#MSWL While chapter books are hard, the market needs more kids of color getting to have all the shenanigans and adventures white kids have been having for forever. I’d love to help non-white creatives break into that space and tell stories that resonate with their inner child.

#MSWL In general I’m gravitating toward stories with mysteries. Whether it’s a literal mystery investigation or a thriller or a fantasy with a big secret – give me that overarching thing tugging me through the pages. BUT make sure there isn’t just one big reveal at the end!

#MSWL I’d love to see more fantasies inspired by non-western mythologies and folklore! If it could be a good fit for the Rick Riordan Presents list I’d love to see it, but also looking for the weirder or more literary or less humorous stuff too!

#MSWL I am eternally looking for a MG or YA fantasy that comps to The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. The worldbuilding, the characters, the magic system, the stakes, the reveals of the various mysteries – chef’s kiss!

#MSWL Stories that comp to Iron Widow, The Firekeeper’s Daughter, The Last Cuentista, Furia, The Last True Poets of the Sea, Black Sun, or Ninth House (those last two are for reference only, I don’t rep adult lit!)

#MSWL While I’ll rep any genre, I am particularly drawn to fantasy, speculative, magical realism, and fabulism. I love stories that marry a fast paced plot with literary writing and strong emotions (who doesn’t, I know, sorry). A great mystery also always gets my attention.

2023 #MSWL 🧵! I represent picture books through YA (+illustrators!) and in all categories I am particularly looking to represent more non-white, queer, and disabled creatives. As a white, cishet, abled woman, I truly appreciate the trust you put in me by sharing your work.

🚨Querying Update🚨

Beginning in February, @erincaseywestin and @AgentZacker will be open to queries for the 1st - 7th of each month!

✨Submission Guidelines and #MSWL✨
➡️For Erin, visit erincaseywestin.com

➡️For Marietta, visit galltzacker.com

NOT looking for:

-Gross-out/bathroom humor

-Issue-driven contemporary – I want dark topics in horror and speculative, but I’m not looking for it in contemporary right now.

-Rhyming PBs

-Early readers or chapter books

More specifics:

-Witches!

-Magical libraries

-Secrets and lies—and the aftermath when the truth comes out!

-Ensemble cast comedies like OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH (but not pirates)

-Stories that mix magic & mystery (HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE)

-Family bonds, especially sisters

Specifics I'd love to see:

-Light, humorous fantasy without end-of-the-world stakes

-Enemies-to-lovers

-Stories with band geeks, artists-any kind front and center

-Friend break-ups

-A platonic male/female friendship that is the core of the story and is never romantic

PB – I’m not really looking much for NF bios these days, as the market is so saturated, unless it somehow ties into present times (I am only looking for bios on women and/or underrepresented and diverse subjects). Author-illustrators always!

PB – I’m interested in holidays stories that feel unique from what’s already out there. I’m partial to Halloween, and books with a seasonal hook interest me.

PB – Stories with environmental tie-ins (I’m especially drawn to stories about protecting oceans and the animals that live there). I also am a fan of unlikely friendship stories, especially with two very different animals—I really enjoy the ones that are true stories especially!

Picture books – I have a full picture book list, so I'll be looking very selectively. I like humor, character-driven stories, inclusive stories, diverse representation, fiction with a fun educational aspect (i.e. A PLACE FOR PLUTO).

Sci-fi – I’m not looking for hard sci-fi. I'd really like a sci-fi-horror like ALIEN (but not too much gore!! I can handle some though), and always open to space operas! No intergalactic wars.

I’ve always liked the MADMEN’S DAUGHTER series too. Sparingly open to thrillers if they feel fresh, like Karen McManus’s work.

Mystery/suspense – I really like creepy, gothic suspense like A FORGERY OF ROSES. And GALLANT—it feels like gothic, fantasy, & horror all in one! Anything that comps to CRIMSON PEAK is always on my list—creepy manor, period piece, lots of secrets, ghosts, some romance!

I love monsters of any kind in MG, and I’m interested in ghosts! For MG contemporary, I’m interested in all types of coming-of- age with authentic dialogue and lots of humor (always love Chad Lucas’s MG dialogue!).

Middle grade – In addition to my constant favorites, fantasy & horror, I definitely have a soft spot for all things creepy & mystery! I'm a constant fan of THE GREENGLASS HOUSE, THE CLACKITY, NIGHTBOOKS, & I was a huge SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK fan as a kid.