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Sonali Chanchani

An agent with Folio Literary Management (see other agents at this agency).

About

Sonali Chanchani is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management, focusing primarily on nonfiction that advances current social and cultural conversations and centers historically underrepresented voices and perspectives.

Her clients include Maureen “Mo” Ryan (contributing editor to Vanity Fair and author of the New York Times bestseller and NPR Best Book of the Year Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood); Curtis Chin (co-founder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and author of the Stonewall Honor Book Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant); Dr. Mariel Buqué (psychologist and author of the USA Today bestseller Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma); Rebecca Little and Colleen Long (journalists and authors of I’m Sorry for My Loss: An Urgent Examination of Reproductive Care in America); and Joél Leon (poet, performer, and author of Everything and Nothing at Once: A Black Man’s Reimagined Soundtrack for the Future); among many others.

Sonali earned her degree in English and Narrative Studies from the University of Southern California and began her career in publishing at Kaya, an independent press dedicated to publishing authors from the Asian diaspora. She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents, where she serves on the Board of Directors and co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Sonali is also the President of the nonprofit organization Literary Agents of Change.

This agent may not respond to all queries. After waiting 30 days, assume your submission will not be accepted.

Country

United States

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

Statistics Synopsis

Faster
Sonali Chanchani's overall average response time is faster than most agents.

Collapse section Fiction Open

I also represent select literary and upmarket fiction. I’m particularly interested in novels that engage with contemporary social and cultural issues; atmospheric stories with a speculative or fabulist twist; novels that blend emotional insight with a sharp sense of humor; and themes of identity, belonging, community, and inheritance.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults.

Genres:

General Subgenres: Fabulism, Historical, Magic Realism, Women's Fiction
Suspense/Thriller Subgenre: Psychological

Lengths:

Novel

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.

Collapse section Nonfiction Open

I represent a range of narrative and idea-driven nonfiction. I’m particularly drawn to investigative journalism; cultural criticism; deeply researched, paradigm-shifting work in the areas of sociology, psychology, history, politics, science, technology, and social justice; and memoirs and essay collections that speak to larger social concerns.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults.

Lengths:

Nonfiction Collection
Book

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream, Personal.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Memoir.
Psychology.
Society/Culture.
Sociology.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

Agent Impersonation Scams are becoming commonplace.
A legitimate agent will not contact you and request money to represent you. Never pay an agent an up-front fee. That is not how literary agent representation works. Agents earn a commission only after they've landed a publishing deal for you. Also, agents scarcely ever contact writers. If an agent that you haven't queried contacts you about representation, be suspicious. Look up the agent and check if the email address is correct for that agent/agency.

Sonali Chanchani Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the agency or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Filter:
Accuracy
We have received 3 reports from 3 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
31 min | 62.0 mean avg | 63.0 median | 92 max days (30.5 std dev)

Other Information

The agent will try to make a decision within 30 days. (100.0 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 30 days.)
This agent may not respond to all queries. After waiting the time indicated above, assume your submission will not be accepted.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 05:48 UTC (less than a minute ago).

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Before Submitting

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Dates

Last Updated: 30 Jul 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.

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