 We asked Frannie Dove some questions and she answered! Keep reading to see if she's your dream agent. Frannie Dove is a literary agent with The Caldwell Agency. Previously, she represented historians and historical fiction authors as a co-agent at a boutique literary agency. She also interned with Creative Media Agency, Inc.. while pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing Fiction. Frannie also supported programming and operations for public health professionals and scientists at a university. As an agent, Frannie is especially eager to represent authors who explore the margins of history books, both in fact and fiction. She is the secretary of the Young Publishers Association (YPA). As an author, Frannie writes historical fiction. She can be found browsing old newspapers or spouting historical knowledge at random. Her short stories have been published in North American Review and Berkeley Fiction Review, and her children’s plays are available in The Drama Notebook.  What’s your favorite moment so far of being an agent? I've been receiving some fantastic queries, the types of books I would run to pick up at a bookstore! It’s been exciting to request full manuscripts and proposals. I'm eager to see if I am the right agent for these projects. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever heard? As you edit, read your work aloud. You will catch more errors if you hear them back. It also helps to hear the rhythm of dialogue. If nothing else, reading aloud is a preview of your future audiobook! Describe your dream client. Curious, collaborative, kind, and determined. What project would you love to see come across your desk? In fiction and nonfiction, I’m on the hunt for character-driven untold histories, especially those written from historically underrepresented perspectives. I'd love to find thoroughly researched stories with universal themes, where the historical feels familiar. What author would you love to have dinner with? Kate Quinn. Not only is she making historical fiction immersive and engaging, but she always seems to have another book up her sleeve. I don't know how she does it so quickly. It was just announced that she is co-authoring a book with Janie Chang about women pirates, and I can't wait! I also love the “Whoops, My Mistake(s)” section of her website. It shows how seriously she takes her research process. What do you believe is your strength as an agent? As a facilitator, I lead with curiosity, and that curiosity spills into every aspect of the process, from pitch to publication and beyond. I'm always equipped with questions, not only about an author's project but about their goals.  This post was complied by Brandy Vallance, a literary agent with Barbara Bova Literary Agency, an award-winning author, and a Story Consultant for Writing Day Workshops. Brandy is the winner of two national writing awards, one of which included a $20,000 prize. Her novel, THE COVERED DEEP, has been featured in USA Today & Writer’s Digest. WITHIN THE VEIL has been called “passionate and riveting” and Publisher’s Weekly encourages those who like sweeping Scottish sagas to dive in because “the journey is wonderful.” Brandy loves helping writers break the chains of fear and self-doubt. You can find out more at brandyvallance.com.  Attend a Writers Conference in 2026:
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