170 agents · 110 currently open to submissions
Upmarket fiction bridges literary merit with commercial appeal, targeting readers who want sophisticated prose alongside accessible storytelling. These manuscripts often feature contemporary settings, complex character development, and themes that resonate beyond literary fiction's traditional audience. Think books like *The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* or *Where the Crawdads Sing* that achieve both critical respect and bestseller status. The category includes book club fiction, women's upmarket fiction, and literary thrillers, with many agents seeking stories that tackle social issues through personal narratives. Some focus on domestic drama with literary sensibilities, while others prefer upmarket historical fiction or contemporary stories with crossover potential. Writers should research each agent's recent deals carefully, as definitions vary significantly between representatives who lean more literary versus those prioritising commercial elements. Before submitting, ensure your manuscript demonstrates both the polished prose expected in literary circles and the engaging plot structure that drives commercial success.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, young adult fiction
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages
Alexandra is particularly interested in upmarket and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction and memoir, and select literary Young Adult.
Email queries to acf@cbltd.com with a synopsis and the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email with QUERY in the subject line.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, essays, expert-driven nonfiction, translation
Wants: Query form
Christopher Combemale is looking for a broad range of literary fiction and voice-driven upmarket fiction with an unexpected hook, including a literary campus novel. In nonfiction he is interested in narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism and essays, and expert-driven projects. He is drawn to international voices and writers in translation.
Submit to Sterling Lord Literistic through the official submissions page form. SLL says it can only respond to queries if interested in seeing more material and does not represent screenplays.
Speculative fiction, horror, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, romance, upmarket fiction, young adult
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first five pages
Danai Christopoulou loves speculative fiction of all flavors, from horror and thriller to sci-fi, fantasy, and romance, especially from marginalized voices. They are mostly focused on adult fiction but are interested in YA with crossover appeal, and like upmarket fiction with nuanced plots from BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent, and other traditionally marginalized groups.
Submit through Danai Christopoulou's official QueryManager form. Tobias agents only accept submissions through QueryManager, do not query more than one Tobias agent at a time. Danai's form asks for author bio, pronouns, marginalized or BIPOC identification questions, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, AI-use disclosure, publication history, and the first 5 pages or a full nonfiction proposal.
Upmarket fiction, literary fiction, women's fiction
Wants: Query letter, bio, first ten pages
Abby Walters represents upmarket and literary fiction, especially voice-led, psychologically deep novels about flawed characters at moments of rupture. She is interested in desire, power, class, addiction, creativity, self-mythologizing, strong settings outside the United States, narrative momentum, and witty or scandal-led women's fiction.
Send a query letter, author bio, and the first ten pages of the manuscript to awalters@dblackagency.com. The agency does not accept paper, phone, mail, or fax queries and asks writers to query one agent at a time.
Historical fiction, upmarket fiction, mystery, thriller, narrative nonfiction, science, creative nonfiction, psychological suspense
Wants: Query letter, book proposal
Gisa is open to historical fiction, upmarket fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Inspired Ink is especially drawn to compelling voices, emotionally resonant storytelling, immersive settings, psychological suspense, creative nonfiction, science-related nonfiction, and work that lingers beyond the final page.
Submit through Gisa Seeholzer's Inspired Ink Literary QueryTracker form.
Literary fiction, speculative fiction, short story collections, international fiction, upmarket fiction, genre fiction, narrative non-fiction, cultural criticism, journalism
Wants: Query letter
Audrey seeks literary fiction, grounded speculative fiction, story collections, international works, and upmarket and genre fiction with a literary bent. She is drawn to smart, voice-driven stories with a sense of humor and style. For nonfiction, she looks for select narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, and human-centered journalistic deep-dives, with particular interests in food and dining, fashion, nightlife, dance, the cultures of the contemporary Middle East, and the American South.
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 manuscript, proposal, or writing samples until requested.
Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, romance, romantasy, thriller, book club fiction, retellings, memoirs, narrative non-fiction, essay collections
Wants: Query letter
Aurora seeks commercial and upmarket fiction, particularly narratives with romantic or fantastical threads. She loves romance from smart romcoms to romantasy, with favorite tropes including forced proximity and rivals-to-lovers. She's drawn to thrillers like Megan Miranda's work and upmarket fiction with interesting female dynamics and moral dilemmas. For nonfiction, she wants select memoirs, narrative nonfictions, and essay collections on pop culture, modern dating, women's issues, and respectful true crime.
