Melanie Figueroa
@melaniefigueroa.bsky.social
Literary Agent at Root Literary. Association of American Literary Agents member. 📝 MS in Creative Writing & Book Publishing. 📚 Scorpio. ♏️
MSWL: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/melaniefigueroa/
MSWL: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/melaniefigueroa/
A heads up to querying authors! We're reaching that time of year when offer of rep deadlines may need to extend past the standard of two weeks and into the new year if you want to give everyone the opportunity to consider. Many agents, including myself, are out of the office starting next week.
December 9, 2025 at 1:32 AM
A heads up to querying authors! We're reaching that time of year when offer of rep deadlines may need to extend past the standard of two weeks and into the new year if you want to give everyone the opportunity to consider. Many agents, including myself, are out of the office starting next week.
Sharing another starred review, this one for my client Adrienne Thurman’s debut picture book NO WAY, WASH DAY! ✨
★ Adrienne Thurman and illustrator Kaylani Juanita’s picture book NO WAY, WASH DAY is “a tender ode to… intergenerational bonds” and a “gently intimate celebration of hair and heritage”
No Way, Wash Day by Adrienne Thurman
A child loves everything about her hair except wash day in Thurman’s picture book debut, a tender ode to the intergenerational b...
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Sharing another starred review, this one for my client Adrienne Thurman’s debut picture book NO WAY, WASH DAY! ✨
The first trade review for @dreamertide.bsky.social’s MYTHSPEAKER is in, and it’s a star! 🥳
★ “Rousing action-packed adventure” distinguishes Christopher Roubique’s middle grade debut MYTHSPEAKER, a “timeless and original celebration of Indigenous stories”
Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique
Cajun and Indigenous debut author Roubique draws inspiration from Indigenous American tales to craft a rousing action-packed adv...
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 12:11 AM
The first trade review for @dreamertide.bsky.social’s MYTHSPEAKER is in, and it’s a star! 🥳
ASMR, but it’s just the sound of my dog chewing ice cubes.
November 1, 2025 at 3:36 AM
ASMR, but it’s just the sound of my dog chewing ice cubes.
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
★ “An Indigenous community works together to tan a large hide by hand” in Aleut-Alutiiq debut author Karina Iceberg and Métis artist Natasha Donovan’s picture book A GOOD HIDE, a “captivating portrait of joyful collaboration”
A Good Hide by Karina Iceberg
An Indigenous community works together to tan a large hide by hand in this captivating portrait of joyful collaboration. Making ...
buff.ly
October 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
★ “An Indigenous community works together to tan a large hide by hand” in Aleut-Alutiiq debut author Karina Iceberg and Métis artist Natasha Donovan’s picture book A GOOD HIDE, a “captivating portrait of joyful collaboration”
Thank you for creating the space that brought us together, @dvpit.bsky.social! And I'm so excited to be working with you @abbie.bsky.social. 🥳
In case I wasn’t subtle enough, I can now say this was me!
I’m thrilled, gagged and all the other superlatives to be able to say that I’m now represented by Melanie Figueroa at Root Literary! @melaniefigueroa.bsky.social
Thank you @dvpit.bsky.social 🥲
Hail MARA! 🧠 🌳
I’m thrilled, gagged and all the other superlatives to be able to say that I’m now represented by Melanie Figueroa at Root Literary! @melaniefigueroa.bsky.social
Thank you @dvpit.bsky.social 🥲
Hail MARA! 🧠 🌳
October 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Thank you for creating the space that brought us together, @dvpit.bsky.social! And I'm so excited to be working with you @abbie.bsky.social. 🥳
Getting a late start on reviewing #DVPit for REASONS, but if I ❤️ your pitch please reach out via the following link! I’m excited to see what you’re all working on. 👀
QueryTracker.net/query/melani...
QueryTracker.net/query/melani...
Query Melanie Figueroa at Root Literary
QueryTracker.net
October 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Getting a late start on reviewing #DVPit for REASONS, but if I ❤️ your pitch please reach out via the following link! I’m excited to see what you’re all working on. 👀
QueryTracker.net/query/melani...
QueryTracker.net/query/melani...
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
I wrote a book! I’m very excited for you to read it! I’m speechless!
August 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I wrote a book! I’m very excited for you to read it! I’m speechless!
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
I am delighted to introduce the cover for my debut #MiddleGrade #Indigenous #Fantasy novel MYTHSPEAKER...
AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER RIGHT NOW: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/780694...
#Books #BookSky #WritingCommunity #Debut
AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER RIGHT NOW: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/780694...
#Books #BookSky #WritingCommunity #Debut
June 3, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I am delighted to introduce the cover for my debut #MiddleGrade #Indigenous #Fantasy novel MYTHSPEAKER...
AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER RIGHT NOW: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/780694...
#Books #BookSky #WritingCommunity #Debut
AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER RIGHT NOW: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/780694...
#Books #BookSky #WritingCommunity #Debut
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
So skip the former and cultivate and nurture the latter. This is probably always the better choice, honestly, but I think it’s especially so while we all endure the stained-age-and-special-edition era.
April 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
So skip the former and cultivate and nurture the latter. This is probably always the better choice, honestly, but I think it’s especially so while we all endure the stained-age-and-special-edition era.
