PairPi is a verified literary agent directory for writers looking for representation. Save shortlists, check submission details, and track every submission in one place.
Start a free account →Upmarket fiction exists because some books are too crafted to be called purely commercial and too accessible to be sold as purely literary. It is book-group readability with sentence-level care. Agents here want a strong hook that does not flatten the prose. This page shows agents who explicitly represent upmarket fiction. The broad search toggle catches more who'd consider it under literary, book club, women's fiction, commercial fiction, or contemporary fiction.
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Non-fiction
Commercial and upmarket non-fiction, psychology, popular science, wellbeing, narrative non-fiction, biography, food, sustainability, health, expert-led projects with international/screen potential
Email rachel@rmliterary.co.uk with as much detail about yourself and the project as possible, ideally including at least one sample chapter. No reply within one month means the project was not a fit.
Middle grade, young adult, upmarket adult fiction, grounded fantasy, adult romance, narrative non-fiction, graphic novels, picture books
Michaela is most strongly interested in finding middle grade and young adult projects of all genres, upmarket adult fiction, and grounded fantasy. They are also open to select adult romance, narrative nonfiction for both children and adults, graphic novels, and picture books. Specifically seeks sibling stories.
Submit only via Query Manager. Include full query in body, first 25 pages for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction. For picture books, include full text and dummy or sample art if available. Query only one agent at the agency at a time.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime fiction, non-fiction
Well-written commercial and literary fiction (incl women's fiction, award-winning crime, upmarket), interested in dysfunctional families, outsiders, messiness, working-class/regional voices (Irish/Scottish), diverse perspectives. Non-fiction: housing, class, feminism, social change, globalisation, sexuality and similar areas
Email - submissions@ryeliterary.com
Romance, science fiction, fantasy, gothic tales, horror, cozy mysteries, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, young adult, middle grade
Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages, one-sentence pitch
Saritza seeks commercial fiction by diverse authors, particularly romance with complex characters, propulsive science fiction, character-driven fantasy, atmospheric horror, cozy mysteries, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction about culture and food, and all Young Adult/Middle Grade genres especially science fiction and romance.
Submit via QueryManager link with query letter, author bio, contact information, and first 10 pages for novels. Include one-sentence pitch. Follow submission guidelines on agency website.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, horror, magical realism, mythology reimaginings, fairy tale reimaginings, folklore reimaginings, cultural criticism, narrative nonfiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, food writing, short story collections, novellas
Wants: Cover letter, synopsis, first three chapters
Literary and upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, horror, magical realism, and reimaginings of myths, fairy tales, and folklore. Also cultural criticism, narrative nonfiction, big-idea nonfiction, and select cookbooks and food writing. Maria is the only agent at the agency who accepts novellas and short story collections.
Email submissions@mushens-entertainment.com with your submission addressed to Maria. For fiction, include a clear subject line (e.g. Fiction Submission: TITLE), a cover letter in the body of the email, an attached synopsis, and a PDF or Word document containing either the first three chapters, the first 10,000–15,000 words, or the first 50 pages. For non-fiction, include a proposal or the first 10,000–15,000 words of a completed manuscript. For short story collections (40,000–75,000 words total), include a synopsis and the full collection. For novellas (17,000–40,000 words), include a synopsis. Do not use AI to write or edit any part of your submission. Notify the agency if another agent requests your full manuscript or offers representation.
Fiction and non-fiction
Non-fiction: history, popular science, social issues, nature, money/life management, music, sport, film, technology, memoir, true crime, experts with wide appeal. Fiction: literary and well-written commercial, boundary-pushing style with emotional heart and plot, upmarket with satisfying arc, historical or contemporary, genre-mixing
Email submissions@watsonlittle.com with a cover letter in the body of the email, a synopsis, and approximately 10,000 words from the beginning of the manuscript for fiction, or a proposal including a sample chapter and chapter summaries for non-fiction. Address one agent only. No AI-originated or AI-edited material.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, non-fiction
Literary and upmarket fiction and non-fiction (incl lifestyle/wellbeing), stand-out stories with strong leading idea and emotional depth, humour/charm. Currently not looking for crime fiction
Email submissions@watsonlittle.com with a cover letter in the body of the email, a synopsis, and approximately 10,000 words from the beginning of the manuscript as a Word document. For non-fiction, send a proposal as a single document including a sample chapter and chapter list with summaries.
