"Indigenous food writers! I want to hear from you! We need more books in this space."
Carly Watters #MSWL

we also talked about what I believed was missing and could help them achieve the manuscript they wanted. I take pride in being able to have those sort of discussions with a writer. ( I have workshop approach to my editorial service.)
All of that to say, Ladderbird is here for you! #MSWL

This means that we are intentional about how we read your work.
Recently, I had an authors call where we spoke for about an hour about what the author intended for their project, and whether they had achieved that. While I didn't take this author on, #MSWL

#LADDERBIRDCHIRP
So, I just want to give some hype to my agency, Ladderbird Literary:
We are a boutique agency that really takes integrity, honesty, and attentiveness seriously. In light of that, our goal is to provide full-service and dedication to our authors. #MSWL

So, in your romance queries to me, please do not hesitate to tell me what makes your couple unique and powerful!! To me this is just as important as the plot points. Every romance can end with the persons being together, but what makes their falling in love important and how do they do so? #MSWL

... I really love couples that align in their characteristics: they are both witty, stratagetic, intelligent, loyal, forward, quirky... and so on, but on the other end, they have vastly different backgrounds that still lead them to each other. So, like FATED HEARTS or LOVE IN NIRVANA. 😊 #MSWL

... I always want to know what makes your couple uniquely them as a couple but also as individuals. So,if you have a couple that are two generals- both loyal and ruthless, yet one is a prince and the other was born and raised to be a maid- I want to know that in your query!! #MSWL

#AgentsInsight
Heeelllooo, So, I have really brought down my query inventory! 😮‍💨 Don't hesitate to send in your queries, if you haven't done so already.
I did want to give a quick tip to my romance authors:
Speaking for myself, Something will always stand out to me....#MSWL

"I would love fantasies with unique magic systems, strong characters, and stories inspired by myth or folklore, particularly outside the Western canon."
Marina Green #MSWL

#DREAMPAROJECT
Heeeyyy, So, I had an epiphany this morning about a dream project: I would love a project about a women of color in architecture. I would love for it to be corporate, entrepreneurial, and growing into her own company. Romance would be great in it, but as a subplot. #MSWL

"Looking for psychological crime thrillers like Ruth Ware."
curtisrussell.bsky.social #MSWL

"Send me lady knights, yearning, and narrative twists!"
Marina Green #MSWL

"Nonfiction I loved (from the past year or two): VULTURE CAPITALISM, STOLEN FOCUS, WINTERING, PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY, HOW TO RAISE A FEMINIST SON, POVERTY BY AMERICA, FOUR THOUSAND WEEKS, HOW TO DO NOTHING."
Carly Watters #MSWL

"Send me inventive middle grade fantasy novels. Ex: THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON, WHEN YOU TRAP A TIGER, THE LAND OF STORIES, and THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL."
mariavicente.com #MSWL

“I want nonfiction proposals that offer a new perspective on an entertaining topic in any of these categories: art, the environment, pop culture, science, psychology, cultural history, and the occult.”
mariavicente.com #MSWL

I only accept queries via Querytracker: querytracker.net/query/MacLysaght

This link will open May 15th, 2026. See you soon!

Nos:

🤖🚫 IF YOU HAVE AI IN ANYTHING, NO THANK YOU

🖼️ PB, MG, or illustrator-only pitches

🙅‍♀️Faith stories, Aliens and Superheroes, portal fantasy

⁉️Stories with the express purpose of tricking or disappointing the reader

In Nonfiction:

💻 Fandom and nerd culture academia

🍬 The intersection of modern politics & pop culture

🦠 Weird histories, deep dives into oddball concepts

🚓 Ethical true crime & structural injustice

In YA:

🕵️ Hijinks, heists, and daring plots!

👠 Gender & sexuality as play and exploration, not trauma or parable

🎤 Voice for days, kids making 100% (in)correct KID choices

💬 Witty, complicated friend groups

In Horror:

⚰️ Indigenous horror, unexplored folklore of all countries and people

⛴️ Closed-set horror, like a cruise ship, a locked mall, a flooded island

👹 Tightly interwoven choice and plot; characters that drive the plot; rejecting puritanical moral codes

🌽 Ethel Cain & Hozier music