PairPi

US Upmarket fiction Literary Agents

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.

Refine search
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, food, lifestyle, pop culture, history, business, big ideas, self-help, wellness, parenting, children's books, picture books, middle grade, young adult

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Looking for

Neeti Madan is a partner at Sterling Lord Literistic. Her list includes literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and select lifestyle, food, pop culture, history, business, big idea, self-help, wellness, and parenting projects. She is interested in voice-driven fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, books with a strong platform or expertise, and work for young readers from picture books through YA.

How to submit

Submit through Sterling Lord Literistic's official submissions page and select Neeti Madan if the form offers an agent choice. SLL uses its online submissions portal rather than email queries. Include the requested query materials and follow the instructions in the portal.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, magical realism, grounded fantasy, thrillers, romance, essays, cultural criticism, narrative nonfiction

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

Looking for

Nicole Cunningham is a literary agent at Trellis Literary Management. She represents adult fiction across literary, upmarket, and book club categories, as well as select nonfiction. She is drawn to immersive, smart, voice-driven writing, line-level quality and control, propulsive plots with deep character work, upmarket novels with magical or speculative elements, grounded fantasy, thrillers with a strong sense of place, book club novels with heart and bite, literary or upmarket fiction with romance at its center, high-concept hooks with literary sensibility, fresh essay collections, cultural criticism, and well-researched entertaining narrative nonfiction.

How to submit

Submit to Nicole Cunningham through her official QueryManager or QueryTracker form. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager. Do not submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window. Nicole's form asks for author details, why Trellis, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, one-paragraph pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Adult fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, literary commercial fiction, speculative fiction

Looking for

Quressa Robinson is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management. She represents adult fiction exclusively, especially science fiction and fantasy, horror, and romance. She wants voice-driven, emotionally resonant work with strong character interiority, bold distinctive voices, strong emotional stakes, deeply realized characters, big concepts balanced with intimate character work, cultural specificity, psychological depth, relationship-driven narratives, literary-commercial hybrids, atmospheric worlds, inventive structures, and novels that are emotionally grounded and pitchable in one line.

How to submit

Submit to Quressa Robinson through the official QueryManager link on her Folio Jr. profile. No snail mail queries or submissions are accepted, and no email queries or submissions are accepted unless specifically requested.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Upmarket fiction, book club fiction, women's fiction, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, historical fiction, family saga, speculative fiction, magical realism, thriller, psychological suspense, domestic suspense, young adult, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, cultural criticism, social justice, politics, self-help, health and wellness, parenting

Wants: Query letter, first page

Looking for

Rachel Beck is open to queries and seeks upmarket/book club women's fiction, smart contemporary romance and rom-coms, historical fiction from World War II forward, sweeping or multigenerational nongenre fiction, speculative fiction and magical realism, gripping thrillers and psychological or domestic suspense, contemporary YA, and select nonfiction. Across genres she welcomes LGBTQIA+ stories, Jewish fiction, immigrant stories, body and sex positivity, feminist themes, found or chosen families, female friendships, complex sibling relationships, and urban or Southern settings.

How to submit

Email Rachel Beck at queryrachel@lizadawson.com. Send a query letter and the first page only of the manuscript or proposal in the body of the email. Include the book's genre and word count, keep the letter concise, and do not include attachments, emails with attachments are deleted unread. Follow up only if you have an offer of representation.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, short story collections, narrative nonfiction, memoir, essay collections, historical fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, young adult, diverse voices, immigrant stories, race, sexuality, cross-cultural themes, identity

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, sample chapter

Looking for

Rayhane Sanders is a literary agent at Massie & McQuilkin. She specializes in fiction from commercial to literary, including short story collections, narrative nonfiction, and memoir, including proposals and essay collections. MMQA also says she is interested in literary fiction, historical fiction, upmarket commercial fiction including select YA, narrative nonfiction including essays, and select memoir, especially a diversity of voices from around the world, fresh voices, immigrant tales, and stories concerned with race, sexuality, cross-cultural themes, and identity.

