Alice Speilburg

Literary Agent

Speilburg Literary Agency

Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

On the Sci-Fi side, I'd like to see Dystopian, political, and other Grounded Sci-Fi (on land), like Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

I'd also love to see novelized stories of real women from history. #mswl

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

Also helpful to know that I love historical British/BBC mysteries, like Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Endeavor, Grantchester, Dalgliesh. #mswl

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

In Mystery/Suspense, I'm here for whodunits that are semi-cozy, like books by Richard Osman or Nita Prose. Also note the settings (retirement community, hotel), love the idea of a mystery in a monastery or botanical garden, where place is super visual. I <3 unexpected, underestimated sleuths. #MSWL

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

#MSWL in #Horror :
-Atmospheric Horror, and extreme settings, like a blistering cold winter or a dry desert
-Old stories coming back to haunt the MC
-Character led journeys to find the truth or right a wrong
-Supernatural elements
- Dark naturalism, earthy, creepy woods

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

Plus #Horror that draws on similar folklore inspirations but with much darker themes and settings, like books by T. Kingfisher and C.J. Cooke.

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

And Folklore-inspired tales and retellings that feel whimsical and lush, dark and inviting, like The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo, Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse especially in Non-Western settings, Native communities, or Appalachia #Fantasy #MSWL

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

More fantasy #MSWL : Adventure and magic with a badass female lead like Shannon Chakraborty’s The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi or V.E. Schwab’s Fragile Threads of Power (or anything like V.E. Schwab's books, for that matter)

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

Fantasy/Speculative: I'm looking for magic & magical beings alongside mortals in charming places or unforgettable time periods, like Katherine Arden’s The Winter of the Witch, or VE Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (doesn't have to be witches—fae, djinn, gods are all good options) #MSWL

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

Also in Historical, I'm interested in seeing the clash of art/artists and war/politics play out on the page, similar to Fiona Davis’s The Chelsea Girls, Elyse Durham’s Maya & Natasha, or Nicole Galland’s Boy. Also, stolen art. Or how creatives reflected or reacted to tumultuous time periods. #MSWL

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

In Historical Fiction, I'd love to see a pair or group of unlikely female companions, like Kate Quinn’s The Briar Club or Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s The American Daughters, preferably in a plot of intrigue, secrets, and spies. #MSWL

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

I'm prioritizing adult fiction. Taking a break from nonfiction submissions, because I've recently signed some amazing authors in nonfiction and need to focus on their projects first.

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

I'm participating in #MSWL Day! I've been working through my queries, and I'm almost ready to re-open. (Estimate: March 10) I'll be posting throughout today, and I'm so excited to see new subs in these areas: #fantasy #speculative #adventure #historical #mystery #suspense #horror

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

I'm open to submissions as of today: querymanager.com/query/1550

I'm looking for adult novels (historical, mystery/thriller, fantasy, bookclub fiction) and narrative NF. Please check my wishlist for more details. #mswl manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/alic…

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips
Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

My doctor just told me about the 12th century physicians of Salerno: the usual Greek/Latin men plus Jews, Muslims, and women! They pooled their knowledge and practiced science-based medicine. BUT then they disappeared. Gotta be a story there. #mswl #historicalfiction or #NF

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips
Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

The SFF book I just can't stop thinking/talking about: The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson. She is a masterful storyteller. Anything similar to this type Muslim fantasy is on my #mswl. #FridayReads goodreads.com/blog/show/1652…

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

I want to work on more science books, but now that I connect the mystery aspect to it, I'm nerding out on this even more. Pitch me all the books about studies! On the Fine (and Difficult) Art of Science Writing lithub.com/on-the-fine-an… via @lithub #mswl #nonfiction #science

Alice Speilburg
@alicespeilburg
Literary Agent
Literary Agent & Founder of Speilburg Literary Agency. Mother. Wife. Feminist. Ally. Kentuckian. She/her.
23 MSWL
14 Tips

I agree with @MrGrahamMoore. A Westinghouse biography would be just the ticket. #lastdaysofnight #mswl