TJ Ohler

Editorial Assistant

Zando

Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

#MSWL

-Isolated thrillers. Give me your ocean settings

-Anything that comps to SADIE, GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER, VERA WONG, NO EXIT. THE WRITING RETREAT

I'd love to queer up the commercial horror and thriller space even more! Agents, let's talk!

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

#MSWL

#Trans femme voices (all genres)! Even though this was at the top of my wishlist last year, I received very few...crossing my fingers universe.

Cozy romantasy with stakes.

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Queer and BIPOC romances! Desperate for more representation in my inbox. I'd love:
#MSWL
-contemporary with a speculative twist.

-Romances that feel like Talia Hibbert, Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry. Think delightful banter, big feels

-Monster F**er romances...

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

#MSWL Horror! I want all of it, but would especially love a hook-y slasher, psychological and body horror.

Horror I've enjoyed recently THE NIGHT GUEST, REST STOP, SO THIRSTY, Gretchen Felker-Martin, NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT. Reading: NESTLINGS and re-reading SHE IS A HAUNTING.

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

#Agents As the year opens, I'm excited to highlight a few
#MSWL submissions, I'd love to see in my inbox. I'm open to children's (esp YA) and adult submissions, so assume the below refers to either!

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Finally transitioning to bsky! Excited to connect with #publishing folks, #horrorlovers , #readers , #writers . An updated 2025 #mswl forthcoming!

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

And always on the hunt for more queer adult and YA romance! Especially if it has a speculative twist! #mswl

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Agents, I'd also love to find my queer cozy fantasy or romantasy I want the low stakes, strong vibes. Or the high stakes and swoonworthy shadow daddies...iykyk #mswl

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

And I'm always on the hunt for more trans genre fiction, especially where trauma isn't the main plot thread (though I can read those too!). I'd love to see more trans femme rep in my inbox! Please universe! #mswl

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Another reminder to agents that I'm on the hunt for submissions this fall! I'd love to see MORE adult and YA #horror in my inbox! Give me your books that comp to Aliens and Scream or both! Your psychological horror! Isolated thrillers! I want all things creepy!

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

And I lowkey would love to find a queer story collection a la Bryan Washington or Anthony Veasna So! #MSWL

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Or just anything speculative generally. Books than can feel of our world but with a twist! #MSWL

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Romance! Happy to consider any and all queer and BIPOC stories, would especially love a cozy fantasy with romance, a horror romance, something speculative/five minutes in the future.

Anything that can be comped to Talia Hibbert, Helen Hoang, Emily Henry, etc. #MSWL

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

An isolated thriller! I eat them up like popcorn!

I'd also love to see a thriller following a queer friend group or found family! Recently enjoyed First Lie Wins.
#MSWL

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

All things horror. Give me your slashers, body horror, horror as a vehicle for exploring trauma, psychological horror, horror in film and tv.

Think horror in the vein of Malice House, Manhunt, The Shining, or Maeve Fly. I want it all! #MSWL

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Queer characters across all genres. I'd love to see more trans femme stories, especially with joy and/or being the center of some adventure or solving a mystery/crime/murder! #mswl

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

Hi, Agents! Annual reminder that in addition to all things young readers, I'm also acquiring in the adult space! Some things that I'm on the hunt for: #MSWL 🧵

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

In terms of MG, I'm looking for all the above, but would also love to find a novel-in-verse and anything exploring queerness and/or found families for younger readers!

I'd especially love to see trans femme stories across all genres!

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

All things horror!! Think Jordan Peele and Scream. I want your psychological, your slasher, your haunted house, your ghosts and hauntings. If it fits under the horror umbrella, I want to see it.

TJ Ohler
@OhlerTJ
Editorial Assistant
Editorial Assistant @zandoprojects | Emerson alum | bookseller | constantly questioning words, often feeling Wordless | 3 time #Pitchwars Mentor he/they
11 MSWL

As a small sampling of things I love and am on the lookout for:

Genre-benders (think Romantasy, thrillers with a dash of romance, etc)
Speculative with heart (AS King, Adam Silvera, Kacen Callendar)
Thrillers (Isolated settings and beyond)
Sci-Fi (grounded and/or sweeping)