And everything in this post is still true! #MSWL

#MSWL And one more thing: at Workshop we have some fun things we can do with shorter novels for both MG and YA, so on the lookout for those as well! Agent friends, please send me all the things! :)

#MSWL A very specific thing I'd like to see: a fantasy or a historical where the main character uses traditionally feminine skills to their advantage (like hiding coded messages in embroidery, for instance) rather than being dismissive of it.

#MSWL A few specific things I'd love to see: lady knights! Time loops! (I loved THE ISLE IN THE SILVER SEA by Tasha Suri) Historical detectives, like Sherlock Holmes or Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, but with queer girls. Painterly graphic novels that still have a punchy hook.

#MSWL Even in fantasies/historicals, I need the teenagers to feel like teenagers and not like this could be an adult book. Some examples I've enjoyed recently were LADY'S KNIGHT by Megan Spooner & Amie Kaufman, the FORGE & FRACTURE SAGA by Brittany N. Williams, and AMONG GHOSTS by Rachel Hartman.

#MSWL Genres, you say? I'm glad you asked! I am not a good fit for most straightforward contemporary without a strong speculative twist. But I love fantasy, I love historicals, I love mysteries, I love genre bending stories. I am picky about sci fi but when I love it I LOVE it.

#MSWL I am primarily eager for queer stories! Please please send me your queer books! If there is sapphic yearning, particularly in any of the genres I'm most interested in, why is it not in my inbox already?? There also remains a lack of trans girl stories in kidlit, I'd love to see some!

Hooray hooray, it's #MSWL day! So excited. :D Quick background about me: I'm an associate editor at Penguin Workshop, editing primarily licensed titles for major brands and media partners. However, I am also open to (and eager for!) MG and YA submissions. I am only looking for agented submissions.

You can find my not-quite up to date profile here, and please note that MIRA only accepts agented submissions.
manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/emma-cole/

Specific wish list items:
Twin Peaks: Detective visits a small and creepy town full of secrets and strange characters, and finds love along the way. Honestly, this is my all-time favorite show and I think there is an amazing romance here
X-Files: pairing of skeptic and true believer

I love unapologetic and emotional love stories, preferably with a fresh take on an interesting hook or setting. I love stories with a speculative twist or a quirky setting. Marginalized groups, specifically Black, Indigenous, disabled, neurodivergent characters in all gender pairings, please!

I love a good noir voice, and am always on the lookout for speculative takes on mystery romance (Twin Peaks meets The Big Sleep). If I'm not reading romance I'm reading horror and weird fiction: some recent faves include We Love You, Bunny, The Starving Saints, and The Salt Grows Heavy.

I'm a huge fan of stories with speculative elements that don't necessarily have to be explained, and I'm a sucker for books about yearning, where I am desperate for the characters to finally get their HEA (think This Is How You Lose the Time War or C.L. Polk's Even Though I Knew the End).

I have no idea why but I can't update my #MSWL for some reason, but I'm not actually looking for Psychological Thrillers! Here's what I am looking for:

I'm acquiring middle grade and young adult fiction for Peachtree and Peachtree Teen! Especially looking for horror, mystery/thrillers, grounded speculative fiction, contemporary, and romance. Authors and agents, check out my #mswl 📖
manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/kade-dishmon/

Finally, in YA, my eyes are peeled for anything sweeping, epic, and emotional that *feels* like the Your Name soundtrack *sounds* (full of nostalgia+yearning), especially with a speculative twist!! #MSWL

In YA, I'd love to see comtemporary paranormal romances and mysteries from fresh, underrepresented perspectives à la CEMETERY BOYS, IF I HAVE TO BE HAUNTED, and THESE DEADLY PROPHECIES. Please give me vampires, witches, ghosts, zombies, etc. especially from a unique cultural lens! #MSWL

In middle grade, my eyes are open for accessible, innovative, highly illustrated stories (not necessarily graphic novels) in the vein of READ AT YOUR OWN RISK by Remy Lai or throwbacks like AMAZING DAYS OF ABBY HAYES #MSWL

For picture books, I'm always looking for celebrations of identity like THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS and stories that capture universal emotions through culturally specific experiences like BE CAREFUL, XIAO XIN! #MSWL

Happy #MSWL Day! I acquire everything from picture books to YA, including graphic novels. Behold the thread below for some MSWL items I am hoping, praying, begging, asking very nicely for 👀🥺🎉