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The Best Literary Agents Seeking Young Adult Submissions

Showing 280 agents that match your search.

Lane Heymont

💼 Agency: The Tobias Agency

🌍 Location: Nashville, US

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.thetobiasagency.com/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through QueryManager

Genres: Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Diverse Fiction, #ownvoices, BIPOC, LGBTQ

Previous clients: Diana Rodriguez Wallach, John Maszka, Rachel Neff, Claire O'Dell

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | MSWL

Jennifer DeChiara

💼 Agency: Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency

🌍 Location: New York, US

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.jdlit.com/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Self-Help, Spirituality, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Picture Book, Diverse Fiction, LGBTQ

Previous clients: Brent Hartinger, Richard Mintzer, Jeff Anderson, Franco Aureliani

Open to queries

Query Tracker | Agent Query

Cathryn Summerhayes

💼 Agency: Curtis Brown UK

🌍 Location: London, GB

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Self-Help

Previous clients: Ranulph Fiennes, Adam Kay, Lucy Foley, Sandi Toksvig, Shappi Khorsandi, Naomi Wood

Open to queries

Query Tracker

Julia Churchill

💼 Agency: A.M. Heath & Co. Ltd

🌍 Location: London, GB

🧑‍💻 Website: https://amheath.com

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through online form

Genres: Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Picture Book, Fiction, Nonfiction

Previous clients: Joan Aiken, Lloyd Alexander, Zillah Bethell, Helen Douglas

Open to queries

Query Tracker | MSWL

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Hillary Jacobson

💼 Agency: Creative Artists Agency

🌍 Location: Los Angeles, US

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.caa.com/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Young Adult, Memoir, Historical Fiction, Horror, Crime Fiction, Humor, Women's Fiction

Previous clients: Tomi Adeyemi, Kate Elizabeth Russell, Karen Hamilton, Eiko Kadono

Open to queries

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace

Marietta Zacker

💼 Agency: Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency

🌍 Location: Newark, US

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.galltzacker.com/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit through QueryManager

Genres: Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Picture Book, Diverse Fiction

Previous clients: Ann Bonwill, Dawn Lairimore, Stephanie Sanders, Hilary Wagner

Query Tracker | MSWL | Agent Query

Annelise Robey

💼 Agency: Jane Rotrosen Agency

🌍 Location: New York City, US

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.janerotrosen.com/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through online form

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Women's Fiction, Young Adult

Previous clients: Terri Garey, Monica McCarty, James Hayman

Open to queries

Query Tracker | Agent Query

Alice Williams

💼 Agency: Alice Williams Literary Agency

🌍 Location: London, GB

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.alicewilliamsliterary.co.uk/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through email

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Picture Book, Diverse Fiction, BIPOC, LGBTQ

Previous clients: Lara Hawthorne, Pete Williamson, Fabi Santiago, Rachel Delahaye, Paul Whitfield

Open to queries

Query Tracker | MSWL

Jim McCarthy

💼 Agency: Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

🌍 Location: New York City, US

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.dystel.com/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through QueryManager

Genres: Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction, LGBTQ, Humor, Narrative Nonfiction, Politics, Sports, Chick Lit

Previous clients: Richelle Mead, Cynthia Ceilan, Victoria Laurie, Carrie Ryan, Julia Templeton, Michelle Rowen

Open to queries

Query Tracker | MSWL | Agent Query

Caryn Wiseman

💼 Agency: Andrea Brown Literary Agency

🌍 Location: Chicago, US

🧑‍💻 Website: https://www.andreabrownlit.com/

📣 Preferred contact method: Submit queries through QueryManager

Genres: Young Adult, Children's Book, Middle Grade, Diverse Fiction, BIPOC, LGBTQ

Previous clients: Kelly Starling Lyons, Tom Angleberger, Cece Bell, Debbie Levy

Query Tracker | Publishers Marketplace | 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 — 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 — 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 — 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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