Devanshi Sharma
White Arrow Books
My Manuscript Wish List®
My Manuscript Wish List® Items
I am the associate editor at White Arrow Books, building the imprint’s list for engaging, quality fiction and nonfiction. With two degrees in literature and an ever-present love for words, I am always on the lookout for works filled with heart and sincerity, be it fiction or non-fiction.
Fiction:
I am on the lookout for YA and Adult fiction, especially stories that combine compelling characters with worldbuilding and plotlines that leave you in wonder. Adore retellings that explore historically acclaimed literature and fairytales through the lens of a racial or gendered lens. Love books that explore complex sibling relationships, fantastical worlds hidden away in our modern one, dystopian fiction with commentary on the current state, science fiction that extrapolate futures and give them an interesting spin, and queer fiction that holds space and tenderness for people of all kinds. Romance (as a genre or a subplot) is a bonus when the characters come to find themselves through the foundation of love and friendship, or if friction and love has an underlying subtext for their own psyche and lives.
My favorite reads in these areas have been THIS WOVEN KINGDOM by Tahereh Mafi, HOW HIGH WE GO IN THE DARK by Sequoia Nagamatsu, THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins, any and all books by Ann Liang, high-fantasy works along the lines of what JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis wrote, A PSALM FOR THE WILD BUILT by Becky Chambers. But, as always, I will adore works similar to the urban fantasy landscapes of Cassandra Clare and Richelle Mead. I also have a soft spot for protagonists who choose kindness and optimism despite external influences, and characters with complex dimensions beyond just being conventionally ‘strong.’ Books that offer worlds outside European settings also hold my interest.
I am also open to receiving submissions in mystery and thriller that have first lines that make me sit up and intriguing character arcs.
Nonfiction:
Anything in science and environment, history, geopolitics, sociology, psychology, and feminism interests me. Some of my favorite books offer perspectives that challenge conventions in some way or the other. One prominent example is HUMANKIND by Rutger Bregman. In geopolitics, I am looking for books along the lines of PRISONERS OF GEOGRAPHY by Tim Marshall, works with depth that can be grasped by readers of all kinds. Commentary on popular culture, anything on the new generations, social media, women and teenagers is of interest to me. Historical narratives that focus on the underrepresented groups, their portrayal and representation across literature also holds great value. Education, especially in recent times with the information available to us at all moments, is a great topic of importance; if you have any experience in the field or research/commentary/credentials, please do send your work.
A particular space I’m exploring is within faith-based works that dives into spiritual discipline, cultivating faith in an era of noise, with simple, accessible language. Devotionals and prayer books, self-help through the spiritual lens, any concepts for journals in this area is of interest to me.
Note(s):
- I would not be the right person for dark romance, erotica, or spicy romances.
- I am not a literary agent and do not offer representation. However, I am currently open to unagented submissions.
Fun facts about me:
- Absolutely adore Barbie movies and the beautiful worlds it paints about believing in ordinary magic.
- I am actively always searching for young protagonists in my novels who are deliberately kind in a cruel world. Think, hope-core protagonists. e.g. Alizeh from This Woven Kingdom
- I also have a deep, enduring interest in geopolitics, current world happenings, and how it intersects with culture and literature
- My favourite nonfic postcolonial writer has to be Edward Said
- Since my locality is filled with orange cats, I’m fond of animal companions in books
- Absolutely adore complex sibling relationships in media
- Found family is my top favourite trope.
- I am a writer myself. Always loved weaving subplot romances through a larger world
Submission Guidelines
- Email subject should be: QUERY: [Project Title] by [Your Full Name]
- You can introduce yourself in the email body. I’d love to hear about your work, writing etc.
