How to Write a Query Letter That Gets a Literary Agent's Attention

 

A query letter is a one-page pitch you send to an agent to spark interest. It's usually sent via email or through a form site like Query Tracker or Query To. Your number one rule is to follow each agent's individual guidelines as the guidelines can vary from agency to agency. 

ProTip: Agents can receive hundreds of letters per week. Start by showing you are professional and make your letter easy to skim by using  the 3-Paragraph Formula:

1. Hook Paragraph
2. Book Paragraph
3. Cook Paragraph

#1: THE HOOK

1. Personalization: WHY you chose this agent
2. Include your manuscript's word count
3. Include your genre (e.g., romance novel, middle grade mystery, adult historical fiction, YA fantasy, narrative nonfiction picture book, etc.)
4. Title (put your title in ALL CAPS)
5. Hook = comp titles + a logline that quickly conveys the vibe and pops with possibilities

#2: BOOK – not a synopsis! Don’t give the beginning → middle → end.

INCLUDE: 

• your compelling character (someone readers will root for!)
• character's goal
• Major conflicts
• What's at stake – what do they stand to lose if they don’t achieve their goal & why must they do it now (what's your ticking time clock)?
• Emotion – the top currency in storytelling! What's the theme and heart, and how can you weave it into this paragraph without sounding didactic or like you're setting out to teach a lesson?

#3: THE COOK = YOUR BIO

Include:

• Writing organizations (e.g., RWA, SCBWI, SFWA, etc.)
• Writing workshops that show you are active
• Awards
• Relevant professional background

Be professional! Some agents are quick to reply. But remember, agents juggle book deals, existing clients, and families—just like the rest of us! Query responses often take 4–12 weeks. Opening and closing their inboxes helps agents manage submissions thoughtfully and give each writer the time and attention they deserve. Patience is part of the publishing journey!

Not every query receives a reply! In one analysis of QueryTracker data, 42% of queries went unanswered. Many agencies have a “no response means no” policy, stating something like:

“We wish we had time to provide personalized responses. If you don't hear from us within 12 weeks, please consider it a pass.”

Always check an agent’s submission guidelines so you know what to expect!

Statistics can feel jarring, but don’t let the numbers discourage you! Focus on what’s within your control:

• Professionalism: Lead with courtesy, patience, and respect.

• Craft: Write, revise, and polish your strongest manuscript.

• The Pitch: Craft a compelling query letter that sparks interest.

• VET! Research and vet agents to find the right partner for your writing career.

You can't control an agent's inbox, but you can control what you bring to it.

Keep learning, keep growing, and keep going! GOOD LUCK!

4 Literary Agents Looking to Sign New Clients in November 2026

 

Literary Agents Open to Queries 

Are you looking for literary representation? Whether you write picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, or nonfiction, these four literary agents are worth exploring!

As always, review each agent's submission guidelines before querying, and make sure your manuscript is polished and ready to go.

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Kristen Terrette

Agency: Martin Literary and Media Management

Query Window: November 15–29, 2026 ONLY!

What They Are Seeking:

Kristen is interested in adult fiction and nonfiction across multiple genres. Her personal website also highlights her enthusiasm for speculative middle grade.

Middle Grade:

• Speculative fiction (excluding science fiction)

• Magic, trolls, unicorns, fairies, and good witches

• Unreliable narrators

• Horror and creepy stories

• Messy families

• Good-versus-evil themes

On her personal website, Kristen enthusiastically declares, "I heart Middle Grade!"

Adult Fiction:

• Thrillers, suspense, and mysteries

• Horror

• Contemporary fiction

• Romance

• Women's fiction

• Faith-based fiction

Adult Nonfiction:

• Faith-based nonfiction

• General nonfiction

More About Her Wishlist:

According to the overall preferences shared on her website, Kristen loves stories with distinctive settings, including reservations, sparsely populated parts of the United States, and locations outside the United States and England.

She also gravitates toward:

• Diverse casts and social justice themes

• Stories that offer hope

• Unique narrative structures and retellings

• Time lapses and multiple points of view when warranted

• Industry-standard word counts

• Compelling hooks and stakes established within the first five to eight pages

How to Query:

Submit through Kristen Terrette's QueryTracker/QueryManager page.

