Rebecca Matte

Spent my PT session yesterday telling my therapist how many amazing late 90s/early 00s movies adaptations of Shakespeare comedies. And now I would LOVE a new one.

So #mswl - a fresh rom com with late 90s feel that adapts Shakespeare or Austen or another classic. They’re such fun!!

I am opening to 250 new #queries on September 14! I have an evergreen #mswl but some things I am particularly excited about right now are in the thread below!

I'm actively looking for some new authors to work with at KT, & I can't wait to see what you have for me 👀

#amquerying #amwriting #agenting
rebeccamatte.com/manuscript-wish-list

Things I am not excited about right now:

1) Fae stories (particularly fae romantasy)
2) small town romances
3) grimdark
4) dark romances (I am too ace for most of this)
5) darkness for the sake of darkness - I need my dark elements to *say* something, or be there for a reason

6) Something *new*

This is the worst, and I know this. Here's what I mean:
- unique worldbuilding
- new twists on familiar plot points & tropes
- plot twists that play on and upend expectations
- similar narratives from under-represented povs that materially change the underlying story

#mswl

Things that excite me right now:

1) stories featuring disability/chronically ill characters who succeed *because of* their strength/accommodations

2) contemp. romance with fantasy elements

3) "cozy" stories with high personal/local stakes

4) Adventure forward fantasy

5) hobby/niche romances

I spent the weekend at #LAConV talking about what unifies my list. My deals are spread across four genres, but they all have one main principle: stories of self discovery/determination/assertion. Strong focus on community, organizing and belonging as foils against oppression and authoritarianism.

I've got COVID, so I have time: let's talk about my #mswl as I prepare to open on September 14!

Didn't have great success with trying to limit queries to a particular genre, so instead I'll just ask for a variety of things and hope people keep to that and my wishlist.

I will be opening to queries again on Sept 14 and I am so excited to check out some new books from #amquerying /#amwriting!

I’ll share some more specific things I’m excited about soon, but in the meantime my #MSWL is up to date (& is the same on my website)!
manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/rebecca-matte/

Big news! I’m delighted to share that today I started a new role as Agent at ktliterary.bsky.social literary!

Both my evergreen #MSWL and details about my entirely separate legal practice Matter Services LLC can be found here:
rebeccamatte.com

Full disclosure: I am close to inbox zero, but I am expecting my wonderful clients to send me 5 books in the next month, so I am not going to open yet to queries.

BUT I did update my #MSWL ! If you think we're a match please query me when I open! I promise I'll give ample notice :)

#amquerying
manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/rebecca-matte/

Just a quick anti- #MSWL

No chosen ones - I want regular people being heroes, stepping up

Not really into fae - it's not an absolute no, but a general preference

Also not really into non humanoid aliens. This is off trend, I know, but it doesn't really hit for me.

#MSWL day

You might be noticing a trend - I want to feel things and process things through other worlds and magics. I like catharsis, but more than that I like people banding together to take on evil things and tear it down to *build something new*

The world may be broken, but hope is not crazy.

#MSWL day

6) This one is super specific - fantasy Dirk Pitt (by Clive Cussler) adventures (ideally feat. a female protagonist)

Science/magic forward, death defying, taking on billionaires, incredible adventure

(Please no military/colonial fantasies/exploitation/Islamaphobia - we know better)

#MSWL day

3) YA focused on BIG feelings, where magic serves as a proxy for those feelings

4) Something fun and escapist

5) Stuff that feels like being a 90s kid/early 2000s teen - bright colors, big personalities, chunky shoes, fewer screens, more optimism

#MSWL day

1) Gayer, swoonier romance (gay, here, meaning any LGBTQ+ pairing that leans into the queerness of it)

2) Small stories with BIG personal stakes (e.g. TJ Klune esque), preferably with magic but not required if romance

In honor of #MSWL day, seemed like a good time to share some things I'm especially excited about.

My clients are prepared to inundate me shortly with manuscripts, so not sure when I'll open, but I promise to keep you updated!

Please feel free to query me with anything on my broader wishlist, within SFF and romance for YA, NA and Adult.

But these are the books that I will be especially excited by right now, based on what I am missing in my list and/or what makes me clap my hands with glee!

I can't wait to dive back in!

AND FINALLY

8) College-based stories (especially romance, but possibly fantasy too)

9) Romances feat. ace, demi, & trans characters. I always like any flavor of queer, but right now those feel the most urgent stories for me to get into the world.

Think of it like the middle finger to JK.

#mswl

6) 5) Urban Fantasy - our world plus magic or magic creatures (the vampire nextdoor, magical tattoos, alt. history w/ magic)

7) Magic schools, but for the parents and teachers rather than the kids (think The Incadescent or Grimmoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association)

#mswl

3) Artemis Fowl, but for adults

4) Dungeons & Dragons inspired fantasy that has the adventure and whimsy and puzzles, and most importantly the absolute dumb-fuckery of any good D&D game

5) Stories that read like fanfic (complimentary)

#mswl