Michaela Whatnall

Right now, the categories I’m most looking to build in are adult upmarket fiction, grounded adult fantasy and certain romantasy, contemporary middle grade, and young adult. I’m always eager to see books from diverse voices.

Young Adult: This is the one category where anything goes for me. I love all genres—if it’s YA, bring it on! (I will say that I’m a particular sucker for hooky fantasy and contemporary, as well as well as genre blending, but I’m truly open to any YA with a strong concept.)

Middle Grade: I am seeking contemporary middle grade that is layered, heartfelt, and centers characters with backgrounds or experiences we don’t often see on the page. Think books like SIMON SORT OF SAYS by Erin Bow or my client Jasminne Paulino’s forthcoming THE EXTRAORDINARY ORBIT OF ALEX RAMIREZ.

Upmarket Fiction: I am seeking contemporary, speculative, and historical upmarket fiction that combines a propulsive plot with pervasive themes. A good example of what I’m looking for is my client Sophie Wan’s WOMEN OF GOOD FORTUNE, which on its surface is a book about a heist at a ritzy wedding, but underneath is about the complexities of friendship and the pressures society places on women.

Adult Fantasy: In adult fantasy, I am looking for two categories. The first is grounded fantasy, meaning stories that are set in our world, or a world that doesn’t feel too far from our own. I prefer fantasy that prioritizes character, with a world building hook that can be described in one sentence. EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett is a recent favorite and I’d love to find a book that comps to it. The second category I’m seeking is romantasy featuring queer, BIPOC, or otherwise underrepresented protagonists.

Adult Romance: I am seeking romance that centers queer characters, especially stories that break away from familiar tropes or offer genuinely fresh twists on those tropes.

Graphic Novel: I am selectively seeking middle grade and young adult graphic novel proposals that include both text and art.

Picture Book: I am selectively seeking picture books (text only or text and art) that are either wonderfully whimsical, explore an interesting and previously unexplored topic, or that bring a brand new perspective on a common childhood experience.

Nonfiction: I am selectively seeking narrative nonfiction in the categories of pop culture and cultural criticism, as well as sports books that center women or queer athletes.

Here are some other specifics that I’m always excited to see in stories (though are by no means a requirement):

• Queer characters of all kinds, and especially narratives about transgender, nonbinary, and asexual characters
• Slow-burn relationships (either romance or friendship)
• Genre blending
• Boarding school/university settings
• Theater stories
• Sports and competition stories that center underrepresented characters
• Dark academia
• Nautical settings (ships, lighthouses, anything with ocean vibes!)
• Found families
• Sibling stories
• Fresh takes on old classics
• Unexpected subversions of familiar tropes
• Stories that deal with language
• Niche interests or groups
• Heists
• Adventures and/or books that can be described as a “romp”

I am not the best fit for:

• Parody or satirical fiction
• Legal or military thrillers

Please note: I view my manuscript wish list as a starting point. It’s impossible to describe every kind of book I could potentially fall in love with, especially if it’s something I couldn’t have imagined! If you aren’t seeing your book perfectly described here but you think we might be a good fit, please feel free to try me!

Submission Guidelines

You can query me at https://querymanager.com/query/michaelawhatnall.

Please see the link below for full submission guidelines for querying an agent at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Every single query that comes in is reviewed, so please do give us 6 – 8 weeks for response.

Guidelines & Details