Melissa

#mswl

Ultimately, for my list, I like to think of it as a balance between dark and twisty, and warm and cozy.

If the vibes are dark academia, witchy, creepy forests, poisonous plants, cottagecore, or anything gothic (whether it’s horror or historical!) it’s right up my alley.

I also want to see cozier romantasy, where magic is woven into smaller aspects. Think kitchen and garden witches that brew intention into their hobbies.

I would love to do more romantasy. Stories that are steeped in folklore and mythology.

I’d like to see magical academies (think THE MAGICIANS or FOURTH WING), lush world building, and romance with high stakes.

Books that would be for fans of Tamora Pierce are perfect for me.

For speculative fiction and magical realism, I love stories that deal with time in an interesting way (OONA OUT OF ORDER) but I also love Isabel Allende’s stories.

For bookclub, I’m always looking for the dark side of suburbia. Think BIG LITTLE LIES or SUCH A FUN AGE.
I would also love to see books that explore generational trauma, through the eyes of an eldest daughter.

For cozy mysteries, give me a small town and a warm community. I usually gravitate towards bookstores and tea shops, or other general cozy feels here.

I would love to do more lightly paranormal cozies in the vein of Heather Blake or Amanda Flower.

Also anything that has a gothic feel to it, like MEXICAN GOTHIC or THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE.

I want more horror and I want to be scared!

I gravitate towards social and psychological horror in the vein of GET OUT or WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.

I grew up around forests and mountain ranges, so something like THIS WRETCHED VALLEY is always on my radar.

I’m hungry for thrillers! I love complicated family dynamics and toxic friendships, especially tense mother/daughter relationships.

I would love to see something for fans of Wendy Walker or Lucy Foley. And more locked room thrillers!

For historical mysteries, I’m always looking for a feminist female protagonist.

I love anything mid 20th century.
Anything gothic is a plus. If it has body snatching, poisons, or fun elements like séances, like in SPITTING GOLD, I’d love to see it.

I only acquire in the adult space, to break down our imprints, I’m looking for the following:

Crooked Lane:
Thrillers, historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, and horror.

Alcove Press:
Historical fiction, speculative fiction and magical realism, bookclub fiction, and romantasy.

It’s the fall autumnal months, which is when I really come alive 🎃

So here is an updated #mswl 🧵

(Thread)

Are vampires in yet? I think I want vampires again. 👀
More in the vein of THE SERPENT AND THE WINGS OF NIGHT #mswl

I’ve been seeing a lot of fire lookout tower videos and think it’s such a cool environment for a thriller or horror novel #mswl

As a former sorority member, someone please write a feminist horror story about sorority sisters #mswl

With all this snow, I would love to find a locked-room thriller in the middle of a blizzard, or a mountaineering thriller where the characters get trapped on a mountain #mswl

Another #mswl item: an adult sapphic romcom with roller derby

Ultimately, if the vibes are dark academia, witchy, creepy forests, poisonous plants, gothic (whether horror or historical!), or anything with a charismatic leader and a cult, it’s right up my alley.

I’m also open to cozier romantasy, where magic is woven into every day things (knitting a magical scarf for a loved one, kitchen witchcraft to fight off a cold, etc.)

I grew up on Tamora Pierce, so if you have women fighting as knights, or an equivalent, I want to see it.