Kelly Peterson

I just found out my summer camp crush for many years has passed away far too young. We never ended up dating, as we were too shy to honestly ever talk to each other but everyone knew. Who has a camp crush story that can help me give our pre-teen selves a happier ending? #mswl

#mswl something so Philly, it’s this. 🤣

Give me Sweet Nothing but in book form. #MSWL

P.S. I am still looking for Ruby from Cold Mountain. 😬🙃 Gun slinging, sarcastic, Miss Independent who isn’t from the west?! Yes please. #mswl

The historical voice is a fine line to walk between what readers today expect historical to sound like, as well as what they actually can and will read fluently. So historical in all age ranges (MG, YA, and Adult) really need an outstanding voice that straddles the line! #mswl

I am still totally great with historical romance, but find it difficult when historical romance is written with too much of a historical voice. It doesn’t quite read fluently and easily to me when the author is purposely trying to sound accurately historical to the period. #mswl

With natural disaster or elemental elements that could be based off the climate crisis, but if you’re calling your book Cli-Fi or that it’s based around a deteriorating climate…I will unfortunately, probably, reject it. Even then, I’ll only be open for YA Sci-Fi at that. #mswl

As some have noticed, Sci Fi isn’t on my list at the moment. I’ll still accept it on the off chance I might love it, but I haven’t read a SF manuscript that I’ve fallen in love with yet. However, Sci-Fi/Fantasy is still game if it’s more fantasy than sci fi. #mswl

I am STILL SEARCHING for my MG authors. I’m EXTREMELY selective in my MG acquisitions and with which MG voices I am drawn to. I don’t vibe well with younger MG and have a tendency to only like Upper MG manuscripts/books. Fantasy is my sweet spot here too. #mswl

What I do love to see in the YA Contemporary field are thrillers, hauntings that can toe the line of horror without going overboard, rom-coms, friendship break ups, and grandparent relationships. I especially love to see all this with BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ characters. #mswl

As always, I’m looking for YA Contemporary as well, though I am far more picky with my YA contemporary than anything else. I am NOT a good fit for anything with rape, trauma, suicide, etc.. I’ve lived enough of it, I really don’t want to see it in a book, too. Sorry! #mswl

In adult romancelandia though, I need a strong, hook-y voice, and am open to all heat levels (though my clients might say I err a bit on the cooler side of high-heat. No erotica here). #mswl

In addition to this, I’m packed on adult romance and rom-com writers right now, but will always be open for the select few that catch my eye. I specifically look for and ask for marginalized voices here from BIPOC. I also have a soft spot for K-dramas. #mswl

YES:
2. Anything with an industrial feel. I still haven’t quite gotten over my steampunk phase, and maybe never will.
3. Different forms of magic (bone magic, song magic, written magic, etc.)
4. Anything based in/on history (Vikings, court intrigue, creepy mythology, etc.) #mswl

Now, for things that I’m not particularly looking for, but that are undeniably just a ME thing in YA and Adult Fantasy:
1. Sisters/siblings who really don’t like each other. It’s okay when family has issues that can’t be resolved. I’m def here for this.
#mswl

NO:
5. Dragons. Never been one for them. Sorry.
6. Angels (though I’d definitely consider demons and demonic entities 😈)
7. Comedy. One liners and sarcasm: great. Trying to tow the line between manuscript and comedian: nope. Not for me. Give me darkness.
#mswl

NO:
1. Royalty MCs - super tired of princesses. If you’re going to do this, give me a damn Queen.
2. Fae/faeries/elves - they had their time. Now is not their time.
3. Vampires - never been a vampire person.
4. Elemental Magic that’s just earth, wind, fire, water, etc..
#mswl

In addition, I’m looking for so many things in both YA and Adult fantasy, that’s it’s harder to pin down what I WANT than it is to just list the things I DON’T want. So here goes things I DO NOT LIKE in fantasy: #mswl

Honestly, my heart wants YA fantasy. ALL THE YA HIGH FANTASY. It’s been too long, and publishing has been depriving me for FOREVER, and I need fantasy NOW. (Read: I needed fantasy 2 years ago during COVID, and now I’m on my death bed, it’s been too long). #mswl

This needs to be a story. It needs to be a book with a happy ending. Someone write it, and then we can revel more in the “what if’s” and “if only’s” of all of our pasts, and make them come to life…if only in our minds…#MSWL