Find USA Book Agents Looking for New Writers | List of Literary Agents 2025-2026

List of Literary Agents 2025-2026 – Use our free lists of book agents in our literary agencies database for all Book Agents Near Me searches. For example, you can use the list to find Literary Agencies and Publishing Agents in NYC, Literary Agencies and Book Agents in California, and more. Our literary agent lists have information about both new and established author representatives seeking authors, as well as the Best Publishing Agents working at the Top Literary Agencies. Our literary agent lists are easy to use and it includes contact information, book genres, biographies, photos, and more for all book agents and book agencies in the United States. Scroll below or click here now for instant access to the Publishing Agents Directory.

Our literary agent lists include:

• Children’s Book Literary Agents
  • Young Adult Literary Agents
  • Middle Grade Literary Agents
  • Chapter Book Literary Agents
  • Picture Book Literary Agents
• Fiction Literary Agents
  • Crime Fiction Literary Agents
  • Fantasy Literary Agents
  • Historical Fiction Literary Agents
  • Horror Literary Agents
  • Mystery Literary Agents
  • Romance Literary Agents
  • Science Fiction Literary Agents
  • Thriller Literary Agents
• Nonfiction Literary Agents
  • Memoir Literary Agents
  • New Age Literary Agents
  • Self-Help Literary Agents
• AALA Literary Agents
• Black Literary Agents
• Boutique Literary Agents
• Religious Literary Agents
  • Christian Literary Agents

List of Literary Agents 2025-2026 – Which Literary Agent List Is Right for You?

Scroll below to find the list of literary agents that’s right for you and your book. Our assorted literary agent lists include information about both new and established publishing agents looking for writers.

Children’s Books Literary Agents

Looking for Children’s Book Literary Agents? This page lists literary agents actively seeking picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and more—helping authors find the perfect match for stories that spark young imaginations.

Young Adult Literary Agents

Discover all Young Adult Literary Agents currently accepting submissions. Whether your YA novel is contemporary, dystopian, fantasy, or romance, this list helps you connect with agents who are passionate about teen-focused fiction.

Middle Grade Literary Agents

Middle Grade Literary Agents are looking for adventurous, heartfelt, and funny books for readers ages 8 to 12. This guide helps you find the right agents who specialize in middle grade fiction and nonfiction.

Chapter Book Literary Agents

If you’re writing for early readers transitioning from picture books, explore this list of Chapter Book Literary Agents actively seeking engaging, age-appropriate stories for kids aged 6 to 9.

Picture Book Literary Agents

Get your picture book manuscript into the hands of agents who love lyrical language, charming characters, and strong visual storytelling. This list spotlights Picture Book Literary Agents open to illustrated and author-only submissions.

Fiction Literary Agents

Find Fiction Literary Agents representing every genre—from literary to commercial, and everything in between. This comprehensive list connects authors with agents currently looking for new fiction submissions.

Crime Fiction Literary Agents

From police procedurals to gritty noir, this page lists Crime Fiction Literary Agents who specialize in gripping narratives and high-stakes investigations that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Fantasy Literary Agents

Looking for a literary agent for your fantasy novel? This list features all Fantasy Literary Agents eager to represent epic fantasy, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and magical realism for both YA and adult markets.

Historical Fiction Literary Agents

Explore a curated list of Historical Fiction Literary Agents interested in transporting readers to the past. These agents are looking for richly researched, character-driven stories set across all eras.

Horror Literary Agents

Horror authors can pitch their dark tales and psychological thrillers to the Horror Literary Agents on this list—professionals who seek spine-tingling, genre-bending horror that stays with readers long after the last page.

Mystery Literary Agents

From cozy whodunits to hard-boiled detective stories, this page features Mystery Literary Agents actively seeking clever plots, compelling sleuths, and irresistible suspense.

Romance Literary Agents

Whether you write sweet contemporary, historical, steamy paranormal, or LGBTQ+ love stories, this page helps romance authors find Romance Literary Agents who specialize in the genre of love and happily-ever-afters.