Important: Kristen's current agency profile indicates that middle-grade submissions are considered at conferences or through referrals. Middle-grade authors should confirm eligibility before submitting during her November query window.

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Alicia Tan

Agency: Triangle House Literary

What They Are Seeking:

Alicia is seeking literary fiction and nonfiction that challenges expectations, explores the human experience, and offers readers a fresh perspective.

Literary Fiction:

• Voice-driven writing

• Complicated, nuanced characters

• Singular, distinctive prose

• Stories that challenge norms and expectations

Nonfiction:

• Narrative nonfiction

• Idea-driven nonfiction

• Cultural criticism

• Personal essays

• Memoir

• Longform journalism

Additional Interests:

• Hybrid literary forms

• Genre-bending projects

• Experimental storytelling

• Writing that reframes how readers understand themselves or the world around them

According to her agency website, Alicia is especially drawn to work that challenges conventions in both its style and its subject matter, while illuminating what it means to be human.

How to Query:

Email alicia@triangle.house.

Include:

• Subject line: QUERY

• Your query letter

• The first 20 pages of your manuscript, or the full proposal when applicable

• All materials pasted directly into the body of your email using a normal-sized font

Read more about Alicia on the Triangle House Literary staff page.

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Jennie Dunham

Agency: Dunham Literary

What They Are Seeking:

Jennie Dunham founded Dunham Literary in August 2000 and has worked as a literary agent since May 1992. She represents both adult and children's literature.

Above all, Jennie is looking for a strong, distinctive voice.

She values:

• Strong narratives

• Memorable characters

• Unusual premises

• Underrepresented people, places, and perspectives

• Authentic stories and perspectives, including #OwnVoices work

Adult Categories:

• Upmarket literary fiction

• Literary nonfiction

Children's Categories:

• Picture book writers and illustrators

• Middle grade fiction

• Middle grade nonfiction

• Young adult fiction

• Young adult nonfiction

How to Query:

THIS IS AN UPDATE — Dunham Literary is now accepting queries ONLY through QueryTracker/QueryManager.

Jennie Dunham Query Tracker Form is open here 

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Anjanette Barr

Agency: Dunham Literary

Query Window: April and November

What They Are Seeking:

Anjanette Barr represents literature for adults and children, with a special interest in captivating settings, relatable characters, compelling ideas, and books that explore the richness of the human experience.

Adult Fiction:

• Historical fiction

• Literary and upmarket fiction

• Romance

• Fantasy and science fiction

• Gothic fiction

• Magical realism

She especially enjoys stories that explore virtues such as empathy and self-sacrifice.

Some examples of books she admires include My Ántonia, Outlander, The Snow Child, Piranesi, Book Lovers, The Sparrow, and Project Hail Mary.

Adult Nonfiction:

• Well-researched nonfiction that makes complex topics accessible and engaging

• Biography

• Memoir

• Books exploring poverty and justice from fresh perspectives

• Thought-provoking nonfiction that connects with a broad readership

Examples of books she admires include The Elements by Theodore Gray, Freakonomics, Quiet by Susan Cain, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, and Evicted by Matthew Desmond.

Children's Literature:

As a mother of four, Anjanette has a particular love for books that families can read and enjoy together.

She is seeking:

• Picture books

• Middle grade fiction and nonfiction

• Young adult fiction and nonfiction

• New adult fiction

• Graphic and illustrated works

• Engaging children's nonfiction

• Hopeful, informative, or lyrical stories

• Books that encourage young people to consider their character, identity, and worth

She particularly loves middle grade books that lend themselves to family read-alouds.

Some of her favorites include Anna Hibiscus, Gregor the Overlander, Echo, Whale of the Wild, and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

For Picture Book Authors:

Anjanette especially enjoys picture books that are charming, inviting, and pleasurable to read aloud.

Additional Interests:

• Culture and history

• Faith and mythology

• Fine arts

• Nature

• Magical realism

• Gothic fiction

• Hopeful and lyrical storytelling

Not a Good Fit For:

• Grisly horror

• Erotica

• True crime

• Sports

• Political nonfiction

How to Query:

THIS IS AN UPDATE — Dunham Literary is now accepting queries ONLY through QueryTracker/QueryManager.

