I’m also still eagerly looking for the right romantasy project. The market is very saturated right now so it’s important to think about what makes your book stand out—maybe an x meets y layered hook, etc. #mswl

I’m really interested in acquiring dark and dark-ish romance right now. The theme of this #mswl is the morally gray hero, lol. In that vein, I’d love to see more mafia romance in my inbox.

Some #mswl admin:
• At Carina Press we accept both agented and unagented projects
• Our word count minimum is 50k; we don’t technically have a max but my personal preference is under 125k

Right now I am hungry to acquire for our Carina Press imprint, which is digital-first (and therefore targeting digital readers). There is a lot of crossover with print, though! #mswl 2/?

It’s been a long time, Twitter, but I’m going to do a 2024 (2025, in publishing, really) #mswl post! I am a senior editor at Harlequin, acquiring for digital and trade paperback imprints. 1/?

Losing my mind that I’ve been an editor for almost 3 years at a press called Shaherazad Shelves and no one’s submitted a Scheherazade/Shahrazad retelling to me‼️

Please send one, a million, I don’t care #mswl

#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)

#MSWL obviously