50 Best Literary Agents in the USA for Authors in 2026

• Jun 09, 2026
• 11 min read

• Tags: Fiction, Nonfiction, Novel, Traditional Publishing

Behind every famous author is a smart literary agent. Explore the advantages of the top 50 literary agents in detail! Find out which literary agent has proven experience in your genre. This will help you list the top literary agents to shortlist the best ones. 

From pitching the book to potential publishers to negotiating the final contract, these literary agents do it all! Many of these agents also help the author maximize their profits; think film, TV, foreign language, and audiobook rights. And in 2026, the best agents are doing even more: they’re thinking about your author brand, your social presence, and how your book fits into a broader cultural moment.

Here is the full list of literary agents: 

1. Liza Dawson 

A member of the Mystery Writers of America, Liza Dawson is an experienced literary agent. She is looking for mystery novel submissions, historical literary thrillers, dark contemporary novels, and non-fiction novels giving voice to repressed classes. If your book has quirky humor, tenderness, and fun cartoon illustrations, you can approach Liza. 

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Liza Dawson Associates

Contact: [email protected]

2. Christy Fletcher 

Christy Fletcher joined United Talent Agency (UTA) as Co-Head of Publishing after building a highly successful independent literary agency career. She represents literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and major commercial projects from internationally recognized authors.

Her client list has included bestselling and award-winning writers such as Paul Auster and Gretchen Rubin. Writers with ambitious literary projects or culturally significant nonfiction often view Christy Fletcher as one of the most influential agents in publishing.

Location: New York, USA

Agency: United Talent Agency (UTA), Global Books Division 

Contact: [email protected] 

3. Kevan Lyon 

A co-founder of the Marshall Lyon Literary Agency, Kevan Lyon has massive expertise in the wholesale, retail, and distribution aspects of publishing. She focuses more on representing women’s fiction works. Her interests lie in commercial fiction, romantic comedies, and historical fiction. She has represented various best-selling authors like Kate Quinn and Jennifer L. Armentrout. 

Location: California, USA

Agency: Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected] 

4. Laurie Abkemeier 

Working with Defiore & Company since 2003, Laurie Abkemeir is an experienced professional literary agent. She has represented many New York Times bestsellers and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. She has helped authors publish books belonging to various genres such as history, science, nature, sports, and adventure. Some of the authors she has represented include Jennifer Keishen Armstrong, Saul Austerlich, Rebecca Boyle, and Peter Brannen. If you’ve written a deeply researched, compulsively readable nonfiction book, Laurie is one of the best in the business.

Location: New York, USA  

Agency: Defiore & Company 

Contact: [email protected]

5. Emily van Beek 

A literary agent partnered with Folio Jr., Emily van Beek specializes in books for younger readers, and she’s brilliant at it. Her clients include beloved authors Jenny Han, Morgan Matson, and Julie Morstad. She is actively seeking middle-grade, young adult, and picture book submissions in 2026, with a particular appetite for work that feels bold, fresh, and impossible to put down. If you’ve written something that would make a kid sneak a flashlight under the covers, Emily is your person.

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Folio Jr.

Contact: [email protected]

6. Janis Donnaud 

Janis Donnaud is one of the top literary agents for culinary books. She helps authors negotiate agreements with the top publishing companies in the USA. With this, she also assists authors with managing subsidiary rights like translation, film, and performance rights. Her focus is on publishing non-fiction books, including health/wellness, medical, contemporary, cultural, and books on contemporary social issues. The cookbook and food memoir space remains competitive but robust in 2026, and Janis is perfectly positioned to help the right author break through.

Location: New York, USA

Contact:  [email protected]

7. Donald Maas 

Although Donald Maass himself is no longer accepting submissions, the Donald Maass Literary Agency remains one of the most prestigious fiction-focused agencies in the United States.

The agency represents fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thriller, romance, literary fiction, and horror authors. Many agents within the agency actively seek debut writers with strong storytelling and distinctive voices.

Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Website: maassagency.com

8. Helen Breitwieser 

A literary agent at the Cornerstone Literary Agency, Helen has vast experience in the publishing industry. She accepts queries of both fiction and nonfiction genres. This includes food, culture, travel, culinary, romance, YA, children’s books, film, and entertainment. 

Location: Los Angeles, USA

Agency: Cornerstone Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected]

9. Nicole Aragi 

One of the top 10 literary agents in the USA, Nicole has represented several acclaimed authors like Jonathan Safran Foer and Colson Whitehead. She has set up a literary agency called Aragi to help several authors publish their works. She is interested in representing feminine, graphic/illustrated, historical, literary fiction and narrative works. 

