Katie Monson is an SBR Media agent hunting laugh-out-loud picture books, hilarious middle grade, and emotionally charged adult fiction — rom-coms, psychological thrillers, and women's fiction with sharp commercial appeal.
In brief
Katie Monson's wishlist is tightly focused: humor and heart dominate every tier, from offbeat picture books to swoony adult rom-coms and jaw-dropping psychological thrillers — if a project isn't emotionally gripping or genuinely funny, it likely won't land.
The stated taste profile leans heavily commercial and female-reader-forward, with touchstone titles spanning emotional gut-punches (The Push, Marrow) and fizzy romance (Book Lovers, The Idea of You) — a writer who can blend both in one manuscript may have the best shot.
Monson is explicit about what they do NOT want: no fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, romantasy, non-fiction, or memoirs in the adult space; no princess stories, holiday books, anthropomorphic animals, or futuristic/fantasy elements in kidlit — the exclusion list is unusually detailed and should be taken seriously.
No confirmed deal record is available in the sourced data, which suggests Monson is building a list rather than maintaining an established one — early-career agents who are specific about taste can be excellent partners for debut authors willing to grow together.
Queries are CLOSED as of May 2026, with a noted reopening target of Spring 2026 (which may have passed or shifted) — verify the live form status before submitting anything.
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Who has the next Butcher and Blackbird that wants to drop a mood board in the comments??? #queryingauthors #writingcommunity #agentlife #wishlist
Monson put out an active call for dark, atmospheric thriller manuscripts in the vein of Butcher and Blackbird, inviting querying authors to share mood boards — a clear signal that this sub-genre is a live, high-priority want right now.
What Katie is looking for
Monson wants picture books that feel genuinely fresh — offbeat, hilarious, and built to be read aloud again and again across age groups. The bar is originality: if it's been done before in a similar form, it won't excite them. A bonus: books featuring penguins get extra points (a stated personal favorite). Think clever, surprising, and read-aloud irresistible in the vein of Click Clack Moo or The Day the Crayons Quit.
Hilarious commercial middle grade is a clear priority. Monson gravitates toward contemporary MG with big laughs and strong voice. The emphasis is squarely on humor — if the comedy isn't front and center, it's probably not the right fit.
Monson actively wants rom-coms with a nostalgic 90s sensibility — think warm, witty, and emotionally satisfying. Epic love stories that make the reader swoon alongside the female main character are also in scope. The touchstones here are breezy-but-substantive commercial romances; smart beach reads and book-club-friendly love stories are squarely in the sweet spot.
Monson describes wanting jaw-dropping psychological thrillers — the kind that leave readers shaken. Domestic suspense with a sharp, unsettling edge (in the vein of The Push or Butcher and Blackbird) fits the stated taste. A recent public signal specifically called for the next Butcher and Blackbird, signaling this is an active, urgent priority right now.
Upmarket and commercial women's fiction with a romantic subplot — especially stories that do not resolve with a traditional happy ending — align with Monson's taste. Book club fiction with a strong female protagonist and emotional resonance is welcome. This category overlaps with the rom-com and thriller interests, so projects that blend elements may be particularly appealing.
New Adult and YA are listed among accepted categories, with sub-genre interest in YA rom-com, contemporary YA, and YA thrillers. This appears secondary to the adult and kidlit priorities, but writers in these lanes with strong commercial voice are within scope.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Katie
Confirm the submission form is open before querying — it was observed closed in early May 2026, with a Spring 2026 reopening anticipated. Status can shift quickly; check the live form first.
Lead with tone and emotion: Monson's touchstones (The Push, Book Lovers, Butcher and Blackbird) span a wide emotional range but share one thing — they hit hard. Your query letter should convey what the reader will feel, not just what happens.
For thrillers, a mood board or visual pitch may resonate — Monson publicly invited querying authors to share them, suggesting a visually intuitive approach to evaluating manuscripts.
For picture books, the first line of your query should signal originality and humor immediately. Monson is explicit that they've seen it all; the hook needs to feel genuinely new.
If your project blends rom-com warmth with darker psychological or domestic suspense elements, that combination likely maps directly to Monson's taste profile — name the blend explicitly in your query.
Monson's exclusion list is unusually specific. Double-check your manuscript against it before querying: no fantasy, no anthropomorphic animals in kidlit, no historical fiction, no HEA-required women's fiction.
A 90s nostalgia hook — in voice, setting, or cultural reference — may be a compelling angle for rom-com queries given Monson's stated preference for that sensibility.
Since no confirmed deal record is publicly available, expect that Monson is actively building a list. Frame your pitch toward a long-term partnership, not just a single book sale.