Founded by Ayesha Pande, Ayesha Pande Literary is a New York–based literary agency representing groundbreaking voices across literary fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, journalism, scholarship, and works of cultural and political significance.

The agency is known for championing underrepresented voices, building long-term careers, and stewarding books that shape public conversation. Our clients include novelists, historians, journalists, public intellectuals, artists, activists, and cultural leaders whose work engages urgently with questions of identity, power, justice, history, and imagination.

APL represents a broad and distinguished list of authors, including bestselling and award-winning writers whose books have received honors such as the National Book Award, the PEN/Open Book Award, the Lambda Literary Award, the Carnegie Medal, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, among others. Our clients’ work has been translated internationally, adapted across media, and taught widely in schools and universities.

The agency also works closely with the James Baldwin Estate, helping to steward and expand Baldwin’s literary and cultural legacy across publishing, audio, film, theater, and other platforms. This work includes domestic and international licensing, new editions, cross-platform partnerships, and long-term strategic management of one of the most influential literary bodies of work of the twentieth century.

The agency combines editorial care with strategic advocacy across domestic publishing, foreign rights, audio, speaking, and cross-platform opportunities. We are deeply invested in helping authors build meaningful, sustainable careers over time.

APL maintains a strong commitment to literary excellence, ambitious storytelling, and work that expands the cultural conversation.