Upmarket Fiction Literary Agents

Commercial fiction, upmarket women's fiction, romance, romantic comedy, paranormal romance, romantasy, young adult, middle grade, science fiction, fantasy, horror, thrillers, nonfiction, own voices, feminist literature

Lauren Bieker is a literary agent and vice president at FinePrint. She is looking for commercial and upmarket women's fiction, romance including rom-coms, paranormal, and romantasy, YA and MG novels in most genres, and adult and YA science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers. She primarily wants fiction but will consider nonfiction proposals, and she is looking for own voices stories, feminist and MeToo stories, and work by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors.

FinePrint directs authors to check Lauren Bieker's status and submit through her official QueryManager page. The linked QueryManager page currently says Lauren Bieker is not accepting queries, so there is no open submission route at this time.

Big idea nonfiction, narrative journalism, history, science, cultural criticism, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, poetry

Mackenzie Brady Watson is actively looking for compellingly written, deeply researched books that help readers better understand the societal forces and systems shaping their realities and how they might think or behave differently, including big idea books, narrative journalism, history, science, and cultural criticism. On the fiction side, she is seeking emotionally evocative and voice-driven upmarket and literary fiction and poetry with a surprising hook.

Mackenzie Brady Watson is currently closed to queries according to the official SKLA submissions page.

Film and tv scripts, young adult contemporary, young adult science fiction, young adult urban fantasy, adult fiction, women's fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, new adult, cookbooks, entertainment, food, health and fitness, lifestyle, pop culture, self-help, women's issues

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages, full nonfiction proposal, one sentence pitch, comparable books

Micah Brocker is interested in fostering authors' and screenwriters' careers from the start. In film, she is interested in YA contemporary stories dealing with messy relationships and issues that help young adults put words to their experiences, and YA science fiction and urban fantasy that provide escape while connecting to everyday growing-up troubles. In adult fiction, she likes women's fiction and upmarket fiction about burdensome secrets, messy relationships, and characters with a deep desire to change their lives or the world, especially with psychological, science-fiction, or romantic twists. Her official linked QueryManager form says that when it is accepting, it is limited to romance.

Micah Brocker is on leave and is presently not reviewing queries or taking additional clients for 2026 according to her official Corvisiero profile. The linked QueryManager form is visible and says it is only open to romance, but the profile-level leave notice is treated as controlling for this remediation. Do not query more than one Corvisiero agent at a time.

Upmarket literary fiction, literary non-fiction, picture books, middle grade fiction, middle grade non-fiction, young adult fiction, young adult non-fiction

Wants: Query letter

She seeks first and foremost voice, a strong narrative, memorable characters, unusual premises, and underrepresented people, places, and perspectives, including #OwnVoices writers and stories.

Starting January 2026, queries must be submitted through QueryManager only. Address query to the agent you think would be the best fit. Only send one query to Dunham Literary as agents share queries with each other when appropriate.

Adult fiction, adult non-fiction, children's books, historical fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, fantasy, science fiction, biography, memoir, middle grade, young adult, picture books

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 10 pages

In Adult Fiction she seeks captivating settings and relatable characters that highlight virtues like empathy and self-sacrifice in historical, literary/upmarket, romance, or fantasy/science fiction genres. In Adult Non-fiction she wants well-researched titles that make complex topics accessible, biography and memoir that connect diverse readers, and books about poverty and justice. For children's literature, she loves books that can be read aloud and shared with families, especially middle grade, and seeks books with hopeful, informative, or lyrical tones.

Starting January 2026, queries must be submitted through QueryManager only. Address your query to the specific agent you think would be the best fit. Only send one query to Dunham Literary as agents share queries with each other when appropriate.

Upmarket fiction, historical fiction, supernatural suspense

Bold, emotionally resonant fiction with unforgettable characters, strong stakes, and a sense of urgency. Especially drawn to upmarket, historical, and supernatural suspense, with a soft spot for haunting atmosphere, richly layered relationships, and characters who carry deep emotional wounds

Check agent's submission page

Fiction

Upmarket genre (especially thrillers), reading group and accessible literary fiction, powerful page-turners, unique voices

Email submissions@nurnberg.co.uk with the agent's name in the subject line

Romance, romantasy, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 2 chapters

Contemporary romance, romantic comedy, historical romance, LGBTQ+ romance, romantasy, character-driven stories, upmarket fiction

Upload your submission via QueryManager

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, narrative nonfiction, parenting, relationships

Wants: Query letter, sample chapter

Ellen likes women's upmarket and commercial fiction, smart original thrillers and mysteries, sweeping or revisionist historical fiction, witty YA with big topics, narrative nonfiction, and books on parenting and relationships.