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Aragi Inc.

Contact: [email protected] 

10. Susan Canavan 

Susan Canavan brings extensive editorial experience from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt into her literary agent career. She is interested in representing feminine, graphic/illustrated, historical, literary fiction, and narrative works. She represents nonfiction projects involving sports, memoir, adventure, leadership, and human potential.

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Waxman Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected] 

11. Kirby Kim 

Kirby is an expert literary agent who represents both literary and commercial authors. He is drawn to stories that are tightly written, and involve creative narration. His interests are thrillers, mysteries, speculative fiction, science, culture, and current affairs. He also represents pop culture, especially music and comedy genres. 

Location: Phoenix, USA 

Agency: Janklow & Nesbit

Contact: [email protected]

12. Robert Gottlieb 

The Chairman of the Trident Media Group, Robert Gottlieb is one of the top literary agents. He has worked with New York Times best-selling authors and also has experience in managing authors’ subsidiary rights. This includes handling foreign rights, film, TV rights, and audio rights. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Trident Media Group

Email: [email protected] 

13. Celeste Fine 

Known for negotiating profitable 7-8 figure deals for authors, Celeste Fine is one of the best literary agents. She helps clients develop book proposals and edit their manuscripts. With this, she also assists clients in determining marketing strategies and managing audio rights, endorsements, book tours, and book club events for authors. She is looking for upmarket commercial fiction, suspense, thriller, and nonfiction submissions. Some of the famous authors she has represented are Miki Agarwal, Laila Ali, Dave Asprey, Iris Bohnet, and John Lee Dumas. 

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management

Contact: [email protected] 

14. Russell Galen 

A co-founder of the literary agency Scovil. Galn. Ghosh, Russell has helped authors from diverse backgrounds publish their books. He accepts both fiction and nonfiction submissions. While in fiction, Galen is looking for books that stretch reality creatively, in non-fiction, Galen desires books that give a message. Some of the nonfiction genres Galen is interested in are science, history, journalism, biography, business, memoir, nature, politics, sports, contemporary culture, literary nonfiction, etc. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Scovil Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected] 

15. Betsy Amster 

The President of Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises, Betsy is one of the popular literary agents in the USA. She has 10 years of experience as an editor at Pantheon and Vintage. Her interests include literary fiction, narrative fiction, current affairs, travelogs, thrillers, and memoirs. 

Location: Los Angeles, USA 

Agency: Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises

Email: [email protected] 

16. John Cusick 

A literary agent at Folio Literary Management, John Cusick has represented numerous New York Times bestselling authors and continues to be one of the most sought-after agents for middle-grade and young adult fiction. He’s passionate about genre fiction: fantasy, thriller, science fiction, and horror, and especially excited by underrepresented voices, unusual plots, and books that kids might sneak under their desks. With YA fantasy remaining a top-requested genre and horror surging in agent wishlists in 2026, John’s focus area is right where the market is moving.

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Folio Literary Management

Contact: [email protected]

17. Elaine Spencer 

A literary agent at the Knight Agency in Georgia, Elaine has vast experience in the publishing industry. She is interested in historical fiction, family dramas, suburban dramedies, and contemporary romantic comedies. Elaine also accepts non-fiction submissions. This includes true crime, self-help books, pop culture, diet, modern parenting, and lifestyle stories. 

Location: Georgia, USA 

Agency: The Knight Agency

18. Sorche Fairbank 

The founder of Fairbank Literary Representation, Sorche is one of the best literary agents. A member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), she has helped authors secure deals with top publishing houses. She accepts both fiction and nonfiction submissions. Her interests are books that depict women’s voices, race issues, humor, pop culture, children’s books, and gift books. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Fairbank Literary Representation

Email: [email protected]

19. James Levine 

One of the top literary agents in the USA, James helps authors maximize their profits by helping them monetize their works (by ensuring profitable publishing deals). He accepts both fiction and non-fiction submissions. This includes books belonging to genres such as mystery, romance, biography, health, travel, lifestyle, cookbooks, sports, and children’s books. Some of his successful clients are Dan Ariely, Chuck Closterman, Richard Florida, Rosalind Wiseman, and Geoffrey Moore. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency

Website: www.lgrliterary.com

20. Stephen Barbara 

Born in Connecticut, Stephen Collins has worked with popular publishing houses such as HarperCollins. Some of his clients include Lauren Oliver, Paul Tremblay, Laura Amy Schlitz, Lisa Graff, and Susann Kokal. Stephen is attracted to stories that have bold, imaginative concepts. He represents authors writing both fiction and nonfiction genres. 

