Ali Herring

#MSWL Contemporary YA and MG fiction.

#MSWL -YA historical realistic centered on a historical but fictionalized MC -High-concept fast-moving YA -Contemporary MG -space opera -generation ship setting -western settings / adventure -inspy & category romance -accessible scifi -diverse scifi -Hallmark-esque MG 1st love

#MSWL while I absolutely love middle grade horror and dark fantasy, I'm seeing A LOT of it in queries. Would love to see some variety! Sci-fi, fairytale retellings, contemporary, something tragic, joyful stories, series oriented, adventure, etc

Gender-flipped contemporary Cinderella retelling, except I want “Cin” to be damaged, the bad boy, who needs rescuing in true enemies-to-lovers fashion by his “princess.” Make him sympathetic & redeemable at first. Make us only really like him as the plot develops. #MSWL

#MSWL “Clean” (for lack of a better term) contemporary YA romance with all the yummy feels.

Would love a YA contemporary that's a series of letters written to a younger sister (now 15) from a sister who died at 16/17 when girl was a 3-yo. Imagine a serious GOOD LUCK CHARLIE meets THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. Could alternate between letters & new sibling's perspective. #MSWL

Also give me some contemporary fantasy rooted in myth, lore and legends 1- #MSWL. I also specifically would love a Korean author to send me a YA contemporary fantasy w/the story of Jacheongbi as foundation! 2- #MSWL.

Where is my ya contemporary story of a black male gymnast’s rise to glory? #MSWL

#MSWL Looking for very commercial, highly aspirational YA with own-voices, diverse characters, especially contemporary YA, or contemporary fantasy YA. Please put in referral line of Query manager link: "#MSWL: some combo of the above language."

If you can comp a YA contemporary to Princess Diaries, I want to see it in my inbox. In referral line, please put #MSWL Princess Diaries.

This is one of my eternal #MSWL’s. I’d really love some middle grade here. Think Goonies. Think space adventure. Think Indiana Jones. Think Flipped. Think Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys. Maybe a contemporary about a boy gymnast. Something! Anything light & fun with diverse characters.

Thank you to the TikTok video my kids were watching this morning. May I please have a contemporary YA set in a boarding school. Could be bubbly, could be broody. You do you. #MSWL

Middle grade contemporary fantasy. #mswl

#MSWL Contemporary inspirational and/or sweet romance (think Hallmark). Category Romance as well as longer length. Shorter word count to fit Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense. If writing with these or Hallmark lines in mind, look at their submission guidelines for reference.

#AntiMSWL & #MSWL I prefer contemporary over historical romance unless the historical has some REALLY nifty hook, though I dig fantasy in a feudal setting. I don’t rep picture books and rarely chapter books, but I’m all about middle grade (with upper MG my sweet spot!)

I’m seeing lots of calls for contemporary fantasy, so send this my way, please! #MSWL

Ok this ones courtesy of my best friend, Hanna & an ancestry DNA talk on Thanksgiving. #MSWL a contemporary YA that explores the ramifications of a teen finding out through a genealogy DNA test (think school project) that her dad isn’t her real dad & the dad doesn’t know either.

I wholeheartedly DITTO this #MSWL. Juicy inspy contemporary romance and all the suspense.

#MSWL I’m drawn to high-concept commercial fiction with a literary flair! I also love a funny MG voice. I want all the YA & MG (contemporary, sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal). Yes to spooky MG and coming age. Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, (Secular and Inspirational).

#MSWL I want an MS set a DEF CON—the huge hacker convention held in Las Vegas. Crazy stuff must go down. High-energy. Thriller-esque. Contemporary or near-future (give me crazy attire, cool world building), YA or Adult. Save the world. Solve a puzzle. But HIGH stakes!!!