Young Adult (YA) Literary Agents

Contemporary, fantasy, horror, romance, picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 20 pages

Books with pain-in-the-ass heroines, dark and creepy settings with lyrical voices, and books with well-thought out twists and turns. Fantasy should be easily accessible and horror should not make her need to keep the lights on. She seeks LGBT+ books that are about more than just a coming out story and is particularly keen to grow her adult list in rom-coms and fantasy/romantasy.

For Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult novels: paste the first 20 pages into the sample text field. For picture books: include a link to the full dummy. For Author or Illustrated graphic novels: include a link to a few sample spreads. Note that for picture book and graphic novel creators, she is only considering author or illustrator projects at this time.

Action or adventure, chapter book, diversity, funny, graphic novels, illustrated fiction, underrepresented voices, picture book, non-fiction

Wants: Cover letter, synopsis, first 3 chapters or 20 pages, proposal for non-fiction

Lorna is looking for illustration-led children's books including board books, picture books, chapter books, highly illustrated fiction, graphic novels and non-fiction.

Email Lorna directly at lorna@darleyanderson.com. For novels, send the first three chapters or first twenty pages plus a one-page synopsis. Picture book writers may send up to three full texts. Non-fiction submissions should include a proposal, full chapter list and up to three sample chapters.

Children's fiction, ya, graphic novels, illustrated fiction

Bold, commercial, zeitgeisty children's/YA, prioritises under-represented voices, not currently taking on new picture book clients

Email sohoagencychildrenssubmissions@gmail.com with first 3 chapters or first 30 pages, a synopsis, and a covering letter, addressed FAO Lydia Silver.

Author-illustrators, picture books, board books, middle grade, young adult, children's books, poetry

Wants: Query letter, portfolio link, picture book dummy, first three pages, bio, comparison titles

Authors and author-illustrators of books for children and teens, including board books, picture books, fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. She does not want adult projects and does very few chapter books or Young Adult projects.

Email the full text for board books or picture books in the body of the message. Author-illustrators should include a link to the dummy and sample illustrated pages, with no attachments. Longer works should include the first three pages, project description, bio information, relevant experience, recent comparison titles, audience notes, and why Mary Cummings may be a fit.

Author-illustrators, picture books, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, children's books

Wants: Cover letter, synopsis, portfolio link, art samples, picture book dummy, first 20 pages, graphic novel sample

Author-illustrators who write their own picture books and graphic novels, Middle Grade fiction and nonfiction, and Young Adult fiction. LK Literary Agency does not represent adult work, picture book text-only authors, or illustrators who are not yet writing their own work.

Email a cover letter with pitch, synopsis, contact information, and online presence in the body of the message. Novel submissions should paste the first 20 pages into the email. Emailed illustrator portfolios are accepted at 72 dpi, online portfolios are welcome, picture book dummies should be PDF attachments, and graphic novel submissions should include a PDF of two to three illustrated chapters with text.

Middle grade, young adult, adult genre fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thrillers, suspense, horror

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one paragraph pitch, comparable books, first ten pages, ai disclosure

Laurie McLean specializes in middle grade, young adult, and adult genre fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thrillers, suspense, and horror. Until further notice, she is only looking at queries she requested at conferences or online events, especially all types of middle grade fiction, YA horror, mystery, thrillers, science fiction and fantasy, and adult mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

Laurie McLean is requested-only until further notice. Query through her official QueryManager page only if she requested the query at a conference or online event. The form asks for book details, query letter, synopsis, one-paragraph pitch, target audience, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 10 pages.

Middle grade, young adult, picture books, illustration, author-illustrators, children's

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Jennifer represents authors, illustrators and author-illustrators with a distinct point of view and layered stories. She is interested in middle grade and YA with mind-expanding premises, survival stories, Dickensian sagas, puzzling plots, and middle grade about resilient kids sorting out messy lives.

Jennifer is currently closed to queries. Andrea Brown Literary Agency asks writers to select one agent, check that agent's bio and query status, and not query multiple ABLA agents simultaneously.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, new adult, adult fiction, illustrators, contemporary fiction, magical realism, fantasy, horror, romance, romantic comedy, romantasy, women's fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, spirituality, self-help, health and fitness, parenting, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships and dating, true crime, bipoc voices, lgbtq and voices

Lynnette Novak is an agent at The Seymour Agency. When she reopens, she is especially excited about BIPOC, diverse, and LGBTQ+ projects; illustrators for board books, picture books, illustrated MG, and illustrated covers; fiction and nonfiction picture books; MG contemporary, magical realism, contemporary or grounded fantasy, and horror; YA romcom, romantasy, fantasy, magical realism, and horror; NA contemporary romance, romcom, and romantasy; adult horror, dark romance, contemporary romance, romcom, romantasy, and women's fiction; and adult nonfiction including memoir, narrative, spirituality/New Age, self-help, health/fitness, parenting/family, motivational/inspirational, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships/dating, and true crime by experts with platforms.

