If you’ve written a spiritual book manuscript and are looking for a major publishing house, the purpose of this post is to help you along your way.
Below you’ll find a list of 19 top literary agents for spiritual books. One of these agents might be able to help you land a publishing deal with a traditional publisher.
Continue reading to learn who they are.
1. Rita Rosenkranz
Rita Rosenkranz established her titular agency to discover and represent a massive trove of stellar reads from equally exceptional individuals, particularly in nonfiction. Located at West End Avenue in New York City, she possesses the business acumen to work with the biggest publishing companies across regions.
While she manages a hefty number of published authors, Rita is just as eager to welcome new writers to her list. Alongside categories such as food, comedy, and memoirs, this veteran agent covers spirituality. For one, Rita manages Joan Rose Staffen, author of Divination & Joy and The Book of Pendulum Healing.
Interested authors can choose between physical and digital submissions.
2. Lisa DiMona
Writers House in Broadway, New York City, is a highly respected entity in the publishing industry — and the same can be said for its agent Lisa DiMona. With a keen sense of the world and its many mysteries, she maintains a steady list of writers filled with one-of-a-kind perspectives and life experiences.
Lisa only works with authors of nonfiction. On the bright side, this specialization includes a wide variety of interests: business, journalism, biographies, and anything that deals with the mind and spirit. As such, she represents Yung Pueblo, the best-selling writer of the spiritual and meditation book Lighter.
Head to the Writers House submission page if you want to mail or email a query to Lisa.
3. Jonathan Merritt
With only a brief view of his credentials, you’ll already sense that Jonathan Merritt is one of a kind. For a decade and a half, this New York-based professional from The Christopher Ferebee Agency (located in Corona, California) has built a budding list and garnered acclaim for his own writing.
Jonathan often looks for writers who offer alternative and innovative ways of thinking about the world. He’s also searching for books that nourish the self, which explains his fondness for nonfiction titles about personal development and spiritual well-being.
Prospective clients can send queries to Jonathan via the agency.
4. Elaine Spencer
In the early 2000s, Elaine Spencer held a humble yet essential position at The Knight Agency in Madison, Georgia. Over the years, she joined the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and successfully negotiated more than half a thousand titles for publishers big and small. Today, she’s the agency’s VP of operations.
Elaine is interested in historical novels, contemporary works, and all sorts of romance fiction (including romantic thrillers). Still, she holds a special place in her heart for nonfiction writing. If you’re working on a book about spirituality, religion, or self-help, Elaine would love to browse your project.
Check her section on the submission page for her QueryManager link.
5. Wendy Sherman
Wendy Sherman is arguably a living legend in the American publishing industry. Before creating her own agency more than two decades ago in New York City, she handled important tasks at big companies, one of which was none other than Simon & Schuster.
Aside from nonfiction writing on spiritual well-being and health, she also harbors a strong appreciation for both prescriptive and narrative nonfiction. Overall, Wendy loves books across fiction and nonfiction that surprise their readers in the best way possible.
Wendy is looking forward to your query letter. However, you must first carefully read the guidelines since her agency will only accept submissions that adhere to them.
6. Peter Rubie
Currently serving as the CEO of FinePrint Literary Management in New York City, Peter Rubie is a distinct literary agent. After all, he’s a published author and was a faculty member at New York University. There, he taught students about the requirements and duties of literary agents in a special course.
When he’s not evaluating fiction like sci-fi, YA novels, and literary novels, Peter is busy reading nonfiction. His topics range from spirituality and well-being to family relationships, memoirs, self-development, and cooking.
The submission process starts with a query. Furthermore, you should read the guidelines for nonfiction proposals.
7. Johanna V. Castillo
Johanna V. Castillo is another powerhouse agent from Writers House. Before working at the company in Broadway, New York City, she was already working on countless books that made waves in bestseller lists around the world (including Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us).
This agent hopes to foster long-lasting professional relationships with the most promising writers. Thus, Johanna is open to everything from mainstream fiction to nonfiction books about spirituality and history. In fact, she represents Robyn Moreno, writer of the spiritual memoir Get Rooted.
If you’d like to know more about Johanna’s current interests, click on her name on the submissions page. This will reveal her contact details for query submissions and a link to her Publishers Marketplace profile.
8. Jennifer De Chiara
Before launching her own literary agency in the early 2000s, Jennifer De Chiara delved into other parts of the publishing industry as a guest speaker, writer, editor, and consultant. Needless to say, her expertise in writing and publishing ensured the mighty success of her business in New York City and Los Angeles.
Jennifer is fascinated with books about the entertainment industry. After all, she’s experienced with both acting and dancing. Still, this senior agent is also the go-to professional for nonfiction authors of spiritual titles, especially if they’re similar to the best-selling works of Eckhart Tolle such as The Power of Now and A New Earth.
Your online proposal must have one chapter along with a quick bio and synopsis.
9. Jim Levine
Jim Levine is one of the three principals of the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency in New York City. Industry folks know his agenting prowess. Yet what’s equally impressive are his achievements as a writer of several books and articles, which have earned him praise from The Wall Street Journal and Esquire.
This agent is always excited at the thought of finding and representing groundbreaking work. Spirituality is one of Jim’s top interests. Other topics include narrative nonfiction, politics, and social currents.
Writers should complete an online submission form on the agency website if they want to be part of his eclectic client list.
10. Carol Mann
In the late 1970s, Carol Mann decided to elevate her status from editor to literary agent and business owner. Thus, she established her titular literary agency in New York City. Sooner than later, she built a spectacular client list and a small yet highly skilled team.
