I’m looking for edgy and enchanting page-turners written with a light hand. I always enjoy strong female characters, and have a thing for unreliable narrators. Strong world building is a must, whether your novel is set in New York City, a small town I’ve never visited, a unique fantasy world, or the future. I love a timely story inspired by the headlines. I want strong concepts and big hooks that feel completely fresh. For adult fiction I’m particularly interested in psychological thrillers. In YA and Crossover I want alternate worlds that are totally unique; fun retellings of classics and fairytales; romances that take me back to the exciting, painful experience of falling in (and out of) love for the first time; and adventurous fantasy. I’m not afraid to get dark or spooky. When it comes to nonfiction I’m looking for authors who are already gaining a following by challenging the conventional thinking in their area of expertise or industry whether that’s business, health, relationships, psychology, science, self-help… I’m a huge fan of amazing true stories and well researched journalistic nonfiction. Submission Guidelines Submissions should be emailed to querylydia@
Fiction Query guidelines
An query letter with a short author bio and the first 25 pages.
Non-Fiction Query guidelines
A query letter and synopsis of your project. Please include your bio, target audience and competitive titles. Hook me with a strong concept and your platform. Vital Info @lydiashamah Website Agent
Fiction
Action/Adventure, Children's, Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
Non-Fiction
Cookbooks, History, Humor, Journalism, Memoir, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Sports, True Crime
Favorite sub-genres
Magic Realism I’d like the next… Tana French Gillian Flynn V.E. Schwaab Michael Lewis My favorites include…
Adult titles
ROOM by Emma Donahue GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn INTO THE WOODS by Tana French NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman SHADES OF MAGIC SERIES by V.E. Schwab
YA and crossover titles
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo THE BOY WITH THE CUCKOO CLOCK HEART by Mathias Malzieu WHY WE BROKE UP by Daniel Handler
Nonfiction titles
YOU ARE A BADASS by Jen Sincero QUIET: THE POWER OF INTROVERTS by Susan Cain #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES by Caitlin Doughty SO YOU’VE BEEN PUBLICLY SHAMED by Jon Ronson A KIM JONG IL PRODUCTION by Paul Fischer
TV
Documentaries of all stripes Jessica Jones Six Feet Under Buffy the Vampire Slayer Peepshow Stranger Things Fargo Penny Dreadful See my Goodreads for more info.