“Literary fiction that genre blends, commercial fiction that takes me somewhere unknown, and rom-coms that make me laugh and swoon.” @ericsmithrocks #MSWL ericsmithrocks.com/mswl

Genres I'm on the hunt for:
MG fantasy, MG literary contemporary, YA humor, YA fantasy, YA rom-com, Upmarket Women's fiction.
#MSWL - international settings, folktale re-imaginings, funny friendship banter, twisty YA thrillers, multiple POV, found family.

Since it's a new year, here's my #MSWL again! I can't wait to find some gems in 2022, and am especially looking for the below YA books. ⬇️

In Adult, I’d love to see:
☀️Thrillers—similar to The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
☀️Mystery—complex/commercial stories with diverse characters
☀️Sci-fi—technology based
☀️RomCom—I recently enjoyed reading The Trouble with Hating You by @SajniPatelBooks
☀️Crime Fiction

(6/9)

In YA, I’d love to see:
☀️RomComs—enemies to lovers from diverse voices
☀️Contemporary—stories that deal with illness. Funny heart-warming stories that build on friendship & family
☀️Mystery/Thrillers👀—please
☀️Sci-fi—with a romance thread
☀️LGBTQ—centered on love/growth

(5/9)

We love YA contemporary with big emotional hooks, whether they be rom-coms or coming-of-age. Think COUNTING DOWN TO YOU, YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN, WE ARE OKAY, GIRL IN PIECES. #MSWL

Calling all writers specializing in laughter and love! I’m actively seeking submissions for adult romcoms with elements of social media. My sweet spot is big on the com, light/medium on the rom. #MSWL

Adult romcoms with new twists on classic tropes: friends/enemies to lovers, fake dating, stuck together, opposites attract, second chances. #MSWL

SUPER picky with Adult right now! Mainly contemporary, graphic novel, & historical. Fantasy worldbuilding MUST be on point & want more non-American/English storylines

Para romances not at top of my list
Looking for rom-coms, but selective
#querytip #amquerying #writingcommunity

🌟 Chaotic 2022 #MSWL thread🌟
Contemporary YA, either light rom-com style such as To All the Boys, or darker themes such as those in Before I fall. Sexy pirates, and mermaids. MAGICAL ACADEMIA/dark academia. Throw in an oddly attractive classmate.
#WritingCommunity

(i’d also like to see some genre blending romventures that combine romance/action and adventure/mystery/comedy. love pointing to DIAL A FOR AUNTIES; it’s so good)

romance: both contemporary and historical romcoms and millennial romance/women’s fiction; give me ALL the banter, chemistry, strong-willed MCs. i want to laugh AND cry!

And, of course, I love a good YA rom-com, the funnier the better :) #mswl

Miscellaneous things I’d love in my inbox? 📥

• horror pied piper reimagining!
• queer Dorian Gray
• queer MG 💚
• sex-positive, body positive YA rom-coms
• BIPOC witches, seers, and mediums
• BIPOC in and writing crime fiction & speculative fic
• isolated thrillers

5/

Loved reading THE 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS - debut by Jenny Bayliss. A fun, cozy and smart rom-com of a book. I've been looking for manuscripts like this in my querymanager inbox for ages. Smart, funny and fresh stories that can become the next great chickflick. #mswl @JDLitAgency

I'm also not the right fit for political thrillers — with the caveat that a very specific #MSWL item is a book starring campaign trackers. I don't know if it's a thriller or a rom-com that I want, though. (However, if it's a rom-com, no "across the aisle" romance. Yuck.)

For romcoms, my taste veers towards genre-blends, i.e., a romcom that’s also a family saga or a romcom com that’s also a thriller. DIAL A FOR AUNTIES by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a great example and my all-time favorite romcom.

In Adult, I'd love to see:
⚡️Queer rom coms
⚡️ Contemporary stories of people navigating the start of professional life
⚡️ Gothic, witchy horror

In YA, I'd love to see:
👑 Queer rom coms
👑 Contemporary friendship stories
👑 Thrillers with isolated settings
👑 Horror with gothic and atmospheric vibes
👑 Historical that centers on POC stories

Here are the ADULT GENRES I am seeking in 2022:
Women’s Fiction
Book Club/Commercial Fiction
Contemporary Romance/Rom-Coms
Non-Political Thrillers/Mysteries/Suspense
Horror
Historical Fiction - with a contemporary feel