Molly O'Neill

I’m a bit late to the conversation but: THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT, y’all! I’m as obsessed with it as my 16-year-old self once was with the musical, Chess. This kind of elegant, cerebral-to-the-point-of-the-almost-fantastical, setting-rich, character-driven storytelling is my fave. #MSWL

But, uh, #MSWL

Me three! “Love story of a friendship” is my forever favorite & perpetually on my #mswl (which I guess has worked out well for all of us?)

#MSWL MG, YA, or graphic novels with this mood / setting / ambience / evocative sense of the fantastical waiting-to-happen as a jumping-off point.

#MSWL

1000% seeking MG (& YA & GN) w/ similarly strong, memorable Latinx leads (genius is not a specifically-required trait, but they *do* need to have agency, fresh/compelling story arcs, & be buoyed by masterful writing from creators who share the main character’s identity). #MSWL

#MSWL

Extremely same! #MSWL

I’m admittedly a gringa, but I grew up in Houston, TX with Latinx influences woven thru every part of life. I’d love to see the work of more Latinx creators—across all kids/YA categories & niches—in my inbox, b/c I want readers to be able to find more of it on bookshelves. #MSWL

Selling graphic novels for kids/teens is giving me great JOY lately (lots of 'em I haven't even been able to tell y'all about yet, Twitter, b/c Publishing Is Slow). If you're a cartoonist/graphic novelist making deeply true or wildly creative or just plain FUN work, gimme! #MSWL

I love middle grades that highlight the power of human-animal connections. (Think THE ONE & ONLY IVAN or—my own client’s—SONG FOR A WHALE.) Bonus points if readers come away knowing cool animal facts & having a greater sense of our collective humanity! #MSWL

Heartfelt &/or humorous middle grade that is rich & textured in its characterizations, stylistic choices, language, & telling. Give me subplots & side characters & settings that all work to make a story feel sophisticated & fully-realized & ALIVE. #MSWL #MG

Proud to bursting for our hat trick of THREE clients who are NYT MG bestsellers this week: congrats to @jencerv & @veschwab & @AlanGratz & especially to powerhouse agent @hroot! P.S. Authors, send us your middle grade manuscripts; we know what to do with them, yo! #MSWL

This is appalling & I suspect the showing in kids/YA/MG books would be equally dismal if calculated. Our young readers deserve more + better. Latinx writers, illustrators, & cartoonists creating work for young readers: my inbox is (perpetually) very open to you. #MSWL

#MSWL (especially as a graphic novel, I think?)

I don’t often rep women’s fiction/romance; I mostly just applaud while my agency-mates @tayhaggerty & @hroot + their rad clients dominate the whole category, but this is a story I’d happily break all my rules for. #MSWL #wantwantwant

Here’s another tale like this for inspiration: #MSWL
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2…

I LOVE hidden in plain sight discoveries like this. #MSWL a story with a jumping-off point like this, s’il vous plait, but turn it into middle grade & perhaps add some ✨magic✨!

Things I’d love to find in my submissions folder in 2019: a (YA, I think?) graphic novel-style biography of Selena by a Latinx author or author-illustrator. #MSWL ew.com/tv/2018/12/11/…

#MSWL for a picture book or MG biography from an #ownvoices author or author-illustrator!! (If this creator is also a librarian that would be 💯!)