Agents open and close to queries on short notice — always confirm on the agency's official page before submitting.
What Kate is looking for
Kate is primarily interested in fiction for adults, young adults and middle grade readers in the areas of contemporary fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction set in the 20th Century, LGBTQ issues, fantasy, magical realism, and science fiction. In non-fiction, for adults or children/teens, she represents books by authors with demonstrable platforms in the areas of pop-culture, memoir, humor, creativity, and craft. She is also interested in graphic novels and memoirs for all ages. She is NOT actively looking for, among other areas not listed above children’s picture books, poetry, or screenplays.
Notable sales & clients
- Asylum
- Ca
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
- Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
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Hear from Kate: interviews & talks
The fastest way to understand what an agent responds to is to hear them talk about it.
- 🎙 Debutiful Podcast: Literary Agent Kate McKean Wants You To Write Through It — Debutiful (2025)
- Don't Forget, You're the Author: PW Talks with Kate McKean — Publishers Weekly
- 🎙 Kate McKean ON: Demystifying Book Publishing Contracts — Lit Match
- Publishing Trends Q&A with Agent Kate McKean — Jane Friedman
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Frequently asked questions
Is Kate McKean open to queries right now?
Agents open and close to queries on short notice, so we don't display a live status. Check the agency's official submission page before querying — or subscribe to Agent Alert (free) to be notified the week agents like Kate open.
What genres does Kate McKean represent?
Kate McKean represents Fantasy, Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Memoir.
How do I query Kate McKean?
Submit via QueryTracker. Submit via the official query link on this page.
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Profile compiled from public sources; last reviewed by the QueryAcademy research team on June 11, 2026. Agents open and close to queries frequently — always confirm against the agency's official guidelines before submitting. Spot an error or have an update? Suggest a correction or email hello@queryacademy.com.