Wish List for May 2017

It’s May 1st, and you know what that means! The editors at Entangled Publishing are always looking for the next breakout hit. Could that be your book? Make sure to read until the end as we have some special calls as well. Each month, we have a new wish list from our editors. Watch for them as they’ll change monthly. Let’s discover each other today! All submissions can be sent through our Submittable system. The link can be found here: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/submission-information/

Alethea Spiridon, Editorial Director of Select Historical and Scandalous

• I’m looking for Viking and Highlander marriage of convenience stories with incredible chemistry zinging between hero and heroine. If they hate each other to start, even better!

Alycia Tornetta, Editorial Director of Bliss and Select Suspense

Bliss:

• Marriage of convenience and accidentally married books
• Heroine who works in a bookstore/library
• Heroine or hero who works with animals. Bonus points if their meet-cute involves said animals.
• Military/law enforcement/men in uniform heroes who fall for women who are their total opposite
• Heroines who don’t have everything together yet (e.g. barely making ends meet or are have returned to their hometown)
• Holiday stories

Suspense:

• SEAL team/special forces heroes with series potential
• Search and Rescue/Coast Guard/Firefighter heroes
• Commercial thriller (e.g. Lisa Scottoline, Iris Johansen, Lisa Gardner)
• Every-day heroine who witnesses something or accidentally gets involved in something bad

YA:

• Space set series with high stakes. Think Battlestar Galactica.
• High-concept, tropey contemporary romance
• Stories set around one day/night (like Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist or Graffiti Moon)
• Diverse books that have a romance angle

NA/Contemporary romance:

• Roommates trope (either college or after)
• Tortured hero/bad boy (I’m talking angsty, heart-wrenching, emotional reads)
• Office setting/ falling for the boss

Candace Havens, Editorial Director for Embrace

Embrace is looking for stories that are heart-pounding in multiple ways. A first job in a dangerous field, not law enforcement, but maybe spies or something like the Thomas Crown Affair. We’d also like some hot British and Scottish dudes at a European university and maybe the females are American studying there. First jobs that are somewhat exotic, maybe in a foreign land. And we could use some romantic comedies with first jobs, first time at college, or internships.

Erin Molta, Senior Editor

• Vikings, Vikings, and more Vikings!
• I would LOVE to see an epic story of a shield maiden who can hold her own against any Viking warrior, and the jarl who finds a chink in her armor can’t steal her heart without a fight.
• Or a Viking who has gone a wandering and fetches an Irish lass who does not go willingly
• Opposites attract/Brother’s best friend/even boy next door who becomes the jarl are just some tropes that can work for Vikings.

Heather Howland, Senior Editor and Editorial Director of Lovestruck

For Lovestruck:

• I’d love a series set during something like the blackout that hit San Francisco this April. A widespread blackout would make a great meet-cute for a “strangers-to-lovers stranded in the subway” story! I can also see fender benders in crazy intersections, a firefighter trying to rescue a pretty girl from a broken elevator, only to have the power go out again and trap him with her. Bonus points if the book is set in San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle. I’m a west coast girl and love stories set in my part of the world.
• I’m also interested in foreign-born heroes living and falling in love here in the US. I’d love to see an Irish-American bar owner, complete with accent, set somewhere like Chicago. Or maybe a sexy a Samoan-American or Tongan-American who runs a repair shop with his brothers/cousins in either northern or southern California? Bring on the tribal tattoos, family loyalty, and take charge personalities!

