Neon Literary is a literary agency with offices in New York and Washington, DC. We represent authors of adult nonfiction and literary fiction.
At Neon, we believe that stories are the light by which humanity sees all things. They’re how we understand the world and our place in it.
If you’re on a mission to shine your own light outward, writing books that expand the known universe and generally make the world more habitable for others: welcome. Our mission is to help authors like you secure top-tier institutional support and commercial visibility.
Morris Travers, the chemist who co-discovered neon in 1898, wrote this of the moment of discovery: “the blaze of crimson light from the tube told its own story and was a sight to dwell upon and never forget.”
That’s what we strive to do for our authors: set them up to shine, then step back with awe and watch them tell their own story to the world.
Like any top literary agency, we have deep relationships with editors at all major publishing houses, enjoy fast responses on our submissions, and negotiate the most competitive deals in the industry for our clients.
Our roster includes #1 New York Times bestsellers; Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists; National Book Award, PEN/Faulkner, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalists; winners of PEN America and National Book Critics Circle awards; cult celebrities, activists, and academics.
What sets Neon apart, however, is our dedication to securing real power (a different thing from “empowerment”) for authors and readers who weren’t born feeling entitled to it.
One way we do that is by demystifying our industry in all its idiosyncratic glory, teaching our authors and the general public how to navigate it strategically and well. We are also big on editorial involvement, marketing, and strategy, committed to developing projects rigorously in the trenches with each of our clients.
