Frannie Dove is a literary agent at The Caldwell Agency.
In Frannie’s own words:
I love books that change and challenge the way we interact with the world, especially stories that explore the margins of the history books. I’m eager to champion stories that stir book club conversation, inspire readers to engage with their local communities, and bring people together around the dinner table.
Genres I seek: historical fiction, narrative history, historical fantasy, comedic mystery, book club fiction, genre bended and blended fiction (especially with some history), science for the non-scientist, essays with wisdom to share, and memoir with a strong narrative arc.
Things I love to see:
Quick and snappy dialogue
Cinematic reads with tight scene work
Voicey characters who are most definitely in the wrong but will try to win you over
Consequences that flip the story on its head
Underdogs and social climbers
Comedic dramas, dramatic comedies
Explorations of motherhood, the fourth trimester, and the postpartum journey
Parents trying (and sometimes failing) to juggle it all
Women omitted from the history books, especially women in STEM
Settings outside of New York City
Companion pieces to classics, fairytales, and folklore
Amateur sleuths in over their heads
Characters whose chronic illnesses are not the central plot point
Hollywood, media, and pop culture criticism
A behind-the-scenes look that feels like a secret
Epidemiology and community health
“Big question” pieces that explore how humans interact with the natural world
In historical fiction, my interests are broad, but sway more commercial. Some favorites include: THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson, THE STATIONARY SHOP by Marjan Kamali, HORSE by Geraldine Brooks, and THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’m not quite a fit for WWII, unless it is covering a topic that hasn’t been done before, but I’m open to reading almost everything else. Also, I couldn’t put down THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI by Shannon Chakraborty, which is historical fantasy.
My escapism reads tend to be mystery novels. I gravitate toward wry voices and chaotic situations – more fun than gore. I cannot stop recommending Elle Cosimano’s FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT and Parini Shroff’s THE BANDIT QUEENS. My guilty pleasure television show is The Traitors, and if you have something campy, silly, and tongue-in-cheek, I want to read it!
I’m looking to represent work that I am eager to discuss in a book club. This often means upmarket fiction – character-driven books with big hooks. Some of my favorites in this category are THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach and YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang, both of which get so intimately close to the characters that they feel familiar.
If the story is grounded in character, I also tend to gravitate toward speculative elements. THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley is unique and fun while tackling bigger themes (colonialism, history, feminism), and MIGRATIONS by Charlotte McConaghy takes on climate change in a way that is captivating and heartbreaking. Though not contemporary, I’d also like to see some more books set in the past that converse with classic literature, like HESTER by Laurie Lico Albanese.
In nonfiction, I’m especially eager to work with journalists and academics who have ideas for character-driven narratives. Two of my favorite books in the history space are THE ART THIEF by Michael Finkel, which has all the twist and turns of a crime novel, and ASTOR by Anderson Cooper and Katharine Howe, which reads like a short story collection. On the science side, Mary Roach’s writing, particularly in FUZZ, is funny, smart, and accessible.
I am on the lookout for essays and hybrid memoirs that change the way we see the world and/or make us feel less alone in it. I am in a reading hangover from Robin Wall Kemmerer’s BRAIDING SWEETGRASS, which blends education and personal so beautifully. It left a profound impact on me. I also found myself laughing aloud to I’LL SHOW MYSELF OUT by Jessi Klein. In parenthood, if you’ve ever had to sit on the floor of a public restroom with your child, you will get this book. I want to find and support similar work.
I’m eager to see more diabetic characters represented in every category. I have several relatives with type 1 diabetes and I grew up in a home where counting carbs and calculating insulin were commonplace. For comps, I’d like to see more books like ACCIDENTAL DEMONS by Clare Edge, where the protagonist is navigating a new diagnosis and perhaps something else (in the case of this book, magical complications). I’d also just like to diabetic characters existing without having to be a central plot point. Representation of chronic illnesses, not just diabetes, is and will always be a priority for me.
Though I live in the Midwest, I grew up in the greater Washington, D.C. area, and the vibrant theatre scene was one of the reasons I studied theatre and film. I have always loved helping writers to develop their ideas. It is a passion that never went away, even while I worked alongside science and public health professionals at a university. After I finished my MFA in fiction, I co-agented at a boutique literary agency that specialized in history, and I interned at Creative Media Agency. I’m excited to grow my client list at TCA and support authors at every stage of the writing and publication process.
When I’m not reading, I can be found playing hide-and-seek tag with my daughter (the best workout), trying new recipes in the kitchen, crocheting, and gardening. I’m a sports fanatic (I will plan my day around Olympics coverage) but no sport will ever top my excitement for new seasons of The Great British Bake Off.