All other imprints:

• Do you write ménage? I want an erotic romance for our Scorched imprint that features multiple men/one woman ménage, the more alpha the men, the better. I’m a fan of Lora Leigh and Maya Banks’ ménage series, so I’d love something hot like those. Relatable heroine and HEA is a must!
• I have a spot open on my NA list, and I want to fill it with something super Send me your new-to-college/transfer student (18-20 yo) heroines falling into bed with an upperclassman with a bad reputation…or go a little more taboo and give her a hot night with an uber sexy guy who winds up being her TA. I’d also be down with a relatable coed tackling her internship and getting tangled up with her gorgeous new boss. The more emotionally invested I am, the better.
• My Teen list is nearly full, but I could be open to the right project. If you have something super high concept, either in the speculative or contemporary romance genres, I’ll take a look. My favorite speculative books are so close to possible, it’s scary. Contemporary has to have a mega hook. I’m still interested in a story featuring a group of teens (friends or not) who get mixed up in a dangerous situation when one of them is found murdered. Did I mention I like darker books?
• On the flip side, I’m obsessed with swoony n’ sweet YA category romance for our Crush Most of my authors write good guys, so I want a bad boy. Knock him on his ass with a good girl heroine who doesn’t take his crap, and I’ll be eating out of your hand. Kissing is required. Beyond that is optional, and will be handled delicately.

I’m currently not interested in: weddings, politicians, makeover books, Groundhog Day-style plotlines, time travel, PR firms repairing reputations, women fixing men, bakeries/restaurants/food-related professions, baseball players (I have several), firefighters (even more blasphemous, but I have several of these, too), or snarky/mouthy heroines.

Heidi Shoham, Editorial Director of Indulgence and Select Contemporary

I’m specifically looking to grow the Indulgence imprint!

• I want rich, alpha Indulgence heroes, multi-layered billionaires’ intent on sweeping the likable heroines of their feet. I’d love to see more international heroes and exotic settings. I want to fly to a private Greek island, a villa in sunny Spain or Italy, an extravagant ski resort in France or Switzerland. The heroines must likable and relatable, they’re the everyday woman (think about the women in your own circle of friends) who get swept away by alpha heroes who can make all their dreams come true (even if they’re going to drive the women a little crazy first.) These men can be grumpy and tough on the outside, as long as we also get to see that heart of gold they’re hiding. Conflict is super important! We need internal and external conflicts that are strong enough to carry the book all the way through! I’m looking for fresh ideas and voices, twists and unique tellings of those favorite tropes. Secret baby/accidental pregnancy can be so good when done right! Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, ugly duckling, mistaken identity, forced proximity, all good. Hollywood and celebrities are a little tougher to sell.

 Imprint wide, I’m always looking for:

• High concept plots that grab me in one sentence.
• Send me your hottest, most erotic romance that’ll make me blush (Warning: it’ll take a lot)
• Cowboys, cowboys, cowboys
• Men in uniform/veterans/first responders
• Shifters – especially wolves and bears, with that strong family/pack element to it
• Angsty heroes with a snarky sense of humor (a la Dean Winchester).

Special Call

I’m specifically looking for characters aged 35 to 45, people with a little bit more life experience under their belt. I want layered, emotional stories, likable and relatable heroines, hot heroes, authentic dialogue, and strong and believable conflicts that knock me off my feet and carry the book from beginning to end! I really want to see single dads doing their best, characters looking at that next stage of their life as their high school kids need them a little less, people starting over and/or maybe on their second time around. I need strong conflict here, more than just an ex who burned them and gave them trust issues. I’m talking engaging meet-cutes, intense conflicts, and interesting characters who are relatable and layered.

If you have anything you think hits these marks, submit your manuscript via Submittable to my attention. Anyone with questions can email me at heidishoham (at) entangledpublishing (dot) com or find me on social media.

Kate Brauning, Senior Editor

• High concept, big hook, fast-paced YA of any genre, particularly local disaster stories or thrillers with romance.
• Literary YA with that perfect balance of character-driven, thought-provoking story and a gripping plot and concept, particularly dealing with sibling relationships, careers/passions, and complex friendships.
• NA romance with a strong setting and heroines with no abusive past. Internships, summers abroad, something that’s the chance of a lifetime with a heroine who has a strong sense of self.
• Adult category romance about emergency responders—either high-stakes and intense for our Ignite imprint, or else sweet, low danger, and small town for Bliss. Think rescuing pets and cars breaking down.

