39 Canadian literary agents accepting submissions in March 2026 (updated list)
Finding the right literary agent is one of the most important steps in your publishing journey (after writing your book, of course). I understand the querying process can be daunting, so to assist writers like yourself, I have put together this list of Canadian literary agents who are currently accepting queries and manuscript submissions in March 2026.
I update this list at the start of each month, so you know you have the most current information on your querying journey.
Don’t forget to check out my developmental editing services or pre-querying package (perfect for ensuring your first 5,000 words and query letter are submission-ready!) if you want to make sure your book is in top shape before you send it to an agent for consideration. I offer a variety of services to suit all budgets, from writers looking for the standard developmental editing experience to those seeking high-level feedback with a quick turnaround time.
Alexandra Grana
Alexandra began her career in publishing at Corvisiero Literary Agency and has also worked in employment law.
Agency: P.S. Literary Agency
Genre: Fiction (commercial horror, fantasy, grounded science fiction, mysteries, gothic horror, and thrillers) and nonfiction (pop culture, cultural history, spiritual, occult, cookbooks, and food writing).
Word count: Not stated.
Amy Moore-Benson
Amy began her career in publishing at 17 and later spent 13 years at Harlequin Enterprises.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Fiction (domestic thrillers, high-concept suspense, romance, women’s fiction) and nonfiction (memoir, ripped-from-the-headlines narrative, personal investigation).
Word count: Not stated.
Ballpoint Literary Agency
Ballpoint Literary agency is a new, artist-centred literary agency.
Agency: Ballpoint Literary Agency
Genre: Nonfiction and fiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Britt Siess
Britt is the President of Britt Siess Creative Management as well as a literary agent. She represents primarily graphic novels and illustrated works.
Agency: Britt Siess Creative Management.
Genre: Graphic novels and illustrated prose, including illustrated chapter books and middle grade.
Word count: Not stated.
Carleen Geisler
Carleen previously worked at ArtHouse Literary Agency and has also worked in digital marketing.
Agency: P.S. Britt Siess Creative Management.
Genre: Contemporary fiction across genres, romance, literary, upmarket, thriller, horror and book club. Please note Carleen does not accept science fiction or fantasy, she does love a speculative twist in contemporary fiction. For nonfiction, Carleen is open all genres.
Word count: Novel-length books.
Carly Watters
Carly has been a literary agent for over 15 yaers and represents bestsellers across multiple categories.
Agency: P.S. Literary Agency
Genre: Fiction (women’s fiction, upmarket adult, commercial adult, domestic suspense, literary mystery and thrillers, historical, contemporary romance, and smart book club fiction) and nonfiction (pop science, business, psychology, cookbooks, unique memoirs, lifestyle (health, wellness, relationships, parenting), narrative, and platform based non-fiction).
Word count: Not stated.
Carolyn Forde
Carolyn joined the Transatlantic Agency in 2019 after working at other literary agencies for 14 years. She’s a Senior Agent and Partner at the Transatlantic Agency.
Agency: Transatlantic Agency.
Genre: Literary fiction (especially speculative and horror), commercial fiction, funny crime fiction and narrative nonfiction. Please note Carolyn is not keen on medical/disease related memoirs, police procedurals, climate thrillers, military/CIA fiction, cozy mysterys or books about the film and TV industry.
Word count: Not stated.
Cody Caetano
Cody joined CookMcDermid in 2022 after working at Transatlantic Agency.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Literary fiction, memoir and book-length essays.
Word count: Not stated.
Curtis Russell
Curtis co-founded P.S. Literary Agency over two decades ago and began his publishing career as the proprietor of an indie press.
Agency: P.S. Literary Agency
Genre: Fiction (literary, commercial, mystery, thriller, suspense and romance) and nonfiction (business, history, politics, current affairs, memoir, health, wellness, sports, humor, pop culture, pop science, and pop psychology).
Word count: Not stated.
Dean Cooke
Dean has worked in publishing for over 40 years as both an agent and a publisher.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Eva Oakes
Eva has been with the Transatlantic Agency for over 3 years.
Agency: Transatlantic Agency.
Genre: Fiction (upmarket and literary) and nonfiction (narrative).
Word count: Not stated.
Hana El Niwairi
Hana El Niwairi is the Rights Manager at CookeMcDermid in addition to being an agent. She has an eclectic taste and reads widely across genres.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, romance, book club fiction, thrillers and nonfiction in various topics such as politics, social justice issues, pop culture, media, science and history.
Word count: Not stated.
Helen Heller
Helen has worked in senior positions at various publishers, both as an editor and a publisher. She specialises in thrillers and major front-list fiction.
Agency: The Helen Heller Agency.
Genre: Fiction, including literary, thrillers, historical, domestic, and contemporary.
Word count: Not stated.
