Kiya Evans is a Paper Literary agent with wide-ranging taste who hunts for emotionally immersive fiction — from ambitious romantasy and literary horror to big-hearted love stories and upmarket historical novels — with a particular hunger for LGBTQI+ narratives, singular voices, and books that feel like only one person in the world could have written them.
In brief
Evans reads broadly across literary and commercial fiction but keeps returning to two poles: high-concept genre fiction (fantasy, horror, dystopia, romantasy) and deeply character-driven love stories — the sales record should be watched closely as Paper Literary builds its list.
Their stated taste is unusually specific and citation-heavy: they name favourite authors from Shirley Jackson to Rebecca F. Kuang, giving writers strong comp anchors to work with when pitching.
LGBTQI+ narratives and stories exploring girlhood, growing up, and intergenerational dynamics are called out as genuine soft spots — not performative box-ticking — so querying writers with those themes have a real edge.
Evans explicitly wants both adult and YA in the genre/fantasy/romantasy space, which is rarer than it sounds — writers should not assume YA is less welcome.
Dark academia, gothic atmosphere, campus and secret-society settings are named desires; if your book could be compared to Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights in tone, Evans wants to hear from you.
Lately
Evans described a wish for contemporary horror that sits on the literary side — atmospheric, character-rooted, and comparable in sensibility to Julia Armfield's work rather than purely plot-driven genre fare.
What Kiya is looking for
Evans grew up on dystopian YA and fanfiction, and that formative diet still shows in what they chase: ambitious genre novels where extraordinary world-building serves the characters rather than eclipsing them. They want books with a high-concept one-line pitch that also carry genuine literary weight — think less airport blockbuster, more the kind of SFF or dystopian story that lingers. Romantasy with a strong hook and rich world is explicitly welcome, as are horror-edged speculative works in a more literary register. This category is open for both adult and YA submissions.
Evans has a deep love for Shirley Jackson and Angela Carter and is actively looking to sign contemporary horror that sits at the literary end of the spectrum — unsettling, atmospheric, and thematically rich rather than purely plot-driven. Gothic tones, campus settings, secret societies, and dark academia all appeal strongly. A novel that could genuinely be compared to Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights in mood and texture would be a particularly exciting find. They specifically call out wanting a contemporary horror in the vein of Julia Armfield's work.
Evans is drawn to books that put relationships — romantic or otherwise — at the centre of everything. They love classic romance tropes executed with wit and warmth, and respond strongly to sharp dialogue, a vivid sense of place, and emotional yearning. Irreverent approaches to love stories and unconventional relationship structures are welcome alongside more traditional romance. LGBTQI+ love stories are a specific priority. Books that are genuinely funny as well as moving earn 'big bonus points' in Evans's own words.
Evans wants commercially minded literary fiction with a fresh, zeitgeisty angle — writing that is sharp enough to feel literary but hooks readers the way a great book-club pick does. They are looking for stories that reframe everyday experience in unexpected ways, as well as books that could serve as a fictional answer to the kind of raw, confessional non-fiction memoir that has broken through culturally in recent years. Messy, funny, intergenerational female dynamics (Evans cites the TV show Hacks as a current obsession) would translate brilliantly into fiction they would love to represent.
Evans describes themselves as a history nerd and is actively seeking character-driven historical novels that do more than illuminate the past — they want books that genuinely shift how we understand the present. Historically underrepresented voices are a particular priority. The bar is high: Evans invokes Sarah Waters and Colson Whitehead as touchstones, signalling they want literary seriousness and ambitious scope alongside narrative propulsion.
Evans names LGBTQI+ stories as a genuine soft spot, not a secondary interest, and this applies across all the categories above rather than being confined to a single genre box. Writers working in any of Evans's target categories who also centre queer characters or experiences should lead with that in their pitch.
Stories that grapple with the messiness and complexity of girlhood and growing up hold a special place for Evans, whether they are contemporary, historical, or genre-inflected. This is a flavour that can run through other categories (YA fantasy, literary fiction, historical novels) rather than standing alone, but it is worth naming in a query if relevant.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Kiya
Open with your one-line high-concept pitch — Evans explicitly says a strong hook can live in plot OR voice, but you must make it legible fast.
Name your LGBTQI+ themes, girlhood/coming-of-age thread, or dark academia setting in the first paragraph if relevant — these are genuine priorities, not afterthoughts.
Anchor your comp titles in Evans's own reference pool where honest: The Hunger Games, Julia Armfield, Otessa Moshfegh, Sarah Waters, Colson Whitehead, Ali Hazelwood, Casey McQuiston are all named touchstones. A well-chosen comp from their list signals you have done your research.
Lead with voice. Evans lists Moshfegh as a fan-favourite and praises 'effortless writing' — a flat, plot-summary query will not land. Let the query letter itself demonstrate the voice of the manuscript.
If your book spans adult and YA appeal, say so explicitly — Evans is one of the few agents who actively welcomes both in the genre/fantasy space.
For historical fiction, state plainly whose story has been historically overlooked and what new understanding the novel delivers — Evans wants to feel the stakes of discovery, not just period atmosphere.
Avoid pitching non-fiction as a primary submission unless you have strong evidence Evans is actively seeking it; their stated appetite is overwhelmingly fiction.
Confirm the form is still open immediately before submitting — status can change without notice and the last verified open date is 2025-05-02.