Emma Fulenwider is a WordServe Literary Group agent and former magazine editor who champions adult nonfiction that blends intellectual rigor with wit, humanity, and a clear authorial platform.
In brief
Emma Fulenwider's stated wishlist is entirely adult nonfiction — no fiction categories are listed on their current submission guidelines, making this a nonfiction-only stop for querying writers.
Platform is explicitly flagged as 'very important' for nonfiction submissions — writers without an established audience should build one before querying.
The breadth of stated nonfiction interests (memoir, humor, cultural criticism, health, spirituality, true crime, self-help, and more) suggests Fulenwider is building a wide nonfiction list rather than drilling into one lane — the connective tissue appears to be voice, relevance, and the author's ability to reach readers.
Fulenwider's personal reading tastes — Bill Bryson, Christopher Moore, Zora Neale Hurston, Douglas Adams — signal a strong appetite for writing that is funny, layered, and literary even when nonfiction; flat or purely utilitarian prose is unlikely to land.
As a former TEDx speaker and indie publisher, Fulenwider understands both the public-facing demands of thought leadership and the operational realities of publishing — authors who frame their pitch as a conversation rather than a credential dump will likely resonate.
Lately
Fulenwider describes their ideal project as a book that is simultaneously funny, intellectually engaging, helpful, and true — a combination that implies voice-driven nonfiction with real stakes rather than dry expertise.
What Emma is looking for
Fulenwider gravitates toward memoir with a strong, distinctive voice and a story that speaks to larger social or cultural questions — not just personal narrative for its own sake. Literary quality and a reason to read it *now* are both essential.
Comic nonfiction, humor writing, and essay collections rank among Fulenwider's most enthusiastically stated interests. Think brainy, warm, and genuinely funny — writers with a distinctive comedic sensibility and something real to say will stand out.
Fulenwider actively seeks practical, research-informed books addressing the problems readers face — and the ones they're not yet ready to face. The author's expertise and platform are central to the pitch; credentials or a demonstrated audience are expected.
Issue-driven nonfiction exploring cultural fault lines — including feminist perspectives, marginalized voices, and geek/pop-culture criticism — is explicitly on the wishlist. Fulenwider wants thought leaders with 'respectful insights' into urgent, sometimes avoided questions.
Spirituality, Christian Living, and Mind/Body/Spirit titles all appear in Fulenwider's stated interests. Works that are inspirational without being preachy, and that pair faith or inner life with practical wisdom, are likely the strongest fit.
Long-form, story-driven nonfiction including journalism and true crime is welcome. Bill Bryson's At Home sits in Fulenwider's personal favorites — anecdote-rich, curious, wide-ranging narrative nonfiction in that tradition is a strong signal of what resonates.
Health, wellness, and disability-focused nonfiction are listed as target categories. Books that combine personal experience with broader social framing — and that bring a distinctive authorial platform — will be most competitive.
These categories appear on the list but without particular emphasis. The bar here is likely a combination of exceptional voice, a strong author platform, and a clear hook that distinguishes the work from an already crowded market.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Emma
Send everything directly in the email body — Fulenwider explicitly does not open links or attachments for cybersecurity reasons; anything outside the email will be ignored.
Include three required elements: (1) a clear pitch for the book, (2) your platform details and bio (for nonfiction, platform is described as 'very important'), and (3) the first five or so pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the email.
Lead your platform section with concrete numbers and reach — speaking engagements, newsletter subscribers, social following, institutional affiliations — rather than vague claims of expertise.
Mirror the tone of Fulenwider's own public writing: warm, a little quirky, genuinely enthusiastic. A query that reads like a press release will land flat with an agent who prizes voice above all.
Frame your book around the problem it solves or the conversation it enters — Fulenwider consistently positions their interest as 'problems we're facing and the ones we're avoiding,' so your pitch should answer: why this book, why now, why you?
Verify current query status on the agency's live submission page before sending — the status could not be confirmed from available data and may have changed.
Do not query with fiction; Fulenwider's current guidelines cover adult nonfiction only.