Happy Wednesday, writers!
Here are 25 agents who opened to queries in the past week (April 29 - May 5), along with information about what they’re looking for, some of their published titles, and their query link.
If you missed last week: 7 other agents opened to queries. Check out the list here!
Note that some of these agents may already be closed to queries.
Best of luck, and happy querying!
This newsletter is purely informational and is not an endorsement of any particular agent or agency.
Sandy Lu founded Book Wyrm Literary Agency after working as a literary agent for more than a decade at other boutique agencies. In fiction, she is seeking stories that will draw her in with a unique voice, make her miss her bedtime with a thrilling plot, and characters that will stay with her long after she turns the last page. Bonus points if you can make her laugh out loud or unable to hold back tears in public. She especially loves historical fiction, atmospheric world-building, and anything dark, twisted, or with a supernatural bent.
In non-fiction, she’s looking for projects that can make connections about different topics in an unexpected way, explicate complex research for a general audience, introduce the reader to cutting-edged science or previously little known historical facts and figures, teach us new ways to think or clever skills that can improve our daily life, or expand our knowledge and understanding of the world—past, present, and future.
Published titles: You Shouldn’t Have Come Here and One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose, The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson, Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis
Laura specializes in all categories of children’s books, from picture books to young adult. On the adult side, she represents literary-commercial fiction, thrillers, horror, sci-fi/fantasy, speculative fiction, and select historical fiction. Her sweet spot in the market is literary voice and commercial conception. The common threads in the diverse range of projects Laura represents are an original, unexpected point of view, a fresh literary voice, a strong commercial hook—and conflicted characters who win your heart (sometimes against your will).
Learn more about what she would love to find on her agency page here.
Published titles: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, Keeper of the Lost Cities Series by Shannon Messenger
Lara represents bestselling and award-winning authors and illustrators of board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction and nonfiction, and authors of adult fiction.
In all categories, Lara relates to outsiders, and her most treasured reads are character-driven stories with sparks of magic (bright or haunting) and fascinating facts interwoven beautifully into the main narrative. She is seeking page-turners, underrepresented perspectives, and anything that makes her do a mental double-take. She loves characters who are fully rendered on the page and deeply human in their dreams, failures, and triumphs. Most of all, she appreciates intersectionality, anti-colonial narratives, and stories that take a wide view of the world and history in all of its interconnectedness.
Lara is currently open to adult fiction queries only. (In all categories of children’s and YA fiction and nonfiction, Lara is open by referral only.)
Published titles: What Are Your Words? by Katherine Locke, The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach, All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
Katie is currently looking mainly for adult romance, fantasy, mystery, or any mix of the three! The more commercial and trope-filled the better. She wouldn’t say no to a unique sci-fi or hilarious picture book if the right one came along, too.
Keep up with her on Instagram at kgisondibooks and learn more about what she’s looking for, see her MSWL.
Upcoming and published titles: Rules of Engagement by Eva Manalo, Heartsong by S.E. Wendel, A Lady Would Know Better by Emma Theriault
“Because of Alyssa’s feedback on my query letter, I was able to obtain a reputable agent who then sold my book to a top 5 publisher!”
—Bailey Evers, contemporary romance author
Get your query professionally edited
Jamie specialises in both fiction and non-fiction and is particularly interested in sexual politics, relationship, lifestyle how-to’s, erotica, thrillers, whodunit and historical crime.
Elena is interested in fresh and easy to read commercial women’s fiction with quirky and current life stories, big hooks and diverse characters, as well as original, pacy psychological thrillers and cutting-edge non-fiction from popular science to true crime.
Lisa represents an eclectic list of authors and writers and is currently looking for well-written, commercial women’s fiction with a strong hook, twisty plots, lots of emotion and lots of drama.
Upcoming titles: The Makoto Murders by Richard Jerram, Witch Hunt by Richard O’Rawe and Bernadette O’Rawe, The Dead Room by Catriona McPherson
Zoë works on the agency’s editorial side, helping new and existing writers to shape and develop their manuscripts across a range of crime, commercial fiction and non-fiction lists. She has a particular interest in horror fiction, non-fiction relating to education, politics and feminism.
Brenna works with authors of adult genre fiction and adult nonfiction, with select YA and crossover clients.
For nonfiction, Brenna is looking for propulsive narrative nonfiction and pop science.
For fiction, Brenna is looking for adult fantasy, science fiction, and mystery queries. In every genre she prioritizes beautiful writing, exciting characters, and thought-provoking world building. She gravitates towards relationship-driven plots with personal stakes, and she loves stories with a sense of fun and adventure, even if they’re tackling serious subjects.
She is specifically looking for upmarket commercial works in the following subgenres: contemporary fantasy, secondary world fantasy, gothic fantasy, high concept space opera, horror, and modern-day classic mystery.
For more information about what she’s looking for, check out her wishlist.
Published title: The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Petra Molnar
Carolyn would love to see literary fiction (especially speculative and horror), commercial fiction, funny crime fiction, narrative non-fiction by experts in the field – she is open minded to a broad range of topics and styles – as long as it engages her.
There are a few things she’s not keen on – medical/disease related memoirs, police procedurals, climate thrillers, military or CIA fiction, cozy mysteries, and books about film and TV behind the scenes.
Check out 15 more agent profiles:
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