Anjanette opens to submissions during April and November.

You can find her official submission form through Dunham Literary's submission page or visit Anjanette Barr's QueryTracker profile.

Additional Submission Guidelines from Dunham Literary's Website:

The agency's guidelines explain the following:

• Query only one Dunham Literary agent. Agents share promising submissions internally when appropriate.

• Address your query to the agent who best fits your manuscript.

• The agency represents adult fiction, adult nonfiction, and children's books, including authors and illustrators.

• It does not represent individual short stories, chapbooks, novellas, or original screenplays or stage plays.

• The agency reads and responds to all queries received through its official QueryTracker inboxes.

• Its typical response goal is approximately four weeks, although actual response times vary.

For complete instructions, visit Dunham Literary's official submission guidelines.

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A Final Reminder for Writers

Query windows can open and close quickly! Always confirm that an agent is accepting submissions in your category before hitting send. Pay close attention to each agency's guidelines, and remember that a personalized, polished query can help your work stand out.

You should never pay an agent a reading fee.

Happy querying, and may your manuscript find its perfect advocate!

Penguin WriteNow Children's Book Author Opportunity UK and Ireland

 

Attention Middle Grade Writers:

This is a post for those writing a middle grade novel (think Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Truth About 5th Grade, When You Reach Me, Merci Suarez Changes Gears, Hello Universe, We Dream of Space, The First State of Being, A Boy Called Bat, Patina, Ghost, Away, Alone, This is a Door, Flora and Ullyses)

Penguin WriteNow is a UK program (authors in UK and authors in Ireland may apply).

What do you get if you are selected:

• One-to-one editorial support from a dedicated Penguin Random House editor to help develop your manuscript.
Industry access and insight through tailored information sessions, writing workshops, and networking events.
A year's free membership to the Society of Authors

Here is what they say: 

"For the 2027 programme, we're looking for writers working on fiction books for children aged 7-12."

Must be 18

Must be unpublished

Must not have an agent  

The program guidelines say:

WriteNow is specifically open to writers from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds and/or lower socio-economic backgrounds."

 Penguin has a robust list of Frequently Asked Questions - Click Here to read on.

 

To apply:

They ask for a 250-word written synopsis, as well as a writing sample (max 3,000 words). Keep in mind that writing for ages 7-12 is a category is called Middle Grade. They urge you to read this article.   

OFFICIAL SITE: Go Here

Attention Unagented Authors: Submit Directly to Publisher - But for One Week Only!

 

Bloodhound Books

For one week only and starting on (2026) November 16^th, Bloodhound Books (a division of Open Road Media) will be open for submissions. Bloodhound Books is a reputable, traditional independent publisher, not a hybrid publisher. They operate on a traditional model, meaning they do not charge authors any upfront fees for editing, cover design, or marketing, and they pay out royalties on sales.

Details:

Who are they: Bloodhound Books was founded in 2014. Since then, they’ve sold over 10 million books worldwide and have had top 10 best-sellers in the UK, USA, Canada & Australia. Their business model is focused on “dynamic digital publishing and produce print on demand paperbacks for every title [they] release.”

What: Genres they consider include:

Crime & Thriller - Psychological Thriller - Domestic Suspense - Police Procedural - Cozy Crime - Sagas - Literary Fiction - True Crime - Women’s Fiction - Contemporary Romance - Romantic Comedy - Historical Fiction

HOW TO SUBMIT – read their full guidelines here

Your email subject line must be “Genre, Author name, Book title”
(for example: Crime thriller submission, Jane Doe, Crime on the Streets)

In the body of the email, include a one paragraph pitch about your book and which genre it sits in, PLUS a minimum of one paragraph about yourself.

Attached to the email should be a full synopsis (no more than 2 pages), spoilers included, and the full-length manuscript (minimum 60,000 and maximum 95,000 word count) as a Word document.

Word count a minimum of 60,000 words (and max appropriate to genre).

