERE.

8 New Agents Seeking Genre Fiction, YA, New Adult, Nonfiction, LGBTQ, Literary Fiction, Graphic Novels and more

Here are eight new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

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 several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

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

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Ava Lauren Grayson of Lowenstein Associates

Ava Lauren Grayson is a literary agent based in Los Angeles who joined Lowenstein Associates in 2026. She was previously as an editor at Quill and Flame Publishing House for several years, following an internship supporting the literary department at Echo Lake Entertainment. She is also an author and award-winning director with a background in theater, photography, and fashion.

What she is seeking: Ava is a modern romantic with a taste for all things magical and dramatic. She is passionate about reading romantic yearning, empowering female heroines, and coming-of-age stories, and is actively building her list in the literary fiction, horror, romantasy, gothic, YA, genre-blends, romance, fantasy, and narrative nonfiction spaces. Ava reads widely and is willing to consider projects in any genre as long as the writing is compelling and immersive. She is seeking debut authors, own stories, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ stories.

How to submit: Please send your query letter in an email, with the first chapter attached as a Word document and “Query” in the subject line. Paper queries will be discarded. Please direct queries for Ava Grayson to ava@bookhaven.com.

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Ms. Gemma Paynter of P.S. Literary Agency (CANADA)

Gemma Paynter is an associate agent at PSLA. She holds a BA in Philosophy and a postgrad in Publishing. After over a decade working in marketing and strategy, she moved into publishing with Harlequin, working across both trade and category romance. She brings an instinct for audience development, emerging trends, and the cultural undercurrents that shape what resonates, often before it fully breaks through.

What she is seeking: Gemma is actively acquiring adult fiction and non-fiction that subvert expectations. In non-fiction, she is drawn to narrative projects that bring niche subjects to a wide readership, particularly those that blend memoir with expertise. Her interests include pop culture, pop science, fashion, design, literary commentary, and the history of subcultures and counterculture. 

In fiction, she loves immersive atmosphere, sharp observation, twisty storytelling, and offbeat wit. She is especially interested in folktale-inspired horror and fantasy, gothic mystery and romance, fantasies featuring mundane magic, puzzle-driven mysteries, and cozy stories that feel hopeful yet grounded, like a Studio Ghibli movie. She has a soft spot for “weird girl” literary fiction, unreliable narrators, and true rom-coms — make her laugh! She is drawn to work that takes an irreverent, witty approach to the macabre and is always on the lookout for projects that capture the strange, uncanny magic of Twin Peaks. She encourages submissions from underrepresented voices, especially those centering characters who don’t often get to be the protagonist.

How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE.

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Donna Greaves of Colwill and Peddle (UK)

I am the newest member of the Colwill and Peddle team, having joined as an agent in 2025. I got my start in publishing at Jo Unwin Literary Agency, where I spent seven years. Prior to this, I trained and worked as a speech and language therapist in the NHS, before changing career.

What she is seeking: I’m excited to be building a list across adult commercial, book club and accessible literary fiction, and non-fiction. I’m particularly drawn to voice-led narratives, unconventional settings and people, and humour, as well as rich, immersive storytelling that interweaves cultural, political or historical context.

In fiction I am also on the lookout for stories that can translate across genres and mediums, to reach a wide audience; stories that are as captivating in audiobook as they are on the page, and that lend themselves to film and TV adaptation. Some examples of books I’ve enjoyed across the genre are: Bernardine Evaristo’s Mr Loverman, Nussaibah Younis’s Fundamentally, V. V. Ganeshananthan’s Brotherless Night, Lisa McInerney’s The Glorious Heresies, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People, Emily Henry’s Book Lovers and Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s Yinka, Where is your Huzband?

In crime and mystery, I am open to more traditional crime series with great atmosphere and page-turning mystery, in the vein of Elly Griffiths and Val McDermid. I’d love to see books with off-beat characters, uncommon settings, and subversive and playful storytelling, such as The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley, The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff, The Woman Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo, and The Trees by Percival Everett.

I am not specifically looking for sci-fi, fantasy or horror, however, like any decent millennial, I was raised on the classics - Buffy, Scream and The Craft - so would be open to books that are witchy, or capture the horror and adventure of being human, and books with crossover potential – I will never forget reading The Girl with all the Gifts, and being drawn into a zombie apocalypse in a way I didn’t know was possible. I loved The Binding by Bridget Collins and would happily accept an atmospheric, magical book to get lost in.