How to submit

Email Rayhane Sanders directly at rayhane@mmqalit.com. Send the first 10 pages of the manuscript, or for a proposal the sample chapter, copied and pasted at the bottom of the query email with no attachments. She responds only to queries she is interested in pursuing, if you have not heard back within 4-6 weeks, the project is not a fit.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Adult fiction, children's books, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, family saga, magical realism, mystery, crime fiction, suspense, coming of age, story collections, journalism, history, cultural criticism, true crime, middle grade, mental health, science, political activism, environmentalism

Wants: Query letter, brief bio, first fifteen pages

Looking for

Reiko Davis represents both adult and children's books. On the adult side she seeks literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction, including historical and contemporary novels set in the U.S. and internationally, ambitious multigenerational family sagas, novels that rewrite what it means to be American today, stories with speculative or magical elements, offbeat novels with troubled but lovable protagonists, mystery/crime/suspense with a literary edge, later-in-life coming-of-age stories, linked story collections, immersive journalism, gap-filling history, cultural criticism, true crime that sheds light on larger social issues, and the occasional book on writing craft. In children's books she is actively looking for middle grade projects with big questions, emotional truth, storytelling, humor, and heart, plus MG nonfiction in mental health, science, political activism, environmentalism, and narrative history.

How to submit

Email Reiko Davis at reiko@defliterary.com with Query and the project title in the subject line. Include a brief description of the project, a brief relevant bio, and for fiction the first 15 pages pasted in the body of the email. Do not send attachments. DeFiore prefers electronic queries, does not represent original screenplays, teleplays, or theater plays, and allows multiple DeFiore agents at once if disclosed.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, suspense, thriller, crime fiction, memoir, history, women's issues, cultural studies, current affairs, journalism, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, true crime, young adult

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, proposal

Looking for

Sally Wofford-Girand is an agent at Union Literary. Her particular interests include history, memoir, women's issues, cultural studies, and fiction that is both literary and gripping. Her officially linked QueryTracker form lists genres including contemporary, crime/detective/police, fantasy, historical, horror, LGBTQ+, literary, suspense, thriller, upmarket, young adult, current affairs, journalism, multicultural, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, and true crime. She cares more about voice, character, and stakes than plot and would be happy to find a literary ghost story.

How to submit

Submit through Sally Wofford-Girand's official Union Literary linked QueryTracker form. The form asks for author details, title, word count, genre, a query letter, one-paragraph pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 5 pages, or a full book proposal for nonfiction.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult fiction, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, speculative thriller, fantasy, romance, adult nonfiction, narrative history, food writing, beverage writing, self-help, popular science, young adult, middle grade, picture books, graphic novels

Wants: Query letter, first fifty pages, proposal, full picture book text, graphic novel pitch package

Looking for

Sam Farkas is Global Rights Director and Literary Agent at Jill Grinberg Literary Management and is open to queries. Above all, she is drawn to exemplary writing. In adult fiction she looks for upmarket fiction, especially historical; fast-paced high-concept speculative thrillers; lyrical and immersive fantasy with book club appeal; and romance that simmers. In adult nonfiction she seeks immersive narrative history, food and beverage writing, quirky self-help for millennials and Gen Z, and beautifully written pop science. She is also open to young adult and middle grade of all genres, especially voice-driven contemporary with a speculative twist, historical with modern sensibilities, fresh fantasy, tightly plotted thrillers, mysteries, horror, the very strange, and the very funny. Across categories she wants diverse and underrepresented voices.

How to submit

Email info@jillgrinbergliterary.com with the subject format QUERY: Title of Project by Your Name or Book Age Category and Genre or ATTN: Sam Farkas. Paste the query letter in the email body and address it directly to Sam. Attach materials as a docx file. Fiction submissions should include a query letter and the first 50 pages. Nonfiction submissions should include a query letter and proposal. Picture book submissions should include the full text, and graphic novel submissions should include a full pitch package.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Adult fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime fiction, mystery, cozy mystery, historical mystery, suspense, thriller, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, book club fiction, romantic comedy, contemporary romance, women's fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters, proposal, author bio, pitch

Looking for

Sandy Harding is Senior Literary Agent at Spencerhill Associates. She is seeking mainly upmarket commercial and literary fiction for the adult market, including women's fiction for book clubs, smart page-turning thrillers, suspense with complex protagonists, mysteries of all sorts including cozies, historical, and traditional mysteries, and romance. Her official submissions page adds engaging adult upmarket and commercial fiction, crime fiction of all sorts, historical and contemporary upmarket fiction, book club reads, romantic comedies, and contemporary romance. She is drawn to complicated protagonists, multiple points of view, diverse voices, and writing with a captivating voice and story.

