Following an internship with agent Anna Olswanger, I became a Literary Associate with Olswanger Literary in September 2021. If you are a writer who has a polished manuscript in the areas of adult fiction or narrative nonfiction, please check below for my current submission status as well as my interests and submission guidelines. I am a member of the AALA. For more information on Olswanger Literary, visit www.olswangerliterary.com.
FRAUD ALERT: Olswanger Literary has become aware of someone impersonating one of our agents. Please know Olswanger Literary does not send representation agreements through Google Forms and never charges reading fees or representation fees. Annie Romano only requests manuscripts if a writer has queried her through QueryManager or if she has requested pages in person at a conference. If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to come from one of our agents, please contact us through our official website, www.olswangerliterary.com. Thank you.
WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR...
I accept submissions in the area of adult fiction, particularly upmarket fare with smart humor and a unique hook. I also am seeking upmarket and commercial fiction in the following areas: contemporary fiction, women's fiction, sharp romantic comedy (do not send me romance if there's no comedic element or original hook), psychological thrillers/suspense, mystery, and light/clever horror (not slasher; think more Grady Hendrix style for this). I welcome diverse narratives, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ and underrepresented ethnicities/cultures. I adore stories with well-done ensemble casts and plots that deliver the unexpected. Send me something unique that will make me laugh! I'd love to see book club fiction or something spooky and atmospheric. I enjoy and will consider literary fiction so long as there is a discernible structure/plot; I am not the best fit for stories focused on an emotional or sensory journey—beautiful as the writing may be—if the storyline is vague or absent. I am not seeking historical fiction at this time. I'm not a match for science fiction/fantasy but will consider stories with light elements of fantasy or magical realism grounded in a familiar world (think The House in the Cerulean Sea). Note: I do not represent any children's/YA projects and am not seeking nonfiction at this time.
SEND ME:
General Fiction
Upmarket
Commercial
Romantic Comedy
Literary
Women’s Fiction
Contemporary
Multicultural
LGBTQ+
Suspense/Thrillers
Mystery
Magical Realism
Light/clever horror (not gore-heavy)
General Fiction
Upmarket
Commercial
Romantic Comedy
Literary
Women’s Fiction
Contemporary
Multicultural
LGBTQ+
Suspense/Thrillers
Mystery
Magical Realism
Light/clever horror (not gore-heavy)
DO NOT SEND:
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Military/Political Fiction
Police Procedurals
Erotica
Children’s/Picture Books
Middle Grade
Young Adult
New Adult
Graphic Novels
Memoir
Poetry
Screenplays
Nonfiction
Want a better sense of what books have kept me turning the pages? Check out my Pinterest book boards:
ADULT FICTION
ADULT NONFICTION (I'm not seeking nonfiction currently, but this might give you a sense of topics I enjoy.)
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
PLEASE NOTE: I am open to queries the 1st-5th of each month. Please review my interests above or refer to my Manuscript Wishlist page to learn more about the types of manuscripts I'm seeking.
TO QUERY:
For adult fiction, include a brief query letter, the first 20 pages of your manuscript, and a synopsis using this link: https://QueryManager.com/AnnieRomano.
I aim to respond to all queries within 12 weeks. I regret that, when replying, I cannot provide specific feedback on manuscripts. This is an unfortunate reality of the time restraints of the business and the volume of queries received. I am keenly aware of the time and effort that goes into crafting a story, and I appreciate you trusting me with your work. (Note: Please send to only one Olswanger literary associate at a time. If one of us passes, you are welcome to submit to another.)
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS:
For conference inquiries and industry professional communication, I can be reached at [email protected]. (Writers: Do not send queries to this email. Any queries sent to this email will be deleted unread.)
PLEASE NOTE: I am open to queries the 1st-5th of each month. Please review my interests above or refer to my Manuscript Wishlist page to learn more about the types of manuscripts I'm seeking.
TO QUERY:
For adult fiction, include a brief query letter, the first 20 pages of your manuscript, and a synopsis using this link: https://QueryManager.com/AnnieRomano.
I aim to respond to all queries within 12 weeks. I regret that, when replying, I cannot provide specific feedback on manuscripts. This is an unfortunate reality of the time restraints of the business and the volume of queries received. I am keenly aware of the time and effort that goes into crafting a story, and I appreciate you trusting me with your work. (Note: Please send to only one Olswanger literary associate at a time. If one of us passes, you are welcome to submit to another.)
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS:
For conference inquiries and industry professional communication, I can be reached at [email protected]. (Writers: Do not send queries to this email. Any queries sent to this email will be deleted unread.)
QUERY TIPS
- Be sure your work is complete and polished before querying.
- Include the title, genre, word count, and recent comp titles/authors.
- Keep your bio brief and relevant.
- Do not send any materials that are not specifically requested in the submission guidelines.
- If you're submitting narrative nonfiction, include your credentials on the topic.
“No author dislikes to be edited as much as he dislikes not to be published.” - Russell Lynes