Details: Your email submission should include the following three elements:

1.      Complete Manuscript: Your full manuscript should be attached as a single Word document and formatted according to the guidelines (see site – 12 pt. Font, Times New Roman, double spaced, Word Document, numbered pages, clear chapter breaks, no color or odd stylizations).

2.     Synopsis: Please include a synopsis of your work, no longer than 1,500 words. Guidance on how to write and structure your synopsis can be found on their website.

3.     Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us about you as an author. Where relevant, please include: A brief writing biography Any previously published work Awards, competitions, or writing credentials Any other information you feel is relevant to your writing career This can be included in the body of the email or as a separate Word document

They aim to respond within three months but this timescale may vary.

Please read ALL submissions guidelines, which you can find by clicking here. Any submission that does not follow them will not be considered.

Then email along with any attachments as
Word Documents to submissions@bloodhoundbooks.com

 

Have You Written a Book? Here are 4 Literary Agents Open to Submissions Now!

 

This post was created November 2026. If you're reading later it doesn't mean you've missed the boat. Literary agents open and close their inboxes regularly. If their inbox is closed, it only means they are taking time to read other submissions, respond, and then reopen when they have time and space to give your manuscript the full attention it deserves.

If you see an agent you are interested in, vet further. Make sure their wishlist hasn't changed. Make sure you are following their submission guidelines. Make sure they are a good match for you and your work!

You will spend your career with a good literary agent, so it is worthwhile to do your research. 

Chelsea Hensley

Mad Woman Literary Agency

What:  Chelsea represent Children’s Books and Adult projects – fiction and nonfiction

Children’s: Picture Book Author/Illustrators, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade Mysteries, Fantasy Sci-Fi; YA Mysteries, Thriller Suspense, Horror

She says on MSWL: “I’d love to see picture books with some potential new classic characters of all kinds. I like sweet animal characters but would also like to see contemporary, human characters on adventures. In books featuring human characters, I am very, very partial to these characters being BIPOC. As far as text, I like the lyrical and poetic as well as the fun and funny, and while I enjoy a gentle and affirming ode, I’m moreso geared toward stories with a strong narrative. I’m also open to picture book biographies, particularly those of lesser discussed and contemporary figures. 

Adult Horror, Mysteries, Suspense, Thrillers, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Nonfiction (women’s sports (particularly women’s soccer), pop culture and media criticism, astrology, and tarot)

 

MSWL : https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/chelsea-hensley/

 

Where to Query:  Query Manager

 

Jessica Saint Jean

Root Literary

What: Graphic novels, picture books, picture book author/illustrators (Primary Focus: Illustrators and author-illustrators, plus a select number of standalone writers.)  Jessica says her taste leans to upmarket fiction (think literary prose meets page-turning commercial). On PM she says, “Creatively, my tastes are wide-ranging but mostly "upmarket" – meaning books with literary depth and impeccable craft that are also accessible and entertaining. I like working on books that genuinely appeal to kids without talking down to them, and that their grown-ups can appreciate in their own way too.”

More Details:  Per Publisher’s Marketplace, “ I primarily represent illustrators and author-illustrators, along with a select number of writers, who work across all illustrated formats and genres in children's publishing – from board books and picture books to middle grade and graphic novels.

I'm drawn to creators who share my deep passion for children's books – who appreciate the role of children's literature as nourishment and entertainment for kids, and as a rich literary art form. I'm looking for writers and illustrators who work hard on their craft; who understand their books' audience (kids!); who read widely and know how their work fits within the current market; and who hope to build a professional publishing career.”

 

Where: Query Tracker

 

 

Lee Melillo

Speilburg Literary Agency

WHAT: YA and Adult

SPECIFICALLY:  Lee (she/they) represents YA and adult fiction across genres, with a particular focus on upmarket and literary fiction, speculative fiction, and genre-blending thrillers/mysteries. They also represent a selective list of adult nonfiction about entertainment and pop culture.

Where to Query:  Query Tracker Form

 

Cece Lyra

Wendy Sherman Associates, Inc. Literary Management

 

What:  In adult fiction, upmarket is Cece’s sweet spot, though CeCe is also interested in commercial fiction with a distinctive voice and literary fiction with propulsive elements. She is actively acquiring across genres, including book club, thrillers, horror, suspense, mysteries, family sagas, dark comedies, historical fiction, light speculative fiction, magical realism, smart romances, and genre mashups. 

