You’ve probably seen the name Haley Casey popping up in your QueryTracker notifications or across MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) threads if you’re writing anything from voice-driven YA to gritty true crime. She’s an associate agent at Creative Media Agency (CMA), and she’s quickly becoming one of those "gatekeepers" that authors actually want to talk to. Why? Because she’s an editorial agent.
Basically, she doesn't just take your book and toss it at a publisher to see if it sticks.
She digs in. She’s spent years as an editor at Ogden Publications, styling covers and editing podcasts, so she knows the "guts" of a project. If you sign with her, you’re getting someone who looks at world-building and characterization before she even thinks about the marketing pitch. Honestly, that’s rare. Most agents are so buried in emails they barely have time to breathe, let alone do a deep-dive assessment of your manuscript’s emotional resonance.
Who is Haley Casey and Why Should You Care?
Haley didn't just wake up one day and decide to be an agent. She’s been a bookworm since she wrote her first (unpublished) chapter book in the fifth grade. She’s a University of Kansas alum with a degree in creative writing and a graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute. That background matters because it means she understands the craft of writing, not just the business of it.
After 2016, she spent four years at Ogden Publications. She wasn't just sitting in a cubicle; she was writing articles, editing audio, and basically learning how the media machine functions from every angle. By the time she landed at Creative Media Agency in 2020, she had a toolkit most junior agents lack.
She’s now building a list that’s pretty eclectic but very specific in its "vibe." If your story feels a little "weird" or focuses on voices that have been pushed to the margins for too long, you’re in her wheelhouse.
What She’s Actually Looking For (The Real MSWL)
Don't just look at the categories. Look at the comps.
Haley loves stories that make her reevaluate what she thinks she knows. If you’re writing Young Adult (YA), she’s looking for the next Cemetery Boys or Little Thieves. She wants the high-concept stuff—the kind of book you can pitch in a single, breathless sentence that makes someone go, "Wait, tell me more."
Fiction Preferences
- Grounded Genre Fiction: She likes fantasy that feels real. Think Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
- Romance & Romantasy: She’s a sucker for tropes, but they need a fresh coat of paint. She’s specifically mentioned wanting love interests who "ooze charm"—think Jesper Fahey from Six of Crows.
- Mystery/Horror: She wants to be unsettled. If you have an unreliable narrator or a "locked-room" thriller for the YA crowd, she’s interested.
- Retellings: She has a massive soft spot for Alice in Wonderland and The Count of Monte Cristo reimagined.
Nonfiction Interests
This is where people often trip up. She isn't looking for your "how-to" guide on starting a business. She wants narrative nonfiction.
- True Crime: If you can write with the intensity of Michelle McNamara (I’ll Be Gone in the Dark), send it.
- Sustainability & Gardening: Thanks to her time at Mother Earth Living, she’s genuinely into gardening and food history.
- Memoirs: Specifically those dealing with LGBTQ+, POC, and disability issues.
Common Mistakes When Querying Haley Casey
The biggest mistake? Sending her a political thriller or high fantasy. She’s explicitly said she isn't the best champion for those. Also, skip the religious texts and academic manuscripts. She wants voice, heart, and maybe a little bit of magic—not a lecture.
Another thing: Creative Media Agency has a "one agent at a time" rule. If you query Haley, don't query Paige Wheeler or Shannon Snow at the same time. It’s a small team. They talk. If Haley passes, you can usually try another agent there, but check their latest guidelines first because these things shift.
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Practical Steps to Get on Her Radar
If you think your manuscript fits the "Haley Casey" vibe, here’s how to handle the submission process without looking like an amateur.
- Nail Your Comp Titles: Don't just list bestsellers from 1995. Use recent books she’s mentioned, like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Killers of a Certain Age. It shows you actually know the current market.
- Highlight Your Voice: She’s an editorial agent. She can fix a plot hole, but she can't fix a boring voice. Make sure those first five pages (which you paste into QueryTracker) have a distinct personality.
- Check QueryTracker: She’s active there. You can see her recent response times and even the types of rejections she sends. She’s known for being professional and sometimes providing "kind and polite" feedback that actually helps authors revise.
- Marginalized Perspectives: She is actively seeking to uplift POC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled authors. If your work fits this, don't bury that in your bio—make it part of why the story needs to be told now.
Ultimately, Haley Casey is looking for "un-put-down-able" stories. She wants to be your biggest fan, but you have to give her a reason to fall in love with your characters first. If you’ve got a manuscript that’s a little bit weird, deeply emotional, and features a "ride-or-die" friendship, she might just be the partner your career needs.
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Next Steps for Authors:
- Review your first five pages for "lyrical prose" (a specific interest of hers).
- Format your query to include "one-sentence pitches" for high-concept stories.
- Submit via her QueryTracker link rather than email to ensure it doesn't get lost in the void.