Naomi Davis is a selective Inklings Literary Agency agent who came up through the editorial assistant track and now champions emotionally charged fiction—particularly fantasy, romance, sci-fi, YA, and new adult—plus memoir, with a specific weakness for morally complex villains who earn their own narrative.
In brief
Davis made the transition from agency assistant to agent, bringing a hands-on editorial sensibility; writers who want a developmental partner rather than a pure deal-maker will likely find her style a strong fit.
Her stated list skews toward speculative and romantic fiction across YA, new adult, and adult categories—a notably broad range that suggests she is still actively building her list rather than deepening a narrow niche.
She has a specific, publicly stated taste signal: a love of well-developed antagonists with their own compelling arcs. Manuscripts where the villain is a full character, not a prop, are likely to land well.
Her client base is described as small and intentional ('a handful of select clients'), meaning she likely invests heavily in each relationship—but also that competition for a spot may be intense.
No confirmed sales record is available in the sourced data, so her commercial track record cannot be independently verified at this time; writers should weigh her editorial enthusiasm against the limited deal history when making query decisions.
Lately
Davis introduced herself publicly as having spent two years as a literary assistant before transitioning to agenting and building a deliberately small, intentional client list, emphasizing her commitment to shaping each author's voice and platform.
What Naomi is looking for
Davis actively seeks fantasy across age categories. Given her stated love of immersive imaginary worlds and morally layered characters, she will likely respond best to manuscripts where world-building serves emotional stakes and antagonists have genuine depth and motivation—not just menace.
Romance is squarely on her list. Her emphasis on stories that grip readers emotionally and 'wring them dry' suggests she gravitates toward high-tension, emotionally intense romantic arcs rather than lighter, breezy fare.
Sci-fi appears on her wishlist alongside fantasy and romance, though she does not elaborate on specific sub-genres or preferences. Character-driven, emotionally resonant science fiction is likely the safest lane given her overall taste profile.
YA is a named category and fits naturally with her background and voice-focused editorial approach. Any of her fiction genres (fantasy, romance, sci-fi) can intersect with YA.
She explicitly lists new adult, which remains a niche category many agents decline; its presence here is a meaningful signal. Writers with protagonists in that 18–25 transitional space who are uncertain where to submit have a clear opening.
Memoir is her sole listed non-fiction category. Her emphasis on emotional impact and authentic voice suggests she is drawn to memoirs that read with the urgency and interiority of literary fiction—not straightforward autobiography.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Naomi
Verify that Davis is currently open to queries on the Inklings Literary Agency website before submitting—her status was unconfirmed as of the last check.
If your manuscript features a richly developed villain or morally complex antagonist with their own arc, call that out explicitly in your query letter; it directly addresses her most specific stated preference.
Her background is editorial and assistant-side, meaning she values craft and voice above all. Lead your query with a strong, distinctive narrative voice rather than a high-concept hook alone.
She covers a wide age-category range (YA, new adult, adult)—make sure your query clearly identifies your target readership so she can assess fit immediately.
Given her small, intentional client list, emphasize in your query why you want to work with *her* specifically and what a long-term author-agent partnership looks like for your career. She has signaled she invests deeply in each client.
For memoir, write your query with the same narrative pull you would use for literary fiction—open with a scene or emotional core, not a credentials summary.