Ashley Collom is a DeFiore and Company agent who hunts for feminist, queer, and "witchy" voices across upmarket women's fiction, romance, and a wide-ranging nonfiction list anchored by cookbooks, illustrated gift books, and mind-body-spirit titles.
In brief
Her confirmed deal record skews heavily toward nonfiction — cookbooks, illustrated food and color books, and practical self-help — suggesting that even as she expresses fiction interest, nonfiction is where she closes deals most consistently.
All five named recent sales are nonfiction, a signal that writers pitching her fiction should frame their work with strong commercial hooks and clear audience overlap with her nonfiction sensibility (feminist, queer, lifestyle-adjacent).
She has a documented taste for visually-driven or concept-led books: a color-based pasta cookbook (Linda Miller Nicholson), an illustrated rainbow positivity title (Jenipher Lyn), and a photography-meets-food project (Brittany Wright) all point to her love of books where the visual dimension is integral.
Her wishlist explicitly calls out lesbian contemporary YA and lesbian contemporary romance as specific priorities — a narrower, more actionable signal than a generic 'LGBTQ+ welcome' flag.
Note: one source fragment listed her under Thompson Literary; her current agency is DeFiore and Company, which should be treated as authoritative. Always verify her current affiliation before querying.
Lately
Across multiple public-facing bios, she has consistently described her nonfiction focus as covering books that can be aptly called feminist, queer, or witchy — a trio of descriptors she uses as a shorthand filter for her entire list, not just one corner of it.
What Ashley is looking for
This is the clearest throughline in her sales record. She is drawn to cookbooks and visually rich gift books where concept and image are inseparable — food photography, color-driven design, and lifestyle aesthetics all resonate. Projects that sit at the intersection of food, identity, or culture are especially strong fits.
She actively seeks titles covering manifestation, meditation, tarot, the occult, and related spiritual or wellness practices — particularly when framed through a feminist or queer lens. Think practical-but-elevated: less clinical, more lived-in and culturally aware. She herself cited Gabby Bernstein as a touchstone for the kind of voice she wants in this space.
She has an eclectic nonfiction appetite that extends to narrative and political work, especially projects exploring the intricacies of gender, race, and identity. Books that are journalistic in craft but personal in stakes tend to fit her sensibility.
Memoirs are welcome when the author's perspective is intersectional and the voice is distinctive. She is particularly drawn to LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and feminist storytellers whose personal narratives speak to broader cultural questions.
She wants women's fiction that sits comfortably in a book-club conversation — emotionally resonant, character-driven, and written with a literary sensibility that doesn't sacrifice accessibility. Work that makes her laugh and cry is the standard she sets. Feminist and queer perspectives are a plus, not an afterthought.
Romance is on her list, with a clear priority on lesbian contemporary romance specifically. She enjoys pop-culture-fluent voices, humor, and emotional authenticity. She cited Hannah Hart as a taste touchstone — that warmth, self-aware humor, and queer cultural literacy is the vibe she's after.
She explicitly called out lesbian contemporary YA as a specific interest — a meaningful distinction from a general YA welcome. The work should be contemporary in setting and grounded in authentic queer female experience, ideally with emotional heft and cultural specificity.
Not the right fit
On Ashley's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Ashley
Send to ashley@defliterary.com with 'AC Query' in the subject line — this exact subject line format is specified in her guidelines and should be followed precisely.
Include a brief description of your book and paste the first five pages directly in the body of the email. No attachments of any kind.
Lead your pitch with the identity angle that connects your work to her core filter — feminist, queer, or witchy. If your book hits more than one of those notes, say so early.
For nonfiction, show that your book has a strong visual or conceptual hook, not just a topic. Her sales record suggests she gravitates toward books with a clear aesthetic identity, not just informational content.
For romance or women's fiction, lean into the emotional specificity — she wants to laugh and cry, so give her a sentence that earns both reactions. Lesbian contemporary work should name that identity up front.
Avoid vague 'diverse' framing; she responds to specificity about whose perspective is centered and why that perspective matters for this particular book.
Confirm her submission status and current agency affiliation through DeFiore and Company's official website before sending — one source fragment listed a different agency, which may reflect an outdated record.