Alex Gehringer is a Children's Illustration Agent at The Bright Agency whose romance/fiction wishlist — focused on NA romantasy and adult contemporary romance driven by crackling chemistry and immersive settings — appears to belong to a different, same-named agent; writers querying the fiction wishlist should verify they are reaching the correct person before submitting.
In brief
Critical identity conflict: The Bright Agency's own current website identifies Alex Gehringer exclusively as a Children's Illustration Agent who works with picture-book-through-middle-grade illustrators — not a fiction/romance agent. The detailed romance wishlist (NA romantasy, contemporary romance, speculative romance) circulating under this name does not match the agency page at all.
The submission form was directly observed as CLOSED on 2026-05-15. Do not attempt to submit until you can independently confirm the form has reopened.
The fiction wishlist, if authentic, shows a hyper-specific taste profile: NA-only romantasy (protagonists under ~25), adult or NA contemporary romance, and speculative romance — with adult romantasy, YA, and several popular tropes (rockstar, billionaire, mafia, dating-app) explicitly off the table.
No confirmed deal record is available to cross-reference against the fiction wishlist, which means there is no sales-based evidence of commercial muscle in romance — an important gap writers should weigh.
Bottom line for writers: resolve the identity question first. If the fiction wishlist belongs to a different Alex Gehringer at a different agency, this Bright Agency profile is irrelevant to your submission. Confirm the agent's correct current home before querying.
Lately
The Bright Agency's own live website currently describes Alex Gehringer solely as a Children's Illustration Agent representing illustrators from board books through middle grade — with no mention of fiction, romance, or adult literary representation. This is the highest-authority signal available and conflicts directly with the circulating fiction wishlist.
What Alex is looking for
The fiction wishlist's clearest priority — and the most restricted. Romantasy is wanted ONLY in the new adult space (protagonists roughly 18–25). The romantic tension and chemistry between leads must anchor the story even when magic, epic quests, tragic bargains, or high-stakes world-building are in play. Think emotionally vivid fantasy realms on the scale of a Callie Hart or V.E. Schwab novel, but with younger protagonists and NA sensibility. Adult romantasy (characters over approximately 25) is explicitly excluded.
Slow-burn, character-driven stories with sharp humor and dialogue that crackles. The central duo must have genuine bite and palpable tension — oppositional chemistry is the engine. Settings should feel essential and emotionally resonant, whether a cozy small town full of nosy neighbors or a sweeping cross-continental story. Beloved tropes include enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, fake relationships, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, found family, and rivals.
Open to speculative romance across both new adult and adult — a broader lane than romantasy. Vampires, grim reapers, ghosts, and paranormal conceits are all welcome. The romance must remain central, not secondary to the speculative premise.
Actively seeking romance set against heist or con-artist plots — the slick ensemble energy of a caper film translated into romantic fiction. The hook is the blend of high-stakes plotting and interpersonal chemistry.
A specific and emphatic wish-list item: contemporary-feeling protagonists in their twenties navigating dystopian or parallel-universe futures. The emotional register should feel grounded and relatable despite the speculative backdrop — classic American realism energy transposed into a future or alternate world, or a swashbuckling thriller aesthetic filtered through a speculative lens.
Holiday, hometown, or magical cozy romances are welcomed. Warm community settings with nosy locals fit squarely within the stated taste for immersive, emotionally resonant environments.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Alex
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE: Resolve the identity conflict. The agency website for this name lists a Children's Illustration Agent, not a fiction/romance agent. Confirm you have the correct agent at the correct agency — submitting to the wrong person wastes your query and your time.
The form is closed as of 2026-05-15. Check the live form for a reopening date before preparing your materials.
Do not email your query. The wishlist is explicit: email submissions are deleted. Use only the designated online form.
Lead with a punchy hook that captures the premise's core tension — what makes your specific duo spark. This agent's entire taste framework centers on chemistry and banter, so your pitch should demonstrate that energy from the first line.
For romantasy, state your protagonists' ages clearly and early. Adult romantasy (characters over ~25) is a hard no; confirming your leads are in the NA range signals you've read the wishlist carefully.
Comps matter but authenticity matters more. The wishlist explicitly says to skip comps rather than force weak ones. If you use them, draw from recent published fiction or from film/TV (the agent named specific titles in both categories as taste signals).
Include a brief pitch (hook + short plot summary), note any prior publication history (traditional or self-published), attach your first chapter, and include your prologue separately if you have one — it will not count against your chapter allotment.
Strong secondary characters are a genuine plus. If your cast includes supporting figures compelling enough to anchor their own stories, find a way to convey that in your pitch.