Justina Ireland is a New York Times bestselling, award-winning author turned junior agent at Handspun Literary Agency, hunting for meticulous, offbeat speculative fiction across age categories—with a particular gravitational pull toward MG, YA, and adult work that is dark, tropey, and unafraid to ask hard questions.
In brief
Ireland is a brand-new agent (joined Handspun in 2026) who brings serious author-side credentials: NYT bestseller, award winner, comics writer, and TV writer—she will read a manuscript the way a working author does.
Her speculative fiction mandate is broad by age group but narrow by genre: she wants spec fic, and almost nothing else. No contemporary, no nonfiction, no previously self-published work, no romantasy, no picture books.
Her pop-culture touchstones skew toward ensemble comedies and dark genre fare with strong character work—Our Flag Means Death, Hannibal, Russian Doll, The Expanse—which telegraphs a taste for tonal range and genre-blending.
Because she is new to agenting, her deal record is not yet established; writers should weight her stated wishlist and author background heavily as taste signals.
Writers from historically marginalized backgrounds are specifically and explicitly encouraged to submit.
Lately
Over at Literary Rambles today talking about what I'm looking for as an agent... www.literaryrambles.com/2026/07/lite...
Ireland publicly announced she was launching her agenting career at Handspun Literary Agency, noting she was actively seeking speculative fiction across all age groups, with picture books as the one explicit carve-out.
What Justina is looking for
This is clearly a sweet spot: Ireland wants YA spec fic that wrestles with genuinely complicated questions without condescending to its audience. She is drawn to meticulous worldbuilding, morally complex characters, and books with real emotional weight. Gothic flavor, dark humor, high angst, and LGBTQ+ elements all land well here. Retellings and folkloric atmospherics are a plus.
Ireland explicitly calls out MG as a target category for spec fic that asks hard questions without talking down to young readers. She holds an MFA focused on fiction for children and young adults, so this is a credentialed interest, not a casual one. Flawed protagonists, complicated villains, and nerdy pop-culture textures will resonate.
On the adult side, Ireland skews toward books she describes as 'a little offbeat'—work that defies easy categorization and carries a distinct, unusual sensibility. She has pointed to Bitter Karella's Moon Flow and Sarah Gailey's Spread Me as recent examples of the register she's after: strange, distinctive, not safe. Literary spec fic, dark comedy, and work with a strong authorial voice all fit this lane.
Across age categories, Ireland is drawn to stories that carry folkloric roots and an atmospheric, immersive quality—gothic flavor, magical realism as a thread, and settings or mythologies that feel deeply considered. This isn't a standalone category so much as a strong amplifier: spec fic with these qualities jumps to the front of the line.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Justina
Query only once per project with the agency—a pass from any Handspun agent is a pass from the whole agency, so make sure Ireland is the right fit before you submit.
Budget up to eight weeks for a response; follow up only after that window has passed.
Lead your query with the speculative element front and center. Ireland's mandate is spec fic, full stop—if the fantastical or science-fictional premise isn't the first thing she understands about your book, the query is working against you.
If your work has folkloric roots, atmospheric worldbuilding, or a dark, offbeat sensibility, name those qualities explicitly—they are direct signals to Ireland's stated taste.
Her pop-culture touchstones span tonal range: Hannibal sits next to Ted Lasso, The Expanse next to Schitt's Creek. If your book has tonal complexity—dark but funny, genre-bending, emotionally earnest within a strange premise—say so.
Writers from historically marginalized backgrounds are specifically encouraged to submit; if that applies to you, Ireland's page makes clear she wants to hear from you.
Do not query previously self-published works, contemporary fiction without speculative elements, romantasy, or nonfiction—these are hard nos on the current page.
Check the live submission form for current open/closed status immediately before querying; Ireland is new to agenting and her status could evolve quickly.