Here are three agents interested in LGBTQ fiction and nonfiction. Claire Draper is seeking young adult fiction, middle grade, picture books, graphic novels, or a feminist memoir/collection of essays.
Emmy Nordstrom is looking for literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction, for adults and older young adults, and on the non-fiction side: memoir, deep dive journalistic accounts, investigative true crime, activism, essay collections, and progressive political and social commentary. Kiana Nguyen focuses primarily on YA Contemporary, but would love to work with low/high Fantasy (not-western/European based) and Sci-fi.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients
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Emmy Nordstrom Higdon of The Rights Factory
"I am a PhD student at McMaster University, a bookseller at Another Story independent book shop, a blogger at Books Beyond Binaries, and a member of the planning team for the Festival of Literary Diversity. I am a queer, trans, non-binary colonizer originally from Newfoundland, now based in Tkaronto (Toronto, Ontario). I keep busy with research projects, spending time with my family (including adopted dogs and cats), embroidery, vegan cooking, and… obviously, a lot of reading."
What they are seeking: "Authors of literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction, for adults and older young adults. I specialize in LGBTQ2S+ literature. I am not currently accepting middle grade or children's literature queries. While atmospheric stories with lots of plot twists are my favourites, I'm eager to read literary fiction, feminist thrillers, book club, millennial, dark fantasy, paranormal horror, contemporary Gothic, and magical realism."
Non-Fiction: Adult and YA: "On the non-fiction side, my interests include memoir, deep dive journalistic accounts, investigative true crime, activism, essay collections, and progressive political and social commentary."
How to submit: Use their query form HERE.
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Kiana Nguyen of Donald Maass
"Newly minted Assistant Literary Agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency. I focus primarily on YA Contemporary, but would love to work with low/high Fantasy (not-western/European based) and Sci-fi. I am HUNGRY for queer and POC voices, especially if the narrative is as much driven by the main character(s) as by a high-concept plot. Think THUG, ONE OF US IS LYING, THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS. Recent Fantasy: FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS, THE FIVE DAUGHTERS OF THE MOON, WINTERSONG.
I am looking for queer gang ensemble casts in any YA genre/sub-genre that kick ass physically, mentally, at the arcade or in a high-stakes heist. Some of my favorite badass teams right now are in The Flash, Wynona Earp, The Craft (obviously), The Diviners by Libba Bray, Feral Youth edited by Shaun David Hutchinson. They all have their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks and each are wholly unique in their own ways. Also, COVENS.
I'm looking for an achingly bittersweet queer love story with thriller or genre spin like FAR FROM YOU and THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. I want my heart broken with all things dark and twisty.
Give me the girls with skinned knees and boys weak with jealousy and queer kids who couldn't be good if they tried. All the gray morality and friendships they would kill to keep. Nothing cookie-cutter for me! I am also looking for Adult SFF, thrillers (specifically domestic suspense), and romance. Think Nicky Drayden, THE GIRL BEFORE (Rena Olsen), and Rebekah Weatherspoon."
How to submit: Submissions should be emailed to query.knguyen@maassagency.com
Begin your subject line with QUERY: title of the manuscript (e.g. QUERY: The Count of Monte Cristo). Include:
Claire Draper of Bent Agency
Claire Draper studied Queer Diversity in Children’s Literature at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. While a student, she interned at Rare Bird Lit, InkWell Management, and the Children’s Book Council. Originally from Southern California, she misses the beach and In-n’-Out more than possibly imaginable. She is a recent transplant to Brooklyn and enjoys heading to the park to read literary fiction, young adult fiction, graphic novels, and the latest collection of feminist essays.
What she is seeking: Young adult fiction, middle grade, picture books, graphic novels, or a feminist memoir/collection of essays. "I love a good YA romance, but will absolutely take on any other YA genre. I'm craving more YA queer romances with much more going on than the romance, like lesbian witches avoiding persecution, or your everyday trans crime-fighting teen, though both characters in the relationship need to be lovable for their own reasons, so please make sure your characters are as lovable as we want them to be. Also, I'm very much looking for YA books that handle mental illness well, especially a character who deals with having bipolar disorder."
How to submit: "By submitting a query to me, you are agreeing to address me as Claire or Mx. Draper." Include the title of your project in the subject line of your email. Then paste the first ten pages of your book in the body of your email (not as an attachment, please).
