Nour Sallam

Hello! I’m an associate literary agent with P.S. Literary Agency. I am currently building my list in both fiction and non-fiction for adults.

FICTION 

In terms of fiction, I am seeking voice-driven commercial and upmarket titles, contemporary fiction with fabulist elements, speculative fiction, edgy psychological thrillers, as well as mysteries, light horror and rom-coms featuring underrepresented characters of any background. I am always drawn to characters who are haunted by something, whether figuratively (a secret, a past, an obsession) or literally (a ghost, a demon, etc.). I am also actively seeking character-driven stories featuring women in power, unhinged women, and female rage. I have a soft spot for unreliable narrators, family sagas with dysfunctional families silently navigating trauma, protagonists in their 20s-30s navigating adulthood, protagonists on the cusp of major life changes, and stories that focus on friendship dynamics.

NONFICTION 

I welcome fresh and accessible perspectives on big ideas or industry deep dives as well as narrative nonfiction on pop culture, art, and nature. I  also appreciate books that offer incisive commentary on culture, socio-economic structures, corporate underbellies, health and wellness, and lifestyle. My taste in non-fiction gravitates towards books that generally challenge what we know or explain what we might not know.

I’M NOT A GOOD FIT FOR:

• Traditional memoir (I’m only seeking memoir plus)
• True crime
• Sci-fi and fantasy
• Novellas
• Poetry
• Cookbooks
• Kidlit/ YA
• Historical fiction focused on WWI, WWII or Cold War conspiracies and/or spy-adjacent books.
• Apocalyptic fiction
• Political and/or espionage mysteries or thrillers
• Books that center wars or civil conflicts.

Especially seeking: 

• BIPOC-centered narratives in these genres: horror, mystery, suspense, and thriller. I’d love the next MY SISTER THE SERIAL KILLER. 
• Gen-Z/ Millennial financial literacy book, with accessible writing and information. 
• Contemporary novel-in-stories where the characters are connected through one event, place, or person. 
• The “unhinged woman” narrative with BIPOC characters. 
• Heist story with high stakes and gritty tension. Think SIX OF CROWS for adults, minus the fantasy. 
• Anything that you can read to the soundtrack of  Taylor Swift’s Reputation album.
• Contained settings in any genre: small towns, tight-knit neighborhoods, isolated estates, secret societies, etc.

Tropes I love:

• Found family.  
• Setting as a character.  
• Child protagonists in adult fiction.  
• A slow burn will they/won’t they romance. 
• A second chance relationship (romantic or otherwise!).
• Murder mysteries with a villainous victim. Think Lucy Foley’s THE GUEST LIST. 

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to query@psliterary.com

Please visit P.S. Literary’s website for submission guidelines.

If you don’t receive a request for further material within 4-6 weeks it means it’s a pass from the agency.

Guidelines & Details