Amanda Gaglione

Submission Guidelines

Hi there! I’m Amanda Gaglione, an assistant editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. I’m currently considering picture books, middle grade, young adult fiction, and new adult fiction titles for my list! Please note that, per company policy, I can only consider agented submissions.

I’m on the hunt for:

ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS:

• Mostly speculative (fantasy, horror, sci-fi, magic realism) even if there’s just a hint. I love contemporary fantasy, subtle horror, light sci-fi, etc, but contemporary fiction likely isn’t for me.
• Diverse protagonists/stories (especially latine, queer, OCD, anxiety, & autism representation)
• Voicey protagonists and humor (even/maybe especially in horror)
• Anything spooky—from genuinely dark tales to eerie vibes to campy (The Addams Family) to whimsigoth cuteness
• Diverse cultures in mythology and folklore
• Siblings and blended families
• Found family/group of misfits trope
• Coziness!
• Commercial plots and tropes with lyrical or voicey writing

YOUNG ADULT:

• Genuinely cozy / slice of life fantasy
• Retellings (fairy tales and classic literature) centering diverse characters
• BIPOC fantasy (especially stand alones)
• Queer romance with a splash of speculative (One Last Stop)
• Detailed and unique world building
• Dystopian relevant to current events (i.e. climate crisis, AI)
• Horror of any kind, with a soft spot for voicey, campy horror
• Teen slasher, especially with speculative elements like body swapping (Freaky), time travel (Totally Killer), or time loops (Happy Death Day) or subverted tropes (They/Them)

NEW ADULT:

• Similar to what I’m seeking in YA! I’m most excited about BIPOC, LBGTQIA+, and disability narratives and extra drawn to cozy fantasy and humor in this space (though I also like darker themes…)
• I’m more drawn to fantasy that incorporates romance than traditional romantasy, but I would LOVE to see unique BIPOC and queer romantasy with strong world building!
• Extremely selective with contemporary fiction and romcoms (limited exclusively to marginalized voices and narratives)
• NOT interested in dark romance (power imbalances, high-stakes danger, taboo themes, nonconsentual situations)
• Examples of what I’d like to see in this space: This Princess Kills Monsters, The Nightmare Before Kissmass, One Last Stop, Immortal Dark, Assistant to the Villain

PICTURE BOOKS:

• Fairytales or folktales, especially if they’re odd. Anything with magic or monsters
• Cottagecore/cozy—stories that feel like cider and fairy rings
• Offbeat or clever humor
• Cute animals in even cuter clothes (Beatrix Potter vibes)
• Stories and art with a classic, almost vintage feel
  • OR art that feels bright and funky and entirely new
• Animals (especially the odd/underappreciated)
• Clever/new use of anthropomorphism

MIDDLE GRADE:

• Fun, voicey adventures for reluctant readers
• Humor for modern kids!
• Interesting/experimental formats (interactive, highly illustrated, etc.)
• Whimsy and nonsense! Stories where ordinary kids stumble upon bizarre worlds or wind up on wild adventures. Chronicles of Narnia / Alice in Wonderland / Phantom Tollbooth for current readers.
• Shorter page counts/chapters