In non-fiction I am looking for books that use a personal lens through which to explore a culture, identity, community, or period in history - I really loved Kiese Laymon’s Heavy and Wild Swans: the daughters of China - as well as narrative projects about intriguing and unusual lives, jobs and experiences, such as Evie King’s Ashes to Admin and Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams.

I’m open to seeing popular science and psychology that is accessible in tone or written from a personal perspective, and similarly with true crime e.g. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara and Raised by a Serial Killer by April Balascio. I’m also keen to see books that connect us to our past and examine the world through popular culture, tradition and history, including books about ‘scenes’, music or otherwise, in the manner of Jeffrey Boakye and Lloyd Bradley. Ultimately, I am looking for non-fiction that makes knowledge accessible, helps readers feel seen, and/or is good laugh.

How to submit: Follow submission guidelines HERE. Note: This agency does not represent American writers.

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Danai Christopoulou of The Tobias Literary Agency

Danai Christopoulou is a Pushcart Prize nominated SFF author and editor. After a long career as a journalist and copyeditor (their articles and opinion pieces have featured in magazines such as Glamour, House & Garden and Marie Claire since 2004), Danai has been a freelance editor and new talent mentor for mentorships such as QueeryFest. Danai edits for Hugo-nominated magazine khōréō, and reviews short fiction for HavenSpec. Originally from Greece, Danai currently resides in Sweden.

What they are seeking: Danai loves speculative fiction of all flavors, from horror and thriller to sci-fi, fantasy and romance, especially from marginalized voices. They are mostly focused on adult fiction, but are interested in Young Adult fiction with crossover appeal. Danai likes their fiction upmarket with nuanced plots, particularly from BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent and other traditionally marginalized groups.

How to submit: Use the querytracker form HERE. Open to BIPOC authors only until June 30.

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Analía Cabello of Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Analía has been working at ABLA since 2021, assisting Executive Agent Kelly Sonnack in championing a diverse list of authors and illustrators. Before that, she was an editorial assistant at Candlewick Press and interned at several literary agencies. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Child Development and Ethnic Studies, which have informed her passion for the intersections of children’s literature, developmental psychology, and identity.

What she is seeking: She’s looking to represent picture book illustrators, authors, and author-illustrators; middle grade fiction; and young adult fiction. In all categories, she is a fan of characters who feel in-between in any sense (identity, friend groups, transitional period of life, etc.); stories of self-discovery and character growth; explorations of sibling relationships and intergenerational families, in the vein of The Penderwicks and Darius the Great Is Not Okay; and stories from creators whose voices have been traditionally underrepresented in the industry.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Maria Carolina Ministeri of Ginger Clark Literary

Maria Carolina Ministeri is an Associate Agent at Ginger Clark Literary. She is actively building her client list and assists in the sale of domestic and foreign rights. She studied English, Education, and Creative Writing at the University at Buffalo and got her start in publishing with the Writers House Intern Program. Born in Venezuela and raised in South Florida, she is fluent in both English and Spanish (and working on appeasing her dad's side of the family by learning Italian). She is now based in Washington, DC.

What she is seeking: Maria is looking for adult, crossover, and YA fiction across genres that feature compelling characters, complex relationships, and immersive settings (real or imagined). 

How to submit: Please send your query letter, contact information, and the first 15 pages of your manuscript via email to mministeri (at) gingerclarkliterary (dot) com with “mcm query” in the subject line. Maria will respond within three weeks if she is interested in reviewing more.

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Ivanka Dimitrova of  Olswanger Literary

Ivanka Dimitrova is a Literary Associate with Olswanger Literary and a published author represented by Focused Artists Agency. She holds a business degree and is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, the Women’s National Book Association, the American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Jane Austen Society of North America.

What she is seeking: Ivanka is seeking commercial and upmarket fiction, including women’s fiction, book club fiction, mystery, thriller, romance, magical realism, low fantasy, and time-slip fiction. She is drawn to stories where history intersects with mystery, folklore, and wonder, as well as immersive settings and emotionally resonant storytelling. For nonfiction, she is interested in literary and cultural history, travel, biographies, authors’ lives, homes, and gardens, and select lifestyle, gift, and cookbook projects.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Laura Katz of Writers House

Writers House is one of the largest independent literary agencies in the world, with in-house international licensing, media, contracts, and accounting teams. I joined in 2021, working first as an assistant in the contracts and accounting departments. Since 2022, I’ve supported Simon Lipskar and his list of award-winning and bestselling clients, and I'm now actively building my own list of adult fiction.

