CRASH INTO YOU by Roni Loren

Hi!

I am the Associate Literary Agent at Nelson Literary Agency. Yes, I am actively and enthusiastically acquiring new clients! This means I am reading queries, sample pages and full manuscripts as quickly as possible and attending as many conferences as my schedule allows.

Our agency specializes in representing young adult and middle grade fiction, science fiction and fantasy, romance (all genres except category or inspirational), commercial fiction, women's fiction (including chick lit) and high concept literary fiction. Kristin Nelson founded the agency in 2002 and represents such bestsellers as Ally Carter, Jamie Ford, Simone Elkeles and Gail Carriger. I've been with the agency since 2006 and was promoted to Associate Literary Agent in 2009. As an agent, I tend to be pretty chatty with my clients - I email them about once a week with updates on submissions, offers, sales numbers, marketing ideas, contract negotiations, etc. I believe in setting clear expectations about the publishing process.

The majority of submissions recently have been in the young adult genre. Hurray! This branch of publishing feels especially vibrant and exciting right now. I seem to be drawn to contemporary YA novels - stories set in the real world, preferably with a multicultural or historical aspect (THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger is one of my all-time favorite books!) However, the fantasy, paranormal and science fiction novels I've read recently have also been blow-me-away great. I loved DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor and ASH by Malinda Lo and would love to see more submissions like these!

Personally, I would also love to work on more science fiction and fantasy books for adults. I love complex world building that is tightly woven with intense characters and an exciting story. I loved John Scalzi's OLD MAN'S WAR, Joe Abercrombie's THE HEROES and N.K. Jemisin's THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS as well as anything by Robin McKinley, Carol Berg, Scott Lynch and Naomi Novik. If you want to submit an sf/f novel, I'm your woman! Be aware that the number one reason I end up passing on these books is that writers tend to put too much info-dump in the first 30 pages. So, do a thorough reread for this common mistake before submitting.

In terms of romance, I love super sexy and intelligent books. Pamela Clare and Sherry Thomas are two of my favorite authors (Sherry was, in fact, my first slush pile find when I started working for Kristin). I am an avid romance fan - paranormal, historical, contemporary - I read it all. My favorite books recently have been LIKE NO OTHER LOVER by Julie Anne Long, THE IRON DUKE by Meljean Brook and NAKED by Megan Hart.

Sincerely,
Sara

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For more information about the Nelson Literary Agency, please feel free to see our website (www.nelsonagency.com) or check in on Kristin's blog at PubRants

In 2012, I plan to attend the following conferences:
North Texas Two-Step (speaking with Roni Loren), Colleyville, TX - March 30, 2012
Chicago North RWA Spring Fling (speaking with Tiffany Reisz), Chicago, IL - April 27, 2012
RWA National Conference, Anaheim, CA - July 25-28, 2012
DragonCon, Atlanta, GA - Aug 31-Sept 3, 2012

Also, for more information about me, here is a recent interview at the YA Highway blog where I talk about young adult novels with my fabulous author Miranda Kenneally: YA Highway Interview

And, a guest blog posting on being a feminist and a romance reader: Reader, I Created Him Blog

The Nelson Literary Agency is a Member of:

Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR)
Romance Writers of America (RWA)
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI)

Allison Rushby
www.allisonrushby.com

Ashlyn Macnamara
www.ashlynmacnamara.net

Dave Lowry

Elysia Whisler
www.elysiawhisler.com

Jane Kindred
www.janekindred.com

Jason Hough
www.jasonhough.com

Jennifer Shaw Wolf
www.jennifershawwolf.com

Kat Brauer
www.katbrauer.com

L.J. Boldyrev
www.ljboldyrev.com

Michael J. Martinez
www.michaeljmartinez.net

Miranda Kenneally
www.mirandakenneally.com

Natalie Bahm
www.nataliebahm.com

Roni Loren
www.roniloren.com

Sarah Skilton
www.sarahskilton.com

Stefan Bachmann
scathingjellyfish.blogspot.com

Steve Vera
www.stevewvera.com

Tiffany Reisz
www.tiffanyreisz.com

December 5, 2011
Fiction: General
Allison Rushby's six episodes in an original e-serial, pitched as DOWNTON ABBEY for the New Adult market where triplets, estranged since birth, are suddenly brought together and forced to compete for their inheritance, to Dan Weiss at St. Martin's, with Vicki Lame editing, for publication in 2012, by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency.

November 18, 2011
Fiction: Women's/Romance
Roni Loren's third and fourth contemporary erotic romance novels in her Loving on the Edge series, following the upcoming CRASH INTO YOU, to Kate Seaver at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2013, by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency.

November 7, 2011
Women's/Romance/Digital
Roni Loren's STILL INTO YOU, an enovella tie-in to her upcoming contemporary erotic romance CRASH INTO YOU, to Kate Seaver at Berkley Heat, for publication in 2012, by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency.

October 28, 2011
Fiction: Middle Grade
18-year-old classical musician currently studying at the Zurich Conservatory Stefan Bachmann's debut THE PECULIAR, about a changeling who suddenly finds himself at the center of a web of intrigue and danger when he is stalked by a sinister faery, to Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow, in a major deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2012, by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency.
Film: Kassie Evashevski at United Talent Agency

October 25, 2011
Fiction: Sci Fi/ Fantasy
Jason Hough's debut THE DARWIN ELEVATOR, about a group of scavengers immune to an alien disease who, alone, can save the remains of humanity if those aliens come back, to Michael Braff at Del Rey, in a very nice deal, in a three-book deal, by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency (World).

Nelson Literary Agency 2006-present

Graduate of Northwestern University

Foreign Rights: Whitney Lee of The Fielding Agency and Jenny Meyer of Jenny Meyer Literary Agency

Dramatic/Film Rights: We work with a variety of co-agents depending on the project including Kassie Evashevski of United Talent Agency, Amy Schiffman of Intellectual Property Group and Steve Fisher of APA.

Kristin Nelson, President and Senior Literary Agent
Lindsay Mergens, Marketing Director (NY Office)
Lori Bennett, Digital Liaison
Angie Rasmussen, Contracts and Royalties Manager
Anita Mumm, Literary Assistant

Please visit our website www.nelsonagency.com for submission guidelines, sample query letters, recommended resources and FAQs (all located on the "Submit Manuscript" page).

Query by email only (no attachments, headshots, sample pages or synopses please). We do not accept snail mail queries or submissions or queries by phone or in person. Please send email to query@nelsonagency.com. You are encouraged to include the link to your author website in your query letter.