Upmarket Fiction Literary Agents

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, young adult, literary fiction, suspense, supernatural horror, speculative romance, romantasy, fantasy, adventure, romance, science fiction, magical fabulism, romantic comedy, speculative thriller

Victoria Marini is Agent and Founder at High Line Literary Collective. Her list spans upmarket and commercial adult and young adult work, from literary page-turners to commercial suspense, supernatural horror, whimsical speculative romantasy, big-world fantasy, adventure, romance, edgy science fiction, grounded magical fabulism, rom-coms, and speculative thrillers. She likes unforgettable authentic characters, hooky concepts with strong plotting and an emotional core, unique voices or visions, quirk, mystery, small-town hysteria, atmosphere, secrets, things that go bump in the night, charm, magic, and humor.

Victoria Marini is currently closed to queries according to her official High Line profile. Requested Thrillerfest 2025 materials have a specific official QueryTracker link, but general unsolicited queries are closed.

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, new adult, adult fiction, romance, women's fiction, horror, dark comedy, satire, weird fiction, lgbtq and, black stories, paranormal romance

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Kaylyn is a junior literary agent interested in commercial, upmarket, and literary fiction for New Adult and adult audiences. She is seeking romance, women's fiction, horror, dark comedies and satires, weird fiction, Black stories and LGBTQ+ stories not centered around trauma, unique takes on classic stories, and paranormal romances.

Kaylyn Aldridge's QueryManager route is currently closed and says to check back in December, June, or July.

Adult fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, middle grade, young adult, children's fiction, children's nonfiction, business books, diverse voices

Lisa Abellera represents adult literary, upmarket/book club, women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, and crossover speculative fiction. In children's fiction she represents all fiction genres in middle grade and YA. She responds to well-crafted prose, strong hooks, high personal stakes, complex and sympathetic characters, tangible sense of place, lush world-building, non-Western cultural aspects, emotionally immersive fiction, and underrepresented voices. In limited nonfiction, she is looking for middle grade prescriptive projects and adult prescriptive business books for women or by women.

KC and A links Lisa Abellera's QueryMe or QueryManager form from the official team page. The linked form currently says Lisa Abellera is not accepting unsolicited queries, so there is no open submission route at this time.

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, dark romance, romantasy, romance, speculative fiction, mystery, thriller, gothic, horror, historical fiction, rom com, magical realism, current events, true crime, science, history, narrative non-fiction, sports, politics, health, nutrition, pop culture, humor, music, memoir

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, sample pages

Jill seeks fiction and non-fiction by unrepresented voices, BIPOC and Latinx writers, disabled persons, and LGBTQ+ people. She wants commercial and upmarket fiction emphasizing dark romance, romantasy, speculative fiction, mysteries, thrillers, Gothic, horror, and historical fiction, plus food-centric novels and psychological suspense in the vein of Freida McFadden. For non-fiction, she seeks authors with big, timely, smart messages and deep dives into subcultures, social commentary, and historical projects.

Submit via QueryManager at QueryManager.com or JillMarr. Include query letter, 1-page synopsis, brief bio with publishing history, and first 10-15 pages for fiction. For non-fiction, include query letter and full book proposal.

Historical fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, women's fiction

Historical fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, and women's fiction. She is especially drawn to narratives that center resilient, complex female protagonists

Submission form: http://QueryManager.com/QueryNadia

Crime, thrillers, reading group fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction, narrative memoir, nature writing, cookery, voice-led non-fiction

Crime and thrillers, reading group fiction, high-concept hooks, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative memoir, nature writing, cookery and other voice-led non-fiction

Email a synopsis and either the first three chapters of a novel or a non-fiction proposal to afeiner@unitedagents.co.uk. Let the agent know if another agent has requested your full manuscript or offered representation.

Literary fiction, upmarket commercial women's fiction, narrative nonfiction, children's books

Literary fiction and upmarket, commercial women's fiction. Narrative nonfiction. Children's books, especially middle grade and young adult.

Email queries only at jenniferlyonsagency (at) gmail (dot) com

Upmarket fiction, literary fiction, speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, dystopian, middle grade, young adult, picture books, lgbtq and, marginalized voices

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Lisa likes upmarket and literary fiction with lyrical prose, memorable characters, and fast-moving plots, especially stories about friendships, parents and children, or people facing hardship due to gender. She is also interested in speculative fiction with literary/upmarket writing, cozy fantasy, sci-fi/fantasy partly set in our world, middle grade and young adult speculative work, and high-concept picture books.

Lisa Gouldy is currently closed to queries, and email submissions will not be considered.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, mystery, thriller, middle grade, young adult, history, biography, current events, long-form journalism, popular science, children's books

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Gina represents literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction for adults and children. In fiction she looks for upmarket novels, mysteries and thrillers, middle grade, and young adult. Nonfiction interests include history, biography, current events, long-form journalism, and popular science.

