Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Assistant Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom +1. Eclectic in life & books. I♥️Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. Query me: bit.ly/2EOFVFa
Metro Atlanta
Ali Herring @HerringAli · May 21
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
Ali Herring @HerringAli · Mar 31
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.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · Mar 31
Where is my ya contemporary story of a black male gymnast’s rise to glory? #MSWL
Ali Herring @HerringAli · Mar 31
#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."
Ali Herring @HerringAli · Mar 31
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.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · Feb 21
Zabé/Z.R. Ellor @ZREllor
My two cents on YA sci-fi—it 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 teensI’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.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 5 Dec 2019
Ali Herring @HerringAli
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!#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.”
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 5 Dec 2019
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!
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 21 Nov 2019
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
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 19 Nov 2019
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
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 12 Nov 2019
On the hunt for middle grade and young adult manuscripts that are really joyful and feature characters from marginalized backgrounds. #MSWL
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 24 Sep 2019
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
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 9 Sep 2019
#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.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 5 Jun 2019
#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.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 23 Nov 2018
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.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 6 Nov 2018
I remember this movie that ends with a boy & girl from Earth being dropped off on a planet somewhere in the cosmos to start over/2nd chance, this while I think Earth's being destroyed/punished for our failures. Riff on this w/YA or MG. What happened/happens to these kids #MSWL.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 2 Nov 2018
Vicky Who Reads 🌸 @VickyCBooks
it has been dropped~check out my post on ✨ HOW YA ISOLATES TEENS (by me, a teen) to find out how YA can ignore it's primary intended audience! whether you're an author, publisher, or another reader, please keep in mind how teens NEED this space. 💕
vickywhoreads.wordpress.com/2018/11/01/how…
My favorite comment and ask from this blog is more books written for 12-14 year olds. #MSWL because the blogger tells us, “all the books in the YA category are intimidating and seemingly for adults.”
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 1 Nov 2018
#MSWL alt-reality dark ages YA #F w/kick-butt female protag knight wielding sword & magical powers, but prefers sword. Equally bad-a male seeming antag who end up fighting the same force, one darker than any one imagines. Dark tumultuous rough raw setting & full-tension romance.
Ali Herring @HerringAli · 18 Sep 2018
#MSWL Far-future YA. Humanity's population is decimated. People separated by vast distances. They know of our glorious past & technological marvels, but can't replicate it. Then a beacon floods the sky in the distance, & 4 teens from different villages are sent to investigate...