Accepting only fiction novels (55,000+ words)

Especially interested in upmarket fiction.

Please do not send: nonfiction, poetry, children's books, middle grade, YA, graphic novels, screenplays, erotica, or nihilist work.

Needless to say, we are an equal opportunity agency and welcome submissions from all backgrounds, walks of life, and experience paradigms.

For more information regarding what we’re looking for, go to the About page.

Submissions Process

All queries should be submitted through email (no phone queries or snail mail) to submissions@paintedfireagency.com

Please write the subject of your email as: “QUERY: Your Title by Your Name”

Your query letter (as the body of your email) should include:
- The title of your novel
- The genre/category of your novel
- The word count of your novel
- The one- to three-paragraph pitch for the novel
- A brief one-paragraph author bio
- Your name, phone number, and email
- A one- to two-page synopsis of your novel attached to the email as a PDF only.
- The first 25 pages of your manuscript attached to the email as a PDF only. Please do not attach Zip files, links to Google Docs/Drive, or Docx. Attachments that are not PDFs will not be read. All attached files should be typed in 12 point font, paginated, and double-spaced.

Response Time

You will receive a confirmation of your submission during regular business hours. Following that, every submission will receive a response within 4-6 weeks.

If your submission advances to the next level, a partial or full manuscript will be requested. All individuals that reach the complete manuscript stage, regardless of representation status, will receive a half-page of feedback within 6-8 weeks.

Important Notes

Please note the following:

* All submissions must be representative of complete manuscripts (no unfinished drafts or works in progress)

* Previously self-published books may not be submitted, though previously self-published authors may submit a new unpublished manuscript.

* Please inform us if you are submitting simultaneously.

* All work must be completely original and must be submitted with the full cooperation and agreement of all involved authors and rights holders. We do not accept works that have been written with the help of AI.

* Finding out who you are and what makes your project special are critical. Therefore, while all of the requisite information should be present in an appropriate and professionally written format, please also concern yourself with whether your unique voice is shining through your correspondence rather than only if your query letter is "correct." Take risks. Be you.