Ismita Hussain

Great Dog Literary

My Manuscript Wish List®

I am seeking literary fiction, health-related non-fiction, YA, and short story collections. Some of my favorite authors are Flannery O’Connor, Cormac McCarthy, Oscar Wilde, and Tom Perrotta. I am especially drawn to fiction with a Southern setting, gritty realist writing, and any books that explore health or disability. Ultimately though, I’m a sucker for writing with a great sense of humor.

A Little More About What I’m Looking For:

In Adult Fiction:

Literary Fiction, Upmarket, New Adult, Short Story Collections.

Specifically: Fiction in all genres that is informed by, or inspired by, the myths and superstitions of a culture. Fiction that features food service/restaurant culture. Satire, and humorous fiction that comes with a message or reveals a truth about people/society.

I am open to novels that fit these categories but have some genre-fiction elements (ie. literary fiction with a speculative twist).

The most important elements that grab my attention are style and literary quality writing.

In Adult Non-Fiction:

Narrative Non-Fiction, Pop Culture, Humor, Memoir, Travel, Cookbooks, History, Sports

Specifically: Narrative non-fiction that discusses medicine or health in a way that is accessible and well researched. Non-fiction that makes the reader see their body in a different way. Cookbooks that explore a niche ingredient/theme and cookbooks that tell a story. Quirky and visually stunning coffee table books.

The most important elements that grab my attention are expertise and a surprising/niche topic.

In Young Adult:

Contemporary, Rom-Com, Novel-in-verse, Commercial

Specifically: YA rom-coms featuring desi teens. Retellings of classic stories that haven’t been redone to death (no Shakespeare, King Arthur, etc) and that provide a twist or a fresh new take. A heist book.

The most important elements that grab my attention are themes/situations that are true to the teen experience today and commercial quality.

Fun facts about me:

I am a Georgia native and graduate of Emory University, where I studied Human Health and Italian. During college, I also worked for various Atlanta area hospitals in departments ranging from neonatal to geriatric care. In my Desi household, I grew up speaking Bangla, Hindi, and Urdu.

Submission Guidelines

I accept submissions from adult and YA authors through the QueryMe portal only. I do not accept submissions via email.

Please fill out the submission form as completely as possible so that I can fully consider your query. If I am interested in reading further, I will be in touch in 4-6 weeks. Due to the volume I submissions, if you have not heard from me in 6 weeks please consider it a pass.

Great Dog Literary is a small agency and we talk among ourselves all the time. If I feel your manuscript is a better fit for another agent at Great Dog Literary, I will pass it along. Please do not send the same query to multiple agents at Great Dog Literary.

To submit, click here.

Guidelines & Details