Kelly doust
Kelly Doust publishes commercial fiction and non-fiction with a focus on woman readers. She has worked in publishing for over two decades in Sydney, Hong Kong and London, and has written eight books herself, including two novels.
Kelly loves beautiful and important titles that uplift and inspire and has a passion for sourcing and nurturing new talent – from romcoms, cosy crime, historical fiction and domestic noir to diverse lifestyle titles ranging from health & wellbeing, cooking and personal development to feminism, memoir and humour.
She has published authors such as Belinda Alexandra, Kate Solly, Jane Tara, Rhianna King, Hannah Ferguson, Briony Benjamin and Jordanna Levin.
What is Kelly looking for?
What is the minimum word-count your agency takes, or your publishing house requires?
Single title only (70k and upwards)
What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for?
Fantasy, Erotica - unless it's extraordinarily well-written.
Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see?
Smart, sophisticated fiction for women readers.
What genre is your personal favourite?
Witty and warm contemporary women's fiction.
What is your major turn-off in a book?
Bad dialogue, bad sex scenes.
What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book?
Anything that feels original or surprising.
Any advice to your potential pitchers?
- Consider its hook - Does it speak to the Zeitgeist in any way?
- Know your reader - Who are they? What else do they like?
- Think about where your book sits in the marker and how well you know your genre - What other books are similar? Do you read widely in the same space yourself?
Get to know Kelly...
All-time favourite book?
Current favourite book?
If your life was a romance novel, what would the title be?
Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things
Stone Blind by Natalie Hayes
A Life Less Ordinary