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Inkwell Management

Contact:  [email protected] 

21. Rebecca Matte 

Rebecca is a professional literary agent who is looking for young adult fiction, science fiction, romance, and fantasy submissions. She loves stories about self-discovery and re-invention. She’s also interested in queer romance stories, and books that have a spellbinding, original fantasy world. With fantasy and romance both topping agent request lists in 2026, Rebecca is a strong fit for writers working in those spaces, especially if their work centers LGBTQ+ experiences.

Location: California, USA

Agency: Bradford Literary Agency

22. Abigail Frank 

A literary agent at Sanford Greenburg Associates, Abigail represents picture books. She is also actively seeking voice-driven chapter books, YA rom-coms, and middle-grade stories that are profound and poetic. She is also deeply interested in stories that talk about fashion, especially illustrated works. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Sanford Greenburger Associates

Contact: [email protected]

23. Rob McQuilkin 

One of the founders of Massie and McQuilkin, Rob McQuilkin specializes in representing fiction, memoir, history, cultural criticism, and poetry books. Want to secure paperback rights for a book? Rob McQuilkin can also assist you in securing book rights and ensuring that you have a fair publishing deal. Phillip Lopate, Anita Hill, and Lois Gould are some authors he has represented. 

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Massie & McQuilkin Literary Agents

24. Suzie Townsend 

A Vice President and literary agent at New Leaf Literary & Media, Suzie Townsend has been with the agency since its founding in 2012 and has built one of the most enviable lists in the business. Her updated 2026 wishlist includes women’s fiction, psychological suspense, romance, fantasy, science fiction, young adult, and notably adult horror and adult romantasy, reflecting the hottest genre trends of the moment. Recent releases from her clients include After Life by Gayle Forman and Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer. She accepts queries through New Leaf’s QueryManager portal and loves strong characters and voice-driven stories that break out of typical genre tropes.

Location: New York, USA

Agency: New Leaf Literary & Media

Contact: [email protected]

25. Zoe Pagnamenta 

Zoe Pagnamenta is one of the top literary agents in the USA. She represents various genres like historical fiction, journalism, memoirs, biographies, and popular sciences. Some of her other interests are self-help books, spirituality novels, technology books, business-centric books, and cultural criticism works. Her clients include Hisham Matar (Pulitzer Prize winner) and Tom Vanderbilt (author of NYT bestseller Beginners). 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Calligraph Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected] 

26. Molly O’Neill 

A literary agent working at Root Literary, Molly has more than 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She prefers stories with interesting settings. Her focus is mainly on publishing fiction books, including genres such as young adult and middle grade. However, she does not represent genres like self-help, adult thrillers, adult crime fiction, poetry chapbooks, screenplay, and erotica. 

Location: Los Angeles, California 

Agency: Root Literary

Contact: Via submission form at mollyoneillbooks.com

27. Jessica Fausst 

The owner and President of BookEnds Literary Agency (founded 1999), Jessica Faust has spent over two decades as a passionate author advocate. Her 2026 fiction focus is on suspense, mystery, magical realism, romance, upmarket women’s fiction, book club fiction, and speculative fiction. In nonfiction, she’s actively seeking business, leadership, personal growth, and self-help. 

She’s especially drawn to stories that blend genres in unexpected ways and recent deals include Ellery Adams’s Invasive Species (pitched as When Women Were Dragons meets The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires) a perfect example of the kind of feminist, genre-blending fiction she gravitates toward. She also recently published her own debut novel, The Book Tour (March 2026).

Location: New Jersey, USA

Agency: BookEnds Literary Agency

Contact: Via query form at bookendsliterary.com

28. Lori Kilkelly 

Lori Kilkelly is a literary agent who specializes in publishing children’s books. The founder of the LK Literary Agency, she has helped to publish more than 100 books. She is looking for children’s books that are meaningful, funny, and moving. With this, she also accepts submissions of young adult literature. 

Location: Chicago, USA 

Agency: LK Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected] 

29. Uwe Stender 

The President of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), Uwe has vast knowledge about publishing. He accepts both fiction and nonfiction submissions. In fiction, Uwe’s interests are in YA, MG, psychological suspense, and mysteries. In nonfiction, UWE accepts submissions of various types such as celebrity memoirs, health, gardening, history, and pop culture books. 

Location: Pennsylvania, USA 

Contact: [email protected]

30. Writers House

Important 2026 update: Al Zuckerman, the legendary founder of Writers House, passed away in March 2026 at the age of 94, after retiring from agenting in 2020 following a nearly 50-year career. He represented era-defining books including Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, Michael Lewis’s Moneyball, and Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. 

