Hunter Strickland is a junior agent at Focused Artists — a citizen of the Cherokee Nation with a background in historical nonfiction — who is building a list centered on fantasy, romance, historical fiction, and women's fiction, with a particular pull toward mythology- and folklore-rooted stories.
In brief
Strickland is a brand-new agent (joined Focused Artists in 2024) coming off an apprenticeship with agency co-founder Kristina Sutton, which means she is actively building her list from scratch — a genuine opportunity for debut and early-career writers once she reopens.
Her stated passion for mythology and folklore is the single clearest through-line across her wishlist: if your story is not grounded in some form of myth, legend, or cultural folklore, you are a secondary priority at best.
Her background is in historical nonfiction (Oklahoma Hall of Fame / Gaylord Pickens Museum), yet her current wishlist is almost entirely fiction — she appears to be deliberately pivoting toward commercial and literary fiction genres she loves as a reader rather than continuing in nonfiction.
No confirmed deal record is available for this agent yet, consistent with her 2024 start date; her taste signals come from her stated wishlist and named touchstone titles rather than a sales history.
She is currently closed to unsolicited queries except through conferences or pitch events — writers should monitor her form status and target relevant pitching events as the primary entry point right now.
Lately
Her agency page describes her as particularly drawn to mythology-based or mythology-inspired stories across all the genres she represents — this is the most consistent and emphasized signal on her current profile.
What Hunter is looking for
This is the clearest center of gravity on her wishlist. She wants fantasy rooted in mythology, folklore, and world cultures — particularly stories drawing on AAPI, African, Asian, and Indigenous traditions. Cozy fantasy, literary fantasy, fantasy grounded in realism, and romantasy all fall within scope. She has named 'A River Enchanted' as a touchstone, signaling she wants immersive, folklore-saturated prose with emotional depth. Classic retellings, especially those centering BIPOC characters, are a specific stated interest.
She actively seeks adult romance and romantasy, including fantasy romance and historical romance. Her appetite for tropes is explicitly broad — enemies to lovers, found families, and fairy tale retellings are all named. YA romantasy is also in scope. Stories that blend romantic tension with mythological or folklore elements are likely to be most competitive with her.
Her museum background gives her a genuine grounding in historical material, and she gravitates toward stories set in the 1800s and later. Historical romance sits at the overlap of two of her strong interests. Purely literary or plot-driven historical fiction without a speculative or romantic thread is probably a harder sell, but the category is welcomed.
Commercial women's fiction is explicitly named, with a lean toward stories that are emotionally driven and accessibly written. Literary crossover work — books that straddle commercial and literary — also fits her stated taste. Magic realism as a flavor within women's fiction appears to be welcome.
She is open to contemporary YA, commercial YA, fantasy YA, and new adult across genres. Her mythology interest applies here too. Given the breadth of her list, YA feels like a supporting category rather than a primary focus, but it is genuinely sought.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Hunter
She is currently closed to general submissions — do not query cold. Target pitch events and writing conferences as your primary path to her inbox right now, and monitor her form for when it reopens.
Mythology and folklore are the single fastest way to connect with her taste. Lead your query letter with the specific mythological tradition or folklore system your story draws from — don't bury it.
She names cultural specificity as a draw (AAPI, African, Asian, Indigenous traditions). If your story is rooted in a particular culture's mythology, name that culture explicitly and early.
Tropes matter to her — she said so directly. If your manuscript features enemies to lovers, found family, or fairy tale retelling elements, call them out in your pitch. She is not a reader who considers tropes a negative.
As a new agent still building her list, she may be more open to debut writers than an established agent with a full roster. Frame your query with that context in mind — this is a genuine opportunity.
Do not pitch nonfiction. Despite her museum background in that area, her current page is fiction-only. Sending nonfiction would signal you have not read her current guidelines.
Queries go through her agency's online submission form — not via direct email, even though an email address appears on her page. Follow the form instructions precisely.