Shannon wants MG with a genuine element of danger, thrills, or scares — tone can range from campy-creepy (think Scooby-Doo energy) to outright age-appropriate horror. Voice is essential; both speculative/fantastical and fully grounded real-world settings are welcome. She does not limit MG to spooky stories alone: action-packed adventure also qualifies, but the common thread is a story that keeps the tension alive.

Horror is, by her own description, her bread and butter in YA. She actively invites the full spectrum: speculative or grounded, epic or intimate, classic or Weird Horror. This is the category where she signals the least resistance and the most enthusiasm — any strong YA horror manuscript deserves a query.

Dark or gothic fantasy with morally grey or antihero protagonists is a clear priority. She welcomes both ends of the romantasy spectrum, from dark and menacing to cozy and warm-toned. Lush, immersive worldbuilding with a fleshed-out sense of history strengthens a pitch significantly.

Sci-fi that uses its premise to interrogate real-world inequities and systemic issues is especially important to her. She also actively wants to revive YA dystopian — pitches in that subgenre are explicitly encouraged. Superhero narratives with strong emotional cores are another stated priority.

She's drawn to high-concept premises, original or unexpected settings, and the ability to manage large, quirky ensemble casts with skill. Voice should be spunky and distinct. Think heist-adjacent or competition-thriller energy more than procedural.

She gravitates toward literary novels where the speculative element feels peripheral but inevitable — magic that seems to breathe just outside reality's edge. Myth and folklore drawn from underrepresented or historically overlooked cultures are particularly compelling. Work that marries fantastical conceits to real-world social inequalities is near the top of her adult wishlist.

Speculative horror in adult is described as a massive personal favorite. The range she'll consider is wide — literary horror, body horror, cosmic or Weird Horror all appear to be in scope. Cinematic pacing and a strong sense of dread are implied virtues.

She wants a cinematic feel and is open to a light speculative thread woven through the mystery. The key gate: no cop or detective protagonists, and no procedurals. Private investigators are acceptable. Setting should do real narrative work.

She is not generally seeking romance, but romantic fantasy with a strong speculative backbone is a clear exception. The fantasy scaffolding must be substantial — romance as flavor layered onto a genuine speculative premise.

She seeks YA graphic novel fantasy grounded in the real world, with an emphasis on found family, platonic bonds, and identity. General (non-genre) fiction is something she considers exclusively in the graphic novel format. Adult personal nonfiction graphic narratives exploring identity or mental health are also welcome. IMPORTANT GATE: she is currently open only to author-illustrators — writers without their own illustration work should not submit in this category.

She reviews a select number of adult nonfiction proposals. Memoir about unusual or specialized careers and experiences is welcome, as are narrative proposals covering medicine, trauma, wildlife, nature, and mental health. Accessibility for a general readership is non-negotiable — dense or overly academic writing is a mismatch.