Natascha Morris

Before you submit

You can always follow my #MSWL on Bluesky for the most up to date MSWL items.  I am actively looking for new clients in the following genres and categories, and I want to see diverse fiction from authors of all cultures, races, ethnicities, as well as from those with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Joyful, intersectional stories are my JAM!

Picture Books

I am really looking for commercial stories that are fun and heartfelt, but lyrical and literary tales are also dear to my heart. Author-illustrators welcome! Some of my favorite picture books:

  • Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin

  • Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Xindi Yan

  • Sir Simon by Cale Atkinson

  • The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat

  • Rot, the Cutest in the World! by Ben Clanton

  • Skulls! by Blair Thornburgh, illustrated by Scott Campbell

Some specific picture book MSWL: spooky adjacent; FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS vibes; and poison gardens.

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Graphic Novels

I tend to love middle grade and young adult graphic novels over younger ones. I am an escapist reader so my taste leans more commercial. I am open to mysteries/thrillers, horror, speculative, fantasy, coming of age, rom-coms in this space. Some of my favorite graphic novels:

  • The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

  • Nimona by ND Stevenson

  • Ghosted in LA by by Sina Grace, illustrator by Cathy Le Siobhan Keenan

  • Beetle & The Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

  • Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse

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Young Adult

For YA, I love complex characters, compelling writing, and layered stories. I am looking for mysteries/thrillers, horror, speculative, fantasy, coming of age, and rom-coms. Some of my clients include New York Times Bestselling author Laura Taylor Namey, Allison L. Bitz, Andi Porretta, and Jenn Nguyen. Some of my favorite young adult stories:

  • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

  • The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

  • Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno

  • Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

  • Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

  • Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

  • Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou

Check the “specifics” section below for more information.

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New Adult

The vibe I am looking for in new adult is very specific. Top priority for me is that YA voice, paired with more “adult” situations. If your characters are dealing with firsts: jobs, bills, crises, “no one really prepared them for this”, then it’s right up my alley. Some media I think captures the vibe I want:

  • Begin Again by Emma Lord

  • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

  • Sadie by Courtney Summers

  • Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

  • Freeform’s The Bold Type

  • Showtime’s Yellowjackets

  • HBO Ma'x’s The Sex Lives of College Girl

Check the “specifics” section below for more information.

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For adult, I am looking for commercial and cozy. I love comedic fantasy; cozy mystery; romance; grounded fantasy. Basically think "light and fun", but I also love a good high concept premise (hence SEVERANCE). In the queries I loved, I am responding most to a “crossover” voice, or a coming of age adult feel. I am being very selective in this area and building my list slowly, but some media I love that speaks to the vibes I want:

  • The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Kune

  • Apple’s Severance

  • Assistant to the Villian by Hannah NicoleMaeher

  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

  • Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Adult

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Specifics

A lot of these specific MSWL items can be applied to any section above. I’d love to see how people interpret them:

  • I am loving this vein of comedic fantasy; the high fantasy world meshed with a workplace romance/comedy, and an almost contemporary voice. I'd love something like ONWARD & ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN.

  • I can't stop thinking about a teen in cozy mystery. Maybe murder at the quilting club, or underground grandma karaoke goes awry. Side note, I am a huge fan of the TRULY DEVIOUS novels so you can also see the influence there.

  • Murder at a true crime convention. Couch sleuths galore! Maybe pair with my Elle Woods/Daphne murder mystery: Daphne from SCOOBY DOO or Elle Woods in a YA murder mystery.

  • I would love a book that comps to SEX EDUCATION meets Lady Whistledown. If you read BEGIN AGAIN, that is also the perfect book comp for my vision on this.

  • Mermaids! Version 1: atmospheric, unsettling, not taking place in the water.

  • Mermaids! Version 2: This one is all fun, summer, contemporary vibes, but people who work as professional mermaids. If you watch MERPEOPLE on Netflix, I want the fun, summer, YA version.

  • Poison gardens, herbalist vibes in a fantasy world. I love the idea that the same plants that can cure things can kill.

  • Ren Faires! There is so much here, and so many different angles. I love the escapism of the faires, the small artists business, but there is also elements to unpact! Surprise me!

  • Genre mashups! Like taking the beats from a romance or women's fiction, and bringing them to a fantasy world. Or the high fantasy tropes and taking them to comic con. This is just one example in the pic, but so many ways to play with this!

  • I love that British narration style--almost HOUSE ON THE CERULEAN SEA feel--that features quirky shops. I’d love to see a MG or YA with elements like this.

  • I would love teens resistance: housing banned books in lockers/backpacks, making side hustles (hair braiding/slime/candy) underground, also standing up against unfair dress codes! You can combine with other elements like homecoming mums!

  • Secret advice column book.