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 manuscript, proposal, or writing samples unless requested.
Debut fiction, horror, new adult, paranormal fiction, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, romance, mystery, suspense, contemporary romance, sapphic romance, upmarket fiction, dark romance, dystopian, speculative fiction
Wants: Query letter
Sade and Beck Literary are seeking romance, character-driven stories, unique trope mash-ups, books by BIPOC authors, mystery, suspense, thriller, contemporary romance, sapphic romance, upmarket fiction, dark romance, horror, dystopian, paranormal romance, fantasy, m/m romance, and speculative fiction.
Submit through the Beck Literary Airtable form. The agency does not represent short stories, poems, plays, or scripts. No response after eight weeks means pass.
Adult fiction, thriller, psychological thriller, historical fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, young adult romance
Wants: Query form, first five pages unless form specifies otherwise
Jillian Schelzi is a junior agent at HG Literary. She is primarily looking for adult fiction, especially psychological thrillers, shocking twists, page-turning suspense, and rich historical fiction set against war. She also likes mental-health representation, darker and challenging themes, literary and upmarket fiction, book club fiction, and YA romance. She is not looking for middle grade, picture books, religious books, fantasy, romantasy, or horror.
Submit through Jillian Schelzi's official QueryTracker form. HG Literary accepts electronic submissions only and asks writers to query one agent at a time. Unless the agent-specific form says otherwise, HG requests a query letter and the first five pages. HG does not represent screenplays or religious fiction.
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.
Commercial, contemporary, family saga, genre-bending, horror, lgbtq and, literary, multicultural, mystery, offbeat, quirky, short stories, suspense, thriller, upmarket, women's fiction, cultural, social issues, current affairs, history, journalism, lifestyle, narrative, nature and ecology, politics, pop culture, psychology, relationship and dating, science and technology, women's issues
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
She seeks writers driven by curiosity and discovery, whether through formal inventiveness in fiction or rigorous investigative journalism. She is drawn to poets who have turned to prose and writers whose dexterity with language allows them to articulate emotions or sensibilities. She loves moody atmosphere, setting-as-character, and fantastical elements in literary and upmarket fiction, particularly when genre elements explore where language fails us.
Send query letter and 5 sample pages to only one agent with the word QUERY and the title of your project in the subject line, or submit through Query Manager. Do not send attachments, include all materials in the body of the email.
Adult commercial fiction, young women's fiction, contemporary fiction with magic, mystery, thriller, upmarket fiction
Wants: Query letter, first chapter, first 10 pages
Melissa is always interested in developing her adult commercial fiction list, with a particular eye out for vibrant and fun young women's fiction, stories with magic, mysteries and thrillers by authors from underrepresented backgrounds, and upmarket book club fiction.
Review individual agent biographies and submit query addressed to one agent at submissions@stonesong.com. Include the word "query" in subject line. For fiction, include first chapter or first 10 pages pasted into email body. Do not send attachments.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, select expert-driven practical nonfiction, horror
In nonfiction she is drawn above all else to lyrical writing and rigorous thinking, and is interested in climate change, nature, ecology, geopolitics, migration, pop culture, tech, psychology, and in works that might be defined as cultural anthropology. In fiction she is looking for horror—especially social horror, feminist horror, and folk horror—, literary fiction that flirts with genre, working class characters, and intimate novels. She is particularly interested in LGBTQ+ writing across categories. She does not represent books for children, including YA.
Accepts queries exclusively via query manager
Adult fiction, young adult, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, family saga, coming-of-age, rom-com, narrative nonfiction, memoir, self-help, sports, humor, pop culture, business, science, technology, social justice, human rights, feminist issues
Wants: Query letter, first five pages, full proposal
JL is reviewing fiction and nonfiction projects: adult and YA contemporary, upmarket and commercial fiction, family stories, coming-of-age, rom-coms, plus prescriptive and narrative nonfiction, memoir, style, fashion, art, culture, mental health, spirituality, self-help, sports, humor, pop culture, business, science, tech, social justice, human rights and feminist issues.
Submit a query letter and first five pages or full nonfiction proposal through the Next Level Lit QueryManager form. Do not query JL by email.
