James McGowan

I'd love to find two types of #middlegrade fiction: books ala Jason Reynolds and Margaret Finnegan's upcoming WE COULD BE HEROES. #mg
and books that make me laugh out loud, like Aaron Blabey, and fan favorites Wimpy Kid, Dog Man. #MSWL

Here’s my top 4 novels of the year so far to constitute the #MSWL of my dreams, folks.

(Partially cheating because LONG BRIGHT RIVER is a 2020 pub) instagram.com/p/B2Wxhv2n3Mf/…

#WRITETIP / #MSWL—

Ilove a good 2nd person/interactive picture book and Jory John’s I WILL CHOMP YOU is one of my favorites. Buford is a little mad he got no cake, though.

My best tip for writing these: have a very… instagram.com/p/B19EaQWHPvR/…

This book is 🤯. Major #MSWL, folks instagram.com/p/B1jaKU-AWku/…

I watched #Oceans8 the other day and now I want a heist book. Who doesn’t want a heist book? #MSWL

I don't think I've stressed how much I enjoyed Daisy Jones & The Six, though. Seriously loved it. Send me something similar! #MSWL

Lastly, I'm always looking for picture books. Of the funny and whimsical variety. #MSWL

And #YA #Thrillers. Nuff said. But I do like things that have an online component to them. Has anyone seen Searching? A YA version of that would be incredible. #MSWL

I'm also looking for #YA! At this point, I'm leaning more towards Contemporary YA (think funny like The Field Guide to the American Teenager, or books dealing with important topics like On the Come Up or Heroine). #MSWL

I remember reading Let the Great World Spin two years ago and being amazed by it. I love fiction that follows a cast of characters through their respective stories like that. Or the way The Immortalists does it. #MSWL Bonus points for something "near-historical" like that.

Some things I'd love to see in these genres. Family Saga, Small Towns, Missing Persons, Cold Case, Something dealing with Alzheimers/dementia, Anything Irish related or set in Ireland. #MSWL

I'm also actively on the look out for #upmarket fiction along the lines of Daisy Jones & The Six and/or Where the Crawdads Sing. Something with really great writing and characters that grab you instantly. #MSWL

I'm admittedly savoring the Tana French books I still haven't read. I'm currently reading Broken Harbor, and would love some twisty #mystery books with hard to read characters. Can be set anywhere, but I'd love a setting I've not seen before (preferably in the US). #MSWL

I also would love a good missing kid story. (I know I sound crazy, but that’s publishing for ya.) Anyway, think The Child Finder #MSWL

I love “near” historical fiction (for lack of a better term). Books set in the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s. #MSWL

My turn for #MSWL Madness over on the @bookendslit blog today. Here’s a cheat sheet, but you can find the rest here: bookendsliterary.com/2019/03/19/jam…

.@BookEndsJessica and I have been super interested in this "sharenting" craze. We think it would make for so many good books. #MSWL fastcompany.com/90315706/kids-…

There have been a ton of picture books in my inbox lately and I am loving it. #MSWL

Still think there’s a picture book in this. And if I missed it, please direct me to where I can purchase a copy #MSWL

Since I'm caught up on queries and subs to Jan 11th, I will take this time to say that for 2019, I'm on a major hunt for some diverse YA (in any genre). It's my #1 goal this year to find some books like those by Samira Ahmed & Jason Reynolds, or Neal Shusterman & Marie Lu #MSWL