Linda Epstein
@LindaEpstein
I'm a senior agent at Emerald City Literary Agency @EmeraldCityLit repping children's books (PB, MG, YA). Also a writer. Yes, it's hard. Repped by @renarossner
Pretty over it.
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein
Something I want to see in my inbox: a YA romcom set in space; even better if the main character is BIPOC and extra points if it's LGBTQ+ too! Not too sciencey & not fantasy or characters w/superpowers (other than being smarty pants and/or physically fit). #MSWLI unexpectedly decided to open to #middlegrade and #YoungAdult queries again! 🙃Here's a thread about some of the things I'm hoping for in my inbox. #MSWL 🤞🏽📚☮️❤️🌈
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
For anyone who doesn't already know me, let me state loud & clear once again: Please send me your #BIPOC #LGBTQ+ #ownvoices #middlegrade & #YoungAdult manuscripts! Look at what I'm asking for in my other #MSWL tweets to see if we'd be a good match. (Ah! So many hashtags!)
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
And yes, my friends, not to worry, I'm still very much looking for MG & YA books with all types of Jewish rep by ALL types of Jewish people who practice (or don't) all kinds of Judaism. #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
If you write middle grade stories that might be compared to (the incomparable) @Nnedi then you should query me! I LOVE Nnedi Okorafor's books. #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
Some middle grade fantasy books I love are @TaherehMafi's Furthermore; @sofipasternack's Anya & the Dragon; @LaurelSnyder's Orphan Island; EVERYTHING ever written by @kellybarnhill; @AdamGidwitz's The Inquisitors Tale. If you have have a MG like any of these? Query me! #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
Honestly, I'd really like a realistic contemporary YA romcom or romance featuring BIPOC characters! Hit me up with something akin to Jenny Han or Sandhya Menon's books. #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
Something I want to see in my inbox: a YA romcom set in space; even better if the main character is BIPOC and extra points if it's LGBTQ+ too! Not too sciencey & not fantasy or characters w/superpowers (other than being smarty pants and/or physically fit). #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
Now that I'm open to queries again, please check #MSWL to see what kind of manuscripts I'm CURRENTLY on the lookout for.
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · Jan 8
Guess what?! I'm open to queries!
Chapter book, middle grade, and YA only.
Check #MSWL for the kind of projects I like & don't like.
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 17 Dec 2019
Sarah Aronson @sarah_aronson
Who's writing this book? twitter.com/jwaonline/stat…Whoever's writing it, if they make it YA, should definitely send it my way! #mswl
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 10 Dec 2019
Jessica Russak-Hoffman @HoffmanJess
Still waiting for a Jews in Space book. Nu? Can an agent #MSWL this so whoever is writing it can reveal themselves and then I can read it? Thanks.#Jewish #jewishtwitter #jewsinspace #WritingCommunity pic.twitter.com/b6jIdT2TOf
I loved Starglass by @phoebenorth but Yes, please! More Jewish sci-fi! #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 7 Dec 2019
Obviously don't send me the kind of manuscripts I've explicitly said I don't like. But if you have a manuscript that you think I would like, but I didn't say so? You have nothing to lose by querying me. I don't bite (mostly). #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 7 Dec 2019
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein
I hope people understand that when agents post #MSWL wishes that's not the only kind of projects they represent. You all do know that, right? For example, many of my clients don't write any of the things I'm asking for. That's why I want them!I want my list to be balanced with PBs, CBs, MGs, YAs. Some serious, some not; some weird & quirky, some chock full of muggles; some lighthearted, some deep & thinky. And there are all the things I don't know I want until I get them. #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 6 Dec 2019
Is it possible for a #YA mystery to be not scary or spooky or have a murder in it? Maybe even funny? I'd like to read that. A story where I'm trying hard to figure out who done something (nonviolent). #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 6 Dec 2019
I get a lot of Ashkenazi Conservative/Orthodox submissions, which is FINE but send me #mg & #YA novels with casual Judaism too & w/all kinds of representation like Jewish people of color; Sephardim; Mizrahi; Reconstructionist & reform; non-affiliated or practicing; atheist. #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 6 Dec 2019
I probably don't need to say this, but I will: I want ALL THE QUEER THINGS™️in both #MG and #YA Realistic contemporary, historical, speculative fiction, light fantasy, light scifi, mystery, romance, etc... #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 6 Dec 2019
Is it possible to have a #MG or #YA story about a popular kid where that's ok? I know so many of us book people felt like oddballs as kids, but what about a popular kid who's not a jerk, not getting bullied, not mean? Things HAPPEN to everyone. We all have challenges. #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 6 Dec 2019
I'd love to see a #mg or #YA novel with art & art museums or something historical including artists. Like Girl w/a Pearl Earring for kids or something like that? Something at the British Museum? The Louvre? Wouldn't that be awesome? #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 6 Dec 2019
Don't send me WW2 stories, or war stories in general. I work hard to take care of my mental health & our real world is so full of horrors, it's challenging. I know those books are important but they're not for me. There are many other agents to query with them. #MSWL
Linda Epstein @LindaEpstein · 6 Dec 2019
I'm the wrong agent for "dark & gritty" or "scary & twisted" or any other 2 words you can put together that basically mean those same things. 😊The good news is that you can send those queries to @MandyHubbard & @GarrettAlwert at @EmeraldCityLit #MSWL