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
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, speculative fiction, literary thrillers, narrative nonfiction, longform journalism, essays, academic crossover
Wants: Query letter, first 20 pages
Fiction that grapples with climate change; ambitious multigenerational novels or family sagas; speculative fiction; literary thrillers; dark or darkly comic domestic fiction. Narrative nonfiction on climate, environment, institutional corruption, big idea books, object histories. Academic writers with narrative sensibilities
Email emma@triangle.house with a query letter and first 20 pages (or full proposal) in the body of an email. Please include QUERY in your subject line
Mystery, suspense, thrillers, crime fiction, upmarket fiction
High-stakes narratives, complex characters, and stories that refuse to be put down. Crime novels with anti-hero main characters, mystery novels that keep him guessing, clear stakes, surprise endings
Mysteries, thrillers, cozies, contemporary romance, romcoms, upmarket women's fiction, memoirs, narratives, cookbooks, self-help, mg fiction, ya fiction, historical narratives
Adult Fiction: High-stakes mysteries and thrillers, and funny cozies––especially ones featuring ensembles, intergenerational family dynamics, and/or main characters outside of law enforcement, military, or journalism; contemporary romance and romcoms; upmarket women's fiction. Adult Non-Fiction: memoirs, narratives, cookbooks involving family heritage, self-help with concrete takeaways, empowerment, cultural tradition, and parts of history not typically taught in school. MG and YA: commercial fiction, including contemporary fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, and thriller––including ones with spooky or paranormal elements––especially ones that grapple with identity and/or intersectionality with fresh perspectives.
Use QueryManager link provided
Commercial romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction, young adult fiction, cookbooks, food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle, wellness
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
In fiction, she is looking for commercial romance, adult and crossover fantasy, science fiction, horror, upmarket thrillers, contemporary fiction and select young adult fiction. She is drawn to stories that embrace genre conventions from a fun, fresh angle. In non-fiction, she is looking for cookbooks and food writing, sports, pop culture, music, psychology, lifestyle, and wellness, especially when approached from a specific, unique perspective.
Include the first ten pages of text only within the body of your email for adult fiction, adult memoir, adult non-fiction essay collection, or children's fiction and non-fiction.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, contemporary novels, fantasy, science fiction, magical realism, horror, mysteries, middle grade fantasy, picture books, graphic novels, arts, pop culture, nature, psychology, cultural history, science, wellness, occult
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
Literary and upmarket fiction, non-fiction book proposals, select children's books, and graphic novels. In fiction, she's looking for contemporary novels (with or without speculative elements), fantasy, grounded science fiction, magical realism, horror, and mysteries. In non-fiction, she's interested in projects that explore the arts, pop culture, nature, psychology, cultural history, science, wellness, and the occult
Include the first ten pages of text only within the body of your email for adult fiction, adult memoir, adult non-fiction essay collection, or children's fiction and non-fiction. For graphic novels, Maria is only considering projects by a single creator both writing and illustrating the book.
Fantasy, romance, mysteries or thrillers, select horror, literary or upmarket, commercial science fiction
Fantasy: standout world building, compelling characters & voices, dark fantasy, cozy fantasy with an edge. Romance: mystery romance & romantic suspense, why-choose, unusual settings or communities, historical-with-a-twist, dark romance. Mysteries/Thrillers: unusual structures/unreliable narrators, cross-genre elements. Open to select horror, literary/upmarket, and commercial science fiction with standout hooks and strong writing. Interested in working with fan writers who are looking to explore trad pub!
Use QueryManager link provided
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.
Upmarket fiction, literary fiction, cultural criticism, journalism, memoir, essay collections, illustrated projects
Wants: Query letter, first 3 chapters, full proposal
Upmarket and literary fiction with strong sense of place, cultural criticism, journalism, memoir/narrative, and essay collections
Query Clare at cmao@sjga.com under the subject line 'QUERY – project title.' Include your query letter and the first 3 chapters (fiction) or full proposal (nonfiction)
Picture books, mg fiction, ya fiction, adult commercial fiction, fantasy, mystery or thriller, upmarket women's fiction
Picture Books: Author/Illustrators ONLY. MG fiction: funny, mad-cap adventures; epic fantasy; magical realism; high-concept twists; strong plots and voices. YA fiction: commercial and high-concept fiction (all genres). Plot-driven and escapist books. Humor, imagination, adventure, romance. Adult commercial fiction (accessible fantasy, mystery/thriller, upmarket women's fiction). Fun, escapist reads. Great hooks. Great writing.
