Drue VanDuker

I am actively seeking voicey, transportive, beautifully written upmarket and commercial fiction that is plot and character-driven, with sharply defined stakes: domestic drama, historical fiction, psychological suspense, and book club fiction. I am also interested in accessible poetry and narrative nonfiction.

I adore stories with interwoven wisdom and commentary on navigating life and the ways in which we view ourselves and each other, and which initiate important conversations about society and culture. I edit from a place of character motivation and pace, so I am always looking for dynamic protagonists with a confident hand at the narrative wheel, and writing that grants us access to the characters’ interior worlds. Overall, I am seeking stories that amplify women’s voices and those from traditionally underrepresented communities.

I am particularly interested in family sagas, reimaginings from a diverse perspective or with a feminist twist (Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll), a neurodivergent protagonist, domestic suspense (The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins; The Wives by Tarryn Fisher), and works that explore adult friendships (The People We Keep by Allison Larkin), female resilience (Weyward by Emilia Hart; The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner), sibling relationships (Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson), religion (Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi), and when a setting or location is a character in and of itself. As a native Texan, stories set in the American south or smaller, rural communities really tug on my heartstrings. 

I am also looking for accessible poetry (Maggie Smith, Joy Sullivan, Amanda Lovelace, Kate Baer), and select narrative nonfiction that illuminates women’s issues, sharpens conversations, and provides fresh perspectives: psychology-based self-help books, hidden history, and the topics of religion (The False White Gospel by Jim Wallis), performing arts, and ADD/ADHD (Why Am I Like This? by Gemma Styles).

Overall, I believe that an honest, complex story can unify people in an empowering way, and my goal is to build a list of a range of voices that make readers feel seen.

Outside of work, I enjoy catching live music and Broadway shows, spending time with my pup, painting (terribly), dancing, and playing volleyball.

I currently assist Sarah Cantin with bestselling authors including Emilia Hart, Jessica George, Rachel Hawkins, and Carola Lovering.

I am not a good fit for: fantasy, YA, sci-fi, or horror.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to drue.vanduker@stmartins.com

I only consider agented submissions.