Kendall Berdinsky

Overall, I’m seeking literary fiction, upmarket book club fiction, contemporary romance, psychological thrillers, mystery, and narrative nonfiction.

In all fiction, I’m interested in messy people making tough choices, campus novels, unlikeable narrators who may or may not win you over, and women who gaslight, girlboss, or gatekeep. I love voice-driven writing, social commentary that resonates with the current culture and engages with social issues, or a critique on the ideals of femininity. I’m also interested in family sagas, new adult-ish protagonists, and classic retellings. For literary titles, I love an eerie setting, sharp observations, and strong hooks with atmospheric writing.

In romance, I’m primarily looking for contemporary rom-coms with new takes on classic tropes. I love anything with the style of Nora Ephron movies and a 90’s/early 00’s setting.

In the mystery/thriller space, I’d love to see elevated suspense (think Tana French and Riley Sager), especially with fun settings and a whodunnit plot. I’m partial to southern gothic and nature settings and would especially love a “Survivor” or “Succession” inspired psychological thriller (in terms of “Survivor”, I love anything set on a deserted island). Think light horror, dark academia, and unreliable narrators.

In historical fiction, I’d prefer stories not set in Western Europe or the USA. Hidden histories and female-led retellings are my favorites here.

In terms of nonfiction, I love undiscovered histories, pop culture/cultural criticism, conspiracy theories, women’s issues, internet culture, food and wine writing, fresh takes on true crime, and critiques on the wellness space. In any subject, I love deeply reported and investigative nonfiction.

Some of my hobbies that I’d love to read about (whether that’s a setting, a character’s career, or a non-fiction title with a new take) include running, old Hollywood movies, and knitting. As a native Texan, I have a soft spot for stories set in Texas or the American south.

I’m not the right fit for: military/police novels, “return to hometown” romances, fantasy, science fiction, most young adult, age-gap romance, dark romance, middle grade, picture books, fairy tale retellings, accidental pregnancy romance, and WWI/WWII historical fiction.

Across the board, I welcome and encourage authors of all backgrounds, and am eager to work on inclusive books that reflect our world.

Submission Guidelines

All instructions are on my Query Manager page.

Guidelines & Details