Use QueryManager link provided
Women's fiction, upmarket adult, commercial adult, domestic suspense, literary mystery, thrillers, historical, contemporary romance, book club fiction, pop science, business, psychology, cookbooks, memoirs, lifestyle, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first 10 pages
In terms of fiction, she is seeking women's fiction, upmarket adult, commercial adult, domestic suspense, literary mystery and thrillers, historical, contemporary romance, and smart book club fiction. In terms of non-fiction, she is looking for pop science, business, psychology, cookbooks, unique memoirs, lifestyle (health, wellness, relationships, parenting), narrative, and platform based non-fiction
For fiction queries, please format email subjects as 'Fiction: TITLE or GENRE or CREATOR NAME' and non-fiction queries as 'Non-Fiction: TOPIC or TITLE or CREATOR NAME'
Upmarket fiction, literary fiction
Esty is only accepting submissions via her personal QueryManager link.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, first ten pages
Veronica Goldstein is drawn to distinctive voices with a fresh story to tell and a strong sense of urgency, especially Americans whose stories have been underrepresented in publishing and international writers. She represents narrative and personally-driven nonfiction about feminism, pop culture, science, technology, politics, and the natural world, as well as literary and upmarket fiction with an original, contemporary voice and can't-put-it-down storytelling.
Please email query letters to mail@dclagency.com, and paste the first ten pages of your manuscript below your letter. You are encouraged to address your email to a specific agent who you think might be the right fit. Emails with attachments will not be opened.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, design, craft, lifestyle
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first 50 pages
She is seeking new voices in fiction and narrative nonfiction, especially stories about dynamic relationships between complex but sympathetic characters, families, siblings, and motherhood, social commentary, unconventional settings and subcultures, our relationship with land, nature, and animals, and controlled experiments with form. She is particularly interested in work that investigates or reflects on the post-colonial world, marginalized and liminal spaces, and narratives by people of color. In non-fiction, she is primarily looking for idea-driven or voice-forward memoirs, personal essay collections, and narrative non-fiction of all stripes.
Send a query letter, synopsis, and the first fifty pages of the manuscript directly through Query Manager.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, narrative non-fiction, cultural history, creative non-fiction, food writing, young adult, middle grade
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
She seeks fresh, unexpected perspectives, particularly from underrepresented communities. She favors character-driven literary fiction that borrows from genre elements, narrative nonfiction that reorients understanding of history and culture, and creative nonfiction that appeals to heart, mind, and humor. For Young Adult she prefers realistic, emotional stories whether contemporary or historical.
Submit via Roma's QueryManager form. Include query letter, synopsis, comparable books, and upload first 20 pages for fiction or full proposal for nonfiction. One agent at a time, but can submit to up to three ALA agents if first passes.
Fantasy, romance, mystery, horror, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, science fiction, non-fiction
Wants: Query letter, biography, sample pages
She seeks accessibly-written novels that transport readers and make them forget the world around them. She loves deep POV, compelling hooks, and confident voices. She's particularly interested in fantasy, romance, mystery, horror, and upmarket or commercial fiction, especially with speculative elements. In nonfiction, she wants paradigm-shifting, platform-driven books that make readers reconsider what they know about the world.
Submit through Query Manager only. Include query letter, bio, and 10-20 polished pages for novels. No email submissions accepted unless requested or on referral.
Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction
Wants: Query letter
Jody represents both literary and upmarket fiction, as well as narrative nonfiction. She enjoys books that are beautifully written while also containing a rich storyline, and she's especially looking for deeply drawn characters and voice-driven narratives. She's interested in untold stories, misunderstood populations, and anything that's plugged into the current cultural conversation. In nonfiction, she's seeking narratives related to culture, social justice, sports, food, history, literary memoir and journalism.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits.
Literary fiction, historical fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, investigative journalism, popular history, children's books
Wants: Query letter
She is looking for fresh, lyrical, and voice-driven writing, suspenseful plots, emotional narratives, transporting settings, and unforgettable characters. Books that grapple with the dynamics of relationships (of all kinds, but especially from a female perspective), have a grounded speculative bent, or explore the current cultural landscape are all of perennial interest.
Query by email only. Query letters should be no more than two pages and should include a convincing overview of the book project and information about the author and his or her writing credits.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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