christine ebbs

Chris publishes genre fiction, with a focus on romance, fantasy and new adult, for Penguin Random House Australia. She also brings her digital sales background to optimising the metadata for PRH's books.

Chris is passionate about diversifying the commercial fiction market in Australia and is looking for voices telling stories we think we know in new ways.

What is Chris looking for?

What is the minimum word-count your agency takes, or your publishing house requires?
Single title only (80k and upwards)

What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for?
Rural romance, historical romance

Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see?

Romantasy
Sports romance
LGBTQIA romance,
Romance with disability/chronic illness representation
Multicultural romance

What genre is your personal favourite?
High-stakes contemporary friends-to-lovers romance

What is your major turn-off in a book?
Bad dialogue

What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book?
Unique, well-drawn characters and a strong sense of humour

Any advice to your potential pitchers?
Keep these questions in mind:

What's the one-sentence summary of your book?
What's unique about your book?
Who will read the book? What's the market?
Why are you the right person to write this book?
What are some good comparison titles for this book?

Get to know Chris...

All-time favourite book?

Current favourite book?

Favourite tropes?

Favourite movies?

Favourite TV shows?

Random fact about Chris:

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Anything by Emily Henry

Friends-to-lovers, fake dating

When Harry Met Sally

The West Wing

I learnt Irish dancing as a child

christine ebbs

rwa conference secretariat