Sarah Homer

HarperCollins Publishers

My Manuscript Wish List

I’m always looking for stories by authors from marginalized communities.

I love stories that have a fresh and immersive voice, unexpected twists, a vivid setting, a strong sense of urgency, and a balance of heavy themes with humor and poignancy. Above all, I look for stories that evoke a strong emotional response, whatever that emotion may be.

I focus on traditional middle grade and young adult novels. Thematically, I love stories about the joys and complexities of family and friendship, finding community, emotional explorations of identity, and anything that I feel like I can’t put down.

In MG, I’m looking for heartfelt and sweet contemporaries about family and friendship, stories with a fun touch of magic set in our world, and grounded, accessible fantasy, especially retellings of or spins on mythology or folklore.

In YA, I’m drawn to contemporary and magical realism (less speculative, more grounded), and looking for characters who learn from their mistakes and grow into their strength and their true selves, depictions of complex families and friendships, a plot full of tension that shocks and surprises me (more psychologically intense than gorily gruesome, please!), and fun romances with a strong and unique hook.

I’m not the best editor for stories about eating disorders. Please note that I’m not currently looking for picture book or chapter book submissions.

Fun facts about me:

For the last decade, my family's annual Christmas card has been a spoof of a classic rock album cover. We've covered such classics as Abbey Road, Queen II, and Ramones.