What she is seeking: I'm currently seeking authors of book club, upmarket, and literary fiction. My favorite books tend to sit in the range between plot-driven stories with deep emotional intelligence (IF WE WERE VILLAINS by M.L. Rio) and character-driven yet propulsive novels with complex themes (CIRCE by Madeline Miller). I enjoy voices ranging anywhere from atmospheric to earnest to wry, and I particularly love:

- Mystery/suspense influences, or crime fiction that leans literary (THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore)
- Contemporary stories with a strong hook and complicated relationships (Kiley Reid’s novels, TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett)
- Speculative or spooky elements thrown into a world that otherwise resembles our own. True high fantasy, sci-fi, and undiluted horror are probably not right for me. (BABEL by R. F. Kuang, YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke)
- Vivid, specific settings that allow me to explore a new place or see a new angle on a familiar one (MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite, CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan)
- I’m also open to select rom-coms, though I’m more likely get excited about a project if the romance is mixed with/secondary to other plot elements. In any case, the intelligence, character growth, and humor need to be front and center (Ali Hazelwood’s dialogue is my gold standard!)

How to aubmit: Use her querymanager HERE.

6 New Literary Agents Actively Seeking YA and Adult Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Thrillers and more!

Here are six new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

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 several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

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

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Ms. Olivia Emerick of  Metamorphosis Literary Agency

A Boston College graduate with a background in English and Classics, Olivia Emerick has always had her nose in a book. With her experience in the literary and theatrical spaces, she values collaboration, communication, and human stories. She is passionate about advancing authors' careers while respecting their artistic visions. Outside work, she enjoys writing poetry and attending local theatre productions.

What she is seeking: Under the umbrella of commercial fiction for young adult and adult audiences, she is looking for manuscripts in the romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, dystopian, horror, and thriller genres.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Kelsey Evans of Rosecliff Literary

Kelsey Evans is a publishing professional with a background in communications, marketing, and editing.

After a decade helming marketing strategy and content development for agencies with major clients like AAA, Dannon, and Target, she transitioned into publishing.

She began as an editor, helping writers shape their work through developmental feedback, query critiques, and revision guidance.

Later, she moved into agenting, interning with Triada US and Creative Media Agency (CMA), where she gained hands-on experience in manuscript evaluation, submissions, and client development.

What she is seeking: YA and Adult fiction, all genres and nonfiction.

Fiction: Action/Adventure, BIPOC Literature, Crime, Fantasy, Folklore, Gothic, Horror, LGBTQ, Magical Realism, Mystery, Neo-Western, New Adult, Psychological Thriller, Romcom, Science Fiction, Speculative, Thriller, Upmarket Speculative, Young Adult

Non-Fiction: Cookbooks, Cultural criticism, Current Events, Feminism and women's issues, History, Journalism, Science, Sports 

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Arizona Bell of Rosecliff Literary

Arizona Bell is an author, bestselling ghostwriter, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, popular podcaster, sought-after conference speaker.

What she is seeking: She’s seeking daring nonfiction that pushes boundaries and changes conversations.

Arizona’s list centers on voice-driven narrative and creative nonfiction, big-idea books, high-stakes journalism with receipts, fresh slants on culture and creativity, and meaningful explorations of spirituality, religion, or philosophy. And yes—she’s also a sucker for anything astrology!

At the core, she’s hunting for writing that tackles resilience, belief, and the human spirit under pressure, and does so with literary pizazz.

Whether it’s a survival memoir that doubles as cultural critique, a narrative that blows open an underground world hiding in plain sight, or a political exposé that keeps you turning pages like a thriller—she wants true stories that refuse to look away.  

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Mr. René Kooiker of Dystel Goderich & Bourret LLC

René J. Kooiker joined DG&B as Digital Coordinator and Junior Literary Agent in 2026, following stints in book-to-screen scouting, magazine editing, and academia. He consulted on new fiction for major book-to-screen clients in Hollywood and was Assistant Editor at The Yale Review. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University and a B.A. in French and English from Amherst College. Having grown up in the Netherlands, he also lived and studied abroad in Avignon and Paris, France.

