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What editors and agents are looking for...
Claire Baldwin – Headline Publishing
"I have been commissioning for our romance imprint Little Black Dress for the last two and half years, and I am now building a list for Headline Review with quite a wide brief, from historicals, to contemporary young women’s fiction, and some fantasy too".
Ricciarda Barbieri- Sperling & Kupfer
"Below you will find what Sperling & Kupfer publishes and what I am looking for.
Sperling & Kupfer’s fiction section includes established and best-selling authors such as Stephen King, Danielle Steel, Tom Rob Smith, John Grogan and, among the Italians Sveva Casati Modignani, Maria Daniela Raineri and Salvo Sottile. So we’re looking for quality high-concept commercial fiction, plot-driven books written in a readable style. We pay close attention to current events and fads in films and on TV and we keept a close eye on foreign bestseller lists. Recently we began a YA imprint in view of the success of books taken from Patty’s World, a well-known TV series for youngsters broadcast by Italia 1.
Alessandra Bazardi
Harlequin Mondadori is a joint venture between Harlequin Enterprises and Arnoldo Mondadori. Most of our books are Harlequin books translated into English. Nonetheless, the editorial team at Harlequin Mondadori will look at historical romances (we prefer Regencies or medievals, whether Italian or translated), and erotic romance, both historical and contemporary. We are not acquiring contemporary romance, chicklit, paranormal or suspense, or non fiction.
Our Frassinelli imprint, on the other hand, publishes literary fiction. Some of our best-known authors: Toni Morrison, Meir Shalev, Valerio Varesi, Alda Merini, Anna Gavalda, Richard Flanagan, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Nicholas Sparks".
Kathrin Blum – Rowohlt Verlag
"I am acquiring commercial fiction, (thriller, suspense fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction).
Francesca Casula - Aisara
Aìsara is looking for non-genre fiction, general non-fiction (not university or school textbooks) dealing with current events, and YA and children’s books, though I myself do not acquire the latter".
We are very interested in acquiring foreign works in translation which have not yet been published in Italy.
Patrizia Chendi - Sonzogno
"Women’s fiction, commercial fiction and up market fiction (historicals, romance, mysteries, thrillers, genre books) Trendy How To books with a humorous slant based on modern life. Mass market coffee table books".
Meg Davis – MBA Literary Agency
"You could say that what I'm NOT good at is chicklit, mumlit and non-fiction. My list tends towards genre (crime and historical mainly, but a fair bit of fantasy and science fiction) but I'm a bit unorthodox in my tastes so anything with a bit of character and individuality. I also represent scriptwriters for film, TV, radio and theatre".
April Eberhard
FICTION: (all must be 80-100k, with the exception of YA)
• Adult commercial and literary fiction, particularly
o Women's fiction--stories for, by and about women;
o Book club fiction, including crossover works that appeal to mothers and daughters alike, and provoke discussion of contemporary life issues;
o Urban fiction;
o Ironic family dramas;
o Realistic midlife tales with a sense of humor;
o Collections of short stories linked by a common character or theme;
o Historical fiction;
o Novellas
• Selected Young Adult fiction (60-80k)
What I am NOT looking for:
• Non-fiction
• Memoirs
• Mystery/Suspense
• Thrillers
• Westerns
• Romance
• Erotica
• Inspirational
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Wiebke Irlenkäuser - Ullstein
As I will be working in the Ullstein paperback, I will mostly be acquiring commercial titles - suspense novels, thriller, commercial women's fiction (which I prefer most) and historical novels.
Genevieve Pegg – Orion Publishing
I joined Orion from Penguin in 2004. As a senior commissioning editor on the Orion commercial fiction list I work on a broad selection of novels, from crime to rom-coms. I’ve been lucky enough to work with a range of wonderful authors from Kate Mosse to Tami Hoag, and a host of up and coming talent like Katie Agnew and Nicky Pellegrino. While I have been known to occasionally venture into non-fiction, with fabulous authors like Belle de Jour and Barbara Tate, I’m currently mainly on the lookout for women’s fiction. I’d love to find a new voice in historical fiction, or a female psychological novel – the slightly edgier side of stories that’s emerged in contemporary female fiction fascinates me, although I’m just as likely to be found escaping into the pages of a blockbuster given the chance. I love a good ‘book club read’ and ultimately, I’m on the search for original voices who tell a story with energy, surprise and narrative drive.
• Poetry
• Children's titles
• Screenplays
• Anything previously published
Maria Paola Romeo – Literary Agent – Grandi & Associati
"Grandi & Associati is a full-service literary agency. We not only promote our Italian clients’ books, both in Italy and abroad, we also represent foreign publishing houses and literary agencies in Italy, offering a wide spectrum of personalized services.
We represent authors who write both literary and commercial fiction for adults, YA and children’s books.
Non fiction: we will consider essays, a broad range of memoirs, including both humorous and educational memoirs. We rarely represent guidebooks or handbooks.
No school or university textbooks".
Theresa Chris
We handle commercial and literary fiction but no science fiction nor horror.
Very little non-fiction – some gardening and cookery books.
Jacqueline Smit – Orlando Uitgever
"Orlando publishes some translated fiction, mainly from the US and the UK.
What I am looking for in a manuscript is a well written story, authentic and inspiring, novels with strong narratives and striking voices. I love to be caught up in a story, to be moved and entertained.
We aim with our books at a readership of highly educated females, over 30 years old, who can connect with the (female) main character, recognize or or identify herself.
Then, when I fall in love with a manuscript/book, I also look at who is the original publisher in the country, sales figures and foreign sales, book reviews, literary prizes and the promotability of the author…"
Christine Witthohn
FICTION: (all must be 80-100k, with the exception of YA)
• Romance - Urban Fantasy, Dark Paranormal, Contemporary, Rom Coms, Mystery/Suspense
• Children's - Young Adult (60-85k)
• Women's Lit (must have a strong hook)
• Mainstream Mystery/Suspense
• Thrillers (with ordinary characters put in extraordinary situations)
• Literary Fiction
NON-FICTION: (I am looking for very specific NF)
• Women's Issues/Experiences
• Fun/Quirky Topics (particularly those of interest to women)
• Cookbooks (fun, ethnic, etc.)
• Gardening (herbs, plants, flowers, etc.)
• How-To Books
What I am NOT looking for:
• Category stories
• Erotica
• Inspirational
• Historical
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy
• Horror/Dark Thrillers
• Memoirs
• Short stories/Novellas
• Poetry
• Screenplays
• Anything previously published
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