Bonus: In YA and MG, I would love to see more homeschool rep and foster care/adoption storylines.

For YA and MG, I am open to all genres but horror and high fantasy, though I have been drawn to contemporaries lately. Looking for great pacing, characters I would have loved to be friends with growing up, and storylines that move me or make me think.

What's at the top of my #MSWL in 2025? Women's Driven Fiction, Book Club Fiction, sweet adult rom-coms, YA, and MG. 🧵#writingcommunity #authorcommunity

I’m going to post a #MSWL list in the new year, but I’m actively looking for MG 🧵
-diverse friendships like STRANGER THINGS or THE SKELETON CREW
-True Crime mystery feel
-Magical Realism with a dystopian twist like SWEET TOOTH
-Jurassic Park
-Space Jam (sports with a speculative twist)

🎵It’s TIIIIIIIME! 🎶
I saw a lot of incredible queries in 2024, and my experiment of opening my inbox one week a month worked out well. I was able to stay on top of my inbox and meet my personal goal of getting my response times waaaaaay down. That said, I’m still going through Sept-Dec queries…

#mswl

#mswl

To ring in the new year, SteelWorks Literary will open to unsolicited queries Jan 1-5, 2025! Scroll through to learn more about what Lori is hoping to find. QM link in bio above.
#amquerying #amagenting #kidlit #picturebooks #PB #MG #YA #GN #illustrators #kidlit illustration #kidlit art #mswl

Also #MSWL If anyone is querying an Adult feminist dystopian or a MG that feels like a true crime documentary, please comment so I can drop you a direct query link. As always— queer and marginalized voices welcome

The formally interesting too - Benjamin Zephaniah, Ursula LeGuin or David Almond-esque.
I published MG & YA for 10 years and it will always have my heart - the market’s tough but the readers are still there!

I don’t tend to rep picture books or fiction younger than 7+

I feel very strongly that we need to focus on literary quality as well as accessibility in our books for children. Anything YA or MG that does any of the above, ideally with hook & humour, I’d love to see.

Sophisticated MG, by which I mean MG that tackles big things, that plays with form. Think HOLES, THE INQUISITOR’S TALE, or for a film comp, THE IRON GIANT.

#mswl

I’m always down for folk religion, cults, and religious deconstruction.

And if you have a book (esp for MG) about swimming/swim team, please send it my way!

#MSWL

I’m prioritizing BIPOC and queer & trans writers atm! I’m really hunt for
- MG horror & mystery
- YA horror & mystery
- Adult spec fic, gothic horror, horroromance, romantasy
- sister stories
- mother daughter stories
- mermaids
- stories in the PNW, Appalachia, or arctic!
- dual timelines

#MSWL

I am also looking for YA horror & mystery/thriller

Sci-fi genre mashups

Romantasy (adult), Epic fantasy + cozy fantasy

Magical MG

#MSWL for the most outrageous MG comparable to TROLLS with Princess Poppy and Branch (sunshine + grumpy) vibes, but make it queer with just as much glitter, sparkles, and absurdity. Seriously.

FYI: I am opening to #submissions tomorrow! I am particularly keen to find more MG and YA, as well as new voices in the romance space (both romantasy and contemporary) for new adult/adult readers. Bio here:
watsonlittle.com/agent/megan-carroll/

This Halloween, after all the spooky October books I read, I've found myself craving a YA or MG horror novel rooted in non-Western mythology in my QM. I would love to see under-explored creatures and folklore brought to life—and the more atmospheric, the better! #MSWL

I’m still waiting on the big announcement, but I’m so excited to share that I’ve joined the incredible team @HowlandLit where I’ll be building my list in picture books, MG, and adult. Check out my #MSWL and find me on Query Manager

I’m looking for a similar sense of purpose for MG and YA with a focus on fantasy. But ultimately open to anything that breaks boundaries (in form, topic, etc.) for kids.