Our panel (Jessica, Julie, and special guest agent Nour Sallam) reviewed queries and first pages across multiple genres, offering real-time feedback on what makes submissions stand out. The consensus? Every submission was significantly above average agent inbox quality—and the gap between good and great is surprisingly small.
“I usually approach queries and first pages with a lot of caution. I didn’t feel that today.” — Nour Sallam
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About the Instructor
Nour Sallam
Nour Sallam is a literary agent at The Caldwell Agency representing adult fiction and nonfiction. As an Arab woman and an immigrant, she loves books that amplify joy and connection or feature complex and nuanced narratives.
In fiction, Nour works on commercial and upmarket fiction titles across genres— from smart book club, women’s fiction, and romcom to edgy psychological thrillers, mysteries, and horror. She generally gravitates towards voicey characters that are haunted by something: a secret, a past, a fear— or an actual haunting!
In nonfiction, Nour welcomes fresh and accessible perspectives in both the narrative and prescriptive categories. She works across self-help, health and wellness, psychology, business, and lifestyle. She also loves personal narratives on pop culture, art, and nature. Her taste in non-fiction favours books that challenge what we know or explain what we might not know.