AGENT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH ANN ROSE AND QUERY CRITIQUE GIVEAWAY

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Ann Rose here. She is a literary agent at Prospect Agency.

11/9/2022 Update: Ann has left Prospect Agency and is now at The Tobias Literary Agency.

Status Update on 3/7/2026: Ann is currently open to submissions and has extensively edited her interview.

Hi­ Ann! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Ann:

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent.

I didn’t become an agent the “typical” way for sure. I wasn’t a creative writing major. I didn’t always dream of being a writer. Actually, I never thought either of these things were in the cards for me. But I couldn’t be more happy with how I ended up here. It all started about a million years ago (okay, maybe not that long, but go with me on this) my niece asked me to read some books with her. She was a vivacious reader, and her friends really weren’t, but she wanted someone to fangirl with over books. I told her to tell me what to buy, and we started our own little book club. After one of her favorite characters died, and she called me sobbing, (ten points if you can name the book and the character) I told her I’d write her a book. This is where my story truly begins. I decided if I was going to write her a book I was going to learn everything there was to know about the publishing industry which included getting an internship at an agency on top of my forty hour(+) a week job managing a portfolio of applications for all of America and part of Latin America.

I found agenting to be fascinating, and I loved how each day brought different challenges to conquer, so after a few years, and my day job being eliminated (thanks corporate America) I took to agenting full time and found a home with Prospect Agency. I call it serendipity because really all the stars aligned to make it happen, and I haven’t regretted it a day since. 

As an agent, I do all the things agents do. I represent my clients work to publishers. I work with them on edits to make sure they have the best chance at getting their books picked up. Since I’m remote, I schedule calls with editors to connect with them and discuss projects they are interested in. I’m a sounding board for my client’s ideas and also a shoulder to cry on when imposter syndrome hits hard. There’s probably not a lot of things I wouldn’t do for my authors, really.

About the Agency:

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.

The Tobias Literary Agency is a full-service firm with a holistic approach, specializing in representing adult and children's authors, illustrators, and intellectuals across diverse genres. We represent notable figures including bestseller and award-winning authors, offering expertise in foreign rights and film/TV adaptations.

What She’s Looking For:

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres?

I represent all genres under the Middle Grade and Young Adult umbrella. In the adult arena I’m looking for romance/rom-coms, women’s fiction, historical, mystery, thriller, suspense, and light fantasy/science fiction. I like to say I don’t need to know how the flux capacitor works just that it makes time travel possible, and I’m in.

For a more comprehensive list of what I’m looking for, check my MSWL at  https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/ann-rose/

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in?

I would love to see stories that really highlight women’s/girl’s experiences in the world—whether that be in a real-world setting or something fantastical. I’d love more underrepresented voices. I love stories that can make me laugh and ones that can make be cry—even better when it’s in the same story. I’m here for a good revenge plot and burning of the patriarchy. I always enjoy finding LGBTQIA+ stories in my inbox. I’m definitely open to finding just the right YA fantasy to champion—although I have to admit I’m very picky in this area. I’m also open to non-fiction that deal with women’s issues.

I also really want to see more weird books—books that will surprise me in the best way possible. Books that play with blending genres, but also have a clear place on the bookshelf. If it’s a little wacky, send it my way.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?

This is much easier than what I am looking for as sometimes I don’t know unless I see it but this list is pretty solid below on what I don’t really want…

Horror (I don't love all the blood and guts stuff)

Erotica

Non-fiction

Picture Books

Poetry (books in verse are the exception) 

Screenplays

Novellas

Stories that start with a character waking up

Stories with graphic rape

Misogynist stories 

Stories that depict animal cruelty - if the dog dies, I don't want it

Books set in the 80s-90s - Unless there's a darn good reason. If you can pick up the plot and move it present day, you probably should. 

Agent Philosophy:

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent?

I want to work with career authors. Authors who understand that sometimes the first book isn’t the breakout they dreamed it would be and they have to write two or three or four… more. I want to work with professionals who are able to understand we need to value each other’s time. All my clients have my cell number and are open to text when they need, but not one single one of them has ever abused this.

