Brian Geffen
Editor
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Senior Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. He/him
Editor
Or a dash of speculative in contemporary is great too! For YA fantasy, I love swoony, action-packed stories with fresh magic systems and diverse worldbuilding #MSWL.
Editor
I'm usually specific with my wish list and comps, but I'm going to try something more general here, because I love seeing the unexpected in my inbox. For YA contemporary, send me the feels! Love stories! Coming of age stories focused on identity! Quirkiness OR grittiness! #MSWL
Editor
Brian Geffen @Brian_Geffen
3/ 2019 #MSWL Agents: 1st and always, I want to curate a list of authors (and books) that accurately reflects the world around me--one that is filled with diverse creators and content--and support them in our shared goal of creating more mirrors (and portals) for kids and teens.Agent friends! Since I was closed to submissions for a while, I want to declare that I am/have been BACK OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Please send your clients' amazing projects my way. I'm particularly eager to find more YA contemporary and fantasy, plus MG contemporary. #MSWL
Editor
Agents: We need YA and kidlit and wonderfully distracting creativity more than ever right now! My inbox is wide open. #MSWL contemporary realistic & fantasy MG, YA, and GNs! Let's make some books!
Editor
Editor
9/ #MSWL: Middle-grade and YA graphic novels about identity, particularly coming-of-age stories that explore relationships and friendships with emotional depth. Books like This One Summer, Real Friends, and American Born Chinese.
Editor
8/ #MSWL: High-stakes MG and YA contemp that feature breakers of tradition and characters who forge their own paths, as well as novels about identity and overcoming adversity. Wonderful books like I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Dear Martin, and The Stars Beneath Our Feet
Editor
7/ #MSWL: Deep contemporary YA! The gritty and dark variety as well as quirky and poignant novels. Books that deal with challenging subjects, mental health, and other important questions and ideas that affect teens, but ultimately offer hope. I.e. Jandy Nelson & Nina Lacour.
Editor
5/ #MSWL: Fast-paced, high-stakes YA fantasy, specifically with unique magic systems and fresh worldbuilding. I'm particularly attracted to lyrical prose, and recent YA favorites include Leigh Bardugo's King of Scars and Laini Taylor's Muse of Nightmares.
Editor
#MSWL Agents: I'd love to see more YA contemporary submissions in my inbox! It would be especially cool to see submissions that comp well to recent favorites, I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER and DEAR MARTIN.
Editor
Agents: Forever and always, I'd love to edit a YA or MG with an MC who is a rapper. A man can dream! #MSWL
Editor
Brian Geffen @Brian_Geffen
I cannot adequately express how much I loved #StrangetheDreamer. It is a masterpiece and I'm in awe. Thank you, @lainitaylor, for writing one of my all-time favorite books.#MSWL: Lyrical, gorgeously-written YA fantasy with lush worldbuilding and fascinating magic that can be comped to the masterpiece that is #StrangetheDreamer.
Editor
Kristin Nelson @agentkristinNLA
Agents want a high-concept story. What does that mean & can u land agent w/o? @DanielleBurby answers: ow.ly/84ah30gqjCM #PubRantsPosts pic.twitter.com/PewlFhPJ66A great post by @DanielleBurby on what "high concept" means. (Agent friends, pls send me your voicey high-concept YA and MG, please!) #MSWL
Editor
Brian Geffen @Brian_Geffen
#MSWL Agents, I'm intrigued by MG & YA characters who are a little damaged--antiheroines, emotionally scarred, suffered loss, outcasts#MSWL Always and forever, I'd love to find an MG or YA novel about an aspiring rapper. Send me those hip hop stories!
Editor
#MSWL Agents, I'm intrigued by MG & YA characters who are a little damaged--antiheroines, emotionally scarred, suffered loss, outcasts
Editor
1/#MSWL Agents: I'm on the hunt for great mses! MG and YA fict: fantasy, magical realism, realistic fic (dark and dangerous), act/adventure
Editor
Agents: #MSWL MG w quirky characters, heart, & whimsy (realistic fic, fantasy, magical realism). YA contemp fantasy with fresh worldbuilding
Editor
I'd love to find a YA that reminds me of @azizansari's brilliant, funny, and wise Master of None on @netflix #MSWL @PhilomelBooks
Editor
Agents, I want to see coming-of-age YA fiction subs for existential, reflective, introspective teens. #MSWL
Editor
Agents, are there any YA family crime dramas like Sons of Anarchy or Peaky Blinders out there? Send them my way! #MSWL @PhilomelBooks