Beth Phelan
Literary Agent
Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency
she/her. mg & ya literary agent @galltzackerlit . founder 501c3 NPO @_DiverseVoices (#DVpit/#DVart, DVcon &more). closed to unsolicited submissions.
- #mswl (128)
- #querytip (24)
- #pubtip (3)
- #askagent (25)
- #askTBA (17)
- #askDVpit (30)
- #asklitAOC (12)
- #askGZLA (41)
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Literary Agent
It’s 2022! A reminder that I’m open to queries and looking for all sorts of MG and YA, contemporary and fantasy. I have high hopes of finding some great new clients this year. And I finally updated my page here: manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/beth… #mswl
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Literary Agent
beth phelan @beth_phelan
I’ve been getting thru my requested submissions and looking for more!#mswl:
YA grounded thrillers, high concept contemporary with a speculative twist
MG non-portal fantasy, speculative twists, intergenerational stories
Everything with and by marginalized people please!
Hungry for submissions! Also really looking to be swept off my feet with a great voicey fantasy (non-royal, preferably). #mswl
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Literary Agent
I’ve been getting thru my requested submissions and looking for more!
#mswl:
YA grounded thrillers, high concept contemporary with a speculative twist
MG non-portal fantasy, speculative twists, intergenerational stories
Everything with and by marginalized people please!
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1529293091089403904/jxNkaHx6_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
2. Older YA, especially if you have a story about a teen who elects not to go to college
3. Hopeful, funny, romantic
4. Emotionally-fraught, grounded thrillers and mysteries
5. Paranormal!!
6. Experimental, inventive storytelling
#mswl cont ⬇️
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Literary Agent
In YA, i still love most genres and everything from light to dark. I love hope and depth and humor and stories that can change lives, whether from joy or empathy and validation. More specifically:
1. Super high concept contemporary and speculative contemporary
#mswl cont ⬇️
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Literary Agent
7. Queer and trans/nonbinary characters in fun settings, especially trans femme characters.
8. Something just right for that tricky space between MG and YA
#mswl cont ⬇️
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Literary Agent
2. Commercial fantasy adventure series, ensemble casts with or without a talking creature or two
3. Monsters!
4. Contemporary family stories
5. LOL high concept, character-strong stories
6. Hooky, character-driven contemporary series
#mswl cont ⬇️
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1529293091089403904/jxNkaHx6_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
More specifically in MG, i love a great, accessible voice and humor across the spectrum, but also more serious literary stories. MORE specifically:
1. Madcap adventures in any genre
#mswl cont ⬇️
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Literary Agent
beth phelan @beth_phelan
It’s my last weekend to get caught up before i open to queries on April 12!I’ve responded to almost all outstanding queries (email me if you’re still waiting--i missed it) but still catching up on requested fulls (please keep being patient)!
#mswl ⬇️⬇️⬇️
First thing to note is that I only represent MG and YA. I love every genre from light contemporary to high fantasy and everything in between. I don’t represent artists or graphic novelists and don’t typically represent verse.
#mswl ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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Literary Agent
i am still closed and catching up on lots of reading, but.... if you have a YA or MG with monsters rooted in underrepresented mythologies/cultures/folklore/history (#ownvoices only please)... well, i'd like to see that. can be fantasy or contemporary! #mswl
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Literary Agent
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1529293091089403904/jxNkaHx6_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
when i updated my website, i also updated my wishlist! please bookmark this for the new year, when i finally, at long last, reopen to queries! #mswl #amquerying #querytip
bethphelan.com/submission-wis…
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Literary Agent
Catching up on subs and i notice i have excellent YA here, but not much MG! #mswl WHEN I REOPEN: I really want to work on more MG! Commercial or literary—give me your big series hooks, magic, light and fun contemporary, hopeful stories touching on tough topics, queer characters!!
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Literary Agent
Shenwei (they/them) 張軒瑋 @theshenners
the discussion about the lack of upper MG & lower YA has me thinking about how little I see experiences like my middle school days in fiction...when I was13-14 most ppl were not sexually active but ppl were absolutely making sex jokes and I feel like MG mostly sanitizes that
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Literary Agent
I would also like to see some heart-achey MG contemporary that doesn’t shy away from big issues. Socially and politically engaged, with humor and joy and hope but also courage and realness and empathy. #MSWL
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Literary Agent
Also for YA contemporary realistic: high-concept, epic romances—especially anything with extras like compressed timelines and other ambitious narrative risks. Experiment, innovate! Been on my #MSWL forever. Inclusive and intersectional most of all.
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Literary Agent
I love my YA contemporary list and still WANT MORE! Something a little offbeat, surreal, defffffinitely funny. Maybe surrounding a small thing/event that gets blown out of proportion/snowballs... Peculiar communities, histories... Maybe urban legends?? #MSWL
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Literary Agent
Open to queries! High on my #MSWL: millennial upmarket fic, literary mystery, dark/scary YA F & voicey contemp. Marginalized voices, always.
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Literary Agent
Didn't have a chance to post any #MSWL yesterday but maybe later today I will. Meantime, there's some right here: bethphelan.com/wishlist
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1529293091089403904/jxNkaHx6_bigger.jpg)