Sealy Yates is the founder and senior partner of Yates & Yates, LLP — one of the most tenured agents in Christian publishing, with nearly 50 years representing major names in faith-based nonfiction.
In brief
Sealy is not a generalist: his entire career has been rooted in Christian publishing, and his list reflects that with extraordinary depth — he has represented Chuck Swindoll, John Maxwell, David Jeremiah, Beth Moore, and David Platt, some for decades.
His background is legal, not editorial — he founded Yates & Yates as a law firm in 1969 and added literary agenting later, which means he brings contract and business law expertise that most agents lack.
The categories he actively represents are tightly bounded: nonfiction only — specifically business, politics, self-help, Christian living, and memoir. Fiction writers should not query him.
Platform matters enormously here. His long-term clients are among the best-known names in evangelical Christianity; a first-time author without an established ministry, audience, or public profile will face a very high bar.
Query by email only, no attachments — violating the attachment rule is an automatic disqualification.
Lately
The agency's current submission guidelines confirm email-only queries with no attachments, and list the same six nonfiction categories as their represented territory: nonfiction, business, political, self-help, Christian living, and memoir.
What Sealy is looking for
This is Sealy's core territory. He has spent five decades building relationships inside evangelical Christian publishing and continues to prioritize authors with a strong ministry platform or pastoral voice. Books that address spiritual growth, discipleship, or faith applied to everyday life are central to what he does.
Memoir is explicitly listed among his represented categories, with a likely preference for faith-inflected personal narrative given the overall orientation of his list.
Self-help is a named category, and given his client John Maxwell's profile as a leadership and personal-development author, this likely skews toward leadership, professional growth, and life principles rather than secular wellness or therapy-adjacent titles.
Business books are listed as a represented category, likely with a faith-integrated or values-driven angle given the agency's Christian publishing orientation.
Political titles are explicitly named as a represented category. Given his background — including extensive work with Christian advocacy organizations and international human-rights causes — faith-and-values-oriented political commentary or policy books are the most plausible fit.
Not the right fit
On Sealy's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Sealy
Send your query to the agency's designated submissions email address — this is the only accepted channel.
Do NOT include any attachments in your email. The agency explicitly states they will not open emails that contain attachments. Paste everything into the body of the email.
Your query must include: a brief bio establishing who you are, your relevant credentials, platform, or experience; and a focused description of your book covering its premise, central promise, target audience, hook, and the felt need it addresses.
Platform is likely the single most important factor for Sealy. His existing clients are among the most prominent names in American evangelical Christianity. Demonstrate your reach — ministry, speaking, audience, media presence — concretely and early.
Do not send your manuscript or proposal unless a team member specifically requests it.
Given the agency's deep roots in Christian publishing, make the faith dimension of your work explicit if it exists — do not assume it will be inferred.
If you want a direct conversation before querying, the agency advertises an author coaching appointment service as an alternative first step.
Verify current query status directly with the agency before submitting — no confirmed open/closed date is on file.