Submission Guidelines & Information

Who do you work for?

I'm a literary agent, part of the team at FinePrint Literary Management. You can read more about us at our website here, and at our Publishers Marketplace listing here.

What is your background in books?

My first job in publishing was in Northern California as a mass merchandise sales assistant for Ballantine Books. For five years I served as Director of Publicity for Del Rey Books where I specialized in the creative publicity and marketing of science fiction, fantasy, pop culture, YA fantasy, graphic novels, manga and third-party licensed media. I've also worked as a freelance publicist and copywriter for several major trade publishers and as a book reviewer for the San Francisco Chronicle under the inimitable Pat Holt.

My background in independent book publishing goes even further back to my first job as a bookstore manager in 1984 at the now-defunct San Francisco Bay Area bookstore Central Park Books. I also worked at Printers, Inc. Books in Palo Alto and spent six years as the marketing and events manager at Stacey's Bookstore in San Francisco.

You can learn more about my professional background at my public LinkedIn profile. You can also look at my AgentQuery profile here.

What kinds of books are you looking for?

Right now I'm actively looking for:

Fiction: I like quirky, offbeat fiction, both literary and commercial. I love writers who can engage me with amazing characters and a strong voice. Above all, I'm looking for writers who understand the importance of storytelling.

Some of my current favorite novelists include Richard Powers, Chuck Palahniuk, Sarah Waters, John Connolly, Michael Chabon, Louis Bayard, Arturo Perez-Reverte, Zadie Smith, Richard Price, Diana Abu-Jaber, Michelle Tea, Nicola Griffith and Graham Joyce among a million others.

I do like some chick-lit and women's fiction. And possibly my favorite-ever novel to fall into the category of women's fiction is the novel Fall On Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald. Just gorgeous! If you can write women's fiction like that, please query me!

I'm also always looking for intelligent, high-concept thrillers, mysteries and crime novels.

You should also check out the rest of my colleagues at FinePrint, especially if you have a non-fiction book proposal; we have agents who specialize in pretty much every genre.

I'm not so much interested in cozies or category romance. It isn't that I dislike them but I don't read enough of them to feel that I would be the best advocate for your book.

And lastly, strong novels with a LGBT theme are always something I'm on the lookout for.

Fantasy & Science Fiction: I love all kinds of fantasy and science fiction, both commercial and literary. Looking for all the related skiffy sub-genres: urban fantasy, paranormal romance, slipstream, new weird, horror, steampunk, space opera, military SF, cyberpunk and surrealism. Some things to consider when sending me a SF/F query:

• While I do enjoy hard SF, if your novel contains more hard science than engaging characters or a real plot, it's probably not for me. I'm not really looking for a science lesson; I'm looking for Big Ideas.
  
• If you are writing a Big Fat Epic Fantasy, be certain that your world-building holds up to scrutiny. It would certainly be nice to see a Big Fat Epic Fantasy world that was peopled by more than wizards, mages and thieves.
  
• I seriously dig strong female protagonists but do note that "strong female protagonist" doesn't equate to "chick who behaves like a guy".
  
• I'd love to see someone take lesser-known mythologies and re-work them. I'm a mythology freak and nothing stokes my fire more than seeing someone imaginatively rework a creation mythos. I consider Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series to be one of the very best examples of this.
• I'll warn you right now: if your book has elves in it, it had better be the most goddamned original elf story in the world, because just the word "elf" gives me hives.
  

Some of my current favorite SF/F writers are China Mieville, Richard K. Morgan, Rachel Caine, Chris Moriarty, Kelley Armstrong, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Faith Hunter, Gregory Frost, George R.R. Martin, Greg Keyes, Peter F. Hamilton, David Feintuch, Elizabeth Bear, Liz Williams, Cherie Priest, Patricia Briggs, Karen Traviss, Jacqueline Carey, Jim Butcher and Mary Gentle, among a gazillion others.

Young Adult Fiction: I really love YA, everything from compelling YA fantasy to realistic fiction that tackles social issues and taboos. I like YA writing that doesn't talk down to kids. Some of my current favorite YA writers include D.M. Cornish, Patrick Carman, Ben Jeapes, Jay Asher, Markus Zusak, Jeanne Duprau, Perry Moore, Stephenie Meyer and Peter Cameron.

Graphic Novels: Comics aren't just for superheroes anymore! Graphic novels are a gorgeous medium for strong storytelling. I am looking for interesting and original projects, great storytelling and stunning illustration. Please note that I'm not looking to match up writers with illustrators. Some of my favorites in this area are Alison Bechdel, Rhode Montijo, Terry Moore, Kazu Kibuishi, Shaun Tan, Hope Larson, to name just a wee few.