Lynnette Novak is currently closed to all queries according to the official Seymour Agency about page. The page says to watch her MSWL page for updates when she reopens, but no current open official query route is listed.

Young adult, new adult, adult fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, cookbooks, food writing, gardening, health, fitness, pets

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first twenty pages, full proposal

Kimberly seeks YA, New Adult and adult fiction, including mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, romantasy, fantasy and science fiction, plus adult nonfiction in cookbooks, food, gardening, health, fitness, natural healing and pets. She does not represent children's books, erotica, poetry, short stories, screenplays, novellas, literary/upmarket/women's fiction, or memoir.

Kimberly is currently closed to queries except for periodic windows. When open, fiction and nonfiction use separate QueryManager or QueryTracker forms from her submissions page.

Adult fiction, young adult fiction

The Evan Marshall Agency specializes in representing fiction writers.

The Evan Marshall Agency is not currently accepting new clients. It represents all genres of adult and young adult full length fiction. Check the official agency site for any change.

Middle grade, fantasy, adult literary fiction, contemporary young adult, young adult, adult fiction, speculative fiction, underrepresented voices, marginalized voices

Serene Hakim is an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary. She represents authors in a variety of genres from middle grade fantasy to adult literary fiction to contemporary YA. She is particularly interested in YA and adult fiction with international themes, a variety of cultures, and underrepresented or marginalized voices. She is currently primarily focusing on YA/MG and taking on adult writers more selectively. She loves books that are joy-filled and full of heart, stories that delve deep into grief, and books that explore different meanings of family, home, and identity, especially with a speculative bend.

Serene Hakim is closed to queries according to the official Ayesha Pande Literary queries page. Queries submitted by any method, including the contact page, while an agent is closed will not be considered.

Children's fiction, adult fiction, children's nonfiction, adult nonfiction, picture books, graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, romantic comedy, author-illustrated graphic novels

Sara Crowe is founder of Sara Crowe Literary. She has 25 years of publishing experience and 20 years representing clients. She represents a diverse group of children's and adult fiction and nonfiction, from picture books to graphic novels to literary fiction and adult romantic comedies. Her official submissions page says she is looking for author-illustrated graphic novels, middle grade and YA fiction, children's and adult nonfiction, and adult fiction, specifically romantic comedies and literary fiction, with special interest in underrepresented voices.

Sara Crowe is currently closed to queries according to the official Sara Crowe Literary submissions page.

Fiction, nonfiction, children's, illustration, memoir, journalism, political nonfiction, literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, poetry

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency represents fiction, nonfiction and children's book authors and illustrators, with a focus on diverse voices and previously untold stories through its SLM partnership.

Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency is not accepting submissions.

Young adult, adult genre fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, horror, genre crossovers, queer fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, romance, romantic comedy, nerd culture, queer history

Wants: Query letter, first three chapters

Rebecca Podos is Senior Agent at Neighborhood Literary. She is looking for young adult and adult genre fiction, with select nonfiction projects considered. Current fiction interests include character-driven fantasy rooted in folklore and culture, horror as a vehicle for otherness, identity, and trauma, fresh genre crossovers such as cozy science fiction and horror romance, queer contemporary and historical fiction, and romance or rom-com with a strong commercial hook and upmarket prose. In nonfiction she is interested in deep dives into nerdy topics such as TTRPGs, cosplay, and fandoms; strong narrative voice paired with expertise; and kid lit centering queer history.

Rebecca Podos accepts queries only through QueryManager, but her official linked QueryManager page currently says she is closed to queries while working through her inbox. The Neighborhood submissions page says to include a query letter and the first three chapters when she is open.

Science fiction, fantasy, romance, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first chapter, synopsis

Rebecca seeks character-driven stories with strong friendships and relationships, fantasy romance, stories of self-discovery and reinvention, queer romance particularly featuring f/f, bi, pan, trans, ace and other underrepresented identities, and fantasy worlds that are wholly original or drawn from non-medieval European backgrounds.

