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:

• Sci-fi and fantasy

• Any kidlit: Picture books, Middle Grade, and YA.

• Novellas

• Poetry

• Traditional memoir (I’m only seeking memoir plus)

• True crime

• Historical fiction focused on WWI, WWII or Cold War conspiracies and/or spy-adjacent books.

• Apocalyptic fiction

• Political and/or espionage mysteries and thrillers

• Trauma-heavy books that center wars or civil conflicts.

Especially seeking: 

• BIPOC-centered narratives in these genres: horror, mystery, and thriller.

• A propulsive 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.

• Horror novels with a big layer and/or critique on class, society, or social dynamics.

• An intersectional examination of younger generations’ relationship to work.

• A study of the corporatization of self-care (either in nonfiction or fiction!).

• Stories inspired by cultural superstitions. I would especially love a horror inspired by the evil eye!

Tropes I love:

• Found family

• Setting as character

• 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. 

• Friends to lovers

• Female coming-of-rage

• Contained settings in any genre: small towns, tight-knit neighborhoods, isolated estates, secret societies, etc.

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