Ellen Coughtrey is currently closed to queries. The Gernert Company asks writers to email info@thegernertco.com when querying open agents, indicate which agent they are querying, and include a query letter plus a sample chapter if appropriate.

Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, romance, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, fantasy romance, paranormal romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, psychological thriller, young adult, contemporary ya, ya mystery, ya thriller, ya fantasy

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Christine is interested in upmarket fiction, women's fiction with crossover or multicultural appeal, romance including contemporary, romantic comedy, mystery/suspense, fantasy/paranormal, mainstream mystery/suspense, psychological thrillers, and emotionally layered contemporary, mystery, thriller, or fantasy young adult.

Book Cents is currently closed to new submissions except by referral. When open, submit e-queries through the site submit button with a query and the first five pages. Book Cents does not send personalized responses unless interested.

Adult fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, horror, memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice, cultural criticism, true crime, essay collections

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Meredith represents adult fiction and nonfiction, including transportive fiction, dark or darkly humorous stories, thriller/speculative/horror elements, voice-driven memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice writing, cultural criticism, true crime, and essays about race, class, and identity.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query route and select Meredith Miller where available. Do not query multiple UTA literary agents simultaneously.

Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, suspense, romance, book club fiction, narrative non-fiction

Sharon's list includes upmarket fiction of all sorts, from smart, complex women's fiction to unexpected suspense fiction and romance to hearty, unforgettable book club fiction. She also occasionally takes on compelling, fierce narrative nonfiction by journalists, experts, or emerging voices with a promising platform.

Submit only through Query Manager. Include query letter in the body with first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction.

Fiction and non-fiction

Upmarket and accessible literary/commercial 'sweet spot', thrillers/suspense, book club fiction, epic multi-generational family drama, powerful love story with mystery

Online form - https://www.madeleinemilburn.co.uk or submissions/

Cookbooks, investigative journalism, self-help, health, wellness, social science, popular science, culture, narrative nonfiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, literary mystery, magical realism, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, first chapter, first 10 pages, author platform

Kim primarily specializes in nonfiction and is actively seeking expertise- or platform-driven cookbooks, investigative journalism, self-help, health, wellness, social science, pop science, culture, and narrative nonfiction that adds nuance or makes niche subjects accessible. On a highly selective basis, she also considers adult upmarket and literary fiction, including contemporary and historical realism, literary mystery, magical realism, and near-future science fiction.

Stonesong accepts electronic queries at submissions@stonesong.com, but the current submissions page does not list Kim among the named query recipients. Verify current route before querying Kim.

Fiction and non-fiction

Smart compelling commercial-to-literary, upmarket crime/thrillers, voiced historical, light horror/gothic/supernatural, memoir, narrative non-fiction, health/wellbeing/lifestyle from experts

Email julia@greyhoundliterary.co.uk

Literary fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, short story collections, narrative non-fiction, memoir

Sharmaine is actively building a list of fiction and non-fiction with international ambition, seeking distinctive voices, emotional resonance, and stories that broaden how we see the world. She is looking for literary and upmarket commercial fiction — novels and short story collections that are character-driven, emotionally rich, and often international in perspective, including novels of love and relationships that balance commercial reach with literary ambition. She is also seeking fiction that reimagines or disrupts dominant narratives, recasting history, myth, and perspective through fresh voices. In non-fiction, she is interested in expert-led works on culture, politics, and society with narrative drive, as well as bold memoirs that move beyond the personal to spark wider cultural conversations.

Submit via Query Tracker.

Fiction and non-fiction

Upmarket-commercial fiction, series crime/thrillers, historical fiction, high-concept fiction, narrative non-fiction, true crime, memoir, popular science/psychology, serious history

Email agauntlett@pfd.co.uk with a cover letter, full synopsis, and first three chapters (approximately 50 pages). Non-fiction submissions should include a detailed proposal and a cover letter with CV.

Adult, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, 25-page sample for fiction or proposal for nonfiction

Literary, upmarket, and speculative fiction including magical realism, fantasy, and science fiction. Strong essay collections, narrative nonfiction, archival works

Currently closed to submissions except for by referral

Literary fiction, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, young adult romance, nonfiction, memoir, cookbooks, pop culture

Cole Lanahan is listed by The Seymour Agency as a literary agent. He is interested in literary, contemporary, and upmarket fiction. For young adult romance, he wants big romantic, coming-of-age stories. In nonfiction, he is looking for memoirs, cookbooks, and pop-culture work. He says his favorite projects are books that move readers to tears, laughter, or a need to call their mom.