Submit queries through QueryManager with a query letter, first chapter, and synopsis. Include genre and word count in the cover letter.

Authors, illustrators, picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult nonfiction, adult fiction, children's nonfiction, gift books, middle eastern voices, disabled voices

Lilly Ghahremani represents a wide range of authors and illustrators on both the adult and children's book sides. Her wishlist includes illustrators from the African diaspora and lesser-represented cultures, worldly children's books and art, children's stories rooted in cultural settings or personal experience, traditional cultural wisdom in modern children's books, children's nonfiction by experts, funny but smart picture books, books for kids of any age that center disabled characters, high-concept gift books with illustration or photography, and picture book, middle grade, and YA with Middle Eastern characters, settings, or themes.

Lilly Ghahremani is closed to submissions at this time according to her official Full Circle profile, and the official submissions page says Lilly Ghahremani is closed except referrals. Full Circle accepts submissions via QueryManager only and does not review direct email or mailed submissions.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, children's nonfiction, board books, novelty books, kidlit

Joyce Sweeney is Director of Kid Lit and Agent at The Seymour Agency. They have a passion for all kinds of picture books, especially nonfiction projects and lyrical, emotional texts, and will consider tough subjects in picture books, board books, and novelty books. In middle grade they prefer younger, shorter projects and chapter books. They are actively looking for genre YA of all types, especially from underrepresented voices and queer perspectives. Graphic novels should be young, realistic, and preferably illustrated.

Joyce Sweeney is currently closed to submissions according to the official Seymour submissions page, so there is no open query route for Joyce at this time.

Fiction, nonfiction, children's books, film rights, subsidiary rights

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Stephanie is president, senior agent, and subsidiary rights manager at Metamorphosis. Her profile says she represents fiction from children's to adult books and nonfiction projects with heart, but the submissions page says she is currently focused on running the company, legacy clients, and film subsidiary rights efforts.

Metamorphosis says Stephanie Hansen is not open to queries at this time.

Romance, fantasy, horror, lgbtq and, literary fiction, thriller, mystery, new adult, science fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Des is a literary agent at Metamorphosis. The agency submissions page lists romance, fantasy, horror, LGBTQ+, literary, thriller, mystery, New Adult, science fiction, and young adult among Des's categories.

Des Salazar's QueryManager route says they are closed at this moment and to consider submitting again when they are accepting more work in January and July.

Children's fiction

Middle grade with mystery/adventure, heartfelt contemporary MG, ambitious fantasy, young fiction (5-8) with clear hook, YA (incl romantasy/thrillers/romance tropes), underrepresented voices

Email chloe@darleyanderson.com when open to submissions

Kidlit, picture books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary romance, mystery, thriller, illustrators, author-illustrators

Rosa Frazier is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency. Her official Seymour profile says kidlit is her passion, with emphasis on picture books, middle grade, YA contemporary romance, mystery, and thrillers. She is drawn to underrepresented BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled creatives, and encourages Caribbean and South American stories, folklore, and mythologies with representation of second languages and dialects. Illustrators and author-illustrators are also welcome when she is open to them.

Rosa Frazier is currently closed to queries according to her official Seymour Agency profile and linked QueryManager status. Do not send unsolicited queries while closed.

Lgbtqia and writers and creators across all genres

Radical, complex queer stories beyond stereotypes, intersectional diversity

Frog is currently closed to submissions. Check https://www.frogliterary.agency or submissions for updates on when they reopen.

Middle grade, young adult, children's books, contemporary fiction, urban fantasy, magical realism, adventure, romantic comedy

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Kate represents middle grade and young adult fiction and fantastic stories for children and avid adult readers, including contemporary drama, urban fantasy, magical realism, adventure stories, and romantic comedies.

Kate Testerman is currently closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.

Nonfiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, children's literature

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Rachel accepts nonfiction, adult fiction, YA fiction, and children's literature. She likes nonfiction with historical elements, unknown or overlooked nonfiction stories, dark and gritty stories, fiction in the lineage of Alice Walker or James Baldwin, stories set in New York, YA fiction with series potential, and children's literature with diverse and unique characters.

The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.

Mystery, psychological thriller, young adult science fiction, mental health, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Kelsey accepts mysteries, psychological thrillers, YA science fiction, and occasional nonfiction in mental health and lifestyle. She likes stories with twists, unique formats or perspectives, inspirational storylines, humor, strong worldbuilding, dystopian YA science fiction, and stories that are mind-blowing or heart-tugging.

