Have you written a novel belonging to the speculative fiction genre?
Do you have ambitions to get your book published by a major publisher? A literary agent could help you get a publishing contract.
Below we’ve featured 17 top literary agents for speculative fiction and have highlighted those currently accepting queries and those that are not.
1. Paul Lucas
Paul Lucas is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates, a literary agency based out of New York City. Paul specializes in representing fiction projects, and has a particular soft spot for speculative genres like fantasy and science fiction. Some of his leading clients include authors like Katherine Arden, R.A. Salvatore, Anthony Ryan, and Steve McHugh.
Paul is currently accepting query letters through either regular mail or via email. It’s a good idea to review Janklow & Nesbit’s submission guidelines before sending anything in. If you believe Paul would be a great representative of your book, be sure to include a cover letter, a brief synopsis, and the first ten pages of your manuscript for consideration. If interested, Paul will reach out to you promptly to discuss your project in more detail.
2. Kelly Van Stant
Kelly Van Stant is an associate literary agent with Red Sofa Literary. With previous experience working with esteemed literary agencies like Writers House and Harold Ober Associates, Kelly is now working to build up her own client list and hopes to discover compelling and emotional new stories. She is a huge fan of speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, and other magical elements.
She represents both middle grade and young adult fiction, and is especially interested in stories that have funny, compelling, flawed protagonists with unique, but authentic narrative voices. Kelly is currently accepting queries via email. You’re strongly encouraged to review her submission guidelines before proceeding.
3. Stacia Decker
Stacia Decker is a literary agent with Dunow, Carlson & Lerner, a literary agency that primarily represents commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoirs, popular culture, and young adult fiction. Stacia herself represents a wide range of speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. She has worked on projects like New York Times bestseller “The Testing” by Joelle Charbonneau, “Crimes in Southern Indiana” by Frank Bill, and “Southern Gods” by John Hornor Jacobs.
Stacia is unfortunately closed to queries at this time. You’re strongly encouraged to review Dunow Carlson & Lerner’s submission guidelines in the meantime to prepare your manuscript for consideration when she reopens. All submissions can be sent via email, but the agency notes that due to the high volume of submissions that they receive, only authors whose projects have interested them will receive a response.
4. Lisa Abellera
Lisa Abellera is a literary agent with Kimberley Cameron & Associates, and has been with the literary agency since 2013. She represents a wide range of fiction genres, including speculative fiction (with the exception of paranormal). She has represented projects like “Darksight” by D.C. Mallery, “The Imaginary Corpse” by Tyler Hayes, and “Toward the Light” by Bonnar Spring. Lisa loves projects with well-built settings and sympathetic characters, as well as stories that explore the human condition within the family unit and close relationships.
She is unfortunately closed to query submissions at this time, but expects to reopen soon. You’re strongly encouraged to review her submission guidelines while you wait to prepare your query.
5. Leslie E. Owen
Leslie Owen is the founder of Leslie E. Owen Agency, a literary agency based out of Pensacola, Florida. She represents a wide range of fiction for both adults and for children, including speculative genres like fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, horror, and thrillers. She has represented authors like R.B. Kelly, Andrew R. Metzger, Edd B. Jennings, and Sean Patrick Kennedy.
Leslie is currently accepting query letters via email. She asks that you include the title of your novel, indicate what genre it is, an approximate word count, and a brief synopsis. You should also include your contact information, a brief author bio, and your publication history (if applicable). For more information, you can review her submission guidelines. It can take anywhere between on to two weeks to hear back from her about your query.
6. Alexandra Levick
Alexandra Levick is a junior literary agent with Writers House, a full-service literary agency that was founded in 1974. She is actively seeking to grow her picture book, middle grade, young adult, and adult lists. Alexandra represents a wide range of fiction, including speculative fiction. She loves projects that are incredibly thematic and is happy to represent both experienced and new authors.
She is currently accepting query letters, along with the first ten pages of your manuscript, via email. Due to the high volume of submissions that she receives, it can take anywhere up to six weeks to hear a response. If you haven’t heard from her within that time frame, she welcomes you to check in. You can find out more about what Alexandra is looking for on her website.
7. Dorian Maffei
Dorian Maffei is a junior literary agent with Kimberly Cameron & Associates who specializes in representing speculative fiction, including genres like fantasy, science fiction, and horror. She is actively hoping to expand her client list, and would love to represent projects that have incredibly unique voices and innovative stories to tell.
If you believe your project would be well-represented by Dorian, you can submit a query through her online query form. Be sure to include your contact information, a brief author bio, the title of your book, indicate its genre, provide an approximate word count, a synopsis, and the first fifty pages of your manuscript for consideration. If interested in your project, Dorian will reach out to you promptly to discuss your book in further detail.
8. Annie Hwang
Annie Hwang is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management who specializes in representing literary fiction and select nonfiction. She gravitates toward nuanced speculative fiction projects that explore the future of the world. She loves projects with underrepresented voices, loves braided and complex narratives, and is looking for characters who can really stand on their own. Annie is currently accepting queries via email. You should include with your query letter the first ten pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of your email for consideration.
9. Rhea Lyons
Rhea Lyons is a literary agent with Hannigan, Salky, Getzler. With previous experience working with major publishing companies like Random House, Rhea is a talented literary agent who represents a wide range of speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction. She loves books about spaces, witches, and everything in between.
Rhea is currently accepting queries via email. She asks that you include the first five pages of your manuscript in the body of your email for consideration. Due to the high volume of submissions that she receives, Rhea will only contact those authors whose projects have interested her, but she thanks you in advance for considering her services.
