Wishlist
Claire Draper is currently open to Adult romance novel queries. Please check back later when they open to other submissions more generally.
Please review their guidelines and wishlist, and if you’d like to query them after doing so, please visit Query Manager to submit your query when they reopen.
Guidelines and FAQ
By submitting a query to Claire, you are agreeing to the following:
Address them as Claire or Mx. Draper or with they/them pronouns, or it will be considered an automatic pass.
They only accept queries through Query Manager, so only submit your query there and do not send queries through other channels, or your submission will not be reviewed.
If your work is fictional, it will NOT contain the following as an on page scene or it will be considered an automatic pass*:
Suicide ideation
Unchallenged narratives of Eating Disorders
Sexual assault
Gratuitous violence
Mass shootings
*Note: If you are unsure if these apply to you, use your best judgement, and understand that these guidelines help me work more effectively and efficiently and find work that I’d like on my list, while maintaining boundaries for what I can and am able to comfortably read and would like to represent. This does not make your book any more or less worthy of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Referrals: If you are a referral, please query Claire through the referral page linked here.
Exclusives: Please do not send an exclusive query. Queries are meant to be shared with multiple agencies!
Requests: If Claire is interested in your work, they will respond with instructions for sending the rest of your material.
Offers: If you receive an offer of representation or publication, we ask that you check back with Claire before accepting representation elsewhere to give them time to review your work. They will do my best to get you a response quickly.
Requests from other agents: If another agent has requested a full, congratulations! But that is not a reason to reach out with an update to Claire.
Response time: Thank you for being patient while they have a look at your work. Their response time for queries is typically a month, and their response time for full manuscripts is typically 3 months, though a longer response time is usually a good sign not a bad one, as it means they are having difficulty finding fault in your work! We respond to every query, and so if you haven't heard back, please know we are still reviewing your work.
We are grateful for all queries and submissions, and thank you for considering Au Literary Management in your querying process.
Claire’s Wishlist
For all the books I work on, I prefer to work with queer creators; Black, Indigenous, creators of color; and disabled creators; and I strongly encourage those creators to send me their work.
Regardless of genre, age, or subject, I like lighthearted, romantic, hopeful reads. I prefer books with a fast pace, high stakes, and strong emotional development for the main character(s). I prefer commercial/accessible writing, a romantic main or subplot, and stories with a strong hook. I am best for books with happy endings, themes of hope and joy. I love characters that are so stupid in love but don’t realize it, ensemble casts, unusual settings, and comedy. Please make me laugh!
Send Me:
Adult Romance Novels
Graphic Novels
YA Romance/Contemporary
Memoir
Adult Nonfiction
Romantic A or B plot
Fat main characters
Disabled main characters
Happy endings
Writing that’s funny on the line level
Don’t Send Me:
Books with suicide ideation, gratuitous violence, or mass shootings
Books with eating disorders, unchallenged fatphobia, or unchallenged diet culture
Stories featuring Nazis, Zionists/Zionism, ICE, republicans, police, or military
WWII or Civil War era fiction, unless written from a marginalized perspective we haven’t heard before
Dated ideals of partnership, relationships, femininity, and masculinity
Romance containing sexual acts without some form of understood consent (verbal or otherwise) or Romance containing sexual acts with characters that are heavily intoxicated
Conservative or conservative leaning books
Dark, gritty books
Issue driven books
Picture books, chapter books, early reader prose, early reader graphic novels, novels-in-verse, poetry, short stories
Young adult genre fiction
Upmarket fiction
Business books
Horror/Mysteries/Thrillers/High fantasy
Adult Romance
I am looking for:
Monsters
Polycules, triads/throuples
Trades workers/union jobs
Main characters over 30
Bossy bottoms
Fat main character
Disabled main character
Lots of tropes
Extra spice
will commit murder for the love interest
love interest seems morally gray but is actually a marshmallow with heart of gold underneath the hard shell exterior
I’ll always prioritize queer characters, characters of color, fat characters, and disabled characters. I love books with fierce protagonists that have distinct personalities, lots of humor, and a fast paced plot. It must be body-positive. I love nearly any sub genre or niche of romance novels. I’ve been reading romance novels and fanfiction since I was a teenager, and have loved lots of different kinds of tropes, characters, constraints, and set ups. Just make sure to respect the rules of HEA and give me some good trope-filled romance!
Graphic Novels
I like graphic novels for upper middle grade, young adult, new adult, and adult audiences. I like a diverse cast of characters, in nearly any genre or location. I love art that challenges traditional styles and is easily recognizable as belonging to a particular artist. I especially love when a book has strong themes of love and/or friendship, and is extra queer.
Illustrator Portfolios
I like to see a decent sampling of your work, including anything from character design, to fan art, to sequentials (any paneled work, webcomic, zine, etc., will suffice). Please let me know whether you are exclusively an illustrator or are an author/illustrator.
Young Adult Romance & Contemporary
I love YA where the main character(s) has average, everyday challenges and we see how they overcome them. I YA books that are lighthearted and emotionally poignant.
I love books with humor and interesting perspectives, and enjoy a big personality or narration to go with the contents of the memoir. I am especially interested in authors writing about the intersections of their identities.
Memoir
Adult Non-Fiction
I love creators with a fun and interesting platform, who are the experts in their field, and have something interesting and crucial to say. Subjects for this may include but are not limited to: neurodivergence, environmentalism, plants, animals, crafting, DIY, cleaning, homemaking, cooking, art, feminism, queer theory, parenting, and media criticism.