Science Fiction Literary Agents

Connect with Science Fiction Literary Agents who love visionary world-building, speculative futures, and genre-defying ideas—from space operas to cyberpunk and everything in between.

Thriller Literary Agents

Looking to publish a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled story? This list highlights Thriller Literary Agents seeking manuscripts filled with danger, deception, and dramatic twists.

Nonfiction Literary Agents

This page lists Nonfiction Literary Agents who represent a wide range of topics—from memoir and true crime to business, spirituality, and narrative nonfiction—helping authors share real stories that matter.

Memoir Literary Agents

Memoir Literary Agents are searching for powerful personal stories with universal appeal. This list connects memoirists with agents who specialize in compelling, voice-driven life narratives.

New Age Literary Agents

Authors writing about metaphysics, spirituality, consciousness, or alternative healing will find New Age Literary Agents here who are tuned into the expanding New Age market and open to fresh voices.

Self-Help Literary Agents

Self-Help Literary Agents are looking for experts, coaches, and storytellers offering transformational guidance. Find agents eager to represent wellness, productivity, relationships, and personal growth topics.

AALA Literary Agents

Browse a list of AALA Literary Agents—members of the Association of American Literary Agents—recognized for upholding ethical standards and professionalism in the publishing industry.

Black Literary Agents

Support and connect with Black Literary Agents advocating for diverse voices and stories. This list showcases Black agents across genres who are open to submissions from new and established authors.

Boutique Literary Agents

Boutique literary agencies offer hands-on, personalized attention to their clients. This page features Boutique Literary Agents across the U.S. accepting queries in multiple genres.

Religious Literary Agents

This list includes Religious Literary Agents interested in books with religious themes, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and interfaith perspectives—covering both fiction and nonfiction.

Christian Literary Agents

Authors of faith-based books can find Christian Literary Agents specializing in inspirational fiction, devotionals, memoirs, and spiritual growth—serving both Christian and crossover markets.

Guide to Using Our List of Literary Agents

Literary Agent List Step 1: Use the Best List of Literary Agents

Unlike most literary agent lists, literary agent directories, and literary agent databases in print and online, our list of literary agents isn’t incomplete. Our list of literary agents doesn’t have a lot of mistakes. And, our list of literary agents is easy to use. We created our list of literary agents in 2012, after getting complaints from authors about every other list of literary agents being unreliable. That’s when we decided to create our own list of literary agents

What’s wrong with every other list of literary agents?

• One of the most popular list of literary agents printed in book form only has profiles for less than 300 publishing agents. That’s a problem because there are more than 1,000 book agents in the United States. This list of literary agents I’m referring to doesn’t have an index, either. It’s not user-friendly. It doesn’t make it easy to find what you’re looking for.
• Another popular list of literary agents, also in book form, features profiles for almost every literary agency in business today. That’s a good thing, but it doesn’t say much about the agents on the list. In other words, this particular publishing agents list doesn’t allow you to learn much about the agent’s backgrounds, accomplishments, or personalities.
• Another problem with any list of literary agents available in book form is the information in it is approximately six months old, if not more, by the time it’s made available in bookstores. That’s because it takes that long for the publisher to collect the information, print the book, and distribute it
• Using a list of literary agents online is better, but you have to use the best list. In other words, a list of literary agents that doesn’t include: retired or dead agents; agents who’ve moved or switched agencies; or the wrong information about various agents’ Book Genres, website addresses, email addresses, postal addresses, etc. It’s easy for a literary agent list to have incomplete information because maintaining such lists is time-intensive.

Literary Agent List Step 2: Stop Looking for a Literary Agent

Using the best list of literary agents isn’t the only thing you need to do. Many talented authors fail to get a literary agent and get published simply because they don’t send out enough submissions. The best way to approach the process is the same way the best writer representatives approach the process of trying to find a publisher for a book.

Top book agents don’t try to find just one publisher for a book. Instead, they try to find multiple publishers. In other words, they make multiple or simultaneous submissions. They do this to increase the chance of getting an offer. They also do this to increase the odds of getting more than one offer. You can do the same thing with agents if you have a comprehensive literary agent list.

