Anjanette Barr, Agent at Dunham Literary

Anjanette Barr has an eclectic reading taste and a love for literature that “baptizes the imagination” (C.S. Lewis) and begs to be shared. She loves genre and popular fiction with substance, and literary and non-fiction titles infused with living ideas that leave readers with a new desire to immerse themselves in the subject matter.

This could look like an historical fiction that uses captivating detail and relatable characters to bring times-gone-by to life (My Antonia, Outlander), or it could be a SFF world that highlights virtues like empathy and self-sacrifice (Lord of the Rings, Song of Albion, The Sparrow). A romance set in a place so vivid she feels she’s traveled there and wants to take up the protagonists hobbies will definitely get her attention (The Winter Sea).

In non-fiction she is looking for well-researched biography (Unbroken) written in beautiful literary prose, popular science and other disciplines titles that make lay-people enchanted and invested in topics previously over their heads (The Elements by Theodore Grey, Freakonomics), and memoir with the ability to connect diverse readers (If You Lived Here I’d Know Your Name by Heather Lende). She’s also interested in books that shed light on poverty and justice in a new way (Evicted by Matthew Desmond).

She prefers picture books that are winsome and pleasant to read aloud (Blueberries for Sal, Brigid’s Cloak by Bryce Miligan, Miss Rumphius). Humor is great when it helps tell the story (The Book with No Pictures, Good Dog Carl).

Particular interests of Anjanette’s are the exploration of culture, history, faith, myth, fine arts, and nature. She has a soft spot for gothic novels (Rebecca, Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield) and magical realism (The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey). As a mother of four, she’s is especially fond of books that can be read aloud and shared with the whole family (Children of the Longhouse, Anna Hibiscus, Gregor the Overlander).

Anjanette is not a good fit for: Horror (unless it’s gothic or quite mild), Erotica, True Crime, Sports, or Politics.

Member Reviews of Anjanette

Anjanette looked at my query letter and gave me some great suggestions. She pointed out which sentences made her ask questions (a good thing, she said) and the ones that arenít clear. Queries are short and canít have any redundant information and she pointed out parts I didnít need. I appreciate her advice and canít wait to improve my query some more.

Kristine Teets

Anjanette’s input was very useful. She had specific suggestions that made the pages better and we talked about the Sci Fi genre in general to help me know how to address specific topics within the novel. I will be happy to consult with her again.

David vanderVeen

This was my first Manuscript Academy query consultation and it was a valuable experience. Anjanette was thoughtful and specific in her feedback and generous with her expertise. She made a point to address my questions vs. only focusing on her notes. It was a comfortable conversation, though I was hyper-aware of the limited time.

Thanks for offering this, Jessica and Julie, and thanks so much for your time, Anjanette.

Leah DeCesare

The query/first pages critique was invaluable. It wasn’t just a fresh pair of eyes, but those eyes were experienced in reading queries and first pages. Anjannette was able to show me exactly where, and why, things broke down and how to go about fixing it. She also pointed out what worked and gave me some industry vocabulary to use in describing my manuscript. She was extremely personable and interested. It was just a nice, informative chat about my work. What writer doesn’t like to do that?

Susan James

Anjanette is a really lovely person! She had some very specific and very useful advice, which was great, because I needed that exact critique! Now my query letter is ready to shine.

Sevastian Volkov

Anjennette was helpful in two things: 1) She did not have either negative comments nor corrections to my query letter, so that was a confidence booster. 2) She confirmed that my “auto-fiction” work reads like a novel and not autobiography, which is what I was looking for.
However, she did say two things that bothered me. 1) she seemed concerned that the first few pages of my first chapter were “too slow.” It is the first time I have heard that comment (I have had several readers), but coming from an agent it make me wonder if agents are thinking that readers do not have the patience to build a story but want to get right to the sound bites. Is there no longer a market for literature? (2) As to my title: JOHN CHRISTIAN: Warrior-Shaman, she seemed to say that the word “shaman” was too provocative and would not be received well by the reading public and, therefore, by publishers.
Basically, she seemed to indicate that both my query letter and the quality of my writing are good, but that my style and the subject matter that I have chosen to write about is problematic for the agents’ perceptions of the general reading publics collective tastes and cultural and scholastic literacy. I have read some pretty dumbed down stuff in both fiction and nonfiction, and if that is what agents are really looking for, I am not encouraged about the possibility of finding an agent for my book. Nonetheless, your own list of 72 agents possibly interested in my hybrid genre of auto-fiction/magical realism gives me a starting point to continue with queries in seeking publication.
I do not know Anjanette, so I can only take her as representative of the agenting profession in general. I did not receive much encouragement for the uniqueness of my work and, in fact, was left with the impression that agents are not really looking for unique and original works, even when they say that they are (that, of course, goes back on the mainstream publishers). Reading between the lines, my interview with Ms Barr gave me a lot of information about literary agents and the profession of representing writers. I guess the fact that it is not what I wanted to hear is probably irrelevant, unless I want to change my style and subject matter to something more generic and dumbed-down.

Robert Mitchell

Anjanette was professional, encouraging, and very helpful. I felt she was informed and genuine, gave me good information, and I feel inspired to put more effort into getting my book out there.

Patricia O'Donnell

Anjanette was very professional but also kind and thoughtful. We had a nice chat, neatly worked in around NINE great tweaks she suggested for my query. It was exactly what I was hoping for.

Kurt Wallace

Work with Anjanette

LIVE Meetings: Meet face-to-face, from home. Choose Zoom, Google Meet, or phone, and speak for the appointed time about your query, first page, and/or first ten pages (for longer meetings). Does not include written notes, but is a chance to have an honest discussion about your work, and to ask follow-up questions. International meetings welcomed.

HYBRID is a live meeting at the appointment time, with written notes.

WRITTEN Critiques: Get detailed, thoughtful notes on your work. Comes with large-scale edits (character, world, plot, tension, concept, conflict, and similar as needed) in an editorial letter and small-scale, line-by-line notes as needed (for longer critiques, an average of three per page). Work arrives in your inbox within 24 hours of thedate on the calendar.