Ciara Smith

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. I don’t get nearly enough science fiction and would like more.

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
• Paranormal stories told through underrepresented voices or with a unique twist
• Romantasy
• 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 Fantasy:

*I have plenty of Adult Romantasy. Please do not send me more, and please do not use other Query Tracker genres to submit it.*

-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.

-Dark Fantasy:

I love dark fantasy, either psychologically dark or physically, I don’t shy away from gore or messed up protagonists. Again, a romance subplot is fine, but I don’t want it to be the star of the show.

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:

• Romantasy
• Picture books through 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

We ask you only query ONE agent. If that agent feels your work may be more suitable for another at our firm, we will share it with them. Therefore, a response from one agent should be considered a response from all agents. We do welcome authors to query us again with new work. And please note, we only accept submissions through Query Manager.