Leslie Truex

My Manuscript Wish List Favorite

I'm a die-hard romantic, looking for romance fiction, as well as an avid reader of nonfiction, which I also represent.

#MSWL Fiction

I'm looking for romance stories with well-developed characters who have powerful motivations for their choices (good and bad) and who send me on an emotional journey. I love quirky characters and humor, but also troubled, broody characters looking for love and/or redemption. I'm interested in all characters including diverse, older, LGBTQIA+, or disabled. Send me something new. No cliché or stereotypical characters or situations.

I love to laugh and swoon in a romance! In romantic suspense, I like to reach a plot twist and say, "Holy cow, I didn't see that coming." I truly believe romances are made or ruined by the black moment and grand gesture (grand doesn't mean big. It should make me swoon).

I represent the following romance categories:

• Contemporary Romance
• Romantic Comedies
• Romantic Suspense/Mystery
• Paranormal/Fantasy romance
• New Adult Romance
• YA Romance
• YA Fantasy

By romance, I mean books in which the relationship between the couple is the primary story and ends with a happily ever after or happily for now.

I love to see romance stories involving:

• Smart, witty banter
• The unexpected, such as gender role reversals or big twists
• Quirky characters and humorous situations
• Smart women, even if they get themselves in precarious situations
• New twists on favorite tropes: second chance at love, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, fake relationship, etc.
• Mermaids or angels, as well as the typical paranormal/fantasy beings (e.g. vampires, faeries)
• Quests and adventures (e.g. Romancing the Stone)
• Re-imaginings or use of myths, folklore and fairytales

What I'm not looking for:

• Historical romance (unless humorous or an adventure such as The Mummy)
• Inspirational Romance
• Erotica
• Romance that involves cheating
• Women's fiction
• Science Fiction in space
• Genres that don't include romance as the major thrust of the story (e.g. cozy mystery or horror)
• Previously published works (self or traditionally)
• Anything under 55k or over 100k

Dislikes:

• Predicable characters and plots
• Weak motivation and stakes
• Weepy women who need a man to save them. Even if she needs male support, she should be strong.
• Aggressive or overly obnoxious characters. Men can be alpha males and women can have an edge, but don't overdo it to the point I wonder why anyone would fall in love with them.
• Chemistry stemming only from lust (attraction can be the first sign of chemistry, but it should develop into more)

NonFiction

If you're an expert either by training or by experience, and have a developed platform, I represent the following nonfiction categories:

• Small/home/online business
• Marketing
• Success-oriented self-help
• Writing/authorship/publishing

I'm looking for books that offer more than the basics already printed and provide readers with tangible tips and tools. I'd be interested in niche books such as marketing on TikTok, starting and running a print-on-demand or drop ship business, and freelancing in the gig economy.

As a traditionally published author (under a pen name), I have been where you are looking for an agent to represent you and your book(s). Having gone through the querying process to publication, my goal is to help authors navigate the publishing world.

When I'm not helping writers sell their books, I'm an author and a ghostwriter of romance fiction, having penned over 50 books in the last three years. Outside of reading and writing, I love chocolate and coffee, often together, and I'm a Happy Planner and bullet journal fanatic.

Submission Guidelines

I accept queries ONLY through Query Manager here.

Fiction:

Your Query letter must include:

• Your name
• Phone number and E-mail address
• Manuscript Title
• Genre (including subgenre)
• Word Count (NOT page count)
• # of Points of View telling the story
• Marketing Plans
• For ROMANCE, please give heat level
• 1-2 page Synopsis telling the story from beginning to end, including all important events in the story and the ending (including whodunnit in a mystery)

Your sample chapters should be:

• Edited
• Times New Roman font size 12
• Double spaced with 1" margins
• Divided with chapters beginning on a new page with chapter headings

Nonfiction

Please send your query, full proposal, and the first 2 chapters

Your Query letter must include:

• Your name
• Phone number and E-mail address
• Manuscript Title
• Topic
• Word Count (NOT page count)
• Relevance (why is this book needed now)
• Short Bio (why you're the one to write this book)

Your proposal and sample chapters should be:

• Edited
• Times New Roman font size 12
• Double spaced with 1" margins
• Divided with proposal sections and sample chapters beginning on a new page with headings

I accept queries ONLY through Query Manager here.

Response to queries is usually 4 to 6 weeks.

Vital Info

	leslie@blueridgeagency.com
	@ltruex
	Website