Gina Maccoby is currently closed to submissions. When open, email a query with the word QUERY in the subject line to query@maccobylit.com with no attachments. Check the official agency site for reopening.

Ya, mg, upmarket genre fiction, women's fiction, psychological thrillers, sf or f, psychology, self-help, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, first 5-10 pages

YA, MG, upmarket genre fiction (especially women's fiction, psychological thrillers, and SF/F), psychology, self-help, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, works that speak to life in the twenty-first century

Send a short description, short bio, and 5-10 pages of text pasted into the body of the email. I do not open attachments

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: book club, psychological suspense, crime, speculative, historical, commercial and upmarket women's with unique hook/voice/characters. Non-fiction: history (with platform) and memoir

Email - kate@khla.co.uk

Middle grade, young adult, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Kari represents middle grade and YA at the heart of her list, plus picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and upmarket fiction.

Kari Sutherland is currently closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.

Adult fantasy, young adult fantasy, science fiction, horror, speculative fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, crime fiction, young adult contemporary

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages, synopsis, comparable books

Ernie Chiara specializes in adult and young adult fantasy, science fiction, and horror, speculative upmarket and literary fiction, BIPOC mystery, thriller, and crime fiction, and young adult contemporary. He wants character-driven stories with layered worldbuilding, original settings, immersive plotting, propulsive pacing, genre blends, distinct voice, and complex characters.

Ernie Chiara is currently closed to unsolicited queries and is considering queries by personal referral or event request only. When open, he accepts submissions exclusively through QueryManager, email and social-media queries are deleted unread.

Children's books, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, genre fiction, thrillers, historical fiction, romance, mysteries, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, full manuscript, illustration samples for children's books

Clever voices and unreliable narrators, stories told from diverse perspectives, rich world building, strong character dynamics, and firsts—first love, first heartbreak, first loss, first divorce, etc. Novels featuring smart, strong, funny, and fierce women

Email queries with specified subject headers to designated addresses

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, thrillers, nonfiction, speculative fiction, horror

Gabrielle represents literary and upmarket fiction, particularly with queer themes or from unusual and underrepresented perspectives, as well as select upmarket thrillers and nonfiction. In fiction, she is drawn to bold hooks and flawed characters, atmospheric character-led stories about overlooked aspects of history and culture, literary speculative and high-concept fiction from queer, female, or transnational perspectives, and horror. In thrillers, she seeks atmospheric mysteries involving family secrets, small communities, or epic natural settings. In nonfiction, she is looking to work with experts, academics, journalists, or influencers specializing in dating and relationships, personal finance, career guidance, queer family formation, fashion, cultural history, economics, food, or music. She is not the right agent for crime procedurals, hard sci-fi, fantasy, YA, or children's books.

Gabrielle is closed to new submissions until 20 April 2026.

History, pop culture, science, memoir, investigative narrative nonfiction, issue-focused narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary thrillers, upmarket horror, family novels, coming of age

Sophie Brett-Chin is a Literary Associate at Folio Literary Management who is actively building her list. In nonfiction she is looking for history, pop culture, science, memoir, and investigative and issue-focused narrative nonfiction. In fiction she is drawn to propulsive plots that are beautiful on a technical and craft level, including upmarket and literary thrillers, upmarket horror that uses and subverts genre tropes to probe larger societal issues, and big-hearted novels about family or coming of age. Across genres she likes work that interrogates adolescence, especially teenage girlhood, as well as books about religion and ritual and books about the ocean. She is not looking for children's books at any level.

Sophie Brett-Chin is currently closed to unsolicited submissions according to her official Folio profile.

Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, business, health, science, pop culture, current affairs, narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction

Wants: Personal recommendation only

Joëlle represents adult fiction and nonfiction. The agency no longer accepts children's books, YA, middle grade, picture books, screenplays, novellas or poetry.

Joelle Delbourgo Associates is currently closed to queries except through personal recommendation.

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, psychological thriller, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, young adult, science fiction, paranormal romance, thriller, nonfiction, cookbooks, memoir, self-help, lifestyle

Mariah is interested in upmarket and commercial adult fiction, women's fiction, psychological thrillers, contemporary romance and rom-coms, young adult science fiction, paranormal romance, thrillers and contemporary romance, plus nonfiction including cookbooks, memoirs, self-help, lifestyle and how-to.

Mariah is currently closed to submissions.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, upmarket fiction, political journalism, graphic books, memoirs

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, full manuscript for picture books

She typically looks for picture books that straddle piercing humor and heart, lyrical middle grade, and daring, sharp Young Adult. She loves graphic novels and memoirs that share lesser-known pieces of history and those quieter slices of life. She especially adores stories of all genres if they are from around the world and speak to multigenerational diaspora experiences.

