Erin Clyburn

Literary Agent

Howland Literary

Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Hi #amquerying writers, a lil update: I've been closed to queries for a long time while I focused on client work, but my workload is nearly under control, so I'm starting to think of reopening. Let's tentatively say March 1, & I'll update again soon. TY! #writingcommunity

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips
Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Olympic-related #MSWL: A reminder that that I'd love more narrative nonfic/memoir by athletes or about extreme sports. I'm obsessed with stories about what the human body is capable of. I recently watched the doc It's Easy Until It's Not—I'd love stories about events like this!

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I’ve been in a bit of a reading funk for a while, but I just devoured half of @dakadh’s HIDE AND SEEKER, & y’all! This is what I mean when I say I want scary MG! It is not gently spooky; it is visceral! It’s scary! It’s the book my morbid childhood self would’ve loved! #MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife

I want New England fall vibes and Halloween cozy #MSWL

I am pining for Halloween vibes big time—that old autumn yearning set in early this year—so ditto this. #MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Thought of another one for the #MSWL: I'm always looking for memoir/narrative nonfic about extreme sports, athletes, & adventure (think ALONE ON THE WALL, BORN TO RUN). Brought to you by me going nuts over the Olympic trials (Sha'Carri Richardson!!!).

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I think that's it for now, but as always check my website or agency page for a full #MSWL & I'll add onto this if I think of anything—If you have any questions, feel free to drop them here. I look forward to having the opportunity to consider your queries soon.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

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.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

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.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

6. Domestic/psychological thrillers in YA & adult

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

5. Still looking for my MG scavenger hunt/puzzle mystery—Greenglass House, The Parker Inheritance, The Westing Game, Winterhouse comps

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

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)

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

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

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

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.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Erin Clyburn @erin_clyburn

I am down to zero queries & three subs in my query box. (I hope to hit inbox zero by July 1, but time will tell.) Either way, I'm looking forward to opening to queries July 1! Here's a little #MSWL for when I reopen:

#amquerying #writingcommunity #amagenting

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.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

Aaron A. Reed 🤖🖋️🎲🏳️‍🌈 @aaronareed

In 1985, a mysterious group of women calling themselves the "Games Mistresses" released the first of a series of text adventure games. The story behind their creation is the wildest one you'll read today. #50YearsOfTextGames
if50.substack.com/p/1992-silverw… pic.twitter.com/IGx3z5GQ3g

If someone takes the bones of this—cultish women's group holes up in historic house & creates text-based adventure games (minus the hints of far-right extremism)—& write a novel, please dear god send it to me. "There are many Miss Martindales..."—Are you kidding?! #MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

This wasn’t a huge surprise to me because of how much I love @AaronStarmer’s books, but oh my god, I LOVED Spontaneous. Get thee to Hulu & watch it. What a wild & perfect depiction of anxiety & existentialism & first love & maybe a healthy dose of nihilism. Also #MSWL forever.

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

I finished line editing a client’s gorgeous MS that’s a family saga with a speculative twist, & I feel like I know generations of a whole town’s worth of people so intimately. Please send me more family sagas with speculative twists. I would so love more books like this. #MSWL

Erin Clyburn
@erin_clyburn
Literary Agent
Literary Agent @HowlandLit // Copy Editor @foodandwine // Southerner // hiking & horror movies // she/her
170 MSWL
6 AskAgent
20 Tips

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