Susan Hawk
Literary Agent
Upstart Crow Literary
Children's and YA Book Agent at Upstart Crow Literary. Excited to read your query!

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
Take heart! In the end, I (and I think many other agents), am less concerned about genre etc than I am with what I feel when I read your book.So, here’s my uber-MSWL, the one that applies in every case: if your book makes readers FEEL, I want to read it. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
Agents and editors are frequently asked about the books they’re looking for. We slice this myriad ways – by category/age, by genre, literary, commercial, etc. But at the heart of it, there’s just one answer (at least for me, and I suspect for many of us):I want a book that makes me FEEL SOMETHING – and that quality underlies any other descriptor you can find. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Last year, I made a plan to tweet monthly about what I’m looking for. Life got in the way shortly after that, and then I was closed to queries for awhile. Happily, I’m now open again and bringing my mid-month wishlist post back to life! (thread) #MSWL

Literary Agent
Overall, I want gorgeously written, emotional, surprising stories that resonate deeply with the reader. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Immersive historical fiction, particularly in non-Western settings; I’m very interested in the post-WW II period. #MSWL

Literary Agent
I love YA fantasy, and want to see worlds and characters that are fresh. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Books for kids and teens that capture the current spirit of resistance, fiction or non-fiction. #MSWL

Literary Agent
I'm actively looking for Author-Illustrators, and love work that's witty and warm-hearted. Some of my fav illustrators are Sophie Blackall, Zachariah O'Hora, Frann Preston-Grann, Emily Hughes and George Marshall. #MSWL

Literary Agent
I'm looking for fresh chapter books with a diverse protagonist and possibly some magical realism. #MSWL

Literary Agent
If your YA project can be compared to one of these recent movie/tv shows, I want it: Get Out, Broad City, GLOW, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. #MSWL

Literary Agent
I love historical mysteries - think The Woman in White or The Alienist – if you’re writing something like that for YA, I want to see it! #MSWL

Literary Agent
Here are more #MSWL items! I'd love to see some contemporary, literary YA that’s unabashedly romantic – make me swoon!

Literary Agent
Last week I tweeted a couple things I'm looking for. A refresher: a dark, creepy Fantasy for older MG readers – I love Joan Aiken, Franny Billingsley, Holly Black, Francis Hardinge, Laini Taylor. If you’re writing like this, I want to read! #MSWL

Literary Agent
As I said yesterday, I'm opening to queries next Mon & tweeting my wishlist this week. First up: a dark, creepy Fantasy for older MG readers – I love Joan Aiken, Franny Billingsley, Holly Black, Francis Hardinge, Laini Taylor. If you’re writing like this, I want to read! #MSWL

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
PB, MG or YA books that make a difference in a child or teen’s life; that make you stop and SEE the world. #MSWLA heart-stoppingly romantic YA novel. A book that breaks your heart and makes you feel all the possibility of first, deep love. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
Writing that is clean and true, elegant and emotional. YA, MG and PBs that are bound to be the new classics. #MSWLPB, MG or YA books that make a difference in a child or teen’s life; that make you stop and SEE the world. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
I want to be surprised! Something that feels fresh, in YA, MG, and PB. #MSWLWriting that is clean and true, elegant and emotional. YA, MG and PBs that are bound to be the new classics. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
HUMOR. The thru-line in my client’s work is a witty, generous sense of humor. #MSWLI want to be surprised! Something that feels fresh, in YA, MG, and PB. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
I love a clever conceptual mash-up. Wizard of Oz meets Robin Hood? Bring it on! #MSWLHUMOR. The thru-line in my client’s work is a witty, generous sense of humor. #MSWL

Literary Agent
Susan Hawk @susanhawk
In terms of genre, my favorites (in no particular order) are: mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, hist-fic. I love a genre mash-up. #MSWLI love a clever conceptual mash-up. Wizard of Oz meets Robin Hood? Bring it on! #MSWL