Send to: clairequeries@thebentagency.com
Emmy Nordstrom is looking for literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction, for adults and older young adults, and on the non-fiction side: memoir, deep dive journalistic accounts, investigative true crime, activism, essay collections, and progressive political and social commentary. Kiana Nguyen focuses primarily on YA Contemporary, but would love to work with low/high Fantasy (not-western/European based) and Sci-fi.
Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change.
You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients
_____________________
Emmy Nordstrom Higdon of The Rights Factory
"I am a PhD student at McMaster University, a bookseller at Another Story independent book shop, a blogger at Books Beyond Binaries, and a member of the planning team for the Festival of Literary Diversity. I am a queer, trans, non-binary colonizer originally from Newfoundland, now based in Tkaronto (Toronto, Ontario). I keep busy with research projects, spending time with my family (including adopted dogs and cats), embroidery, vegan cooking, and… obviously, a lot of reading."
What they are seeking: "Authors of literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, and narrative nonfiction, for adults and older young adults. I specialize in LGBTQ2S+ literature. I am not currently accepting middle grade or children's literature queries. While atmospheric stories with lots of plot twists are my favourites, I'm eager to read literary fiction, feminist thrillers, book club, millennial, dark fantasy, paranormal horror, contemporary Gothic, and magical realism."
Non-Fiction: Adult and YA: "On the non-fiction side, my interests include memoir, deep dive journalistic accounts, investigative true crime, activism, essay collections, and progressive political and social commentary."
How to submit: Use their query form HERE.
_____________________
Kiana Nguyen of Donald Maass
"Newly minted Assistant Literary Agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency. I focus primarily on YA Contemporary, but would love to work with low/high Fantasy (not-western/European based) and Sci-fi. I am HUNGRY for queer and POC voices, especially if the narrative is as much driven by the main character(s) as by a high-concept plot. Think THUG, ONE OF US IS LYING, THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS. Recent Fantasy: FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS, THE FIVE DAUGHTERS OF THE MOON, WINTERSONG.
I am looking for queer gang ensemble casts in any YA genre/sub-genre that kick ass physically, mentally, at the arcade or in a high-stakes heist. Some of my favorite badass teams right now are in The Flash, Wynona Earp, The Craft (obviously), The Diviners by Libba Bray, Feral Youth edited by Shaun David Hutchinson. They all have their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks and each are wholly unique in their own ways. Also, COVENS.
I'm looking for an achingly bittersweet queer love story with thriller or genre spin like FAR FROM YOU and THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. I want my heart broken with all things dark and twisty.
Give me the girls with skinned knees and boys weak with jealousy and queer kids who couldn't be good if they tried. All the gray morality and friendships they would kill to keep. Nothing cookie-cutter for me! I am also looking for Adult SFF, thrillers (specifically domestic suspense), and romance. Think Nicky Drayden, THE GIRL BEFORE (Rena Olsen), and Rebekah Weatherspoon."
How to submit: Submissions should be emailed to query.knguyen@maassagency.com
Begin your subject line with QUERY: title of the manuscript (e.g. QUERY: The Count of Monte Cristo). Include:
- a query letter (be sure it includes both genre and word count)
- the first five pages of your manuscript
- a short synopsis (1-2 pages)
Claire Draper of Bent Agency
Claire Draper studied Queer Diversity in Children’s Literature at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. While a student, she interned at Rare Bird Lit, InkWell Management, and the Children’s Book Council. Originally from Southern California, she misses the beach and In-n’-Out more than possibly imaginable. She is a recent transplant to Brooklyn and enjoys heading to the park to read literary fiction, young adult fiction, graphic novels, and the latest collection of feminist essays.
What she is seeking: Young adult fiction, middle grade, picture books, graphic novels, or a feminist memoir/collection of essays. "I love a good YA romance, but will absolutely take on any other YA genre. I'm craving more YA queer romances with much more going on than the romance, like lesbian witches avoiding persecution, or your everyday trans crime-fighting teen, though both characters in the relationship need to be lovable for their own reasons, so please make sure your characters are as lovable as we want them to be. Also, I'm very much looking for YA books that handle mental illness well, especially a character who deals with having bipolar disorder."
How to submit: "By submitting a query to me, you are agreeing to address me as Claire or Mx. Draper." Include the title of your project in the subject line of your email. Then paste the first ten pages of your book in the body of your email (not as an attachment, please).
Send to: clairequeries@thebentagency.com
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