Send a Query to Nour Sallam at Helm Literary

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Hello there!

I'm a literary agent at Helm Literary representing adult fiction and nonfiction. My full wishlist can be found at my website www.noursallam.com. Please take a moment to review it (and note the genres and categories I don't represent) to see if I'd be a good fit for your work!

At this time, I am only open to a select genres, and I'm especially keen to find the following:

Bookclub fiction:

  • High concept books with a (very light) speculative twist, a la THE HUSBANDS
  • Setting as a character
  • Complex character dynamics
  • Sweeping family sagas featuring underrepresented cultures and identities
  • Feminist retellings

Horror:

  • I love horror that has something to say about culture or society.
  • Historical settings
  • Gothic horror
  • Hauntings that don't involve the house being haunted.
  • Ocean horror
  • Underrepresented or untold histories or folklores
  • Stories inspired by underrepresented cultures/ identities

Romance:

I'm only open to select romance and romcoms that feature one of the following

  • A light speculative bend
  • Genre-blending (horror, mystery, etc.)
  • Underrepresented characters, cultures, or identities

Thriller:

  • High concept thrillers
  • A very light speculative bend (a la MY MURDER)

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Submission guidelines:

  • Please only send a query if I'm open to your genre. Otherwise, it will be an immediate pass.
  • Please keep your query letter to 3-4 paragraphs.
  • Make sure you include the following in your query letter (yes, even if this info is included elsewhere in this form): title, genre, word count, 2-3 comparative titles, a brief and compelling overview of your project, and your author bio.
  • An additional ask for nonfiction projects: please include a brief overview of your target audience in your query letter as well.

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Submissions from events and workshops:

  • If you have a specific event link from me, please use that link. In such cases, that event link will have specific guidelines for you to follow in another textbox. Please follow those submission guidelines instead of what's outlined above.
  • If you do not have a specific link or if you have an expired link, please include the name of the event or workshop where you pitched me in the referral line of the query form below.

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Step 1: Tell us about the author

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Have you ever been represented by a literary agent before?    
Have you previously published other books?    

Step 2: Tell us about the book

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Genre: (required)
This agent is only seeking the genres shown in this list. If your book's genre is not shown here, please go to QueryTracker to find agents and publishers who are seeking your genre.
Query Letter: (required)
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If this is a nonfiction book, please confirm that you included a 5-page sample along with your proposal outline    
Was any part of this book or query package created by A.I.?    
Is this book currently published or has it ever been published before?    
Paste the first 10 Pages of your book (or, if the book is nonfiction, include the book outline.): (required)
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Optional: Sign in to QueryTracker

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Signing into QueryTracker will link this query to your QueryTracker account, allowing it to be automatically tracked and displayed in QueryTracker for your convenience.
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Final Step: Submit Your Query

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Important: After submitting your query, you will receive a personalized link to a special page that you can visit any time to check your query's status. If the agent would like to read more, they will contact you through that page as well as through email.
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