Hi, I'm Frannie, a literary agent at The Caldwell Agency, and I look forward to reviewing your query. I view literary representation as a collaborative, strategic, and creative partnership between an author and their agent. My favorite part of being an agent is being a champion and advocate - one of the first people on an author's team.

I am a history nerd, and on road trips, I'm often the person pointing at architecture and trying to guess what year it was built. As an agent, I'd love to represent authors who are exploring the margins of the history books, especially those writing from marginalized perspectives, both through fact and fiction. My history interests are broad, but sway more commercial. Some favorites include THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson, THE STATIONARY SHOP by Marjan Kamali, HORSE by Geraldine Brooks, and THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I'm not quite a fit for WWII, unless it is covering a topic that hasn't been done before, but I'm open to reading almost everything else. Also, I couldn't put down THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI by Shannon Chakraborty, which is historical fantasy.

I'm especially eager to work with journalists and academics who have ideas for character-driven narratives. Two of my favorite books in the history spaces are THE ART THIEF by Michael Finkel, which has all the twist and turns of a crime novel, and ASTOR by Anderson Cooper and Katharine Howe, which reads like a short story collection. On the science side, Mary Roach's writing is funny, smart, and accessible to those who have never picked up a science book outside of the classroom.

History can be heavy, and my escapism tends to be mystery novels. I gravitate toward wry voices and chaotic situations - more fun than gore. I cannot stop recommending Elle Cosimano's FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT and Parini Shroff's THE BANDIT QUEENS. My guilty pleasure television show is The Traitors, and if you have something campy, silly, and tongue-in-cheek, I am begging you to send it over.

I am open to middle grade and young adult in one specific category - diabetic characters from authors who are themselves are diabetic. I have several relatives with type 1 diabetes, one of whom was diagnosed with type 1 as a young child. There wasn't any literature I could recommend at the time. I want to see more diabetic characters in every book category. Representation of chronic illnesses, not just diabetes, is and will always be a priority for me.

In contemporary literature, I want to represent work that I am eager to discuss in a book club. Some of my favorites are THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach and YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang, both of which get so intimately close to the characters that they feel familiar. If the story is grounded in character, I also tend to gravitate toward a little speculative. THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley was unique and fun while tackling bigger themes (colonialism, history, feminism), and MIGRATIONS by Charlotte McConaghy took on climate change in a way that was captivating and heartbreaking. I'd also like to see some more books in conversation with classic literature, like HESTER by Laurie Lico Albanese. 

Lastly, I am on the lookout for essays and hybrid memoirs that change the way we see the world and/or make us feel less alone in it. I am in a reading hangover from Robin Wall Kemmerer's BRAIDING SWEETGRASS, which blends education and personal so beautifully. It left a profound impact on me. I also found myself laughing aloud to I'LL SHOW MYSELF OUT by Jessi Klein. In parenthood, if you've ever had to sit on the floor of a public restroom because of your child, you will get this book. I want to find and support similar books of this nature.

Though I live in the Midwest, I grew up in the greater Washington, D.C. area, and the vibrant theatre scene was one of the reasons I studied theatre and film. I have always loved helping writers to develop their ideas. It is a passion that never went away, even while I worked alongside science and public health professionals at a university. After I finished my MFA in fiction, I co-agented at a boutique literary agency that specialized in history, and I interned at Creative Media Agency. I'm excited to grow my client list at TCA and support authors at every stage of the writing and publication process.

When I'm not reading, I can be found playing hide-and-seek tag with my daughter (the best workout), trying new recipes in the kitchen, crocheting, and gardening. I'm a sports fanatic (volleyball, football, basketball) but no sport can ever top my excitement for new seasons of The Great British Bake Off.

For a detailed list of the projects I'm seeking, visit https://www.franniedove.com/mswl.