Erin Clyburn

Adult nonfiction I’d love to see projects in the vein of: RADIUM GIRLS, CULTISH, HURTS SO GOOD, TACKY, TASTE MAKERS, THE BOOK OF EELS, HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD, FINDING THE MOTHER TREE

Adult nonfiction: Deeply researched narrative nonfiction, intersectional perspectives, pop science, cookbooks/culinary history/food books, nature/environment, deep dives into weird topics, & pop culture, specifically video games, music, & TV/film

Adult fiction favorites & comps I’d love to see: CATHERINE HOUSE, LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, LONG DIVISION, THE SCENT KEEPER, THE GIRL BEFORE, MEXICAN GOTHIC, WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING, THE ELEMENTALS, THE AGE OF MIRACLES, BABY TEETH, EVERY BONE A PRAYER

Adult fiction: Literary and upmarket projects, speculative fiction, horror, mystery, psychological thrillers, domestic thrillers, magical realism/fabulism, Southern gothic, rom-coms

Adult (& maybe YA?): Nature writing. I have been devouring nature books lately, especially those that blend science, culture, and spirituality, like ROOTED, BRAIDING SWEETGRASS, and FINDING THE MOTHER TREE.

A specific thing! MG, YA, or adult fiction by & about Cajuns. Would love to hear from the Acadian writers out there!

Adult & YA: Mysteries & thrillers that unfold in isolated settings - a bed & breakfast, ski lodge, cruise ship, cabin in the woods, boarding school, etc.

Adult: Narrative nonfiction/memoir about food, Southern culture, adventure, extreme sports, journeys, science/medicine, from perspectives we have not seen before/enough of & whose narratives tackle bigger-picture subjects alongside personal narratives.

Adult & YA: Lush literary fiction with a speculative twist or a healthy dose of fabulism/magic realism.

Adult: Horror of all stripes - psychological, body horror, folk horror, gothic, occult, hauntings, genre blends: horror/mystery, horror/thriller, etc. I gravitate more toward literary & upmarket writing than commercial.

YA: Same as above, basically!

8. During quarantine I've played a lot of video games. I'd love some MG & YA fiction, or adult fiction & nonfiction about video games (Homages to games? Deep-dive histories? Esports stories?). I am a lifelong Zelda, Monkey Island, & Harvest Moon fanatic.

7. Funny contemporary YA—I know I tend toward dark stuff, but I also adore comedy, & I would love some super-voicy YA that makes me laugh out loud. Rom-coms included. Ditto adult for fresh & funny book club/contemporary fiction.

6. Domestic/psychological thrillers in YA & adult

4. YA & adult upmarket fiction with speculative elements—please, I want this coming out of my ears. Send me your weird stories that are grounded in our world. (Think: Catherine House, Nothing to See Here, Neverworld Wake, Black Mirror, Never Let Me Go)

3. Gothic & Southern gothic fiction in YA & adult (Does anyone have a Rebecca comp for me?)

2. Horror across the board: Spooky stories for MG, lyrical & atmospheric YA horror, adult horror that will surprise me—literary-leaning writing with propulsive plots. I am open to & love nearly all kinds of horror.

1. Food-centric fic & nonfic. I would love to see narrative nonfic deep dives into culinary history & people whose stories haven't been told. Essay collections about food intersecting with culture, politics, social justice. & in fic, MG, YA, & adult fic where food plays a role.

I'd love to see in my queries:

- Atmospheric, woodsy, lush horror like THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING (YA, A)
- Domestic/psychological thrillers by BIPOC authors (A)
- Scavenger hunts (MG, YA, A)
- Eerie spec fic in isolated settings (CATHERINE HOUSE, THE WATER CURE)

#MSWL

In adult nonfiction, I'm still looking for untold histories, memoirs with a big hook especially if they are extreme sports or adventure stories, pop science,  cookbooks, & culinary histories. Again, send me your weirds.

Could you describe it as something like "upmarket fiction with a twist of weird"? That's my jam. Think NOTHING TO SEE HERE, CATHERINE HOUSE, THE AGE OF MIRACLES, THE RIVERMAN, THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER. Send me your weirds, please - MG, YA, adult!