Garrett Alwert is a children's literature specialist at Fuse Literary who brings a decade of agenting experience to smart, voice-driven fiction for kids and teens, with a side door open for adult contemporary romance.
In brief
A ten-year veteran of Emerald City Literary Agency who recently joined Fuse Literary, Alwert arrives with established industry relationships and a clear, well-defined taste profile — a meaningful signal of seriousness for querying writers.
His focus is almost entirely on children's and YA fiction across formats (prose and graphic novels), making him an unusually format-flexible option for MG and YA creator-illustrators and author-illustrators alike.
He explicitly prioritizes projects by authors of color and stories with LGBTQ+ themes, signaling this is a mission-driven preference, not a vague openness — writers in those categories should lead with it.
Adult romance is the only adult category he takes, and it is described as 'select' — treat this as a narrow gate, not a general adult fiction welcome.
He opened queries specifically to celebrate joining Fuse (as of late May 2026), suggesting a genuine eagerness to build a new list — an unusually favorable window for debut and mid-career writers alike.
Lately
To celebrate joining the amazing team at @fuseliterary.bsky.social I will be open for queries for a limited time. Excited to see some amazing projects in my inbox! querymanager.com/GarrettAlwert
Alwert announced his arrival at Fuse Literary and simultaneously opened a query window, expressing genuine excitement to discover new projects — framing it as a celebration of the new chapter rather than a routine opening.
What Garrett is looking for
Picture books are listed first among his represented genres and form the core of his children's literature focus. He gravitates toward smart, funny, contemporary stories with fresh voices — projects that feel hooky and dialogue-forward. POC authorship and LGBTQ+ themes are active priorities.
MG is a clear pillar of his list, and he accepts both prose novels and graphic novel format. He wants strong hooks, distinctive voices, and stories that meaningfully explore friendship and family dynamics. Unique structural approaches or unconventional timelines are a genuine draw for him here.
YA is equally central to his practice, again in both prose and graphic novel formats. He favors contemporary YA with sharp dialogue, psychological thriller elements where well-paced, and stories built around complex relationship webs — romantic, familial, or platonic. LGBTQ+ themes and POC voices are explicitly sought.
This is his sole adult category and is explicitly described as 'select' — meaning he is not broadly open to adult fiction, only to contemporary romance that fits his sensibility (smart, funny, relationship-focused, with strong dialogue). Writers should be confident their project is squarely in this lane before querying.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Garrett
Use only the online submission form linked on his Fuse Literary agency page — unsolicited email queries and social media pitches are explicitly deleted, not redirected.
This query window was described as limited and tied to his joining Fuse; check the live form status immediately before submitting to confirm it is still open.
If your project is written by a POC author or centers LGBTQ+ themes, say so clearly and early in your query — these are stated active priorities, not just welcomed diversity.
Lead with your hook and voice. His wishlist emphasizes 'fresh voices,' 'strong hook,' and 'awesome dialogue' across all categories — your query letter should demonstrate all three, not just describe the plot.
For YA or MG graphic novels, identify the format explicitly upfront; he accepts graphic novels in both age categories, which many agents do not — make sure he knows what format he's evaluating.
If submitting adult contemporary romance, make an affirmative case that your book is contemporary romance — do not let him wonder whether it drifts into general women's fiction or another adult category he does not represent.
Psychological thriller elements are welcome but only as a thread within his broader categories (YA, MG), not as a standalone thriller submission — frame accordingly.
Unusual narrative structures or non-linear timelines are a genuine draw for him; if your book uses one, call it out as a feature rather than burying it.