Melissa Danaczko

Melissa represents a wide-range of Adult fiction and non-fiction titles. In fiction, she gravitates towards high-concept novels with a fresh perspective, energetic writing, deep emotional connection, and an immersive sense of place. Favorite categories include contemporary book club fiction, mystery, crime, psychological thrillers, speculative fiction, horror, and historical novels. She also represents history, science, memoir and idea-driven non-fiction books that are rigorous, emotionally compelling and have something big to say about our world. Across all categories, she is looking for a diversity of voices and projects that are both entertaining and enlightening, the types of books that you can get lost in and then when you finally resurface, want to discuss with others.

Selected titles include:

THE DEVIL TAKES YOU HOME, Gabino Iglesias (Mulholland/Little Brown)

MOTHER BRAIN, Chelsea Conaboy (Holt)

YOU’RE INVITED, Amanda Jayatissa (Berkley)

GLITTER AND CONCRETE, Elyssa Maxx Goodman (Hanover Square Press)

OLD SCHOOL INDIAN, Aaron John Curtis (Tin House/Zando)

KILLER VIBES, Jack Friday (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press)

SLIP, Mallary Tenore Tarpley (Simon Element)

How to Query Melissa:

To query Melissa, please send an email to Melissa.Query@defliterary.com with the following:

• A query letter stating the Word Count and including 10-15 sample pages from the opening of your manuscript or proposal. This must be pasted in the body of the email, and all queries with attachments will automatically be deleted.  
• If you have used AI to write any part of your manuscript, I respectfully ask that you don’t submit your project to me. You must disclose the nature of any other AI use in the initial query.
• Due to the volume of queries, I am unable to provide feedback, and I will only be in touch if I’m interested in reading more material.
• If I have not responded within 6 weeks, you are welcome to submit to another agent.