Non-fiction psychology, wellness, health and medicine, self-development, spirituality, women’s issues, current affairs, pop culture, and select memoir.

Wondering what upmarket fiction is: Think mash-up of literary (gorgeous writing) meets commercial (hook!). Upmarket is that perfect combo of the elevated writing, depth, and character-focus of literary books meets the fast-paced, high-concept, high-stakes page-turning plot of commercial books. I always think of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Search up other examples for a cleaner understanding.

WHERE TO QUERY AND HOW: 

Please send all email submissions to submissions@wsherman.com.  Per their guidelines, “We ask that you include your last name, title, and the name of the agent you are submitting to in the subject line. For fiction, please send a query letter and the first 10 pages of your manuscript pasted in the body of the email.  We will not open attachments unless they have been requested.  For nonfiction, please send your query letter and author bio.”

Do your homework. Check out their Do’s and Don’ts. Be as well prepared as possible.

 

 

4 Literary Agents Whose Inboxes are OPEN to Receiving Submissions Today

Hello, Authors and Illustrators!

Literary agents open and close their inboxes, so they have time to read and respond to query letters. As of today, here are four agents who are currently open to receiving query letters. Good luck!

Ryan Nuzzo

Speilburg Literary Agency

WHAT: YA and Adult

SPECIFICALLY: Science fiction, fantasy, LitRPG, horror, and romance in both adult and YA and would love to open doors for underrepresented voices.

Ryan says, “I  am interested in both adult and YA stories that aren’t afraid of doing something new within their genre or taking risks with narrative structure. Underrepresented voices and queer leading characters are appreciated even outside of romance. Genres I’m mostly looking for include science fiction…LitRPG, horror, and romance (all in both adult and YA). I’m also happy to work with hybrid authors. Sidenote -he is temporarily closed to fantasy.

Where: Query Tracker Form

 

Rena Rossner

Bradford Literary Agency

What:  Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult fiction and non-fiction.Literary, Historical, Horror, Fantasy and SciFi, Romance and Thrillers

Specifics: “She loves a good thriller or mystery – be it suspense/domestic/paranormal/historical and is not afraid of the dark. In fact, she loves horror and anything dark, especially if it’s dark and literary. Rena loves historical fiction. She’d love to find a literary romantasy. She’d love to see a shapeshifter or vampire story which feels like it’s never been told before. She is very much looking for Young Adult literature. Jewish stories will always have a special place in her heart.”

Bonus Notes: Per website, “Rena is a highly editorial agent, willing to work with clients to hone their talent. She is highly collaborative, loves to brainstorm with clients and often works with them to build books and ideas from the ground up.” 

Eva Scalzo

Speilburg Literary Agency

WHAT & SPECIFIC: Per her agency website, Adult, YA (Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy, and select Upmarket/Women’s Fiction and Mystery/Thriller, Historical mystery/gothic horror:), and select Middle Grade (literary and fantasy). Per Eva, “voice-driven YA and crossover romance and romantasy that balances heart, humor, and hope—stories where falling in love helps characters discover who they are. Think high-concept setups with emotional depth: the summer that changes everything, the cruise that goes hilariously off course, the fantasy quest that doubles as a love story, or the school play that blurs the line between acting and truth.

I love lush, escapist settings—coastal towns, vibrant cities, magical kingdoms, faraway ships—and stories that make readers feel like they’re on an adventure while falling in love.” Want to read more? Go here.

Bonus Notes: On Query Tracker, Eva says, “I'm excited to take a look at your pitch and ask that you include your full query letter and paste in the first three chapters of your manuscript in the appropriate locations on [the query tracker] form! 

