Katelyn Uplinger is a D4EO Literary Agency agent with a freelance-editing background across the Big 5, hunting for genre-crossing fiction—especially historical fantasy, gothic horror, and science fiction with a human-centered soul—alongside accessible narrative nonfiction.
In brief
Her stated priorities and her named touchstone titles align tightly around genre hybrids: historical fiction that bleeds into horror, mystery, or fantasy; survival-driven science fiction; and YA thrillers with emotional weight—writers pitching clean single-genre work in these categories may be a harder sell.
She came up as a freelance editor working with Big 5 imprints across romance, fantasy, and graphic novels before moving into agenting—which means she brings line-level craft instincts to her client relationships, a real asset for writers whose manuscripts still need developmental work.
Her named comps (Into the Drowning Deep, Contagion, Uprooted) signal a consistent gravitational pull toward atmospheric, high-concept genre fiction with strong survival and horror undercurrents—even her romance wishlist includes a 'touch of mystery or fantasy.'
Her history degree and her enthusiasm for non-Western settings and lesser-known historical events suggest she is a genuine advocate for work that expands the geographic and cultural range of genre fiction—not just a buzzword wish.
Query status is unverified; always confirm the live submission form before sending.
Lately
She has publicly expressed that historical horror is an urgent gap on her list—she used notably strong language about wanting to find something creepy and historically grounded, suggesting any wait on querying a strong project in that lane would be a mistake.
What Katelyn is looking for
This is her stated sweet spot. She wants fantasy rooted in places and mythologies that don't get enough page time in English-language publishing—Eastern European and Asian settings are specifically on her radar. She loves folklore reimagined with a fresh angle rather than retold straight, and strongly prefers historical fantasy over secondary-world epic fantasy. Atmospheric, pacy plotting wins over literary interiority.
She describes herself as 'dying to find' a creepy historical horror—meaning this is an active gap in her list, not just a passing interest. The ideal project marries a well-researched historical setting (pre-1920s) with genuine dread. Lesser-known disasters, tragedies, or periods of history are preferred over well-trodden events like the Titanic.
She is drawn to science fiction that foregrounds people over hardware—space survival, early planetary colonization, crashing onto an unknown world, and space mystery or horror all fit her sensibility. Her self-described reference point is Star Trek: The Next Generation (ensemble, exploration, ethical stakes) rather than Star Wars (action-adventure mythology). 'Black Mirror'-style technology-and-society stories are also of interest.
She has been actively reading in this space and wants to add titles to her list. Her preference skews toward mysteries that carry emotional or moral weight rather than pure puzzle-solving—high stakes over whodunit mechanics. Realistic survival stories (not dystopian) also belong here.
Within romance she has several specific lanes: historical romance with a mystery, fantasy, or genre-hybrid element; Christmas-themed romance (especially historical); laugh-out-loud romantic comedies; contemporary romance with a genuinely distinctive hook; and science fiction or fantasy romance. Straightforward contemporary romance without a standout concept is a harder pitch.
Humorous fantasy is always on her radar, and she appreciates fresh premises with intimate personal stakes rather than sprawling world-saving plots. Eastern European and Asian mythological frameworks are of particular interest. This category is welcomed but her historical-fantasy and horror hybrids are clearly her sharper priority.
She gravitates toward accessible nonfiction aimed at engaged general readers rather than scholars—weird or lesser-known history, women's history, space science and colonization futures, and pop-culture analysis all appeal. The key bar is accessibility: complex topics made readable for newcomers.
Her pre-agenting editing career included graphic novels, and the category appears on her accepted-fiction list. However, she has not elaborated on specific graphic novel interests in her current wishlist materials, so this should be considered a selective, inquire-if-your-project-genuinely-fits category rather than an active priority.
Listed as an accepted category but not elaborated upon in her detailed wishlist. Projects with historical, genre-hybrid, or survival elements—consistent with her stated tastes—would likely be the strongest fits.
Not the right fit
On Katelyn's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Katelyn
Submit exclusively through her agency's online form—she does not accept email queries. Attach your query letter and the first three chapters as directed by the form.
Always verify the form's current open/closed status before submitting; the live form is the only reliable indicator and no confirmed date is available from public sources.
Genre-hybrid framing will almost always outperform single-genre pitching with this agent. If your historical novel has horror elements, lead with that fusion—'historical horror' not just 'historical fiction.'
For fantasy set outside Western Europe, name the specific cultural or folkloric tradition you're drawing on in your query. Her wishlist is unusually explicit about Eastern European and Asian settings—reward that specificity with your own.
Her editorial background means she reads for craft as well as concept. A polished, well-structured first three chapters matters as much as a compelling premise.
If you're pitching historical fiction, flag in the query that your setting is pre-1920 and avoid the Titanic and WWI/WWII—she has explicitly named those as non-starters.
For science fiction, lean into the human element in your query hook. Lead with the character's situation and emotional stakes before the world mechanics—think character-driven survival or ensemble exploration, not tech-forward premise.
She maintains an active reading account where she posts reviews; reviewing the titles she rates highly before querying gives you an unfiltered window into her taste beyond the official wishlist.
Romcoms should demonstrably be funny in the sample pages—she specified 'laugh out loud,' so the opening chapters need to deliver on tone, not just premise.