Christine Kelly Reads and Writes

I will be posting this to manuscriptwishlist.com and my main MSWL page on my website. As well!

I figure it’s time for me to update my MSWL, as I am hungry for a few new things. Especially things that are different than what I have on my list and what I just signed.

Generally what pulls me into a manuscript is high stakes, a clear and concise concept that shows the story progression and character arcs. While the premise must stand out, the writing is what’s important to me.

My taste will lean more Commercial, while, with the right story I gravitate a bit Upmarket. When it comes to fantasy, I don’t usually feel drawn to stories with intense world building and would like to see something that doesn’t involve games. I love romance but I am very picky. I really want to see the stakes in the pitch, the MCs must have a lot to lose not only internally but externally too!

My aim to uplift LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, etc. voices, especially those targeted by the current administration. If you took your rage to page, let me see it.

What I’m really keen on finding is:

• Historical romance
• Historical fiction (not ww2 please)
• Non western settings, especially historical fiction and fantasy
• Horror with romantic elements (yup, you read that right!)
• SciFi (with romance)
• Messy family narratives- think Bad Moms x Succession type of stories
• Weird! If you think your book has a bonkers premise, think of me!
• YA!! Craving more YA fiction that is truly a young adult MC. In fantasy, that means also no marriage aspect to the premise please.
• Stories centered women: female friendships, motherhood, sisterhood, breaking the class ceiling, etc. (Especially stories of women going through peri-menopause or menopause.)

Ready to query me? Here are a few things I look out for in manuscripts:

• Be sure it’s been beta read and through rounds of edits
• Do you know what show don’t tell means? If not, do a pass for showing versus telling (here is a great resource).
• Have you wanted to learn more about line level writing? Check out CeCe Lyra’s webinars. She has a great class on line level writing.
• My favorite books with prose & voice that makes my heart happy:
  • Ali Hazelwood’s voice
  • Emily Henry’s banter
  • Isabelle Cañas’ prose (Vampires of El Norte !!!!)
  • THE FAVORITES for it’s commercial appeal

While I’m trying to keep my MSWL less niche, I do want to provide a few of my favorite things so you can understand my taste.

Favorite tropes/micro-tropes:

• Forbidden love- even better when it’s combined with forced proximity. Give me high stakes– if they are together the world will end type of stakes.
• “Touch her and I’ll rip your head off”, but make it paranormal in some way.
• Single parent stories. But I want truly authentic representation of how hard it is without the village we were falsely promised.

Favorite TV shows (some specific episodes) & movies (would love these as one of your comps!

• Fleabag Season 2
• The OC New Years episode
• Pride & Prejudice
• Bend It Like Beckham
• Anatasia & Tangled (because to me, these hit the same part of my heart)
• True Blood

I am not looking for memoir at this time. Not for me are stories where a child’s death is central to the plot. If you have to question if your story has a child’s death and if it’s for me, it likely isn’t. This has to do with my own taste since I am a mother to two children. Thank you in advance for respecting my TW!