Jennifer Chevais
Jennifer has a strong interest in commercial horror, speculative and children’s fiction.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Fantasy, science fiction, horror, thriller.
Word count: Not stated.
Jes Trudel
Jess is an editor and storytelling instructor who has taught workshops to thousands of people across the globe.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Children’s fiction, including graphic novels, board books, picture books, middle grade and young adult.
Word count: Not stated.
Jo Ramsay
Jo has worked in publishing for over 8 years with a number of publishers, including Simon and Schuster.
Agency: Transatlantic Agency.
Genre: Fiction (innovative speculative, horror, psychological horror, thriller, queer romance, gothic, mystery, fantasy, historical, light science fiction, ecofiction, cli-fi, upmarket and literary) and nonfiction (pop culture, politics, social sciences, cultural critique, investigative journalism, econonfiction, expedition accounts, nomadic/laternative living, off-grid living, survivalist writing, travelogues and pop science). Please note Jo does not accept high or epic fantasy.
Word count: Not stated.
Julia Kim
Julia joined The Rights Factory in 2024 after working as an assistant editor at Dundurn Press and as a freelance editor.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Fiction (literary, upmarket, crime, mystery, speculative, horror and historical) and nonfiction (history, politics, current affairs, women’s issues, self-help, travel, true crime, psychology, biography and memoir, health and fitness, food and lifestyle, architecture and design, art and culture, film and TV, pop culture).
Word count: For fiction, works should be between 50,000 and 100,000 words.
Kat Foxx
Kat joined The Rights Factory in 2023 after a career in editing.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Fiction (commercial, upmarket, literary, thriller, mystery, suspense, gothic horror, supernatural horror, historical, and historical fantasy/speculative fiction) and nonfiction (memoirs and narrative).
Word count: Under 100,000 words.
Laura Cameron
Laura joined the Transatlantic Agency after working at Penguin Random House Canada.
Agency: Transatlantic Agency.
Genre: Fiction (upmarket and literary).
Word count: Not stated.
Maria Vicente
Maria is a senior literary agent and has over 10 years’ experience.
Agency: P.S. Literary Agency
Genre: Literary and upmarket fiction (contemporary, contemporary with speculative elements, fantasy, grounded science fiction, magical realism, horror, fairy tale retellings, and mysteries), graphic novels, and nonfiction (arts, pop culture, nature, psychology, cultural history, science, and the occult).
Word count: Not stated.
Marina Green
Marina has worked at a small indie press as well as Harlequin’s Trade division as an acquiring editor.
Agency: P.S. Literary Agency
Genre: Fiction (adult, YA, literary, horror, romance, fantasy, and romantasy) and nonfiction (self-help, spiritual, and the occult).
Word count: Not stated.
Martha Webb
Martha is co-owner of CookeMcDermid and began her career in publishing with The McDermid Agency in 2005.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Upmarket commercial fiction, narrative fiction of all kinds (but espcially investigative reporting, adventure, science and nature), and literary fiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Matt Belford
Matt joined The Rights factory in 2025 after working at several literary agencies and Big 5 publishers.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Matt primarily works with nonfiction projects (business, film/tv, food, health, journalism, lifestyle, narrative nonfiction, politics, pop culture, science, self-improvement, social justice, and women’s issues) but also accepts adult science fiction and fantasy as well as adult graphic novels.
Word count: Not stated.
Natalie Kimber
Natalie joined The Rights Factory in 2014 after working with Georgetown University Booklab, and Literary and Creative Artists.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Adult fiction (iterary, commercial, and upmarket women’s and LGBTQ+ fiction, romance, comedies, international or transnational stories, action/adventure, animal stories, modern mythology, nostalgic and historical fiction, and short fiction collections ), YA (realistic/contemporary, rebellious teen fiction, boy books, horror, suspense/thriller, and some nonfiction for teens) and nonfiction (humor, memoir, biography, lifestyle, art, health, environment/climate, animal/pets, healing, spiritual/occult, history (especially ancient), peace studies, music, food/cooking/cocktails, pop culture, relationship, regional and international studies, writing craft, essay collections and literary criticism).
Word count: Not stated.
Olga Filina
Olga has over 20 years’ experience in the book publishing indutry.
Agency: 5 Otter Literary.
Genre: Nonfiction (narrative and prescriptive across all categories) and fiction (literary, book club, historical, crime, mystery, suspense) and memoir with exceptional writing, focusing on underrepresented voices. Olga also accepts middle grade fiction, contemporary YA and children’s nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Paige Sisley
Paige is a literary agent and CookeMcDermid’s in-house film and TV agent.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Fiction (upmarket and book club) and nonfiction (memoir, narrative, lifestyle, health and wellness).
Word count: Not stated.
Rick Broadhead & Associates
Rick Broadhead & Associates is driven by their passion for books and supported by their knowledge of publishing and relationships with leading editors and publishers.