With several decades of agenting under her belt, Carol understands that her interests and skills are best fit for nonfiction. Specifically, she likes current events, medicine, spirituality, and personal development, among others. Some of her clients include the iconic singer Mary J. Blige and prolific author (and movie director) Paul Auster.
Nonfiction queries only require the initial 25 pages of your writing. For complete details, visit the query submission page.
11. William Clark
William Clark developed his representation and management skills at different literary agencies in the 1990s. Right before the start of the new millennium, he decided to establish a new agency in New York City, which now handles more than 80 clients.
All in all, William prefers nonfiction over fiction. From politics and current affairs to art and design, his interests are as comprehensive as they are insightful. Given his lifelong pursuit and belief in Buddhism, William’s high regard for spiritual writing is undeniable as well.
Surprisingly, he’s been open to online submissions for nearly 30 years. His agency website contains a form that you can fill out if you want to send a query.
12. Jessica Faust
Before leading the BookEnds Literary Agency, Jessica Faust made a name for herself at industry giants like Wiley and Macmillan. Situated in Gillette, New Jersey, she was also a lecturer and columnist. Now, she conducts public speaking and blogging apart from agenting.
Jessica’s list includes authors of fiction and nonfiction. For the latter, she looks for writing that motivates readers to improve their lives. Books that discuss the enrichment of one’s spirit, mind, and well-being are of particular importance.
If you go to her agent page and scroll down, you’ll discover her wishlist and her QueryManager section.
13. Jill Marsal
Jill Marsal boasts two decades of industry experience and a Juris Doctor from none other than Harvard Law School. And as one of the founders of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency in Solana Beach, California, she handles an impressive list of both fiction and nonfiction authors.
In nonfiction, Jill is open to genres like spirituality, self-help, and health. Other than these, she prefers narrative nonfiction and business books that tackle managerial roles and customer relations. No matter the topic, the writing must have compelling perspectives and include practical or insightful information.
Whether you’re a new or published author, you can freely send a query to Jill. Scroll down her agent profile for a link to her QueryManager.
14. Joanne Wyckoff
Based in New York City, Joanne Wyckoff has been part of the Carol Mann Agency for more than a decade. Still, she was no stranger to the industry before joining the team. Prior to her present job, Joanne served as a premiere editor at a few book publishing companies.
A couple of nonfiction authors on her list are David Gessner (My Green Manifesto) and Lauretta Hannon (The Cracker Queen). Apart from memoirs and environmentalism, Joanne’s preferred subjects are health, narrative nonfiction, and spirituality. She’s open to widely different topics, provided that they’re written well.
The submissions page mentions essential information for nonfiction authors. To add, Joanne’s profile indicates her email address for queries.
15. Meg Thompson
Meg Thompson finished her degree in literature at New York University with Latin honors. After working at LJK Literary Management and the Einstein Thompson Agency for many years, she finally launched her own agency in New York City.
Over the years, Meg has represented illustrators, journalists, essayists, activists, and even a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. This agent is searching for nonfiction writing in categories like spirituality, well-being, social issues, current affairs, and pop culture.
If you want to send Meg a query, go to the agent bios page. From there, look for her section and scroll down for the submission details.
16. Bob Hostetler
For at least 30 years, Bob Hostetler has been one of the go-to agents for Christian authors. He works at The Steve Laube Agency in Phoenix, Arizona, and is proficient in agenting, editing, public speaking, and writing. In fact, Bob has crafted at least 50 titles throughout his career in the industry.
Since he caters to Christian communities, Bob looks for inspirational writing that covers religion and spirituality. In particular, he’s interested in nonfiction topics about spiritual growth, family life, humor, and faith-based living.
Bob accepts digital proposals. Interested authors should follow the submission guidelines, especially since there are different requirements for fiction and nonfiction.
17. Cherise Fisher
Cherise Fisher’s bright future in the industry was apparent as soon as she stepped out of Yale University. She immediately entered Dell Publishing. Then, she landed noteworthy positions at Plume and Simon & Schuster before finally arriving at Wendy Sherman Associates, Inc. in New York City.
Nonfiction is her specialty. Cherise values writers who are experts in their respective fields whether that’s self-development, spirituality, or religion. Simply put, she yearns for projects that guide people to a more fulfilling and productive life.
For now, authors cannot submit unsolicited proposals to Cherise. Still, this is a good chance to learn the query guidelines.
18. Stacy Testa
Since 2011, Stacy Testa has been a phenomenal addition to Writers House in New York City. She needed no more than two years at the literary agency to move up from assisting others to discovering clients for her own list.
Consequently, she represents authors like Karen Winn (Our Little World) and Kathryn Ma (The Chinese Groove). Aside from literary works and other novels, Stacy looks for prescriptive nonfiction and books about the mind, body, and spirit.
Stacy has closed her query submission window. On a positive note, she’ll likely accept new queries next year. In the meantime, you can visit the agency’s submissions page.
19. Jan Baumer
Based in New York City, Jan Baumer has been an agent at Folio Literary Management for the past three years. Before this, she had editorial duties for a lifestyle magazine and one of the HarperCollins imprints.
To summarize her literary tastes in one word, it’s “enlightenment”. Jan believes in the power of words to change people’s lives for the better — emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. She would love to manage business authors who can infuse aspects of spiritual living and self-development into their work.
Unfortunately, Jan is temporarily not accepting new queries. You can visit her agent page at another date for updates.
Do you know any other literary agents looking for spiritual books? Please tell us more in the comments box below!
Shikha Pandey is a creative, content and script writer based in Mumbai, India.