Rachael Kelly

I’ve been notified that scammers are impersonating me online, using my name to make the false claim that I’m interested in acquiring manuscripts by prospective authors. Please be cautious. These scams often target self-published writers and freelancers, with the goal of stealing money and valuable personal information. If you have concerns about the legitimacy of a communication or agreement claiming a connection to me or to PRH, please contact fr***@****************se.com or visit https://www.prh.com/prh-fraud/ for resources and more information on publishing scams. 

I am an Editor at Dutton acquiring commercial and upmarket fiction across genres—books that combine rapid pacing with artistic prose, nuanced character development, and complex themes—with a soft spot for all things romantic, suspenseful, mysterious, and psychological. I’m mainly looking for a compelling hook, sharp social commentary (class, culture, and identity), and stories that are equally driven by both voice and plot, regardless of genre. Generally speaking, I prefer contemporary to historical. I am especially drawn to authors who have smart, original voices, fresh insights and perspectives, and a strong connection to their subject matter.

Wishlist Specifics:

Fiction:

*Escapist, high concept fiction (commercial or book club) where voice is weighed as heavily as plot—looking for a big, exciting premise that prioritizes intrigue and propulsion (reads like TV!) that’s executed with book club elements, i.e. complex relationships, deeper themes, atmospheric writing, etc.
*Big Love Stories (where the stakes keeping the leads apart are external, with high-energy banter and a hook that sets the story apart on the shelf, especially if it’s in the contemporary space) across genres, including horrormance, romantasy (court intrigue! messy politics! accessible-yet-expansive world building!), and dystopian
*Psychologically driven suspense (often cross-genre)
*Thrillers and elevated mystery
*Grounded horror

• Complex characters
• Well-crafted family relationships or close friendships involving secrets that propel the plot forward, and eventually result in some sort of reckoning
• Contained settings: school campus, small town, secret society, isolated home/estate, etc.
• International settings
• Anything involving a love story/romance that deals with larger themes
• Atmospheric/immersive writing
• Books that grapple with identity and the complexities of contemporary life
• Concrete conclusions (I generally don’t love ambiguous endings!)
• Fresh gothics

Submission Guidelines

Unfortunately, I am not able to consider unsolicited manuscript submissions/queries at PRH. Agents, please email your pitch to me directly. I look forward to hearing from you!