What he is seeking: René is actively building his list, balancing fiction with non-fiction. In fiction, he’s drawn to high-concept or speculative upmarket fiction, literary debuts, friend groups and family sagas, grounded love stories and romcoms, psychological thrillers, crime or noir, and elevated horror. Generally, he loves reading fiction that has potential to be adapted for the screen. For non-fiction, he will consider previously untold or marginalized histories, research-driven narrative, incisive or funny essay collections, and smart cultural criticism for a broad audience. 

How to submit: Use his querymanager form HERE.

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Ms. Marrissa Childs of Ladderbird Literary Agency

An Arkansas Native, Marrissa has come a long way in her journey into publishing. She doubled majored in professional writing and creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas. Since she has obtained her MFA in Creative writing at Chapman University in California, she has dedicated herself, wholeheartedly, to publishing through leading her literary innovation team, JourneyWriter, in their path to healing the literacy crisis. She is also a member of the New York non-profit, Inkluded Inc.- assisting them with introducing young BiPOCs publishing professionals to the industry. She has also had the opportunity to work with Publisher’s Weekly as a writer and Booklife extern. She is now entering her path to agenting with Ladderbird with a clean slate, but experienced mind.

What she is seeking: I am currently interested in accepting Adult, New Adult fiction, and Craft/Homemaking. I do not accept Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, legal, mystery/spy thrillers, paranormal, religious, hyper-sexual, or dark romance. I am looking for works that depict BIPOC voices in our full spectrum- from the most mundane to the most spectacular lifestyles, from the bittersweet to the joyous.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Shania Soler of  Metamorphosis Literary Agency

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Shania has been an avid book lover from the moment she picked up Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy. Ever since then, her TBR pile has steadily grown. Currently working on an MA at the University of Leeds, she has received her Bachelor’s of Arts in English from the University of Maine and plans to pursue a PhD in Japan, where she spent 7 months during her undergrad studying the language and culture. When not reading, she can be found lounging with her cat, Marlow, or studying for her degree.

What she is seeking: Looking for novels in the fantasy genre or romance (YA and NA).

• For fantasy, I'm interested in more than just the romance that two characters have. Give me intricate political and/or magic systems and complex character backstories.
• For contemporary romance, I'm looking for things that take me off the beaten path. Think Butcher & Blackbird or Haunting Adeline.
• Horror (Young Adult, New Adult)
• Mythology (Young Adult, New Adult)
• Magical Realism (Young Adult, New Adult)

How to submit: Use her form HERE.

8 New Agents and a New Literary Agency Actively Seeking Cookbooks, Memoir, Women's Fiction, LGBT, Horror, Romance and more

Here are eight new literary agents and a new agency actively seeking clients. New agents and agencies are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

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 several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

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

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Ms. Sharmaine Lovegrove of International Creative Agency (UK)

Sharmaine Lovegrove is a literary agent and cultural activist based in Berlin, with two decades of experience across publishing, bookselling, strategic cultural consultancy, and media. She was formerly the Managing Director of Dialogue, a division of Hachette UK, where she championed underrepresented voices and published acclaimed and bestselling authors including Brit Bennett, Liv Little, Lisa Ko, Tina Knowles, Clint Smith, Irenosen Okojie, Zaina Arafat, Theresia Enzensberger, Okechukwu Nzelu, and Jeffrey Boakye.

What she is seeking: At ICA, Sharmaine is actively building a list of fiction and non-fiction with international ambition, seeking distinctive voices, emotional resonance, and stories that broaden how we see the world. She is looking for literary and upmarket commercial fiction — novels and short story collections that are character-driven, emotionally rich, and often international in perspective. She is drawn to novels of love and relationships, whether familial, platonic, or romantic, that balance commercial reach with literary ambition. She is also seeking fiction that reimagines or disrupts dominant narratives, recasting history, myth, and perspective through fresh voices. In non-fiction, Sharmaine is interested in expert-led works on culture, politics, and society with narrative drive, as well as bold memoirs that move beyond the personal to spark wider cultural conversations.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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V Ruiz of D4EO Literary Agency

V. Ruiz is a Lesbian, Mexican-American agent, editor, and author, who aspires to make publishing more equitable by working as an advocate for their authors. With nearly ten years of editing experience across literary and commercial genres, they consider themselves an editorial and career agent. V. wants to work with authors who are eager to work on multiple projects and who are open to editorial guidance and feedback. Recently, they worked as an acquisitions editor and project manager with Row House Publishing (distributed by Simon and Schuster) for over three years. While at RH, they also oversaw production, project schedules, contributed to design, and marketing. You can rest assured that they have a deep understanding of the publishing process which in turn, helps their authors feel prepared with what to expect. V. is always eager to hear from voices who have been systemically underrepresented in publishing.

