Two types of horror that I'm especially keen to see in my submissions inbox: nautical and deep sea in the vein of INTO THE DROWNING DEEP and academic horror that reminds me of THE HISTORIAN. #MSWL

A VERY specific wish list item, could be any genre (SF/F, horror, contemporary, etc.) but a novel about the Navajo Rangers from a Navajo author (perhaps something along the lines of what was featured in Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3).

7/

Give me your horror that dismantles the gender binary,
stories that are informed by socioeconomic struggles & social stratifications,
sentient plants or natural settings with a sinister undertone (a la Annihilation),
fresh takes on haunted houses

2/

Faith doesn't necessarily feel like a popular theme in SFF these days, but I am always interested in novels that deal with it. Whether it's religious horror, positive representations of Islam in high fantasy, or nuns in space, send it my way #MSWL

Submissions for @AggadahTryIt, an imprint of @MHP_Horror are now open!

We want to publish #Jewish novels and novellas with #horror, #sciencefiction, #fantasy, and #surreal elements by Jewish #authors.

madnessheart.press/submissions/?v…

#books #amquerying #Fiction #MSWL #WritingCommunity

-YA historical that features underrepresented experiences/time periods
-Unsettling YA horror/thrillers, especially with unreliable narrators
-YA high fantasy with innovative or unusual magic systems
-YA sci-fi, especially if it crosses genres (sci-fi horror/thriller/mystery)

-high-stakes YA sci-fi w/ strong themes + character development
-YA contemporary that addresses relevant/timely social themes
-YA thrillers/suspense
-YA horror, especially of the uncanny/unsettling kind
-YA historical that highlights excluded or underrepresented experiences #mswl

In MG & YA (incl GNs by Author-Illustrators):
•Diverse contemporary stories and romcoms
•Grounded sub-genres like horror or mysteries
•Novels by marginalized writers w/ stories yet told
•Stories that take you on an adventure and an emotional roller coaster all at once
5/7

So, since I am getting my feet under the desk now, here's a little flavour of my #mswl. In general, I like all facets of SFF, including horror, and I like my books to range from serious thought-inducing works to read-in-a-flash commercial fiction.

I’d like to see more YA horror in my submissions 😊 #MSWL

#MSWL A fantasy and mild 🙈 horror combo. I love an eldritch creature or a magical deer with too many antlers. Nothing that exists in the real world and can actually get me! And I like when there is actually a creature, but if there isn't, the real explanation better be cool!

Sci-fi – I’m not looking for hard sci-fi. I'd really like a sci-fi-horror like ALIEN (but not too much gore!! I can handle some though), and always open to space operas! No intergalactic wars.

Mystery/suspense – I really like creepy, gothic suspense like A FORGERY OF ROSES. And GALLANT—it feels like gothic, fantasy, & horror all in one! Anything that comps to CRIMSON PEAK is always on my list—creepy manor, period piece, lots of secrets, ghosts, some romance!

Middle grade – In addition to my constant favorites, fantasy & horror, I definitely have a soft spot for all things creepy & mystery! I'm a constant fan of THE GREENGLASS HOUSE, THE CLACKITY, NIGHTBOOKS, & I was a huge SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK fan as a kid.

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!

This year, I’ll be looking first for MG, then YA, then adult, then PB. My preference is for dark genre work (fantasy, horror, suspense) and rom-coms/lighter contemporary! I’m newly open to adult rom-coms after falling in love with a few last year. 😁

I would love to see a horror submission that takes inspiration from the Great God Pan - give me unearthly awakenings, sinister horned gods and eerie woodlands #MSWL

Stories with the entrenched characters arcs, cults, unreliable narrators, eeriness, and survival component of Yellowjackets. I am OBSESSED with this show to say the least and would love to see these elements in the YA thriller/horror space or the adult speculative space.

My new #MSWL is live on my site! Mark your calendars for Valentines Day, when I repoen to #amquerying writers!

So, what am I seeking? This year I'm prioritizing queer specfic, BIPOC voices, and romance novels of all kinds. Let's dive into the specifics!

stgibson.com/manuscript-wis…