How to submit

Submit through Sandy Harding's official Spencerhill linked QueryManager form. Spencerhill accepts submissions only through Query Manager, asks writers to query one agent, and says a response from one agent should be considered a response from all. Sandy's form requests a query letter, author biography, book details, synopsis, first 3 chapters or full nonfiction proposal, pitch, target audience, and similar books.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, speculative fiction, psychological suspense, environmental fiction, feminist fiction

Wants: Online form submission

Looking for

Sarah Bedingfield is Senior Agent at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She reads most types of literary and upmarket commercial fiction, especially works with powerful imagination, revelatory character arcs, compulsive plotting, unpredictable points of view, timeless themes, motherhood, human connection, feminist issues, light speculative elements, darker can't-look-away tension, wild and unexpected settings, nature or environment, and voices that need to be heard. She does not typically represent fantasy or science fiction but is interested in grounded approaches to what might be off about our world.

How to submit

Submit through Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency's official online submission form linked from the official submissions page.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, nonfiction, science writing, memoir, history, cultural criticism, journalism

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Looking for

Sarah represents literary and upmarket fiction and a wide range of nonfiction, including science writing, literary memoir, revisionist history, cultural criticism, and urgent journalism.

How to submit

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

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, speculative fiction, thriller, fantasy, commercial fiction, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, synopsis, brief proposal, first three chapters

Looking for

Sarah Landis is Senior Agent at Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents a wide range of fiction from middle grade to adult and is particularly drawn to high-concept plots, big hooks, speculative fiction, twisty thrillers, novels with a strong emotional core, and sweeping fantasy. She is always on the lookout for new talent and narrative risk-takers.

How to submit

Submit through Sterling Lord Literistic's official submissions page. Choose one SLL agent, include a query letter with brief author bio, a synopsis, and either a brief proposal or the first 3 chapters. SLL may share submissions internally if a project is a better fit for a colleague.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Children's books, adult contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, light fantasy, magical realism, romantic comedy, thriller, mystery, suspense, horror, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, full manuscript, full proposal, artwork samples

Looking for

Savannah Brooks is an associate literary agent whose official personal site says she joined KT Literary in 2022 and represents all of kid lit plus adult contemporary and upmarket fiction, speculative/light fantasy/magical realism, romcoms, thrillers, mystery, suspense, and horror. She is especially interested in stories that teach her something new, add to a larger sociopolitical conversation, and highlight underrepresented identities and cultures.

How to submit

Submit through Savannah Brooks's QueryManager route. The live form asks writers to check her website before submitting, confirm whether the project has been submitted to her before, and include author details, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, and full manuscript or nonfiction proposal, artwork samples may be uploaded if applicable. The form says she is only open to children's books by request or referral, so public unsolicited submissions should match the currently open adult categories.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, chick lit, contemporary fiction, dark romance, erotica, family saga, fantasy, magical realism, urban fantasy, historical fiction, horror, romance, lgbtq and fiction, multicultural fiction, mystery, new adult, science fiction, suspense, thriller, women's fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one sentence pitch, comparable books, first five pages

Looking for

Shannon Snow is an Associate Agent at Rosecliff Literary and is actively building her list. She has eclectic reading taste across most genres in the commercial and upmarket space, seeks books with a unique angle and authors with engaging voices, depth, and nuance, and is especially drawn to vivid, well-developed characterization and stories that make her laugh, cry, or feel emotion. Her official linked form lists commercial, upmarket, romance, thriller, suspense, speculative, historical, horror, mystery, women's fiction, new adult, and young adult categories.

How to submit

Submit through Shannon Snow's official Rosecliff-linked QueryTracker form. The form asks for author details, one-agent confirmation, title, word count, genre, query letter, synopsis, one-sentence pitch, comparable books, AI disclosure, publication status, and the first 5 pages.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, investigative journalism, cultural criticism, sociology, psychology, history, politics, science, technology, social justice, memoir, essays, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, fabulism

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Sonali Chanchani is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management, focusing primarily on nonfiction that advances current social and cultural conversations and centers historically underrepresented voices and perspectives. She represents narrative and idea-driven nonfiction, especially investigative journalism, cultural criticism, deeply researched paradigm-shifting work in sociology, psychology, history, politics, science, technology, and social justice, plus memoirs and essay collections that speak to larger social concerns. She also represents select literary and upmarket fiction, especially novels engaging contemporary social and cultural issues, atmospheric stories with speculative or fabulist twists, emotional insight with humor, and themes of identity, belonging, community, and inheritance.