Stephen Morgan, Editor

• I’m looking for high concept books that hook you from the premise alone. If you can hook me with a single sentence description about the book, you know what I’m looking for.
• Please make sure your story features heroines who are relatable to the average reader, and who we’ll love and understand from page one.
• Lately I’m on a strong Young Adult kick. Adorable! Swoony! Give me a teen romance for the Crush or Teen lines with a broody hero who feels blindsided by the heroine who seemed everyday but somehow makes him question everything.
• For New Adult, I’d love to see hot British and Scottish dudes who meet a first-time American student studying at their local university. I’d also like to see more heroines in their first jobs, first time at college, internships.
• For NA through Adult, I’d love to see more romantic comedies with healthy antagonism between the hero and heroine. I love to see a heroine and hero who hate each other but can’t fight their attraction.
• Authentic dialogue, fun banter that demands to be read out loud
• Favorite tropes include Enemies to Lovers, Marriage of Convenience, Mistaken Identity, Older Brother’s Best Friend/Best Friend’s Little Sister (or some variation), Cinderella, and Ugly Duckling.
• Thing I do not want: politicians, fake relationships, PR firms repairing reputations, bakeries/restaurants/food-related professions, specific apartment building-centric stories

Tera Cuskaden, Editorial Director of Select Otherworld and Covet

Otherworld:

• High concept plots I can sell in one sentence.
• I’m looking for paranormal romance with great romantic tension between alpha males and strong, relatable heroines.
• I’m looking for fresh voices and amazing stories that will suck me into the world-building and keep me up past my bedtime reading.
• I’m open to all genres and themes, though I am specifically looking for shifters (wolves, big cats, bears, and dragons in particular), vampires, and science fiction/fantasy with crossover elements, such as shifters and/or vampires.
• Menage paranormal and sci-fi romance. Think fated mates and/or a woman bonded to two men. The sex can be hot (and should be!), but make sure the story doesn’t revolve around the sex.
• I’d love to see large paranormal worlds with many different paranormal elements, such as vampires, shifters, witches, angels and demons, etc. (I am not looking for angels and demons, Fae/fairies, ghosts, and witches as standalone elements in stories.)
• Contemporary-based sci-fi. Think DNA-enhanced soldiers, super soldiers, medical issues, military, artificial intelligence, hackers and international espionage, and Outbreak.
• I would love to see sci-fi stories in the style of 12 Monkeys, Firefly, and Star Wars.

General submissions:

• High concept plots that will sell in one sentence.
• Relatable heroines.
• I’d love to see romances with single dads.
• Romantic suspense/thrillers. I’d love to see stories with a more psychological basis.
• Sexy contemporaries featuring everyday, relatable heroines (think teacher, nurse, veterinarian, etc.), and above-average heroes (though they don’t have to be billionaires, unless you’re targeting Indulgence).
• Erotic romance targeted at the Scorched imprint. I am looking to build my stable of erotic romance authors, so if you’ve written a great erotic romance with sex as the driving factor, I’d love to see it!
• Manuscripts targeted toward the Indulgence imprint (Here’s where those billionaires come into play!)
• Men in uniform or veterans.
• Women on vacation and/or stories taking place in exotic locales.

Tracy Montoya, Senior Editor

• I’d love a funny but also emotionally intense enemies-to-lovers story with a lot of verbal sparring for any of our lines. I just read The Hating Game and adored that back-and-forth!
• Still wishing for a book set in an FBI or CIA academy.
• I’m obsessed with books set in France for some reason, and would love an Indulgence that is at least partially set in France.
• I like “secret society” books. If your romance somehow involves a secret society of any kind, I’m in!
• Are your hero and heroine stranded somewhere—in a mountain cabin in a storm, on a desert island, etc.? I love that—send the book to me!
• Does your heroine get a makeover? As long as she’s still strong and relatable and not a doormat, she’s my kind of heroine!
• Writing a hacker girl? LOVE! Just make sure she’s paired with an alpha so the hero gives as much as he gets.
• Authors of color always welcome.

Wendy Chen, Editor

• I’m looking for a fresh, modern voice for the Bliss imprint. I’d love to see a small town American heroine who finds herself in another country when she meets her hero.

About Author

Heather Riccio

See author's posts