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DIRECTORY

The Best Literary Agents Seeking Nonfiction Submissions

Showing 444 agents that match your search.

Frank Weimann

πŸ’Ό Agency: Folio Literary Management

🌍 Location: New York City, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: https://www.foliolit.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Business Book, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Spirituality, Sports, Self-Help

Previous clients: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Laura Prepon, Bill Russell, Dan Abrams, Gregg Allman

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace

Sallyanne Sweeney

πŸ’Ό Agency: Mulcahy Associates

🌍 Location: London, GB

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: https://mmbcreative.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Self-Help

Previous clients: Juno Dawson, Steve Lenton, Jon Walter, Lucy Van Smit

Open to queries

Query Tracker | MSWL

Joshua A. Bilmes

πŸ’Ό Agency: JABberwocky Literary Agency

🌍 Location: New York City, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: http://www.awfulagent.com

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through QueryManager

Genres: Fiction, Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, Nonfiction, Business Book, Memoir, Politics, Sports, Graphic Novel, LGBTQ, Commercial Fiction

Previous clients: Charlaine Harris, Brandon Sanderson, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Peter V. Brett, Jack Campbell, Grady Hendrix, Lilliam Rivera, Simon R. Green.

Open to queries

Query Tracker | MSWL | Agent Query

Anne Sibbald

πŸ’Ό Agency: Janklow & Nesbit Associates

🌍 Location: New York, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: http://www.janklowandnesbit.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Thriller, Nonfiction, Memoir

Previous clients: Terry Brooks, Stuart Woods, Bob Colacello, Nicholas Christopher

Query Tracker | Agent Query

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Suzie Townsend

πŸ’Ό Agency: New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.

🌍 Location: New York City, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: http://www.newleafliterary.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Women's Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Nonfiction

Previous clients: Laura Steven, Victoria Aveyard, Natalie Lloyd, Jennifer Ryan, Brigid Kemmer, Christine Day

Open to queries

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | MSWL

Michelle Brower

πŸ’Ό Agency: Trellis Literary Management

🌍 Location: Boston, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: https://www.trellisliterary.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through QueryManager

Genres: Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Thriller

Previous clients: Tolani Akinola, Zaina Arafat, Manuel Aragon, Clare Beams, Jamey Bradbury, Mikki Brammer, Brittany Bronson.

Open to queries

Query Tracker | MSWL | Agent Query

Katie Kotchman

πŸ’Ό Agency: Don Congdon Associates

🌍 Location: New York City, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: http://www.doncongdon.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through QueryManager

Genres: Nonfiction, Business Book, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Self-Help, Politics

Previous clients: Jill Althouse-Wood, Lauren Berger, Jenny Dearborn, Tom Faley

Open to queries

Query Tracker | MSWL

Will Francis

πŸ’Ό Agency: Janklow & Nesbit Associates

🌍 Location: London, GB

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: https://janklowandnesbit.co.uk/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics

Previous clients: Jasper Fforde, Evan Davis, Charles Cumming, Kevin Fong

Open to queries

Query Tracker

Matt McGowan

πŸ’Ό Agency: Frances Goldin Literary Agency, Inc.

🌍 Location: New York City, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: http://www.goldinlit.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Humor, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics, Sports

Previous clients: Eula Biss, Stephen Burt, John D'Agata, Brian Evenson, Brandon Harris

Open to queries

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | Agent Query

Andrea Somberg

πŸ’Ό Agency: Harvey Klinger, Inc.

🌍 Location: New York City, US

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website: https://www.harveyklinger.com/

πŸ“£ Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Humor, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Business Book, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Self-Help, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction

Previous clients: Sarah Beth Durst, Erin Celello, B.A. Binns, Jessica Warman, Christopher Lee Barish, Lyla Ward

Open to queries

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | MSWL | Agent Query

What do literary agents do?

A literary agent represents your book to acquiring editors who want to publish it. In other words, an agent gets your foot in the door of a publishing house β€” and onto the path of getting traditionally published. 

In addition to championing you and your writing and serving as your point of contact with others in publishing, literary agents understand editors’ tastes and the types of books that publishers are looking to add to their lists β€” a crucial component in getting any publishing house to invest in the works of new authors. Since most big publishers don’t accept unsolicited submissions, getting a literary agent who’s accepting submissions is the most realistic route to traditional publication, particularly for debut authors.

Aside from getting your foot in the door, what else do literary agents do?

  • They are expert negotiators, combining publishing acumen with a nose for the value of good, sellable writing;
  • They act as mediators between you and your publisher (when you don’t want to hurt your working relationship with an editor by talking brass tacks);
  • They manage the financial and marketing side of things while you concentrate on the writing; and
  • They often have strong editorial skills, helping refine your manuscript before you send it to a publisher.

As you might've guessed, literary agents are especially important for debut authors, who often don't have a starting point in the vast maze that is the publishing industry. That's what a literary agent will become for you: a guide to help you throughout the publishing process, and kickstart your publishing career. 

New authors might be intimidated by the wealth of information and cautionary signs in the industry. It's especially tricky to research literary agents when some are open to submissions from new authors, and some are not.

If you're one of those debut authors, don't fret! We've got you covered with the resources that you need to gain your bearings.

Resources for new authors landing a literary agent in 2025

You might think that a great book is all you need to catch a literary agent’s attention. But you’ll need to put in a good amount of work to land them β€” and that includes everything from the careful study of each agent's wishlist to personalizing your query letter for each candidate..

Whether you’re a new author learning how to research literary agents or an experienced writer refining your query letter, here are the resources that can give you a headstart.

Free online materials for debut authors

Recommended books

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