Send a Query to Madelyn Knecht at Storm Literary Agency

View this agent's QueryTracker profile.

Thank you for trusting me with your work! Here is a reminder of what I'm looking for:

Age Groups: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult, LGBTQ+ nonfiction

Genres: Fantasy (all subgenres), speculative, horror, mystery

I'm looking for one main component in all my submissions: fun.

I want fun books full of magic and whimsy and a bit of comedy. I love when books make me laugh out loud. But I also want to be hiding behind my hands reading something spooky. I'm looking for a strong voice, and commercial stories with a lyrical edge. Give me a fast-paced plot with solid, beautiful writing I can sink my teeth into. The quickest way to my heart is character. Characters with in-depth, emotional character arcs will take me through almost any book. I want books with layers that keep me guessing until the last page, and masterfully-handled social or political commentary (in all genres, but especially horror and fantasy) that make me sit back and think about it for days.

Queer books are at the top of my wish list, as are stories by BIPOC authors. I would LOVE to see some non-Western settings, history, and magic systems.

Adult

  • BIPOC romantasy / queer romantasy
  • Queer dark academia (a la A Dark and Drowning Tide)
  • Horror of all kinds, especially with social commentary
  • Female rage
  • Women supporting women
  • Unreliable narrators
  • Humor (dry humor/deadpan humor and banter moreso than absurdist humor. Think Shaun of the Dead, not Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
  • Lush worlds I want to revisit again and again - or never step foot into because they're so terrifying

Young Adult

  • BIPOC romantasy / queer romantasy
  • Anxiety representation
  • Combining the digital age with magic (KPop Demon Hunters)
  • Twisty psychological horror / thriller
  • Murder mystery with a speculative twist
  • Dark academia that feels fresh
Middle Grade
I'm more picky in this area. I don't like a lot of "toilet humor," but would love more books geared towards boys.
  • Fast-paced, heart-pounding fantasy
  • Paranormal with thrilling character dynamics (Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud)
  • Anxiety representation/neurodivergent representation
  • Utilizing the digital age/phones/social media to help solve problems or make them worse

Some things I love:

  • A series of games/trials/exams (think the Hunter Exams in HunterxHunter)
  • Contemporary fantasy with heart
  • Seaside settings
  • Atmospheric fantasy and horror
  • Alternate realities
  • Necromancy
  • Unreliable narrators
  • Body horror
Hyper-specific asks:
  • Books for boys that encourage empathy (think Wind Breaker the anime, but in MG or YA – I would LOVE something in this vein)
  • YA or Adult Black horror a la GET OUT or SINNERS
  • Sapphic horror in a unique setting 

I am not the best for: religious or faith-based stories, stories featuring suicide, talking animals (unless it’s Rocket the Raccoon), sexual humor, fae/fairies, westerns

Immediate No's: sexual assault, rape, cheating as a plot device, abuser redemption arcs

Optional: Sign in to QueryTracker

A QueryTracker account is NOT required to send a query. If you are not a member of QueryTracker, you can skip this step.

Signing into QueryTracker will link this query to your QueryTracker account, allowing it to be automatically tracked and displayed in QueryTracker for your convenience.
Not a QueryTracker member? Join here

Step 1: Tell us about the author

Fill in these author-related fields.







Have you previously published other books?    

Step 2: Tell us about the book

Fill in these book-related fields.

Genre: (required)
This agent is only seeking the genres shown in this list. If your book's genre is not shown here, please go to QueryTracker to find agents and publishers who are seeking your genre.
Query Letter: (required)
The formatting will be converted to block paragraphs without indenting, in order to standardize on a format. Pasting large blocks of text can take several seconds.
Pro Tip: Make your query letter shine, get it critiqued for free at qtCritique.com
Synopsis: (required)
The formatting will be converted to block paragraphs without indenting, in order to standardize on a format. Pasting large blocks of text can take several seconds.
Was any part of this book or query package created by A.I.?    
Paste the first 5 Pages of your book (or, if the book is nonfiction, include the full book proposal.): (required)
The formatting will be converted to block paragraphs without indenting, in order to standardize on a format. Pasting large blocks of text can take several seconds.
Upload Sample Artwork or Illustrations (if applicable)


Optional: Sign in to QueryTracker

A QueryTracker account is NOT required to send a query. If you are not a member of QueryTracker, you can skip this step.

Signing into QueryTracker will link this query to your QueryTracker account, allowing it to be automatically tracked and displayed in QueryTracker for your convenience.
Not a QueryTracker member? Join here

Final Step: Submit Your Query

Submit your query, or save a draft so you can come back and complete it later.

Important: After submitting your query, you will receive a personalized link to a special page that you can visit any time to check your query's status. If the agent would like to read more, they will contact you through that page as well as through email.
Query Draft Saved.

This form is powered by QueryManager, a service of QueryTracker. If you have any questions about this service, please Contact Us.

QueryTracker is a free service for authors to help them find literary agents and organize query letters. Learn more.