I want to rep books that represent the world we live in and also books that explore new worlds and ideas. Books that challenge the norms of today. Books with strong, capable women that don’t need men saving them. Books that make me think and keep my on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very end.

Editorial Agent:

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors?

I’m very editorial, any of my clients would tell you this. We will go through a number of rounds of revisions—as many as it takes—to get the best book possible. In the end we both have the same goal, sell books, so I want to give each client/book the best chance possible.

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting)

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter?

 Submissions are all done through Query Manager: QueryManager.com/AgentAnnRose

I’m not looking for the perfect query letter, although it is very obvious who has done at least a tertiary search of, “How to write a query letter.” So if you’ve done this, congratulations! You are a step ahead of a number of others in my inbox.

I currently ask for a query, a 1-2 page synopsis, and 3 chapters or 30 pages whichever is more.

Please note: The synopsis is different than the query and will tell the entire story arc from beginning to end. This does not “ruin” the book for me. I love to understand how the author sees their project and how the dominos are lining up on the page. I understand these are tough, so just do your best. And remember the synopsis has to tell the ending, spoilers and all!  

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?

The only real “dislike” I have in a query is when it’s clear the author hasn’t done any research on the process or what I represent.

For first pages, my biggest pet peeve is starting with a character waking up. I see it ALL THE TIME, so it’s just not that interesting to me. I highly suggest trying to start in a different place, and who knows, you might surprise yourself with how awesome it works. 

Response Time:

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript? 

I ask for a minimum of three months to review your submission before you nudge and I do try to respond well before this. Sometimes, however, I get behind, and sometimes I set things aside to dig more into later and so it takes me longer. I know how hard it is to wait, so I appreciate your patience. I would say the same thing holds for when I request pages. I TRY to be as quick as possible, but sometimes life gets in the way.

Self-Published and Small Press Authors:

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them? 

Yes, I’m open to previously published authors whether they are small press or self-published. If the book is self-published, I like to get an understanding of sales and also what the author’s intention is with querying me now with it. (Is it to get a print deal? Want to sell audio or foreign? All of the above? A general idea of what it is you are looking for is very helpful.)

Clients:

12. Who are some of the authors you represent?

I represent USA Today Best-Selling authors Amelia Jahn, and Emma C. Wells, as well as a number of award winning authors, Indie Next picks, and authors with stared reviews (Syndey Dunlap, Tom Phillips, Stan Yan, Cassie Miller, and Charlene Thomas to name a few.)

Honestly, I’d love to shout out about all my authors, but I don’t think we have the time. If you are curious to know more check out the #RosebudAuthor hashtag and you’re bound to find them.

Interviews and Guest Posts:

13. Please share the links to any interviews and guest posts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you.

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/ann-rose/

https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/2019/04/author-agent-interview-ann-rose-of-prospect-agency/

http://www.michelle4laughs.com/2018/07/query-questions-with-ann-rose.html

Update on 3/7/2026:

What Agents Look for in Query Letters Podcast Interview at The Write It Scared Podcast (03/2026)

Podcast Interview at Alyssa Matesic (01/2026)

Navigating the Publishing World Interview at Writers With Wrinkles (09/2024)

Podcast interview on Querying at Demi Michelle (05/2024) 

Podcast interview at E Train Talks Books! (04/2024)

Podcast Interview at Literary Lens (01/2024)

Agent of the Month Interview at Wring and Illustrating (03/2021)

Links and Contact Info:

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web.

If people want to query me, they should go to The Tobias Literary Agency website or find me on Query Manager.

If people just want to know about my shenanigans, I’m best found on Bluesky: @annmrose or on Instagram/Threads: @totally_anntastic 

Update on 3/7/2026:

https://www.thetobiasagency.com/ann-rose

https://querytracker.net/query/AgentAnnRose

Additional Advice:

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered?

Keep writing. This industry is so subjective and what doesn’t work for one person might be exactly what someone else is looking for. If this is your dream don’t give up.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Ann.

­Ann is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follower button if you're not a follower) and leave a comment through April 4th.  If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter either contest. If you do not want to enter the contest, that's okay. Just let me know in the comments.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway.

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change.

Profile Details:
Last updated: 3/7/2026.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 3/7/2026.