Query schedule: I am open for queries for the first five days of each month. I accept submissions in the area of adult fiction, particularly upmarket fare with smart humor and a unique hook. I am especially interested in witty rom-coms and page-turning psychological suspense. I also welcome upmarket and commercial fiction in the following areas: contemporary fiction, sharp romantic comedy (do not send me romance if there’s no comedic element or original hook), women’s fiction, psychological thrillers/suspense, mystery, and light/clever horror (no slasher/heavy gore; think more along the lines of Grady Hendrix for this). I welcome diverse narratives, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ and underrepresented ethnicities/cultures. I adore stories with well-done ensemble casts and plots that deliver the unexpected. Send me something unique that will make me laugh! I will consider literary fiction so long as there is a discernible structure/plot, but I am not the best fit for stories focused on an emotional or sensory journey—beautiful as the writing may be—if the storyline is vague or absent. I’d also love to see something spooky and atmospheric (again, not gory). I’m not a match for science fiction/fantasy but am open to stories with light elements of fantasy or magical realism grounded in a familiar world (think The House in the Cerulean Sea ). If you’ve got a strong book club fiction manuscript, send it my way. Please note: I am not accepting nonfiction submissions at this time.
Fun facts about me
I’m an author of two published picture books ( Before You Sleep ; Night Train ) who also writes middle grade novels and adult fiction. I’m a part-time bookseller at an indie bookstore–so much fun, plus I love being able to follow the current market. I graduated with a degree in English from Boston College (Go Eagles!) and worked for nearly two decades in special education as a speech-language therapist. I adore dogs, but ironically, I do not adore novels about dogs. Strange, I know! Submission Guidelines Submissions should be emailed to
NOTE
I am open to queries (via the link below) for the first five days of each month. To submit, please send a brief query letter, synopsis, and the first 20 pages of your manuscript to:. I aim to respond to queries within 12 weeks. I regret that, when replying, I cannot provide specific feedback on manuscripts. This is an unfortunate reality of the time restraints of the business and the volume of queries received. I am keenly aware of the time and effort that goes into crafting a story and appreciate you trusting me with your work.
SEND ME
General Fiction Upmarket Commercial Romantic Comedy Literary Women’s Fiction Contemporary Multicultural
LGBTQ+
Suspense/Thrillers Mystery Light/smart horror (not gore-heavy) Magical Realism
DO
NOT
SEND
Science Fiction/Fantasy Military/Political Fiction Police Procedurals Erotica Children’s/Picture Books Middle Grade Young Adult New Adult Graphic Novels Memoir Poetry Screenplays Short Story Collections Nonfiction Guidelines & Details, Vital Info @AnnieCRomano @@annieromano..social Linkedin Website Agent
Fiction
BIPOC Literature, Bookclub, Commercial, Contemporary, General, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Literary, Mystery, Thriller
Non-Fiction
History, True Crime
Favorite sub-genres
Adult Horror, Adult Rom Com, Diversity, Magical Realism, Multicultural, Multiple POV, Narrative Nonfiction, Psychological Horror, Psychological Suspense, Psychological Thrillers, Relationships, RomCom, Smart Beach Reads, Speculative, Suspense, Upmarket Commercial Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Women's Fiction I’d like the next… The Road to Tender Hearts (Annie Hartnett), Run for the Hills (Kevin Wilson), I See You’ve Called in Dead (John Kenney), The Wedding People (Alison Espach), Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Jesse Q. Sutanto), The Clementine Complex (Bob Mortimer), The Maid (