Closed to Submissions Until January 2027

Bowen Gillings is an active member of The Association of American Literary Agents who joined Savvy Literary in 2025. He has nearly a decade of experience as an author and champion of authors. Currently building his list, Bowen seeks to partner with writers possessing a solid grasp of why and how they write coupled with professionalism and a sense of humor. He loves engaging, entertaining books with a strong narrative voice.

Bowen has several published works of fiction including The Chronicles of Rom & Drood, First Family, The Wedding Guest, A Night to Remember, Exceptionals, and Overstuffed Lunchbox: A Bunch of Bite-Sized Bits. He recently co-wrote Year-by-Year: A Chronology of Garden of the Gods Park, a detailed history resource text for the City of Colorado Springs Office of Cultural Services. 

A chronic volunteer, Bowen has served multiple non-profit writers organizations and conferences as staff, emcee, instructor, board member, gameshow host, and even president. He frequently leads writing workshops on topics ranging from narrative voice to writer life to creating the perfect fight scene to fit your tale.

A former financial advisor, personal trainer, actor, and professional puppeteer, Bowen holds an MS in Adult Education, a BS in Mass Communications, has lived in four countries, visited twenty-three others, served ten years in the U.S. Army, holds five martial arts black belts, is a Certified Guide Trainer through the National Association for Interpretation, and has two decades experience as an outdoors educator. Bowen continues to write, and lives in Colorado Springs with his amazing wife, exceptional daughter, and perpetually needy dog.

Currently seeking in fiction: Fantasy (High/Low/Epic/Grimdark/Noblebright), plays on myths and legends outside the Greco-Roman pantheon, Mystery, Thrillers, Suspense, Action/Adventure, Historical Fiction, Light Sci-Fi, Military Sci-Fi, and witty, humorous voices writing any of the above. Grab me with intriguing, relatable characters that struggle against real stakes. I would love to read the next Terry Pratchett, Janet Evanovich, Patrick O’Brien, Kevin Hearne, Carol Berg, Rachel Howzell Hall, Bernard Cornwell, John Gilstrap, Mary Robinette Kowal, Todd Fahnestock, Weis & Hickman, or Reavis Wortham.

Not a fit for: Romance, Horror, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Magical Realism, Cozies, Regency/Romantic Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Literary, Contemporary, Hard Sci-Fi where the focus is science and tech over story and character, vampire heroes/love interests, invincible loners (i.e. supermen), cheater protagonists, or any book where the message (political, cultural, or otherwise) is more important to you than the story. That means, if the message of the book is what you talk about when describing it, then I am not the right fit for you.

Currently seeking in non-fiction: narrative non-fiction, Pre-Revolution North America, American Indian voices (modern and historic), ancient history/lost civilizations, fitness/wellness/mental health, outdoors, cookbooks, and travel.

Not a fit for: finance, memoir, self-help, philosophy, religion, spirituality, medicine.

Please send your one-page query letter in the body of the email and attach a complete 500-word synopsis and first three chapters in Shunn modern manuscript format (Word doc or PDF) to bowen@savvyliterary.com. Guidance on submissions can be found at youtube.com/@BowenGillingsLiteraryAgent. Do not use the submission form.

Closed to Submissions Until January 2027