for my birthday (yesterday, but it still counts!) i am giving myself the gift of doing something a little bit scary: tweeting out my first ever #MSWL 🥹manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/crys…

Mindbending horrors that are mentally scary! Or do you have a comedic horror? I'm here for it!

Horror. Upmarket. Think Victor LaValle’s LONE WOMEN, Stephen Graham Jones’ THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS, and Aly Wilkes’ ALL THE WHITE SPACES. Why? Here’s why. #MSWL 🧵

What am I looking for? Horror, horror, HORROR. Obviously. Also, thriller, suspense, and nonfiction by experts in their fields. So let’s dive in a little more a #MSWL 🧵

🎟️ Speculative futures not set in American cities

💀 Horror you want to hide from while you keep reading, things that make you say “gross”

2023 #MSWL! As a reminder, I represent BIPOC, queer, & marginalized creators making joy for themselves in SFF & horror for MG, YA, Adult, and Graphic Novel.
My existing MSWL is still a mortifyingly perfect encapsulation of my tastes, but this year I'm looking for even MORE:

10 - Horror and dark fantasy – don’t be afraid to let it get weird. Thinking mushrooms growing out of reanimated rabbits à la T. Kingfisher. Aiming for the more atmospheric side of things than all-out gore.

#MSWL 🙏🏽

In YA, I'd love to see:
🌞Queer romance
🌞Thrillers with isolated settings
🌞Horror with gothic and atmospheric vibes
🌞Historical that centers on POC stories
🌞Subversive and dark fantasy

In Middle Grade, I'd love to see:
⚽️Fantasy inspired by myths, folklore, or legends
⚽️Historical that centers POC stories
⚽️Contemporary with an environmental bent
⚽️Horror with ghosts, creepy crawlies, and witches
⚽️Growing up in non-traditional settings
⚽️Earth-based sci-fi

I do love spookier/horror elements. Give me your ghosts, shadows, unexplainable phenomenon. Think THE WHISPERING DARK or WILDER GIRLS vibes.

I'm not against monster-hunter/vampire-slayer type stories, but I often tend not to be right for them.

I am pretty picky with my YA spec fic interests, and it's sort of an "I'll know it when I see it" situation. That being said, I tend toward contemporary fantasy, horror, and/or relatively grounded narratives that feature some kind of speculative twist (i.e.: CEMETERY BOYS).

"I've been loving horror that has a lighter writing style to contrast the darkness of the story itself. If you have humor in your horror, I'd love to take a look!"
@claire_m_harris #MSWL

psliterary.com/submissions/

Gothics and dark academia!! Please!! Whether they’re speculative or not, whether they lean more into horror or into romance, I’m very flexible with these two subgenres and want to see them all.

I read very broadly in horror, but some of my recent fave reads have been LEECH, SUMMER SONS, MEXICAN GOTHIC, MANHUNT, & HOUSE OF HUNGER in adult, HOUSE OF HOLLOW & THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON in YA. Big fan of INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE & WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS as well.

All types, ages, and subgenres of horror. Looking for the whole spectrum: quiet atmospheric stories, darkly funny horror comedies, and big, over the top slashers. This is the main genre I’m looking for in MG!

For the basics, I represent: MG horror, mysteries, & thrillers; YA SFF, horror, mysteries, & thrillers; adult SFF, horror, mysteries, & thrillers; select YA/adult GN; and select adult NF. More niche wants below ⬇️

Can I double #MSWL this and I'll send it to Dina?!!

Agents, I'd love to see more horror submissions from marginalized voices, especially ones based around their local/cultural folkfore and/or social issues. #mswl

Beautifully written or Upmarket Adult fantasy/SF/horror that would appeal to a book club audience. Think MEXICAN GOTHIC, STATION ELEVEN, or THE STARLESS SEA. #mswl