wishlist — Lee Melillo

Hi there, and welcome to my wishlist! I represent young adult and adult fiction written across genres, as well as select nonfiction about entertainment and pop culture. I prioritize authors from underrepresented communities across my list, including writers of color, disabled writers, queer writers, and neurodivergent writers. I’d especially welcome queries from Muslim and Arab authors, trans/genderqueer authors of color, and Polynesian, Micronesian, or Melanesian authors.

what to query with:

General Interests

For my next open query period, I’m focusing on my adult fiction and nonfiction lists. I’m looking for upmarket and book club fiction. You’re welcome to try me with more literary projects, but I am very selective given my list is already quite strong in that department. Otherwise, while I’m open to most genres, I’m a harder sell on high fantasy, hard sci-fi, and space operas (I prefer speculative fiction on the lighter side!). I’m unlikely to be interested in genre romance, crime fiction, or commercial thrillers unless there’s some sort of genre blend.

Young Adult

SPECULATIVE CONTEMPORARY: I generally gravitate towards contemporary YA with some sort of speculative (fantasy, light sci-fi, horror, etc.) bent to it. I’m less likely to be a fit for realistic contemporary or issue-driven fiction here.

HISTORICAL THRILLERS/MYSTERIES: If June Hur could’ve written it, I want to read it. I love thrillers/mysteries as strong plot engines to teach me about time periods/places less frequently platformed. Speculative elements welcome (think Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek). Particularly of interest would be stories set in historical West Asia, Africa, or the Pacific Islands.

FREAKY FANDOM STORIES: I’d love something that delves into fandoms or fan culture in a wacky, freaky, and/or surrealist way. I’d love something like a YA Holy Boy by Lee Heejoo or Idol, Burning by Rin Usami. Anything that showcases the raw power of a teen who loves something so-so-so much.

Adult

UPMARKET CONTEMPORARY: Stories that universalize the highly specific—especially from BIPOC writers. Set in particular cultures (or subcultures) that authentically portrays a community while also navigating wider themes. Think Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom or Rebecca K. Reilly’s Greta & Valdin.

LIGHT FANTASY: I say “light” not “cozy,” because I do need a strong plot line—think Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series or Sangu Mandanna’s A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping. Happy to see contemporary or historical, but for the latter: please no US or Western Europe (especially no England!) Take me to eras I know nothing about, with unique magic systems inspired by the time and culture/local folklore.

FEMINIST THRILLERS: Whether realistic or speculative, contemporary or historical, please send me your women (and queer people!) who are fed up and ready to do something about it. Think Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff or Promising Young Woman in book form. Just please, nothing about the dark underbelly of WASP communities, and anything about influencers is a hard sell for me.

WEIRD GIRL LIT: from BIPOC authors only. I love the genre, but want to see a wider variety of perspectives and greater representation in this space. Would love anything that could comp to The Vegetarian by Han Kang or Chlorine by Jade Song.

SOCIAL HORROR: Think I Saw the TV Glow or Get Out in book form. Any horror subgenres where the horror elements explore social issues allegorically.

Non-Fiction

I’m VERY selective with nonfiction; I am only interested in receiving proposals from qualified figures within the entertainment and/or theatre industries, as well as platformed experts on fandom/pop culture topics. I’d love anything in the vein of Everything I Need I Get From You, explorations of the evolution of fanfiction in fandom spaces, the history of tumblr, and/or the Golden Age of YouTube Vloggers in the mid-2010s.

I’m also interested in receiving proposals about the creation of popular TV shows or film phenomenons. Particularly of interest would be Succession, Heated Rivalry, Girls, Seinfeld, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, or 30 Rock. I’d also love something that delves into the rise of K-dramas and/or K-pop in international markets.

hyper-specific dream projects:

Authentic OCD and autism representation
Anything with animated Barbie movie vibes (especially Fairytopia or Mermaidia)
Girls/women who are disasters, kinda mean, or just generally suck (think Hannah from Girls, Dr. Santos from The Pitt, Devi from Never Have I Ever)

Afrofuturism in the vein of Octavia Butler or Rivers Solomon
Any sort of zany, (anti-)historical fiction, like My Lady Jane or Glorious Exploits
Anything centered around the 2010s YouTube vlogger era
A K-pop sasaeng thriller

**what i’m not looking for:**

I do NOT represent memoirs, picture books, middle grade, or graphic novels of ANY KIND!

Without exception, I do NOT represent: erotica; high fantasy/sci-fi; cop/detective/private investigator books; US military/politics books; books about WWI or WWII; Greek/Roman/Norse mythology; books about most sports; British historical romance; books that romanticize gang life or the mafia; military academy-esque SFF/dystopia; graphic depictions of sexual assault, self-harm, or suicide attempts; excessive violence towards animals; or anything where a pet dies.