Literary agents who want unsettling writing

Phrasemill lists literary agents who want unsettling, based on what they say on their public websites. “unsettling” is a tone tag; its identifier is unsettling. 25 agents currently want it. Agents whose websites say they are closed to submissions are omitted. The quoted evidence for each tag is on the agent's profile. How it works.

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Agents

Anna Webber
A.M. Heath & Co. · GB
I represent a wide range of fiction and non-fiction and a bit of poetry. I am always on the lookout for new, exciting voices. I love books that challenge our understanding of form and genre and am particularly drawn to…
Daisy Chandley
Peters Fraser & Dunlop · London
Says: “unsettling undertones (or overtones)”
I represent a wide range of authors, including prize-winners and Sunday Times and USA Today bestsellers, and am actively building a list of both fiction and non-fiction across a variety of genres. With fiction, my wishl…
Kieron Fairweather
Peters Fraser & Dunlop · London
Says: “stories that explore unsettling worlds”
Having worked alongside Caroline and her roster of clients for the past few years, I am now actively looking to build a list across both fiction and non-fiction. In non-fiction, my taste is for the narrative. I’m intere…
Eleanor Lawlor
The Soho Agency · London
She is actively acquiring and particularly looking for romance, fantasy and YA submissions. Some themes she’d like to see: Anything rooted in contemporary Irish culture or folklore Romance from across the board: spicy…
Olivia Davies
United Agents · London
Says: “eerie atmosphere of instability beneath ordinary domestic life”
I welcome adult fiction and non-fiction submissions with an open mind and am delighted to be building an eclectic list of literary, upmarket and commercial fiction and non-fiction. I admire authors who take creative ris…
Emily Talbot
United Agents · London
I am a literary agent representing children’s illustrators and authors of picture books, middle grade, YA and non-fiction. In fiction, I work on everything from young fiction through to young adult. On the younger end (…
Bonnie Swanson
FinePrint Literary Management · US
Says: “creepy feels of Silence of the Lambs”
Bonnie represents authors who cover all the age groups from picture books through adult, many of whom have their own furry overlords or small two-legged dictators commanding their households, too. When she is open to qu…
Kent Wolf
Neon Literary · US
A lover of the bizarre, the profane, the unsettling, the dark, and the darkly funny, he is drawn to writing that occupies a literary uncanny valley and to writers who move the cultural needle through direct confrontation…
Katie Kennaway
C&W Agency · GB
I love books that are funny and make me think. I read widely across genres but I love, original voice-driven stories with cleverly drawn plots and vivid world building. I'm always drawn to books that are challenging an…
Molly Jamieson
United Agents · London
Says: “anything that messes with your mind”
Molly is currently looking to expand the sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and romance areas of her list, from MG through YA, crossover and up to adult books. On the adult side of her list, she represents debut and established w…
Ashlee MacCallum
Howland Literary · US
Says: “a lingering sense that something isn't right”
She has a soft spot for speculative stories, mysteries, and anything delightfully weird, and is seeking high-concept, voice-driven adult fiction with strong emotional stakes, a clear hook, and broad commercial appeal. Sh…
Kaylyn Aldridge
Metamorphosis Literary Agency · US
Always drawn to the weirder and experimental areas of life, she constantly looks for stories that feel unique, deliciously uncomfortable, and plain odd. Kaylyn strongly advocates for authors who don't dilute their work…
Nina Richner
Howard Morhaim Literary Agency · US
Says: “unsettling and strange stories”
Nina Richner is an agent representing adult fiction and narrative nonfiction. Nina is looking for literary fiction, horror/thriller, contemporary fiction, queer fiction, and magical realism. They are drawn to emotionall…
Valentina Sainato
JABberwocky Literary Agency · US
Horror: Horror is my favorite genre to read, and I’m looking for lots of different flavors here. Whether it’s gruesome, eerie, disorienting, thrilling, existential, or horror-lite, I want to read it. Blends with sci-fi/f…
Emily Forney
BookEnds Literary Agency · US
Her tastes are wide ranging, but for the most part she looks for books with high concept commercial hooks, timeless stories with complex characters, escapist tales, and big, sweeping worlds. In children's books, Emily i…
Hannah Todd
Janklow & Nesbit · London
I am looking for commercial fiction across the board, but with a particular focus on romance, SFF and commercial thrillers. Across all genres, I am drawn to books with exemplary characterisation and voice. I need to feel…
Jennifer De Chiara
Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency · US
Says: “manuscripts that will keep me up at night”
Adult Fiction: I'm passionate about literary fiction with a unique, beautiful voice, but I also enjoy commercial fiction, women's fiction (no bodice-rippers, please), chick-lit, mysteries, suspense, thrillers - in genera…
Courtney Paganelli
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency · US
Courtney enjoys reading voice-driven commercial fiction, dark psychological fiction, and heartwarming romantic comedies. She particularly gravitates towards relatable adult or young adult novels that make her swoon over…
Madelyn Knecht
Storm Literary Agency · US
Madelyn loves queer stories with dark twists and rich worlds, especially in fantasy and light science fiction. Her favorites include Young Adult fantasy and Adult with fantastic characters you can't help but love. Age G…
Jane McGehee
Calligraph · US
Says: “the uncanny and gothic across genres”
In addition to managing Calligraph’s foreign rights, she is building a list of nonfiction and select fiction titles, and looking for a wide range of nonfiction, including journalistic investigations, cultural criticisms,…
Amelia Theriault-Brown
Laura Gross Literary Agency · US
Amelia is looking for literary and upmarket fiction, and narrative non-fiction. Across all of these, Amelia is most drawn to books with an obsessive bent. Her ideal fiction skews voicey and strange, with an indelible s…
Ellen Pauley Goff
HG Literary · US
At HG Literary, her client list consists of authors writing for all age groups, from picture books to middle grade to young adult to adult, in both fiction and nonfiction. She also represents illustrators and graphic nov…
Kent D. Wolf
Neon Literary · US
A lover of the bizarre, the profane, the unsettling, the dark, and the darkly funny, he is drawn to writing that occupies a literary uncanny valley and to writers who move the cultural needle through direct confrontation…
Rebecca Slater
a4 Literary · AU
I’m drawn to weird, spooky and deeply atmospheric novels in the vein of Evie Wyld, Han Kang, Carmen Maria Machado, Shirley Jackson, Donna Tartt, and Claire Keegan. I love books that make you feel but also bring levity a…
J.D. Myall
Tobias Literary Agency · New York
Says: “stories just creepy enough to make turning off the bedroom light feel like a bad idea”
J.D. represents picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as graphic novels and illustrators. She is especially excited to grow her middle grade and young adult lists. For middl…

Literary agents who want unsettling writing

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