4 Agents Seeking Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Kidlit, LGBTQ, SF/F and more

Erica Verrillo
Curiosity Never Killed the Writer
5 min readAug 14, 2022

--

Here are four literary agents actively seeking clients. All work with established agencies with good track records.

Emma Leong is interested in upmarket and literary fiction. She’s also on the look-out for non-fiction that explores the self, connecting literary criticism/expertise with personal narrative, whether that be through reflections on relationships, climate change, gender, loneliness, love, loss, the immigrant experience, etc.

Carrie Howland is seeking genre fiction, upmarket fiction and nonfiction, including memoir. Jane Chun represents: Fiction: Action/Adventure, Children’s, Commercial, Family Saga, Fantasy, General, Graphic Novel, Historical, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary, Middle Grade, New Adult, Science Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult. Non-Fiction: History, Illustrated, Journalism, LGBTQ, Memoir, Pop Culture, Sports, Travel.

Carlos Segarra focuses on memoirs and narrative nonfiction in the areas of pop culture, sports, journalism, politics, history, social justice and activism. In fiction, Carlos is interested in thrillers, sci-fi, magical realism, speculative fiction, own voices and historical fiction, as well as children’s narratives.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.

NOTE: Don’t submit to two agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another.

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

__________________________

Ms. Carrie Howland of Howland Literary

Carrie Howland founded Howland Literary, LLC in 2018, after thirteen years as an agent, most recently at Empire Literary. Carrie holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Albion College, where she was the Poetry Editor of The Albion Review. Her poetry has appeared in various literary journals and magazines. She attends several conferences, both nationally and internationally, throughout the year. Her craft talk from the Adirondack Writers Conference, “Beyond the Query Letter,” is available on the Howland Literary website. In her spare time, Carrie volunteers as a foster for a local dog rescue and is an active member of the Junior League. Her passions include music, pop culture, and the Midwest.

What she is seeking: Fiction: genre fiction, upmarket; nonfiction, including memoir.

How to submit: Use her form HERE.

__________________________

Ms. Emma Leong of Janklow and Nesbit Ltd (UK)

Emma started her publishing career at Janklow and Nesbit in 2019. While assisting Rebecca Carter and Claire Paterson Conrad, she is also building her own list. She is editorially focused, and keen to work with debut writers to develop their proposals and manuscripts for submission to publishers.

What she is seeking: Emma is interested in upmarket and literary fiction. She’s looking for transporting, elegant prose which bring courage and complexity to the human experience. She loves books that contain wisdom and brutal honesty, exploring themes such as family, intergenerational trauma, identity, sexuality, love and forgiveness. She’s also interested in books that dive into the vulnerability of the millennial condition, with warmth and wit. She’s also on the look-out for non-fiction that explores the self, connecting literary criticism/expertise with personal narrative, whether that be through reflections on relationships, climate change, gender, loneliness, love, loss, the immigrant experience, etc.

How to submit: Submissions should be sent to submissions@janklow.co.uk, following the submission guidelines here.

__________________________

Ms. Jane Chun of Janklow & Nesbit Associates

I have been at Janklow & Nesbit since May 2019 and am currently building my list. I’m particularly interested in stories that center marginalized communities and prose that is cinematic and atmospheric with good rhythm. In both fiction and nonfiction, I’m drawn towards compelling, fresh voices that make me feel as though the writer is in the room with me, telling me their story with intimacy as if we were already acquainted. Regardless of how plot-driven a story is, characters with rich inner worlds and emotional depth are a must for me.

What she is seeking: Fiction: Action/Adventure, Children’s, Commercial, Family Saga, Fantasy, General, Graphic Novel, Historical, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary, Middle Grade, New Adult, Science Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult. Non-Fiction: History, Illustrated, Journalism, LGBTQ, Memoir, Pop Culture, Sports, Travel.

Favorite sub-genres: Contemporary YA, Diversity, Epic Fantasy, Feminism, High Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Illustrated, Literary Middle Grade, Literary Noir, Magical Realism, Multicultural, Narrative Nonfiction, Social Issues, Soft Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Upmarket Women’s Fiction, Urban Fantasy, upmarket genre fiction.

How to submit: Submissions should be emailed to submissions@janklow.com. Please include “Jane Chun” in the email subject line and send the following: Fiction: an informative description, a brief synopsis, and the first ten pages. Please include the sample pages in the body of the email below your query. Nonfiction: an informative description, a full outline, and the first ten pages of the manuscript. Please include the sample pages in the body of the email below your query. Graphic novels/nonfiction: send 10 illustrated pages with text (attached as a PDF) and a synopsis in the body of the email below your query.

__________________________

Carlos Segarra of Creative Artists Agency

Carlos Segarra is based in the New York office and creates publishing opportunities across all agency departments, representing talent such as Tabitha Brown, Omarion, Tarana Burke and Jonathan Mannion. Carlos works across all genres of books and brings a passion for amplifying the voices of writers and characters from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

What he is seeking: In the nonfiction space, he focuses on memoirs and narrative nonfiction in the areas of pop culture, sports, journalism, politics, history, social justice and activism. In fiction, Carlos is interested in thrillers, sci-fi, magical realism, speculative fiction, own voices and historical fiction, as well as children’s narratives.

How to submit: Use the agency’s form HERE.

Like this article? For more articles about the publishing world, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients, how to market and promote your work, building your online platform, how to get reviews, self-publishing, as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers (no agent required) visit Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity.

--

--