If you’re new to writing dystopian fiction and are looking for a comprehensive guide to help you get started, here is one for you.
If your manuscript is ready for publishing, but you need help in getting a publishing contract with a reputable publisher, one of the following 17 top dystopian fiction literary agents might be able to assist.
1. Anne Tibbets
Anne Tibbets is a literary agent with Red Sofa Literary. As a science fiction novelist herself, Anne knows exactly what it takes to make dystopian fiction stand out! She has been an associate agent with Red Sofa Literary since 2018 and represents adult science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, horror, and some young adult fiction. She’s currently searching for dystopian stories geared toward an adult science fiction audience.
While she is currently closed for submissions until February 2019, you’re still strongly encouraged to submit your manuscript at that time via email. You can send your query letter in the body of your email, detailing your story’s synopsis, provide a brief author bio and contact information, along with a few sample chapters of your book. You should have a full manuscript prepared if Anne requests to see it.
2. Kelly Oden
Kelly Oden is a literary agent with InkWell Management who represents literary and speculative fiction. She is currently on the lookout for dystopian fiction, particularly with a feminist spin. If you’ve got a story you think Kelly would be interested in, you can first send her query letter in the body of an email.
You should include a synopsis of your story, along with the first two chapters of your manuscript for consideration. Due to the high volume of submissions that she receives, it can take anywhere up to two months to receive a response. If Kelly is interested in your project, she will reach out to you to request your full manuscript for further consideration.
3. Kaitlyn Johnson
Kaitlyn Johnson is a literary agent with Corvisiero Literary Agency, a full-service literary agency based out of New York that was founded in 2012. Kaitlyn has earned a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and once owned and operated her own editing company, K. Johnson Editorial. She is currently searching for middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction and loves works of fantasy, time travel, and is open to stories taking place in a dystopian setting.
If you’re interested in being represented by Kaitlyn, you’re in luck! She’s currently open to submissions. You can send her a query letter via Corvisiero’s online submissions form. Be sure to include your contact information, a brief author bio, a short synopsis of your story, and the first five pages of your book for consideration. If Kaitlyn is interested in your project, she will reach out to you promptly.
4. Ali Herring
Ali Herring is the assistant literary agent with Spencerhill Associates, a literary agency based out of Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Ali has been a literary agent with this agency since 2017 and has former experience as an in-house magazine editor. She has a very keen eye when it comes to discovering innovative and thrilling manuscripts waiting to be published. She is currently seeking middle grade and young adult fiction in a variety of genres, including science fiction and fantasy –which also includes the subgenre of dystopian fiction.
If you’re interested in having Ali represent your literary work, you can send her a query letter through Spencerhill’s online query submission form or via email. Be sure to include your contact information, a synopsis of your book, and the first three chapters of your manuscript for consideration. You’re also encouraged to describe your target audience, along with comparable titles to your book.
5. Kara Leigh Miller
Kara Leigh Miller is a literary agent with Anaiah Press, LLC, who represents fiction in a wide variety of genres. She represents works of romance, middle grad fiction, cozy mysteries, adult thrillers, mysteries, and young adult fiction. She is currently searching for dystopian young adult fiction and would love stories that focus on familial relationships and positive friendships.
Kara notes that Anaiah Press is a Christian press, and therefore does not accept manuscripts with anti-Christian themes, gratuitous violence or sex scenes, relationships between humans and angels/demons, or manuscripts involving werewolves, vampires, demons, and other similar creatures. If you’re interested in working with Kara, you can send a query via email. If she’s interested in your project, you can expect to receive a response between eight to twelve weeks.
6. Natascha Morris
Natascha Morris is a literary agent with BookEnds Literary, a literary agency established in 1999. She and her team at Book Ends Literary have worked with science fiction authors like Essa Hansen, Elle E. Ire, and Rebecca M. Latimer. Natascha herself has previous experience working as an editorial assistant at Simon & Schuster, so she knows exactly what it takes to propose books to big publishing companies.
She is currently accepting queries via her online submissions form. She’s primarily interested in picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction across all genres, including science fiction set against dystopian backgrounds. Be sure to include your contact information, a synopsis of your story, and include the first three chapters of your book for consideration. If interested, Natascha will request your full manuscript for further review.
7. Jessica Faust
Jessica Faust is a literary agent and president of BookEnds Literary. With previous experience as an acquisitions editor with companies like Berkley Publishing, Macmillan, and Wiley, Jessica’s no stranger to the publishing industry. She represents women’s fiction, literary and upmarket fiction, mystery, thrillers, and suspense. She is currently on the lookout for fiction that represents diverse characters in all genres, and is especially interested in transgender and LGBTQ+ protagonists with unique voices and perspectives.
If you’ve got a story that matches Jessica’s requirements, you can send her a query through her online submissions form. You should include the first three chapters of your book, along with a concise story synopsis for consideration. Due to the high volume of queries that she receives, it can admittedly take a while to hear a response. If you do not receive a response within a couple of weeks, Jessica may not be interested in your project at this time.
8. Matt Bialer
Matt Bialer is a literary agent with Greenburger Associates, a literary and entertainment agency that was established in 1932. Matt has over thirty years of experience in the publishing industry and has worked with Greenburger Associates since 2003. He represents a wide range of fiction genres, including fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. He’s even represented titles like “White Trash Zombie Apocalypse” by Diana Rowland, and “Reverend America” by Kris Saknussemm.
He is currently open to query letter submissions via email. You should send the first three chapters of your book for consideration, along with a synopsis of your manuscript, a brief author bio, and your contact information. He notes that due to the high volume of submissions that he receives, Matt will only respond to those authors whose projects have interested him.
