Lissa Woodson is a Chicago-based literary agent at The Macro Group who champions diverse voices in commercial women's fiction, specializing in romantic comedy, cozy mystery, domestic thriller, and romantic suspense — with a track record that includes deals at Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Harlequin.
In brief
Woodson is currently closed to general queries as of May 2026 — she is only accepting submissions through pitch workshops, vetted developmental editors, or referrals from existing clients. Writers must find one of these three entry points before approaching her.
Her sales record skews heavily toward commercial romance and women's fiction: her named best-known projects include Harlequin series titles (The Blake Sisters, The Kingsleys of Texas) and the widely cited Every Woman Needs a Wife, signaling a strong Harlequin/commercial-romance pipeline that her wishlist language undersells.
Her client roster includes New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, demonstrating genuine commercial reach — this is not a boutique-only operator, even though her current intake is tightly gated.
She also writes fiction herself under the pen name Naleighna Kai, which means she brings an author's craft perspective to editorial feedback — a meaningful differentiator that her clients explicitly call out.
Platform is a non-negotiable criterion: she actively checks social media, author websites, and prior publishing history before responding to any submission. A writer with no digital footprint will not advance regardless of manuscript quality.
Lately
Her current agency page states she has updated her intake policy: new submissions are only being accepted through pitch workshops, introductions from vetted developmental editors, or referrals from existing clients. This is a significant narrowing from her earlier email-query model.
What Lissa is looking for
She is actively hunting for adult romcoms with a truly distinctive authorial voice. She is explicit that the genre itself is well-trodden — what she wants is the singular perspective only that writer can bring. Generic executions of familiar beats will not move her; surprise her with concept or voice.
Cozy mysteries are a top priority, with a particular appetite for diverse protagonists and fresh settings. As with romcom, voice and perspective are the differentiators she emphasizes over plot mechanics.
She explicitly lists domestic thrillers and domestic suspense as a core focus. Narratives centered on family, home, and intimate betrayal from underrepresented perspectives align most naturally with her stated advocacy for diverse voices.
Her current agency page adds romantic suspense to the mix — a category that bridges her commercial romance track record (evident in her Harlequin deals) and her thriller interests. This is a natural fit given her sales history, though she does not foreground it as heavily as cozy mystery or domestic thriller.
Listed as a sub-genre interest in her wishlist materials. Fits within her broader thriller focus, though she does not single it out for special emphasis in her current agency page.
Appears in her sub-genre list but is not highlighted on her current agency page or in her primary stated categories. Treat as a possible if the project is exceptional and fits her diverse-voices priority — but lead with adult fiction if you have a choice.
Listed in her profile as a specialty area alongside fiction genres. This likely reflects her broader consulting and publishing work rather than a current active acquisition focus. Confirm directly before querying in this category.
Not the right fit
On Lissa's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Lissa
Do not cold-email a query while she is closed. Find one of the three active pathways: attend a pitch workshop she participates in, get introduced through a developmental editor she has vetted, or obtain a referral from a current client.
Build a real author platform before approaching. She will search your social media profiles and, if you have prior publications, your author website. A thin or nonexistent digital presence is a disqualifying factor — not a suggestion.
Lead with voice and concept, not plot summary. She has stated plainly that the genres she loves have been done every possible way; the only thing that justifies her taking on a new client is a perspective or concept she has never seen. Open your pitch with what makes your take singular.
Manuscripts must be previously unpublished. She does not consider projects with prior publication history, in any form.
Format your submission correctly: a proper cover page, traditional manuscript formatting, a tight synopsis or blurb, and confirmation that your genre matches her current list. She gives feedback on rejections and 'maybes' — but only to writers who followed directions.
Do not submit a project she has edited. Her policy explicitly bars representation of any manuscript on which she served as developmental editor, regardless of the project's quality.
Follow her on her social platforms — she specifically invites this and it signals you are engaged with her professional community, which matters to an agent who emphasizes author platform.