How to submit

Email Sonali Chanchani at sonali@foliolit.com with a query letter and the first 10 pages of the proposal for nonfiction or manuscript for fiction pasted in the body of the email. Include QUERY and the title of the project in the subject line.

Last checked 25 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, pop culture, biography, journalism, memoir, self-help

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Looking for

Mason seeks innovative, boundary-pushing literary fiction, engrossing upmarket and commercial fiction, and nonfiction that amplifies traditionally underrepresented voices in publishing. He is particularly interested in working with queer authors and LGBTQIA+ themes.

How to submit

Send a brief email describing yourself and your project to mason@defliterary.com with the word "QUERY" in the subject line and the first five pages of your manuscript or proposal pasted in the body of an email. Attachments will not be opened unless requested.

Last checked 24 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, young adult, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 50 pages, full proposal

Looking for

Kerry is particularly drawn to character-driven work, unconventional plot structures, unreliable narrators, complicated family relationships, and speculative elements that challenge our ways of thinking about the world.

How to submit

Email query letters to Kerry at kd@cbltd.com and include either the first fifty pages of your manuscript or your full proposal in an attachment as a Word document.

Last checked 24 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative non-fiction, creative non-fiction, young adult literary fiction, middle grade literary fiction

Wants: Query letter, first 30 pages, author biography

Looking for

Katie Grimm seeks plot-driven literary and upmarket fiction, narrative and creative nonfiction, and literary fiction for young adult and middle grade audiences. She looks for voice-driven books with a heartbeat and sense of purpose, particularly interested in the darker and weirder side of human history, previously under- or misrepresented experiences, and narratives that contribute to larger cultural conversations.

How to submit

Send query via Query Manager at https://querymanager.com or KGRIMM with query letter, first 30 pages, and author biography.

Last checked 24 May 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, non-fiction, science fiction

Wants: Query letter, first fifty pages, full proposal

Looking for

James Farrell seeks literary and upmarket adult fiction, non-fiction, and occasionally science fiction. He is especially seeking voices from underrepresented backgrounds.

How to submit

Direct queries to jtf@cbltd.com with the first fifty pages of your manuscript or a full proposal in the body of your email, and include the title, genre, and 'jtf query' in the subject line.

Last checked 24 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, social science, popular science, popular psychology, memoir, nature writing

Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal

Looking for

Allison Malecha represents a small, selective list split between fiction and nonfiction. In literary and upmarket fiction she is drawn to messy family stories, outsider perspectives, narratives that take readers somewhere unexpected, sharp and imaginative line-level writing, emotional movement, strong sense of place, gothic novels in fresh settings, and complex friendship novels. In nonfiction she wants generous yet galvanizing narrative nonfiction with historical or international dimensions, social science, pop science, pop psychology, memoir tied to larger current issues or expertise, and nature writing from underrepresented voices.

How to submit

Submit through Allison Malecha's official QueryManager form. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager and asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window. Her form asks for author bio, why Trellis, title, word count, genre, query letter, comparable books, and the first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal.

Last checked 22 May 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, women's fiction, romance, mystery, horror, romantasy, young adult, narrative nonfiction, middle grade

Wants: Query letter, first twenty five pages, proposal, sample chapter, bio, comparable books

Looking for

Ann Leslie Tuttle is seeking commercial and upmarket women's fiction, contemporary and historical fiction, fiction with complex family dynamics and sagas, psychological thrillers, romance, mystery, horror, romantasy, YA, narrative nonfiction by journalists, academics, and experts with a timely premise and platform, stories with strong sense of place, voice-driven fiction, female hidden histories, uplifting work, select faith or art history projects, MG, and nonfiction from underrepresented voices.

How to submit

Submit by email to atuttle@dystel.com. Dystel asks writers to query one agent at a time, include the full query in the body of the email, and include the first 25 pages for fiction or a proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction in the email body. Picture book and graphic novel submissions have separate sample requirements listed on the official guidelines page.

