Connie Panzariello is a Janklow & Nesbit agent with deep roots in film and pop culture who hunts for dark, female-focused fiction, witchy and historical fantasy, true crime, and narrative nonfiction with an edge.
In brief
Panzariello's wishlist is unusually specific: dark female coming-of-age, a good twist, and a pop-culture sensibility run through almost every category they pursue.
The film and television producing background is not decorative — it shapes a consistent preference for propulsive, cinematic narratives with strong structural hooks.
British history, Tudor-era obsession in particular, gives historical fiction and historical fantasy a genuine inside reader; a pitch touching Henry VIII's court or the Boleyn world will land with someone who has literal skin in the game.
Fantasy is welcomed but with clear gates: it must be female-focused, diverse, or carry a period/historical element — straight epic fantasy without those qualities is not a fit.
True crime is an explicit 'will read anything' category, making it one of the lower-friction entry points alongside upmarket women's fiction and memoir.
Lately
Panzariello flagged an openness to fantasy specifically when it centers women, features diverse characters, or carries a historical flavor — clarifying that genre alone is not sufficient; the framing and focal characters matter just as much as the setting.
What Connie is looking for
This is the clearest sweet spot. Panzariello wants dark-edged, female-centered narratives — coming-of-age stories with psychological depth, social menace, and a notable twist. Think atmosphere, voice, and a sense that something is about to go very wrong. Humor, dark or otherwise, is a genuine plus rather than an afterthought.
Psychological thrillers and mysteries with a strong female perspective align perfectly with the overall taste profile. Sharp plotting and a dark tonal register are expected; literary quality elevates a submission above the pack.
An openly stated 'will read/watch anything' category. Both narrative true crime books and journalism-driven investigative nonfiction are in scope. Pop-culture resonance and a compelling central figure or case are the differentiators.
Panzariello is a self-described British history obsessive — Tudor history especially. Richly researched historical fiction with strong female protagonists will get genuine enthusiasm. The closer to a period they know cold, the sharper the read.
Fantasy is wanted only under specific conditions: it must be female-led, centered on diverse characters, or rooted in a historical or period setting. Panzariello gravitates toward lush, character-driven fantasy with witch or ghost story elements rather than traditional quest-driven epic fantasy. Straight secondary-world or male-led epic fantasy without these qualities is not a fit.
YA is on the list with a clear taste signal: immersive, high-concept fantasy and dark contemporary both work. The reference points skew toward sweeping, romantically charged stories with strong world-building and female leads. YA thriller or dark contemporary with a compelling voice would also be in range.
Memoir and essay collections are welcome, with a clear preference for work that engages pop culture — whether as subject, lens, or structural device. Voice-driven, culturally sharp, and ideally surprising in framing.
Deeply reported historical narratives and long-form journalism with a strong narrative spine are in scope. British and American history both work; pop-culture hooks elevate a pitch. Think big stories told through a specific, memorable human lens.
Panzariello has called out a genuine love of ghost stories and anything involving witches — these are personal enthusiasms, not mere category checkboxes. Horror that leans atmospheric and folkloric rather than purely visceral fits the taste profile best.
Not the right fit
On Connie's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Connie
Send a query letter, a brief synopsis, and the first ten pages pasted directly into the body of the email — not as attachments. This is a firm format requirement.
Lead with the genre, word count, and a one-line hook before anything else — Panzariello's background is in film and television, so a logline-style opener that captures stakes and voice quickly will resonate.
If your book has a Tudor or British history angle, say so explicitly early — this is a subject Panzariello knows with expert-level depth and will engage with enthusiastically.
For fantasy submissions, spell out clearly in the query that the book is female-led, features diverse characters, or is set in a historical period — the gate for fantasy is real and unstated context wastes both parties' time.
Dark humor is not a liability; if your voice or premise has comedic elements, name them. Panzariello has explicitly flagged humor as a plus across categories.
True crime queries should emphasize the narrative drive and the cultural stakes of the case — why this story, why now, and what makes it impossible to stop reading.
Confirm the current submission status on the live form at Janklow & Nesbit before sending — the status was not verified at the time this profile was compiled.
Address the query professionally but do not over-formalize; the wishlist voice is warm and specific, and a pitch that mirrors that directness will feel like a natural fit.