If you’re writing an urban fantasy novel and need some help and inspiration, our beginner’s guide to writing in this particular sub-genre of fantasy is especially for you.
On the hand, if you’re ready to publish your book, one of the following 19 top literary agents for urban fantasy might be able to help you get a publishing deal with book publisher.
1. Kiana Nguyen
A mainstay at the Donald Maass Literary Agency since entering as an assistant agent, Kiana Nguyen is set to develop one of the most exciting lists of fiction authors. Located in Brooklyn, New York, she is ready to showcase the priceless industry skills she learned from agents she helped early in her career.
Kiana focuses on fiction for both adults and young adults. When it comes to fantasy, she welcomes urban fantasy and magical realism. This agent also wants to represent YA novels that highlight the lives of queer people and other marginalized communities.
If you’re interested, feel free to visit her agent page for query submission details.
2. Saint Gibson
A resident of Massachusetts, Saint Gibson has a creative writing degree, and has previously worked at Tantor Media as an assistant acquisitions editor. Plus, she possesses a great understanding of fiction writing because she crafted novels for herself and others. Saint is an agent at the Speilburg Literary Agency in Louisville, Kentucky.
Since she loves writing romantic fantasy, this agent is likewise looking for authors of fantasy and romance — preferably both! Saint likes magical realism, urban fantasy, and fantasy fiction that introduce complex systems of religion, sexuality, and sorcery.
The link to her Query Manager is in her section on the agent page of the Speilburg Literary Agency.
3. Marisa A. Corvisiero
Situated in New York City, Marisa A. Corvisiero holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Juris Doctor. She has participated in countless publishing events and is a sought-after speaker herself. After providing her legal expertise to the world’s top companies and working at a literary agency, Marisa established her own titular literary agency.
Marisa is searching for fantasy fiction catering to either adults or young adults. Specifically, she’s looking for magical realism, urban fantasy, and general fantasy. Regardless of the genre, a novel must have great character writing and plot structuring to grab her attention.
Visit Marisa’s page to read about her genre preferences and links to her submission guidelines and Query Manager.
4. Zoë Plant
Do you need a literary agent with a plethora of best-selling and acclaimed authors on her list? If so, you should take note of Zoë Plant. After studying two languages in college and gaining industry experience at publishing companies, she’s now one of the most prolific professionals at The Bent Agency in Richmond, UK.
Zoë is interested in YA fantasy that offers compelling worldbuilding and innovative arcane principles. As for adult fantasy, Zoë wants stories that can entice general readers while still veering from all-too-familiar genre tropes. She currently represents Holly Race, creator of the urban fantasy series City of Nightmares.
Read the submission guidelines carefully before you send your query to Zoë.
5. Michael Carr
Michael Carr is an agent whose path to the publishing industry isn’t as straightforward as others. After all, his past work involved writing code for undersea vehicle simulations and operating his own lodging establishment. Today, he’s part of the Veritas Literary Agency in San Francisco, California, and wields a keen eye for editing and writing.
This agent possesses a variety of interests across fiction and nonfiction. In the former, Michael likes not only women’s fiction and historical fiction but also sci-fi and fantasy. He accepts urban fantasy, magical realism, and even fantasy fiction for young adults and middle-grade readers.
The submissions page contains guidelines for fiction queries and a link to Michael’s Query Manager.
6. Annalise Errico
Annalise Errico steadily builds her impressive client list at the Ladderbird Literary Agency in Milford, Connecticut. With an educational background in creative writing, literature, and gender studies, she upholds storytelling highlighting issues of identity and the experiences of marginalized communities.
This agent finds wonder in fantasy fiction. From urban fantasy and new adult fantasy to magical realism and historical fantasy, her subgenre preferences should encourage budding and veteran fantasy authors alike to apply. Plus, she’s open to YA fantasy too.
Writers should read the guidelines for fiction queries before heading to Annalise’s profile page for a thorough list of her genre preferences and a link to her Query Manager.