Check out her MSWL

Where to query:  Query Tracker Form

 

 

Mary C. Moore  

Aevitas Creative Management 

WHAT:  Adult Fiction and Nonfiction. Query Tracker indicates that her openings include fiction & nonfiction. Everything from nonfiction gardening, tech, and pets to historical fiction, mystery, romance, thriller

 

One quote on MSWL, Mary says,

My taste is pretty eclectic, so if you’re unsure, query me anyway! I’m currently seeking:

·        Upmarket, “Book Club” fiction that provokes discussion

·        Speculative fiction that can crossover to a larger audience a la Mexican Gothic

·        Women’s Fiction and Romance

·        Thrillers and Mysteries centered around out-of-the-ordinary characters

Where: Query Tracker: Mary C. Moore of Aevitas Creative Management 

 

 

Opportunity to Submit Your Children's Book - Three Agents and One Publisher

Here are three agent who represent children's book; and here is a publisher who takes unagented writers. I recommend finding a literary agent to help you with your career. But some people enjoy success working directly with publishers. Good luck!

*And remember, sometimes an agent closes their inbox for a period of time, so they can have a chance to catch up on submissions. Some agents assume you are submitting simultaneously. Some agents ask for an exclusive submission for two weeks. Take care to read all the guidelines. 

Lastly, a word to the wise. A reputable agent never asks for money. An agent only gets paid when you get paid. 

Shannon Gallagher

Wernick & Pratt: About the agency: Wernick & Pratt Agency specializes in children’s books. Our current client list includes authors and illustrators at all stages of their careers, from debut novelists to award-winning, experienced picture book creators. We are always open to finding and nurturing new talent, though we can take on only a limited number of new clients each year.

Interview with Shannon Gallagher: https://wernickpratt.com/agents/qa-with-shannon-gallagher/

Shannon represents:

PB, MG, YA (fiction and nonfiction)

 

 

Emily Mitchell

Wernick & Pratt: About the agency: Wernick & Pratt Agency specializes in children’s books. Our current client list includes authors and illustrators at all stages of their careers, from debut novelists to award-winning, experienced picture book creators. We are always open to finding and nurturing new talent, though we can take on only a limited number of new clients each year.

Emily represents:

Middle Grade

Picture Book

  • Picture Book, Author

  • Picture Book, Author/Illustrator

  • Picture Book, Illustrator

 

GUIDELINES FOR WERNICK & PRATT (both agents) Please read their submission guidelines carefully here: https://wernickpratt.com/submissions-policy/

And then email (address to a specific agent) to submissions@wernickpratt.com, addressed to one agent only, Do not send the same submission to multiple agents at W&P.

• The email should include the following information:
• A description of your manuscript(s) 
• Your publishing history, if any
• Your current contact information, including your website, if you have one
• Whether you were referred to us by a current client or other publishing colleague
• Whether your submission is exclusive to us (ideally for one month), or nonexclusive
• If you write for multiple ages/formats, please send the manuscript(s) you feel are the strongest. You can describe in your cover email any other manuscripts that are ready for submission.
• Please make sure to review your email and manuscript for spelling and grammar, as minor errors can affect our reading experience.
• We do not accept submissions via social media or snail mail, nor do we accept submissions on behalf of someone else (e.g., an “agent” sending us work by another writer).

·       FOR PICTURE BOOK MANUSCRIPTS+

·       Two (2) complete manuscripts, sent either as attachments (.docx or .pdf only; we cannot accept .pages) or embedded in the body of the email. In the current picture book market, manuscripts should be no more than 750 words.

LRA

 

Liza Fleissig, with her business partner Ginger Harris-Dontzin, opened the Liza Royce Associates (LRA) in early 2011.

They have an adult arm of the company and they have LRA Kids. Check out their books at this link: 

 

“We are open to exclusive submissions barring any exceptions. However, due to the large volume we receive daily, we are unable to personally respond to each one. If you do not hear from us within 2 weeks of submitting your query, regretfully we did not find your project to be a good fit for our current list.

We only receive queries via email at submissions@lizaroyce.com. Please include a brief synopsis, a little information about yourself, including any social/media platform and/or marketing ideas you may have, but do not send any attachments as they will not be opened at this stage in the process.

EK Books

Here's What they say:

"We publish children’s picture books aimed primarily at readers aged 4 to 8. Our motto is “books with heart on issues that matter” — acceptance and belonging, neurodiversity, a grandparent with dementia, a new country, a new school.

