Please see if your work meets the guidelines of what we do and don't represent, and then send us an electronic query using our easy online form. We will respond within 4 weeks. If we ask for materials, please follow these guidelines:

• Do everything you can to develop your writing skills and polish your manuscript before submission. Writers groups, conferences and writing classes can only help your writing. Remember: any agent or editor is likely to only read your manuscript once, so make sure that you aren't sending out an early draft which could be improved with more work. And never underestimate the importance of the first few pages to draw any reader in.

• Fiction: send 30 pages, unless we ask for the complete manuscript. If you have a 1-2 page synopsis of the plot, send that also.

• Nonfiction: send your proposal, along with 50 or so pages of the sample chapters. The proposal should include an overview, audience/market for the book, promotion strategy, competitive and comparative titles, author bio, table of contents for the book, and brief summary of each chapter. For further guidance, refer to Susan Page's THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND A PUBLISHED BOOK.

• We now respond to queries via e-mail, so please include your e-mail address. There is no need for SASE.

• Include a great one-page cover letter which summarizes your material and background, and refers to the e-query. If this is an exclusive submission, let us know and we will read as soon as possible.

• If you'd like to confirm delivery of your materials, either use Delivery Confirmation services from the Post Office (an extra 45 cents postage), or a tracking service such as Federal Express or UPS.

• Here's the address for mailing:
      1325 Howard Avenue, PMB 619
      Burlingame, CA 94010

• You should hear from us within 4 weeks. If you have an offer of representation elsewhere and need a response sooner, please e-mail randi@defioreandco.com, and give us a chance to speed up our response.

• Please understand that we may not be able to provide detailed feedback on your writing if we're not moving forward together.

What we do/don't represent:

What we do represent:

• Fiction:
  • Literary and commercial
  • Mysteries
  • Historical fiction
  • Chick lit
• Nonfiction:
  • Narrative: Memoir, history, biography, science, politics/current affairs, business, sports, psychology, womens issues
  • Humor (but only the really funny kind)

What we don't represent:

• Childrens' and young adult books
• Horror
• Poetry
• Westerns
• Romance
• Academic books
• Science fiction
• Techno-thrillers