Brandy Vallance is a multi-award-winning author turned assistant literary agent at Barbara Bova Literary Agency who hunts for emotionally rich, atmospheric fiction—especially historical romance, literary fiction, and faith-inflected stories with a sense of wonder and place.
In brief
Her submissions form was confirmed closed as of late November 2024 — verify the live form before querying.
Her stated interests are unusually broad ('quality over genre'), but her own agency page anchors her core focus to historical fiction, historical romance, literary fiction, YA, Christian/inspirational fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi.
She is a published author herself (two books, including award-winning work) and a longtime writing coach — she likely reads craft with a sharp, empathetic eye and responds well to writers who demonstrate intentional voice.
Her taste skews strongly toward the atmospheric and emotionally immersive: lyrical prose, layered worldbuilding, hope-filled or redemptive arcs, and settings that feel lived-in (British Isles, European or exotic locales, Appalachia).
No confirmed public sales record is available, so her deals and publisher relationships cannot be assessed — she is early in her agenting career and brings her background as an International Publishing Specialist and story consultant rather than a long track record of representation.
Lately
Her wishlist emphasizes that she considers quality and craft more decisive than genre — she has invited writers across a wide range of categories to query as long as the writing itself is outstanding.
What Brandy is looking for
This is the core of her stated interest and her own writing background. She is drawn to Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian settings in particular, as well as other historical eras and locations. Settings in the British Isles, continental Europe, manor houses, castles, or quaint villages are a strong draw. Stories rooted in real history's mysteries, archaeology, or artifacts have a particular pull.
She is specifically looking for atmospheric, lyrical, or literary-voiced prose — work that uses personification, metaphor, and emotional depth as tools. Women's fiction and Southern or Appalachian fiction with a strong sense of place and culture fit this lane. The writing quality itself is her primary criterion; she has said explicitly that craft and voice matter more to her than genre.
Stories of faith, redemption, and hope are a clear priority. She wants work that explores spiritual or biblical themes without feeling heavy-handed or preachy — the Charles Martin model of faith-forward literary fiction is her stated touchstone. She is also drawn to what she calls 'thin places' and sacred spaces: moments of genuine supernatural or God-encounter that feel woven into the narrative rather than imposed.
She welcomes speculative fiction but holds it to a high creative bar: magic systems must feel genuinely fresh and distinct rather than derivative of existing popular works. Worldbuilding depth and cultural richness are non-negotiable. She wants to feel a sense of wonder that is unique to that world, and any creatures or fantastical elements should feel fully imagined rather than genre-familiar. Story clones of popular franchises are a firm pass.
YA is listed on her agency page as an active interest. The same taste markers apply — voice, emotional depth, atmospheric writing, and hopeful or meaningful endings. YA that overlaps with her other core interests (historical, speculative, faith-adjacent) is likely the best fit.
Thrillers and adventure stories are on her list, particularly when they involve history's mysteries, unusual protagonists, exotic or atmospheric settings, or artifacts and archaeology. These feel most at home when they carry a literary or emotionally resonant layer rather than being purely plot-driven.
She has a personal affinity for cryptids, folklore, and time travel as narrative devices. Cultures that are underrepresented in mainstream publishing interest her. These elements are most welcome when embedded in a larger story with strong craft and emotional stakes rather than treated as pure genre exercises.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Brandy
Her form was closed as of late November 2024 — check its live status before doing anything else. Submitting to a closed form is wasted effort.
She accepts simultaneous submissions, so you do not need to query exclusively.
Her response window is up to 16 weeks; no reply after that point should be read as a pass.
Lead with voice and atmosphere in your query letter — she responds to writing that makes her feel something, so let a sentence or two of your actual prose style come through even in the pitch.
If your book involves faith, redemption, or spiritual themes, name that clearly and without apology — she actively wants it and won't be put off by it as long as it isn't preachy.
For fantasy or sci-fi, spend real estate in your query explaining what makes your magic system or world genuinely original. She is wary of genre clones — show her what sets yours apart before she can wonder.
Setting is a major draw for her. If your story is set in the British Isles, Europe, Appalachia, or another strongly atmospheric location, foreground that in your pitch.
She is a published author and writing coach herself — a query that demonstrates awareness of craft (not just plot) will resonate. Don't just summarize; show you understand what your book is doing emotionally and thematically.
If your book features characters who are writers, artists, archaeologists, or practitioners of unusual professions, that is worth a line in your query — it aligns with her stated interests.