*NEW: I've learned that I almost always prefer picture books with human protagonists. If I did take on a picture book with an all-animal cast, it'd be heavily SEL-driven (POCKET FULL OF SADS by Brad Davidson and Rachel Más Davidson).
Picture books: I always knew this would be the smallest area of my list, as I work on so many wonderful PBs with my boss @ChristaHeschke , but I've become even more selective with them.
Anthology pitches: The industry is still not always full-steam-ahead on them, so my consideration may be a bit narrower than novels, but I’m interested, for both fiction and nonfiction. (THIS IS OUR RAINBOW and BEING ACE are favorites!)
I'd love to see ghost stories! I may be a bit more selective here, as I'm lucky to have a gorgeous ghost story on my list (hi again, @k_dishmon !!), but feel free to try me.
Note that I’m not a fit for other paranormal characters ( werewolves, vampires, zombies, faeries, etc.).
I also like murder mysteries, especially with dual timelines (WHERE SECRETS LIE by Eva V. Gibson), but ntoe that I don't tend to love plots with heavy police involvement.
Thriller/mystery/suspense: More open here! Though note that I tend to like more focus on character/relationship than is most typical for these genres--not necessarily as plot-driven as is typical--and very literary writing (I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU by Kara A. Kennedy).
Historical: I prefer stories stories set in lesser-told times in history that feature underrepresented perspectives and have a human-interest element alongside the education (HER REBEL HIGHNESS by Diana Ma).
Historical and dystopian: I'm open to works set up to 100 years in the past or the future. I also learned in my first year that I don't tend to connect with projects set farther away in time.
YA and MG contemporary fantasy: My second love! I’m interested in the same topics, and will look foremost for lyrical writing and character focus, with unique but very grounded magic systems. Comp: THE NATURE OF WITCHES by Rachel Griffin.
Comps: TOGETHER WE CAUGHT FIRE; THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE duology; FANS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE LIFE, THE UNBEATABLE LILY HONG, BREATHE AND COUNT BACK FROM TEN, ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS; WHEN YOU WERE EVERYTHING; ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD; THE BEST LIARS IN RIVERVIEW; GOOD DIFFERENT
I also love stories featuring relationships—the good, the bad, and everything in between: friendship and found family, “friend break-up”, complicated family dynamics. And I adore romance (especially LGBTQIA+!), but prefer it as a subplot.
YA and upper MG contemporary continue to be my first priority! Lyrical prose, novels-in-verse, “dark and gritty,” “issue-driven,” character-driven, voice-y. I want to feature LGBTQIA+ voices, BIPOC voices, disability and chronic illness, mental health and neurodivergence, grief.
In my first year, I took on two extraordinary clients (@k_dishmon and Nicole Zelniker, who are unequivocally the best) for their beautiful YA novels. I'm still actively seeking YA, as well as upper MG, and am sparingly open to picture books.
BIG NEWS 🚨 I'm now using QueryManager!! Please send me your stories using the link below😁If you previously used our submissions email, you do not have to resubmit!!