You can always follow my #MSWL on Bluesky for the most up to date MSWLs.   I am actively looking for new clients in the following genres and categories, and I want to see diverse fiction from authors of all cultures, races, ethnicities, as well as from those with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Joyful, intersectional stories are my JAM!

Picture Books

For picture books, I am really looking for commercial stories that are fun and heartfelt right now, but lyrical and literary tales are also dear to my hear.  Author-illustrators welcome! Some of my favorite picture books at the moment:

  • Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin

  • Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Xindi Yan

  • Sir Simon by Cale Atkinson

  • The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat

  • Rot, the Cutest in the World! by Ben Clanton

  • Skulls! by Blair Thornburgh, illustrated by Scott Campbell

Some specific picture book MSWL: spooky adjacent; FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS vibes; and poison gardens.

Graphic Novels

I tend to love middle grade and young adult graphic novels over younger ones. I am an escapist reader so my taste leans more commercial and I am open to mysteries/thrillers, horror, speculative, fantasy, coming of age, rom-coms in this space. Some of my favorite graphic novels:

  • The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

  • Nimona by ND Stevenson

  • Ghosted in LA by by Sina Grace, illustrator by Cathy Le Siobhan Keenan

  • Beetle & The Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

  • Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse

Young Adult

For YA, I love complex characters, compelling writing, and layered stories. I am looking for mysteries/thrillers, horror, speculative, fantasy, coming of age, rom-coms. Some of my clients include New York Times Bestselling author Laura Taylor Namey, Allison L. Bitz, Andi Porretta, and Jenn Nguyen. It might be more helpful to share what books I absolutely adore. And don’t forget to check out the specific section since a lot of those could work here. Some of my favorite Yas:

  • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

  • The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

  • Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno

  • Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

  • Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

  • Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

  • Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou

New Adult

The vibe I am looking for in new adult is very specific. Top priority for me is that YA voice, paired with more “adult” situations. If your characters are dealing with firsts: jobs, bills, crises, “no one really prepared them for this”, then that is right up my alley. Some media I think captures the vibe I want:

  • Begin Again by Emma Lord

  • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

  • Sadie by Courtney Summers

  • Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

  • Freeform’s The Bold Type

  • Showtime’s Yellowjackets

  • HBO Ma'x’s The Sex Lives of College Girl

Several of the specific MSWLs below could work here.

Adult

For adult, I am looking for commercial and cozy. I love comedic fantasy; cozy mystery; romance; grounded fantasy. Basically think "light and fun", but I also love a good high concept premise (hence SEVERANCE). In the queries I loved, I am responding most to a “crossover” voice, or a  coming of age adult feel. I am being very selective in this area and building my list slowly, but some media I love that speaks to the vibes I want:

  • The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Kune

  • Apple’s Severance

  • Assistant to the Villian by Hannah NicoleMaeher

  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

  • Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

 

Specifics

So a lot of these specific MSWLs can be applied to any section above. I’d love to see how people interpret some of these. So without further ado:

  • I am loving this vein of comedic fantasy. You know, the high fantasy world meshed with a workplace romance/comedy, and an almost contemporary voice. I'd love something like that. ONWARD & ASSISTANT TO THE VILLIAN is kind of what I am thinking.

  • I can't stop thinking about a teen in cozy mystery. Maybe murder at the quilting club, or underground grandma karaoke goes awry. Side note, I am a huge fan of the TRULY DEVIOUS novels so you can also see the influence there

  • Murder at a True crime convention. Couch sleuths galore! Maybe pair with my Elle Woods/Daphne murder mystery: Daphne from SCOOBY DOO or Elle Woods in a YA murder mystery.

  • I would love a book that comps to SEX EDUCATION meets Lady Whistledown. If you read BEGIN AGAIN, that is also the perfect book comp for my vision on this

  • Mermaids! Version 1 in my mermaid: atmospheric, unsettling, not taking place in the water.

  • Mermaids, Version 2:  This one is all fun, summer, contemporary vibes, but people who work as professional mermaids. If you watch MERPEOPLE on Netflix, I want the fun, summer, YA version

  • Then we have poison gardens, herbalist vibes in a fantasy world. I love the idea that the same plants that can cure things can kill.

  • Ren Faires! There is so much here, and in so many different angles. I love the escapism of the faires, the small artists business, but there is also elements to unpact! Surprise me!

  • Genre mashups! Like taking the beats from a romance or women's fiction, and bringing them to a fantasy world. Or the high fantasy tropes and taking them to comic con. This is just one example in the pic, but so many ways to play with this!

  • I love that British narration style--almost HOUSE ON THE CERULEAN SEA feel--that features quirky shops. Id' love to see an MG or YA with elements like this.

  • I would love teens resistance: housing banned books in lockers/backpacks, making side hustles (hair braiding/slime/candy) underground, also standing up against unfair dress codes! You can combine with other elements of my like homecoming mums!

  • I want a secret advice column book.