Rita Veras
Rosecliff Literary
My Manuscript Wish List®
My Manuscript Wish List® Items
I am open to queries again on Friday, August 7th.
I am an award-winning poet and literary agent specializing in historical fiction, romance, magical realism, horror, and retellings. I advocate for Latinx, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC authors and underrepresented voices. Actively involved in AALA’s DEI committee, I promote accurate representation and accessibility in publishing. Before joining Rosecliff Literary, I spent nearly twenty years guiding entrepreneurs into business ownership, an experience I now apply as an agent by blending entrepreneurial strategies with the craft of writing.
You can connect with me online at @rita__veras, where I discuss the querying process and share fun stories about the challenges of writing.
I am actively seeking Latinx, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ authors and stories.
Fun facts about me:
- My day starts after I have applied winged tips and color to my lips.
- My mother was the 14th of 16 children, and my father was the oldest of 9. I have an incredibly big (and loving) family!
- I once lived in Italy teaching English, so Tuscany will always hold a special place in my heart.
- I enjoy a good puzzle—whether it’s a mystery novel, a true crime documentary, or a jigsaw.
- I hope to become a polyglot someday.
- I am an advocate for the March of Dimes and the Alzheimer’s Association.
- I participate in multiple DEI committees.
- Two furry little Lords run my household.
Submission Guidelines
I am currently closed for queries. I intend to reopen on August 7, 2026.
Submit them directly here: https://querytracker.net/query/rveras
Please do not send unsolicited inquiries to my email.
Please include a query letter, synopsis, and your first ten pages. I aim to respond within 6-8 weeks, but can work more quickly depending on the circumstances.
Please note: I cannot offer personalized feedback due to the high volume of submissions.
*I do not work with children, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, or certain non-fiction categories. Please refer to the genre list or what I have specified here.
Vital Info
Favorite sub-genres:
1800s+ historical, Adult, Adult Horror, Adult Rom Com, Adult Romantasy, African Diaspora, African Fantasy, Asian American Literature, Asian Diaspora, BIPOC, BIPOC Fantasy, BIPOC Horror, BIPOC Mystery, Book Club, Caribbean Literature, Category Romance, Character -Driven History, Character-Driven Horror, Chick Lit, Chicklit, Classic retellings with BIPOC characters, Commercial Women's Fiction, Commercial adult fiction, Commercial and Literary, Contemporary Culture, Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Cozy mysteries, Cultural Criticism, Diverse Protagonists, Diversity, Domestic Suspense, Domestic Suspense/Thriller, East Asian Literature, Epic Fantasy, Fairytale Retellings, Family Drama, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Female Friendships, Feminism, Folklore, Gothic, Gothic Horror, High-Concept Literary Commercial Fiction, Historical (as long as the period is of consequence), Historical Fantasy, Historical Fantasy; Fantasy Grounded In Reality, Historical Fiction, Historical RomCom, Historical Women's Fiction, Historical mysteries, History, Immigrant Experiences, Immigrant Voices, LGBTQ Romance, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ rom coms, Latine Diaspora, Latinx Fantasy, Latinx Horror, Latinx stories, Layered Rom-Coms and Comedy of Manners with a cultural component, Literary Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Literary Horror, Literary Thriller, Magic, Magic Realism, Magical Realism, Modern Retellings of Fairy Tales, Multicultural, Multicultural Romance, Multicultural and Diverse Thriller and Mystery, Multigenerational, Multiple POV, Multiple Timelines, Mythic, Mythic Horror, Mythology, New Adult, POC, Psychological Horror, Psychological Suspense, Psychological Thrillers, Regency Romance, Retellings, Rom-com, RomCom, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Drama, Romantic Suspense, Romantic Thriller, Same-Sex Romance, Southern Gothic, Steamy RomComs, Strong Females, Tarot, Thriller, Thrillers, Time Travel, Time Travel Romance, Travel, Underrepresented Voices, Upmarket Commercial Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Upmarket Nonfiction, Upmarket Women's Fiction, WWI, WWII, Women's Fiction, book club fiction, classic retellings, comedy, coming of age, commercial, contemporary women's fiction, dark academia, dark fantasy, diverse, diverse and own voices, diverse heroines, diverse voices, dramedy, enemies to lovers, epic, fairy tales, family saga, fantastical, folklore history, gothic romance, historical romance, immigration, just... all the tropes, romantasy, romantic fantasy, romantic suspense/mystery, traditional fantasy, traditional mysteries, witchcraft, witches
I’d like the next…
The folklore retelling you’ve been crafting? A generational curse haunting a family through the ages? The immersive family saga exploring deep bonds and bitter betrayals? The love story I can’t stop reading, eagerly waiting to see if they can overcome all obstacles? The eerie, atmospheric manor, shrouded in mystery and filled with tales of unexplained deaths that send chills down my spine? The heart-pounding thriller that has me chugging a double espresso the next morning after I lost track of time, reading until 3am?
I crave those stories and so many more.
My favorites include…
If I’m in a bit of a mood, watching Pride & Prejudice (the movie), Sense & Sensibility (again, the movie), The Sound of Music, or any Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, or Tom Hanks romcom usually helps. I love films that bring comfort and satisfaction when the credits finally roll.
I have watched every season of Outlander more times than I can count, devour series like Downton Abbey, Gilded Age, and Bridgerton, and love the quirky characters and organic comedy of Parks & Rec and New Girl.
Every year, I re-read Pride & Prejudice and Jane Eyre because they were the first novels I read that deepened my love for books. I also used to sneak my mother’s historical romance books when I finished my library books and desperately needed something to read, so that genre will always have a special place in my heart.
