Keely Boeving is a Senior Agent at WordServe Literary who champions well-researched adult nonfiction across health, business, parenting, faith, and the arts, with a legacy background in children's literature she is no longer actively building.
In brief
Her current agency page marks a meaningful pivot: children's projects are explicitly off the table for new clients, overriding older wishlist posts that listed picture books, MG, and YA as active interests — do not query children's work.
Her adult nonfiction focus is broad but cohesive: health and wellness, business, parenting, faith and culture, literature and the arts, plus a dedicated Christian market lane covering spiritual formation, theology, and women's topics.
Her Oxford University Press background in trade history is a real credential — she knows how to position well-researched, idea-driven books with major publishers and likely has editorial expectations to match.
She is closed to queries as of February 2026 — confirm live status before submitting anything.
Writers with diverse and underrepresented perspectives in nonfiction have historically been a stated priority, suggesting she responds well to pitches that lead with the author's distinctive vantage point.
Lately
Her current agency biography, updated in May 2026, removes all children's categories from her active wish list and states plainly that she is not accepting new children's projects — a significant narrowing from earlier public profiles that listed picture books, middle grade, and YA.
What Keely is looking for
Well-researched books on physical and mental health, embodiment, and wellness. She wants rigorous, substantive work — not trend-chasing self-help — ideally from authors with credible expertise in their subject area.
Business books grounded in real research and original thinking. Authors who can blend a strong intellectual framework with actionable insight are a natural fit.
Parenting and family-life books, especially those that weave a coherent philosophical approach together with practical tools. Established experts with a platform are particularly attractive here.
Books that sit at the meeting point of faith and contemporary culture — social issues, public life, and the questions faith communities are navigating right now.
A dedicated Christian market lane covering spiritual transformation, formation practices, theology, and books aimed specifically at women. She represents both the general and Christian markets, so a project that speaks squarely to a Christian readership is genuinely welcome rather than a fallback.
Books about literature and the arts, including narrative nonfiction and journalism-style projects. Her Oxford University Press history background makes her a credible home for idea-driven, well-crafted narrative work.
Nonfiction that engages social justice, disability, or equity — especially from authors writing from within the communities they describe. She has consistently flagged diverse and underrepresented perspectives as a standing priority.
Not the right fit
On Keely's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Keely
Address the query specifically to Keely and include her name in the subject line — WordServe routes submissions centrally, so this is required for your query to reach her rather than the agency pool.
Send to the WordServe general submissions address following the agency's posted guidelines; do not cold-email her personal address.
Confirm the form or inbox is open before submitting — it was closed as of February 2026 and status may change seasonally.
Lead with your author platform and credentials: she favors well-researched nonfiction and has explicitly noted a preference for established experts in the parenting category; platform and expertise signal should appear early.
If your book sits at the Christian market intersection, say so directly and name the readership — she operates in both the general and Christian markets and this distinction shapes how she positions a project.
Do not query children's projects; her page explicitly states she is not accepting new children's clients, and querying in a closed category signals you haven't done your research.
Writers from underrepresented communities or addressing social justice and disability topics should foreground their own lived or expert perspective — this has been a consistent priority signal in her public communications.