Overall, I’m seeking literary fiction, upmarket book club fiction, contemporary romance, psychological thrillers, mystery, and narrative nonfiction. In all fiction, I’m interested in messy people making tough choices, campus novels, unlikeable narrators who may or may not win you over, and women who gaslight, girlboss, or gatekeep. I love voice-driven writing, social commentary that resonates with the current culture and engages with social issues, or a critique on the ideals of femininity. I’m also interested in fun and new plots, family sagas, and classic retellings. For literary titles, I love an eerie setting, sharp observations, and strong hooks with atmospheric writing. In romance, I’m primarily looking for contemporary rom-coms with new takes on classic tropes. I love anything with the style of Nora Ephron movies and a 90’s/early 00’s setting. In the mystery/thriller space, I’d love to see elevated suspense (think Tana French and Riley Sager), especially with fun settings and a whodunnit plot. I’m partial to southern gothic and nature settings and would especially love a “Survivor” or “Succession” inspired psychological thriller (in terms of “Survivor”, I love anything set on a deserted island). Think light horror, dark academia, and unreliable narrators. In historical fiction, I’d prefer stories not set in Western Europe or the USA. Hidden histories and female-led retellings are my favorites here. In terms of nonfiction, I love undiscovered histories, pop culture/cultural criticism, conspiracy theories, women’s issues, internet culture, food and wine writing, fresh takes on true crime, and critiques on the wellness space. In any subject, I love deeply reported and investigative nonfiction. Some of my hobbies that I’d love to read about (whether that’s a setting, a character’s career, or a non-fiction title with a new take) include running, old Hollywood movies, and knitting. As a native Texan, I have a soft spot for stories set in Texas or the American south. I’m not the right fit for: military/police novels, “return to hometown” romances, fantasy, science fiction, most young adult, age-gap romance, dark romance, middle grade, picture books, fairy tale retellings, accidental pregnancy romance, and WWI/WWII historical fiction. Across the board, I welcome and encourage authors of all backgrounds, and am eager to work on inclusive books that reflect our world. Submission Guidelines All instructions are on my page. Guidelines & Details Vital Info @klberdinsky @kenberd Website Agent
Fiction
Commercial, Family Saga, General, Historical, Literary, Mystery, New Adult, Romance, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult
Non-Fiction
Biography, Cookbooks, History, Journalism, Memoir, Pop Culture, True Crime I’d like the next… Talking at Night by Claire Daverley, If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, Cue the Sun by Emily Nussbaum, Dogland by Tommy Tomlinson, You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, This Motherless Land by Nikki May, Wild Faith by Talia Levin, The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue, Penance by Eliza Clark, Trespasses by Louise Kennedy Authors: Ann Patchett, Tana French, Sally Rooney, Dolly Alderton, David Sedaris, Hannah Orenstein, Emily Henry, Charlotte McConaghy, Riley Sager, Rochelle Bilow, Stephanie Danler, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Nataly Gruender, Joyce Carol Oates, Ann Patchett, Liz Moore, Caroline O’Donoghue, Eliza Clark, Claire Keegan My favorites include… PRIDE & PREJUDICE by Jane Austen GHOSTS by Dolly Alderton HAMNET by Maggie O’Farrell LET’S EXPLORE DIABETES WITH OWLS by David Sedaris THE AGE OF INNOCENCE by Edith Wharton TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES by Ruth Reichl CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr SWEET SORROW by David Nicholls THE ONLY ONE LEFT by Riley Sager CONFESSIONS by Catherine Airey THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore THE PATRON SAINT OF LIARS by Ann Patchett