Serene Hakim is a culturally immersed agent at Ayesha Pande Literary who specializes in MG and YA fiction—particularly speculative work—and selectively takes on adult literary and upmarket fiction rooted in underrepresented voices, international themes, and questions of identity, family, and belonging.
In brief
Currently closed to queries as of April 1, 2025 — confirm her live form status before submitting anything.
Her own agency page signals a meaningful pivot: she is now primarily focused on MG and YA, and is taking adult writers 'more selectively' — a shift writers should take seriously when pitching adult fiction.
Her client roster is a reliable taste compass: Jean Chen Ho, Kaela Rivera, Gloria Muñoz, and Jihyun Yun all write fiction rooted in diaspora, cultural duality, and identity — matching her own biography as a child of Lebanese immigrants who grew up between cultures.
Speculative fiction with emotional and cultural weight is her consistent sweet spot: fantasy and sci-fi work best when anchored in grief, family, home, or identity rather than plot mechanics alone.
For adult work, the bar is high — she represents literary and upmarket fiction, not commercial genre; writers pitching adult projects should lead with voice, themes of marginalization, and cross-cultural resonance.
Lately
Her agency bio explicitly states that she is currently prioritizing MG and YA, and is taking on adult writers 'more selectively' — a meaningful recalibration of her list that writers pitching adult fiction should factor into their decision to query.
What Serene is looking for
MG is currently her primary focus according to her agency page, with speculative fiction — fantasy in particular — sitting at the center of that interest. She wants stories with emotional depth: books that explore grief, family, home, and identity through a fantastical or speculative lens. International themes and culturally specific voices are a strong draw.
YA is the other half of her stated primary focus. She's drawn to sci-fi and fantasy with a genuinely distinctive hook, as well as realistic contemporary YA featuring diverse characters — particularly stories involving the Middle East, immigrant experiences, or LGBTQ themes. Joy-filled books and books that go deep into grief are both welcome; what she resists is the generic.
She still takes adult fiction, but her agency page is explicit that she's doing so more selectively than before. What catches her attention: literary or upmarket work with international dimensions, underrepresented or marginalized perspectives, and strong, intriguing female characters. Women's fiction and family sagas with cultural specificity fit her taste. Adult writers should expect a higher bar and should make a compelling case for why their work is a fit for her list.
She seeks memoir that is either humorous and surprising or explores LGBTQ and feminist themes with substance. Her educational background in women's studies shapes her nonfiction sensibility — she's drawn to voices and experiences that challenge mainstream narratives. Spiritual or purely inspirational memoirs without a distinctive angle are unlikely to be a fit.
Not the right fit
On Serene's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Serene
She is currently closed — check the live status on the Ayesha Pande Literary website before sending anything. Submitting to a closed agent is wasted effort.
When she reopens, lead your query letter with the cultural and thematic stakes of your story: why this voice, why this world, why now. She responds to books rooted in identity, diaspora, and underrepresented experience.
If you're pitching YA or MG speculative fiction, make the 'unique hook' explicit in the first paragraph. Her wishlist specifically flags that she wants sci-fi and fantasy with something genuinely distinctive — don't bury the premise.
Adult fiction writers should frame their work within her selective tier: be explicit about literary merit, international or multicultural dimensions, and strong female characters. Do not pitch adult genre fiction as if it were a sure fit.
For memoir, clarify early whether the book is humorous, LGBTQ-focused, or feminist in its lens — these are the specific lanes she has named. General memoir without one of these anchors is unlikely to excite her.
Her educational background is in French and women's studies, with graduate training in literary translation — queries that signal cultural nuance, linguistic awareness, or feminist sensibility are likely to resonate.
Follow the agency's current submission guidelines precisely; the email address in her wishlist profile is queries@pandeliterary.com, but always confirm guidelines on the live agency page before submitting.