Ali Herring
Literary Agent
Spencerhill Associates
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 π Eclectic in life & books. I π Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens π½ rock!

Literary Agent
#MSWL Also space ships, generation ships, small ships, big ships, near-future, far-future, aliens, human or not, space exploration for the joy of adventure, space exploration to save earth from disaster, aliens come to us, nice aliens, bad aliens, neutral aliens.

Literary Agent
#MSWL I love the voices of Andy Weir & Martha Wells in science fiction. Andy is so smart but the science feels approachable. Plus his voice is real & smart, witty, real. And totally same vibes from Martha. They make science fiction approachable & easy. Give me that.

Literary Agent
Ali Herring (closed to queries until 8/16) @HerringAli
I have now answered every query in QM I received PRIOR to closing to queries at the beginning of summer. I've got inbox zero for when I reopen tomorrow.#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

Literary Agent
#MSWL ok so I close to queries next Tuesday but can anyone send me something with The Magicians's vibes and/or Elliot energy before then? Also sci-fi all ages, get it in.

Literary Agent
#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

Literary Agent
#mswl sci-fi western. Ya would be interesting but adult too!

Literary Agent
#MSWL when I reopen in January, one thing (not the only thing) I'll be looking for is a lot of genre stuff that is very either funny or satirical or slightly weird, or quirky. Think genre+this. Scifi, fantasy, romance, speculative, thriller, action/adventure, horror--kid & adult.

Literary Agent
#MSWL I'm in the mood for some quirky scifi. I'm still sad over the quirky scifi project that got away! I want some rebound quirky scifi please.

Literary Agent
Ok I want an (off world) book in which a civilized technological (maybe emerging technological) society uncovers the remnants of a lost world, a different species, who once occupied their world, even achieved greater than them before their ruin. Literary or upmarket SFF?? #MSWL

Literary Agent
Bonus #MSWL. I adore adventurous space opera of all kinds. (Ex Beth Revis Across the Universe or Passengers) but really want a focus on adventure and discovering new worlds.

Literary Agent
Sarah McCabe @sarahrmccabe
Dear agents,Just want to put out the call again that I'd love to see more fantasy/sci-fi middle grade submissions in my inbox! I have a TON of space for mg on my list right now, so [*insert grabby hands here*]!! #MSWL pic.twitter.com/ra3pNds2li
Iβd love some middle grade sci-fi too! #MSWL

Literary Agent
#MSWL Give me Space Western SFF, lawless new frontiers, Serendipity, Firefly-esque, but with African American space cowboys who mean business written by POC authors! Cinematic in scope, make me swoon, make me sit up, take notice, stay up all night reading! bit.ly/3lsXobY

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
#MSWL 1/ When I reopen to queries, I would really dig a βhostβ type SFF. Super atmospheric & BEAUTIFUL in which a human meets an alien life form in the woods/wild & begins a friendship. Almost starting off very Bridge to Terabithiaβsecret, private, magical ...

Literary Agent
Would love an adult sci-fi, or spec-fi with strong world-building centered on a Latinx culture, but also want it to have a very strong science fiction plot line. Would love Dune vibes. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Iβd π€ a scifi novel about all the aliens whoβve been quietly monitoring us for years who suddenly show up all at the same time when they start getting satellite images back of our planet after it went βquietβ due to coronavirus #MSWL so I want worried mothering alien overlords!

Literary Agent
ZabΓ©/Z.R. Ellor @ZREllor
My two cents on YA sci-fiβit works best when the science fiction elements line up with actual teen struggles. Uglies and Divergent are two great examples. Body image? Cliques and belonging? These books use science fiction to speak directly to the unique needs of teensIβm all for YA sci-fi, but totally agree πππ, so if you can show me how your YA SF aligns to teen struggles, then #MSWL, yβall.

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Would love some SFF where the world building could be pitched as sci-fi meets old west. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Ali Herring @HerringAli
#mswl Iβd really love a tightly plotted adult space opera. Kind of thinking a failing βabandonedβ human colony sets out to make their way home. Maybe some crazy time dilation or something has occurred. Maybe very few men on the colony survive & they are trying to save them..cont.For this particular #mswl, Iβm not looking for intergalactic empires, rogues, mercenaries, smugglers etc. I really want to feel the vastness of space, that feeling of being alone. I want the story and the setting to mimic that feeling of isolation as well as Passengers did!