Rachel Stark

Sort of sucks that I have the day this every time I share an #MSWL, but writers, I am not allowed to read your unsolicited query! It will be deleted unread. A Twitter thread is not a request and no, you’re not going to fool me by saying it is.

I ALSO can't wait to announce a ton of projects I've been working on very secretly for years! Keep an eye on @PWKidsBookshelf and @PublishersLunch this year to see what's been grabbing my attention—and add them all to your TBR because I have great taste imho.

Alas, I can't accept unagented submissions unless I've invited you to submit at a convention or conference, so nab an agent first, and then have them share your awesome work with me! I can't wait to see all the treasures about to land in my inbox. #MSWL

⭐️And across the board, energetic, expressive, inventive, accessible, and commercial art (ideally full-color for middle grade, at least two-color for everything)

⭐️Contemp stories with a creative, fresh link to holidays or seasonal moments, especially holidays other than Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween, and particularly holidays celebrated in the author’s culture

⭐️Middle grade humor with a big heart—I’d particularly like to explore careers outside of policing that nonetheless lend themselves to multiple adventures over the course of a series

⭐️YA contemp romance with substance, especially centering characters with marginalized identities (think Heartstopper, Pumpkinheads)

I'm pulling back a bit on graphic novels this year, but still open to GNs for 8-12-year-olds and teens. I can't accept author-only submissions at this time (but will consider agency-driven pairings!), GNs under 160 pages, or black and white middle grade. I'm hoping to see:

⭐️Upmarket contemporary romance with substance, centering characters of traditionally marginalized identities (think Furia, Felix Ever After)

⭐️High-stakes competition with a subversive bent and meaningful consequences for the characters (What's the next Squid Game? Must be just as political, need not be just as gory.)
⭐️Epic romance embedded within a larger story (a la Raybearer)

⭐️Thrillers, psychological horror, supernatural, mystery, and speculative fiction that radically represents and explores queer, female, and BIPOC rage, revenge, and reclamation of power (think Elatsoe, Iron Widow, Sadie)

⭐️High-concept fantasy & contemporary fantasy that uses the conventions of its genre to critique, subvert, or illuminate a truth about our world (PLEASE send me the next Raybearer, Graceling, Witch King)
⭐️Fantasy/contemporary fantasy set in non-European-inspired settings

I also acquire young adult fiction (12+ or 14+) and the occasional crossover book that still suits YA. I'd love to see:
⭐️Comedic writing paired with a sticky concept that can be summed up in a single sentence (a la Me & Earl, Gentleman's Guide)

⭐️Contemporary fantasy set in non-European-inspired settings. Every Rick Riordan Presents book is a fantastic example, but note I am not acquiring for that imprint, and anything I do snag will have to feel distinct from what RRP has published.

⭐️Stories about (non-anthropomorphic) animals, human-animal bonds, nature & high-stakes survival. Think today's My Side of the Mountain. Spooky camp stories also scratch this itch!
⭐️Horror stories— genuinely scary or high-concept light humor (from Small Spaces to Ghost Squad)

I'm actively looking for middle grade fiction (age 8+, not chapter book) right now! I'd especially love to see:
⭐️Contemporary stories that take a “light and bright” approach to social change, solidarity, and self-discovery (like Front Desk or From the Desk of Zoe Washington)

⭐️Nuanced stories about rebellion against unjust systems, building solidarity and mutual support, or imagining a world better than our own

⭐️Books that make me laugh on one page and cry on the next
⭐️Expansive, unique, and cinematic worlds—fantastical OR a segment of the real world that’s underrepresented and/or feels fresh through the creator’s eyes

*Own-voices* rep of characters with marginalized and intersectional identities in stories of adventure, romance, friendship, joy, and personal growth. Especially but not exclusively: disability/neurodivergence; queer/LGBTQ+; all BIPIC but esp Black American, Indigenous & Latinx

In all formats I'm particularly excited by:
⭐️Original, unforgettable, "sticky" characters—future household names
⭐️Sharp, original humor that shows a deep understanding of its readers—whether goofy, over-the-top humor for middle graders or well-observed sarcasm for teens