Every EK book is written and illustrated by a human being. Our authors bring lived experience and proven expertise; our illustrators are some of the most skilled in the trade. Three decades in publishing has taught us to value our creators and the relationships we build together. We proudly back our titles well past their first season — and our authors well past their first book. If this sounds like YOU, THEY'D love to see your work. 

October 12 2026 Four Literary Agents Open to Receiving Query Letters from Adult and Children's Book Writers

 

Julie Gourinchas

Literary agency: Bell Lomax Moreton

Query window: The 1^st -7^th of every month

Query window for BIPOC creators: permanently and year round.

Julie (she/they) is an agent who is championing an award-winning, selective list focused on upmarket and literary adult and new adult fiction across a wide variety of genres. Please note, no pb, mg, or ya. Julie does not represent children’s books.

What she’s seeking:

• upmarket and literary horror
• upmarket and literary speculative fiction.
• “weird girl lit”
• dark academia
• gothic fiction
• fantasy
• romantasy
• genre punk
• genre-blending historical fiction with a literary edge

Their website has more (and fun) details here. 

Submission method: Query Tracker here (1st-7th of the month except BiPoc creators year round)

 

Kelsey Evans

Agency: July First Literary

When: Open now

What: high concept adult horror, adult mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, fantasy + paranormal (adult fiction only)

Where: Query Tracker click here

 

Eva Oakes

Literary agency: Transatlantic Agency

Query window: Open now

Eva is particularly on the hunt for upmarket and literary fiction

What she’s seeking:

·       Upmarket fiction

·       Literary fiction

·       Stylish thriller

·       Mystery

·       Sometimes speculative fiction sneaks onto her wishlist

·       Selective narrative-driven nonfiction (hybrid memoir, cultural criticism, investigative reporting)

 

Their website has more (and fun) details here: https://transatlanticagency.com/about-us/agents/oakes-eva/

Submission method: Queries can be sent to eva@transatlanticagency.com, and please put “Query: …” in the subject line. Authors are encouraged to email a cover letter with a sample/excerpt of the book in question. Please submit a maximum of 20 pages. Embed the sample/excerpt into the email after the cover letter.

Ms. Andi Twaddle

Spencerhill Associates

Andi’s books

What: Agency website says “Andi is looking for upmarket and commercial fiction for the adult & new adult markets. Across all genres, Andi wants stories that are dark, gritty, visceral, and perhaps a bit unhinged (okay, a lot unhinged). Please send her Romance - particularly Romance blended with Horror or Fantasy, fresh sports romance, and historical or contemporary with a magical or speculative bent. All spice levels welcome, but please no religious/inspirational romance, erotica, non-con, or dub-con. Andi particularly loves Sci-Fi and Fantasy - from grounded to epic - but must have the character first to be fully invested. She is open to a wide range of Horror, with a strong preference for indigenous North American (Canada & US) voices and anything that feels like mythology or folklore. Andi will also be looking for select Women's Fiction and Book Club fiction with dark, feminist vibes, gallows humor, and/or a speculative edge.

 

In KidLit, Andi is looking for Graphic Novels (author/illustrator only) for early readers to a young middle grade audience. She is also seeking Picture Books (authors and author/illustrators welcome) particularly with a subversive, wry, or quirky bent.

​

 

Where: Submission Guidelines https://www.spencerhillassociates.com/submissions

 

 

 

CLOSED BEFORE POST WENT LIVE – Keep an eye out for the next time she opens!

Kelli Marshall

Literary agency: Storyteller Talent Agency

Query window: darn - just closed(and she says that her typical response time is 8 weeks 😊 Not all agents provide a typical response time, so this is nice info!)

What she’s seeking: (note*her current top include adult romance and narrative nonfiction)

·       Adult Romance

·       Narrative Nonfiction

·       New Adult

·       Horror

·       Cozy Mystery

·       Urban Fantasy

·       Suspense

·       Commercial Fiction

Check out more details here on her wish-list page: https://www.storytellertalent.com/queries/manuscript-wishlist

 

Where to Query Kelli: Their Form found here: https://www.storytellertalent.com/queries/submissions?agent=kelli