9. Therese Coen
Therese Coen is a literary agent with Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency, which is based out of London, England. She’s represented authors like Alex Bell, Joshua Cunningham, Justin Davies, and Samantha Lierens. She represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction in varying genres and is currently looking for historical fiction, mystery, crime, romance, and modern fiction with fantastic world building. She’s especially interested in projects with strong female characters.
If you’re interested in having Therese represent your manuscript, you can send her query letter via email. You should include in your query a one-page synopsis and your full manuscript for consideration. Due to the high volume of submissions that she receives, Therese will only reach out to authors whose projects have piqued her interest.
10. Natalie Grazian
Natalie Grazian is the associate literary manager with Martin Literary Management. She primarily represents works of adult fiction in genres that are contemporary, historical, and speculative. When it comes to science fiction, and the subgenre of dystopian stories, she prefers stories with surreal twists and characters who are engaging and distinctive.
She is currently accepting queries for dystopian science fiction via email. She asks that you include in the body of your email the first ten pages of your manuscript. If interested in your project, Natalie will reach out to you promptly and likely ask for your full manuscript for further review.
11. Nikki Terpilowski
Nikki Terpilowski is the senior literary agent and founder of Holloway Literary Agency, founded in 2011 in North Carolina. Nikki represents a wide range of genres, including romance, women’s and southern fiction, mystery, thriller, historical, literary fiction, young adult fiction, and science fiction, the latter of which includes the dystopian subgenre. She has represented titles like “The Smuggler Wore Silk” by Alyssa Alexander, “The Happy Hour Choir” by Sally Kilpatrick, and “The Marriage Lie” by Kimberly Belle.
She is currently accepting submissions for science fiction manuscripts and is especially interested in books that are similar to the works of Nnedi Okorafor and Octavia Butler. You can send a query via email. In the body of your email, you should include the first fifteen pages of your manuscript. Due to the high volume of submissions that Nikki receives, it can take anywhere between six to eight weeks to receive a response.
12. Lauren MacLeod
Lauren MacLeod is a literary agent with The Strothman Agency who primarily represents young adult fiction, nonfiction, middle grade novels, literary fiction, and narrative nonfiction. She is currently looking for young adult and middle grade fiction in every type of subgenre, which includes dystopian fiction. She’s especially drawn to deep and flawed characters and is interested in stories that help shape readers into being more empathetic about the world.
Lauren is currently closed to unsolicited queries at this time, but you’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date when this status may change.
13. Nicole Bezanson
Nicole Bezanson is a junior literary agent with Metamorphosis Literary Agency who is primarily interested in representing contemporary and romantic teen fiction in wide variety of genres. She’s especially interested in young adult fiction in varying genres, including dystopian and prefers strongly written romantic plots. She loves manuscripts that involve animals, and stories that take place in a Canadian setting.
She is currently accepting queries either via email or through this online query submission form. Be sure to include your contact information, a brief author biography, a brief manuscript synopsis, and the first three chapters of your book for consideration. If interested, Nicole will reach out to you promptly.
14. Allie Levick
Allie Levick is a junior literary agent with Writers House, a literary agency that was established in 1973. Allie is actively looking to expand her list of represented material in a wide range of genres, including general middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction, fantasy and science fiction, upmarket fiction, suspense, and thrillers. She is also open to science fiction books set amongst a dystopian setting, so long as its characters are strong and engaging.
She is currently accepting query letters via email. Alternatively, you can send your query letter via regular mail addressed to her. Be sure to include a SASE if you send your query via regular mail. Allie notes that it can take up to six weeks to hear back from her. If you have no heard back from her after six weeks, she strongly encourages you to send a follow up message to check in.
15. Amelia Appel
Amelia Appel is a literary agent with TriadaUS Literary Agency. She has prior experience as an assistant at companies like McIntosh & Otis and Writers House. She is currently representing authors of adult fiction, nonfiction, and occasionally considers young adult fiction. In terms of adult fiction, she is most interested in representing mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, horror, and science fiction, which includes dystopian fiction. She prefers stories with witty protagonists who have a smart and distinctive personality and voice.
If you’re interested in working with Amelia, you can send a query letter via email. In the body of your email, be sure to include the first ten pages of your manuscript, a full synopsis of your project, and provide a brief author bio to introduce yourself. If she’s interested in your project, you can expect to hear from her shortly.
16. Amy Stern
Amy Stern is a literary agent with the Sheldon Fogelman Agency, which is a literary agency based out of New York. She’s been with the literary agency since 2010 and is currently accepting picture books, middle grade fiction, and young adult fiction in a wide variety of genres, including science fiction set in dystopian settings. She’s especially interested in stories that explore often unrepresented characters, like members of the LGBTQ community and characters of a diverse ethnic background.
She is currently open to queries at this time. All queries can be sent via email. You should include the first three chapters of your work, along with a concise synopsis. If interested, Amy will contact you and request your full manuscript for further review.
17. Andrea Somberg
Andrea Somberg is a literary agent with the Harvey Klinger Literary Agency, which was founded in 1977. With over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, Andrea represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres intended for adult, young adult, and middle grade readers. She is actively looking for romance, thrillers, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction, the latter of which includes the dystopian subgenre.
If you’re interested in having Andrea represent your manuscript, you can first send her a query letter via email. Be sure to include the first five pages of your project for consideration, along with your contact information, a succinct story synopsis, and a brief author bio detailing some of your publishing history (if applicable).
Are there any other dystopian fiction literary agents who should be on this list? Tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.