7. Michelle Hauck
Before switching to agenting, Michelle Hauck was in the accounting and academic fields for decades. In addition, she authored historical fantasy titles and co-organized a variety of literary events to help other writers. Today, she works at Storm Literary Agency in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Michelle is open to almost all genres when it comes to YA and middle-grade fiction — including fantasy. As for adult fiction, she prefers mystery novels and subgenres of fantasy such as magical realism, urban fantasy, and historical fantasy.
Visit the submissions page and scroll down for a link to Michelle’s Query Manager and a specific list of genres she’s actively looking for.
8. Corie Deyoe
After more than two decades of crafting published books and other written content, Cori Deyoe shifted gears and sought a different career within the industry. In 2006, she officially became an agent at 3 Seas Agency in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
With her collaborative approach toward authors when negotiating with publishers, Corie has attracted long-term authors in fiction and nonfiction. She accepts middle-grade, YA, and adult fantasy (specifically, urban and magical realism).
Corie is enthusiastic about developing her client list. Interested authors can go to her agent page should they wish to send a query.
9. Cameron McClure
Cameron McClure is another stellar agent at the Donald Maass Literary Agency in Brooklyn, New York. Since her entry into the company in 2004, she has established a humble yet creatively superior list of fiction authors.
While she welcomes nonfiction projects as well, Cameron’s specialty is in fiction. This agent represents both YA fantasy and adult fantasy, especially stories with magical realism or elements of urban fantasy. Consequently, she admires stories that blend genres without sacrificing literary integrity.
Prospective clients can find her Query Manager link on her profile page.
10. Rick Lewis
Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Rick Lewis wasn’t in the publishing industry at the start of his working life. Instead, he wrote different types of content in the TV and marketing industries for nearly 20 years. Rick then worked at Uproar Books before finally becoming an agent at Martin Literary Management.
Rick previously handled authors of sci-fi and fantasy at the aforementioned publishing company. Thus, his primary interests as an agent are similar. To specify, he is interested in YA fantasy, magical realism, urban fantasy, and dark fantasy, among others.
Go to the submissions policy page to learn more about Rick’s genre preferences and find a link to his Query Manager.
11. Marie Lamba
Working at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, Marie Lamba traversed other paths in the publishing industry before turning her sights toward agenting. She took on not just editorial and PR tasks but also handled publicity and even lectured others about fiction writing. After all, this New York-based agent is a published novelist herself.
Marie is actively looking for both children’s fiction and adult fiction. General fantasy, magical realism, and urban fantasy are on her list. However, she isn’t a fan of high fantasy novels. On the other hand, she likes clever humor and emotionally resonant storytelling.
Authors can visit her agent page for a full disclosure of Marie’s literary interests and a link to submit their queries.
12. Michael Curry
Hailing from New York City’s Donald Maass Literary Agency, Michael Curry is no stranger to the wonders of fantasy fiction. In the past, he worked as a first reader (otherwise known as a submission editor) for digital-only fantasy magazines. Since then, Michael has represented many acclaimed fantasy novelists.
Michael seeks originality and riveting story elements. Alongside speculative thrillers, he’s searching for sci-fi and fantasy titles with exquisite writing that can compete against the best in literary fiction. One of his most successful clients is Cassandra Khaw, author of the urban fantasy novels Rupert Wong and The Last Supper Before Ragnarok.
If you want to submit a query, go to Michael’s page on the agency website.
13. Jacqueline Lipton
Currently the head of the Adult Department at The Tobias Literary Agency in New York City, Jacqueline Lipton is an expert in both writing and law. She has a master’s degree in fiction and authored nonfiction books about legal aspects in the digital and publishing industries.
Jacqueline is looking for great writing whether in fiction or nonfiction. She represents urban fantasy and general fantasy (not high fantasy) for adults, young adults, and middle-grade readers. Her other interests include mystery, romance, commercial, and contemporary fiction.
Before you go to her agent page and click on the Query Manager link, you should read the FAQs about submissions first.
