MASHA GUNIC
ASSOCIATE AGENT
Masha started her career in publishing as an intern at the Azantian Literary Agency and has since held internships at Red Fox Literary and Writers House before working as an Editorial Assistant at Abrams Books on the children's side for two years. Her love for books across genres, as well as her desire to find and foster great talent, drove her to make the transition from editorial back to the Azantian Literary Agency on the West Coast. Right now, Masha is only looking to acquire middle grade and young adult novels.
Fun Facts About Me
1. I’m incredibly restless by nature and have tried just about every sport under the sun—from dance to volleyball to swimming. But lately you can find me riding down the trails of Mt. Baker on my mountain bike and throwing high kicks in my taekwondo classes...when I'm not under the thrall of a good book.
2. I might be the only person on the planet who hates carbonated beverages. I’ll pass on soda every time—give me a fresh lemonade or a well-made cocktail over a coke or beer any day.
3. The journey from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the U.S. in the early ’90s left a lasting mix of memory and perspective that continues to draw me to stories exploring the layered, often emotional and difficult truth of the immigrant experience.
Please do not send Me:
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WISHLIST
MIDDLE GRADE
I am excited to find middle grade novels across all genres. Bring on the adventure, the creepy, the spine-chilling horror, the historical, the imaginative, and the laugh-out-loud funny! I look for dramatic and funny middle grade books with a relatable voice and strong friendship and family themes. Brave or whimsical adventure novels are a sweet spot, especially those starring underdogs and antiheroes. I love fantasy in general, as well as heartbreaking contemporary fiction with exceptional character development. Some of my favorite middle grade books include THE LION OF MARS by Jennifer L. Holm, the KIRANMALA AND THE KINGDOM BEYOND series by Sayantani DasGupta, THE NEST by Kenneth Oppel, CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY by Karen Cushman, THE ROYAL DIARIES series, and the GOOSEBUMPS series by R.L. Stine.
YOUNG ADULT
I'm drawn to exciting, high-concept and commercial young adult novels that keep me reading chapter after chapter until I'm all done and craving more, as well as unique literary works. I'm specifically searching for contemporary fiction, thrillers and mysteries with satisfying twists, historical fiction, fantasy, and magical realism, but I would especially love to find a smart space opera or grounded science fiction project in the vein of INTERSTELLAR and ARRIVAL. Above all, I'm drawn to young adult novels with a strong voice, masterful writing, beautiful world-building with a vivid setting, and complex characters that are truly unforgettable. A few of my all-time favorite books include the CONFESSIONS OF GEORGIA NICOLSON series by Louise Rennison, ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M. McManus, THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE by Cynthia Hand, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE by Morgan Matson, CINDER by Marissa Meyer, the SANCTUARY series by Caryn Lix, THE WRATH & THE DAWN by Renée Ahdieh, THE WICKED DEEP by Shea Ernshaw, and LORE by Alexandra Bracken.