**I will be CLOSED to unsolicited queries starting 6/1/22**
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
I am currently accepting:
In both YA and Adult:
Contemporary
Horror
Fantasy
Sci-fi
Paranormal
Novels in Verse
Only in YA:
Thriller
My #MSWL page can be viewed here, and my Spotify #MSWL can be found here.
I am NOT accepting:
MG
Children’s/Picture Books
Parody/satire
Crime/detective fiction
Mysteries
Political/military/spy thrillers
Non-fiction
Novellas, short story collections, poetry collections, or screenplays
In both YA and Adult:
Contemporary
Horror
Fantasy
Sci-fi
Paranormal
Novels in Verse
Only in YA:
Thriller
My #MSWL page can be viewed here, and my Spotify #MSWL can be found here.
I am NOT accepting:
MG
Children’s/Picture Books
Parody/satire
Crime/detective fiction
Mysteries
Political/military/spy thrillers
Non-fiction
Novellas, short story collections, poetry collections, or screenplays
Some things I look for/spark my interest:
• Morally ambiguous/conflicted protagonists •
• Raw, visceral representation of surviving trauma (and healing from it) •
• Angry characters bent on revenge, but extremely protective of those they love •
• Blood magic, witches, and magic systems with severe/tangible consequences •
• Fantasy rooted in cultures/mythologies outside of the Western scope •
• Horror that’s intrinsically tied to grief, trauma, and family (think THE BABADOOK and HEREDITARY in their raw portrayals of unbridled grief) •
• Folkloric contemporary fantasy •
• Hardened, cynical characters who trust slowly but love fiercely •
• Both lighthearted rom-coms and more melancholic, darker contemporary •
• Heart-wrenching threads of romance with multiple layers of emotion (enemies-to-lovers is always a favorite!) •
• Subtle mythology/fairytale retellings (think ACOMAF being a Hades/Persephone retelling; too obvious/overt is a turn-off for me) •
• Complicated/nuanced familial relationships and friendships •
• Queer and neurodivergent authors/characters (though ALL marginalized authors are always encouraged and welcome to query) •
• Morally ambiguous/conflicted protagonists •
• Raw, visceral representation of surviving trauma (and healing from it) •
• Angry characters bent on revenge, but extremely protective of those they love •
• Blood magic, witches, and magic systems with severe/tangible consequences •
• Fantasy rooted in cultures/mythologies outside of the Western scope •
• Horror that’s intrinsically tied to grief, trauma, and family (think THE BABADOOK and HEREDITARY in their raw portrayals of unbridled grief) •
• Folkloric contemporary fantasy •
• Hardened, cynical characters who trust slowly but love fiercely •
• Both lighthearted rom-coms and more melancholic, darker contemporary •
• Heart-wrenching threads of romance with multiple layers of emotion (enemies-to-lovers is always a favorite!) •
• Subtle mythology/fairytale retellings (think ACOMAF being a Hades/Persephone retelling; too obvious/overt is a turn-off for me) •
• Complicated/nuanced familial relationships and friendships •
• Queer and neurodivergent authors/characters (though ALL marginalized authors are always encouraged and welcome to query) •
Some super specific things I'm dying to have:
• Queer Hades/Persephone retelling, in any genre I represent (bonus points if it's f/f) •
• Horror or contemporary fantasy steeped in Appalachian culture/lore •
• An adult version of Holly Black's VALIANT •
• Queer Hades/Persephone retelling, in any genre I represent (bonus points if it's f/f) •
• Horror or contemporary fantasy steeped in Appalachian culture/lore •
• An adult version of Holly Black's VALIANT •
Some tropes/aesthetics/random things I love:
• enemies to lovers •
• oops there's only one bed •
• mc slipped and rival caught them and now it's INTIMATE •
• grumpy character lights up around sunshine character •
• sunshine character who is absolutely capable of kicking your ass •
• found family •
• quiet character is snarkiest •
• anything leaning punk (which, yes, includes cyberpunk and steampunk!) •
• character who is angriest is most hurt •
• enemies to lovers •
• oops there's only one bed •
• mc slipped and rival caught them and now it's INTIMATE •
• grumpy character lights up around sunshine character •
• sunshine character who is absolutely capable of kicking your ass •
• found family •
• quiet character is snarkiest •
• anything leaning punk (which, yes, includes cyberpunk and steampunk!) •
• character who is angriest is most hurt •
Some things I'm probably NOT the best fit for:
• Books written in epistolary/journal format •
• Graphic on-page sexual assault (note: I want to see stories about healing from SA! Just not with graphic depictions of it) •
• Plots/twists centered around using specific groups for forced breeding •
• Central marriage or pregnancy plots, especially in YA (this isn't an automatic no for me, but I'm extremely picky with them, even in SFF) •
• Multiple alternating timelines (within a few days/weeks is fine, but years/generations/centuries probably not) •
• Vampires/werewolves, unless they're unique and/or not *called* vampires/werewolves (think malchai from Victoria Schwab's This Savage Song) •
• Books written in epistolary/journal format •
• Graphic on-page sexual assault (note: I want to see stories about healing from SA! Just not with graphic depictions of it) •
• Plots/twists centered around using specific groups for forced breeding •
• Central marriage or pregnancy plots, especially in YA (this isn't an automatic no for me, but I'm extremely picky with them, even in SFF) •
• Multiple alternating timelines (within a few days/weeks is fine, but years/generations/centuries probably not) •
• Vampires/werewolves, unless they're unique and/or not *called* vampires/werewolves (think malchai from Victoria Schwab's This Savage Song) •
Response Times:
Generally, I respond to queries within 4-6 weeks, though I try to be quicker when I can.
If I request more of your work, the response time is a little longer, usually 1-3 months.
If you haven't heard anything after 3 months, please don't hesitate to give me a gentle nudge!
Content Warnings:
Any and all content warnings are always appreciated! I do especially appreciate content warnings for the following, though:
• Sexual assault
• Suicide (including attempts)
GUIDELINES
Belcastro uses QueryManager; you can find our submission guidelines here. Submit your query to our automated database for my consideration by clicking the button below. Please include the following:
• Strong query
• Five page sample
• 1-2 page synopsis
• 1-2 sentence pitch
When you receive your auto-response email, it will include a link to check the status of your query. Please save this! It is also the link that allows you to message me to report if you've been offered representation elsewhere.
**Please do not e-mail unsolicited queries to my personal e-mail. They will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding.**
• Strong query
• Five page sample
• 1-2 page synopsis
• 1-2 sentence pitch
When you receive your auto-response email, it will include a link to check the status of your query. Please save this! It is also the link that allows you to message me to report if you've been offered representation elsewhere.
**Please do not e-mail unsolicited queries to my personal e-mail. They will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding.**
If I requested your work at a conference, please submit your query, synopsis, and requested pages by clicking on the link below. Be sure to include how many pages were requested in the query and which conference in the “Referral” blank.
If I requested your work through an online pitch contest or on Twitter, please submit your query, synopsis, and requested pages by clicking on the link below. Remember to include the tweet I "liked" in your query.
Examples of pitch contests:
• #DVPit
• #PitMad
• #LatinxPitch
• #PitDark
Examples of pitch contests:
• #DVPit
• #PitMad
• #LatinxPitch
• #PitDark
Follow my Twitter account for #MSWL tweets and other wishlist updates!