Beth Phelan

It’s 2022! A reminder that I’m open to queries and looking for all sorts of MG and YA, contemporary and fantasy. I have high hopes of finding some great new clients this year. And I finally updated my page here: manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/beth… #mswl

Hungry for submissions! Also really looking to be swept off my feet with a great voicey fantasy (non-royal, preferably). #mswl

I’ve been getting thru my requested submissions and looking for more!

#mswl:
YA grounded thrillers, high concept contemporary with a speculative twist
MG non-portal fantasy, speculative twists, intergenerational stories

Everything with and by marginalized people please!

2. Older YA, especially if you have a story about a teen who elects not to go to college
3. Hopeful, funny, romantic
4. Emotionally-fraught, grounded thrillers and mysteries
5. Paranormal!!
6. Experimental, inventive storytelling

#mswl cont ⬇️

In YA, i still love most genres and everything from light to dark. I love hope and depth and humor and stories that can change lives, whether from joy or empathy and validation. More specifically:

1. Super high concept contemporary and speculative contemporary

#mswl cont ⬇️

7. Queer and trans/nonbinary characters in fun settings, especially trans femme characters.
8. Something just right for that tricky space between MG and YA

#mswl cont ⬇️

2. Commercial fantasy adventure series, ensemble casts with or without a talking creature or two
3. Monsters!
4. Contemporary family stories
5. LOL high concept, character-strong stories
6. Hooky, character-driven contemporary series

#mswl cont ⬇️

More specifically in MG, i love a great, accessible voice and humor across the spectrum, but also more serious literary stories. MORE specifically:

1. Madcap adventures in any genre

#mswl cont ⬇️

First thing to note is that I only represent MG and YA. I love every genre from light contemporary to high fantasy and everything in between. I don’t represent artists or graphic novelists and don’t typically represent verse.

#mswl ⬇️⬇️⬇️

i am still closed and catching up on lots of reading, but.... if you have a YA or MG with monsters rooted in underrepresented mythologies/cultures/folklore/history (#ownvoices only please)... well, i'd like to see that. can be fantasy or contemporary! #mswl

Happy 2020! I’m back open to queries!! Send me...

#MG:

LOL fantasy, contemporary tackling big topics, queer madcap ensemble adventures!

#YA:

Weird crimes/myths, underdog fantasy, dark paranormal, experimental shit!

#querytip #mswl #subtip #amquerying

when i updated my website, i also updated my wishlist! please bookmark this for the new year, when i finally, at long last, reopen to queries! #mswl #amquerying #querytip
bethphelan.com/submission-wis…

Catching up on subs and i notice i have excellent YA here, but not much MG! #mswl WHEN I REOPEN: I really want to work on more MG! Commercial or literary—give me your big series hooks, magic, light and fun contemporary, hopeful stories touching on tough topics, queer characters!!

I would really like to see if we can fill this gap so if anyone has anything with protagonists 13 or 14, especially contemporary realistic, send it to me with “#gap #mswl” as the subject line... especially looking at you marginalized writers!

I would also like to see some heart-achey MG contemporary that doesn’t shy away from big issues. Socially and politically engaged, with humor and joy and hope but also courage and realness and empathy. #MSWL

Also for YA contemporary realistic: high-concept, epic romances—especially anything with extras like compressed timelines and other ambitious narrative risks. Experiment, innovate! Been on my #MSWL forever. Inclusive and intersectional most of all.

I love my YA contemporary list and still WANT MORE! Something a little offbeat, surreal, defffffinitely funny. Maybe surrounding a small thing/event that gets blown out of proportion/snowballs... Peculiar communities, histories... Maybe urban legends?? #MSWL

Open to queries! High on my #MSWL: millennial upmarket fic, literary mystery, dark/scary YA F & voicey contemp. Marginalized voices, always.

Didn't have a chance to post any #MSWL yesterday but maybe later today I will. Meantime, there's some right here: bethphelan.com/wishlist

I want stuff! #mswl twitter.com/gemma_cooper/s…