They have worked on over 25 titles as an editor. Aside from editing, they have previously ghostwritten nonfiction and fiction titles (over 15) in topics ranging from finance to small town romance. They also hold an MFA and BA in English and Creative Writing.

When V. isn’t writing or reading, they are studying astrology, playing video games, or trekking across the world to scream their heart out at a concert.

What they are seeking: I am primarily interested in fiction for adults and teens. I am also open to seeing nonfiction if it’s spiritual or esoteric in nature, a cookbook proposal, and/or very select memoir projects. I’m especially focused on fantasy, horror and thrillers, women’s fiction, and romance. I love championing BIPOC, Disabled, and LGBTQ+ voices.  
 

How to submit: Use their querytracker form HERE.

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Jillian Schelzi of HG Literary

Jillian graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT with a BS in Mathematics. After working for years in Finance at a consulting firm in Boston, Jillian realized her passion did not lie within excel sheets, and she set off to pursue a new dream. She moved to New York City to attend NYU and obtained her MS in Publishing: Digital and Print Media. Her first role in publishing was as an intern for HG Literary in 2023. She also provided contract work for Gina Protano of GGP Publishing (whom she met by chance in Barnes & Noble). Upon graduating NYU, she returned full time to HG Literary as an assistant to Josh Getzler. 

She is thrilled to now be open to queries herself!

What she is seeking: Jillian loves a novel that is going to make her feel deeply, whether that is devastating sorrow or profound joy. She is primarily looking for adult fiction and is specifically interested in thrillers, particularly anything psychological (or anything with a shocking twist!) with page turning suspense. She is also drawn to rich historical fiction set against the backdrop of war. She also loves any book that includes representation of mental illness and is not afraid of novels that include darker, more challenging themes. She is open to novels that skew literary and upmarket, as well as anything Book Club.

For YA, Jillian is only considering YA romance at this time.

Jillian is not looking for middle grade, picture books, religious books, fantasy/romantasy, or horror at this time. 

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Ms. Corissa Hollenbeck of Janklow and Nesbit Ltd (UK)

Corissa Hollenbeck grew up in Massachusetts and attended Phillips Academy Andover, King’s College London, the University of Freiburg, and the Columbia Publishing Course. She has worked at VICE, Marie Claire, and The Guardian. Corissa has worked with a broad range of prize-winning and bestselling authors whilst assisting literary agent and Managing Director Will Francis.

What she is seeking: Corissa is actively building her list and is looking to hear from researchers, journalists, historians, academics, nature and culture writers. She is interested in writers who can help readers see the world differently, or experts who are keen to find a mainstream audience for their ideas and writing.

How to submit: Follow agency guidelines HERE.

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Justina Ireland of Handspun Literary Agency

Justina joined Handspun in 2026 as a junior agent. She is also an award winning and New York Times bestselling author of numerous books as well as a writer of both comics and television. She is a United States Army Veteran and holds a BA in History from Georgia Southern (previously Armstrong Atlantic State University) and an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

What she is seeking:She loves meticulous worldbuilding and complicated characters and is currently looking for well executed speculative fiction in most categories. She is drawn to Middle Grade and Young Adult that asks complicated questions without talking down to a reader and adult books that skew a little offbeat–Bitter Karella’s Moon Flow and Sarah Gailey’s Spread Me are recent examples.

Justina does not accept non-fiction, picture books, romantasy, contemporary, or previously self-published works.

Writers from historically marginalized backgrounds are strongly encouraged to submit.

How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE. (Scroll down)

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Ms. Claudia Cramer of Olswanger Literary

Claudia Cramer is a literary associate at Olswanger Literary. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English, she started her career in publishing by writing and editing for Coffee House Writers. She recently joined Olswanger Literary as a Literary Associate. 

