534 agents · 320 currently open to submissions
Young adult fiction in the United States has a heavier publishing machine behind it than most writers expect, with dedicated YA imprints, school-and-library channels, and film scouts watching the bigger breakouts. The market runs from contemporary issue-driven novels to fantasy series with multi-book potential. The Hate U Give and Six of Crows show how wide the lane can be: one rooted in contemporary realism, the other in high-concept fantasy with an ensemble cast. Publishers usually target readers aged 12 to 18, though plenty of adults read YA too. When submitting to US agents who represent YA, look closely at whether they lean contemporary, fantasy, romance, thriller, or crossover. 200+ agents on this page represent young adult fiction, but the useful shortlist is the one that matches your book's shelf, age range, and pressure point.
Middle grade, young adult, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, upmarket fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Kari represents middle grade and YA at the heart of her list, plus picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and upmarket fiction.
Kari Sutherland is currently closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.
Young adult, middle grade, children's books
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Kelly is a senior agent and contracts director at KT Literary and is actively building a client list. Her publishing background centers on children's and young readers' work.
Kelly Van Sant is currently closed to queries according to KT Literary's official agents page.
Children's books, young adult, illustrated books, graphic novels
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Adriana is president and a literary agent at Stimola Literary Studio. Her profile emphasizes helping stories into being and building creative relationships across words and images.
Stimola Literary Studio's submissions page says Adriana Stimola is currently closed to submissions.
Adult fiction, adult non-fiction, young adult
Wants: Query letter
Amelia seeks adult literary fiction with distinctive voices and intricate relationships, mysteries with clever whodunits, twisty thrillers, upmarket women's fiction, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, horror, and graphic novels. In nonfiction, she values creative nonfiction, humor, sports, how-to guides, pop culture, and true crime. For young adult, she wants narratives blending light and dark elements with protagonists driven to change, smart rom-coms, and stories highlighting growth in platonic relationships.
Submit through Query Tracker. Unsolicited queries sent to her email address will be deleted unread.
General fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, cookbooks
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Becky represents adult and teen fiction across general fiction, horror, mystery/thriller, historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, and has a special place for cookbooks.
Becky LeJeune is open only to queries by referral and submission invitations, including conference invitations. Queries sent by email or contact form will not be considered.
Contemporary romance, paranormal romance, young adult, new adult, romance
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Brittany is looking for novels that keep her up at night, especially YA and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance, adult witty contemporary romance, and slow-burning friends-to-lovers romance with rich characters, unique plots, southern settings, and happy endings.
Brittany Booker Carter is currently closed to queries. Do not use the agency contact form for queries.
Fantasy, horror, mystery, thriller, dark academia, gothic horror, supernatural folklore, caribbean folklore, bipoc voices, lgbtq and, history, spirituality
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages
Catherine is mainly focused on middle grade and young adult fantasy, horror, and mystery with lush settings, strong worldbuilding, atmospheric prose, isolated or contained settings, BIPOC characters by BIPOC authors, supernatural folklore, dark academia, feminine rage, witches, banshees, sirens, and gripping mysteries. Her Corvisiero profile also lists adult and YA fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, gothic horror, and nonfiction on Haitian and Louisianan Voodoo.
Submit through Catherine Ross's QueryManager route when open. Her current Manuscript Wish List says to send a query letter, one-to-two-page synopsis, and the first ten manuscript pages through her query form, unsolicited email submissions and submissions using AI will not be considered.
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.
Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, young adult, horror, speculative fiction, gothic fiction, mythology, folklore retellings, romance
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Elizabeth represents thought-provoking upmarket and commercial fiction for adult and YA audiences, especially lush prose, complex characters, creative genre blends, boundary-pushing horror and speculative fiction, psychological terror, gothic atmosphere, macabre humor, dark mythology and folklore retellings, and unexpected love stories.
Elizabeth is open only to referral and submission invitations, such as conference invitations. Existing pending submissions via Copps Literary Services QueryTracker remain under consideration. Queries sent by email or contact form will not be considered.
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.
Children's books, picture books, middle grade, young adult
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, portfolio
Essie White is founder/literary agent at Storm Literary Agency, a boutique agency focused on quality literature from authors and illustrators, especially children's books.
