Danielle Egan-Miller is the president of Browne & Miller Literary Associates and a heavyweight commercial-fiction agent whose deep Midwestern roots, gothic literary sensibility, and award-studded client roster make her a destination for crime, historical, and women's fiction with genuine substance.
In brief
Her stated passion for Midwestern settings and voices is not just talk — the agency's long-term award record in regional fiction (Minnesota Book Award, Colorado Book Award, Midwest Booksellers Choice Award) shows she can sell it and champion it all the way through the prize circuit.
Commercial adult fiction is her dominant lane by volume: hundreds of sales, multiple NYT bestsellers, and a client base decorated with Edgars, RITAs, Anthonys, and Barrys — suggesting strong imprint relationships across crime, romance, and women's fiction.
She explicitly closed the door on adult memoirs, YA, children's books of all kinds, and self-published titles, narrowing the field considerably; writers in those categories should not query.
Her personal reading life — Tana French, Donna Tartt, Daphne du Maurier, Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon — telegraphs exactly what she responds to emotionally: atmospheric, character-driven, slightly dark, deeply plotted, and emotionally generous.
Two 'white whale' obsessions (a Chicago historical thriller in the vein of The Alienist, and a golf-themed mystery) have gone unfilled for years — a niche but real opening for writers who can deliver precisely on those concepts.
Lately
Her 2024 wishlist update made explicit her ongoing search for a Chicago-set historical thriller in the spirit of The Alienist — a concept she describes as a 'white whale' she has pursued for years without finding the right manuscript. She stated the quest is ongoing.
What Danielle is looking for
This is her longest-running and most personal priority. She gravitates toward novels with a distinctly Midwestern soul — regional settings, regional voices, and the kind of unhurried, emotionally resonant storytelling she associates with works like This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace. The writing must be genuinely beautiful; atmosphere and a strong sense of place are non-negotiable.
She is actively seeking uplifting, charming novels with strong group-discussion appeal. The emotional register should lean warm and satisfying rather than bleak — books that leave readers feeling something good, whether the setting is historical or present-day.
A personal favorite category. She wants stories that carry genuine dread or the uncanny without being purely genre horror — literary novels with witches, the occult, or magical realism woven through them. Gothic fiction especially speaks to her. The writing must be literary-leaning; pure commercial horror is not the target.
She has a specific and enthusiastic appetite here: fictionalized real figures, sweeping love stories, a dash of mystery or suspense, Old Hollywood settings, and sagas of American high society and family dynasties — especially when privileged people behave badly. Think lush, cinematic, and a little scandalous.
She wants literary-leaning work rather than pure genre fare: original family dramas, domestic suspense with real psychological depth, thrillers with genuinely surprising twists. The female perspective must be central, not incidental. Her clients' awards (Edgar, Anthony, Barry, Dilys) confirm this is her strongest commercial lane.
Elegantly written narrative non-fiction by writers with established national platforms. She's drawn to forgotten corners of American history, dark Americana, and slices of cultural life that feel undercovered. Rock-and-roll stories hold a special place for her — she is a self-described longtime Deadhead. The writing standard is high: think the atmospheric, rigorously researched approach of Erik Larson.
She is open to contemporary wellness projects that blend an urban, sophisticated sensibility with genuinely practical guidance. The tone should feel intelligent and grounded rather than mystical or preachy.
A niche but sincere interest: she would entertain a standout memoir or novel centered on a dog, particularly — and she is quite specific about this — a Scottish Terrier or a Sealyham Terrier. This reflects her personal life as an owner of both breeds. The bar is very high and the brief is very narrow.
An unusually specific wish: a romantic comedy set in the professional tennis world. She is an avid tennis fan and has been openly searching for this book. If you've written it, query her — this is a genuine gap on her list.
Not the right fit
On Danielle's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Danielle
Send to the agency's official submissions email address (available on the agency's website) — no online form; this is an email-only shop.
Lead with the emotional hook of your novel before genre labels; her stated aesthetic values atmosphere, voice, and feeling over category.
If your book is set in Chicago, the Midwest, or features a distinctive regional American setting, name that prominently in your opening paragraph — it is a genuine differentiator for her.
If you are pitching one of her 'white whale' concepts (Chicago historical thriller, golf mystery, tennis rom-com), say so explicitly and early — she has been searching for these and will recognize the relevance immediately.
Do not query with adult memoir, YA, children's books, screenplays, or self-published work — she has explicitly closed these categories and querying them wastes both parties' time.
Her reading life — Austen, du Maurier, Tartt, French, Gabaldon — tells you the emotional register she responds to: literary ambition married to genuine storytelling pleasure. Pitch to that intersection.
Given her editorial background at major houses, she will notice and reward polished, publication-ready prose in your sample pages — do not query before the manuscript is fully revised.
If writing women's fiction or domestic suspense, emphasize the originality of your central conceit and any diabolical or unexpected structural twist — she specifically calls these out as desirable.
Confirm the submission form is still open before sending; query windows can close without notice.