Round House Literary Agency — New York

Your ideas
deserve to reach
the world.

We help scientists, researchers and thinkers turn transformative ideas into books that reach mainstream audiences.

Submit a query About us
How we work
A true thinking partner from first idea to published book
Unique approach
Neuroscience of human change and of producing great writing
Our focus
Business, science, wellbeing, social impact and ideas that change the world
Our partners
From debut voices to established authors ready to go bigger
About the agency

Turning transformative ideas into books that change minds.

Some of the most important ideas in the world never reach the people who need them. They remain inside academic papers, conference talks, and the minds of experts who have not yet found the right form, the right words, or the right partner to bring their work to a broader audience. Round House Literary Agency exists to change that.

We represent authors whose books have the potential to shift how people think, lead, heal, or understand the world. We work with scientists, researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders who have something significant to say.

What sets us apart is our neuroscience-informed approach to every stage of the publishing process. Drawing on decades of research into how the brain learns, decides, and changes, we help authors build books that don't just inform — they rewire. We understand how readers process ideas, what sustains their attention, and what makes an argument genuinely stick. That knowledge shapes everything from how a thesis is framed to how a chapter is structured.

We are as much a creative and intellectual partner as we are a literary agency.

Thesis development

We help clarify and sharpen the central argument before a single chapter is written.

Title, architecture and voice

Structure, framing, and narrative voice that give ideas the greatest impact and widest reach.

Brain-based writing support

We apply neuroscience research on focus, habit formation, and cognitive load to help authors write more effectively — and actually finish their books. From managing the mental demands of deep work to structuring ideas in ways that match how the brain absorbs information, our approach is grounded in how the mind truly works.

Publisher placement

We identify the right publishers and negotiate the deal that best serves you.

Full rights management

Print, audio, film and foreign territories handled so you can focus on writing.

Our agents

The team.

Dr. David Rock
Dr. David Rock
Founder & Principal Agent

One of the world's leading experts on the human brain. He coined the term "NeuroLeadership" in 2007, co-founded the NeuroLeadership Institute, which advises two thirds of the Fortune 100, and holds a doctorate in the Neuroscience of Leadership from Middlesex University, UK.

He has written five books of his own, including the international bestseller Your Brain at Work. He brings to every client a brain-based approach to writing, helping with thesis, title, architecture, and voice, and supporting authors with the practices they need to actually finish their books.

His goal is to help you find the clearest, most powerful version of your own ideas, then place that book with the publisher best positioned to give it the impact it deserves.

Books by Dr. Rock, as author
Your Brain at Work Harper Business, 2009
Quiet Leadership Harper Collins, 2006
Coaching with the Brain in Mind Wiley & Sons, 2009
Dr. Clélia Compas
Dr. Clélia Compas
Agent

A humanitarian leader and academic researcher with a PhD in Social Anthropology. Her research and writing have addressed some of the most pressing social issues of our time, with publications reaching international audiences including the United Nations.

French-born and internationally minded, she is particularly passionate about voices from the Global South, narrative non-fiction rooted in lived experience, academic ideas made accessible for general audiences, spirituality and inner life, and stories at the intersection of human rights, identity, and society.

What we represent

Books built for impact.

Business & leadership
Health, wellbeing & psychology
Memoir & narrative non-fiction
Spirituality & inner life
Social & humanitarian non-fiction
Science & ideas
Educational & academic crossover
Impact fiction
Personal development & transformation
What we offer

Full-service representation, from manuscript to market.

Editorial development

Substantive editorial notes before going to publishers. We shape the manuscript together.

Contract negotiation

Advances, royalties, reversion clauses. We know what fair looks like and push for better.

Foreign rights

International network of co-agents placing translation rights with publishers worldwide.

Film & TV rights

Options, adaptations, and creative protections for every deal.

Audio rights

Placed separately with dedicated producers and major platforms when this maximises earnings.

Digital & serial rights

E-book, serialisation, and emerging platform licensing handled end to end.

Submissions

Ready to submit? Here is what to include.

  • 01
    Query letter. One page introducing yourself and your book.
  • 02
    Synopsis. One to two pages summarising the full argument or story, including the ending.
  • 03
    First 3 chapters or 50 pages. Pasted into the body of your email.
  • 04
    Comparative titles. Two or three recently published books yours resembles.
  • 05
    Author bio. Publishing credits, academic credentials or relevant platform.

We accept simultaneous submissions. No reading fees. We do not represent screenplays.

Get in touch

Send your submission by email. We respond to every query within 2 weeks. All submissions are treated with strict confidentiality.

info@rhliterary.com
FAQ

Common questions.

Do you charge reading fees?
Never. Any agency that charges to read your work is not legitimate.
How long does it take to hear back?
We aim to respond within 2 weeks. After 3 weeks you may assume we are passing.
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
Yes. Please inform us promptly if you receive an offer elsewhere.
What commission do you charge?
10% for domestic US representation. 20% on foreign and film/TV rights.
Do you work with debut authors?
Absolutely. We have a particular passion for debut voices with transformative ideas.
Do you represent international authors?
Yes. We represent authors worldwide and place books in English-language markets and in translation.
Can I resubmit after a pass?
Yes, if you have substantially revised the work. Please mention the earlier submission.
Do you represent screenplays?
No. We handle film and TV rights for existing client books only.
Contact

Get in touch.

General enquiries & submissions

info@rhliterary.com

Location

New York City, United States

We represent authors worldwide from our office in New York City.


All submissions must be sent by email. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts by post.