Submission Wish List

The big picture: I specialize in children’s and young adult books, and am now expanding my list into adult commercial fiction. To that end, I’m looking for commercial-leaning middle-grade, young adult, and adult novels.

Note: I feel conflicted saying I’m focusing on a diversity as if it is a “wish list” item, but I really am taking detailed stock of my list and the books I choose to shepherd to publication. To that end, I very much want to see more commercial fiction featuring characters of all backgrounds and identities. Please know I am looking for you.

 
SUBMIT
 

General

My tastes run more commercial, so I'm mainly looking for high-concept or commercial-leaning novels. That means good plots and good twists. I like to say my tastes lie at the intersection of timeless and fresh. For examples, I represent Kiera Cass, Gina Chen, and Anna Bright. All of them write things I would describe as delicious and fun and escapist, but all based in a genre you know and love.

Above all else I’m looking for a good hook and a strong plot (make me keep turning pages, please) told by a strong voice. I want the kind of books that readers come back to over and over again. I read to escape, so take me far away with an irresistible voice and a well-drawn world.

I am not a good fit for horror or anything too scary, bloody, or bleak.

Picture Books

I will selectively consider author/illustrators ONLY. I like slice-of-life stories, whimsical humor, and universal kid experiences told in clever ways.

MG is a tough market right now, so the concept really needs to be a stand-out.

I tend to like the funny, mad-cap-adventure type of middle-grade story with a fun hook. I also love quirky, whimsical magic and magical realism. I want to come away from a middle-grade novel feeling like I went on a fun adventure with kids who accidentally learned something about themselves along the way. They don't have to save the world, but it doesn’t hurt.

I’m especially open to MG on the shorter side (say 25-35k words? Ish?) that captures the kids in between chapter books and the huge fantasy-adventure novels.

Middle Grade

Young Adult

I'm open to most commercial YA, but especially fantasy, romantasy, speculative fiction, light-sci-fi and thriller. I would also love genre blends.

I’m always here for high concepts, romantic tropes (enemies to lovers, love triangles, fake dating, etc.), big sweeping feelings, really well-drawn worlds, and a great twist. A sense of humor (or at least, wit) is a plus. Stories that know how to adapt the well-established literary traditions in a new way—fantasy especially has the added hurdle of needing to really innovate on what we already have.

I would really like to read things you’d call fun and delightful. I generally don’t like problem novels, or anything too depressing.

I’d also love to find YA for the 12-14-year-old readers, set earlier in high school or with slightly younger teen characters in a fantasy novel. Less college and marriage, more prom and driver’s licenses.

Adult

I’m selectively looking to add commercial fantasy, mystery/thriller, and upmarket fiction to my list. Similar to my young adult list, I am looking for fun, gripping, escapist reads with strong hooks.

For the fantasy, I lean more cozy and whimsical, rather than heavy world-building and epic. And like YA, I also love genre blending (throw a murder mystery into any genre, and I’m here for it) and would love to see clever mash-ups.

Books I’ve enjoyed lately: A WITCH’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING by Sangu Mandanna, VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto, the FINLEY DONOVAN series, Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series, and the EMILY WILDE series.

Odds and Ends

  • I’m open to dystopian, but would prefer to see things set inside a dystopian setting rather than a story about taking down a dystopian construct. (If you have a rom-com in a weird future, send it to me!)

  • I can’t escape a good retellings, but I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every Peter Pan, Arthurian legend, Oz, or Alice retelling I’ve received. A less well-trodden story would be a better choice, and retold with a new lens from a new POV.

  • Related to retellings: the more playful or inventive the update the better. Literal scene-for-scene retellings can feel dull. I want things with fresh, modern spins.

  • Talking animals as main characters (in novels) are just not my jam.

  • Please no horror, problem novels, or anything nightmare-inducing. I’m too jumpy and squeamish.