Thais Afonso

Space fantasy writers, please #MSWL

Me when I'm in my inbox #MSWL

In addition to getting a lot of Fantasy Royalty, I get mostly ghost stories in horror. It’s not a ‘no’ but I’m very particular with what I request because I see so many versions of it.

I’m also not taking unsolicited pitches for previously published books. #MSWL

I’m also not the best bet for apocalyptic stories, dystopias where one biological sex has been eliminated, psychological thrillers, literary fiction (and I can usually tell it’s lit fic even if you pitch it as commercial. #MSWL

Books that are basically grounded second-world fantasy like House of Hunger are fine. And if anyone wants to send me a Gothic story in space … Straight up historical is just too difficult for me. I often don’t know how to tap into its potential. #MSWL

I don't read enough historical anything to know the market trends and genre expectations as deeply as I'd need to in order to represent it. Even historical horrors and historical thrillers. Dual timelines, like Plain Bad Heroines are fine. #MSWL

My Anti-MSWL is the best guide for what I’m not looking to sign at this time. However, I keep getting historical in my inbox, and there might be some confusion because Gothic is category, so. #MSWL

In sports romance, I want drama and high stakes. Give me Olympians going head-to-head for the Gold Medal, I love actual rivalry. Give me an ex-partner being chosen as the national team’s coach. Give me genderqueers setting fire to these dumb gendered sports.

This is also the one time, every four years, when I’m very interested in sports that aren’t Figure Skating, so you might as well send me those sports romances (No hokey, please. I’ve tried, it’s not for me.) #MSWL

Queer rom-coms. All the queer rom-coms (but if someone out there has written a sapphic age-gap rom-com, know that’s my favorite) #MSWL

I expect romance, even horror romance, to bring joy. That means a HEA, yes, but also if it’s past campy melodrama, it’s probably too dark for my tastes. And if one of the protagonists dies, it’s women’s fiction/upmarket, and I’m not looking to sign those. #MSWL

I love toxic homoerotic situationships. I'm sorry. This is Hannibal's fault (still). Basically, if you’re obsessed with ITWV, yes, that. I’m looking for that in Horror and Fantasy, though. Not romance. #MSWL

I also LOVE a natural disaster thriller. I haven’t seen Twisters yet, but I know I’ll like it. I like that movie where The Rock punches an earthquake. Again, I’m basic. I like basic done well. That said, I’d also love a Jane Pek comp. #MSWL

Fast-paced, plot-driven contemporary thrillers—preferably super queer. I’m basic about thrillers. I love the formula. I like Reese’s picks. Just give me propulsive and in-line with the market. #MSWL

I would also love to see more of:

Space horror. Please. Pretty please?

#MSWL

You can find my detailed, uptaded #MSWL here: thaisafonsoliterary.crd.co/#mswl

I am open to be surprised, but not by something on my anti-MSWL. That said, you can still send me books if you’re honestly criticizing some of these institutions or tropes, just shoot your shots wisely.

As I prepare to open widely to queries tomorrow, I thought I’d create a little 🧵 to organize information.

First, here’s the link to query me: QueryManager.com/ThaisAfonso

#WritingCommunity #amquerying

This, but lesbian, is exactly what I want in a thriller #MSWL

Not me wondering why this movie my grandma is watching is slaps like I don’t know damn well I love second-chance romance and middle-aged protagonists. Anyway, #MSWL

Will anyone please write a Sapphic Before Sunrise and send it to me? #MSWL