Kelly van Sant is a KT Literary agent with nearly two decades across publishing contracts, rights, and editorial work — now actively building a client list with a strong pull toward genre-bending, emotionally resonant fiction for YA and adult readers, plus selective nonfiction rooted in the occult and esoteric.
In brief
Her submissions are currently closed as of May 31, 2026 — check the live form before querying.
Her wishlist is unusually broad across both YA and adult genre fiction, but her stated non-negotiables are character depth and propulsive storytelling — a killer concept alone won't be enough.
She brings a rare background in subsidiary rights (audio, foreign, permissions) and contracts management that most agents simply don't have — a meaningful advantage for authors navigating complex deals.
She is actively building her list from scratch, which means writers have a genuine shot at becoming a foundational client — but also that she has no extensive public sales record to validate her commercial muscle yet.
Her political and social values are openly expressed; she prioritizes working with creators from marginalized communities, and this is clearly a core commitment, not a box-checking statement.
Lately
Here’s a free tip to electeds from a contracts director: when entering a deal always open by asking for the best possible terms. Don’t immediately undercut yourself by trying to compromise out the gate or diminish your value. So in this particular case the opener you’re looking for is “ABOLISH ICE.”
In a public post drawing a pointed analogy to contract negotiation, she advised that negotiators should always open by demanding the best possible terms — never preemptively compromise or diminish their own value. The example she chose was explicitly political and immigration-related, signaling both her professional philosophy (lead with your full ask) and her clear progressive social commitments.
What Kelly is looking for
This is her clearest area of enthusiasm. She wants original world-building, intricate magic systems, and stories that either subvert familiar tropes or execute them with exceptional craft. Historical fantasy, alternate universes, and contemporary settings with a dark or uncanny twist are all welcome. Genre hybrids are actively encouraged.
YA that tilts toward tension and dread — mystery, suspense, thriller, or stories with light horror elements — is firmly on her list. The same core standards apply: complex characters, propulsive pacing, and a web of relationships that extends beyond a central romance.
She takes contemporary YA only when it has an exceptionally strong hook, a compelling voice, and a rich network of non-romantic relationships — friendships and family dynamics are as important as any love interest. She needs to fall in love with the characters or have her heart broken by them; without that, she is not the right fit.
Adult fantasy is a major pillar of her wishlist in all its forms: romantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, cozy fantasy, and any genre mashup thereof. She loves lived-in worlds, fresh magic systems, morally complex characters, and stories that carry real emotional weight. If a book can make her laugh and cry in the same arc, she's in.
Near-future sci-fi and dystopian fiction for adults are both on her radar. She gravitates toward the commercially viable end of the spectrum while still welcoming work that is 'weird, contemplative, and quirky.' Character-driven speculative fiction with high stakes and lasting consequences is a strong fit.
She is open to adult mystery, thriller, and suspense, as well as romantic comedies. Genre mashups in this space are especially welcome. Her commercial instincts and love of propulsive pacing make her a natural fit for these categories, though she has not emphasized them as heavily as fantasy and sci-fi.
She is selectively acquiring adult nonfiction in the occult space: witchcraft, magick, tarot, and related esoteric practices and modalities. This is a narrow lane — general wellness, spirituality, or religion outside this specific tradition is unlikely to be a fit. Query only if the project sits squarely within this niche.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Kelly
Her form is currently closed (observed May 31, 2026) — bookmark the live submission page and check back rather than emailing cold.
Lead with character. Her most repeated requirement across every category is that she must care deeply about the people in your story. Open your query letter with a crisp, specific portrait of your protagonist's dilemma, not just your plot mechanics.
Name the genre mashup explicitly. She repeatedly singles out hybrid and genre-bending work as a plus — if your book sits between two categories, say so and lean into it rather than forcing it into one box.
If your story features found family, morally grey characters, complicated non-romantic relationships, or characters from marginalized communities, say so clearly — these are recurring touchstones in her stated preferences.
For YA, make clear that romance (if present) serves the larger story rather than driving it. One sentence in the query establishing what else is at stake beyond the love interest will go a long way.
For occult nonfiction, define your specific tradition or modality in the first paragraph — she is narrow here and needs to see immediately that you are squarely in the witchcraft/tarot/esoteric lane.
Her background in contracts and subsidiary rights means she thinks commercially about a book's life beyond the initial deal. A brief note on what makes your project commercially distinctive (not just literary) could resonate.
She has expressed a genuine commitment to working with creators from historically underrepresented communities — if that describes you, it is appropriate and welcome to mention it in your query.