Sarah Alpert

Categories: prose, graphic novels, picture books, fiction, select non-fiction

Ages: everything from picture books to early readers to YA

My taste in fiction is wide-reaching—a hybrid of commercial and literary in basically all genres. The common threads will always be characters whose personal stakes I am deeply invested in, observant writing, and emotional storytelling. I’m a feelings-driven reader, and often drawn to romance, but I’m a good fit for everything that can pack an emotional punch without killing a character, or keeps me giggling the whole way through.

There is nothing that I love more than a high-concept story (fantasy, magical realism, science fiction, fake dating) that feels completely grounded because the characters and author make whatever is happening so utterly real. Whether dark and moody, or light-hearted and hilarious, I love writing that is full of atmosphere and voice.

I want:

• Charming, lighthearted romances that don’t skimp on the angst and tension
• Atmospheric, yearning romances that don’t skimp on the dialogue
• Hilarious hijinks! (Especially in MGs, GNs, and picture books)
• Stories that are a little bit goth/dark and moody, especially dark academia
• Inventive, accessible SF/F with imaginative world building 
• The best romantasy you’ve ever read
• Messy, prickly, “”unlikeable”” girls
• Spooky (from spoopy to terrifying)
• The book equivalent of a Mitski song
• The book equivalent of a Florence and the Machine song
• The book equivalent of a Regina Spektor song
• Parent/child relationships—especially good relationships and loving, supportive parents
• Jewish stories not about the holocaust
• Multifaceted stories that represent and explore marginalized identities in fantastical or realistic settings
• Clever, witty children’s books that deeply understand being a kid and feel destined to become classics
• Robots aching to be human (I can probably only acquire one of these, but if you’re repping one, I need it)
• Cats!

I’m not a good fit for:

• Cancer stories
• Any terminal illness stories where teens/children die
• Holocaust fiction

For non-fiction: I love topics like culture and mythology, technology, science, and scientific history–especially told through the eyes of the people involved. I’d love a book on the space age/Apollo program. While I’m in no way interested in fictional accounts of the Holocaust, I’m open to non-fiction that helps us remember and teach it. A lot of times my favorite non-fiction tells the story I haven’t heard or thought of yet, so feel free to surprise me.

Submission Guidelines

AGENTED SUBMISSIONS ONLY. I cannot read non-agented submissions. Thanks!