Here are the main differences in my MSWL from last year:

-In the MG space, I'm only now open to upper MG (protagonists 12+)

-Open more to contemporary fantasy, less to genre fantasy

-Open less to PBs with animal casts

-Narrower parameters on historical and dystopian

*NEW: In both MG & YA, I learned over my first year that I'm almost always a better fit for contemporary fantasy than I am for genre fantasy.

Still happy to consider fantasy if you think I'm a strong fit for other reasons, but this is something I want to be forthright about!

YA and MG contemporary fantasy: My second love! I’m interested in the same topics, and will look foremost for lyrical writing and character focus, with unique but very grounded magic systems. Comp: THE NATURE OF WITCHES by Rachel Griffin.

YA and upper MG contemporary continue to be my first priority! Lyrical prose, novels-in-verse, “dark and gritty,” “issue-driven,” character-driven, voice-y. I want to feature LGBTQIA+ voices, BIPOC voices, disability and chronic illness, mental health and neurodivergence, grief.

In my first year, I took on two extraordinary clients (@k_dishmon and Nicole Zelniker, who are unequivocally the best) for their beautiful YA novels. I'm still actively seeking YA, as well as upper MG, and am sparingly open to picture books.

I'm a queer, chronically ill, disabled junior agent at McIntosh & Otis. I’m acquiring (in order of priority) YA, MG, and PB.

I studied English, literary criticism, poetry, and creative writing.

I look very flowery and sunshiny above, but I also love the hard, sad books!

BIG NEWS 🚨 I'm now using QueryManager!! Please send me your stories using the link below😁If you previously used our submissions email, you do not have to resubmit!!

Query Me: QueryManager.com/morganhughes
#MSWL :
morganchughes.com/mswl/

Agent friends, we did some list review yesterday, and we're looking for a fresh, high-concept MG series. Anything you're loving at the moment?! #mswl

Middle grade is tough at the moment, but anything that does any of the above, ideally with hook & humour, I’d love to see. The formally interesting too - Benjamin Zephaniah, Ursula LeGuin or David Almond-esque.

I don’t tend to rep picture books or young fiction.

For hashtag visibility: #MSWL middle-grade series that have a discernible plot arc that carries over multiple books; things like:

Rick Riordan's series
The School for Good and Evil
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
Keeper of the Lost Cities

✨QUERYING UPDATE

I'm reopening to queries today, but ONLY to middle-grade series/duologies/trilogies!

I'll reopen to my other categories soon, but I'm still reading some lovely subs from you all & want to give everything my best attention!

Query here: QueryManager.com/3240/MiddleGraiddleGradeSeries

To keep going on my earlier tweet, I LOVE all shades of MG! The quieter, simpler prose stories and the long, whimsical books that are for the big readers! Both are so welcome in my inbox 🥰 all genres! #MSWL

I'm being more picky than usual about MG right now, but I'd especially love to see commercial genre stories w/ series potential a la Wings of Fire or PJO. I grew up reading Animorphs and Fear Street so I'd love to rep more (potential) series.

I said "check back on this thread later for some updates" and then never updated. But here's some areas I'm looking for in 2024 (YA and MG only for now)...

Just finished watching AVATAR. I know, I know I’m like a million years late on this but definite upper MG #MSWL

Very much in my romance era. Contemporary romance w/ or w/o spec, rom coms, women’s fiction with romance, cozy fantasy romance, epic fantasy romance, YA and MG romance, horror with romance elements. I want it all so send it to meeeee pls. I wanna squeal and kick my feet #MSWL

A few things I'd love to see in my inbox right now! #MSWL

YA & A:
-horror
-gothic/dark academia vibes
-romance with a spec twist
-"nerdy"/fandom romance (think: comicons, cosplay, fanart/fanfic, D&D)
-contemporary/grounded fantasy

MG & YA:
-graphic novels

MG Horror:

Again, I love all of this, but really want haunted houses or schools! Would also love to see some monter hunting or sentient natural settings like forests or lakes. Have a creepy summer camp? Yes that is for me! 3/?

First I'm looking for Adult, YA and select MG. I'll start with MG since it is the shortest!

MG Fantasy:

I love all these fantasy here, I would love to see magical creatures, especially dragons. A magic school with diverse cast? Send it my way! 2/?

Watching the ONE PIECE live action and I can’t stop thinking about an MG version. Luffy is just such a happy-go-lucky character 🥰

#MSWL when I reopen in April