His contribution to American publishing is immeasurable. Writers House remains one of the most powerful literary agencies in the world. Authors interested in representation should query the agency’s active agents including Amy Berkower, Simon Lipskar, and others directly at writershouse.com.

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Writers House

Website: writershouse.com

31. Steve Laube 

Steve Laube is one of the best literary agents for spiritual fiction and nonfiction books. The President of the Steve Laube Agency, he has edited more than 150 books in his career. He has more than 30 years of experience in the publishing industry. In 2009, he was named “The Agent of the Year” by the American Christian Fiction Writers organization. 

Location: Phoenix, Arizona 

Agency: Steve Laube Agency

Contact: [email protected]

32. Nancy Yost 

Nancy Yost is one of the top literary agents who has represented many New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Some of her popular clients include Deborah Crombie, Stephanie Laurens, Ilona Andrews, and Monica Ferris. She is mainly interested in fiction books, and complex characters. She prefers genres such as women’s fiction, thrillers, suspense stories, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Her non-fiction preferences include social history along with natural science. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Nancy Yost Literary Agency

33. Stephanie Tade 

Working with Bantam Books, Jane Rotrosen Agency, and Rodale Books, Stephanie has massive experience in publishing. Some of her clients include Master Yogi BKS Iyengar, Jorge Cruise, Judith Beck, and Frank Lipman. She focuses on publishing nonfiction books, particularly on spiritual, physical, and psychological well-being. 

Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Agency: Stephanie Tade Literary Agency 

34. Sealy Yates 

The founder of Yates & Yates LLP, Sealy has worked in the publishing industry since 1973. Some of his author clients include Chuck Swindoll, John Maxwell, Beth Moore, and David Jeremiah. Sealy represents genres like nonfiction, business, self-help, memoir, political, and Christian living. 

Location: California, USA 

Agency: Yates & Yates LLP

Contact: [email protected] 

35. Doug Abrams 

The founder of Idea Architects, Doug Abrams has a remarkable client list: Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Jody Williams, and other thinkers and global leaders who have genuinely changed the world. He came up through the University of California Press and HarperCollins before launching his own agency. Doug is drawn to culture-changing nonfiction work that challenges conventional wisdom and opens up new conversations at scale. If your book has that kind of transformative ambition, he’s the right person to approach.

Location: California, USA

Agency: Idea Architects

36. Laura Rennert 

Working with the Andrea Brown literary agency since 1998, Laura specializes in publishing children’s books. She is one of the best literary agents for new writers. From picture books to adult books, Laura can help authors publish their works successfully. She is also interested in adult fiction. Some of the genres she prefers include literary-commercial fiction, science fiction, horror, thrillers, and historical fiction. 

Location: California, USA 

Agency: Andrea Brown Literary Agency

37. Jill Marsal

A co-founder of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and a Harvard Law School graduate, Jill Marsal brings both editorial vision and sharp legal acumen to her clients, a rare and valuable combination. Her current 2026 wishlist includes women’s fiction (contemporary and historical), commercial fiction, stories of family and multi-generational sagas, romance, mysteries, psychological suspense, and cozies with cozy mysteries trending strongly, her focus areas are squarely where the market is moving. She also has 20+ years of publishing experience and worked previously at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and in editorial at Dorchester Publishing.

Location: California, USA

Agency: Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected]

38. Howard Yoon 

A literary agent at the Ross Yoon agency, Howard is one of the best literary agents for first-time authors. specializes in helping authors publish nonfiction genres. Howard is interested in genres such as memoirs, current affairs, science, politics, and popular culture. He assists both, new authors and established authors in publishing their work. 

Location: Washington, USA 

Contact: [email protected] 

39. Bonnie Nadell 

The President of Hill Nadell Literary Agency, Bonnie Nadell represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction with a shared interest in fresh perspectives. Her nonfiction interests include current affairs, culinary writing, memoir, culture, natural events, and stories about the American West, a setting that continues to captivate readers and publishers alike. She’s a thoughtful, career-focused agent who takes the long view.

Location: Los Angeles, USA

Agency: Hill Nadell Literary Agency

40. Faye Bender 

Faye Bender is a literary agent in the US who represents authors writing children’s books and adult fiction. Some of the authors she has worked with are Melissa Albert, Laura Blackett, Angeline Boulley, and Natalie C. Anderson. She prefers stories with a strong narrative voice. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: The Book Group

Contact: [email protected] 

41. Tina Bennett 

Tina Bennett specializes in nonfiction narratives of real consequence, history, politics, current affairs, memoir, and crossover academic titles. Her clients include Gary Bass, Leo Damrosch, and Atul Gawande. She’s drawn to books that reshape how readers understand the world. For nonfiction writers with big ideas and rigorous research behind them, Tina is one of the most compelling agents to query.

