Christine Goss
The Purcell Agency
My Manuscript Wish List®
*as of 5/3/24 I am closed to unsolicited submissions.*
Thank you for taking the time to review my MSWL to be sure we are a good fit.
What the stories I enjoy most include:
1. High stakes and high tension with action right off the bat. The first pages need to be strong.
2. Even if it’s not the main plot, I gravitate to stories that have a heavy romantic element.
3. A strong voice will hook me.
I am always looking for LGBTQ+ and stories by under represented authors.
Now for my overall MSWL ( not necessarily a list, but more so a what I’m looking for in a general sense):
- I’m opening up to most genres in Adult and YA. While I’m not totally a expert in horror or thriller (need to be honest here), I’ve been surprised how I’ve gravitated to stories with suspenseful elements. But what I really hope for in these genres are a TWIST that I can’t see coming and makes me literally gasp.
- I’m not the agent for your story if there is on page description of a child death. It can be a part of the story but describing a child drowning, dying in a car crash etc- not for me.
- STAKES. I am a high stakes girlie. Like, the things that could happen if your character doesn’t achieve what they want need to be bigggggg.
- I always love good dialogue, but what I’ve realized with my authors is that I also need to viscerally know how one feels. I want to feel it with the character.
- Line level writing that makes me set down my reading device (usually my phone TBH) and just sit with a line. If you know what that means, reference CeCe Lyra’s Writing on a Line Level course or read VAMPIRES OF EL NORTE and then you’ll know.
- Lastly, it doesn’t need to be the main plot. It doesn’t need to be plot B. It just needs to be in the story somehow- gimme all the love. Heart eyes. Angst. LOVE!
- I would love, love, love, to see Graphic Novels by author/illustrators or photo story telling.
Niche MSWL (here is where I’ll get specific but if you don’t have this, fear not! Still query me if you think we’ll be a good fit because these are just things that I’d like to see, but are not by any means mandatory):
- I would love to have a historical romance with bullfighting.
- Community: LGTBQ+ Abed and Troy
- If you comp Crazy Stupid Love or Hitch
- Elemental X OG Westside Story Romantasy
- LGBTQ Friday Night Lights (bonus if enemies to lovers)
- Prohibition Historical Romance surrounding smuggling booze.
- Second Chance in a marriage or friends to lovers tropes always make my giggle and kick my heels with joy.
- Dexter x Greys Anatomy with a love triangle.
Recent favorite reads that I’d love to see comp’d:
- Say You’ll Be Mine, Naina Kumar.
- Wish You Weren’t Here, Erin Baldwin
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Sangu Mandanna
- What The River Knows, Isabel Ibañez
Nonfiction:
I am open to most non-fiction, and here are a few things specifically I’d love to see:
- -Cookbooks surrounding history and culture mixed in with personal anecdotes from the author.
- -There was a great photo journalism project that was pitched during #Pitblk that I still dream about, so please, if you’re that person, send me your work!! OR if you have something similar, send my way!
- -If you have recipes that contain plaintains and it’s authentic to Central/South America, please send.
- -I would love narrative non-fiction in many forms. But since I also work on a winery, words from BIPOC vintners, sommleiers or wine regions in different parts of the world that are under appreciated– SEND THOSE TO ME!
- -I really stray from wellness, but if it is something that helps with mental health and the mental load for mothers, I’m all ears.
- – Additionally, to step off the last niche idea, I’d love to see something about parenting for the parents, about the parents, needed for parents. Like, not a “how to put your baby to sleep.” More so a “this is why you cannot handle your baby not sleeping and how you can be sure to take care of yourself.”
- – I’d love a book that highlights seasonal work and how important it is to agriculture.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions should be emailed to https://QueryManager.com/Querycgoss
Please refer to my QM for submission guidelines.
Vital Info