The official Seymour Agency about page lists Cole Lanahan's contact as cole@theseymouragency.com. The current official contact or submissions page did not expose a separate Cole-specific QueryManager link or detailed materials checklist in this run, so use only the official Seymour contact route and verify current openness before querying.

Adult upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, gothic, fantasy

Adult upmarket and speculative fiction, especially gothic and fantasy. If there's at least a hint of romance mixed in, all the better.

Check agent's submission page

Ya, children's literature, upmarket fiction, projects on religion and spirituality

Elevating voices and stories that start important cultural conversations and is particularly interested in YA and children's literature, upmarket fiction, and projects on religion and spirituality

Check agent's submission page

Business, health, psychology, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, upmarket fiction

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and internationally bestselling authors writing in business, health, psychology, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction

Check agent's submission page

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, pop culture

Literary and upmarket fiction, select narrative nonfiction and memoir, books that explore pop culture examining celebrity and fandom

Check agent's submission page

Fiction and narrative non-fiction

Upmarket and literary fiction in English and Spanish, character-driven, heart-wrenching fiction, modern love stories, genre-bending upmarket crime, narrative non-fiction about women's experiences

QueryManager (via site form) - https://www.aevitascreative.com or contact

Business, health, politics, history, cookbooks, pop culture, jewish interest, lifestyle, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, romance, young adult, middle grade, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Irene's interests include business, health, politics and history, cookbooks, pop culture, Jewish interest, Francophilia, lifestyle, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romance, historical fiction, middle grade and young adult fiction.

The official site has a contact form and states IGLA represents newcomers, but does not publish explicit current query guidelines.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, story collections, elevated genre fiction, literary journalism, idea-driven books, history, current affairs, politics, popular culture, natural world

Literary and upmarket fiction, story collections, and elevated genre fiction. She's drawn to novels with a distinct voice, and is especially interested in stories with setting-as-character, coming-of-age, family sagas, noir elements, narratives seeped in contemporary internet culture, and protagonists grappling with timeless questions around faith and desire. In non-fiction, she's looking for literary journalism and idea-driven books across history, current affairs, politics, popular culture, and the natural world. She enjoys narratives that refract a broader view of modern life, incisive cultural criticism, scholarly inquiries with literary sensibilities, and projects that demystify a subculture to reveal something consequential about society

Check agent's submission page

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, nonfiction

Literary and upmarket fiction and nonfiction, with a special interest in voices from underrepresented communities

Check agent's submission page

Women's commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime, thriller, upmarket book club fiction, quirky non-fiction, nature writing, history

Women's commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime/thriller, uplifting/book club, quirky non-fiction (nature/crime/history)

Email bd.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com with a cover letter and first 3 chapters (approximately 10,000 words) and a synopsis for fiction, or a cover letter and full proposal (covering overview, themes, story, and sources) for non-fiction.

Middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, upmarket women's fiction

Books that explore romantic relationships, stories that have a very specific point of view, and characters that make a lasting impression. loves realistic fiction and is currently on the hunt for historical fiction

Check agent's submission page

Science fiction, fantasy, horror, upmarket fiction, historical fiction

Jordan is primarily pursuing genre and upmarket fiction for adults with a focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy and horror. She loves intergenerational stories that grapple with the complexities of families and culture through time and anything with an unreliable narrator or a speculative bent. She's always on the hunt for books that feature female wit and rage, bodies of water as foreboding, and eruptive moments of catharsis. She also considers historical fiction or retellings with a fresh approach and compelling perspective.

Check agent's submission page

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction, illustrated projects

Work that is fierce, sharp, nuanced, and uncompromising. In fiction, she is looking for work with that is inventive and strange, brave and honest, with humor and heart. She especially loves fiction that employs genre elements—whether evocatively surreal, slightly askew, or supernatural. In nonfiction, work that investigates culture, identity, sexuality, disability, and mental health is especially welcome

Check agent's submission page

Adult fiction

Upmarket and commercial fiction with an interesting narrative voice, a story with heart, and an emotional hook

Send your submission to crowleyofficesubmissions@curtisbrown.co.uk. For fiction submissions, include the first three chapters or 10,000 words of your material, a synopsis, and a biographical note. For non-fiction, send a detailed proposal.

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary nonfiction, culture criticism, essays, political nonfiction, history, popular science

Wants: Query letter, first three chapters, full proposal for nonfiction

Erik represents fiction, literary fiction, general fiction with speculative elements, upmarket and commercial fiction, literary nonfiction, culture criticism, essays, political nonfiction and reporting, American history, and popular science.

Submit through QueryManager. Follow standard query-letter format, query one Headwater agent at a time, and do not email queries.