Kaitlyn Johnson

Literary Agent

Belcastro Agency

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Really would love more Contemporary Graphic Novel storylines in general, for all ages

For Historical, things that are NOT WW1 or WW2 unless from a POV that isn't German, Polish, English, French, or American

#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

SUPER picky with Adult right now! Mainly contemporary, graphic novel, & historical. Fantasy worldbuilding MUST be on point & want more non-American/English storylines

Para romances not at top of my list
Looking for rom-coms, but selective
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

YA Graphic Novel

really looking more to contemporary side of things; I have a ton of Fantasy and want to branch out
Slice of life storylines
LGBTQ+ romance/friendships
Scavenger/treasure hunts
Historical 100%
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

YA Contemporary where the protagonist is BI or ACE. Super want more visibility in this LGBTQ+ area

Would love rivals-to-lovers
Family elements (like family business, remarrying, stepsiblings, adoption, etc.)
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

For YA, I'm more turning to Historical, Contemporary, and Contemporary Romance. Super selective on Fantasy and Paranormal right now, though would still love to see concepts on witches or ghosts (and vamps if unique!)
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Kaitlyn Johnson @RedPenKaitlyn

Officially open to queries!!!
#amquerying #querytip #WritingCommunity pic.twitter.com/TE17elNEBt

quick #mswl update, I am primarily looking for MG (all genres), YA Contemporary, Historical (all ages), and Graphic Novel (all ages/genres). Those are my heaviest focus. BUT, also open to others, so check out my MSWL page!
#amquerying #querytip #WritingCommunity

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Adult

GN - all genres but especially horror, dark fantasy, or LGBTQ+

Novels - romance, contemporary, historical, and MAYBE fantasy. Super picky there. Really want horror like Babadook or Midnight Mass or Haunting of Hill House

#amagenting #mswl

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

YA Novels

contemporary, romcom, fantasy, historical

If fantasy, you've GOT to bring your A-game. Very picky here for my list in fantasy, but definitely open to so many more contemporary and historical stories!

#amagenting #mswl

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

YA GN

again, I am dying for more LGBTQ+ and historical; would love contemporary, fantasy, and horror here, too

Think outside the box. For YA, it needs to be something that totally immerses me in the characters or the world or the emotions
#amagenting #mswl

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

MG Novels

contemporary, fantasy, and historical

am open to novel in verse but must be very high concept
#amagenting #mswl

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Things I need more of in my query box:

MG Contemporary

Adult/YA Rom-Com

POC Historical

LBGTQ+ Historical

#amagenting #querytip #amquerying

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

In Adult, my main focus will be historical, contemporary romance, and select fantasy/paranormal. Adult is a harder sell for me, so it HAS to really be unique, new, and with strong voice/conflict
#amagenting #querytip #amquerying

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Kaitlyn Johnson - closed to Queries @RedPenKaitlyn

It's almost time!!! Given how I'll be opening my query box again in November, here's my new and improved #MSWL 😆 #amagenting #querytip #amquerying pic.twitter.com/nbD7rKjsCl

In YA & MG, I really want historical, paranormal, contemporary, fantasy (of all kinds!), and non-graphic horror

Keep in mind, I'm super on the hunt for LGBTQ+, diverse voices, and new settings/events/creatures that aren't mainstream
#querytip #amquerying #amagenting

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Kaitlyn Johnson @RedPenKaitlyn

Watching videos about "behind the scenes" staff from famous movies (nightmare before Xmas; Pirates) and realizing how many women really created them: from script to costume to models/graphics

Would love a historical or contemporary focusing on highlighting their roles! #mswl

Example: scriptwriter of Nightmare before Xmas was dating man who was Jack's singing voice. Showed him script, he hated it, she gave to studio anyway, they loved it.

Would love to see a WF of a woman w/perseverance and finding success despite that sort of obstacle #mswl

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Watching videos about "behind the scenes" staff from famous movies (nightmare before Xmas; Pirates) and realizing how many women really created them: from script to costume to models/graphics

Would love a historical or contemporary focusing on highlighting their roles! #mswl

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

#mswl YA fantasy or contemporary where it's focused on the apprentice to the tiger handler (yes, this is a #TigerKing inspiration) or someone who escaped a tiger cult lol

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Also hungry for contemporary with LGBT, mental health, and disability rep. Not necessarily issue book plots for GN, but characters in their lives (I'd LOVE Fantasy with disability rep!) #amagenting #querytip

Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips
Kaitlyn Johnson
@RedPenKaitlyn
Literary Agent
Agent @belcastr . insta: kjbelcastro. Freelance Editor. Serial comma for life. She/her. Query at QueryManager.com/1147
279 MSWL
345 AskAgent
55 Queries
385 Tips

Still looking for an Adult contemporary with a therapy group for those who fake being kidnapped by aliens... only to have one member disappear and spark conspiracies 😉 if y'all don't write it, I might have to myself #MSWL