Drue VanDuker

I am actively seeking voicey, transportive, beautifully written upmarket and commercial fiction: domestic drama, historical fiction, psychological suspense, and book club fiction. I am also interested in accessible poetry and narrative nonfiction.

I adore stories with interwoven wisdom and commentary on navigating life and the ways in which we view ourselves and each other, and which initiate important conversations about society and culture. I edit from a place of character motivation and pace, so I am always looking for dynamic protagonists with a confident hand at the narrative wheel, and writing that grants us access to the characters’ interior worlds. Overall, I am seeking stories that amplify women’s voices and those from traditionally underrepresented communities.

Fiction: I am on the hunt for novels that skillfully balance thought-provoking themes with sharp pacing and commercial appeal.

• I am particularly interested in narratives across genres that explore the intricacies of relationships within families, friendships, the workplace, social clubs, or while on vacation, etc.
• I am always intrigued by stories about female resilience in the vein of Weyward by Emilia Hart, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, and Practical Magic.
• I’d love to read more novels with neurodivergent characters, in general.
• As someone who could perform a one-woman show of Wicked on cue, I am very present for this moment of reimaginings and retellings from a diverse perspective or with a feminist twist (Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll and The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins).
• Additionally, I feel most captivated by novels with a setting that comes to life and is a character in and of itself—whether it be as glamorous as the French Riviera, or as claustrophobic as a small, gossipy town, I love to feel immersed. As a native Texan, stories set in the American south really tug on my heartstrings.

I am also looking for accessible poetry that provides language for an emotion or experience that I have previously found difficult to articulate (Maggie Smith, Joy Sullivan, Amanda Lovelace, Kate Baer).

Select narrative nonfiction:

• Topics that illuminate women’s issues, and/or neurodivergence
• Psychology-based self-help books
• Hidden history
• Personal narratives that reflect on faith, doubt, and transformation beyond religious traditions

Overall, I believe an honest, complex story can move and connect people in a powerful way, and my goal is to build a list of a range of voices that make readers feel seen.

Outside of work, I enjoy attending Broadway shows, spending time with my pup, playing volleyball, and dancing.

I currently assist Sarah Cantin with bestselling authors including Emilia Hart, Jessica George, Rachel Hawkins, Mikki Brammer, and Carola Lovering.

I am not a good fit for: fantasy, YA, sci-fi, or horror.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to drue.vanduker@stmartins.com

I only consider agented submissions.