Madison Hernick

I want one of two things from fiction: sweeping cerebral reads that follow a character so closely you don’t know where they end and you begin, or plotty, fast-paced, one-sit-wonders that suck you right in. Either way, I gravitate towards character-driven, evocative fiction that bridges intellect and intimacy. I am both a masochist and a romantic — if I am sobbing or laughing by the end, I’m happy.

I die for a twist I didn’t see coming, an unreliable/ unlikeable narrator that gaslights me til the end.  I love anything camp that doesn’t take itself too seriously but teaches you something all the same. Funny, whimsical, elevated rom-coms. Anything reminiscent of Nora Ephron. Magical realism. Fresh fantasy. Dark Academia. Mommy issues, Catholic guilt, toxic friendships, performative activism, nostalgia, old ladies acting like teenagers, found family, escaping cults. Past lives, what-ifs and eldest daughters. Historical and mythical retellings and reimagines. Small-town, Western, sports, or general romances that tackle true-to-life scenarios all while keeping you blushing. Characters that feel like family. Love in all its iterations.

For select nonfiction…Books that interrogate our modern psychology, especially as it relates to Gen Z and our digital culture: quiet quitting, self-diagnosis, phone addiction, influencing, fresh takes on mental health, particularly for men: toxic masculinity, weaponized therapy speak, emotional vulnerability, incels. Texts that add to the modern feminist lexicon. Revisionist history, especially overlooked women and queer people. Works that challenge institutions or systems, insist that history does not have to repeat itself, takes an unafraid stand. Modern spirituality. Love, relationships, and finding the good.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to madison.hernick@unitedtalent.com

Please send a clear, concise submission letter and the first 50 pages. If nonfiction, feel free to send the whole proposal.