Jennifer Weis

The Weis Agency

My Manuscript Wish List®

The Weis Agency is a premier literary agency that identifies the literary stars of tomorrow. Drawing on our expertise of over 30 years in the publishing industry and the many enduring contacts we’ve made in the business, we individually match writers with the perfect publishing partner that will help them shine and grow.

The Agency is led by Jennifer Weis, formerly a longtime Executive Editor at St. Martin’s Press. Jennifer brings her expert editorial eye and hands-on approach to project development, along with her knowledge of the inner workings of the contemporary publishing landscape.

Outside of the literary world, Jennifer is engaged in many non-profit activities. She is based in NYC, where she lives with her husband and 4 children.

Fun facts about me:

When my 27-year-old tells me to read a romance, I run don’t walk, from Colleen Hoover to Sarah J. Maas to Kristin Hannah. We share a wide-ranging taste!
I wake up with The Skimm, Wake Up Call, The Morning, and The Washington Post Briefs every morning. On Sunday mornings, I enjoy Fareed, followed by the entire print sections of the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and four cups of coffee.
My end-of-summer reading for 2024 consisted of The Housemaid, The Women, Sandwich, Swan Song, and A Court of Thorns and Roses. My fall reading took a turn to focus on current events!

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to jweis@theweisagency.com

I am seeking high-concept, intricately plotted adult fiction of all categories, as well as mainstream YA fiction. I need a hook, a consistent voice, and characters that readers care about and connect with.

In suspense, I’m looking for high-concept thrillers set in unusual or rarified settings. My favorite authors include Lisa Jewell and Liz Moore.

In women’s fiction, I’m looking for books like Catherine Newman’s Sandwich – manuscripts that get the reader invested in the characters and the stories they have to tell.

I also take romance fiction — sexy or not — and prefer the positive conclusion to the dark or tragic. Any and all contemporary romance is welcome, as well as select historical works.

Above all, I am drawn to a powerful plot: one that’s engaging, complex, and provocative but whose central concept can be distilled in a few lines.

In nonfiction, I am looking for new voices and new angles on provocative subjects, authors with a platform, and compelling narratives that read like fiction. People on a mission and with a message are welcome here! Areas of specialty include but are not limited to:

Health and wellness, including psychology
Memoir
Current events with a specific angle
Narrative nonfiction of special interest to women
Big idea books that will change the world

If your book is similar to Outlive by Peter Attia, Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, or Three Women by Lisa Taddeo, I want to read it!

If you feel like your work is a good fit for me, I invite you to submit a formal query. Fiction submissions should include a query letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters of your work attached as a Word document. For non-fiction, please submit a query letter and a proposal with chapter summaries and sample material, also attached as a Word Document. Submissions may be sent via my page on QueryTracker or via email (

jw***@th***********.com

).

I read all submissions carefully and will do my best to respond within 2-3 weeks. However, due to the overwhelming number of queries I receive daily, I cannot reply to every individual. If you do not hear from me in 4 weeks, I have unfortunately decided that the project is not a good match for me.

Please note that I do not accept unsolicited queries over the phone or by mail.

Guidelines & Details