Delia Berrigan is a Martin Literary & Media Management agent whose core focus is adult nonfiction from credentialed experts and underrepresented voices, with a secondary appetite for upmarket women's fiction, cozy mysteries, and select children's work.
In brief
Adult nonfiction is Delia Berrigan's clear center of gravity — business, thought leadership, memoir, true crime, narrative nonfiction, history, and religion/spirituality are all explicitly on the wish list, making this a strong destination for platform-backed nonfiction authors.
Berrigan openly prioritizes subject-matter experts, community leaders, and voices that have historically been underrepresented in publishing — a writer's credentials and platform will matter as much as prose.
On the fiction side, the emphasis is notably specific: upmarket women's fiction and cozy mysteries are called out by name, and writers of color are explicitly welcomed — a meaningful signal beyond the generic 'literary and commercial fiction' umbrella.
The query status shown on Berrigan's profile page read 'Currently Closed to Queries' at the time this profile was compiled — writers must verify the live status directly before submitting, as this can change without notice.
Berrigan's broad nonfiction category list (biography, journalism, LGBTQ, pop culture, psychology, science, sports, travel, cookbooks, humor) suggests an omnivorous nonfiction taste, but the wishlist foregrounds thought leadership and narrative nonfiction — lead with expertise and story, not topic alone.
Lately
Berrigan's public profile emphasizes a desire to hear from subject-matter experts and community leaders who bring both a distinct voice and genuine craft — framing nonfiction as a platform-plus-prose proposition rather than topic alone.
What Delia is looking for
Berrigan wants credentialed experts who have something genuinely new to say — not a generic how-to, but a distinct perspective backed by real-world authority. A clear platform and a command of the material are essential. Do not attach a proposal in the initial query; Berrigan will request it.
Strong, distinct voice is the primary filter here. Berrigan is drawn to stories that explore universal themes and uncomfortable truths simultaneously — memoir that feels both personal and broadly resonant. Underrepresented voices are explicitly encouraged.
True crime is a named priority. Narrative drive and journalistic rigor will both serve a query well here. Writers with investigative backgrounds or direct access to a case have a clear advantage.
Berrigan wants stories rooted in real events that read with the propulsion of fiction. History with contemporary resonance, and current-affairs narratives that go beyond the news cycle, fit the appetite well.
Religion and spirituality sit alongside the core nonfiction interests. A strong authorial voice and a fresh angle on belief, practice, or community will be the differentiators.
Of all the fiction sub-genres Berrigan lists, upmarket women's fiction receives the most specific call-out. Work that balances emotional depth with commercial accessibility, and that isn't afraid to sit with complex or uncomfortable truths, aligns well. Writers of color are explicitly welcomed.
Cozy mysteries are named specifically within the broader mystery category — this is not a blanket open call for all crime fiction. Warmth, wit, a strong sense of place or community, and a protagonist readers want to spend time with are the hallmarks of the sub-genre Berrigan is signaling.
Berrigan welcomes literary and commercial fiction broadly, with a stated pull toward stories that engage both universal and uncomfortable truths, and that carry genuine joy. Writers of color are explicitly encouraged to query.
Young adult is listed among Berrigan's interests. No specific sub-genre or subject is called out, so YA that aligns with the broader taste profile — authentic voice, emotional truth, diverse perspectives — is the best fit.
Picture books are listed as an area of interest, but no additional detail is given. Query selectively; work that connects to Berrigan's stated affinity for underrepresented voices and joy would be the strongest pitch.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Delia
Berrigan's profile page was marked 'Currently Closed to Queries' at the time of this profile — check the live status before sending anything.
Send queries to the email address listed on the Martin Literary & Media Management site; do not use contact forms intended for other agents at the agency.
For nonfiction: send a query letter only — do not attach your proposal or manuscript. Berrigan will request materials if interested. Lead with your expertise, platform, and the specific angle that makes your book necessary right now.
For fiction: send a query letter only — no manuscript, synopsis, or bio. The query itself must sell the story and the voice convincingly enough to earn a request.
Writers of color are explicitly welcomed across the fiction list — if your book engages with themes of identity, community, or underrepresented experience, saying so directly in your query is appropriate and relevant.
If pitching cozy mystery, make sure it reads as a cozy specifically — signal the warmth, the community, and the amateur-sleuth dynamic rather than pitching it as a general thriller or crime novel.
Upmarket women's fiction queries should convey both the commercial hook and the literary ambition; Berrigan's stated pull toward 'universal and uncomfortable truths' suggests emotional complexity is a feature, not a risk.
Nonfiction authors should address platform and credentials early in the query — Berrigan explicitly wants subject-matter experts and leaders, so bury neither your authority nor your audience reach.
Use the social handle @primarilyprose to observe Berrigan's current interests and public commentary before querying — this can surface real-time taste signals not captured in static profiles.