Adria Goetz

PICTURE BOOKS—I am specifically looking for author-illustrators in this space. Send me anything that is humor-driven, brimming with heart, and/or has a touch of magic. Some of my favorites: THE NIGHT GARDENER, WE DON’T EAT OUR CLASSMATES, ALMA, THE BEAR AND THE PIANO. #MSWL

I’m going to post a more detailed #MSWL thread soon, but in the meantime—here’s a big picture overview of what I’m looking for this year! ✨

When I was growing up there seemed to be a micro-genre of Kafka-esque picture books about kids waking up with mysterious, fantastical physical conditions. They were so fun! I'd love to see projects like these. #MSWL

I’d love to see more adventure-fueled picture books in my inbox ✨ #MSWL

I'm also excited to share that I've opened back up to queries for picture books, middle grade, adult fiction, and graphic novels. #MSWL below:

✨ MSWL: bit.ly/2Xa8msp
✨ Visual MSWL - Kid Lit: bit.ly/2Xe3uT8
✨ Visual MSWL - Adult: bit.ly/2HRV3Wv

PICTURE BOOKS
In the PB space, I have 3 top priorities:

1. Stories by BIPOC creators in general, particularly family narratives. I love falling in love with a new fictional family!

2. Humor! I need a good laugh. Kids do, too.

3. MAGIC! Send me magical stories!!! ✨

#MSWL

ICYMI: I am opened back up to queries! I’m particularly looking for picture books, middle grade, graphic novels (any age), and adult fiction. Flood my inbox, friends. 💜#MSWL

I am hungry for more food-themed picture books! If you have one, I'd love to take a look. #MSWL

I would loooove to work on something similar to THE HAUNTED LAKE, which is a really unique, spooky, folktale-feeling picture book. (Except I'd prefer something with a shorter length.) Send those spooky stories my way! #MSWL

I'm forever on the hunt for more funny picture books. Please send me your humor! I'm open to all types: loud, zany, quirky, strange, dry, subversive, potty, punny. Whatever you got, send it my way! #MSWL

Just want to reiterate that I've always wanted to work on a glowworm picture book! I think it would be so visually dazzling. #MSWL

A quick glance at my #MSWL for 2020:

✨MG + YA Graphic Novels
✨PB author/illustrator w/ a magical hand-rendered aesthetic
✨The next Brian Selznick
✨PBs with humor + heart
✨Hooky, commercial MG + YA
✨Mermaids
✨Quirky gift books
✨Devotionals

I got my hair cut today and there was a tiny, precious 4-year-old boy getting his hair cut at the station next to me. Stylist said he keeps a stuffed animal around for the boys because the clippers scare them.🥺

Long story short, I NEED to rep a "first hair cut" PB.💈#MSWL

Every time I spot the SCBWI folder designed by @ogemora in my office, or read one of her books, I'm reminded yet again of how much I love collage. I'd love to see more PBs that utilize collage! ✂️📜🎨 #MSWL

Spooky PBs! 👻🖤✨💀🎃

Ghosts, haunted houses, cobwebs. I would die for a picture book about rusalka.

See How to Make Friends with a Ghost for my spooky book crush, as well as an upcoming picture book called The Ugly Doodles by my client @vwicker2478. #MSWL

Mermaids! PB, MG, YA, GNs.✨🧜‍♀️ I'm not looking for an epic fantasy, or a story in which someone discovers they’re a mermaid, or a romance in which a mermaid falls in love with a human. I'd love for it to be something a non-genre reader could get into. #MSWL

Funny PBs! I loved Maria the Matador, Dragons Love Tacos, The Bad Seed, I Don’t Like Koala, Miss Hazeltime’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats, Brunhilda’s Backwards Day, and Even Superheroes Make Mistakes. #MSWL

Magical PBs! A few favorites: The Night Gardener, The Antlered Ship, Ocean Meets Sky, The Bear and the Piano, Remarkables, Lights on Cotton Rock, The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore, Lola Shapes the Sky, Dream Animals. #MSWL

PBs that reflect contemporary families + their real life experiences. Examples: Hair Love, My Papi Has a Motorcycle, Tell Me a Tattoo Story, Honeysmoke, Under My Hijab, Alma, Julian is a Mermaid. #MSWL

And now I’ll start listing off some specifics! At the top of my #MSWL: PB author/illustrators w/ a very distinctive signature look.

Some of my faves: Juana Martinez-Neal, Vashti Harrison, the Fan Brothers, Emily Winfield Martin, David Litchfield, Anne Lambelet, Sophie Blackall.