Speculative fiction, literary science fiction, upmarket book club fiction, thrillers, fairy tale retellings, magical realism, horror, suspense
Dorian is actively building her list in YA and adult fiction, especially speculative fiction, literary science fiction, upmarket book club fiction, thrillers, reimagined fairy tales, magical realism, unique voices, contemporary novels with mystery, horror, suspense, and innovative storytelling.
QueryManager submissions
Fiction and non-fiction
Fiction: literary/upmarket with edge, romance (incl dark academia, paranormals, grounded romantasy), mysteries with fresh angle, some literary speculative (not hard SFF). Non-fiction: science/nature, art/culture, social issues/politics, love/relationships, illustrated non-fiction, food/drink
Email (to one agent) - dchandley@pfd.co.uk
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, personal development, narrative non-fiction, memoir
Literary and upmarket fiction, and in non-fiction expert voices in personal development, narrative non-fiction, emotive memoir, and books that engage with politics, culture and the status quo with intellectual depth. Passionate about bringing undiscovered ideas and fresh conversations to the mainstream.
Email a synopsis and sample material to hello@bergstromstudio.co.uk
Picture books, cookbooks, middle grade, young adult, science fiction, fantasy, horror, suspense, contemporary fiction, upmarket women's fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir
Jennifer Wills is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency. She is interested in a wide range of picture books and cookbooks, especially author-illustrators of sweet and wacky picture books and cookbooks with health-conscious, budget-friendly, or celebrity-chef recipes. In fiction she is interested in middle grade and YA with a sci-fi/fantasy, horror/suspense, or contemporary bent, and upmarket women's fiction with a sense of humor. In nonfiction she welcomes narrative nonfiction and memoir. She wants a great hook, a distinct voice, and work that can make her laugh out loud or ugly cry.
Query Jennifer Wills through her official Seymour QueryManager link: https://querymanager.com or query or JenniferWills. The current Seymour profile also lists jennifer@theseymouragency.com as a contact email, but the public query route is QueryManager.
Literary fiction, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, upmarket women's fiction, food writing, cookbooks
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
Elizabeth focuses on literary fiction, young adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, issue-based nonfiction, history, biography, food writing, cookbooks, memoir, and upmarket women's fiction.
Email a query letter to query@elizabethkaplanlit.com. Do not send attachments, fiction writers may paste the first ten pages into the body of the email. The agency replies only if interested.
Romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, mystery, gothic, romance, upmarket fiction
Wants: Query letter
Andrea is open to YA, new adult and adult romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, mystery and gothic; for adult and new adult she is also open to romance and upmarket fiction.
Submit through Andrea's official QueryTracker route.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, nonfiction, literary criticism, essay collections, idea-driven nonfiction, technology, data, tennis
Wants: Query letter
Tyler is actively building a list of distinctive, voice-driven writers. He is drawn to literary and upmarket fiction with emotional depth and narrative momentum, and nonfiction centering marginalized voices, literary criticism, essay collections, ambitious idea-driven projects, data and its cultural implications, and tennis.
Submit through the Sterling Lord Literistic submissions form. The agency asks writers to complete the form by email and says it only responds if interested.
Young adult fiction, adult fiction, commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, fantasy, romance
Wants: Query letter
Gabriella represents YA fiction and adult fiction, with interest in stories by Latinx/Hispanic authors, commercial or upmarket fiction, stories that present real issues in a digestible format, and YA/new adult fantasy or romance.
Submit through Gabriella's QueryManager form. Great Dog accepts queries only through QueryManager and asks writers not to query multiple Great Dog agents.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, memoir
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Chris represents literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, and memoir.
Direct your submission to an individual agent and send your material to submissions@janklow.com. For fiction: send an informative description, brief synopsis and first ten pages in the body of the email. For non-fiction: send an informative description, full outline, and first ten pages in the body of the email.
Adult fiction, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, historical fiction, grounded speculative fiction, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, mystery, adult nonfiction, spirituality, mind body spirit, food, agriculture, science, stem, natural living, animals, pets, community, culture, pop culture, health, wellness
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Carleen is building a list in adult fiction and nonfiction. In fiction she likes contemporary genres, upmarket or literary voices, commercial work, historical genre blends, grounded speculative stories, thrillers, suspense, horror, mysteries, and romance with a strong subplot. In nonfiction she is interested in niche topics with wide appeal, including spirituality, food, agriculture, science, natural living, animals, culture, pop culture, and health/wellness.
