Query Submission

You are querying Joanna MacKenzie | Nelson Literary Agency

As a reminder, please choose only one agent at Nelson Literary to query per project as we do actually share queries with each other. A pass from one agent is a pass from all of us for that particular project.

• High-concept, twisty, unputdownable stories with a strong voice in the areas of women’s fiction, thriller, and speculative. (Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, Before I Go To Sleep by S.J Watson, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch)
• Timely commercial fiction in which the personal intersects with the world at large, and/or that explores toxic friendships and complex, challenging family dynamics. (Luster by Raven Leilani, This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel)
• Heartfelt and timeless stories that you want to re-read about identity, unlikely friendships, reinvention, second acts, and women finding their voices and power, especially with touches of magic or speculative or time slips. (The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub)
• Voicey, confident, atmospheric mysteries set in close-knit communities; creepy islands and Midwest-set are a plus. (The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Only Murders In The Building, the Shetland series by Ann Cleeves)
• Because I came to Chicago by way of Poland and Canada, I’m always looking for stories about the immigrant experience. (The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri is a longtime favorite.)
• Diverse take on Kids On Bikes narratives—if they happen to be set in the Midwest or Canadian prairies, all the better
• Elin Hilderbrand and/or Louise Penny for the Third Coast—I’d love to see something set in a resort town in Michigan
• Recent binges: The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson; Never Have I Ever; Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan; The Partner Track

Step 1. Tell us about the author

Fill in these author-related fields.

First Name: (required)

Last Name: (required)

E-Mail Address: (required)

Phone Number: (required)

Biography: (required) Tell us a little about yourself and any writing credentials you may have.

Website Address: (if you have one)

Blog Address (if you have one)

Twitter Handle (if you have one)

Have you previously published other books? Yes No

Have you ever been represented by a literary agent before? Yes No

If you previously self-published a book, about how many copies were sold in the first year?

If this query is a referral, who referred you?

If you've had book-length work published by a major publisher, please list titles.

If you've had prior representation, who was your literary agent?

How did you hear about Nelson Literary Agency?

Step 2. Tell us about the book

Fill in these book-related fields.

Title: (required)

Genre: (required) This agent only represents the genres shown in this list. Selecting an inaccurate genre will result in a rejection. If your book's genre is not shown here, please go to QueryTracker for a list of agents who do represent your genre.

Word Count: (required) Enter the approximate WORD count of your book. Enter numbers only. Do not include any letters or special characters.

Is this book currently published or has it ever been published before? Yes No

Query Letter: (required) Tips for formatting and pasting text Enter your query letter for this book. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.

The First 10 Pages of Your Book (or full book proposal if non-fiction): (required)
(If your book is shorter than this (such as a picture book) please include the entire text.) Tips for formatting and pasting text Paste in the first 10 pages of your book, or your full book proposal if your book is non-fiction. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.

Similar Books: List some books that are similar to yours. (500 characters or less)

Optional: Sign into QueryTracker

A QueryTracker account is NOT required to send a query. If you are not a member of QueryTracker, you can skip this section.
Or join QueryTracker, a free service that helps authors find agents and keep track of queries.

Signing into QueryTracker will link this query to your QueryTracker account, allowing it to be automatically tracked and displayed in QueryTracker.

Your QueryTracker Username or Email Address: Your QueryTracker Password:

Forget your credentials? Recover them at QueryTracker.

Not a QueryTracker member? Join here (Free)

Learn more about auto-tracking queries.

Final Step: Submit Your Query

Sorry, your browser does not support JavaScript. You'll need to enable it before you can use this page properly.

Click here to learn how and why to enable JavaScript.

Important: After submitting your query, you will receive a personalized link to a special page that you can visit any time to check your query's status.

If the recipient of your query would like to read more, they will contact you through that page as well as through email.

You are querying Joanna MacKenzie | Nelson Literary Agency

Step 1. Tell us about the author

Step 2. Tell us about the book

Optional: Sign into QueryTracker

You are signed into QueryTracker with username . This query will be linked to that account and auto-tracked in QueryTracker.

Final Step: Submit Your Query

You are signed into QueryTracker with username .
This query will be linked to that account and auto-tracked in QueryTracker.