Rena Rossner

I represent Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult fiction and non-fiction.

In general, I love poetry, novels in verse, and fantasy across all age ranges and genres. I’m attracted to beautiful writing more than plot and will always read a little bit of the attached pages (yes, I prefer sample pages ATTACHED) – I read pages often before I even read the query.

I look for Literary, Historical, Horror, Fantasy and SciFi, Romance and Thrillers, though I am open to all genres.

Nonfiction: I have been doing a lot in the space of mind/body/spirit and spirituality. I am interested in Jewish topics like Kabbalah and meditation, but also how those practices intersect with the practices of other faiths. I am also interested in science books, especially literary science writing, and also books about how the scientific and spiritual worlds intersect. I have a love for history books and anything to do with food, including and especially cookbooks.

Picture Books: I want funny/quirky books (think Skippyjon Jones,) adorable books that have a classic feel (I love animals and precocious little girls and boys,) or books with a strong message (not ones that moralize) but something with an edge – be it historical fiction, an alternative princess story, or a family story that feels familiar but has a different twist. I love magical realism and poetry and I find myself attracted mostly to picture books under 500 words, though I am open to considering longer ones. I like funny picture books, and zany picture books, and literary language above all.

Middle Grade: I love novels in verse. I sell a lot of them. I love magical realism and fabulism and poetic writing. I love funny, quirky middle grade. I love historical fiction, and books with a classic feel. I also love Science Fiction and Fantasy – always. MG contemporary with a great voice. I’m open to Mysteries/Thrillers and have sold quite a few MG Horror books. I really am open to MG across all genres and age ranges. I prefer to see MG that is under 40,000 words.

Young Adult: Novels in verse, poetry, poetic writing, historical fiction. Contemporary YA with lots of heart – I love romance, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Nonfiction, anything diverse and QUILTBAG friendly. I would give anything for the next Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, or When the Angels Left the Old Country. I am also looking for younger YA, and YA with a really strong voice, be it funny or unhinged.

Adult Fiction – literary writing above all, poetic writing, I have sold many adult poetry collections – but am VERY picky about the adult poetry I take on. I will always be a sucker for all types of SciFi and Fantasy (I love literary scifi and richly imagined alternate worlds,) all types of fantasy, especially Epic Fantasy, Historical Fantasy and Magical Realism/Fabulism. I love anything cozy. I’d love to see the next “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries”. I like any kind of Literary Fiction, even edgy and gritty, but give me stunning phrases that make me want to stop and read them again and again. I love all kinds of Historical Fiction (give me the next Outlander or Hild,) but I am open to horror, psychological suspense and thrillers. I love horror – so don’t be afraid to send me dark stuff. I love romance in all genres. And I have a soft spot for Ireland and anything set in the Middle East.

IN GENERAL: You will steal my heart if there is some kind of Middle Eastern, Israeli, or Jewish setting, theme, or character, in any genre, but those are certainly not the only types of books I represent.

Though I am based in Jerusalem, I represent authors all over the world and most of my clients are US-based.

Submission Guidelines

Please send your query pasted in the email and the first 50 pages attached as a word document.

Guidelines & Details