Essie White is closed to submissions according to Storm Literary Agency's official submission guidance.
Young adult, adult fiction, horror, thriller, contemporary fiction, bipoc voices
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, synopsis
Grace is interested in YA and adult work, especially horror, thrillers, and contemporary fiction with powerful or challenging themes. She is especially interested in horror projects featuring BIPOC protagonists and found-family stories.
Grace Milusich is currently closed to queries according to the QueryManager route linked from her Looking Glass profile.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, stem, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal, portfolio
Heather considers picture books, middle grade, YA, and adult fiction and nonfiction. Her interests include books that explore currently untapped spaces, STEM picture books, layered MG/YA nonfiction, and stories that inspire readers to seize opportunities in their own lives.
Heather Cashman is currently closed to submissions according to Storm Literary Agency's official about or submission guidance.
Adult fiction, young adult fiction, adult nonfiction, young adult nonfiction, history, cultural anthropology, arts, memoir, science fiction, fantasy, noir thriller, horror, mystery
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, table of contents, sample chapter, sample bibliography, first twenty five pages
Jael Morrill represents adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction. In nonfiction she wants rarely told history, cultural anthropology, arts, and memoir from marginalized voices, especially disability, queer experiences, and people hurt by fundamentalist movements. In fiction she wants immersive science fiction and fantasy, fresh takes on noir thrillers, horror with hope, campy mysteries, speculative elements, queer characters, whimsical worldbuilding, and witty but grounded dialogue.
Jael Morrill is currently closed to queries while catching up on her inbox. When open, nonfiction submissions should include a query, 1-2 page synopsis, table of contents, sample chapter, and for history a sample bibliography. Fiction submissions should include a query, 1-2 page synopsis, and the first 25 pages. JDLA asks writers to query one agent at a time and does not accept snail mail queries.
Graphic novels, children's fiction, picture books, middle grade, young adult, horror
Wants: Query letter, sample pages, portfolio
Jas represents authors and illustrators of graphic novels across all ages, plus select children's prose fiction, and is genre agnostic with a special fondness for unsettling, horrifying, and absurd stories.
Jas Perry is currently closed to queries according to the Looking Glass profile.
Young adult, science fiction, fantasy, contemporary romance
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Jordy is looking for young adult across genres, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance without cheating or abuse. She is drawn to strong, funny, intelligent characters and well-developed friendships.
Jordy Albert is currently closed to queries. When open, submit through her QueryManager route and follow Booker Albert's current guidelines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Science fiction, fantasy, horror, romantasy, young adult, speculative fiction, lgbtq and, graphic novels, comic books
Wants: Query letter, synopsis, sample pages
Mira focuses on science fiction, fantasy, horror, romantasy, YA, speculative fiction, LGBTQ+ stories, and visual storytelling, including comics and graphic novels.
Mira Landry is currently closed to queries according to her current Manuscript Wish List or QueryManager status. Corvisiero does not accept email submissions and asks writers to submit through QueryManager when an agent is open.
Young adult, adult fiction, romance, women's fiction, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, speculative fiction, science nonfiction, travel writing, cookbooks
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Nicole represents YA and adult fiction across romance, women's fiction, literary fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, and speculative fiction, and is eager to champion diverse voices. In nonfiction she is focused on science-based works, especially biology, forensics, and medicine, plus travel narratives and cookbooks.
Nicole Payne is currently closed to submissions. The Confluence submissions page says to check for updates on when her QueryTracker will reopen.
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.
Children's books, young adult, picture books, middle grade, illustrated books
Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries
Rosemary is founder and CEO of Stimola Literary Studio. Her career is centered on books for children and young adults, and her current client list includes major children's and YA authors and illustrators.
Stimola Literary Studio's submissions page says Rosemary Stimola is not currently accepting new submissions.
Adult fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, commercial fiction, romance, psychological thriller, cozy mystery, memoir, young adult, middle grade, humor
Saba Sulaiman is Senior Agent at Talcott Notch. She is currently closed, but when open she looks for adult upmarket literary and commercial fiction, romance except paranormal, character-driven psychological thrillers, cozy mysteries, and memoir; young adult in all subgenres except paranormal, fantasy, and science fiction, especially contemporary realistic YA with heart, humor, and personality; middle grade that is smart, accessible, funny, sweet, or written with flair; and humor nonfiction. She looks for strong voices, unconventional narratives, complex relationships, fresh perspectives, multicultural perspectives, and themes of immigration, displacement, and cultural adjustment.
