Mara Delgado Sanchez

The books that draw me in have a strong voice and are centered on gripping characters and intense relationships. I love delving into the nuances and emotions of dynamic relationships and how those relationships impact the characters, their arcs, and the story itself. Couple that with a voice that drips off the page and pulls the reader right in, and I’m sold! I’m especially interested in stories by and about marginalized voices, whether they’re writing their own experiences or not—I want to see marginalized characters living their best lives, following their dreams, fulfilling their quests, and just existing as they are. I grew up on a healthy diet of fanfic, anime, manga, video games, and have recently gotten into D&D, so I’m drawn to stories with these vibes as well.

In romantasy, I’m looking for high-concept stories where the romance and the plot are tightly woven together (think Carissa Broadbent, Sarah J. Maas, Thea Guanzon, Danielle L. Jensen). Not only does the plot influence the romance, but the reverse is equally true. I’m looking for high emotional stakes, tension and complex relationships that make me never want to put down the book. I adore tropes like enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, slow burn, etc., and especially when they’re turned on their heads or refreshed. Bonus points if the story is set in a world we haven’t seen before, whether newly created or a historical period with a twist. I’d love to see stories exploring the concept of loving the monster and what that can mean.

In fantasy, I’m looking for fresh, commercial stories with gods, dragons, assassins, and all the lore. I particularly enjoy fantasy that takes history and infuses it with magic to make it its own. If an author has created an innovative magic system, tied the worldbuilding around politics and land rights into the plot, I’ll be delighted! I’ll never say no to a romantic subplot. Additionally, I’m interested in books with crossover appeal between adult and YA readers (think R.F. Kuang, Sue Lynn Tan, Ann Liang).

For YA, all of the above still applies (though maybe dial down the heat level). I’ve had the pleasure of working with award-winning and bestselling authors like New York Times bestsellers Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee on their epic YA wuxia fantasy Breath of the Dragon, award-winning author Rati Mehrotra, New York Times bestseller Sara Holland, and Emily Varga and her Pakistani romantasy For She is Wrath. In kidlit, I’m looking for stories in a similar vein and with focus on the character relationships, the character arcs and the romance.

While I enjoy romance in most of its forms, I’m not looking for contemporary romance or erotica at this time.

Submission Guidelines

I’m not taking unagented or unsolicited manuscripts at this time.

Consultations