Michelle Witte

I would love to find more cozy fantasy for YA/MG, and just cozy books in general. When the world is a dumpster fire, sometimes we just need a little escape where there are still stakes and things to do, but in a way that doesn't cause massive anxiety. #MSWL

#MSWL I'd love to see wuxia or xianxia stories from Asian writers or the diaspora, either in YA/MG. I find stories from Asian history and folklore fascinating and want to see more from authors from those cultures. But I'm not interested if it's from a cultural appropriation self-insert perspective.

This will forever be a #MSWL for YA/MG: kids/teens leading rebellions and speaking truth to power. Especially right now, when so many of them *are* leading the rebellions against those who want to oppress us.

I often crave dark, spooky, creepy stories in YA/MG, especially during fall and winter—those darker times of year. There’s something about it that especially makes me want to curl up with a good ghost story. #MSWL

Since my slush pile will be reopening June 1, here's an updated #MSWL for holes in my current list:
–Board book author-illustrators
–Early reader and chapter book authors or author-illustrators
–Graphic novel author-illustrators (any age in kidlit)
–Creepy, gothic, southern gothic MG or YA

Maybe it’s because there’s so much doom and gloom in the world right now, but I’d love to see YA in my inbox with more humor. I want more cozy fantasies with light-heartedness, sass, or even snark, not constant death and destruction. #MSWL

Oh, and I should note I’ll be re-opening to queries on March 1, so please do keep me in mind as you prepare your query lists for pb, mg, ya, and everything in between (as long as it’s for children). Once I reopen, my query guidelines will be live at QueryTracker.net/query/michel... #MSWL

#MSWL I only represent children’s books, but I work with everything from board books through YA, both fiction and nonfiction. In board and picture books I prefer seeing submissions from author-illustrators.

Please, I beg of you, once I reopen to queries in like a month, send me every children's manuscript (PB through YA) that someone told you was too strange to let out into the daylight. I must discover the next Roald Dahl or Edward Gorey. #MSWL

Oh, and I have a soft spot for Southern Gothic. Especially from/about POC. And I don’t mean just tossing a side character who practices hoodoo/voodoo into a mostly white story. *side eyes Hollywood* #MSWL YA/MG

Dark fantasy or magical realism à la Pan’s Labryinth is another love of mine. I’ve been reading the novelization by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, and it has that creepy, ethereal feel of magical realism and folklore mixed with a dash of horror. #MSWL Again YA/MG ONLY.

But not just ghost stories, but anything dark and creepy. I just watched We Have Always Lived in the Castle (which is fantastic, btw), so creepy/gothic with an unreliable narrator is a plus. #MSWL YA/MG only.

Oh, and I should mention that a MG or YA retelling of this (or similar type of story) is most definitely #MSWL.

This will forever be a #MSWL for YA/MG: kids/teens leading rebellions and speaking truth to power.

Total #MSWL for YA.

After going through the fantastic #DVpit pitches this week, there's one particular #MSWL that I didn't see but am dying to find. I'm a bit obsessed with Wuxia—Chinese historical tv shows—right now, especially Legend of Fuyao. I would lovelovelove to find a YA fantasy like that.

My kingdom for a YA of this. #MSWL

I would die for a YA/MG along these lines. #MSWL Real magic or just imagined, doesn't matter. I especially like stories that focus on girl friendships/sisterhood.

With all of the attention and love that teen rom-coms are getting right now, I'm wondering if we'll start seeing a resurgence of light, fun romances in YA. I AM HERE FOR THIS. #MSWL

Now to get publishers interested in acquiring them...

I would kill for a YA like this. #MSWL (Heh heh. #badpuns)