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Creative Artists Agency

Contact: [email protected]

42. Christopher Schelling 

The founder of Selectric Artists, Christopher Schelling accepts both fiction and nonfiction submissions. Some of the genres he’s interested in are commercial fiction, young adult, memoirs, pop culture, narrative fiction, and humor. Some of the famous authors represented by Schelling and his agency are Augusten Burroughs, Cinder Williams Chima, and Louis Bayard. 

Location: Connecticut, USA 

Agency: Selectric Artists

Contact: [email protected] 

43. Amy Berkower 

Working as a literary agent since 1979, Amy Berkower is the President of the Writers House LLC. She is one of the best literary agents for fiction books. Some of the clients she has represented are Nora Roberts, Ken Follett, Ann Martin, and Andrew Clements. Her interests lie in helping authors publish commercial fiction and literary fiction books. 

Location: New York, USA 

Agency: Writers House LLC

Contact: [email protected] 

44. Kari Sutherland 

A literary agent at Bradford Literary Agency, Kari Sutherland is passionate about amplifying underrepresented communities, particularly BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled voices. She accepts picture books, middle-grade, young adult, and nonfiction; for adult nonfiction, she is currently focused on content related to children and teenagers. Her commitment to diverse storytelling reflects exactly the kind of editorial vision that major publishers are actively seeking in 2026.

Location: California, USA

Agency: Bradford Literary Agency

45. Mandy Hubbard 

The writer of Prada and Prejudice, Mandy Hubbard is a popular literary agent. After selling more than 60 novels to publishers, she launched Emerald City Literary Agency. She is interested in representing Young Adult (YA), Middle Grade (MG), and select nonfiction books. 

Location: Seattle, USA 

Agency: Emerald City Literary Agency

Contact: [email protected]

46. Hillary Jacobson 

Working at the Creative Artists Agency, Hillary Jacobson is one of the best literary agents. Hillary accepts both fiction and nonfiction submissions. In fiction, she is interested in commercial fiction, historical fiction, romance, thriller, Young Adult (YA), romance, and comedy. In nonfiction, her focus is on memoirs and narrative works. 

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Creative Artists Agency

Contact: [email protected]

47. Bonnie Solow 

The founder of Solow Literary Enterprises, Bonnie is one of the top literary agents in the United States. Her clients include several New York Times best sellers. She helps her clients market their book through speaking engagements, and PBS shows. Her specialty is in representing the nonfiction genre. This includes various types such as health, psychology, memoir, and narrative nonfiction. 

Location: California, USA

Agency: Solow Literary Enterprises

48. Kim Lionetti 

A literary agent at BookEnds Literary Agency with more than 20 years of experience, Kim Lionetti is currently excited by books that blur genre lines in interesting ways, especially historical romance and contemporary romance. She’s also interested in women’s fiction and young adults. Her passion for boundary-crossing genre fiction aligns perfectly with the market trends of 2026, where hybrid genre books, cozy mysteries with romance, and thrillers with literary depth are performing strongly with readers.

Location: New Jersey, USA

Agency: BookEnds Literary Agency

49. Danielle Egan-Miller 

The owner of the Browne & Miller Literary Associates, Danielle has represented many New York Times bestselling authors. She is interested in books that highlight Midwestern voices and settings. With this, she also prefers book club fiction, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and romcoms in the world of sports. 

Location: Chicago, USA

Agency: Browne & Miller Literary Associates

Contact: [email protected] 

50. Claire Anderson-Wheeler 

Claire Anderson Wheeler is an expert literary agent at Regal Hoffman & Associates. She is interested in representing young adult (YA), autobiography, memoir, narrative nonfiction, and literary fiction. Some of her clients include Patrick Dacey, Faith Gardner, Jamie Raintree, and Melissa Scholes Young. 

Location: New York, USA

Agency: Regal Hoffman & Associates

Contact: [email protected] 

Query in small batches. Most writing coaches now recommend querying in batches of 5 to 10 agents at a time rather than blanket-querying everyone at once. This lets you refine your query letter based on response patterns before widening your search.

We hope this list of top literary agents will help you shortlist the best one. However, we’ll be honest: approaching literary agents and securing the best deal through traditional publishing is a time-consuming process. To speed up the process and save time, you can consider self-publishing your book. 

At PaperTrue, we provide expert self-publishing services like securing an ISBN, online distribution, book cover design, editing, and creating a book cover page. If you still want to opt for a literary agent, we can also create a query letter for you. 

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