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
I love the word adorkable and everything it conveys. Pls give me a YA novel with adorkable characters witg just as an adorkable plot. Some romance would be nice. I need something quirky. Thank you. #MSWL.

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 I would really love a YA historical realistic novel (meaning no fantasy elements) set in the dark or middle ages. Would love a female lead who influences history (but not necessarily a real or true-to-history historical figure) kind of like Uhtred in The Last Kingdom.

Literary Agent
#MSWL For when I reopen, a thought-provoking but commercial YA from the perspective of the "mean girl" (but I want to understand her, her motivations, background, and want the audience to feel sympathetic towards her).

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

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
I'd love a YA Thriller centered around the theme, "Looks can be deceiving." Ensemble cast. #MSWL

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
TBH, I was just thinking about A DOG's PURPOSE, and then I was all like, "oh yeah but make it YA, and smoochie, and like darkly romantic, and not about dogs, but people, and maybe the world has magic already ..." So, that's my brain.

Literary Agent
#MSWL I think it'd be really cool to get a YA fantasy (probs with a heavy romance subplot) with reincarnation as the crux upon which the pendulum swings. Doesn't have to be set on a realistic earth. Could be a fantasy world to make the world building deeper. Either way.

Literary Agent
#MSWL βCleanβ (for lack of a better term) contemporary YA romance with all the yummy feels.

Literary Agent
Really happy to see my MIDDLE GRADE HORROR list growing with @saskwriter and @Lora013's debuts. I'm always looking for horror across the board from MG to YA to Adult, though not of the gross-out variety, but do give me eerie, tension-filled, scary with heart! #MSWL #MG #horror

Literary Agent
Would love a YA I Dream of Genie meets Weird Science #MSWL. Think two high school boys end up with magic lantern, hijinks ensue. Awkward male coming of age but more heartfelt emotions, not sexed up fantasy. But super fun and funny.

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Where is my ya contemporary story of a black male gymnastβs rise to glory? #MSWL

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
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.

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.