10. Joanna Volpe
Joanna Volpe is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc, a literary agency based out of New York City. She has represented several highly acclaimed projects like “Dorothy Must Die” by Danielle Paige, “Carve the Mark” by New York Times bestseller Veronica Roth, “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo, and “The Art of Language Invitation” by David J. Peterson. She loves to represent works of speculative fiction or projects with fantastical elements.
She is looking specifically to expand her middle grade and adult titles, and is interested in stories with underrepresented characters from diverse backgrounds. You’re strongly encouraged to review New Leaf Literary’s submission guidelines before sending anything in. You can submit a query letter to Joanna via email. Please note that Joanna will only respond to those authors whose projects have interested her.
11. Holly Root
Holly Root is the founder of Root Literary. With over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, Holly has represented a wide range of speculative fiction for middle grade and young adult readers. Some of the best-known projects that she’s represented include the Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson, “Fool Me Twice” by Meredith Duran, and “The Shadow Queen” by CJ Redwine.
She is currently accepting query submissions via email. She asks that you include the first ten pages of your manuscript pasted in the body of the email for consideration. You should include your contact information, a brief synopsis, a short author bio, and an approximate word count. For more information, you’re strongly encouraged to review Holly’s submission guidelines.
12. Brooks Sherman
Brooks Sherman is a literary agent that has worked with Janklow & Nesbit Associates since 2017. Some of Brooks’s clients include several New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors like John Green, Jason Reynolds, and William C. Morris, and Angie Thomas, author of the New York Times bestselling novel “The Hate U Give.” Brooks is always on the lookout for well-developed and intricately detailed stories with fantastic worldbuilding. He represents speculative fiction, in particular fantasy, horror, and psychological thrillers.
If you believe your book would be well-represented by Brooks, you can send him a query letter via email. Be sure to review Janklow & Nesbit’s submission guidelines before proceeding. You should include a cover letter, a brief synopsis, and the first ten pages of your manuscript for Brooks review. If interested, he will reach out promptly to discuss your project in further detail.
13. Eddie Schneider
Eddie Schneider is a specialist when it comes to all things speculative fiction. Eddie is a literary agent with JABerwocky Literary Agency, based out of New York City. Eddie has represented works like “Steeheart” by Brandon Sanderson, “The House of the Scorpion” by Nancy Farmer, and “A Natural History of Dragons” by Marie Brennan. He loves stories with bold characters that are incredibly concept drive, and isn’t shy about representing out-there science fiction, fantasy, young adult, and middle grade fiction.
He is currently accepting queries via email only. Submissions sent by regular post will not be considered unless specifically asked for. Eddie asks that you include a one to three-page synopsis of your book along with your query letter. Be sure to review JABerwocky’s submission guidelines before proceeding to make sure you and your project meet all necessary requirements to be considered.
14. Erin Harris
Erin Harris is a literary agent with Folio Literary Management. Erin loves to work with both debut and seasoned authors, and has represented books like “Of This New World” by Allegra Hyde, “The River at Night’ by Erica Ferencik, and Pulitzer Prize Award winner “If the Oceans Were Ink” by Carla Power. Erin is currently seeking books with speculative fiction elements that are highly atmospheric, play with strong themes, and have protagonists of underrepresented voices. She loves to represent contemporary realistic, fantastical, and speculative fiction.
If you’re interested in working with Erin, you can submit your query letter to her via email. You should include the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of your email for her consideration. Due to the high volume of submissions that she receives, she will only contact those authors whose projects have piqued her interest.
15. Alyssa Jennette
Alyssa Jennette is a literary agent with Stonesong Literary who represents a wide range of genre fiction, including those that fall under the speculative fiction category. She would love to represent stories with a diverse cast of characters, unreliable narrators, witches, science fiction, crime, and horror.
She is currently accepting queries via email, but you’re strongly encouraged to review Stonesong’s submission guidelines to make sure you meet all the necessary requirements. Be sure to include the first chapter of the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of your email for Alyssa’s consideration.
16. Ben Grange
Ben Grange is a literary agent with L. Perkins Agency who specializes in representing speculative genres like fantasy and science fiction for middle grade and young adult audiences. He has prior experience working for the literary agency as an assistant at JABerwocky Literary Agency, and has since expanded to take on clients of his own. He’s interested in representing slightly weirder or darker science fiction or fantasy stories, and has an appreciation for pop culture nonfiction.
He is currently accepting queries via email. He asks that you include a brief synopsis of your book, an author bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted in the body of your email for consideration. It’s highly recommended that you review L. Perkins’ submission guidelines to make sure you meet their minimum requirements. If interested in your project, Ben will reach out to your promptly.
17. Bridget Smith
As a literary agent with Dunham Literary, Bridget Smith represents speculative genres like fantasy and science fiction for middle grade and young adult readers. She is especially interested in stories with underrepresented or minority characters, and loves books that have distinctive voices and evoke strong emotions. Books that she has represented include “The Last Boy at St. Edith’s” by Lee Gjertsen, “The Window” by Amelia Brunskill, and “Rule” by Ellen Goodlett.
She is currently accepting queries via regular mail or through email. For more information, you can review Dunham Literary’s submission guidelines. You should include the first five pages of your manuscript for consideration in the body of your email, as attachments will not be opened. Be sure to provide your contact information so that Bridget can get back to you promptly if interested in your book.
Are you aware of any other literary agents for speculative fiction? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.