 |
||
              |
Market Update is intended for informational purposes only. Romance Writers United takes no liability or
responsibility for the business practices or financial position of any publisher or agent / agency.
Agent submission guidelines are provided as a courtesy to members of Romance Writers United, as well as those seeking publication in the romance market. The information on this page may not be copied, distributed, or reprinted in any format, or for any purpose. Donald Maas Literary Agency Suite 801 121 West 27th Street New York, NY 10001 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Jennifer Jackson How to Query: E-mail queries can be sent to info@maassagency.com and should include the word "query" in the subject line. Please know that we promptly and carefully read every e-query that we receive. We will respond to every e-query that is properly addressed and follows the submission guidelines below. We will not respond to e-queries that are addressed to no one, or to multiple recipients. Because of security concerns we do not open or respond to any e-mails that have attachments, so please be sure to put your query letter in the body of your e-mail. Please also paste your synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript into the body of your e-mail. Alternately, you may wish to send your query letter by snail mail. We respond to every posted query that we receive. Please include your synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for our reply. If you would like to receive your partial or manuscript back if we should decline, make sure to include enough postage for its return. Please use U.S. stamps or, where unavailable, International Reply Coupons (IRCs) from your local post office. Do not send pre-paid FedEx or UPS mailers or metered postage for the return of your materials. If we like the sound of your novel, we will request sample chapters and a synopsis. If we like your sample chapters, we will request the whole manuscript. If we like the whole manuscript, you will hear from us! No reading fees or expenses are charged at any time. Estimated Response Time: To answer your query letter, two to three weeks. To read your sample chapters and outline, about the same. To read your whole manuscript, overnight to a few months. (If we request it, please check with us.) Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: We are fiction specialists. All genres are welcome. We handle many authors of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, horror, romance, historical, literary and mainstream novels. To learn more about the clients we represent, check out our client list. Our list is always tight, but never totally full. Currently, We Are Not Looking To Represent: Non-fiction, poetry nor any kind of picture books. Folio Literary Management 505 8th Avenue, Suite 603 New York, NY 10018 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Paige Wheeler Paige Wheeler is a founding partner of Folio Literary Management, LLC. Prior to forming Folio Literary Management, Ms. Wheeler founded Creative Media Agency (CMA) in 1997 and served as its President for nine years until she merged the company into her new venture, FOLIO, in 2006. How to Query: I am currently accepting EMAIL queries only. Send your query letter to: pwheeler(@)foliolit.com. Please write in the subject line of your email 'query' or it may get deleted as spam. Please don't include any attachments but just have the query in the body of the email. Your query letter should include your name and contact information, the date, the type of project (genre), the word count, gratuitous flattery (thought I'd stick that in there), a brief summary of the project, if any editors have seen the info, a bit of personal information about yourself (books published, MFA, articles written, etc.), and a full synopsis and the first 5 pages of text. If you have sold previously, I'd like sales information about your books. Some favorite (non-client) books: I love Victoria Holt, Pam Houston, Amy Tan, Patricia Cornwell, Lawrence Block, Helen Fielding, Kate White, Peter Mayle, Frances Mayes, Steven J. Gould, Chinua Achebe, Janet Evanovich, Laura Hillenbrand, Dava Sobel, Meg Cabot, Richard Ford, Tracy Chevalier, Philippa Gregory, to name a few. What kind of writing inspires me: Well, what "inspires" me and what makes me money may be two totally different things. I'm motivated by projects that are commercially viable and that I love. However, sometimes I love books that aren't commercially viable. I like books that are well organized and constructed and have a brilliant and unique voice. More specifically, for fiction I like plot lines that make sense and may give a fun twist to a tired storyline, or that have really fun, believable characters that shine, and are well written with thoughtful prose. In nonfiction, I like for the author to have the expertise to write the book and the platform to help sell it. The projects should cover a niche that has yet to be addressed and be timely and necessary, or at the very least, interesting. What I love about my job: I love to be an author's advocate. It's a thrill to make a writer's dream come true of selling their book. It's even more exciting to help that person grow their career. As much as I'd love to shut myself off from the world and read, I'm also an extrovert and love meeting with people. This job really fits my personality. Also, the individuals that make up the publishing industry are simply wonderful: they're smart, opinionated, well-read, and a bit quirky. Estimated Response Time: I strongly prefer email queries although I do read snail mail queries but it takes a while. I typically respond to email queries within 2-3 weeks, though often more quickly than that. If you have sent me a query and haven't heard back, please contact me by the same means that you initially made contact. Include a copy of your original query. Please be sure that you have written QUERY in the subject line, otherwise it will be treated as junk mail. Snail mail queries will take me a bit longer. If I've requested material from you, I typically respond within 4 weeks (for partials or non-fiction proposals), or two months for full manuscripts. Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: I'm looking to represent all different types of projects. Lately, I've been reading upscale commercial fiction (heading toward literary but stopping short) and nonfiction books that tell a unique story or ones in which the author has a huge platform. Most importantly, I love it if the book has a high concept. Can you describe it in a sentence? Is the writing really, really strong? Is your voice unique? Fiction: All commercial fiction and Upscale (think book club) fiction as well as women's fiction, romance (all types), mystery, thrillers, psychological suspense, and some young adult. Nonfiction: I'm looking for both narrative nonfiction and prescriptive nonfiction. I'm looking for books where the author has a huge platform and something new to say in a particular area. Some of the areas that I like are lifestyle, relationship, business (!), pop-culture, popular/trendy reference projects and women's issues. Currently, We Are Not Looking To Represent: Fiction: Children's, science fiction, fantasy Nonfiction: Academic nonfiction Irene Goodman Literary Agency 80 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, New York 10011 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Irene Goodman Barbara Poelle How to Query: All submissions should be sent by e-mail. We do not consider snail mail queries. We expect a professional presentation that fits basic industry standards. Send a query letter with a detailed synopsis, any credits, and the first three chapters pasted into the body of the email, to queries@irenegoodman.com. Please do not send anything other than the requested materials. If you send several chapters or a complete manuscript, we will have to delete it. Because we are receiving over 50 queries a day, the system is getting overloaded. If your e-mail bounces back, please do not call the office. Just try again in a day or two. Estimated Response Time: One to two months Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: We are always looking for the finest in commercial fiction and non-fiction. We have a strong background in women's voices, including mysteries, romance, women's fiction, thrillers, suspense, and chick lit. Historical fiction is one of Irene's particular passions and Miriam is fanatical about modern urban fantasies. We are also very interested in Young Adult fiction, both literary and those with an edgy, chick-litty voice. Mortimer Literary Agency 52645 Paui Road Aguanga, CA 92536 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Kelly L. Mortimer THE AGENCY IS CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS with these few exceptions: (1) If an editor from a traditional publishing house* has offered to buy your manuscript and you need representation, you can query, but I dont guarantee representation. A sure sale isn't enough for me. *A publishing house that pays an advance of at least $1,000.00, as required to be a member of RWAs PAN. (2) If you have an appointment with me at a conference, I'll listen to your pitch, and may ask for a partial. Only make an appointment to pitch if you have a COMPLETED manuscript. You have six (6) months from the time I make the request to send the material. (3) If I've invited you to submit or resubmit. (4) Every month I'll draw a set of initials out of a bag, at random, and post them somewhere on the "Boo-Yahs!" page at www.mortimerliterary.com. If the initials match yours, you can query any time in that month. Note: Have to be your initials in the correct order (first name, last name), or the initials of your pseudonym. Please dont e-mail to ask if any other combination of initials qualify! (5) If a best-selling author of note, or an existing client recommends you, you can query. The author needs to give me a "heads-up." Note: As for my clients, they have to OFFER to recommend you. (6) If you final in a contest I'm judging, I may ask to see more of your manuscript. How to Query: Mortimer Literary accepts e-mail queries exclusively. No snail-mail queries! Explain in the first paragraph of your query which of the above gives you an invitation to query. Send your one-page query letter (if the above describes your situation) as an attachment to: query@mortimerliterary.com. Please type: Query / (the title of your manuscript) on the subject line of your e-mail. Please dont send unsolicited pages, partials, synopses, or full manuscripts. Estimated Response Time: Queries: 1-2 business days Partials: 4 weeks Full manuscripts/100-page Requests: 2-3 months Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: Category/Series (taken on a Letter of Intent); Contemporary; Romantic Comedy; Historical Romance; Inspirational: Single Title or Category/Series (except Romantic Suspense/Cozy Mysteries); Paranormal Romance/Time Travel; Historical Fiction; Thrillers/Suspense (including military); Women's Fiction; YA/Middle Grade; Non-Fiction Currently, We Are Not Looking To Represent: Anything with the word 'lit' after it (no offense intended); Inspirational: Romantic Suspense or Cozy Mysteries; Romantic Suspense; Cozy Mysteries; Children's Books / Picture Books; Poetry; Erotica or Romantica; Sci-Fi/Fantasy; Westerns Pema Brown Ltd. 11 Tena Place Valley Cottage, N Y 10989 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Pema Brown How to Query: Queries must be sent by mail and include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for reply or return of material. We review manuscripts only if never sent out to publishers. We require that manuscripts be sent to only one agent at a time. We do not accept phone, fax or email queries with attachments. Estimated Response Time: 6-8 weeks Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: All types of romance, that are well written Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency PMB 515 1155 Camino del Mar Del Mar, CA 92014 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Kevan Lyon How to Query: The Dijkstra Agency only accepts submissions by hard copy to our mailing address. Please send a query/cover letter, a 1 to 2 page synopsis and a sample of your manuscript (approximately 50 pages to a chapter break, double spaced and unbound). Also please be sure to include a self addressed stamped envelope with your submission for our reply. If you would like your entire submission returned to you, please include an adequately sized envelope with sufficient postage to cover its return. If we are interested in seeing more of your work we will be in touch via email. Submission tips:
