Haley Casey

This Halloween, after all the spooky October books I read, I've found myself craving a YA or MG horror novel rooted in non-Western mythology in my QM. I would love to see under-explored creatures and folklore brought to life—and the more atmospheric, the better! #MSWL

However, I love psychological horror, unreliable narrators, creepy retellings (think Wonderland), supernatural stories, and books with a ton of atmosphere. Comps: THE HONEYS, MEXICAN GOTHIC, Erica Waters, SHE IS A HAUNTING, Simone St. James, SMALL SPACES, etc. #MSWL

Whoever said they were Kaz and Inej coded was SPOT. ON. If they have this energy (adult or YA), I want to see it #MSWL

Rewatching DOCTOR WHO means realizing that my deeply embedded love for well written, story-relevant age gaps and couples who argue, stand together, and communicate effortlessly comes from my endless love for Rose and Nine. Every scene, I swoon #MSWL

Finally, some of my favorite books last year were by trans, genderfluid, and Native American authors. While I'm always looking to support diversity, I hope to see more stories from creators who don't often cross my desk (or my bookshelf)—with Palestinian voices top of mind #MSWL

Bring me myth, fairytale, and classic retellings!

Bring me vibes!

Bring me:

Locked-room YA thrillers
Rivals-to-lovers tension-filled romcoms
Unbearably clever YA heroes
Romantasy with characters to die for
An MG novel full of magical creatures
Heists
Female friendships

#MSWL

In nonfiction, I want to be hooked by the idea of learning something new, discover a new angle on a topic I love, and find projects that are accessible to their audiences. Specifically, I'm craving women's and LGBTQ+ issues, gardening/sustainability, and food content #MSWL

Always for me, characters are key, and there are few better characters than those in women's fiction! Bring me those friendships, those internal conflicts, the complications of being a human woman (a la the BARBIE movie). If there's a twist of some sort, so much the better! #MSWL

When I think of joy and heart, romcoms always come to mind, and I'm craving them this year! I want charm, humor, strong internal conflicts, banter, yearning, and suave love interests! Think Sangu Mandanna, Cat Sebastian, Anita Kelly, Jeaniene Frost, and BEACH READ #MSWL

In the world of kidlit, I also want to see more MG, especially SFF. There's so much to love in this space—quick pacing, accessible themes, and a lasting impact on readers. Think AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS, LALANI OF THE DISTANT SEA, or anything from Rick Riordan Presents #MSWL

...YA, to start! Across genres, joyful, diverse, heartfelt YA novels with compelling plots and characters stood out to me last year, and I would love more on my list! Think ELATSOE, YEAR OF THE REAPER, YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN, LITTLE THIEVES, THE GHOSTS OF ROSE HILL #MSWL

We're well into January, which means—now that the hustle and bustle of the New Year has slowed down and I've had time to consider my inbox—I have some additions to my 2024 #MSWL !

To be clear, everything I've asked for previously still stands. But this year, I'm really craving...

For example:

EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER
GET A LIFE, CHLOE BROWN
THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU
PORTRAIT OF A THIEF
GRACELING
GHOST WOOD SONG
THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD
ILLUMINAE
A PHO LOVE STORY
PET
KING AND THE DRAGONFLIES

#MSWL

Surprise me! Bring me twists and new tropes and unique takes on classic stories. Play with structure, whether it's verse or epistolary or a story in documents. Tell me something new about the world. #MSWL

Bring me strong character relationships and lush world-building. I want adventure and multi-level plots and tension that keeps me on the edge of my seat. Leave me wishing I was still wrapped up in the pages when I’m finished! #MSWL

I need some escapism this year, and I found a lot of it in romance, fantasy, and intriguing horror novels in 2022. I’d love to see more of that in my inbox! #MSWL

I always ask for big emotions in MSs, and right now, I especially want joy. You can make it serious, but I want moments of levity too. Bring me laugh-out-loud humor, swoonworthy romance, delightful friendships, and lots of wonder. #MSWL

… deep MG with a strong message; sweeping YA fantasy; women’s fiction with characters I’d kill for; banter-filled contemporary romance; and meaningful and well-written nonfiction for any age. They’ll fill in some gaps on my list! #MSWL

Happy 2023! I can’t wait to dive back into queries now that the CMA inbox has officially reopened!

Everything on my MSWL, the CMA website, and my old tweets still stand. But as a quick update, this year I’m especially looking for… #MSWL

Finally, I adore reading retellings of classics and fairytales, and I would love to rep them, too! Bring me your takes on Jane Austen, Hans Christian Andersen, Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, and (need I say it) Wonderland. Anything you can think of! #MSWL