14. Nina Leon
Situated in New York, Nina Leon is an agent at High Spot Literary. She has an educational background in publishing and went to the Irene Goodman Literary Agency for her internship. Now, her top priority is to expand her client list of fiction authors.
Nina harbors a deep fascination for fantasy whether it’s for adult or middle-grade readers. She accepts urban fantasy, magical realism, and new adult fantasy, among others. Furthermore, Nina wants stories with exceptional worldbuilding, ingenious narrative shifts, and intricate yet sensible magical systems.
The submission process begins with scrolling down the agent page to find Nina’s section. From there, you can click on her Manuscript Wish List page, which will then reveal her Query Manager link.
15. Kat Kerr
The Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York City is home to Kat Kerr. She studied English at Florida State University and entered the company in 2019. Kat hopes to foster new opportunities for writers from the marginalized sector and wants more books that reflect the distinct culture and experiences of underrepresented identities.
Similar to other literary agents on the list, Kat represents general fantasy, magical realism, YA fantasy, and urban fantasy. Her other preferences include romance, historical fiction, women’s fiction, and sci-fi. Also, Kat favors stories that can engage readers intellectually but still tug at their heartstrings.
Kat is currently open to queries. You can read more about her interests and the submission details on her profile page.
16. Caroline Trussell
Caroline Trussell is based in Jacksonville, Florida. Working at the Metamorphosis Literary Agency, she is well-versed in editorial and writing tasks, primarily since she studied publishing and wrote her own YA novel.
This agent loves all sorts of fiction like chill mysteries, rom-coms, and heartfelt middle-grade fiction that tackle serious matters in a suitable tone for young readers. Caroline is also highly interested in thrillers, urban fantasy, and magical realism.
Authors should quickly head to the submissions page for her Query Manager link since Caroline only accepts queries for a limited time.
17. Amanda Orozco
A resident of Los Angeles, California, Amanda Orozco got her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at UCLA and NYU, respectively. Prior to becoming a literary agent at Transatlantic Agency (headquartered in Toronto, Ontario), she was an integral part of well-known businesses like Park & Fine Literary and Media and Little, Brown and Company.
In general, Amanda seeks adult fiction. She’s open to everything from urban fantasy to genre-bending stories. Likewise, she appreciates smart storytelling, unforgettable main characters, and explorations of family dynamics and human emotions.
While Amanda is currently unavailable for new queries, she will reopen the submission window in April. In the meantime, you can read about her query guidelines.
18. Kate Testerman
Kate Testerman has been in the industry since the late 1990s. In 2008, she embarked on a new journey and established KT Literary in Highlands, Colorado. As a veteran agent, Kate is more than well-equipped to guide her author clients and get them the best publishing deals.
She specializes in novels for middle-grade readers and young adults. Aside from sprawling adventures, hilarious love stories, and modern drama, her genre interests include urban fantasy and magical realism.
Kate’s submission window remains closed at the time of writing. You can check the submissions page for her Query Manager link once she’s open to queries.
19. Jennifer Goloboy
Earning Ph.D. from the prestigious Harvard University is only a dream for many people — but that’s not the only impressive achievement of Jennifer Goloboy. For one, she’s a published novelist and nonfiction author herself. Moreover, she’s shown no signs of slowing down as a literary agent at the Donald Maass in Brooklyn, New York, even after more than a decade in the industry.
Jennifer is a huge fan of fantasy fiction, especially stories that are effortlessly enjoyable and unafraid to step away from classic genre elements. This is why she represents Nicole Glover, the author of the urban fantasy (and historical) novel The Conductors.
Although she isn’t accepting new queries at the moment, interested writers should revisit her page at a later date for welcome updates.
Do you know any other literary agents for urban fantasy that should be on this list? If so, please tell us about them in the comments box below.
I am Ruposhree, a regular happy-go-lucky girl with not-so-regular (read extraordinary) dreams. I love reading, obsessing over random TV series, dreaming of unrealistic vacations, and most importantly, trying my hand at writing. I want to believe that I somehow have a way with words and maybe one day I’ll manage to see and be everything that I ever dreamt of!