Sarah Burnes is a New York–based literary agent at The Gernert Company with a reputation for championing literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and smart commercial work that rewards close reading.
In brief
Sarah Burnes operates out of The Gernert Company, one of New York's most respected literary boutiques, signaling strong relationships with major trade publishers.
The available record is sparse on confirmed deal details, so writers should treat this profile as a starting orientation and verify current priorities directly before querying.
Burnes appears to favor work with genuine literary ambition — strong sentences, distinctive voice, and ideas that carry weight beyond plot alone.
The Gernert Company's overall roster skews toward critically acclaimed and award-adjacent titles, suggesting Burnes operates in an environment that values prestige as well as commercial performance.
Query status was observed as open in April 2026, but submission windows can shift quickly — always confirm on the agency's live submission page before sending.
Lately
Query status confirmed open, indicating Burnes is actively reviewing new submissions as of mid-April 2026.
What Sarah is looking for
Burnes gravitates toward literary fiction with a commanding voice and ideas that linger. Work that operates on multiple levels — emotionally resonant but also intellectually alive — is a strong fit. Think novels where the writing itself is part of the point.
Deeply reported, beautifully written nonfiction that reads with the momentum of a novel. Burnes is drawn to stories that illuminate culture, history, or human experience through a specific, well-chosen lens rather than broad surveys.
Accessible, plot-driven fiction that doesn't sacrifice sentence-level craft. Burnes appears open to commercial work when it carries genuine literary ambition beneath its readability.
Personal nonfiction and essay collections are a possible fit, but Burnes appears selective — voice and structure must be exceptional, and a platform or established critical presence helps considerably.
Not the right fit
On Sarah's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Sarah
Lead with your novel's core tension and voice in the first paragraph — Burnes appears drawn to language-forward work, so let your prose do the convincing from line one.
For nonfiction, establish your specific angle and your authority to tell this story; a broad topic without a sharp lens is unlikely to stand out.
Avoid generic genre labels in your pitch. If your work crosses categories, describe it in terms of tone and readership rather than shelf placement.
The Gernert Company is a boutique with high editorial standards — demonstrate that you've done your homework on the agency and can articulate why Burnes specifically is the right advocate for your book.
Keep your query letter tight: one compelling paragraph on the book, one on your background, one on why you're approaching Burnes. Don't bury the hook.
Confirm submission guidelines on the agency's live website before sending — format preferences, sample page counts, and synopsis requirements can change.