Emma Cole
MIRA Books
My Manuscript Wish List®
Editor for MIRA Books. I’m a huge fan of stories with speculative elements that don’t necessarily have to be explained, and I’m a sucker for books about yearning, where I am desperate for the characters to finally get their HEA (think This Is How You Lose the Time War or C.L. Polk’s Even Though I Knew the End). I am always on the lookout for speculative takes on mystery and horror romance (Twin Peaks meets The Big Sleep). If I’m not reading romance I’m reading horror and weird fiction: some recent faves include We Love You, Bunny, The Starving Saints, and The Salt Grows Heavy.
When I’m not reading, I’m watching classic films, especially horror romance.
Fun facts about me:
- Spelling bee school champion in 1987
- Gave my husband a cross-stitched version of the Jaws poster for his birthday
- Always (always!) has to look up how to spell “vacuum”
Submission Guidelines
Agented submissions can be sent directly to me. Preferably a full manuscript with synopsis and pitch, please!
Vital Info
Favorite sub-genres:
BIPOC, Commercial adult fiction, Complicated Relationships, Detective, Disability, Fantasy Romance, Found Families, Gothic, LGBTQ Romance, LGBTQ+, Layered Rom-Coms and Comedy of Manners with a cultural component, Marginalized Voices, Noir, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Drama, Romantic Thriller, Same-Sex Romance, SciFi Romance, Southern Gothic, character-focused fiction, dark fantasy, diverse, diverse and own voices, gothic romance, pining, quirky, romantasy, slow burn romance
I’d like the next…
I love unapologetic and emotional love stories, preferably with a fresh take on an interesting hook or setting. I’m probably not the best fit for a traditional contemporary romance, I love stories with a speculative twist or a quirky setting.
Characters from underrepresented groups, specifically Black, Indigenous, disabled, neurodivergent characters in all gender pairings, please!
Specific wish list items:
- Unhinged Holiday Romance: give me your quirky takes on Christmas myths and characters, preferably steamy and emotionally satisfying
- Horror romance: go beyond the typical slashers and haunted houses; bring me monsters in love, “good for her” female rage that can only be curbed by her one true love, and interesting takes on vampires
- Twin Peaks: a small and creepy town full of secrets and strange characters, and finding love along the way. (Honestly, this is my all-time favorite show and I think there is an amazing romance that could come from this kind of storytelling)
- a Mulder/Scully type pairing of skeptic and true believer facing mysterious goings on
My favorites include…
Quirky romcom: The Philadelphia Story; Raising Arizona; The Spare Man
Genre Bending plus Romance: Dear Stupid Penpal; What Kind of Mother; Midnight Rooms; All the Hearts You Eat
Horror Romance: The Fly; Bram Stoker’s Dracula; May
