Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

⭐️Contemporary fantasy set in non-European-inspired settings. Every Rick Riordan Presents book is a fantastic example, but note I am not acquiring for that imprint, and anything I do snag will have to feel distinct from what RRP has published.

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

⭐️Stories about (non-anthropomorphic) animals, human-animal bonds, nature & high-stakes survival. Think today's My Side of the Mountain. Spooky camp stories also scratch this itch!
⭐️Horror stories— genuinely scary or high-concept light humor (from Small Spaces to Ghost Squad)

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

I'm actively looking for middle grade fiction (age 8+, not chapter book) right now! I'd especially love to see:
⭐️Contemporary stories that take a “light and bright” approach to social change, solidarity, and self-discovery (like Front Desk or From the Desk of Zoe Washington)

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

⭐️Nuanced stories about rebellion against unjust systems, building solidarity and mutual support, or imagining a world better than our own

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

⭐️Books that make me laugh on one page and cry on the next
⭐️Expansive, unique, and cinematic worlds—fantastical OR a segment of the real world that’s underrepresented and/or feels fresh through the creator’s eyes

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

*Own-voices* rep of characters with marginalized and intersectional identities in stories of adventure, romance, friendship, joy, and personal growth. Especially but not exclusively: disability/neurodivergence; queer/LGBTQ+; all BIPIC but esp Black American, Indigenous & Latinx

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

In all formats I'm particularly excited by:
⭐️Original, unforgettable, "sticky" characters—future household names
⭐️Sharp, original humor that shows a deep understanding of its readers—whether goofy, over-the-top humor for middle graders or well-observed sarcasm for teens

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

And as an outspoken advocate for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in media, I am particularly keen to invest in the work of writers and illustrators who have historically been marginalized in American media.

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

So what do I want? My musts are:
⭐️big bets with high-concept commercial hooks, expert plotting and pacing, & lead-title potential
⭐️upmarket and unforgettable writing/art
⭐️a strong sales hook that can be summed up in an intriguing line or two #MSWL

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

Third, while I have been and still am @DisneyBooks's biggest graphic novel fan, my list will be leaning much more toward prose this year, and I'm going to be extremely selective about graphic novels; it's probably best to send me just your most targeted-to-me comics.

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

Second, while my role used to be split about 50/50 between IP and creator-owned work, that percentage has tipped way over toward creator-owned work—so hit me with your best shot!

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

First off, peep the new pronouns 👀 Studies* show that I will like you more and be 73% more likely to offer if you get them right.

*there have been no studies

Rachel Stark
@syntactics
Editor
Editor of graphic novels, novels & IP @DisneyBooks ▫️ House Stark; more of an Arya than a Tony ▫️ Opinions my own; pic @JarrettWilliams 's ▫️ gender’s a lie🤷‍♀️
147 MSWL
6 Tips

What's up, agents, it's 2023 and I'm aiming to acquire more great books this year than ever before! There are some changes to my focus and wishlist so follow along for my 2023 wishlist:

Chelsea Hensley
@ChelseaBigBang
Literary Agent
Associate Agent @ktliterary . Probably watching Golden Girls. Chaotic neutral. She/her.
6 MSWL
Emelie Burl
@BigKidBookworm
Literary Agent
Associate Agent at Susan Schulman Literary Agency (@SusanSchulman) Former indie bookseller. All thoughts and opinions are my own. she/her
7 MSWL

Did a little #mswl updating today and with that, I am officially open again for queries. Can't wait to meet you! manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/emel…

Sarah N Fisk
@Sarah_Nicolas
Literary Agent
Agent @TheTobiasAgency as Sarah N. Fisk. YA Author as Sarah Nicolas. @qqqpodcast host, event planner, programs lead @disabilityinpub 💛🤍💜🖤
50 MSWL
99 AskAgent
2 Tips
Natascha Morris
@SoCalledYALife
Literary Agent
Senior Lit Agent at Tobias Literary Agency, kidlit all the way. QueryManager: QueryManager.com/natascha bookshop.org/lists/teamnat
889 MSWL
31 AskAgent
194 Queries
46 Tips
Emelie Burl
@BigKidBookworm
Literary Agent
Associate Agent at Susan Schulman Literary Agency (@SusanSchulman) Former indie bookseller. All thoughts and opinions are my own. she/her
7 MSWL

This essay from Ethan Hawke on one of my all-time favorite films perfectly captures what I love about slice-of-life narratives. I'm working on revising my 2023 #mswl and this movie is absolutely one to take note of if you're looking to work with me!
variety.com/2022/film/news…

Helen Lane
@HFLane_writing
Literary Agent
Writer of fantasy and horror. Junior Literary Agent @BookerAlbertLit Hoarder of books. Murdery at heart. Tea obsessed. (She/her). Closed to submissions.
34 MSWL

#MSWL Still would love a book featuring a volcano/ natural disasters.

Would also accept secret underground volcanic lairs. With or without sharks in pools. With is better though. (But this may be a bit too specific).

Nadia El-Fassi
@chronicles_of_n
Editor
SFF Commissioning Editor @orbitbooks . Fantasy and rom-com author. Powerlifter. MA in Poetry. Muslim. Bi 🏳️‍🌈. She/they. Views my own. 🇲🇦/ 🇦🇺
70 MSWL

Oh no I have one more for now: Pre-Raphaelite inspired fantasy, sf or horror