Estimated Response Time: Our response time to all submissions is 4-6 weeks. Please do not contact us to check on your submission during this time. If you have not heard from us after 6 weeks, you are welcome to follow up with us. Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: In a fiction project, Kevan loves sweeping, complex stories with strong female characters. Her authors in women's fiction span a broad range of genres from the literary side, to commercial projects in all genres of romance including historical, contemporary, suspense, and paranormal. She loves to be surprised by a unique plot and is always looking for a fresh, new approach. In non-fiction, she looks for topics that speak to issues of particular concern to women and families. The Seymour Agency 475 Miner Street Road Canton, New York 13617 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Mary Sue Seymour How to Query: To submit material to The Seymour Agency, can email a brief query. No enclosures will be opened and no emailed materials will be considered. Can also use any other type of mail. To submit nonfiction, please send a proposal written in standard format with author's bio, competitive titles, overview, etc. If you have a sample chapter to demonstrate your style of writing, include it. To submit fiction, send title page stating genre and/or targeted audience with word count, half page author's bio, a synopsis and the first fifty pages of text. The only fiction The SA handles is romance, Christian books. If writers want their material returned, they must include SASE. If writers want simply a response, they must include a response letter-sized SASE. Due to high mail volume, materials without enclosed SASE can not be returned. (Sorry about that...) Please don't email entire manuscripts or fax queries or materials. Email submissons to: marysue@twcny.rr.com Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: Mary Sue is looking for new clients who write any type of romance including historical, contemporary category, contemporary mainstream, suspense, paranormal, regency or inspirational - basically any type of romance. She will also read mysteries of any type. She is also looking for writers of nonfiction. She wants nonfiction about real life heroes, prescriptive books, cookbooks, and basically any type of nonfiction by credentialed authors. She is looking for Christian books of any type. Currently, We Are Not Looking To Represent: Magazine articles, e-published or self-published books, general novels, children's books, poetry, short stories, New Age and books contradictory to fundamental Christian beliefs. Three Seas Literary Agency P.O. Box 8571 Madison, WI 53708 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Michelle Grajkowski Cori Deyoe As of March 12, 2008 we are now accepting email queries only. Please email your submission to: queries@threeseaslit.com Please note: all snail mail queries received before May 1, 2008 will be responded to, providing a SASE has been included with the submission. It is not necessary to email a new query. How to Query: Fiction: Please email the first chapter and synopsis. Also, be sure to include the genre and the number of words in your manuscript, as well as pertinent writing experience in your cover letter. Non-Fiction: Please email your full non-fiction proposal including a query letter and your first chapter. If you are uncertain how to prepare a non-fiction proposal, there are many books available on this subject. Children's Books: YA and Middle Grade: Please follow the fiction guidelines above. Picture Books: Please email the complete picture book text. Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: We specialize in romance, women's fiction and children's books. Currently, we are looking for fantastic authors with a voice of their own. More specifically, we love any type of romance (historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, paranormal, chick lit, inspirations and fantasy) and young adult and middle-grade fiction as well as mysteries, thrillers and select nonfiction titles. Wendy Sherman Associates, Inc. 450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2307 New York, NY 10123 Agent(s) Accepting Romance Fiction Queries: Emmanuelle Alspaugh How to Query: Email queries preferred. Send submissions to: emmanuelle@wsherman.com For fiction: please send a query letter with enough information about the novel and your writing credentials for us to evaluate whether the material is going to be right for us. A brief description of the story and the style of the writing is what we're looking for. You are also welcome to include the first chapter. Please include information about your previous publications, awards, and conferences and workshops you have attended. For non-fiction please send a query letter with a clear description of the proposed book, a table of contents or outline and a sample chapter. The writer's qualifications and credentials such as expertise in the subject area and promotional experience are essential to our assessment of the salability of the material. For both fiction and non-fiction please include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Only queries with a SASE will be responded to. Please specify whether the material is being considered by other agencies. We strongly discourage phone calls and fax queries. Foreign submissions are welcome. We ask that you include an email address for our reply. Please note that we will not return material or reply to an international address. All responses to foreign submissions will be communicated by email only. Guidelines for your query: DO:
Estimated Response Time: We generally respond to all queries within four weeks, and while we carefully consider every submission, the high volume of submissions we receive makes it impossible to write a personal letter with each reply. Currently, We Are Looking To Represent: Emmanuelle is looking for irresistible literary and commercial fiction, including romance, plus nonfiction in the areas of memoir, biography, journalism, history, business, and travel. A story told in a strong and specific voice, with characters so real that she feels like she's met them, will always grab her attention. On vacation she's equally likely to be reading Middlesex or Middlemarch, and some of her special favorites are Watership Down, The Glass Castle, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. In nonfiction, she looks for well-rounded proposals with sample chapters that include anecdotes to illustrate the author's points. Currently, We Are Not Looking To Represent: Genre fiction such as mystery, fantasy and science fiction. We do not handle children's books. We do not handle screenplays. |
