alterean.

John Berlyne

Zeno Agency Ltd

Submission status
Closed
Submission route
QueryTracker
Response time
Aims to reply within 12 weeks
Last checked
Yesterday

About

John is the founder of Zeno Agency and a long-time champion of high-concept, plot-driven storytelling.

He gravitates toward speculative fiction where characters face real problems and narrative momentum drives the story. A lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, John has a sharp eye for originality and a low tolerance for derivative work or overly whimsical narratives.

Genres

CrimeFantasyHistorical FictionHorrorScience FictionThriller

Looking for

  • all kinds of fantasy and science fiction
  • Urban Fantasy
  • space opera
  • a good old plot-driven narrative

Not looking for

  • political treatise disguised as fiction
  • anything too whimsical
  • writing that purports to be funny but isn't

Agency submission guidelines

The agency accepts fiction submissions by email (except where noted otherwise) that fit its current requirements. What to send: the first three chapters (or an equivalent segment of around 50 double-spaced pages), a synopsis, and a covering letter. Formatting: chapters should be sent as attachments in.doc,.docx or PDF format, in a legible font no smaller than 12pt, double spaced, with pages numbered. The name, email address and a contact number should appear on the title page. The text of the submission should not be pasted into the email body; only attachments in the requested formats will be considered. Word count: adult novels of less than 75,000 words are not accepted. Children's fiction should be no less than 50,000 words. Synopsis: should be a simple explanation of the story from chapter one to the end, not proposed cover copy, and should not run over two pages. Covering letter: should include an elevator pitch and a few lines about the writer and their writing career to date. Mention should be made if another novel has previously been sent to Zeno. Submissions should not be sent again if a previous submission was declined. Submissions by post are not accepted. Subject line should read 'SUBMISSION [title of novel] by [name]'. Only one agent should be submitted to at a time. Per-agent method: John Berlyne accepts submissions by email. Stevie Finegan accepts submissions via QueryManager only.

Links

Clients include

  • Stephen Bauman
  • James P. Blaylock
  • Marie Brennan
  • Peter V. Brett
  • Colin Brush
  • Algis Budrys (Estate)
  • Jack Campbell
  • Tobias Capwell
  • Jonathan Carroll
  • Andrew Cartmel
  • Michael Cobley
  • Aliette de Bodard
  • William Gibson
  • Simon R. Green
  • Charlaine Harris

Other agents at Zeno Agency Ltd