Alex’s 2021 #MSWL
This is me reading my manuscript wish list to my dog, Roscoe
This time of the year is always the right opportunity for agents/editors/publishers to outline exactly what manuscripts they’re looking for and comparative titles that help an author pitch to the correct person.
First, I’ll start by outlining who I am. I’m Alex. I’ve been an editor of books and articles for the last eight years and I’ve been a professional writer for the last ten. I am currently working on my Ph.D. in Creative Writing specifically focused on fiction. For me, when it comes to signing an author, I take into account the manuscript of course, but also the writer behind the book. I love connecting with a writer on their manuscript and seeing their full potential.
While I will accept books from most fiction genres, here is a deep dive into what I’m looking for in my top genres. Please note as of right now I am only working with nonfiction and fiction writers who write for the adult age range. That being said if there’s a YA novel that could potentially fall in the categories below please reach out.
This is what I’m looking for in 2021!
RomComs/Book Club Fiction
I cannot begin to express how much I love this genre! When doing my MFA, I focused a ton on this genre which made me love it more.
I am obsessed with Canadian author Sonya Lalli’s debut novel The Matchmaker’s List that explores not only romantic relationships but also cultural and familial relationships. On top of that, it’s incredibly funny and charming.
I also loved the debut novel The Flatshare by UK author Beth O’Leary as well as her sophomore novel The Switch. The Switch really captivated my attention because POV from both main characters is so different, yet so beautifully well done that it really is a unique RomCom. It had laugh out loud moments mixed with a quirky cast of characters.
The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward is another great book that was recently featured by Reese Witherspoon’s book club. This book is so unique and hilarious that I would love to see some unpublished manuscripts compared to it.
Basically, if it’s heavy on the romance and heavy on the hilarity/hijinx, it’s probably for me!
Women’s Fiction
This is another one of my favourite genres is Women’s Fiction. I love books that feature strong female characters or female characters that come into their own!
A book I fell in love with this past year was One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London. It features the plus-size main character, Bea, competing in a Bachelorette style TV show. I love the humour and how well written this book is but it also features a main character that is currently under-represented in fiction. If this comp title is in your query, there’s a high chance I’m going to request the manuscript!
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo is so uniquely written that it’s hard not to fall in love with the book immediately. Over the span of a decade, you follow the main character Lucy and how her first love weaves in and out of her life.
I love Women’s Fiction that features heroines the delve from the usual main character. If they’re quirky, different, and have a really cool story, I’m definitely interested!
Historical Fiction
I have been in love with Phillipa Gregory and her novels since I was a teenager. I love the characters from history she writes about. I am a huge fan of The White Queen and The Last Tudor. If you have a historical fiction novel that features characters from history but has a new spin on it, please send it my way!
The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn is another favourite of mine. I know it’s become a hit TV show on Netflix but if you haven’t read the books about the Bridgerton siblings, you need to! If you have a manuscript about high society, fancy parties, and unrequited love, we may be a good fit.
Thrillers / Mysteries
My absolute favourite thriller I’ve read over the last few months is Whisper Network by Chandler Baker. This book I cannot even begin to describe what I love most but the character dynamics between the four main characters and their extremely different relationships to the same person blows me out of the water. The twists and turns keep you gripped until the last page. If you have a book that will leave your reader gobsmacked, I want to see it!
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda is another thriller I was enthralled with. The unexpected is the best part of any thriller and Miranda nails that with this book.
Horror
Horror is a relatively new genre I’m looking to branch into. I love Stephen King, particularly The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon that had no supernatural elements but was still terrifying. As well, The Shining would be another one of my favourites by King. I am not interested in anything where plot twist it was Aliens the whole time but would love to see anything else in the horror realm.
Non-Fiction Memoirs / Collection of Essays
While David Leviathan is most known for his YA novels, The Lover's Dictionary and How They Met & Other Stories, nonfiction essays about love and life. I cannot get enough of these books and he has so many others I am also obsessed with. The Lover’s Dictionary is written from first-person perspective and is styled like dictionary definitions. It’s incredible and I would love to see some unique essay collections!
I would love to hear from authors who identify with OWN, BVM, IMM, POC, LGBTQAI+, MH, and DIS. I look for main characters that are currently under-represented in fiction such as, but not limited to, plus-sized, LGBTQAI+, and/or persons of colour.
Hard nos for me are: erotica, religious fiction/nonfiction, political fiction/nonfiction, children’s fiction, or middle grade. These books are great, I just don’t have the expertise to support the author in the way they deserve.
If you fall into the categories above or have a new, beautiful idea that you think I need to see, please visit our submissions page here and we look forward to reading your query! If you want to connect with me, follow me on Twitter here.