Folio is proud to offer a full complement of literary services in a changing publishing landscape, and provide our clients with access to marketing services, website development, and media training that it takes to make each book a success. We are dedicated to supporting authors across all platforms, from film adaptation to enhanced e-books and apps. Although each agent has particular likes and dislikes, certain criteria make a project/author particularly well suited for Folio: 

Fiction: We are aggressively seeking literary fiction; upmarket adult fiction that’s appropriate for book club discussion; and commercial fiction that features fresh voices and/or memorable characters. 

Nonfiction: Many of us love narrative nonfiction – great stories paired with great writing – including memoirs – but also authors, experts, scholars, and journalists with well-researched, compelling and new ideas. We love authors who are ready and able to promote their work and expertise in all forms of media. 

Children’s Books / YA: Folio Jr, the division of Folio Literary Management devoted exclusively to the representation of today’s most stellar children’s book authors and artists, is wholly committed to offering our clients 360º of impeccable, hands-on care. We strive not only to find the most un-put-down-able new voices and the most can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it new styles of illustration, but also to guide our established writers and illustrators to new heights in their publishing careers. To visit our Folio Jr. Illustrators’ Gallery please click here.

Please note: Folio Literary Management does not represent poetry, stage plays, or screenplays.


How to Submit

  1. Find the Right Agent.

    • Use our handy agent-picker, located here, to find the right agent for your project.

    • Once you have selected the right agent for your project, follow the submission guidelines listed on the individual agent’s page. Please note, some of our agents are currently closed to submissions.

    • Please do not submit simultaneously to more than one Folio Agent.

  2. Prepare Your Materials.

    • For Novels: Please wait until you’ve got a completed polished novel to query. Follow our Novel Query Letter Guidelines.

    • For Non-Fiction: All of our agents require a complete non-fiction proposal with a sample chapter. Follow our Non-Fiction Proposal Guidelines.

    • For All Submissions: Be sure that your cover letter, manuscript, and supplemental materials are properly formatted, and the best you think they can be: that means, at a minimum, double-spaced, well-proofed, well-written, and well-presented.

  3. Contact the Agent

    • All of our agents provide details on how to submit queries. Please follow the directions.

    • Please contact us about one project at a time. You may have a drawer full of fabulous yet-to-be-published manuscripts, but only tell us about the one you feel is the most polished, the most ready to go.

  4. Await Response

    • All agents will read your queries as soon as possible. Most Folio agents will respond to let you know of their interest or to inform you of their decision not to pursue representation.

    • If you do not hear back from the individual agent, please understand that the sheer volume of queries can be overwhelming and on occasion, it’s simply not possible to send a personal response declining representation in every case.


Generally, if an agent at Folio declines a manuscript, we felt it wasn’t a fit for any of the agents at the agency. That said, if an author feels strongly that another Folio agent should have the chance to review the author’s submission, please let the second agent know that the author has already submitted the project to other agents within Folio.