Agency: Rick Broadhead & Associates.
Genre: Nonfiction, including history, true crime, investigative journalism, politics, business, natural history/environment, national security/intelligence, current affairs, biography, pop culture, science, self-help, biography, health, medicine, and humor.
Word count: Not stated.
Rob Firing
Rob has worked as a promoter and publicist for over 20 years, with 15 of those years at HarperCollins.
Agency: Transatlantic Agency.
Genre: Nonfiction, including social and cultural history, history that connects to today, fun history, investigative reporting, narrative journalism, popular science, narrative nonfiction, cookbooks with something extra and prescriptive nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Robert Lecker
Robert Lecker founded Robert Lecker Agency in 2003 after 25 years as a cofounder and copublisher of ECW press.
Agency: Robert Lecker Agency.
Genre: Nonfiction, including popular culture, music, entertainment, finance, food culture, and science.
Word count: Not stated.
Ron Eckel
Rob is co-owner of CookeMcDermid and has worked with Penguin Canada, Westwood Creative Artists, and Random House of Canada.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Fiction (horror, science fiction, suspense, psychological thrillers) and narrative nonfiction (pop culture, music, sports, pop science and current affairs).
Word count: Not stated.
Rose Ferrao
Rose has previously worked for Bloomsbury and Orbit Books before joining P.S. Literary Agency.
Agency: P.S. Literary Agency
Genre: Fiction (commercial romance, adult and crossover fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction and select young adult fiction) and nonfiction (cookbooks and food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle, and wellness).
Word count: Not stated.
Sam Hiyate
Sam is the founder and CEO of The Rights Factory. He is keen to discover new writers and help them prepare their works for the market.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Fiction (commercial upmarket, thriller, mystery, literary, crime, cross-genre), graphica, and nonfiction (business, food, health, lifestyle, memoir, self-improvement).
Word count: Not stated.
Samantha Haywood
Samantha has worked as a literary agent for over 20 years. 10 of those years have been spent as owner and President of the Transatlantic Agency.
Agency: Transatlantic Agency.
Genre: Fiction (literary and upmarket fiction of all genres. She particuarly likes literary thrillers, upmarket mystery, escapist fiction including romance and cozy elements. Samantha is open to literary works with speculative or horror elements) and nonfiction (narrative, big idea, investigative, historical narratives, true crime, the occasional memoir, and culturally relevant topics such as feminism, evnrionmentalism, Indigenous issues, societal inequalities).
Word count: Not stated.
Sarah Heller
Sarah specializes in establishing new authors, especially front list fiction.
Agency: The Helen Heller Agency.
Genre: Sarah is open to all genres as long as there is a strong narrative and relatable voice.
Word count: Not stated.
Stacey Donaghy
Since opening the Donaghy Literary Group in 2013, Stacey has sold a total of 10 six figure deals and have sold her client projects to a variety of publishing houses such as HarperCollins and Simon and Schuster.
Agency: Donaghy Literary Group.
Genre: Psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, diverse voice and romance.
Word count: Not stated.
Stacey Kondla
Stacey has worked for Scholastic Book Fairs, Chapters/Indigo and also as a freelance editor. She joined The Rights Factory in 2018.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Fiction (contemporary, fantasy, feminist, graphic novel, historical, horror/supernatural, lgbtq+, literary, mainstream/commercial, magical realism, middle grade, mystery, crime, romance (prefer romcoms), science fiction, speculative fiction, myths & fairy tales, suspense, thriller, upmarket commercial, book club, women’s fiction, young adult) and nonfiction (history, biography, narrative, pop culture, science, women’s issues).
Word count: Not stated.
Stephanie Winter
Stephanie has over 10 years of combined academic, publishing and bookselling experience. She is also a member of the Toronto Comic Arts Festival Board of Director.
Agency: KO Media Management.
Genre: Visual works aross genres and age categories such as cookbooks, horror, romance, giftable nonfiction and graphic novels.
Word count: Not stated.
Suzanne Brandreth
Suzanne is co-owner of CookeMcDermid and her clients’ books have been published in over 40 languages.
Agency: CookeMcDermid Literary Management
Genre: Upmarket, bookclub and literary fiction. Suzanne also accepts narrative and practical nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Wayne Arthurson
Wayne is a writer of Cree and French Canadian descent. He has worked in across various fields for over 30 years, including in journalism, communications, advertising and as an independent literary agent.
Agency: The Rights Factory
Genre: Fiction (YA or adult literary, crime, science fiction, and fantasy) and nonfiction (narrative and memoir).
Word count: Not stated.
Best of luck with your querying and submissions!
If you want to ensure your manuscript is in the best position to be accepted, check out my developmental editing services, pre-querying package or my free writing advice.