I’ve posted my wishlist here before. But I’ve imporved it a little, and here it is again, Gabi’s wishlist, the official version! If your manuscript fits perfectly here, then you should definitely enter the contest and choose me as your judge! The form will be up from Sunday, December 25th to January 6th.

GABRIELA LESSA’S WISHLIST FOR THE CONTEST

• Really cool and well-written multicultural fiction. Multicultural is hard to write because it’s hard to introduce a different culture without getting too descriptive. I’ve seen good ideas, but no fantastic manuscripts. Nothing that makes me think of Javier Moro’s Passion India, my favorite multicultural ever. I would love to see a story full of flavor from a country I don’t hear about often, a manuscript that takes me somewhere I’ve never been and still gives me a fantastic plot that mixes cultural clashes, romance and overcoming difficulties sometimes unknown to other cultures.
• Anything that focuses on cultural or age clashes, written in an original way.
• Outstanding contemporaries that really bring something cool to the genre. There’s a hunger for great contemporaries out there.  Good contemporaries are never too much. So I definitely want to see great contemporary MG, YA and adult fiction.
• Romance that is truly original and brings something very unique to the table. I particularly love contemporary romance, romantic comedy, chick lit (yeah, I said it) and general fiction with strong romantic elements.
• Literary fiction with a commercial appeal and a really strong voice (if it’s sarcastic or bitter, even better). Like Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists and Jonathan Tropper’s This Is Where I Leave You.
• Historicals that deal with important issues and transcend genres. I’m very picky about historicals. Really.
• Anything that could be turned into a movie and starred by Robert Downey Jr.
• Women’s Fiction that brings something new to the table. Like Jennifer Weiner or Emily Giffin.
• Suspense / thrillers with an original “villain”. Somehow it seems to be always the Russian, the Chinese, the Middle Eastern or the Colombians, always the medical industry, the terrorists, the Wall Street guys or the drug dealers. Yeah, I know, I’m eliminating all normal possible villains. What can I say? I’m really all for originality.
• Memoirs with a great, fun voice, like Jen Lancaster’s Bitter is the New Black, or with a multicultural theme and strong difficulties, like Loung Ung’s First They Killed My Father and Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel.
• Voice, voice, voice. A great voice is everything.

That’s it! That’s what I desperately want to see! Does your manuscript fit my wishes? Then come back on Christmas (or anytime before Jan 6th), enter using the form and make my Christmas wish come true!

If your genre isn’t here, don’t worry. I’ll post Cassandra’s wishlist tomorrow!