At the Marianne Gunn O Connor Literary, Film & TV Agency, we are always looking for fresh new talent and brilliant writing from anywhere in the world. Every submission matters to us. Marianne has eclectic tastes and will look at all genres of fiction and non-fiction, with that crucial ‘wow’ factor. She especially loves voice-driven stories written from an emotional place, stories that inspire, entertain or uplift, stories that make us laugh, cry, or give readers that heart-in-your-mouth moment. She's also inspired by stories that open our eyes to contemporary global issues and new worlds… big ideas that have the potential to change the way we think and live. If you think that your work fulfils any of these criteria, take a look at our guidelines below. We provide editorial services for all authors we represent. We look forward to hearing from you. 

 

Here is a snapshot of some books that Marianne loves..

 

Fiction

Overstory by Richard Powers

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Secret History by Donna Tart

The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Normal People by Sally Rooney.

 

Non-Fiction 

Dreams From My Father by Barrack Obama

How To Do Nothing by Jenny Odell

10 Billion by Stephen Emmott

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Silence In The Age Of Noise by Erling Kagge

Becoming by Michelle Obama

When Art Worked by Roger G Kennedy

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Quiet by  Susan Cain.

 

Children’s and Young Adult books

‘When I was a child, books were my best friends - so I’m looking for books that children will carry in their hearts always, that will fuel their imagination, make them laugh and that they’ll talk about forever.... books they won’t ever want to put down because they’re such good fun and so full of excitement and adventure! 

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'When I think of teens and young adults, the words that come to mind are I want to be understood.  So, at MGOC we’re looking for stories that speak to teenagers, that reflect their world and help to make sense of it. When I was a teenager, books were a solace and a therapy to me… and I’ll treasure them always in my heart. We want YA books that speak of endless possibilities and that will help young people to dream big. Of course, we’d also love to find an unforgettable love story...' – Marianne

 

 

Submission Guidelines

  

1. If you are submitting fiction, send us an e-mail telling us a little bit about yourself, along with three chapters of your work, or fifty pages if the chapters are short, along with a synopsis and a one-line summary to  submissions@mariannegunnoconnor.com

Please note that we do not accept hard copy or postal submissions.

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2. If you’re submitting non-fiction, please send us a proposal (a full outline of your work) and a sample chapter. Please put your name and the title of your book in the subject line. 

We don’t currently accept film scripts, plays, poetry or academic work.

 

3. ​As we get a large number of submissions, the process can sometimes take time, but we will try to read and respond within 6-8 weeks - but please be aware that this may not always be possible. Feel free to e-mail the agency if you haven’t received a reply, but please do not call the agency number. If we’d like to see more material, we will be in touch. Sadly, we are unable to provide feedback on individual work. 

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4. It’s really helpful to let us know if you are submitting to more than one agent. Also, please do update us if you have received interest from other agencies, or requests to review the full manuscript. 

 

5. If we say no to your submission, don’t lose heart. Perhaps your work isn’t for us, but it may very well be for someone else, so keep writing and don’t give up.