.#MSWL official!!

manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/hb-s…

#amwriting #amquerying #WritingCommunity

I’m particularly in the mood for astrology-inspired fantasy, courtly intrigue, a witchy romance, myth & fairytale retellings, sapphic romantasy, undercover assassins, life or death trials and anything dark academia...

Grab my attention:
Setting in the American South
Narratives by & about queer folks
Neurodivergence in all its manifestations
Stories informed or inspired by folklore, mythology, fairy tales, superstitions
Light elements of spec fic (no high fantasy)
(QueryManager.com/hbsteadham)

In fantasy: Anything with a fairy tale at the root of the story is fair game but also any retelling of a classic story is my jam. From Shakespeare to Spielberg, I love stories that take familiar characters and upends their world and everything we thought we knew about them. #mswl

In MG I'm looking for fantasy only! While I love charming, pacey adventure stories, I'd love something steeped in fairytale. I grew up reading a lot of Cornelia Funke & would love something with that tone.

#amquerying writers, I'd love to see:

✨️A cosy fantasy like Legends and Lattes - magic meets the mundane in mythical wedding planners or dragons at drama school

💖A dreamy fairy-tale inspired romantasy (soulmates are a plus)

🔎A twisty Knives Out-esque murder mystery

#MSWL

Comps: PAN’S LABYRINTH for fairy-tale horror, Carrie Ryan (especially THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH), THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING, FINAL GIRLS, MEXICAN GOTHIC, WILDER GIRLS. I also can’t get enough horror movies—BODIES BODIES BODIES and BARBARIAN are two more that’ve stuck with me!

Horror, YA & adult - To me, the best horror has social commentary (WHAT WE HARVEST, EAT YOUR HEART OUT). I love horror blended with fantasy or fairy tales. I never get tired of creepy forests & small towns with secrets, whether it’s a current setting, historical, or high fantasy!

Some favorite Adult Romance tropes would include:
 
- second chance romance
- only! one! bed!
- beauty and the beast re-telling (any fairytale/folklore/myth really)
*** bonus points for including a small, furry partner in crime 🐶🐱🐰
 
#MSWL

Agents! I am eager for new, exciting acquisitions and I updated my #mswl to prove it! Check out what I’m looking for here (spoiler alert: subversive horror, witty rom coms, & unique genre mash-ups): manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/alis…

On my #MSWL Any/all of the following:
1. Quirky/dark humor
2. Paranormal crime syndicate
3. Unusual fairy tale retellings with magic
ALWAYS high heat, HEA/HFN, Fast paced, romance in sci-fi or fantasy sub genre. Prefer under 75K words.

- Mythology! Fairytales! Folklore! (Especially from non-European cultures!)
- Magical realism! Witchery! Magic rooted in nature!
- Atmospheric, gentle fantasy a la Studio Ghibli!
- Fantasy & science fiction rooted in inclusive world-building!

I want to read more horror with this surreal, dark fairytale vibe. The kind of horror that entrances you as much as it terrifies you. #MSWL

#MSWL while I absolutely love middle grade horror and dark fantasy, I'm seeing A LOT of it in queries. Would love to see some variety! Sci-fi, fairytale retellings, contemporary, something tragic, joyful stories, series oriented, adventure, etc

Querying authors, we're looking for Christian #YA / #YAFantasy, including fairytale retellings w/ a unique approach. Must be tailored for the Christian market and you need a strong platform. No DMs. See submission guidelines: rachellegardner.com/submissions #MSWL #InspyBooks #ChristFic

Querying #authors, we're looking for Christian #YA / #YAFantasy, including fairytale retellings w/ a unique approach. Must be tailored for the Christian market and you need a strong platform. No DMs. See submission guidelines: rachellegardner.com/submissions #MSWL #InspyBooks #ChristFic

Querying authors, we're looking for Christian #YA / #YAFantasy, including fairytale retellings w/ a unique approach. Must be tailored for the Christian market and you need a strong platform. No DMs. See submission guidelines: rachellegardner.com/submissions #MSWL #InspyBooks #amwriting

manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/laur… I did a proper thing! #mswl

Querying authors, we're looking for #Steampunk (YA or adult) and YA fairy tale retellings geared toward the #Christian market. Looking for authors with strong platforms. No DMs. See submission guidelines here: rachellegardner.com/submissions #MSWL #Inspybooks #amwriting #ChristFic

Querying authors, we're looking for Christian #YA / #YAFantasy, including fairytale retellings w/ a unique approach. Must be tailored for the Christian market and you need a strong platform. No DMs. See submission guidelines: rachellegardner.com/submissions #MSWL #InspyBooks #ChristFic