Query Alyssa Maltese at Root Literary

Thanks for thinking of me with your work! Please note that not all fields are required. If you're unable to use the form below for any reason, please query me directly at submissions@rootliterary.com with my name in the subject line.

I do NOT represent poetry, memoirs, short story collections, screenplays, novellas, early reader books, chapter books, religious texts, picture books, graphic novels, or illustrations.

I am NOT the best fit for high/epic fantasy, novels in verse, space operas, paranormal romance, crime fiction/detective novels, cozy mysteries, legal thrillers, romantic thrillers, pulp fiction, sick lit, stories set in mental hospitals, most things related to sports, grifter-themed stories, torture porn, gratuitous gore, or fairytale retellings (though I do have a soft spot for Arthurian legend).

Please keep in mind Root Literary's submission policy and do not query multiple Root Lit agents at the same time.

Step 1. Tell us about the author

Fill in these author-related fields.


Tell us a little about yourself and any writing credentials you may have.
Have you previously published other books?      
Have you ever been represented by a literary agent before?      

Step 2. Tell us about the book

Fill in these book-related fields.


This agent only represents the genres shown in this list. Selecting an inaccurate genre will result in a rejection. If your book's genre is not shown here, please go to QueryTracker for a list of agents who do represent your genre.
Enter the approximate WORD count of your book. Enter numbers only. Do not include any letters or special characters.
Is this book currently published or has it ever been published before?      
Enter your query letter for this book. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.
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Enter a short synopsis of your book. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.

(If your book is shorter than this (such as a picture book) please include the entire text.) Paste in the first 20 pages of your book, or your full book proposal if your book is non-fiction. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.
List some books that are similar to yours. (500 characters or less)

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Final Step: Submit Your Query

Important: After submitting your query, you will receive a personalized link to a special page that you can visit any time to check your query's status.

If the recipient of your query would like to read more, they will contact you through that page as well as through email.




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