Saba Sulaiman is currently closed to queries according to her official Talcott Notch profile.
Commercial fiction, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, crime fiction, young adult, narrative nonfiction, science writing, business books, history
Wants: Query letter, sample pages
Sandra represents adult commercial and literary fiction, mystery, thriller and crime fiction, YA, narrative nonfiction, accessible science writing, business books, and history.
Sandra Bond is closed to all queries, her client list is full.
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.
Adult fiction, horror, science fiction, speculative fiction, romance, young adult, picture books, graphic novels, lgbtq and voices, underrepresented voices
Sera Rivers is a literary agent at Speilburg Literary Agency. In adult fiction she is interested in subversive horror, grounded science fiction, speculative fiction, and underrepresented voices in the vein of Emily Henry. In kidlit she is interested in young adult LGBTQIA+, horror, non-Western folklore, culture and heritage, thriller, grounded science fiction, and speculative; picture books by author-illustrators only, especially horror and work by underrepresented authors and illustrators; and graphic novels by author-illustrators only.
Sera Rivers is currently closed to queries according to the live official linked QueryTracker form. Her official Speilburg profile says she opens to adult fiction during the first 7 days of each month and is closed to unsolicited children's-book submissions except through conferences, requests, and referrals.
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.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary middle grade, historical middle grade, literary middle grade, mystery middle grade, contemporary young adult, historical young adult, literary young adult, young adult mystery, juvenile nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, popular science
Shari Maurer is an agent at The Stringer Literary Agency. The official Stringer site lists her fiction interests as picture books; middle grade contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery; and young adult contemporary, historical, literary, and mystery. In nonfiction, it lists juvenile YA and middle grade nonfiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, parenting, and popular science.
Shari Maurer is currently closed to queries according to the QueryManager or QueryTracker form associated with Stringer Literary. The official Stringer site says the agency works with Query Manager only, deletes queries sent otherwise unread, and closes submissions from time to time to catch up.
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.
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, christian market, secular market, trade nonfiction, topical nonfiction, professional nonfiction, inspirational nonfiction
Stephanie Cardel is founder of Lighthouse Literary. Lighthouse Literary represents children's picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as adult fiction and adult trade nonfiction for both the Christian and secular markets. Its adult nonfiction areas include topical, professional, and inspirational work.
Stephanie Cardel is closed to unsolicited queries according to the official Lighthouse Literary submissions page. She may occasionally take pitches at conferences and open to conference attendees.
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.
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, children's authors, children's artists
Tracey Adams co-founded Adams Literary, a boutique agency dedicated to children's book authors and artists. The official submissions page describes the agency's interests as children's work across every age and genre, from picture books to middle grade and young adult fiction, historical novels, fantasy, books tackling contemporary issues, literary stories, high-concept speculative fiction, unique fantasy adventure, humor, and character-driven picture books. Picture book submissions are considered only from author-artists.
Adams Literary is currently closed to submissions and is only accepting new clients by referral from trusted sources according to its official announcement. Do not submit unsolicited material while closed.
Fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poc fiction, intersectional fiction, young adult, middle grade, women's fiction, suspense, thriller, romance, lgbtq and fiction, children's fiction, mystery, horror, literary fiction, memoir
Trodayne Northern is Co-President and Lead Agent at Prentis Literary. The official about page says his passion is good storytelling, that science fiction and fantasy are his first love, and that his genre interests are wide-ranging. The agency focuses on high-quality fiction, speculative and other, with rare memoir, and centers representation of traditionally marginalized groups. The official genres page lists agency interest areas including fantasy/science fiction, POC and intersectional fiction, young adult and middle reader, women's fiction, suspense/thriller, romance, LGBTQ+ fiction, children's fiction, mystery, horror, literary fiction, and limited memoir.
Prentis Literary's official submissions page says submissions are closed and that submissions will be discarded. Do not submit unsolicited material while closed.
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