sharon pelletier 

Sharon Pelletier joined DG&B in 2013 after working for Europa Editions, Vantage Press, and Barnes & Noble, and was named senior agent in 2021. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, Sharon moved to New York in 2009 but still has a soft spot for the Midwest.

While her interests are broad, Sharon is especially seeking upmarket fiction, including unexpected suspense fiction; smart, complex women's fiction; and hearty, unforgettable book club fiction. On the nonfiction side Sharon is eager for compelling, fierce narrative nonfiction by journalists and experts, and emerging voices with a growing platform who can speak to pop culture, feminism, crime, social justice and/or religion.

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?
Paranormal romance, romantasy, sci-fi-inspired romance (e.g. space opera, dystopian, etc.) are pretty much no-go's for me (though happy to answer questions/give feedback). Historical is tough right now and also just a category I personally rarely enjoy, though as above, happy to offer feedback and meet with writers of histrom.

Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see?
Contemporary romance / romcom are my go-tos! 

What genre is your personal favourite?
Contemporary romcom - I love that genuine funny banter especially when it steers clear of snark.

What is your major turn-off in a book?
Other than the obvious (assault, bigotry, racism, etc.): alpha dominating male leads are not for me. Even if its a false front or he changes and softens in the course of the book. I don't want to spend time with harsh controlling men in fiction

What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book?
I'm really looking for STAKES right now in romance submissions. Something really at stake for MC beyond the fuzziness of opening themself to love again. An obstacle to the two being together that is really interesting, fresh and complex. After all, it's romance - we know they're going to end up together. What keeps us interested along the way in the how? What character arca do they each have individually outside their journey towards each other?

Any advice to your potential pitchers?
Approach the pitch as a consultation, not a yes/no pitch. A great writer can be a terrible pitcher and vice versa. Rather than getting hung up on hearing career-making response from this meeting, view it as telling an expert about your book with the opportunity to ask questions specific to your work, or that you've heard conflicting responses on, or that Google just won't help with.