Anjanette Fennell is currently open to queries.

She is drawn to fiction that takes risks… stories that reveal truth in unexpected ways, that sit with vulnerability without flinching, and that invite their readers to feel deeply. She has a particular affinity for work that carries a feminist lens, regardless of the author’s gender. If your novel has something urgent to say about what it means to be human, she wants to hear it.

She is actively seeking:

• Emotionally resonant commercial, upmarket and literary fiction —> the kind that stays with you long after the last page. Think Emma Grey, Sarah Damoff, Kristin Hannah, Jojo Moyes or Kathryn Heyman: stories driven by real feeling, rich characters, and an understanding of the quiet weight of everyday life - as well as its absurdity. She has a soft spot for writers who know that humour and heartbreak are two sides of the same coin, and who use both with honesty and intention.

• Genre-bending thrillers and speculative suspense —> startling, intelligent fiction that refuses easy categorisation. If your manuscript blurs the line between literary and genre, between the possible and the uncanny, send it her way.

• 'Weird girl' fiction —> fresh, distinctive voices with an offbeat aesthetic and the confidence to be exactly what they are. Like novels by Rufi Thorpe or Ella Baxter, she’s looking for stories and characters that are unapologetic, original, and alive.

• Horror with heart —> not shock for shock's sake, but the kind of horror that uses darkness to illuminate something true - think Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake. Bring me your FemRage and FemGore!

How to submit

Please send the following to: anjanette(at)booksparkliterary(dot)com -

• Subject line: QUERY: [Title] - [Genre]

• A query letter (more on what to include below)

• The first ten pages of your manuscript, pasted into the body of the email (no attachments with this initial query, please)

Your query letter should include:

• A brief pitch for your book (the emotional hook, the central conflict, and what makes it distinctive. Please keep it to approx. 250–300 words)

• Word count, genre, and any relevant comparable titles

• A short bio, including any publishing credits, if applicable (though these are never a requirement)

A note on the process

Anjanette reads every submission personally. She endeavours to respond to all queries within 6-8 weeks, though during busy periods this may take a little longer. If you haven't heard back after that time, a brief follow-up email is always welcome.

She is unable to provide individual feedback on unsolicited submissions, but if your work isn't the right fit, she will always say so with care.

Not currently accepting: Non-fiction, children's (including YA, MG or CPB), poetry, screenplays, or short story collections.