Hannah Pierdolla

YA / New Adult fiction

• Escapist, fast-paced, voice-y and fun fantasy! I love cozy, but I do want some “meat on the bones” of my plot. I want urgency and stakes, even as I giggle and kick my feet.
• Light fantasy to “middle” fantasy – across the fantasy spectrum, I’m interested in light fantasy (speculative that is still grounded in our world) to “middle” fantasy (could be set in a different world, but one that’s similar to ours; doesn’t require extensive worldbuilding)
  • I’m not looking for high, epic, sweeping fantasy. The heart of the stories I’m looking for are its characters and its voice. Can be cozy, cozy-adjacent, or not cozy at all!
    • THE HONEY WITCH by Sydney J. Shields, Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series, THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES by Sangu Mandanna
• Horroromance!! I love T. Kingfisher and John Wiswell
  • Cannibalism – especially if it’s fun cannibalism
• I am always on the lookout for fairytales and fairytale retellings, especially those that capture the magic and atmosphere of a classic fairytale in a new, fresh way. Think SPINNING SILVER or UPROOTED by Naomi Novik; THE FOX WIFE by Yangsze Choo; NETTLE & BONE by T. Kingfisher; and WHERE THE DARK STANDS STILL by A. B. Poranek
• High concept – I keep my fantasy low and my concepts high: I love high-concept stories with an original hook
• For Romantasy, I’m looking for more fantasy/plot than romance. I aim for a 60 fantasy/40 romance split. 
  • Think DIVINE RIVALS by Rebecca Ross, THE CRUEL PRINCE by Holly Black, and EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett (again)
• I am open to darker stories if they’re quirky, a la LISA FRANKENSTEIN or BOTTOMS. I love a slightly absurd book!
• I love magical systems that are based on something real – think the magic of language in R. F. Kuang’s BABEL. I love social psychology and sociolinguistics, so anything that incorporates that, I’m game

Across the board, I’m looking for:

• Any two characters whose relationship can be described by a Richard Siken quote 
• Decidedly uncool characters. They’re a little odd, maybe off-putting, and/or have weirdly specific passions and interests, but their strange aura is endearing to those who love them. I also like a himbo who doesn’t really understand what’s going on (“He’s a little confused, but he’s got the spirit” vibes)
• Self-aware books that aren’t afraid to make fun of themselves
  • Think REDSHIRTS by John Scalzi; Season 6, Episode 15 of the CW’s Supernatural, “The French Mistake;” Grady Hendrix; MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER: THE MCMASTERS GUIDE TO HOMICIDE by Rupert Holmes
• Books that remind you that reading is FUN! Because it is!! I love books that leave you with more joy or laughter than it found you with; that give you a lingering warm feeling inside.

Nonfiction:

• Pop culture: 
  • Behind the scenes looks at the creation of television shows and films with strong fanbases. Dream wishlist: Arrested Development, The Good Place, Succession, Hannibal, Heated Rivalry
  • Books about fandom in general, in the vein of NERD by Maya Phillips and EVERYTHING I NEED I GET FROM YOU by Kaitlyn Tiffany. 
    • Bonus points if it does deep dives into subjects like the Omegaverse or prolific tags/tropes – why they’re popular, what they mean about readers, & how they’re sometimes just plain silly!
    • I want an Omegaverse 101 book – something written by one of fanfic girlies (gender neutral) for other fanfic girlies or Omegaverse-curious readers that’s fun and silly, but also takes a serious look at what the Omegaverse says about us. It’s becoming more mainstream and I want that book!!

I’m not looking for: 

• Animal-centered books
• AI books
• COVID books
• Contemporary fiction

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to hannah.pierdolla@stmartins.com

I’m only accepting agented submissions at this time.