Evan Marshall is a boutique independent literary agent and author of foundational craft-of-fiction guides who specializes in commercial adult fiction across a wide range of genres.
In brief
Evan Marshall runs a small, founder-led agency where the agent who signs you is the agent who works your project — no hand-offs to junior staff.
Marshall is the author of widely used fiction-writing instructional books, meaning they evaluate manuscripts through a well-developed, technique-oriented lens — writers who demonstrate craft awareness may have an edge.
The agency skews toward commercial adult fiction; writers of literary fiction or nonfiction should verify current interest before querying.
Because this is a one-person operation, response times and submission windows can vary — always check the live submission page before querying.
The agency's long tenure in the industry suggests established relationships with mainstream commercial publishers, which benefits debut authors seeking traditional deals in genre fiction.
Lately
Agency submission page indicated open status for new queries in adult commercial fiction categories.
What Evan is looking for
Marshall's core focus is commercial adult fiction in a variety of genre categories. Projects that are plot-driven, strongly voiced, and market-aware tend to fit the agency's profile best.
Crime fiction, psychological thrillers, and traditional mysteries are a natural fit given the agency's commercial fiction emphasis and track record in genre work.
Mainstream romantic fiction and women's fiction with strong emotional hooks are within scope; query with a clear sense of the subgenre and readership.
Commercially oriented historical narratives that combine vivid period detail with contemporary pacing are welcome.
Not the right fit
On Evan's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Evan
Address your query to Evan Marshall by name; this is a boutique agency where the founding agent reads their own queries.
Lead with genre, word count, and a one-paragraph plot summary before any biographical material — Marshall's own writing guides emphasize structure, so a well-organized query letter signals craft awareness.
Because Marshall is a published author of fiction-craft instructional books, demonstrating familiarity with narrative technique (e.g., pacing, scene structure, viewpoint) in your query or sample pages will resonate with their evaluative lens.
Keep the synopsis tight and plot-driven; the agency's commercial fiction focus means a clear story engine matters more than thematic abstraction.
Verify the current submission guidelines on the agency's live page before sending — a small, founder-led office can update preferences or close to queries quickly and without broad announcement.
Do not query with projects outside adult fiction unless the agency's current guidelines explicitly invite them; this is not a full-service agency across all categories.