Maria Vicente

I’m a Senior Literary Agent and Advisor at P.S. Literary Agency representing creators of innovative and beautiful books for readers of all ages. You can learn more about me on my website: www.mariavicente.com. 

My specific wish list items are listed below by category. I welcome and encourage submissions from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled creators.

Things I’m looking for across categories and genres:

• Beautiful writing combined with a compelling sales hook;
• Short(er) books (I’m not the right agent for epic fantasy series);
• Anything strange or weird.

Adult Fiction

I’m actively adding more literary and upmarket fiction writers to my client list. Here’s what I’m looking for:

• genre fiction | fantasy, grounded science fiction, magical realism, retellings of fairy tales and folktales, and horror;
• contemporary fiction | exploring modern life, queer themes, friendship, mental health, nostalgia, existential dread—anything with “cool girl” or “sad girl” vibes
  
• novels that experiment with narrative structure;
• stylish mysteries and thrillers.

Some of my recent and all-time favourite adult fiction novels to give you a sense of what I’m looking for: The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, Death Valley by Melissa Broder, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, Bunny by Mona Awad, My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, The New Me by Halle Butler, The Guest by Emma Cline, Juliet the Maniac by Juliet Escoria, Night Film by Marisha Pessl, Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, The Fake by Zoe Whittall

Nonfiction

I’m looking for nonfiction projects about art, the environment, pop culture, psychology, science, cultural history, and occult topics. I expect a nonfiction book proposal to offer a new perspective on an entertaining topic. I want to read: 

• explorations of mental health topics; 
• occult books; 
• illustrated and photography books; 
• essay collections;
• single-topic personal development books.

Some nonfiction books I love: Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me by Anna Mehler Paperny, The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, All the Gold Stars by Rainesford Stauffer, Witches of America by Alex Mar, Taschen’s The Library of Esoterica series, Literary Witches by Taisia Kitaiskaia and Katy Horan, Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval, What We See in the Stars by Kelsey Oseid, The 2000s Made Me Gay by Grace Perry, Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino, Nightmare Fuel by Nina Nesseth

Graphic Novels

I represent creators of graphic novels and graphic nonfiction for all age categories. I am currently only reviewing graphic novel submissions created by author/illustrators (a sole creator writing and illustrating the book). I’m particularly looking for graphic novel proposals that push the boundaries of the format—a book that needs to be in a visual, sequential format. 

Graphic novels I love (for both their art style and story): This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews, Spinning by Tillie Walden, The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught, The Montague Twins by Nathan Page and Drew Shannon, The Hills of Estrella Roja by Ashley Robin Franklin, Operatic by Kyo Maclear and Byron Eggenschwiler, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell, Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green, Acquicorn Cove by Katie O’Neill, Frankie and the Creepy Cute Critters by Caitlin Rose Boyle, Bug Boys series by Laura Knetzger, The Racc Pack by Stephanie Cooke & Whitney Gardner

Young Adult

I’m looking for “weird and wonderful” YA novels:

• magical realism;
• stories that blend genres to create something new and unusual.

Examples: Wilder Girls by Rory Power, They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

I’m also looking for contemporary YA with writing as evocative as books written by Tiffany D. Jackson and Mary H.K. Choi.

Middle Grade

I’m interested in reading middle grade fantasy submissions.

Some of my favourites: Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega, When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer, The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

I’d also love to finally find the perfect animal story for my list (I’ve been searching for over a decade!).

Examples: Pax by Sara Pennypacker, Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel, A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry, Santa Paws by Nicholas Edwards

Picture Books

I’m only accepting submissions for illustrated picture books created by a single author/illustrator. I like picture books that take big topics and feelings and make them child-friendly. And, of course, have stunning and diverse art. I also love poetic language (not to be mistaken for rhyming text).

Some of my picture book favourites include: Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddoir and Daniel Egneus, Birdsong by Julie Flett, Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault, This is Sadie by Sara O’Leary and Julie Morstad, Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel, Black Gold by Laura Obuobi, What Love Looks Like by Laura Obuobi, Shy Willow by Cat Min, The Little Toymaker by Cat Min, As Strong as the River by Sarah Noble

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to query@psliterary.com

Please send your query letter to qu***@ps********.com. Include the title of your project in the subject line and address the email to me (Maria Vicente) to ensure I receive your submission. Do not send any attachments with your query letter (seriously—your email will end up in spam). Finally, please do not query multiple agents at P.S. Literary Agency simultaneously.

Guidelines & Details