What she is seeking: Claudia is actively seeking fiction and nonfiction projects with cross-genre appeal and strong audience potential. In fiction, she is interested in romance, historical fiction, family sagas, mystery, low fantasy, and book club reads. For nonfiction, she welcomes cookbooks, science, nature, history, and popular culture. She's especially enthusiastic about stories centered on Latino characters by Latino authors.

How to submit: Please submit your queries to my email at claudia@olswangerliterary.com

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Ms. Lindsay Watson of Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency

Lindsay Watson joined the agency in 2024. She manages the subsidiary rights department, and is currently building her list in Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction. For Young Adult and Middle Grade, she is looking for fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. In Adult Fiction, Lindsay is interested in paranormal romance and romantasy (including LGBTQ+), and psychological thrillers.

What she is seeking: Lindsay enjoys immersive world-building, good banter, spooky vibes, and shocking plot twists. As her focus is subsidiary rights, she frequently works with indie authors who are expanding their subrights and translation portfolio, and pursuing a hybrid publishing career.

How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE.

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Madelyn Knecht of Storm Literary Agency

Madelyn is an editor, writer, and passionate reader from Texas whose hair changes color on a weekly basis. After falling in love with reading books that made her laugh and cry in equal measure, she started writing her first book at nine and never looked back. She serves as a RevPit board member, where she created the BIPOC Editor Mentorship, and a member of the EFA. When not reading or writing, you can find her playing cozy games like Rune Factory and Stardew Valley, crocheting, picking up a new hobby, or spending time with her two criminal Australian Shepherds and her lovable cat, Lucas.

What she is seeking: Age Groups: Adult, Young Adult, select Middle Grade. Genres: Fantasy (all subgenres), scifi, speculative, horror, mystery

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Keystone Literary Agency

With 20 years of industry experience, as both an editor and an agent, Lindsay Guzzardo brings a hands-on, career-focused approach to representation. In 2025, she founded Keystone Literary Agency in the Keystone State. The word “keystone” is also a nod to the role an agent serves, fortifying the bridge between author and publisher, leading to our motto: “Keystone Literary Agency: Connecting Great Books with the World.”

Lindsay is drawn to high-concept, commercial premises well told and will consider adult fiction and narrative nonfiction with a clear, marketable, compelling hook, and strong voice. Her personal tastes align with the following:

Fiction:

• Retellings of classic stories (either modern retellings or classic stories told from a different character’s perspective)
• Beach reads
• Fiction exploring family dynamics and relationships (particularly mothers/daughters and sisters)
• Amish romance/fiction
• Wholesome, clean fiction and romance
• Cozy, charming, small-town romance/fiction
• Rich, evocative historical fiction
• Fiction featuring historical figures
• European-set fiction, any era and tone
• Dark psychological and domestic suspense
• Family dramas that interweave past and present

Nonfiction proposals welcome from journalists and field experts in:

• History
• Biography
• Science
• Sports
• Narrative nonfiction
• Memoirs (must have a strong platform)

Note: Lindsay accepts submissions the first week of the month. Please submit via Query Manager.

5 New Literary Agents Seeking Nonfiction, Fantasy, Scifi, Thrillers & Suspense, Action/Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance and more

Here are five new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

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 several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

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

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Ms. Rose Conway of Confluence Literary Agency

Rose Conway joins Confluence Literary Agency as an expansion of her dedicated work to inform and empower authors in the dynamic industry landscape. 

Her publishing career began with a fortuitous internship at Simon & Schuster U.K. There, she first learned about the role of a "Literary Agent” and directed her career to being the ultimate cheerleader, critic, confidante, and champion for creative writers. In 2021, she diverted to explore hybrid publishing as the editorial manager for a leading professional publisher, ensuring that creative writers could earn a living and have the flexibility to pursue their own projects. Two years later, witnessing authors navigate mounting obstacles in the publishing landscape with increasingly contradictory and inconsistent advice, Rose founded Foreword Literary Consulting, LLC as a trusted resource for strategic guidance. Rose holds a Masters in Publishing from London College of Communication and a double Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication Studies from Villanova University. She lives in Columbia, Maryland with her husband.

What she is seeking: Rose is seeking commercial fiction. Her list focuses on stylistically subversive and thematically layered fiction: work that leads with artistry and allows deeper themes to emerge naturally. She seeks upmarket and smart commercial fiction with inventive structures, emotional depth, and distinctive voices. Think braided narratives, unexpected POVs, and prose that takes creative risks. In building her list, Rose is interested in career-oriented writers and her goal is to help authors lay the foundation for sustainable career growth. 