Most authors make the mistake of sending out a small number of Query Letters at once. That’s a mistake because it puts the author in a vulnerable position of he or she gets an agent interested. If you only have one agent interested, you might end up with an agent isn’t professional or committed. You also might end up with an agent who wants you to make changes to your book that you aren’t comfortable making or don’t feel are necessary.

Literary Agent List Step 3: Send Out A Lot Of Submissions

Before you start using our list of literary agents, it’s important you understand that you should approach the process of trying to find and get a literary agent the way agents approach the process of trying to get a publisher. In other words, you shouldn’t just send out just a few queries at a times. Be more comprehensive and query your favorite literary agent at many or most of the top literary agencies in each round of submissions you send out.

Doing so will give you the best chance of:

• Getting More Agents Interested: It’s simple math. If you query more agents, you’ll get more agent interested. And, if that happens, you’ll have better odds of enjoying the additional benefits below.
• Getting Agents Responding Faster: If multiple agents are reviewing and considering your work when one of them offers to represent you, you can use that offer to get the other agents responding faster.
• Choosing the Best Agent: If you get more than one offer, you get to choose which literary agent you work with. That should be your goal. Ideally, you’ll want to talk with more than one agent to determine which one is the most successful. You’ll also want to determine which agent is most committed to your work and your future as a writer. And you’ll want to determine which agent is the best fit for your personality.
• Getting Better Terms: If you get an agreement or contract from a literary agent, outlining the terms of your relationship, there might be something in it you want to change. For example, an agent might say the contract is for a period of two years. If you have multiple agents interested, it’s more likely you’ll get what you want.
• Having the Best Agent Relationship: If you have multiple publishing agents interested in your book, the agent you choose will believe in you more and be more committed to your success. Since agents get so many submissions from authors and seldom have to “compete” to get an author, you’ll simply be treated better and valued more if you have multiple agents who want you and your work.

Can New Authors Get Book Agents with this List of Literary Agents?

Any writer can (and should) begin their quest for representation querying the most successful agents. Even if you’re a new writer or “a self-described nobody” as an author, you might be able to get a top book agent.

For example, I recently had my best day as an author coach, during which, two of my clients (both debut novelists) got offers for representation from two of the most successful agents at William Morris Endeavor and Trident Media—two of the top literary agencies in the United States. That doesn’t happen every day, even for me, but it happens often enough that you should query the best literary agents and see what happens. Remember that when using the literary agents list above.

Most authors assume it’s easier (or much easier) to get a low-level agent vs a top agent. I (incorrectly) assumed that as well, when I started helping authors get agents in 2011. Now that I’ve helped 400+ authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get representation using my list of literary agents, I can tell you—definitively—that’s not always the case.

In other words, if your writing is proves good enough to get a low-level agent, there’s a chance (a good chance) it might prove good enough for a successful author representative. And, if you’re struggling to get the most successful writer representatives offering to work with you, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to have an easier time querying less successful agents on my literary agents list.

So, don’t assume the worst.

The point is that you have nothing to lose—and potentially everything to gain—by querying the most powerful book agents first. Then, if you’re not successful getting an offer(s), start querying the “pretty good” agents. And, if that doesn’t work, start querying new agents—and those who’ve been agents for years but have sold much (or anything) yet.

One of them might
come through for you.

I always tell my coaching clients, “Don’t prematurely query low-level agents of my list of literary agents. Over time, if we get desperate enough, the less successful agents will start looking more attractive—but those bottom-tier agents should be our last resort. Obviously, let’s try, first, to get someone with more experience, better connections, and a better track record.”

Most authors would agree, in most cases, any agent is better than no agent at all—as long as they’re ethical and committed to your success. Just make sure you orchestrate your submissions, so you know you’re getting the most established author representative possible. Study my list of literary agents carefully to determine who’s really good vs pretty good vs not so good.

Literary agent biographies speaks volumes.

In my many years’ experience in the publishing industry, the only thing worse than authors not getting offers from agents…is authors prematurely getting offers from low-level agents, accepting them, then wondering if they could have done better.

So, be careful, and start at the top.