Liesa Abrams

But speaking of those select YA titles,
emilyshapiro24.bsky.social my colleague in Labyrinth Road also acquires both MG and YA for our list and is definitely excited to find a great YA for us. 😉

Either way just to remind everyone that my #mswl (and the Labyrinth Road list overall) includes YA but really focuses on MG series that blend internal and external, epic stakes and feature Big Feelings & soapy relationships of friendships, family, and yes crushes!

I’m curious to hear from others about MG submissions. Labyrinth Road focuses on MG, with select YA titles. Lately most submissions I get have been YA. Are people feeling afraid to write or sub MG because of all the market challenges? I believe there will always be space for great MG novels & series!

Coincidentally, these topics also represent my #mswl, ha!

My #mswl remains especially focused on epic, character-driven MG series w/ big stakes both personal and external; I’m still looking for more intersectional identity representation, particularly across race & ethnicity & sexuality & gender. Keep those submissions coming!

An agent just told me “your reputation for taking editorial risks is legendary” and this really makes me so damn proud. YES BRING ME YOUR RISKS, please!! #MSWL

Some additional more specific elements that often call to me within these below frameworks are Jewish representation, and themes of absent father/daughter angst or difficult mother/daughter dynamics. #mswl

I remain committed to my platform of sex positivity in YA, de-stigmatization of desire & sex, & inclusive (& intersectional!) representation for diverse sexual & gender identities.

On the YA side, whether fantastical or realistic, I gravitate toward books w/ high concept hooks and stories anchored in themes of identity, sexuality, & loss & grief. (Grief & sex can be complex labyrinths to navigate, as we know...).

Graphic & hybrid novels & series are welcome too! Some examples there from my past titles would be DORK DIARIES and THE OKAY WITCH. Quintessential MG stories about finding your way through the labyrinth of family, school, & friendship twists and turns.

First & foremost—epic, accessible, *character-driven* MG fantasy & adventure series! I’m excited to build series that could sit well alongside my previous projects like KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, STORY THIEVES, THE UNWANTEDS, FABLEHAVEN.

So I've mentioned to a few people how lately instead of looking for escapism I gravitate more than ever toward books about loss & grief & suffering, in my need to feel less alone with the emotions. In thinking what this means for my worklife and my #mswl --

In realizing that my last movie was “Pain and Glory” & I just ordered the book “Pain,” it occurs to me I sure have a brand. My #mswl is easy for agents to target via Mad Libs style mashup titles of language for sex, sadness, grief, or anguish!

What’s on my #MSWL? More of THIS. More books that make me feel how I do about publishing this book, out today in paperback. Close friends of mine not in publishing called me after reading it to say “Liesa I need to talk to you about this book.” Because we are stronger together.

On my mind this week for #mswl --stories about relationships that exist outside regular "categories." Not easy to define but life-changing.

A #MSWL for me and @jennybent -- a book for TWEENS (not teens) on how to process society's messaging about women & sex.

My new shorthand for #mswl between my middle grade fantasy taste and my realistic YA taste: "Dragons & sex." Not at the same time, though.