I'm drawn to books that are psychological, whether that means a psychological thriller, a novel with a really strong character, or a narrative nonfiction psychology book. #MSWL

#MSWL
If you think we could be a match—Query Me!
My link is in my pinned post.
You don’t need my permission to query me, so no need to pitch me your project in my mentions ❤️
Don’t self reject!
Take your shot!

5/ ROMANCE: The right balance of emotion/comedy. Friends or enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, second chances. Atmospheric settings. Lovable side characters and a fresh take on archetypal love stories. Open to speculative/paranormal romance with a touch of magic. No toxic romance tropes.

My cookbook #MSWL :

Good food photography is a must. I want practical recipes that can be done well by an average home cook, but looks *almost* to beautiful to eat. Hyper-specific/ingredient-focused cookbooks will also get my attention

Mostly, I'm looking for upmarket and literary fiction in a lot of categories, including mysteries, speculative, historical and horror. If you blend some of these genres together--amazing! I also like upmarket and literary fiction that doesn't fall into a genre category. #MSWL

More and more, I'd love to find projects you could describe as a "romp" 😄 Bring on the adventurous plots and the fun! #MSWL

4/ HISTORICAL: underrepresented identities & unconventional heroines. Dual timelines, family secrets, lost histories. The setting should feel immersive. I'd love to see a nomadic set of characters—travel by train/ship/on foot. I'd love a Harlem Renaissance novel, or the next "Lessons in Chemistry."

My non-fiction #MSWL includes:
- Niche history
- Pop Culture
- Sports (esp. football or soccer related)

This year, I would especially love to find a grounded fantasy that comps to EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES, which has been my favorite series of the past couple years.

Hooky grounded magic, delectable characters and a romance to die for, cozy vibes that escalate into high stakes! #MSWL

Hellllloooo #MSWL Day! You can check out my MSWL profile here:
www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/annie-bomke/

Here goes an adult fiction #MSWL :
- Book Club/Upmarket fiction with elevated prose
- Literary Fiction with a commercial hook

Bonus Points:
- Smart social commentary
- Humor
- Elements of genre fiction
- Southern US or Italian settings

I'm very open to seeing a wide range of projects within the categories I'm seeking, but I'm going to have a bit of fun today posting some specifics that I'd especially love to find in my inbox!

3/ THRILLERS: transportive and escapist, with psychological depth. Vacations/retreats gone wrong, atmospheric settings (Southern, coastal, rural), carefully plotted misdirections. Think "The Guest List," "The White Lotus," "The Plot." High-quality writing at the line level is a must.

You can find out more about me, my clients, and what I'm looking for at my website. I'm also active on Instagram!
michaelawhatnall.com

I have not been the best at being active over here so far, but I'm using #MSWL Day to remedy that!

I'm a literary agent at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret representing picture books, middle grade, YA, and adult fiction, and select nonfiction and graphic novels.
www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/michaela-whatnall/

Picture Book Author/Illustrators who create distinctive, memorable characters and worlds. Story forward, funny, read aloud on repeat. Please don’t sub if you are not an illustrator as well as a writer. Post link in profile #MSWL #KidLit

2/ MYSTERY: clever puzzles, tight timeframes, and compelling characters. Hobby-based mysteries (ballet, RPGs, filmmaking, gardening/botany, climbing/hiking). Settings I'd love to see include: college campuses, elite art/music/dance world, isolated retreats, off-season beach towns, sprawling estates

- Commercial romance (I prefer it have a more upmarket feel like Jenny Han than a swoony Danielle Steel style)
- Adult titles...unless you write #kidlit too!

I guess that's good enough for #mswl day. Feel free to ask questions. I'll do my best to respond to everyone in a timely manner.

- Forced proximity romance, love triangles, open relationships, and unconventional couplings

My anti-mswl? I'm not a great fit for:
- Paranormal stories
- Mean girls (unless tackled in a way that acknowledges the internalized misogyny involved)
- Hisfic or epic/hard sff (unless in GN or NIV form)

- Queer rep that isn't about coming out (though maybe that's part of the plot), and esp stories where queer characters are questioning or quietly queer.
- Friendship break-ups
- Platonic friendships where peer pressure or social expectations complicate things
- Settings as characters