Pop Culture: If it's trendy, funny, satirical or fabulous, I'm probably interested. At the very least, shoot me an email to find out!

Narrative Non-Fiction: I'm always looking for outstanding narrative non-fiction. Tell me your story. Tell me somebody else's. Make me care.

When in doubt, query me!

What kinds of books are you NOT looking for right now?

Poetry
Politics
History
Short Story Collections
Self-Help
Lifestyle
Westerns
Christian Fiction/Non-Fiction
Children's Books
Middle Grade Books
Children's Picture Books

How do I send a query?

1. As of June 1, 2008, I will only accept queries by email. (The exception is for graphic novel queries; see separate instructions below.) Any paper queries sent to the FinePrint offices that are addressed to me will be automatically discarded. (Honestly, let's wait to kill trees until after we get your book sold.)
   
2. My work email address is colleen (at) fineprintlit.com.
3. Please don't query me unless your book is already finished.

Your email query should include the following:

1. A short query letter with a strong first paragraph pitch. If you'd like to see how to format a really good query letter, go here or here or here.
   
2. A short synopsis of the book. The shorter, the better.
3. A very short bio of yourself; just a couple of sentences will do.
4. Your full name, address and a phone number.
   
5. The word count of the finished novel.
6. The first 5-6 pages of the finished book cut and pasted into the body of the email. Do not send me pages from the middle of your book.
   
7. Do not send me attachments unless I invite you to do so! Emails with attachments are automatically deleted without being opened (with the exception of graphic novel queries; see separate instructions below).
8. Did I mention the no attachments thing? No attachments!
   
9. In the subject line of your email, include somewhere the words FINEPRINT QUERY. This is to keep your email from being sucked into spam filter oblivion. (I love my spam filters, but they tend to be a little aggressive.)
10. You might want to read this and this and this, too.
11. It has become fashionable for would-be authors to use only the first two initials of his/her name when signing a query (I blame J.K. Rowling and S.M. Stirling for this trend.) Do you have any idea how annoying that is? I don't care what name you tack onto your manuscript, but your query letter really should have your full name. (So my head doesn't explode.)
    
12. Also, if you have a non-gender-specific name, I applaud you but please don't be upset if I accidentally address you as Mr. if you're a Miss or a Ms. or a Mrs. M'kay?
    

A Special Note About Graphic Novel Queries:

1. If you are querying me with a graphic novel project, please include either a 10-12 page spread as a series of LOW-RES jpgs or pdfs or a link to an online portfolio.
2. Send graphic novel queries to this email address ONLY: colleen.lindsay (at) gmail (dot) com
3. A file with an electronic watermark to prevent duplication is fine as long as the page is readable.
   
4. In the subject line of your query, include somewhere the words COMIX QUERY.
   
5. If you cannot send jpgs or do not have an online portfolio, you are welcome to mail your materials directly to the office. Please enclose a SASE of you would like the sample returned. Otherwise I'll email you a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Do try to shoot me an email to let me know that you've sent samples to the office, however, as I don't get into the office more than once a month or so.
   

When will I hear back from you about my query?

1. Usually you'll hear back from me within three weeks of your email query. If I'm getting a little behind due to a tight schedule, I'll post something to that effect on my blog. I'm good about updating.
   
2. If I like your query, I'll ask you for a partial manuscript as a Word or Open Office document. Response time on partials usually takes about three-four weeks.
   
3. If I like your partial manuscript, I will either email you or phone you and ask you to send me a full manuscript as a Word or Open Office document. Response time on full manuscripts is usually within just a few days. If I am getting behind on my reading, I will shoot you a quick note to let you know.
   
4. If I pass on your query, it's not a value judgment on you or your work. It simply means that the book isn't right for me. Feel free to query one of the other agents at FinePrint. Just because your book isn't a fit for me doesn't mean it might not be a good fit for one of my colleagues.
5. Please note that I may use a form letter for rejection. Don't take this personally; it's simply more expedient for me.
6. If four weeks have gone by and you haven't heard from me regarding your emailed query, check your spam filter or junk mail in-box. Chances are that my response email is stuck in there. If not, please feel free to re-query me.
   

Do you respond to every query?

I respond to all e-queries with the following exceptions:

1. If you send an attachment without being invited to do so, your email query will be deleted without being read.
2. If you address your query to multiple people, or to nobody at all your query will be deleted without being read.
   

What is the air speed velocity of the African swallow?

Laden or unladen???