Ali Herring

Literary Agent

Spencerhill Associates

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

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#MSWL . I am closed to queries with the exception of the following:

A YA Trapped-in-Time hook: QueryManager.com/Ali/YATrappediTrappedinTime.

YA Romantasy: QueryManager.com/Ali/YARomantasy

If you submit anything outside these parameters, they will be deleted without response.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

I know I'm closing to queries tomorrow, but authors keep me on your list for a "rowdy family book," preferably middle grade but YA might work too. Think in the spirit of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever or Cheaper by the Dozen. #MSWL

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

Reminder that these aren't the limit of my wish list items. I'm open to fiction in a lot of genres and age groups, from MG to YA to adult. Please see the full #MSWL here:
aliherringwrites.wordpress.com/mswl-manuscript-wish-list/

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#MSWL Still looking for an MG Romance Writer exploring 1st love & crushes like Natalie Blitt Carols & Crushes for MIDDLE GRADE to YA girls, 12-15yos. Yes I want something that straddles that weird line. Want them to read like Hallmark movies for kids and could go series.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips
Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#MSWL Fiction, across age groups, that explores the afterlife, but NOT set on Earth with ghosts. Think "waypoint" locations. I loved the movie "Defending Your Life," so a riff on that would be cool. But open to more settings, like an MG/YA kid ends up in the underworld.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#MSWL True enemies-to-lovers YA. True hate between them, maybe mortal enemies, etc. I gotta know they hate each other.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips
Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#MSWL YA fantasy that isn't "dark". Dare I say fun, maybe funny? Something that feels bright? Still has to have a solid hook and story problem to solve.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

Been thinking I'd love an MG or a YA book with "empathy" at its heart as a theme. Not looking for preachy or lessons, just that as its core heart. #MSWL

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

My wheelhouse tends to be middle grade, YA and women's fiction, both ABA and CBA. In women's fiction, I'm looking ONLY for interesting hooks ... like sure divorce revenge, but like with a sailing race & bet involved like in @Talicktweets Beware the Mermaids. #MSWL

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

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.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

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

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#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.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#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).

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

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

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

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

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

#MSLW I've seen queries before w/ worlds where water is scarce. Would love to see something like this in the YA or even MG space when I reopen to queries. You can always put something like "#MSWL For YA drought-world book" or whatever the MSWL is in the referral space.

Ali Herring
@HerringAli
Literary Agent
Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates. Twin mom+1 📚 Eclectic in life & books. I 💙 Jane Austen & SFF in equal doses. #TeamSpencerhill Ali-ens 👽 rock!
238 MSWL
1 AskAgent
11 Queries
33 Tips

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.