Danielle Binks is a Melbourne-based writer and literary agent with Jacinta di Mase Management. In 2017, she edited and contributed to Begin, End, Begin, an anthology of new Australian young adult writing inspired by the #LoveOzYA movement, which won the ABIA Book of the Year for Older Children (Ages 13+).

The Year the Maps Changed, Danielle’s bestselling middle-grade novel, was a 2021 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book, and released in North America in 2022 with HarperCollins. Her first solo YA novel The Monster of Her Age released in 2021, and won in the Young Adult category of the 2022 Indie Book Awards.

Danielle is also teaching Fiction & Young Adult Writing in the Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT University.

What is the minimum word-count your agency takes, or your publishing house requires? 
Single title only (80k and upwards)
Category length (45k-55k)
Young Adult fiction (can be between 60k - 80k)

What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for?
Nothing medical romance. No autobiography or memoir, no family memoir. Nothing science-fiction in any genre or sub-genres. No romance thriller/suspense. No urban fantasy/paranormal romance 

Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see?
I'd take a look at some fantasy (high or low) with romance/romantic elements. Particularly keen on some 'Romantasy' (romantic-fantasy!) Contemporary romance or women's fiction (I love Helen Hoang, Katherine Center, Talia Hibbert, Kylie Scott, Mhairi McFarlane and Rachael Johns!) Cozy mystery with romance through-line (think; M. C. Beaton and Elizabeth Peters)

What genre is your personal favourite?
Historical romance, and contemporary romance - particularly love family sagas! I do love a Romantasy (romance/fantasy) and I adore the 'cozy fantasy' trend (Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna) Cozy mysteries (with potential for series) choc-full of; love triangles, will-they-or-won't-they, friends-to-lovers, or enemies-to-lovers etc. 

What is your major turn-off in a book?
Taking too long to get started (no good telling me that things don't get going until Page 60!) It can totally be a spicy, five-chillies delight but don't put smut and smexy times right SMACK, BANG on page one. Ease us into it, please. Show, don't tell - I don't want long monologues and info-dumps. 

What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book?
I do love voice, voice, voice. When the character already sounds like a friend I want to hang out with, right from Page One - love that! A good genre mash-up. A clever mash-up. Not just 'dark academia cozy mystery' because that's what is currently trendy and is chasing the market. Someone who really knows their stuff and is writing the mash-up of their heart. 'Dark romance monster horror,' with Guillermo del Toro Shape of Water overtones type stuff. I'd love more diverse romance, written by diverse romance authors - of all backgrounds. Disability, Gender and Sexuality, Cultural backgrounds... all of it! 

Any advice to your potential pitchers?
Don't be nervous (but it's also totally okay to be nervous!) and if it is a "no," it's only because agents/editors/publishers are romance readers just like any other, with our own tastes, preferred tropes and proclivities.
Just because something is a "no," from me, doesn't mean it's a "no" indefinitely from the WHOLE industry. I am one person, with one opinion.