Ali Herring

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.

#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.

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

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

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.

#MSWL but in books. PLEASE.

#SFF #fantasy #scifi #POC #black #characters YA AND Adult.

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.

I’m all for YA sci-fi, but totally agree 👇👇👇, so if you can show me how your YA SF aligns to teen struggles, then #MSWL, y’all.

#MSWL Same feel as The Space Between Us—that isolation, but the action/romance/loss takes place at her remote location rather than the girl going to “civilization.”

I had a weird dream about a girl who lives at the base of a dormant volcano in a part of the world covered in ice/snow. Reminded me of Sue’s remote airfield in Nat Geo’s Life Below Zero. Huge red building housed all life. Transient hikers come through. #MSWL isolated teen in YA!

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

Would love a YA where a Korean teenager sees her life as a mirror to her favorite Korean soap opera. Grew up watching these with my best friend, and think it could be unique set up. High humor, some romance, a whole lotta' drama, & strong plot. #MSWL

On the hunt for middle grade and young adult manuscripts that are really joyful and feature characters from marginalized backgrounds. #MSWL

Horror & horror. All types & ages (mg, ya, adult). Could be super scary. Psychological. Thriller. Mystery. Warm Bodies-esque. Odd Thomas-esque. Any way you slice it. #MSWL

#MSWL Would love to see some fantasy based on non-western cultures. Adult, YA and MG. I will look at it all but especially like darker elements.

#MSWL “I don’t think people understand how much kids like horror right now.” Quote from my 13yo son. So send me #YA horror pls. #MG horror is going strong now (head nods at @saskwriter). YA needs to make a big shelf—these kids are growing up. I *think* it could be the next trend.