Submit through Carleen Geisler's QueryManager form. The form asks for a query letter, synopsis, genre, word count, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, publication history, and the first 10 pages, or a book outline for nonfiction.
Narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, illustrated books, biography, history, politics, public life, music, architecture, art, design, food, culinary culture, memoir, cultural criticism, counterculture, place-based writing
William Clark represents serious narrative nonfiction, select literary and upmarket fiction, and illustrated books with cultural authority by authors whose work combines narrative force, intellectual rigor, and a distinct point of view. He is especially drawn to biography, history, politics and public life, music, architecture, art and design, food and culinary culture, memoir with a larger lens, cultural criticism, counterculture, and place-based writing.
Representation queries are accepted only through the official representation-query form on the William Clark Associates website. They are not accepted by telephone, postal mail, or courier mail.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, historical fiction, narrative nonfiction, social history, cultural history, pop culture, fashion, food writing, art, music, women's issues, literary memoir
Wants: Query letter, first chapter
Susan Ramer has been at Don Congdon Associates since 1986. She looks for literary fiction, upmarket book club fiction, both contemporary and historical and especially American, and narrative nonfiction. She is drawn to authentic voice, unforgettable characters with an edge, unfamiliar well-crafted stories that are emotional in unpredictable ways, social history, cultural history, smart pop culture such as fashion, food, art, and music, women's issues, and literary memoir with a distinctive theme. She especially likes nonfiction that combines a personal thread with reporting and analysis of a broader social or cultural issue, and appreciates a sense of humor, especially on the dark side.
Submit to Susan Ramer through her official Don Congdon linked QueryTracker form. Don Congdon says Susan Ramer accepts queries only via QueryTracker. A query letter should be a one-page description or synopsis including genre, word count, comparable titles, and relevant background, with the first chapter included through the applicable QueryTracker section. Query only one Don Congdon agent at a time.
Grounded genre fiction, upmarket romance, psychological thrillers, folk horror, book club fiction, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, one sentence pitch, first 20 pages, comparable books, biography
Gracie is interested in grounded genre fiction, upmarket romance, psychological thrillers, folk horror, book club fiction, and narrative nonfiction examining culture and social issues. Across young adult and adult categories, she's interested in underrepresented voices, inventive storytelling, and delicious prose.
Submit via Query Manager only. Include query letter, one sentence pitch, first 20 pages, and comparable books. Do not query via email.
Romance, fantasy, upmarket or women's fiction, mystery or thriller, young adult fiction, middle grade fiction
Voice-driven YA and romance that balances heart, humor, and hope. High-concept setups with emotional depth: the summer that changes everything, the cruise that goes hilariously off course, the fantasy quest that doubles as a love story, or the play that blurs the line between acting and truth. She loves lush, escapist settings—coastal towns, vibrant cities, magical kingdoms, faraway ships.
Before you hit submit on any queries please verify her #MSWL.
Fiction, nonfiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, book club fiction, self-help, health, wellness, business, science, public affairs
Wants: Query letter, first twenty-five pages
Celeste represents a select list of bestselling fiction and nonfiction authors. She is currently looking for upmarket fiction that makes readers laugh or cry, one-of-a-kind thrillers with TV and film potential, and nonfiction authors helping readers navigate the world as it is today.
Email queries@parkfinebrower.com and specify Celeste Fine plus the category and genre in the subject line. Adult fiction submissions should include a query letter and roughly the first 25 pages in the body of the email. Nonfiction submissions should include a query letter.
Graphic novels, science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative fiction, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, romantic comedy, romance, lgbtq and voices, bipoc voices, nonfiction, illustrated projects
Wants: Querymanager submission
Tamara Kawar is a literary agent at DeFiore and Company. She represents writer and illustrator clients in both the children's and adult markets, with particular focus on talented LGBTQ+ and BIPOC storytellers. She is actively seeking graphic novels for all ages and across genres; science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction for middle grade, YA, and adult readers; upmarket and book club fiction, especially genre-bending stories and those with an international bent; adult and YA rom-coms and romance featuring LGBTQ+ characters; and select nonfiction, including illustrated projects. Across categories, she is passionate about marginalized voices and perspectives.
Submit through Tamara Kawar's official DeFiore profile-linked QueryManager form at https://querymanager.com or tkawar.
Middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, speculative fiction, thriller, fantasy, commercial fiction, upmarket fiction
Wants: Query letter, author bio, synopsis, brief proposal, first three chapters
Sarah Landis is Senior Agent at Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents a wide range of fiction from middle grade to adult and is particularly drawn to high-concept plots, big hooks, speculative fiction, twisty thrillers, novels with a strong emotional core, and sweeping fantasy. She is always on the lookout for new talent and narrative risk-takers.
Submit through Sterling Lord Literistic's official submissions page. Choose one SLL agent, include a query letter with brief author bio, a synopsis, and either a brief proposal or the first 3 chapters. SLL may share submissions internally if a project is a better fit for a colleague.
Fiction and narrative non-fiction
Commercial and literary fiction (excluding SFF), narrative non-fiction; currently seeking voicy character-driven book club fiction, fresh crime, upmarket horror, and accessible eye-opening non-fiction
Email - mhoskins@unitedagents.co.uk
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, speculative fiction, psychological suspense, environmental fiction, feminist fiction
Wants: Online form submission
Sarah Bedingfield is Senior Agent at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She reads most types of literary and upmarket commercial fiction, especially works with powerful imagination, revelatory character arcs, compulsive plotting, unpredictable points of view, timeless themes, motherhood, human connection, feminist issues, light speculative elements, darker can't-look-away tension, wild and unexpected settings, nature or environment, and voices that need to be heard. She does not typically represent fantasy or science fiction but is interested in grounded approaches to what might be off about our world.
Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency's official online submission form linked from the official submissions page.
Women's issues, pop culture, illustrated nonfiction, photography, history, politics, self-help, current events, narrative nonfiction, biography, business, lifestyle, cookbooks, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, romantic comedy, women's fiction
Wants: Query letter, first 20 pages, proposal
Dani represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. In nonfiction she is drawn to women's issues, pop culture, illustrated and photography projects, history, politics, self-help, current events, narrative nonfiction, biography, business, lifestyle, and cookbooks. In fiction she seeks contemporary and upmarket adult fiction, historical fiction, rom-coms, and women's fiction with compelling narrators and voice-driven writing.
Submit to Dani Segelbaum via QueryManager. Her form asks for a query letter and the first 20 pages of fiction or a full nonfiction proposal. Do not query multiple Arc agents simultaneously.
Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, investigative journalism, cultural criticism, sociology, psychology, history, politics, science, technology, social justice, memoir, essays, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, fabulism
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
Sonali Chanchani is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management, focusing primarily on nonfiction that advances current social and cultural conversations and centers historically underrepresented voices and perspectives. She represents narrative and idea-driven nonfiction, especially investigative journalism, cultural criticism, deeply researched paradigm-shifting work in sociology, psychology, history, politics, science, technology, and social justice, plus memoirs and essay collections that speak to larger social concerns. She also represents select literary and upmarket fiction, especially novels engaging contemporary social and cultural issues, atmospheric stories with speculative or fabulist twists, emotional insight with humor, and themes of identity, belonging, community, and inheritance.
Email Sonali Chanchani at sonali@foliolit.com with a query letter and the first 10 pages of the proposal for nonfiction or manuscript for fiction pasted in the body of the email. Include QUERY and the title of the project in the subject line.
Young adult, middle grade, adult book club fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, horror, women's fiction, romance, mystery, suspense
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Patricia represents YA and middle grade fiction in all genres, adult book club/upmarket fiction, including speculative and horror elements, and commercial women's fiction from beach reads and romcoms to darker stories with mystery or suspense.
Patricia Nelson is open to queries during the first week of every month via the QueryTracker route linked from her Looking Glass profile.
Upmarket fiction, literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, cultural history, cultural criticism, sociology, anthropology
Wants: Query letter, first few chapters
Iwalani Kim is seeking adult upmarket and literary fiction and select nonfiction. In fiction she loves coming-of-age narratives, family dramas, stories that challenge systems of power, strong voice or place, realism with speculative elements, lush prose, wry humor, irreverent characters, and yearning. In nonfiction she is looking for memoir, cultural histories, cultural criticism, history, design and architecture, sociology, anthropology, and work from a leftist angle. She especially wants to work with underrepresented authors and Pacific Islander writers.
