Rebecca Angus

Team howlandlit.bsky.social made me a gorgeous new #MSWL brochure. Here’s what I’m looking for when I open back up to queries in May.

Team howlandlit.bsky.social made me a gorgeous new #MSWL brochure. Here’s what I’m looking for when I open back up to queries in May.

Very specific #MSWL —
I’m looking for a MG with the following:
-literary leaning/commercial hook
-strong, authentic voice
-MG age students facing relevant and important challenges
-friendships
-Diversity is a MUST
-boy reader appeal
-magical realism is OK, but NO fantasy, SF, or horror

I've recieved almost 90 queries in 24 hours and I've only made a handful of requests, but the ones I have requested have all been voice-driven with strong opening pages. I do love how much feminist horror, and fantasy I'm getting from marginalized identities. Keep those coming!

What I'm seeing that I love in my query inbox rn: queries with CLEAR stakes, opening pages/lines that grab my attention immediatley, comp titles that make sense and don't feel like they are just put in there, and lots of genre blending (especially with horror/fantasy).

Adult Fiction- writing style preferences vary from literary/more prose driven, to voicey and fast paced. However, I'm not a good fit for contemporary and lean heavily towards speculative, witchy, horror, SFF/F. I'm getting alot of LGBTQIA contemporary romances which I love as a reader, but don't rep.

In YA: don't be afraid to push boundries. I'm NOT a good fit for clean fiction (If you see former MSWLs from 2015-2020 where I did request this it was due to my former agency's requirements). I'm drawn to bold, boundry pushing topics that teens can relate to.

Authentic voices: especially true for MG--your MG voice should feel like it's coming from a MG kid, not an adult trying to sound like a MG kid. I don't mean adding words like, "sigma, rizz, skibbidi toilet..." If you know, you know. MG voice is the HARDEST imo to get right.

Strong voices--Regardless of 1st/3rd pov, I like voice driven writing. Prose are great, but If your character is lost to your prose, that's not voice driven. Your character's dialogue, thoughts/feelings, emotions should show me (not tell me) exactley who they are and what they are trying to do.

Voice/Opening pages: For MG/YA--I prefer strong voices, and authentic voices, opening pages where I feel grounded in the world quickly, and a clear sense of character and stakes. (I'll elaborate more below).

Chosen one story lines. I much prefer rogue underdogs storylines to chosen one/prophesized one storylines. Now, if its a GROUP of chosen friends/found family who are also rogue underdogs, please send it to me.

Fairies/Fae/elves--I'm being completley honest here...they aren't my preference. Unless your fae are sapphic or gender queer, armor wearing, battle queens, it's likely not going to be what I'm looking for.

I'm getting fantastic queries for Dark Academia right now, especially ones comping to ONE DARK WINDOW (which I love BTW). However, I have 2 authors on my list right now with ODW as a comp title, and dark academia settings. I never take on competing projects I currently have on so I'm more likely to pass on projects that have these vibes.

I've been re-open to queries as of Feb 1st, so I wanted to share a thread of things I'm looking for/not looking for in queries at the moment. Hopefully this will be helpful. #querying #MSWL #amquerying

Query opening update and #MSWL ✨

Here is my updated #MSWL for winter 2025. I will be opening back up to unsolicited queries at the end of the month. If I’ve requested materials from you please send me a DM for my query link.

The Bluey Episode, Sleepy Time, WRECKS me. If there are any lyrical picture books from #amquerying authors that have the same feel as this particular episode (iykyk), I’d love to send you my direct query link #MSWL . Please feel free to DM me

I’m going to post a #MSWL list in the new year, but I’m actively looking for MG 🧵
-diverse friendships like STRANGER THINGS or THE SKELETON CREW
-True Crime mystery feel
-Magical Realism with a dystopian twist like SWEET TOOTH
-Jurassic Park
-Space Jam (sports with a speculative twist)

I’m closed to subs through Dec, but I really want to find a kid friendly cookbook from a Latinx or BIPOC author featuring recipes from their culture. Something that adults/kids can do together in the kitchen. If you have this or know someone who does, please msg me ❤️ #MSWL

Also #MSWL If anyone is querying an Adult feminist dystopian or a MG that feels like a true crime documentary, please comment so I can drop you a direct query link. As always— queer and marginalized voices welcome