Speaking of tropes, here are some of other favorites (in no particular order...):

- second chance romance
- only one bed :')
- friends to lovers (this is so underrated)
- office romance (I LOVE corporate settings...I'll blame my day job)
- childhood besties to lovers

Give me all the found family! This is one of my favorite tropes.

Romance novels with a fantasy element -- give me witches in every day life, I'd also consider vampires and werewolves (as long as the romance is center stage! This is the most important part)

I'd LOVE to see more romantic suspense. Give me lovers who risk their lives to protect each other from the threat (or worse...). Give me plot twists. I LOVE a good twist!

Please note, I am only looking for New Adult or Adult fiction at this time. This may be subject to change in the future, but as it stands, only those two age ranges.

2 days!!! I'm excited to open to queries!

Make sure to check out my #MSWL below, and feel free to ask any questions! Some additional things I'll be looking for while open:

I will be closed to picture books for now because I signed several fantastic authors and author-illustrators, plus I still have some pb in my requested submissions pile that I need to consider, so I won't be open to those for now. I'll let you know when that changes.
#MSWL

And, as always, anything that can be described as odd, weird, strange, off-the-wall, or similar for any age group, but particularly MG.
#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

My #mswl is evergreen, but I will follow up with some more specifics in the next few weeks.
rebeccamatte.com/manuscript-wish-list

What do I mean by marginalized background? BIPOC, indigenous, LGBTQ+, trans/nb, disabled, chronically ill, neurodiverse, religious minorities, immigrants.

If you're not sure if you qualify, you probably do.

This is not meant to limit, but to raise up voices of those with less access & opportunity.

2) I honestly and truly plan to open 1/month on a reliable schedule. I'm hoping to reduce pressure to submit during a narrow window by making it reliable.

For this particular time, I am only open to authors from marginalized backgrounds. *I will open again to everyone, even if the trial run fails*.

I am also making a few changes to my systems:

1) Initial query should include 1 chapter, or 10 pages. I will then ask for a partial (50 pages) and then a full. I'm hoping this will help me reduce review time to get back to you faster and open more often.

I will be on vacation from June 13-22, and so that makes sense to me as a trial run for this new method. I'll give as many reminders as I can in the meantime, and I will still only be open to Adult & YA, SFF & romance.

Important: Do not submit to me anything that contains generative AI material.

***I am reopening to queries***

Now that I am close to the bottom of my inbox, I will open to queries from June 13-June 22.

This seems random, but there is logic. I want to open more than once a year, & I want to do so sustainably, without absurdly long response times. So I am aiming for 1/month.

"Intense, twisty upmarket novels set in competitive, high-stakes, subcultures in the vein of GIRLS AND THEIR HORSES and THE BALLERINAS."
CeCe Lyra #MSWL

THANKS FOR READING
For a more comprehensive list of what will drive my list, you can visit manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/ashlee-maccallum/, complete with specific requests and an anti-wishlist. If you think we'll be a good fit, send me a query at: QueryTracker.net/query/queryash/queryashlee ✨

I'd also like grounded fantasy or magical realism, sci fi, dystopian, paranormal, and select romance. Additionally, I'm seeking contemporary, coming-of-age stories with characters from low-income families and historical fiction featuring historically underrepresented identities.

YOUNG ADULT #YA
Vibrant and bold young adult novels with exceptional pacing and a distinct voice. My priorities in this space are horror (bonus points if rooted in folk lore) and mystery/thriller stories with a BIPOC main character.

My middle grade taste has a wide range, but the thing that is most important to me across all MG genres is an authentic, relatable voice that is age-appropriate.