Rebecca Matte

Literary Agent

Bradford Literary Agency

Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

The rest of my #mswl is evergreen and remains true. I love character and relationships, and I love people who write true to themselves.

Thank you to anyone who trusts me with your work. I hope to prove worthy.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

8) Queer & disability norm worlds. Anything that turns on a perceived weakness that turns out to be a strength.

and finally

9) Books that channel the anger at our world, our politics, injustice into something powerful. Like Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

6) What I call speculative romance: e.g. romance in our world that also has a bit of magic. Think Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

7) Fantasy romance where the story is equal parts both, and the world and fantasy plot enhances the romance and vice versa.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

4) Magic systems based in something really cool! Like...law, or wave theory, or color theory. I don't know, surprise me!

5) Historical romance with anachronistic voice/elements. Think A Knight's Tale, or Bridgerton. Or Alexis Hall.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

2) Nerdy and hobbyist books! Can be any genre I rep (SFF Or romance). Give me your D&D, your video games, your theater, your woodworking, your metallurgy. Love it all.

3) Fantasy & SF that incorporates games -- rpgs or video games. Love the meta and dual narratives there.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

And, on that note: I open to queries on Monday, July 1. I feel like I should update my #mswl accordingly, but be prepared, it's a mish mash:

1) Romances with BIPOC, queer and disabled leads. I'm dying for joyful books that touch on real world challenges without dwelling.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

First I want to reaffirm what I'm about. I'm OBSESSED with my clients and their writing. I want more than anything for them & their books to succeed. That is my job.

I not only support but celebrate ALL authors, and especially BIPOC, disabled, neurodiverse, queer & trans authors

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Well. I try not to use this to comment on everything happening in publishing because BOY is that list long. Suffice to say that the last few days have not been flattering.

But...I am opening to queries on Monday so I felt like a few tweets were in order.

(Thread)

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Friendly reminder to #amquerying authors: I open to all queries (within YA & Adult SFF and romance) on Friday, 9/1!

I’m in pretty good shape with numbers right now (I think 60 ish queries and 25 fills), and I’m excited to see what y’all send me!

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

I know I'm not open right now, but leaving this #mswl for later.

All the books about libraries. Cozy library/bookstore romances, magical libraries, lost libraries, university libraries.

Like Addie LaRue, or Dr. Who's Library of the Dead. Or the AU!bookstore fic we all love.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent
Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

It is an actual crime that I finished @MeganBannen's AMAZING book The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy two days ago after a marathon night of reading until 3am and haven't yelled about it yet. A perfect fantasy romance, in my book. DEFINITELY a #mswl reference for me

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Rebecca Matte @RebeccaLMatte

4) Keep up to date with current trends/comps. I've seen a few queries described as "unique" with a premise that is reminiscent of a 2022 release. Obvs 2 people can have the same idea, but keeping up to date will give better comps and help you distinguish yours.

5) Finally, do keep in mind my #mswl for queries. I really only accept romance & SFF, and so general contemporary fiction is not for me, even if it features the type of characters/relationships that I like.

Thank you all for your amazing queries, and I hope this helps some.

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Turns out I'm not super into fae or sirens? Not a thing I knew before diving into QM, but I keep finding that it's not something I super connect w/. Kind of an anti #mswl I guess.

(That doesn't mean *dont* query me, it just means it's a harder sell that has nothing to do w/ you)

Rebecca Matte
@RebeccaLMatte
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Contract Manager at @Bradford_Agents . NYC DOE Lawyer. Author in Progress. Always a nerd. She/her.
15 MSWL
68 AskAgent

Based on what I’ve been gravitating towards in queries, I’m adding to my #mswl :

-stories with seemingly mundane magic incorporated into our world
-stories about academia and graduate students (not dark academia, but either realistic or fluffy academia)