This year, I'm focusing on growing my #nonfiction list. I'd love to work on popular science, social science, and food books. Voicey writing. Think Mary Roach, Adam Grant. Climate, space, the ocean, biology. Mental health, personality science. Cookbooks! Chemistry of cooking #MSWL

Narrative nonfiction with roots in journalism or science that follows personal stories revealing curiosities still to be discovered in the world like Fox & I by Catherine Raven or issues that need broader attention like Nomadland by Jessica Bruder #mswl #nonfiction

Memoir that feels like a best friend sharing all the shit she’s been through in a way that expands your world view and makes you want to be a better friend/daughter/human - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, or Well, This is Exhausting by Sophia Benoit #mswl #nonfiction #memoir

I am *not* the right agent for the nonfiction categories of true crime, sports, and music. I am also *not* a good fit for stories with passive protagonists. I do *not* represent children’s books or YA, though, of course, my fabulous colleagues at PSLA do!

I am passionate about representing under or misrepresented voices and stories that contribute to a larger cultural conversation whether explicitly (e.g., a nonfiction title on social justice) or subtly (a comedy of manners about a mixed-raced Latinx family)…

…The #2 reason in fiction is because the story plateaus (escalating tension is a must!); and in nonfiction because there isn’t enough original ‘meat’ (case studies, research, etc.) to support the claims.

For fiction and nonfiction: I fall in love with stellar writing on the level of the line, voice, and rhythm. The number #1 reason why I pass on a query is because the writing is not where it needs to be given the competitive traditional publishing market…

I consider memoirs to be a blend of fiction and nonfiction. AFTERSHOCKS by Nadia Owusu, WILD GAME by Adrienne Brodeur, and MY BROKEN LANGUAGE by Quiara Alegría Hudes are my all-time favorites. A good memoir reads like a novel and is packed with conflict, tension, and stakes.

I find that the best nonfiction books both educate and entertain. A recent favorite includes GIRLY DRINKS by Mallory O’Meara, and an all-time favorite is INVISIBLE WOMEN by Caroline Criado Perez.

The human brain is an endless source of fascination. I’d welcome paradigm-shifting nonfiction with a neuroscience bent, particularly titles exploring the nexus between neuroscience and other fields, e.g., neuropsychology, neurosociology, neuropharmacology, neuronutrition, etc.

My taste in nonfiction is eclectic: no title is too serious or too accessible. Demonstrable expertise/experience is a must when querying for nonfiction.

For nonfiction, I am open to most categories, across the spectrum, including psychology, history, current affairs, science, politics, narrative journalism, nature & the environment, wellness, spirituality, business & economics, mathematics, parenting, lifestyle, and pop culture.

I rep adult fiction & nonfiction. For both, I am on the hunt for stories that explore *power* (imbalance, struggle, rise & fall), *identity* (perception, exploration, intersectionality) & *dysfunction* (familial, societal, cultural) told with originality, nuance, & authenticity.

In Picture Books, I'd love to see:
🍎Family traditions and how they shape us
🍎Silly and fun wordplay
🍎Poetic, lyrical books that show emotional resilience
🍎Biographies and nonfiction focusing on people and eras that have been historically overlooked

family secrets and relationships. I also do nonfiction in the mind, body, spirit side leaning more towards the spirit category. Tarot and oracle cards, crystals, spell work, mediums, mysticism, witches, etc. are where I make my home #MSWL

#WritingCommunity #writers have you self-published a nonfiction book and would like to work with a publisher? My #mswl is for a nonfiction title in memoire, DIY, Self-help, travel, mental health awareness, LGBTQ+, and underrepresented minorities! Query lstevens@edicionesurano.com

#WritingCommunity my #MSWL!
Biographies, Cookbooks, DIY, History, Humor, LGBTQ+, Memoir, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Travel, True Crime, Diversity, Feminism, Multicultural, Narrative Nonfiction, Relationships, Self-help, & Social Issues Query: lstevens@edicionesurano.com

when I reopen to queries, I'm hoping to see a lot more nonfiction! investigative journalism, cookbooks, self-help, climate/environment, + anything that makes a niche subject accessible to a broad audience
#MSWL

#WritingCommunity my #MSWL!
Biographies, Cookbooks, DIY, History, Humor, LGBTQ+, Memoir, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Travel, True Crime, Diversity, Feminism, Multicultural, Narrative Nonfiction, Relationships, Self-help, & Social Issues Query: lstevens@edicionesurano.com

“I’d love to see more YA or MG illustrated nonfiction or graphic novels about women’s rights, reproductive health, and adjacent topics (pop culture included).” @readbystephanie #MSWL psliterary.com/submissions/