Rhian MacGillivray is a junior agent at Birch Literary with a decade-long background in Spanish-English translation and editing, hunting for emotionally resonant adult fiction across book club, commercial, historical, romance, romantic fantasy, and fantasy genres.
In brief
Currently CLOSED to unsolicited submissions as of March 2026 — confirm status before querying.
Rhian's taste skews literary-commercial: they want emotional depth and strong sense of place above all, whether in a WWII novel or a sports romance.
Historical fiction appears to be a genuine passion, not just a listed category — touchstones include two books Rhian calls all-time favorites, and the wishlist language around history is notably more personal than other sections.
Rhian draws a meaningful genre line between 'romantic fantasy' (plot-first, romance secondary, tight pacing) and 'romantasy' (romance-first) — pitching the wrong one is an easy miss.
A multilingual background in translation signals a likely affinity for stories that cross cultures or linguistic worlds, though this is an inference from professional history rather than a stated preference.
Lately
Rhian spotlighted a client's novel — described as a character-driven story threaded with musical ambition and complicated family dynamics — on its release on a subscription reading platform, signaling an active client relationship in commercial/book-club-adjacent fiction.
What Rhian is looking for
Rhian wants adult book club fiction with genuine emotional weight and the kind of immersive specificity that transports readers into an unfamiliar world or subculture — a unique setting, hobby, or profession that gives the story its texture. Stories built around sibling relationships, the complexities of motherhood, or the tensions and loyalties of female friendship are especially welcome. Interconnected ensemble casts with real depth are a major draw.
Rhian is after commercial fiction that balances humor and warmth without sacrificing substance. They're drawn to ensemble casts with layered, interconnected storylines, and to stories where comic timing and emotional honesty coexist. A sharp, genuinely funny romcom would get immediate attention.
Historical fiction is Rhian's self-described first love, and the wishlist language here is markedly more personal than elsewhere. They want to be fully transported — deep sense of place, vivid period detail, and characterization that makes historical figures feel alive rather than costumed. Literary historical fiction with emotional stakes is the sweet spot. Any era is presumably fair game given the breadth of the named touchstones.
Rhian wants romance that earns its genre label through complexity: characters who have ambitions and identities independent of the central relationship, genuine conflict, and pacing that doesn't stall. A sports romance centered on a niche or underrepresented sport would be especially compelling. Spice is acceptable but should serve the story, not overwhelm it. Fake-dating tropes and erotica are hard passes.
Rhian draws a deliberate distinction here: they prefer romantic fantasy — where the fantasy plot is the engine and the romance is a secondary thread — over romantasy, where romance dominates. The priority is a propulsive, high-stakes plot with a compelling protagonist; the love story should deepen the narrative rather than drive it.
For fantasy, Rhian is drawn to clever, idea-driven stories: heist narratives with adult stakes (not YA-adjacent), and cerebral world-building that uses its fantastical elements to illuminate something true about language, history, or human nature. Steampunk, portal fantasy, and vampire stories are not a fit.
Not the right fit
On Rhian's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Rhian
Rhian is CLOSED as of March 2026 — check Birch Literary's website for a reopening announcement before drafting anything.
When open, send a short query letter plus the first three chapters or up to 10,000 words of your manuscript, plus a 1–2 page synopsis — all pasted into the body of the email, not as attachments.
Query email: rhian@birchliterary.com
Genre clarity matters enormously here: if your book is fantasy with romance, state explicitly whether the fantasy plot drives the story (romantic fantasy) or whether the romance is the primary arc (romantasy). Rhian wants the former and is cool on the latter.
Lead your query with the specific world, subculture, or setting that makes your book club or commercial novel distinctive — Rhian's wishlist repeatedly gravitates toward books that open up an unfamiliar world.
If pitching historical fiction, foreground your sense of place and the emotional stakes of your characters rather than leading with plot mechanics — this is where Rhian's passion is most evident.
Avoid comping to YA titles even if the tone feels similar; Rhian wants adult fiction and the distinction matters.
Rhian's background as a Spanish-English translator suggests an affinity for prose that handles language and culture with care — if your work crosses linguistic or cultural worlds, that context may be worth noting briefly.
Do NOT submit sci-fi, horror, crime, thriller, suspense, non-fiction, memoir, novellas, or short story collections regardless of how the query window is framed.