Hannah Pierdolla

YA / New Adult fiction

• Light fantasy to “middle” fantasy – across the fantasy spectrum, I’m interested in light fantasy (speculative that is still grounded in our world) to “middle” fantasy (could be set in a different world, but one that’s similar to ours; doesn’t require extensive worldbuilding)
  • I’m not looking for high, epic, sweeping fantasy. The heart of the stories I’m looking for are its characters and its voice. Can be cozy, cozy-adjacent, or not cozy at all!
    • THE HONEY WITCH by Sydney J. Shields, Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series, THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES by Sangu Mandanna
• I am always (and even primarily) on the lookout for fairytales and fairytale retellings, especially those that capture the magic and atmosphere of a classic fairytale in a new, fresh way. Think SPINNING SILVER or UPROOTED by Naomi Novik; THE FOX WIFE by Yangsze Choo; NETTLE & BONE by T. Kingfisher.

• High concept – I keep my fantasy low and my concepts high: I love high-concept stories with an original hook
• For Romantasy, I’m looking for more fantasy/plot than romance. I aim for a 60 fantasy/40 romance split. 
  • Think DIVINE RIVALS by Rebecca Ross, THE CRUEL PRINCE by Holly Black, and EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett (again)
• I am open to darker stories if they’re campy, a la LISA FRANKENSTEIN or BOTTOMS. I love a slightly absurd book!
• I love magical systems that are based on something real – think the magic of language in R. F. Kuang’s BABEL. I love social psychology and sociolinguistics, so anything that incorporates that, I’m game!

• I’m almost exclusively looking for speculative/SFF in YA and new adult, BUT I do enjoy contemporary reimaginings of classics
  • The reimaginings I’m looking for aren’t exactly a one-to-one retelling—they have more than one fresh twist. The twist could even be speculative, but it doesn’t have to be! As long as it’s got a strong, unique hook, I’m game. 
  • Some of my favorite classics: 
    • LITTLE WOMEN, SENSE & SENSIBILITY, PRIDE & PREJUDICE (duh), and WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Across the board, I’m looking for:

• Ace main characters: the storyline of the book doesn’t have to revolve around their sexual identity either—I love you, LOVELESS by Alice Oseman, but I’m also looking for casually ace characters, where being ace-spec is just a part of their personality
• Decidedly uncool characters. They’re a little odd, maybe off-putting, and/or have weirdly specific passions and interests, but their strange aura is endearing to those who love them. I also like a himbo who doesn’t really understand what’s going on (“He’s a little confused, but he’s got the spirit” vibes)
• Self-aware books that aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves
  • Think REDSHIRTS by John Scalzi; Season 6, Episode 15 of the CW’s Supernatural, “The French Mistake;” Grady Hendrix; MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER: THE MCMASTERS GUIDE TO HOMICIDE by Rupert Holmes
• Books that remind you that reading is FUN! Because it is!! I love books that leave you with more joy or laughter than it found you with; that give you a lingering warm feeling inside.

Nonfiction:

• Pop culture: 
  • Behind the scenes looks at the creation of television shows and films with strong fanbases. Dream wishlist: Arrested Development, The Good Place, Succession, Hannibal
  • Books about fandom in general, in the vein of NERD by Maya Phillips and EVERYTHING I NEED I GET FROM YOU by Kaitlyn Tiffany. 
    • Bonus points if it does deep dives into subjects like the Omegaverse or prolific tags/tropes, like Dead Dove: Do Not Eat – why they’re popular, what they mean about readers, & how they’re sometimes just plain silly!

I’m not looking for: 

• Body horror
• Animal-centered books
• Hardcore science-fiction, space operas, or cyberpunk (no robots please, unless that robot is cute and silly, a la Rambo from IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by T.J. Klune)
• Historical
• Straight-forward contemporary rom-coms (unless, of course, the MC is ace!)

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to hannah.pierdolla@stmartins.com

I’m only accepting agented submissions at this time.