Susan Ginsburg

An agent with Writers House LLC (see other agents at this agency).

About

I’ve been in the business for over 35 years, and with Writers House for 25. I got my start on the editorial side, as editor-in-chief of St. Martin’s and Atheneum Books and Executive Editor of Pocket Books at Simon & Schuster, where I had the fortune to publish such wonderful writers as Alice Walker (The Color Purple) and John Irving (The World According to Garp). My agenting career has spanned both fiction and non-fiction, and I continue to work closely with all my authors editorially. I am currently looking for commercial and literary fiction—particularly, particularly voice-driven narratives filled with emotionally compelling characters—as well as rich narrative non-fiction and unique memoirs.

Country of Publication

United States

Professional Associations

Member of AALA

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

68 members set this agent as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Faster: Susan Ginsburg's overall average response time is faster than most agents.

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Collapse section Fiction Open

I’m currently looking for upmarket, book club, and literary fiction—particularly voice-driven narratives in unique settings, filled with emotionally compelling characters. I’m interested in fiction with a provocative, razor-sharp approach to complex social issues, especially those exploring love, friendship, and power dynamics. I’m also open to crossover YA/adult authors, especially those transitioning from YA to adult themes, though I’m open to the unexpected!

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults, Young adults.

Genres:

General Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Women's Fiction

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

For nonfiction, I gravitate toward works that explore the intersections of history, science, fashion, food, culture, and social justice, often uncovering hidden stories and overlooked details. I enjoy well-researched narratives that make complex topics accessible and provide practical takeaways. Ultimately, my nonfiction preferences reflect a deep curiosity about the human experience, a love for compelling storytelling, and an interest in how people, ideas, and movements shape the world.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Adults.

Lengths:

Book

Styles:

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

Topics:

Business/Finance.
Lifestyle: Cooking.
Memoir.
Science.
Society/Culture: Pop culture.

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.

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Susan Ginsburg 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.

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Accuracy

We have received 6 reports from 6 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Days Reported

65 min | 69.0 mean avg | 69.5 median | 73 max days (3.0 std dev)

Pending

1 response is pending (18 days waiting).

Other Information

The agent will try to make a decision within 60 days. (100.0 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 60 days.)
Most recent response reported was received on 18 Apr 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 08 Feb 2026.
Date compiled: 05 Sep 2026 20:07 UTC (3 hours, 7 minutes ago).

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Dates

Last Updated: 17 Jul 2026

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