Germany has always played a significant role in world literature through its rich heritage of writers across all mediums. Hence why it has been known throughout history as Das Land Der Dichter und Denker - the land of poets and thinkers.
This influence extends within its own borders with universities still thriving since their establishment in the 14th century. Generations steeped in literature has enabled Germany to remain one of the world's leading countries for literacy rates: 99% for everyone over 15-years-old.
Consequently, the demand for books is huge, and with 700 million German titles published every year by over 2000 publishers, only English and Chinese titles see more releases.
But no matter what language the original text is written in, they all come together in 4 million square-feet of indoor space to seek international sales: The Frankfurt Book Fair. The world's largest trade book fair has a history dating back over 500 years, and today is visited by over 300,000 industry professionals and readers. The latter of whom are given access to the events during the final two days, something which many of the large book fairs still do not grant. But at its core, Frankfurt exists for trade publishing, and as a result many of the literary agencies throughout Germany only represent subsidiary rights and do not accept unsolicited queries.
If you are unsure of any of the genre and sub-genre categories, a guide to the definitions can be found here.
This initial batch of Germany literary agencies which will expand over the coming months, was compiled by visiting each of their websites, to ensure the very latest submission policies are detailed below. All of their city and state locations are also mentioned to further help writers gain an understanding of how Germany differs from other countries, in that the agencies are not predominately concentrated in one city.
To view their website, send them a submission, or follow them on Twitter, simply click on the relevant links provided.
A-B
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Agent Brauer, Schwindstr. 5, RGB, 80798 Munich
E-mail submissions: hallo@agentur-brauer.de
Address to sole agent:
Oliver Brauer
Query letter only. If interested the agency will request sample materials.
Twitter: @Agentur_Brauer
G-H
Genres: Literary Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Children's Books | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions only: Michael Gaeb Literary Agency, Chodowieckistrasse 26, 10405 Berlin
Address to sole agent:
Michael Gaeb
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, the first 50 pages, and an SAE.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, full book proposal, a sample chapter, and an SAE.
Genres: Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Agency of Gorus, Office Lake Constance, Mill Street 2, 78345 Moos
E-mail submissions: info@gorus.de
Query letter only. Unsolicited materials will be rejected. Wait for the agency to request the materials.
Twitter: Literary agents Oliver Gorus @olivergorus
Genres: Fiction | YA | Non-Fiction
Postal Submissions: Agence Hoffman, Landshuter Allee 49, 80637 Munich
E-mail submissions: Agent specified.
Beatrice Beckmann: Literary Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Non-Fiction | Popular Science | Memoir | b.beckmann@agencehoffman.de
Claudia Lichte: Crime Fiction | Thrillers | Fantasy | c.lichte@agencehoffman.de
Roswitha Kern: Children's Books | YA | r.kern(at)agencehoffman.de
Query letter only. If interested the agency will request sample materials.
K-L
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Lianne Kolf, Teng Road 8, 80798 Munich
E-mail submissions: mail@Agentur-kolf.de
Address to sole agent:
Lianne Kolf
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and the first 30 pages.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, bio, and a full book proposal.
If sending electronically attachments are accepted. If mailing including an SAE.
Genres: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: Lovegrove & Gosling, Schönleinstraße 31, 10967 Berlin
E-mail submissions: submissions@lovegrove-gosling.com
Address to one agent only:
Sharmaine Lovegrove: Fiction | Non-Fiction
Victoria Gosling: Historical Fiction | Non-Fiction
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and the first 3 chapters.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, full book proposal, and a sample chapter.
If sending electronically attachments are accepted. If mailing including an SAE.
They only launched in 2012 and are the first English-language literary agency in Germany.
Twitter: @LandG_Lit Literary agents Sharmaine Lovegrove @SharLovegrove
M-N
Michael Meller Literary Agency
The agency is based in Munich, Bavaria.
Genres: Fiction | Children's Books | Non-Fiction
E-mail submissions only: info@melleragency.com
Address to only one agent:
Michael Meller: Fiction | Children's Books | Non-Fiction
Cristina Bernardi: Fiction | Children's Books | Non-Fiction
Regina Seitz: Fiction | Children's Books | Non-Fiction
Leonie Schöbel: Fiction | Children's Books | Non-Fiction
Query letter only. Any queries with attachments will be deleted.
If interested the agency will request sample materials:
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and a sample chapter.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, full book proposal, manuscript status, bio, and a sample chapter.
S-T
Genres: Fiction | YA | Non-Fiction
Does not accept: Short Stories, Children's Books, Poetry, or Science-Fiction.
Postal submissions: The Simon Literary Agency, Eisenacher Str. 76, 10823 Berlin
E-mail submissions: info@agentursimon.com
Address to one agent only:
Alexander Simon: Literary Fiction | Commercial Fiction | Non-Fiction
Gila Keplin: Non-Fiction | Current Affairs | Popular Culture | History | Memoir
Hanne Reinhardt: Fiction
Bettina Kühn: Fiction | YA
Julia Doesch: Fiction
Fiction: Query letter, synopsis, and the first 3 chapters.
Non-Fiction: Query letter, bio, and a full book proposal.
If sending materials electronically attachments are accepted. If mailing include an SAE.
U-V
Christina Vikoler Literary Agency
Genres: Literary Fiction | Historical Fiction | Crime Fiction | Thrillers | Romance | YA | Non-Fiction | Biography | Cookery | Health & Wellness | Memoir
Postal submissions: Christina Vikoler Literary Agency, Schmellerstrasse 17 RGB, 80337 Munich
E-mail submissions: mail@christinavikoler.com
Address to sole agent:
Christina Vikoler
Query letter only. Any queries by e-mail with attachments will be deleted.
W-Z
Genres: Commercial Fiction | Women's Fiction | Romance | Thrillers | Middle Grade | New Adult | YA
Does not accept: Short Stories, Picture Books, or Non-Fiction
Postal submissions: J. A. Weber Literary Agency, Am Wall 153/156, 28195 Bremen
E-mail submissions: submissions@jaw-litagent.com
Address to sole agent:
Julia A. Weber
Query letter, bio, synopsis, and the first 3 chapters. All within the body of an e-mail if sending electronically. Queries with attachments will be deleted. If mailing send an SAE.
International writers welcome but postal replies only sent to German addresses.
The agency endeavours to respond to all queries within six weeks of receipt.
Twitter: Literary agent Julia A. Weber @jawlitagent