Send a query letter and the first five pages of your manuscript within the email. If it is a picture book, include the entire manuscript. Only submit to one agent at a time.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, journalism, history

Wants: Query letter

She is interested primarily in literary and upmarket fiction and memoir, and especially stories grappling with racial, religious, sexual or national identity, narrative nonfiction, journalism, and history.

Submit queries through QueryManager.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, domestic suspense, historical fiction, book club fiction, narrative nonfiction

Amy Cloughley seeks authors with unique, clear voices and smart, tightly written prose. She leans toward grounded literary, upmarket, and commercial novels with a distinct sense of place, page-turning mystery, domestic suspense with sharp wit and unexpected twists, well-researched historical fiction, book club fiction with a fresh perspective, small-town contemporary characters, unexpected story arcs, suitable pacing, compelling protagonists, and narrative nonfiction immersed in a culture, lifestyle, discipline, or industry.

Amy Cloughley is currently closed to unsolicited submissions. Her official Kimberley Cameron team page links to a QueryManager form, and the form currently states that she is not accepting queries at this time.

Narrative nonfiction, literary commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, legal thriller, psychological thriller, domestic thriller, biography, history, science, sports, travel

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Anne-Lise Spitzer is president of Spitzer Agency. Current public materials describe interest in narrative nonfiction from writers with diverse voices, literary commercial fiction, mysteries, legal, psychological, and domestic thrillers, plus biography, history, science, sports, and travel.

The Spitzer Agency site says it is not accepting new clients for representation at this time.

Adult fiction, adult nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, family saga, friendship fiction, psychological suspense, campus novel, love story, progressive politics, popular science, psychology, self-development, gender, pop culture, food writing, media studies, agriculture, housing

Sarah Phair represents a range of fiction and nonfiction for the adult market. In fiction she focuses on upmarket and literary fiction accessible to a wide audience, with beautiful language and elevated ideas, and particularly likes family sagas, friendship-centered stories, complex psychological suspense, campus novels, anti-heroines, and good love stories. In nonfiction she is interested in progressive politics, popular science, psychology, self-development, gender, pop culture, food, media consumption, food systems, agriculture, and housing.

Sarah Phair's official profile links to QueryTracker for submissions, but the linked QueryTracker form is currently closed and says she is not accepting queries at this time.

Middle grade, young adult, adult genre-blending upmarket and literary fiction, accessible sci-fi and fantasy, high concept rom-coms, memoir, essays, wellness titles

Middle Grade and Young Adult projects (fiction and non-fiction), adult genre-blending upmarket and literary fiction, accessible sci-fi and fantasy, high concept rom-coms, and memoir, essays, and wellness titles in the non-fiction space

Currently closed to queries, save for referrals and conferences

Fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, thriller, fantasy, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first several chapters, proposal

Jennifer Herrera is currently open to fiction queries and closed to unsolicited nonfiction queries. In fiction, she loves character-driven thrillers, upmarket book club fiction, and imaginative fantasy. Her nonfiction interests include books about big ideas, especially smart, issue-driven work from journalists and writers with professional expertise in science, psychology, philosophy, economics, prescriptive, lifestyle, history, and the stories of underrepresented groups.

Jennifer Herrera is currently closed through her official linked QueryManager or QueryTracker page because she is only open to queries from the 1st through the 14th of each month. When open, submit fiction through the official QueryManager or QueryTracker link. The David Black submissions page says to query only one agent at a time, include a concise query letter, and for fiction include the first several chapters. Nonfiction queries should include a proposal, but Jennifer is currently closed to unsolicited nonfiction.

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Rose focuses on stylistically subversive and thematically layered fiction, upmarket and smart commercial fiction with inventive structures, emotional depth, distinctive voices, braided narratives, unexpected points of view, and prose that takes creative risks.

Rose Conway is closed to queries and the Confluence submissions page says she will reopen via QueryTracker on 2026-05-01.

Adult fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, romance, psychological thriller, cozy mystery, memoir, young adult, middle grade, humor

Saba Sulaiman is Senior Agent at Talcott Notch. She is currently closed, but when open she looks for adult upmarket literary and commercial fiction, romance except paranormal, character-driven psychological thrillers, cozy mysteries, and memoir; young adult in all subgenres except paranormal, fantasy, and science fiction, especially contemporary realistic YA with heart, humor, and personality; middle grade that is smart, accessible, funny, sweet, or written with flair; and humor nonfiction. She looks for strong voices, unconventional narratives, complex relationships, fresh perspectives, multicultural perspectives, and themes of immigration, displacement, and cultural adjustment.

Saba Sulaiman is currently closed to queries according to her official Talcott Notch profile.

