What I’m Looking for

I will read anything that isn’t specifically on my ‘no’ list, but here is what I’m most interested in this year.

I am particularly excited to mentor a disabled author writing disabled characters. I want physically disabled characters, chronically ill characters, neurodivergent characters, characters with chronic pain, characters with mental illness, characters who use mobility aids — you name it! Your book doesn’t have to be about the disability, though. Does your character have multiple disabilities? Is there a disabled main and a disabled LI? Is your character multiply-marginalized? Send those types of manuscript my way!

I usually like at least some romance in a story, though if you’re not writing in the romance genre, it doesn’t have to be the main focus. For romance, I tend to enjoy a slower burn, though it’s not a requirement. I’m okay with some steam but lean towards less spicy in general. Ace rep is very welcome. I’m not the best fit for love triangles - I’m more open to it if it’s obvious one character isn’t end goals (for example in a second chance romance where one of the characters is now in a different relationship).

In contemporary across age groups: I like joy books, but I also like issue books and books that fall somewhere in between. Publishing often considers disability and illness ‘too heavy’ to be anything but an issue book (even if it’s not). If this is something you worry about with your book, I’ll probably love it. And if it is an issue book? Go there. I’m here for it. I love quiet stories as well. 

In YA fantasy: Does your disabled character subvert a typical trope? Are you writing a disabled character into your fantasy and can’t think of a good comp because ‘this hasn’t been done a lot with disabled characters?’ I want that. Are you playing with pacing or structure because of crip time? Yes, please. Have you created magical mobility aids? *Raises hand eagerly* Is your disabled character simply trying to live their best life in your fantasy world, brandishing magical weapons and going on adventures? I will also love that. TL;DR: All the disabled characters doing all the things! I like cozy fantasy as much as I like high-stakes fantasy.

The biggest things I look for are characters and their development. If you give me someone to root for, I will follow them anywhere. I enjoy twists and angst, though I want a happily ever after or happily for now if you’re going to put me through a lot of pain. If you have a sequel or trilogy planned, I’m fine with cliffhangers, but if you’re trying to get traditionally published, it’s important to recognize that some threads might need to get tied up for a satisfactory ending. I’m open to working with people who want to self-publish, but I haven’t self-published myself, so I’m not able to advise you on the marketing/pub/formatting side of things.

What I’m Not Looking For

-Fae that can be comped to SJM or Holly Black (I am open to different interpretations of fae, especially non-western ones)

-Vampires 

-Old immortal creatures paired with teenagers (unless the teenager is secretly also an old immortal)

-Workplace romance between boss and employee (other workplace romance fine)

-Dubious consent/Nonconsensual/Rape

-Alphaholes

-Monster romance

-Erotica

-Villain origin stories or retellings of fairy tales from the villain point of view

-Brutalization of disabled characters (fine to have characters talk about past traumas)

-Magical cures

-Inspirational Romance

-Narratives from a caretaker POV

-Main characters or love interests who are medical professionals unless they are also disabled (includes mental health specialists)