Last checked 22 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Adult nonfiction, memoir, history, pop culture, science, parenting, literary fiction, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter, proposal, manuscript

Looking for

Anna Sproul-Latimer represents all types of adult nonfiction, from memoir and history to pop culture, science, and parenting, as well as select literary and upmarket fiction. She is drawn to buzzing, bright, curious authors with enthusiasm and national or international audiences, especially books with humor, vulnerability, honesty, refuge, and relief.

How to submit

Send a query letter, proposal, and or or manuscript to submissions@neonliterary.com. Specify in the subject line that you are querying Anna. Neon Literary represents adult nonfiction and literary fiction for national audiences, accepts Word or Google Docs attachments or pasted pages, and cannot read mail, in-person, or phone queries unless previously agreed for accessibility reasons.

Last checked 22 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, adult fiction, light speculative fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, author bio

Looking for

Callie Deitrick is looking for contemporary literary/upmarket adult novels with a fresh hook and strong character-driven plot. She enjoys smart and entertaining books with humor and suspense, flawed Millennial characters, diverse voices, sympathetic protagonists, light speculative fiction with a simple premise that feels grounded in reality, narratives that subvert genre norms, and complicated female friendships.

How to submit

Send all queries to submissions@wsherman.com. Include your last name, title, and Callie Deitrick's name in the subject line. For fiction, paste a query letter and the first 10 pages in the body of the email. For nonfiction, send the query letter and author bio. Do not query multiple Wendy Sherman agents at the same time and do not send to direct agent emails.

Last checked 22 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Narrative nonfiction, idea-driven nonfiction, science, technology, nature, social justice, psychology, culture, literary memoir, cultural criticism, essays, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, psychological thriller, romantic comedy

Wants: Query letter, first ten to fifteen pages, proposal

Looking for

Caroline Eisenmann is drawn to narrative and idea-driven nonfiction shaped by expansive curiosity, especially work that makes hidden structures more legible, including science, technology, nature, social justice, psychology, culture, capitalism, deeply reported narratives, literary memoir, cultural criticism, and essays. In adult literary and upmarket fiction, she responds to speculative elements used for emotional truth, obsession, ruthless narrators, intimacy and its discontents, social issues on a human scale, underrepresented voices, visceral prose, vivid consciousness, driving plot, upmarket psychological thrillers, and romantic comedies.

How to submit

Send Caroline Eisenmann a query at ce@goldinlit.com. For fiction, memoir, essays, or narrative nonfiction, include a query letter and the first 10-15 pages in the body of the email. For other nonfiction, send a query letter and attach a proposal if prepared. Submit to only one Frances Goldin agent at a time.

Last checked 22 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, nonfiction, literary criticism, essay collections, idea-driven nonfiction, technology, data, tennis

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Tyler is actively building a list of distinctive, voice-driven writers. He is drawn to literary and upmarket fiction with emotional depth and narrative momentum, and nonfiction centering marginalized voices, literary criticism, essay collections, ambitious idea-driven projects, data and its cultural implications, and tennis.

How to submit

Submit through the Sterling Lord Literistic submissions form. The agency asks writers to complete the form by email and says it only responds if interested.

Last checked 16 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, mystery, gothic, romance, upmarket fiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Andrea is open to YA, new adult and adult romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, dark academia, mystery and gothic; for adult and new adult she is also open to romance and upmarket fiction.

How to submit

Submit through Andrea's official QueryTracker route.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Thriller, mystery, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, young adult, adult fiction, horror, suspense

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Barbara is looking for high-octane thrillers, edgy mysteries, literary, upmarket and commercial YA and adult fiction, suspense, horror and anything with a unique voice.

How to submit

Email Barbara.queries@wordonelit.com with the query letter and first 10 pages of the work in the body of the email.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, essay collections, cultural criticism, military history, intellectual history, narrative journalism, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, young adult, middle grade, upmarket women's fiction

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Benjamin is interested in representing literary fiction, essay collections, cultural criticism, military and intellectual history, and narrative journalism. The agency also welcomes narrative/practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, literary fiction, young adult, middle grade, and upmarket women's fiction.

How to submit

Email a query letter to query@elizabethkaplanlit.com. Do not send attachments, fiction writers may paste the first ten pages into the body of the email. The agency replies only if interested.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Adult fiction, contemporary fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, historical fiction, grounded speculative fiction, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, mystery, adult nonfiction, spirituality, mind body spirit, food, agriculture, science, stem, natural living, animals, pets, community, culture, pop culture, health, wellness

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages

Looking for

Carleen is building a list in adult fiction and nonfiction. In fiction she likes contemporary genres, upmarket or literary voices, commercial work, historical genre blends, grounded speculative stories, thrillers, suspense, horror, mysteries, and romance with a strong subplot. In nonfiction she is interested in niche topics with wide appeal, including spirituality, food, agriculture, science, natural living, animals, culture, pop culture, and health/wellness.

