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Chelsea Hensley
Mad Woman Literary Agency
Deep dive on Chelsea Hensley
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Currently Looking For
Mystery I’m hungry for fun mysteries and inventive capers that have a good sense of humor (though I’m not one for gross-out humor) and plucky protagonists. I’d love to see some interesting settings and things that delve into history or mythology or any other curious realms of knowledge. Think: Brianna Mcdonald’s Pepper’s Rules for Secret Sleuthing, Varian Johnson’s The Parker Inheritance Fantasy/Sci-Fi I’m looking for immersive, magical fantasy packed with adventure, rich worldbuilding, and determined protagonists. I love things that have a classic feel and a modern voice, reads that would make perfect readalouds for kids and their parents. I love clever, quirky plots, and would love to see potential series as well as sweeping standalones. Think: Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Erin Entrada Kelly’s Lalani and the Distant Sea, B.B Alston’s Amari and the Night Brothers Young Adult Mysteries/Thrillers/Suspense I’m very eager to build up this part of my list and am looking for layered, tricky stories loaded with twists, turns, and red herrings. I’d love to see some confident projects with intense protagonists who aren’t very concerned with being liked, and mysteries that could become series. I love stories with complicated teenage girls, revenge arcs, puzzles, and games. Think: Jumata Emill’s The Black Queen, Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s The Inheritance Games, Brittany Cavallaro’s Charlotte Holmes series, Holly Jackson, Courtney Summers, Showtime’s Yellowjackets Horror I prefer suspenseful, atmospheric horror to jump scares, but I’d love to see some things that evoke the teen slasher trend (I’d love a project with a great POC Final Girl). I’m always game for witches, vampires, and other paranormal creatures though I would like fresh takes on their legends and see their darker, scarier aspects to be a bigger focus. I like haunted houses, dangerous forests, and horror that’s used to bring about previously unavailable justice. Think: Rory Power’s Wilder Girls, Rose Szabo’s What Big Teeth, Showtime’s Yellowjackets, Jamison Shea’s I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me Realistic I’d love to see things that are heartfelt and emotional but ultimately hopeful and optimistic. I’d love to see more contemporary reads that could be a series as well as retellings for a YA audience, and I’m also interested in seeing some fun historical stories. I love a gimmick in this area whether it be a high-concept spin, a list, or some other shenanigan. I’m especially interested in fresh, diverse viewpoints in this area and am looking for works that are body-positive, sex-positive, and affirming. A very specific wishlist item I have for this area is a coming-of-age about a teen soccer phenom who goes pro (like Melanie Barcenas, Alyssa Thompson, Chloe Ricketts and Olivia Moultrie). Think: Amalie Howard’s Queen Bee, Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me In A Crown, Anything that could be comped to Jenny Han or Robin Benway, Netflix’s The Half of It Fantasy/Sci-Fi I’m lo
Submission Guidelines
View submission guidelines for Chelsea Hensley and kt literary at their website. Submissions in the 'NOT looking for' section will be automatically passed. Agent open to multiple genres and age categories.
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