Young Adult Christian Suspense?

ohthatmomagain · Jun 25, 2013

I have finally figured out the 'name' of my genre: Young Adult Christian Suspense. Does anybody know any agents/publishers who would rep/publish it. It's not dirty (no bad words), but there are definitely hard issues discussed and some of them can have some violence (not over the top, but not 'sweet' as a lot of Christian publishers demand... even the ones who say they take edgy

)

I know a lot of YA agents don't like Christian elements. A lot of Christian agents don't like suspense. And a lot of Sweet publishers won't take anything without a happy ending. Nothing against any of them.

There just has to be a perfect storm agent for a YA Christian Suspense. I know there is a market for it.

Any ideas?

Thank you

Calla Lily · Jun 25, 2013

ohthatmomagain:

The Bewares and Background Checks forum here on AW has info on a huge number of agents.

There's also the ACFW--but you have to be a member to access everything they offer.

Here in the Christian room there's a thread about publishers who accept unagented mss. Like everything else, just do the research first. Good luck!

ohthatmomagain · Jun 25, 2013

I've been to all of those places and can't find exactly what I'm looking for. Like I said, a majority of YA won't rep Christian. A majority of Christian won't rep edgy or non 'sweet'. I was just wondering if anyone knew or had any experience of any I haven't heard of. (Believe me, I've queried my fair share lol and spend a lot of time on the BBC and querytracker). Just looking for some personal experiences.

Thank you, Callalily

BfloGal · Jun 26, 2013

Have you tried Watershed?

http://pelicanbookgroup.blogspot.com/2012/04/call-for-submissions-new-imprint.html

They're a small, recently started imprint, but you may want check out the submission guidelines. They're open to edgier subjects.

(Disclosure: I edit for Pelican Book Group.)

CAWriter · Jun 27, 2013

Publisher-wise, you might look at anyone who has published Brandilyn Collins (Seatbelt Suspense is her brand) to see if they do anything similar for YA. She's rep'd by Alive Communications, arguably one of the most challenging agencies to get into. Joel Kneedler might be the right agent to approach; he does rep other suspense, I'm not sure about YA. You might also try Rachel Kent at Books and Such Literary Agency. She's kind of their YA specialist. I don't know where she stands on suspense, but I know she's good at spotting projects with potential that might fall a little outside the traditional Christian publishing categories.

ohthatmomagain · Jun 27, 2013

I have tried Watershed. They had a book that is a little more... tame... than this one and turned it down.

CAWriter, thank you.

Thanks everyone

Steven Hutson · Jul 1, 2013

You don't need to qualify your queries so precisely. I doubt the market is big enough that any publisher specifies "Young Adult Christian Suspense" in their guidelines. Just look up who handles YA, and have at it.

Young Adult Christian Suspense?

ohthatmomagain

writing, working, weeping, winning

Calla Lily

On hiatus

ohthatmomagain

writing, working, weeping, winning

BfloGal

Lost in a plot hole

CAWriter

ohthatmomagain

writing, working, weeping, winning

Steven Hutson