The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, graphic novels, ya, middle-grade, poetry, picture books

Fiction that breaks her heart, non-fiction that blows her mind. Literary fiction, commercial or upmarket fiction, funny or whimsical middle-grade fiction, contemporary or speculative YA fiction, narrative-driven non-fiction

Rachel is currently closed for submissions

Science fiction, fantasy, children's books, middle grade, young adult, picture books

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Michelle is a literary agent at Storm with strong interest in heroic stories, science fiction, fantasy, and children's/young reader projects informed by her school and writing-contest background.

Follow Michelle Hauck's Storm Literary submission guidelines when available, no current direct query route was confirmed in this pass.

Speculative fiction, cosmic horror, graphic novels, dark fantasy, epic fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, historical fiction, adult fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, synopsis

Toni is interested in speculative fiction, cosmic horror, graphic novels, dark fantasy, epic fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, historical fiction, adult projects, select YA, lyrical prose, complex philosophical themes, anticolonial stories, and non-western mythological or historical inspirations.

Toni V. Sluytman is currently closed to submissions according to the QueryManager route linked from the Looking Glass profile.

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, children's nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Laurel represents picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, graphic novels, and select nonfiction.

Laurel Symonds is closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.

Science fiction, fantasy, horror, space opera, gothic, dark academia, regional fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, synopsis

Jennifer seeks innovative ideas that challenge the conventional and captivating narratives that inspire. She is particularly drawn to grounded science fiction, futurism, space opera, second world fantasy, secret histories, gothics, dark academia, and horror. She is also interested in regional fiction where the setting and/or time period play a crucial role in the narrative but with a more contemporary sensibility.

Send via email a query letter, the first ten pages of the manuscript, and a short 1-2 page synopsis. Copy and paste all samples into the email body with no attachments.

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.

Middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, contemporary fiction, design, cooking, fashion

Whitney Ross is an agent at High Line Literary Collective. She represents middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction across genres, with emphasis on historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, romance, and contemporary fiction. She is also open to nonfiction in design, cooking, and fashion. She likes novels set in unusual time periods and locations, with or without fantastical elements; trickster-king motifs; subtle romances; tropes turned upside down; unusual takes on old favorites; compelling characters; and emotionally involving plotlines.

Whitney Ross is currently closed to queries according to her official High Line profile and the official High Line submissions page.

Young adult, adult fiction, mystery, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, romance, fantasy, historical fiction, women's fiction, marginalized voices

Lesley Sabga is Media Rights Manager and Agent at The Seymour Agency. She loves intricate and vivid world-building, character-driven plots with commercial pacing, dark and twisty suspense or thrillers featuring strong female protagonists, mysteries with large casts where the pieces slowly fall into place, big sweeping love stories, voice-driven fiction for millennial women, and marginalized authors.

Lesley Sabga is not open to general queries at this time. The official Seymour submissions page says she is accepting queries by referral only, and the official linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries.

Fiction, nonfiction, foreign potential, breakout concepts

Sheyla Knigge is an agent at High Line Literary Collective. Her official profile says she is actively building her list, discovers fresh voices, advocates for authors, spots universal book concepts with robust foreign potential, and works with authors at writers conferences.

Sheyla Knigge is currently closed to queries according to her official High Line profile and the official High Line submissions page.

Speculative fiction, psychological horror, mystery, romance fantasy, literary fiction, picture books, middle grade fiction

Wants: Query letter

Bonnie seeks underrepresented authors across all age groups. She wants speculative psychological horror mysteries, normalized queerness where it isn't the focus of the plot, romance fantasy with HEA required, and issue-driven stories addressing timeless social issues. For picture books, stories must be child-centered giving kids agency. For middle grade, she seeks stories based on kid-focused issues with magic elements.

Send queries only through QueryManager. Anything sent to email or social media will be deleted immediately.

Contemporary romance, young adult romance, adult romance, sweet romance, erotic romance, inclusive voices, subsidiary rights

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Erica is senior agent and subsidiary rights assistant manager at Metamorphosis. Her profile says she seeks contemporary YA and adult romance from sweet to erotic, including inclusive manuscripts from Own Voices authors, and is not a fit for paranormal romance, historical romance, historical fiction, fantasy, or science fiction.

Erica Christensen's QueryManager route currently says she is closed to unsolicited queries.