Please collate the following information into a single Word document (Font: 12-point Times New Roman):
- A short bio of yourself, including any social media work you might have done or handles you have created
- Title and (Tentative) word count of your project
- Details about the genre, age category (YA/NA/Adult) and demographics
- Plot outline (concept outline if non-fiction)
- Cast of characters (if fiction)
- Excerpts or 2 sample chaptersÂ
- Comp titles
Vital Info
Favorite sub-genres:
#ownvoices, 1800s+ historical, AAPI Fantasy, AAPI Horror, AAPI Sci-Fi, Adult Rom Com, Adult Romantasy, Adult SFF, Adventure, African Diaspora, African Fantasy, African Sci-Fi, Artificial Intelligence, Asian Diaspora, Asian Fantasy, Asian Horror, Asian Sci-Fi, BIPOC Fantasy, BIPOC Horror, BIPOC Mystery, BIPOC Sci-Fi, Bible studies, Books about books, Character-driven SciFi, Children's and Young Adult Fiction and Nonfiction, Christian Living, Christian romance, Classic retellings with BIPOC characters, Cli-Fi, Climate Fiction, Commercial Women's Fiction, Commercial YA, Commercial adult fiction, Concept SF, Contemporary Culture, Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Inspirational Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary YA, Contemporary Young Adult, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Cozy mysteries, Cyberpunk, Disability, Dystopia, Dystopian, East Asian Literature, Ecology, Educational, Environment, Epic Fantasy, Epistolary, Essays, Fairytale Retellings, Fantasy, Fantasy Grounded in Reality, Fantasy Romance, Fantasy YA, Female Friendships, Feminism, Feminist, Feminist SF/F, Found Families, Gothic Fantasy, Gothic Horror, Hard Science Fiction, High Fantasy, High-concept YA, Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction YA, Historical RomCom, Historical Women's Fiction, Historical mysteries, Humor, Humor YA, Indigenous Futurism, Indigenous Sciences, Intersectional Feminism, Intersectionality, LGBT YA, LGBTQ Contemporary, LGBTQ Romance, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ Fantasy, LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi, LGBTQ+ rom coms, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIAP, Latinx Fantasy, Layered Rom-Coms and Comedy of Manners with a cultural component, Literary Fantasy, Literary Thriller, Low Fantasy, Magic Realism, Magical Realism, Magical Realism YA, Marginalized Voices, Mental Health, Military Sci-Fi, Minority Voices, Modern Retellings of Fairy Tales, Modernized Mythologies, Multicultural, Multigenerational, Multiple POV, Nature, Nature Writing, Neo-Victorian, Neurodiversity, New Adult, Own Voices, POC, Politics/Current Affairs, Pop Culture, Regency Romance, Retellings, Robots/A.I., Rom-com, STEM, SciFi Romance, Science Fiction YA, Science Fiction and Fantasy Favorite sub-genres: Absolutely all of them!, Self-help for teens, Soft Fantasy, Soft Science Fiction, Solarpunk, South Asian, South East Asian Literature, Speculative, Speculative Fiction, Steampunk, Strategy books for teens, Time Travel Romance, Upmarket YA, Urban Fantasy, Women's Fiction, Women's Issues, YA Contemporary, YA Contemporary Romance, YA Contemporary Romance with layers, YA Crossover, YA Fantasy, YA Historical Fantasy, YA Mystery, YA Rom-Coms, YA RomCom, YA Romance, YA Romantasy, YA SF/F, YA Sci-fi, YA Science Fiction, YA fantasy/light sci-fi, YA horror, YA rom com, YA thriller/mystery, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction (Historical Fiction only), Young Adult Narrative Non-Fiction (Both Contemporary and Historical Narrative Non-Fiction), Young Adult Non-Fiction, character-focused fiction, character-focused stories, classic retellings, coming of age, contemporary women's fiction, court intrigue, dark academia, diverse, diverse and own voices, diverse heroines, diverse voices, eco-fiction, enemies to lovers, epistolary novels, fairy tales, fantasy of manners, found family, friendship, friendship stories, fun SF/F, gaslamp fantasy, gender, historical mystery, historical romance, hopepunk, immigration, inclusive sf/f, indigenous futurisms, invisible disability, just... all the tropes, light Sci-Fi, light fantasy, music, narrative non-fiction YA/MG, near-future science fiction, non-Western fantasy, non-Western historical fiction, non-western settings, pining, realistic fiction, rivals to lovers, romantacy, romantasy, romantic New Adult, romantic fantasy, sci-fi, science fantasy, science fiction epic, slow burn, speculative slice of life, stories that don't fit neatly into a genre, upmarket/book club with female protagonist
I’d like the next…
- THIS WOVEN KINGDOM by Tahereh Mafi
- ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber
- HUMANKIND by Rutger Bregman
- THE HERBWITCH’S APPRENTICE by Ireen Chau
- AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir
- SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi
- THE DARK ARTIFICES TRILOGY by Cassandra Clare
- CULTURE AND IMPERIALISM by Edward Said
- IF YOU COULD SEE THE SUN by Ann Liang
My favorites include…
BOOKS
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
- This Woven Kingdom series by Tahereh Mafi
- Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi
- Humankind by Rutger Bregman
- A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
- Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
- If You Could See the Sun and I Could Give You the Moon by Ann Liang
- The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin
- The Herbwitch Princess by Ireen Chau
- The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
- Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- Legendborn series by Tracey Deonn
- Anything in YA romance like Emma Mills
MOVIES:
- All Barbie movies. But especially The 12 Dancing Princesses, Princess Charm School. Think pink, princesses, magic and you have me hooked
- Any show with complex geopolitical dynamics, whether fantasy or not
- Stories with heartfelt BIPOC representation
- Pride and Prejudice
- The Other Bennet Sister
- Enola Holmes series
TV SHOWS:
- Bridgerton
- The Nuremberg Trials
- World War II in Colour
- Anne with an E
K-DRAMAS
- Hotel del Luna
- Vincenzo
- Crash Landing on You
- All of Us Are Dead