Email Iwalani Kim at ikim@sjga.com with the subject line Query: [book title] by [your name]. Include a brief pitch letter and the first few chapters in the body of the email. Greenburger says not to query more than one Greenburger agent at a time.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, upmarket women's fiction, romance, thriller, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, young adult fiction, middle grade fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, popular science, parenting, pop culture, humor, how-to, self-help, lifestyle, travel, interior design, crafts, business
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, first five pages
Andrea represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including projects for adult, young adult and middle grade audiences. She actively seeks literary and commercial fiction, upmarket women's fiction, romance, thrillers, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction. In nonfiction, she seeks memoir, narrative nonfiction, popular science, parenting, pop culture, humor, how-to, self-help, lifestyle, travel, interior design, crafts, and business.
Submit via email with a short synopsis of your work, author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the email. No attachments.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, psychological thrillers, domestic thrillers, social thrillers, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, literary memoir
Wants: Query letter
She primarily seeks literary fiction and upmarket fiction that is contemporary, emotionally and psychologically acute, and not necessarily plot-centric. She is drawn to slightly speculative and satirical works that question the status quo, and gravitates toward anything that verges on the absurd, obsessive, or humorous. She has a particular love of short fiction, especially linked collections or novels-in-stories. She also looks for dark and propulsive psychological, domestic, and social thrillers. In nonfiction, she represents very select projects in narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, and literary memoir.
Send a query letter using the online form to one literary agent only. Query should include only a paragraph about yourself, a brief plot synopsis and contact information. Do not include a manuscript, proposal, or writing samples unless requested.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial women's fiction, romantic comedy, domestic suspense, thriller, pop culture, pop science, psychology, self-help, parenting, memoir, business, lifestyle, health, wellness
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal
Melissa represents adult fiction and nonfiction. In fiction she is seeking literary, upmarket, and commercial women's fiction, romcoms, domestic suspense, and thrillers, especially multigenerational stories, sibling relationships, outsider experiences, place-specific stories, and people fighting injustices or difficult societal circumstances. In nonfiction she looks for commercial pop culture, pop science/psychology, self-help, parenting, memoir, business, lifestyle, and health/wellness projects with strong voice, expertise, and platform.
Send a query letter and, for fiction, the first 10 manuscript pages pasted in the email body to melissa@foliolit.com. Include QUERY and the project title in the subject line.
Narrative nonfiction, speculative fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, children's books, commercial fiction, family saga, fantasy, graphic novels, historical fiction, humor, lgbtq and, literary middle grade, literary young adult, romance, science fiction, short stories, food, history, journalism, memoir, nature, pop culture, psychology, science, technology
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first thirty pages, proposal
Renée is seeking narrative nonfiction, adult speculative, upmarket, and literary fiction, and children's books. She is interested in work centering POC and LGBTQIA+ voices and is particularly drawn to Black writers across the African diaspora. Her current QueryManager genres span adult fiction, children's categories, and nonfiction including arts, culture, food, history, journalism, memoir, nature, pop culture, psychology, science, technology, and travel.
Submit through Renée Jarvis's QueryManager route. The current form asks for a query letter with bio, synopsis, AI disclosure, and the first 30 pages for fiction or a full proposal for nonfiction.
Adult nonfiction, cozy mystery, crime fiction, thriller, upmarket fiction, women's fiction, general fiction, illustrators, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, children's fiction, children's nonfiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal, portfolio
Natalie represents adult nonfiction, adult cozy mystery/crime, female-driven thrillers, upmarket women's/general fiction, illustrators, and all ages of children's literature, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Submit through Natalie Lakosil's QueryManager route linked from her Looking Glass profile.
Fiction, book club fiction, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, horror, mystery, crime fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, underrepresented voices
Wants: Query letter, description, bio, publishing history, synopsis, first three chapters
Logan Harper is a staff agent at Jane Rotrosen Agency. She is seeking a wide range of character-driven fiction and is particularly drawn to book club fiction, contemporary romance and romantic comedies, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, horror, mystery and crime, upmarket fiction, and literary fiction. She is eager to read and champion underrepresented voices and perspectives.
Email Logan Harper at lharper@janerotrosen.com and include all material in the body of the email with no attachments. JRA submissions guidance asks writers to query one agent only and to include a concise description, relevant biographical information, previous publishing history, and, for fiction, a synopsis and the first 3 chapters.
213+ agents we've verified represent upmarket fiction specifically. Many others represent broader categories like commercial fiction or genre fiction — try Smart Search to find those too.
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