Sera Rivers

Updated November 3, 2025

Sera is opening to select genres in adult fiction on the first 7 days of each month through November 2025! She will be closed to queries in December but will open again in January 2026. In the meantime, sign up for Sera’s monthly newsletter WRITE Agent at SeraRivers.com

Manuscript Wish List

Sera believes that words have the power to change lives, and she’s looking to represent authors and illustrators who want to make the world a more inclusive, welcoming place for us all. Sera seeks stories that grab her attention from the first page and take her on a wild ride of emotions; stories that move and inspire readers to evaluate their own selves and strive for something more. Her most favorite books make her laugh, cry, and feel so connected to the characters that her heart aches for them when she reads the last page. Please check out her Submissions Guidelines for more details on how to query her if you match her wishlist.

Please DO NOT submit:

• Author-only picture books
• Chapter books
• Fantasy
• Graphic Novels
• Historical Fiction (1980s and 1990s okay—MUST have a reason that the story can ONLY be set in that specific time period)
• Illustrators who do not also write
• Westerns

Please DO NOT submit stories that include the following:

• A.I. centered stories
• Animals Abuse
• Demonic possessions
• Kings, queens, princesses, princes, kingdoms, royal families, dragons, fairies
• Political thrillers
• War

In 2026, Sera is excited to sign:

Sera is especially interested in inclusive narratives and authentic representation. She encourages queries by authors and illustrators who identify as BIPOC, LQBTQIA+ and other underrepresented and marginalized identities and cultures. Sera is specifically looking for:

ADULT FICTION

Sera is especially interested in themes of social injustice and books by underrepresented authors in the vein of Emily Henry. Novels in verse are accepted if they fall into one of the categories below. Sera is only looking for stories in the following genres:

• Horror: psychological and subversive*
• Grounded science fiction
• Rom-com (by LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and other marginalized authors)
• Speculative (no fantasy)
• Thriller (except political)

*What is subversive horror? We Came to Welcome You by Vincent Tirado and Get Out by Jordan Peele are good examples; for more, see the “Social Horror” definition HERE

KIDLIT

Sera is not open to unsolicited queries in the children’s book space, except for referrals, conference attendees and pitch events (follow special submission guidelines). Sera is looking for select children’s books in the following genres (Novels in verse are accepted if they fall into one of the categories below):

Young Adult—horror; LGBTQIA+; thriller; stories by underrepresented authors

Picture Books (author-illustrator only)— horror; underrepresented stories by underrepresented creators

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to https://querymanager.com/query/serarivers

For novel submissions, please include your query letter, full synopsis (including the ending), and the first ten pages of your manuscript.

For picture book dummy submissions, please include your query letter and the dummy. Please attach the full dummy, or send a link (password protected); please  also send a link to your portfolio.

PLEASE NOTE: Sera only accept queries via Query Manager. She will do her very best to reply to queries within 6 months and full manuscript requests within 6 months.

Guidelines & Details