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
The thing I say to authors now (and that I believe wholeheartedly) is that for most YA and MG authors, studying retail patterns offers no information of creative value. Nothing you will learn from observing B&N’s merchandizing is anywhere near as valuable as personal inspiration and intuition.
April 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The thing I say to authors now (and that I believe wholeheartedly) is that for most YA and MG authors, studying retail patterns offers no information of creative value. Nothing you will learn from observing B&N’s merchandizing is anywhere near as valuable as personal inspiration and intuition.
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
This is literally how the Holocaust started, and honestly I'm tired of saying so
This is the literal destruction of knowledge.
Mississippi libraries are being ordered to remove academic research on race and gender from library databases.
mississippitoday.org/2025/04/08/m...
Mississippi libraries are being ordered to remove academic research on race and gender from library databases.
mississippitoday.org/2025/04/08/m...
Mississippi libraries ordered to delete academic research in response to state laws - Mississippi Today
The two research collections state officials ordered for deletion included material from professional journals, conference papers, books, student dissertations, periodicals and newspaper articles.
mississippitoday.org
April 9, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This is literally how the Holocaust started, and honestly I'm tired of saying so
I took a personality test once and remember nothing about it other than that it said I am Michael Scott.
April 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I took a personality test once and remember nothing about it other than that it said I am Michael Scott.
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
Eight figures. Eiiiiiight figures. Eight. Figures. Listen, I know I'm screaming into the void on this one, but you know how many great authors -- marginalized authors! new authors! authors of all genres! -- you could publish with this *at a still high level of advance* -? Answer: a lot! A lot a lot!
To be clear, Donaldson is hooking up with a professional writer to write his book, but Patterson is very open about the fact that he lets other people write under his name and takes most of the money, so there’s a strong possibility that neither will write this book.
www.vulture.com/article/mrbe...
www.vulture.com/article/mrbe...
MrBeast Starts a New Chapter As a James Patterson Co-Author
Their joint thriller novel is reportedly already at the center of an eight-figure bidding war.
www.vulture.com
March 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Eight figures. Eiiiiiight figures. Eight. Figures. Listen, I know I'm screaming into the void on this one, but you know how many great authors -- marginalized authors! new authors! authors of all genres! -- you could publish with this *at a still high level of advance* -? Answer: a lot! A lot a lot!
I've been channeling a lot of my rage into my work because books are so often the only escape for those with nowhere else to turn.
March 5, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I've been channeling a lot of my rage into my work because books are so often the only escape for those with nowhere else to turn.
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
One thing I'm fucken sick of hearing is that people on the poverty line "don't want handouts."
Well, the rich take hand outs. Maybe they're rich bc they were offered handouts. Maybe they're rich bc they take them.
This "shame in receiving free money" for the poor but not the rich makes me SO MAD
Well, the rich take hand outs. Maybe they're rich bc they were offered handouts. Maybe they're rich bc they take them.
This "shame in receiving free money" for the poor but not the rich makes me SO MAD
March 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
One thing I'm fucken sick of hearing is that people on the poverty line "don't want handouts."
Well, the rich take hand outs. Maybe they're rich bc they were offered handouts. Maybe they're rich bc they take them.
This "shame in receiving free money" for the poor but not the rich makes me SO MAD
Well, the rich take hand outs. Maybe they're rich bc they were offered handouts. Maybe they're rich bc they take them.
This "shame in receiving free money" for the poor but not the rich makes me SO MAD
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
Psst: 👇
Target is facing a 40-day consumer boycott starting Wednesday over the company’s shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
A 40-day Target boycott starts today. It couldn’t come at a worse time for the company | CNN Business
Target is facing a 40-day consumer boycott starting Wednesday over the company’s shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
www.cnn.com
March 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Psst: 👇
Since I’m new here, I’ll do a #MSWL update soon, but if you’re a querying author, please note that short of some unforeseen circumstance I’m open to queries year-round! I’m looking for adult, YA, and MG projects.
February 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Since I’m new here, I’ll do a #MSWL update soon, but if you’re a querying author, please note that short of some unforeseen circumstance I’m open to queries year-round! I’m looking for adult, YA, and MG projects.
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
Maybe we weren’t meant to wake up and read 20 terrible things immediately.
February 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Maybe we weren’t meant to wake up and read 20 terrible things immediately.
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
Hi, just a reminder that when you use Libro.fm for your audiobooks, you support independent bookshops vs. large corporations that drive them out of business.
We also pay taxes. And so do indie bookshops.
We also pay taxes. And so do indie bookshops.
February 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Hi, just a reminder that when you use Libro.fm for your audiobooks, you support independent bookshops vs. large corporations that drive them out of business.
We also pay taxes. And so do indie bookshops.
We also pay taxes. And so do indie bookshops.
Since Slack is down, here’s reason #1 to follow me: I’ve passed a rigorous approval process conducted by a Very Good Boy. 🐶👇
February 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Since Slack is down, here’s reason #1 to follow me: I’ve passed a rigorous approval process conducted by a Very Good Boy. 🐶👇
Reposted by Melanie Figueroa
At some point, plot just isn’t enough. The events need meaning.
3 Little Words That Will Unlock Your Revision | Jane Friedman
Ensuring your stories are imbued with meaning can be a huge task. Luckily, three magic words will help you strengthen your story’s trajectory.
janefriedman.com
February 25, 2025 at 4:50 PM
At some point, plot just isn’t enough. The events need meaning.