T.S. Ferguson

I'm still not the best fit for SF (aside from 5-min in the future/grounded SF or the aforementioned horror), or books that are sports-centric or where MC is an athlete. I'm not open to adult fiction (for now), poetry/novels-in-verse, non-fiction, picture books, early readers.

Another #mswl I've been wanting to find forEVER is a genre-blended YA sci-fi/horror akin to Alien (or even The Thing I think would count). Atmospheric, not super tech heavy, isolated, far from home, trapped with an extraterrestrial horror. Those kinda vibes.

I would also love to find something that takes a big swing and lands it, especially in YA. Epic but accessible, character-driven but with lyrical or evocative writing. As an example,
@Tiff_Liao
told me that she would love to find a YA Cloud Atlas and my eyes went 😻🤩 #mswl

I consider queries the same way I do books in the store. If the pitch doesn't grab me, I pass and move on. And so much of what doesn't grab me feels like "more of the same." I always want to know what makes YOUR book feel special. Why am I excited to move to the writing?

One thing I'm realizing I really love is something that feels comforting and familiar but with an element that makes it feel unique and fresh. Retelling and reinterpretations but also tackling timeless themes from new angles. Taking something we know and changing it up.

I'm being more picky than usual about MG right now, but I'd especially love to see commercial genre stories w/ series potential a la Wings of Fire or PJO. I grew up reading Animorphs and Fear Street so I'd love to rep more (potential) series.

I'm always a fan of horror and/or spooky goth vibes. Some faves: Fear Street (books AND Netflix trilogy), Stephen King, The Addams Family, The Thief of Always by Clive Barker, Coraline (movie), early seasons of Supernatural, Final Destination, Anne Rice, Alexis Henderson, etc.

I'm also leaning more heavily into my love of genre fiction, especially fantasy and horror and books that genre-blend. I would love to find more epic fantasy with fantastic world-building, a la Tomi Adeyemi, Claire M. Andrews, Katy Rose Pool, Natasha Ngan, etc.

I'd really love to find more books that have strong commercial hooks (books that will appeal to a wide audience and can be pitched in 1-2 sentences) but that still have strong prose. I don't need literary writing but I've never been able to be a plot over prose kinda guy.

I said "check back on this thread later for some updates" and then never updated. But here's some areas I'm looking for in 2024 (YA and MG only for now)...

Thank you and welcome to all the new follows I’ve gotten since posting my new Manuscript Wishlist profile! If you don’t know me yet, I’m a YA and MG agent and former Big 5 editor. Very gay, very liberal, very geeky. Actively growing my list. My query link is in my bio. 😊

My agent profile is finally up at MSWL! Check me out at:
manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/t-s-ferguson/

Random YA #MSWL: Something like the Carol & Barb origin flashback from Orange is the New Black but with more details about what drove them to become teen killers.

Happy #MSWL Day! Here’s mine again:

Just went down a musical journey that went from Hamilton > Chris Jackson could get it > Moana and now I have a ?.

Are there any #ownvoices MG fantasy/adventure novels out there inspired by any indigenous cultures of Oceania? If so, gimme recs! If not, agents, this is #mswl!

#mswl

This is still #MSWL!

#MSWL

I was just thinking about the scene in Goonies where they knock over the water cooler and find the hidden door in the fireplace. I would love to find a book that has that same level of adventure. +Booby traps! +Voice! +Diverse rep -Problematic jokes and stereotypes. #MSWL

I would love to find a teen girl super spy/action adventure. Something that can be pitched as Kim Possible meets Kingsman. Or in the vein of Kiki Strike (which I haven’t read, admittedly). #MSWL