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, young adult, horror, speculative fiction, gothic fiction, mythology, folklore retellings, romance

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Elizabeth represents thought-provoking upmarket and commercial fiction for adult and YA audiences, especially lush prose, complex characters, creative genre blends, boundary-pushing horror and speculative fiction, psychological terror, gothic atmosphere, macabre humor, dark mythology and folklore retellings, and unexpected love stories.

Elizabeth is open only to referral and submission invitations, such as conference invitations. Existing pending submissions via Copps Literary Services QueryTracker remain under consideration. Queries sent by email or contact form will not be considered.

Adult nonfiction, memoir, journalism, reportage, hidden histories, prescriptive nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, historical fiction, graphic novels

Kayla Lightner is primarily looking for adult nonfiction that can masterfully straddle the line between storytelling and teaching readers something new about the world or themselves. Her interests include memoir, journalism and reportage, hidden histories, and prescriptive nonfiction. More selectively, she looks for smart, propulsive literary and upmarket fiction with a speculative or historical lens and graphic novels for all ages.

Kayla Lightner is currently closed to queries according to the official Ayesha Pande Literary team and queries pages. Queries submitted by any method, including the contact page, when an agent is closed will not be considered.

Nonfiction, health, wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food writing, drink writing, sustainability, running, fitness, memoir, narrative nonfiction, women's fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, crime fiction, mystery, thriller

Stephany Evans is an affiliate agent at Ayesha Pande Literary. Her official APL profile says she has represented nonfiction writers in health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, food and drink, sustainability, running and fitness, memoir, and narrative nonfiction for more than 25 years. She also represents women's fiction from literary to upmarket commercial, romance, crime fiction including mysteries and thrillers, and the occasional literary or commercial novel not aimed at a female market.

Stephany Evans is permanently closed to unsolicited queries according to her official APL profile and is listed as closed on APL's official queries page. Queries submitted by any method while she is closed will not be considered.

Commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime fiction, mystery, suspense, book club fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction

Rebecca Scherer is an agent at Jane Rotrosen Agency. She represents commercial fiction across genres, with particular interest in women's fiction, crime and mystery, suspense, book club fiction, and upmarket or literary-leaning fiction.

Rebecca Scherer is presently closed to queries except by referral according to her official JRA contact page.

Literary fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, ya, middle grade, crime fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction

Literary and upmarket commercial fiction (including select young adult and middle grade), crime fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction

Currently closed for unsolicited submissions

Literary fiction, literary suspense, thriller, book club fiction, speculative fiction, experimental fiction, true crime, upmarket fiction, crime fiction, literary horror

Danya Kukafka is interested in literary fiction with propulsive storylines, literary suspense, sophisticated thrillers, book club fiction, speculative fiction, experimental fiction, true crime attuned to cultural conversations, upmarket fiction, crime fiction with a literary bent, literary horror that plays with form and structure, lightly speculative fiction, expansive literary fiction, dark coming-of-age, and fun sophisticated upmarket fiction.

Danya Kukafka is currently closed to queries. Her official Trellis profile links to QueryManager, and the linked QueryManager page states that she is not accepting queries at this time and will be closed through the summer.

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: literary, upmarket commercial, book club, historical, crime, thrillers (no sci-fi/fantasy/children's). Non-fiction: serious/pop science, psychology, feminism, big ideas/current affairs, health/body/mind, personal development, selective lifestyle, narrative/memoir

Email submissions@hardmanswainson.com. Name your chosen agent in the cover email. For fiction, attach a one-page synopsis and the full manuscript. For non-fiction, attach a proposal and a sample chapter, or the whole work if complete. Submit to one agent only.

Adult fiction, select children's or ya and non-fiction

Upmarket commercial/book club and accessible literary, female-lens storytelling, historical with hook, romcoms, unusual structures, thrillers/crime with point of difference, select children's/YA crime/thrillers and MG adventure

Email - sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com

Adult literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, historical fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, book club fiction, narrative nonfiction, history, science, memoir, technology, race, gender, class, disability, multicultural perspectives

Wants: Query letter, one sentence pitch, comparable books, first twenty pages, full nonfiction proposal, ai disclosure

Natalie Edwards represents adult literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and nonfiction. In fiction she is looking for literary fiction that breaks convention, upmarket fiction about subcultures and quirky communities, speculative fiction and magical realism where the strange or supernatural sharpens real-life stakes, grounded historical fiction, untraditional romance, contemporary work led by voice, complex characters, and deep interiority, and book club novels. In nonfiction she likes narrative nonfiction about niche corners of history and science, memoirs with a strong voice and a singular lens, and books that change how readers understand technology, social media, food, sports, medicine, race, gender, class, disability, or multicultural perspectives.

Submit to Natalie Edwards through her official QueryManager link. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager. Do not submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window. Natalie's form asks for a query letter, one-sentence pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 20 pages or a full nonfiction proposal.