Ernie Chiara is a Senior Agent at Fuse Literary who hunts for character-driven speculative fiction—adult and YA fantasy, sci-fi, and horror—with a particular appetite for immersive worldbuilding, genre-blending, and BIPOC voices in crime fiction.
In brief
His deal record skews heavily toward adult and YA fantasy and science fiction, particularly multi-book series—the Witches of Halstett trilogy, the Ghosts of Ethuran series, and R.R. Virdi's two-book fantasy deal are the spine of his list, signaling that he commits deeply to long-form speculative projects.
He has strong existing relationships with Orbit, Gollancz, Solaris, McElderry Books, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Peachtree Teen—a mix of major SFF imprints and prestigious YA houses that reflects genuine commercial reach.
Several clients appear in multiple deals (Cassandra Newbould, Ren Hutchings, Katharine J. Adams), confirming he is a career-builder who re-signs existing clients, not just a one-book transactor.
His international rights game is unusually active for an agent at his career stage: confirmed sub-rights sales across Spain, France, Vietnam, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand point to a real global network.
His client roster punches above its size in award recognition—Dragon Award, Nebula, BSFA, Aurealis, Lambda Literary, and Sir Julius Vogel finalists—suggesting he prioritizes literary quality alongside commercial viability.
Lately
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Agents usually don’t speak publicly about the rejections our clients’ projects receive on sub, but it’s so frustrating to receive feedback on authors writing marginalized characters’ based on lived experiences as POC, and hearing those experiences called implausible. Implausible to whom?
MSWL. Minus the mole rats.
My inbox is now back at zero. I’d love to see some amazing queries that fit what I’m looking for!
Hey y’all. As an agent, I do not use AI at any point in my process with clients or querying authors, nor would I ever feed someone’s work into AI for any reason whatsoever. And if I learned of an editor doing this, I would not submit to that editor.
Posted a cryptic but enthusiastic note referencing a current read or project—'Minus the mole rats'—suggesting he remains actively engaged with manuscripts even during a closed query window.
What Ernie is looking for
This is the beating heart of his list. He wants richly built worlds, intricate plots, and propulsive pacing—but the characters have to carry the story first. Multi-book series with complex, multi-dimensional protagonists are clearly welcome; his track record includes sweeping dark fantasy trilogies and secondary-world fantasy series sold to major SFF imprints. Genre blending—fantasy crossed with horror, literary sensibility, or unexpected structural choices—is particularly exciting to him.
His sci-fi clients demonstrate a range from literary-leaning space opera to speculative near-future fiction. He gravitates toward original settings that don't feel derivative, and voice is paramount—he's stated that strong, distinctive prose is non-negotiable. Upmarket SF with a speculative or literary edge appears especially welcome.
Horror is explicitly named as a core specialty. He appears drawn to horror with strong character stakes and immersive atmosphere rather than pure shock value. Genre blends—horror crossed with fantasy or literary fiction—align well with his stated desire to be surprised by how genres are combined.
His YA deals demonstrate real commercial placement at top imprints (Knopf Books for Young Readers, McElderry Books, Peachtree Teen), making this a genuinely active part of his list rather than a secondary interest. The same priorities apply: character depth, original worldbuilding, and propulsive plotting.
He actively seeks fiction that lives at the crossroads of speculative genre and literary ambition—stories with the emotional and prose depth of literary fiction but the imaginative architecture of genre work. Think elevated concept paired with genuine craft. This is a selective lane: voice and execution matter even more here than in straight genre.
This is a stated specialty with a specific qualifier: he is seeking mystery, thriller, and crime fiction by and centering BIPOC authors and characters. Writers outside that specific lens should not assume he is seeking general crime fiction—this is a targeted, identity-conscious category for him. Given the weight of his speculative list, this appears to be a growing interest rather than his primary lane, but it is explicitly named.
Not the right fit
On Ernie's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Ernie
He accepts queries exclusively through his online submission form—emails sent directly to him are deleted unread, no exceptions.
Verify that his form is currently open before preparing your query; it was confirmed closed in early 2026 and may reopen without broad announcement. Check his agency page directly.
Voice is his stated primary filter: your query letter and sample pages must demonstrate a distinct, confident narrative voice from the first line. Generic prose, even with a compelling concept, is unlikely to pass his read.
Lead with character. He wants to care deeply about what happens to your protagonist before he cares about your plot mechanics. Establish emotional stakes early in your pages.
Worldbuilding should be embedded, not explained. His sold list features immersive secondary worlds where the setting feels original and alive—he is unlikely to respond well to front-loaded exposition or info-dumps.
If your manuscript blends genres in an unexpected way, name it directly in your query. He has explicitly said he wants to be surprised; flagging the blend shows you understand what makes your book distinct.
For the BIPOC mystery/thriller/crime category, be clear in your query that the work centers BIPOC characters and/or is written from a BIPOC perspective—this specificity matches his stated focus.
His strongest imprint relationships appear to be with Orbit, Gollancz, Solaris, McElderry Books, Knopf BFYR, and Peachtree Teen—pitching a project that fits those houses' aesthetic may resonate with his market instincts.
He is a career-builder: if you have series potential, signal it. His track record is dominated by multi-book deals; standalone queries are not disqualifying, but series architecture is clearly something he invests in.