Emmy Nordstrom Higdon

As always: I always prioritize queries from LGBTQ2S+, disabled, chronically ill, and/or BIPOC authors. That applies to ALL my asks below, and I am grateful for all of you who choose to query me.

A guest on the episode of @WestWingWeekly that I listened to this morning described the show as “addictive, formative, and nostalgic.” That’s pretty much the exact formula I look for in my #MSWL #WritingCommunity

#MSWL

Relatedly, I would love a book on CTE and traumatic brain injury, contact sports, capitalism, identity, and culture from an expert on the subject and/or a contact sport athlete (I'm looking at you, #DerbyTwitter). #MSWL

#WritingCommunity: When folks wonder what kind of true crime I'm looking for, Killer Inside on Netflix is exactly it. This story weaves together questions about social norms, capitalism, culture, and deviation thoughtfully and with nuance. #MSWL

I was, frankly, horrified to encounter this book on Edelweiss+ this week, yet NYU Press is planning to print 15K of these babies next year. If you are writing the counterpoint to this anti-sex work fake news, I want it ASAP. #MSWL

Since I've been posting a lot about queries lately, I thought I'd thread a few of my #MSWL from over my time as an agent that are still relevant and make me excited to think about! As always, all my details can be found at...

manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/emmy…

I feel it warrants mentioning, since my partner and I are doing a West Wing re-watch and accompanying @WestWingWeekly listen, that I am a MASSIVE fan of Aaron Sorkin’s work. Do you write like him? If you do, I want to read it, regardless of what your project is. #MSWL

YES! Hilary McMahon, my mentor, did one this year! NEW GIRL AT LITTLE COVE by @Downith! DEFINITELY on my #MSWL

Watching @netflix Trial By Media, and would LOVE a @yourewrongabout-style deep dive about 1990s talk shows - the good, the bad, the political. #MSWL

11: Southern Gothic, and/or other regional twists on the genre. Comps: SING UNBURIED SING and the forthcoming SUMMER SONS. Neo-Gothic, like WHITE IS FOR WITCHING.

10: Feminist and/or queer romcoms, especially non-idealized depictions of polyamory and t4t romance. I don’t have comps for these! The closest I’ve come is the work of Xan West, parts of the TRANSCENDENT anthologies, and the gender diverse pronoun ed. of CAPRICIOUS.

9: Picture book texts and chapter books by authors with experiences underrepresented in publishing. THE MAGNIFICENT MAKERS, GUM GIRL, anything by Julie Flett, DREAMERS, LOVE YOUR BODY.

8: Books by Newfoundland authors that engage our culture, from ALL I ASK to FEBRUARY to OUR HOMESICK SONGS to NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE. Giv’er here, b’y!

7: Queer books that engage with intra community conversations in all genres. DETRANSITION BABY, WILDER GIRLS.

6: I would love to see immersive and subversive family/community sagas. THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS, BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, DO NOT SAY WE HAVE NOTHING.

5: Author-illustrator graphic novels (in all age groups) and picture books. I could make a list a mile long of favourites, but think TEA DRAGONS, THIS ONE SUMMER, BE PREPARED, and anything by the Fan Brothers or Jessie Sima.

4: Manga was biggest growing subgenre in publishing in 2020, and if you have something that evokes this culture but for a Western audience, I’d love to see it. My favourite manga is LAID-BACK CAMP.

3: I have recently taken up birdwatching, and I would love a book that incorporated aspects of this kind of pastime. Comps: BIRDS ART LIFE, or STRANGE BIRDS.

2: Slice of life stories with low stakes, bonus points for cottagecore aesthetics, across all genres and age categories. Comps: NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS, the concept of the anthology A QUIET AFTERNOON.