manuscript wish list

Claire is looking for fiction and nonfiction projects that make people fall in love with reading through beautiful writing, dynamic characters, and engaging plots. She loves love, the Midwest, and being scared! But she is also looking for a wide range of projects that don’t fit into those categories, so take a look below for more specifics.

In both fiction and nonfiction, Claire is looking for books that shine a spotlight on people, places, and issues not given the attention they deserve—the kinds of stories that are often overlooked or pushed aside. She’s incredibly passionate about getting those stories out into the world. She’s looking for books that promote inclusivity and diversity, and books that start new conversations or add meaningfully to ongoing ones.

She is not currently accepting submissions in these areas:

young adult, middle grade, children’s, sci-fi, fantasy, legal thrillers, military thrillers, memoir, parenting books, fertility stories, self-help centering on grief or overcoming trauma

TO SEND A QUERY: please visit the P.S. Literary website and follow the guidelines listed.

horror: new twists on classic tropes, not too heavy on the gore (no gore for gore’s sake), unnerving, unsettling, stories that stick with you after you finish reading them, stories including a cultural critique of some sort, heavy use of dread

tropes: house as character, remote location (no cell service), actual hauntings vs. characters losing their minds, a skeptic who ends up believing (or dead!) by the end, found footage, any and all stories that end with a final girl

thrillers: standalone psychological thrillers, new twist on classic tropes, revenge stories, elements of horror, shocking endings, unreliable narrators, fictionalizations of actual crimes, anything set in the 90s

tropes: unstable (or unhinged) narrator, missing memories or time, seemingly decent people with dark pasts, stalking, gaslighting

rom coms + romance: tender and loving relationships, authentic characters with authentic struggles, genuine connections, emotion vulnerability, any level of steaminess and spice, any level of humor, especially love millennial characters for millennial audiences

tropes: friends/enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, found family, second chance romance

contemporary fiction + family dramas: upmarket, character explorations (still need definable plot), friendship stories, sister stories, siblings up to no good, relationship dynamics, complex family dynamics, boarding school stories, inheritance stories, small town settings, hidden histories, deep secrets coming to light, elements of magical realism

cozies + mysteries: millennial characters written for millennial audience, amateur sleuths of all gender identities, unique twists on classic tropes, fun settings we don’t often see

categories + settings for cozies (accepting others, as well): crafting, baking, desserts, bookstores, bachelorette parties, boozy brunches, drag queens, national parks

cultural criticism + true crime: examining society through a unique lens, untold stories and perspectives, shining a light on people / places / events that are being (or historically have been) ignored, journalistic look at crimes of all kind (not exclusively murder cases), author as part of the narrative, crimes that have been swept under the rug or haven’t received the media attention they deserve

self-help + pop psychology: from a qualified perspective (psychiatrists, therapists, life coaches, etc.), fun tone but still handling topics seriously and with respect, includes actual advice on how to improve yourself and solve a problem, written in an approachable way

gift books, cookbooks, cocktail + mocktail books: fun gift books geared toward millennial audiences (accepting a wide variety of subjects), visually stunning cookbooks with a fresh perspective and a strong platform, cocktail / mocktail books with a unique hook

humor + essay collections: laugh out loud funny, examines deeper themes and issues, social commentary, exploring culture, relatable stories, accessible writing