How to submit

Submit through Carleen Geisler's QueryManager form. The form asks for a query letter, synopsis, genre, word count, comparable books, AI-use disclosure, publication history, and the first 10 pages, or a book outline for nonfiction.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Practical nonfiction, business, health, wellness, mind body spirit, psychology, parenting, technology, narrative nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, pop culture, current affairs, women's interest, social trends, sports, fitness, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, suspense, thriller

Wants: Query letter, author bio

Looking for

Dana is interested in practical nonfiction by authors with smart, unique perspectives and established platforms, compelling narrative nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, pop culture, current affairs, women's interest, social trends, sports and fitness, plus select literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and suspense/thriller.

How to submit

Email dananewmanliterary@gmail.com with QUERY and the title in the subject line. Send a one-page query letter in the body of the email with category, title, word count, project overview, credentials, publishing history, contact details, and disclosure of simultaneous submissions. Do not send attachments.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction, practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, upmarket women's fiction, food writing, cookbooks

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

Elizabeth focuses on literary fiction, young adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, issue-based nonfiction, history, biography, food writing, cookbooks, memoir, and upmarket women's fiction.

How to submit

Email a query letter to query@elizabethkaplanlit.com. Do not send attachments, fiction writers may paste the first ten pages into the body of the email. The agency replies only if interested.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Email
Represents

Young adult fiction, adult fiction, commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, fantasy, romance

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Gabriella represents YA fiction and adult fiction, with interest in stories by Latinx/Hispanic authors, commercial or upmarket fiction, stories that present real issues in a digestible format, and YA/new adult fantasy or romance.

How to submit

Submit through Gabriella's QueryManager form. Great Dog accepts queries only through QueryManager and asks writers not to query multiple Great Dog agents.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

New adult, adult fiction, young adult, middle grade, fantasy, upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, dark academia, epic fantasy, historical fantasy, contemporary fantasy, romance, diverse voices

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Isabelle is actively looking for New Adult books across genres and is also interested in adult, young adult, and middle grade fantasy plus upmarket and commercial adult fiction with worldbuilding, unique characters, strong plotting, hooks, romantic subplots, and diverse voices.

How to submit

Submit through Isabelle Rader's Codex Literary online query form. Codex asks writers to choose only one Codex agent and notes that it cannot represent authors who have worked with one of its agents on Reedsy or work-for-hire projects.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, new adult, adult fiction, fantasy, dystopian, mystery, horror, contemporary fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, science fiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Jenissa is looking for middle grade, YA, New Adult and adult projects, especially high-concept fantasy, near-future dystopia, mysteries in fresh settings, genre-blending horror and coming-of-age contemporary work centered on strong emotional journeys.

How to submit

Submit through Jenissa Graham's QueryManager form from her official BookEnds profile.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, food writing, journalism

Wants: Query letter, first five pages, author bio

Looking for

Kate is particularly interested in literary and upmarket fiction, memoir and narrative nonfiction that contributes to conversations that move society forward, with strong narrative voices and clear confidence of intention.

How to submit

Submit through Kate Garrick's QueryManager form. Submit to only one SLM agent at a time, no response within 12 weeks means pass.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Commercial fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult, middle grade, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, food, travel, lifestyle, lgbtq and, latinx

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Lauren is interested in commercial, literary, and upmarket fiction; mystery, suspense, thriller, romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult, and middle grade; and nonfiction with a strong platform in narrative nonfiction, pop culture, food, travel, lifestyle, LGBTQ+, and Latinx topics.

How to submit

Submit via Lauren Abramo's QueryManager form following Dystel, Goderich and Bourret submission guidelines. Include the query materials requested by QueryManager, do not email queries outside the stated process.

Last checked 15 May 2026Via QueryManager

More US Genres

US Age-Led Searches

Upmarket fiction Agents in Other Countries

Find the right literary agent

Search our full directory with advanced filters, save agents to shortlists, and track your submissions.

Browse all agents