Ciara Smith

July 1 MSWL Update for Ciara Smith
Associate Agent, Corvisiero Literary.

I’m reopening to queries on July 1! I’m keeping much of what I’ve always loved, but here’s a deeper look at what I’m especially hoping to find right now—across YA, NA, and Adult, unless otherwise noted:

Science Fiction (All Ages)
• Space opera
• Alien romance
• Space horror
• Far-future worlds
• Any -punk subgenre (cyberpunk, solarpunk, steampunk, biopunk, etc.)
• Space heists

Whether you’re giving me stars, politics, messy emotions on a spaceship, or terrifying encounters with the unknown, I’m open to being surprised. Bring me something fresh and character-driven.

Ancient Historical with a Twist (Highly Selective)
I’m very selectively looking for ancient historical fiction that captures the gritty, emotionally intense vibe of The Eagle, Centurion, Gladiator, or Clash of the Titans—but not set in Rome or Greece. I want new cultures, underrepresented histories, and non-Western empires with that same mythic weight and cinematic scope.
Bonus if there’s:
• A speculative or myth-infused layer
• A focus on duty, betrayal, survival, or transformation
• Queer, POC, disabled, and/or neurodivergent characters embedded naturally in the world

I’m craving epic feeling and grounded humanity—but don’t want a textbook in disguise. If your story feels like a sword’s edge and a prayer to forgotten gods, I want to see it.

Romance (All Ages)
I’m looking for romance across the spectrum of speculative or contemporary genres. Here are my favorite tropes right now:

• Fake dating or engagement
• Forced proximity
• Holiday romance (underrepresented holidays)
• Ulterior motives but they fall in love anyway
• Workplace or professional rivals-to-lovers
• Alien/human pairings

Hard pass on the miscommunication trope, unless the misstep is intentional and gets consequences. I’m especially excited to see romance featuring:

• LGBTQIA+, POC, disabled, and/or neurodivergent leads
• Cross-cultural relationships
• Joyful representation within darker genres like sci-fi, horror, or thrillers.

YA Fantasy
I’m open to a wide range of YA fantasy tones and pacing. Right now I’m especially excited to see:

• Cozy fantasy
• Portal fantasy
• Alternate world settings
• World-hopping or travel between realms
• Paranormal stories told through underrepresented voices or with a unique twist
• Romantasy, very selectively
• Speculative journeys—emotional or physical quests that reshape the character
• Heists
• Big adventure
• Friendship-centered plots
• Magical realism, fairy tales, and folk magic, especially rooted in culture and community.

YA speculative fiction is my favorite category to see layered with heart, risk, wonder, and growth. I love genre-blending, new mythologies, and stories that leave me changed.

Adult Paranormal Only

I’m open to adult paranormal stories—but I want something new. I’m craving:

• Fresh takes on werewolves or other classic creatures
• Underrepresented cultural myths, superstitions, or local legends
• Paranormal that feels rooted in community, fear, ritual, or transformation
• Romance as a subplot is totally fine, but the paranormal needs to be the star of the show
• Ideal if the vibes are eerie, moody, grounded, and steeped in emotional stakes.

Think regional ghost stories, dusty legends, shapeshifter lore, or the kind of tale you’d hear whispered in a small town bar. I want the paranormal to feel lived-in, not decorative.

Horror (All Ages)

Send me:
• Creeping dread
• Trapped horror
• Body horror
• Stories with the brutal humanity of SAW or The Purge—horrors that force us to look at ourselves
• Allegorical horror from marginalized perspectives.

I love cinematic horror that lingers and has something to say. I’ll pass on anything that treats real-world mental illness as the twist or the monster.

Thriller / Suspense (All Ages)

• Stories about what’s lurking in the dark
• Unreliable narrators—who might be the villain, or might just think they are (as long as mental illness isn’t used as shorthand for “crazy”)
• Tension that builds gradually until it explodes
• High-concept tension with personal stakes

What I Always Love to See

• LGBTQIA+, POC, disabled, and neurodivergent characters in any genre
• Found family
• Emotional stakes and layered characters
• Genre blends that surprise me

What I’m Not Looking For
• Most adult fantasy (this round)
• Picture books or middle grade
• Time travel
• Mysteries
• Stories from the POV of abusers or serial killers
• Any story that includes child abuse or sexual assault.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to https://querytracker.net/query/ciarasmith

​BOOK SUBMISSIONS:

• Please review our Agents’ profiles to choose the Literary Agent who is the best fit for your genre/writing style. Once you’ve chosen the right agent for you, click on the SUBMIT WORK HERE button on their page to complete the Query Manager submission form and/or upload your work to our database.Important Notes: 
• Please submit all queries through the agent’s Query Manager form. Emailed submissions will not be considered unless specifically requested.
• Please only submit one project at a time. If your query is rejected, you may then submit a query for another project. 
• For fiction, we require a query letter along with a 1-2 page synopsis (includes spoilers and the ending). Please refer to each agent’s query form for the number of sample pages to submit. 
  • ​For Graphic Novels, please submit the first 20 pages of your work and any illustration samples that you would like us to review in addition to your query letter and synopsis. 
• For non-fiction, you should include a full proposal (including a sample chapter), but make sure the Agent accepts non-fiction, and follow their specific submission guidelines.
• All uploaded submissions must be properly formatted into 1 inch margins, double-spaced lines, Times New Roman black font size 12
• Research the agent to whom you are submitting both for their preferences and their submission guidelines.
• Please only submit to one Corvisiero Agent at a time. A rejection from one agent is a rejection from the entire Agency. Please do not query another agent unless expressly invited.  ​
• You may re-query us with new work anytime, and if you’ve made significant revisions to a previously declined query, you are welcome to resubmit it after 6 months.
• Corvisiero Literary Agency does not currently represent collections of short stories, essays, or poetry. Novellas are also currently not being considered.

Guidelines & Details