How to submit: Use her querymanager form HERE. Will open February 1, 2026.

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Jess Taylor of Martin-Newens Literary Management

Jess discovered her passion for publishing when she crafted her first book pitch for a high school research project. After falling in love with persuading others to read the stories she adored, she earned her BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she also completed the publishing certificate program. She spent six years acquiring children's books, YA, nonfiction, and fiction for a Virginia-based publisher before opening an online bookstore dedicated to her first love: young adult literature.

What she is seeking: Young adult, new adult, select romance.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.

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Charlie Serabian of Martin-Newens Literary Management

As a graduate of SCAD’s film and television department, Charlie spent his earlier years script doctoring and working on commercial, television, and documentary sets. His focus swiftly shifted to the book world in 2017 after starting at Global Lion Intellectual Property Management under the tutelage of literary maverick Peter Miller, where he became an agent after four years. He has also ghost written several books, written/co-written two WGA-approved screenplays, and edited numerous works of fiction and non-fiction.

What he is seeking: Primarily, I'm looking to build my list in genre fiction of all kinds. I have a special place in my heart for sci-fi and fantasy with a strong sense of style, prose, and characterization. I love writing with an appreciation for the macabre, a deathly sense of humor, or gothic sensibilities. I am also open to YA horror, adult horror, adult thrillers and crime fiction. In nonfiction I'd love to see the following:

• Anything that deals with hard hitting truths or the darker aspects of humanity.
• New technology.
• Political intrigue.
• Restaurant-focused works, whether cookbooks, or about the general world of restauranting. I am the son of two restaurateurs, so it's a subject close to me.
• Intriguing studies of lesser known people or situations.
• Having represented Sir Ken Robinson for many years, I am deeply invested in the subject of education. If you are a teacher or educator, I'd love to hear from you.
• I've worked with many wonderful true crime authors over the years, including Matthew Phelps and Aphrodite Jones. I also managed the estate of Vincent Bugliosi, author of Helter Skelter. True crime is always something I will give a chance to.

How to submit: Use his querymanager HERE.

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Bowen Gillings of Savvy Literary

Bowen Gillings is an active member of the American Association of Literary Agents who joined Savvy Literary in 2025. He has nearly a decade of experience as an author and champion of authors. Currently building his list, Bowen seeks to partner with writers possessing a solid grasp of why and how they write coupled with professionalism and a sense of humor. He loves engaging, entertaining books with a strong narrative voice.

Bowen has several published works of fiction including The Chronicles of Rom & Drood, First Family, The Wedding Guest, A Night to Remember, Exceptionals, and Overstuffed Lunchbox: A Bunch of Bite-Sized Bits. He recently co-wrote Year-by-Year: A Chronology of Garden of the Gods Park, a detailed history resource text for the City of Colorado Springs Office of Cultural Services.

What he is seeking: Currently seeking in fiction: Fantasy (High/Low/Epic/Grimdark/Noblebright, et al.), Thrillers & Suspense, Action/Adventure, Historical Fiction, Light Sci-Fi, Military Sci-Fi, and witty, humorous voices writing any of the above.

Currently seeking in non-fiction: narrative non-fiction, Pre-Revolution North America, American Indian voices (modern and historic), ancient history/lost civilizations, fitness/wellness/mental health, outdoors, cookbooks, and travel.

How to submit: Please send your query letter, one-two page synopsis, first three chapters, author bio with website link(s), social media link(s), and marketing plan (all documents must be in PDF format) to bowen@savvyliterary.com or use the submissions form HERE. Bowen is open to submissions the first week of every month.

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Ms. Natalie Sun of HG Literary

Natalie grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia reading as many fantastical adventures she could get her hands on. After graduating from New York University with a major in English and a minor in psychology, she joined HG Literary to assist Carrie Hannigan. 

What she is seeking: Natalie is primarily interested in YA and adult fantasy of all kinds, but will read any genre of fiction. She loves found family, original magic systems, complex dynamics, retellings, and romance. She has a soft spot for anything with horses. Natalie is not looking for religious books, nonfiction, horror, or graphic novels, but will otherwise read whatever is put in her hands, including science fiction, thriller, and middle grade.

How to submit: Use her querymanager HERE.