Ashlee Maccallum, junior agent

Smiling woman in a yellow sweater sitting at a desk with a computer.

Ashlee MacCallum joined Howland Literary after interning at Triada US. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a master’s degree in Education.

Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Ashlee is passionate about championing marginalized creators and uplifting historically underrepresented voices. She has a soft spot for speculative stories, mysteries, and anything delightfully weird, and is seeking high-concept, voice-driven adult fiction with strong emotional stakes, a clear hook, and broad commercial appeal. She is particularly drawn to fresh, genre-bending narratives that balance originality with readability.

She’s looking for mystery/thrillers, horror (gothic, supernatural, or psychological), and grounded fantasy across the spectrum, along with romance that leans speculative. She’s also open to select historical fiction and book club fiction with a strong hook and emotional core.

Ashlee lives in Nevada with her husband and two children. By day, she’s a high school English teacher who assigns cool books, reads powerful essays, and makes her students dramatically reenact Macbeth. Outside the classroom, Ashlee writes children’s literature and is represented by Kaitlyn Katsoupis at Belcastro Agency.

When she’s not lost in a book or spinning one of her own, Ashlee is probably mapping out her next Disney adventure, binging a true crime podcast, or humming show tunes in the kitchen. She’s fueled by caffeine, charmed by ghost stories, and fluent in banned books.

Please submit all queries via Ashlee's Query Manager link: https://QueryTracker.net/query/queryashlee

For non-submission inquiries, she can be reached at ashlee@howlandliterary.com.

I’m seeking high-concept, voice-driven adult fiction with strong emotional stakes, a clear hook, and broad commercial appeal. I’m especially drawn to diverse and underrepresented voices, as well as stories that feel fresh, strange, or genre-bending while remaining highly readable.

Thriller / Mystery

Psychological or domestic suspense with a strong hook
High-stakes premise that escalates quickly
Unreliable narrators or morally complex characters
Bingeable pacing with sharp twists
Cozy mysteries with a unique setting, voice, or hook

Horror / Gothic / Paranormal

Commercial or elevated horror, gothic, or paranormal stories with a clear, compelling hook
Atmospheric, eerie, or unsettling storytelling—hauntings, decay, isolation, or a lingering sense that something isn’t right
Psychological or social tension grounded in real fears, often intersecting with the uncanny or supernatural
Voice-driven narratives with strong character perspective and emotional depth
Stories that blend horror, gothic elements, or the paranormal with identity, relationships, grief, or memory

Romance

High-concept or instantly pitchable premise that is wildly unique
Speculative elements and light paranormal
Rare or subversive takes on familiar tropes
Strong voice with emotional intensity and chemistry
Bingeable pacing with breakout or series potential

Fantasy / Romantasy

Romance-forward fantasy with a clear central relationship
Accessible worldbuilding and strong pacing
High-stakes emotional arcs and tension
Morally gray love interests or power dynamics
Series potential with a strong hook

Cozy Fantasy

Warm, character-driven stories
Found family, community, or healing-centered arcs
Light magic or whimsical world elements
Strong voice with charm and humor
Escapist, comforting tone with a clear hook

Dark Fantasy

Gritty, immersive worlds with high stakes
Flawed, morally gray, or unlikeable protagonists
Genre-blending (fantasy + horror, thriller, or literary elements)
Dark, atmospheric tone with strong narrative drive
Weird, edgy, or high-concept hooks

Women’s Fiction / Book Club Fiction

High-concept emotional premise (clear, pitchable hook)
Relationship-driven stories with strong character arcs
Family, identity, and reinvention at the center
Secrets, moral dilemmas, or layered interpersonal tension
Diverse perspectives and culturally specific storytelling

Historical Fiction

Fresh angle or underexplored historical moment
Strong emotional throughline and character focus
Dual timelines or narrative reveals that drive momentum
Hidden histories or marginalized perspectives
Book club appeal with a compelling central hook

Across all categories, I’m looking for

A clear, compelling, one-sentence pitch
Strong, distinctive voice
Diverse and underrepresented perspectives
A touch of the unexpected, offbeat, or strange
Stories that balance emotional depth with commercial appeal

Specific MSWL

The gritty, power-driven storytelling and morally gray characters of Peaky Blinders and Sons of Anarchy, particularly in settings where loyalty, violence, and ambition collide
The sharp social dynamics and slow-burning unraveling of privilege seen in The White Lotus—ensemble casts, contained settings, and tension that simmers beneath the surface
Dark, gothic storytelling that interrogates monstrosity and creation
Women who push too far, want too much, and refuse to be contained. Give me women who are messy, unlikable, impulsive, and unapologetically complex.
Subversive myth retellings—especially Persephone—that lean dark, romantic, and emotionally charged
Historical or historical-inspired settings used as a backdrop for high-stakes conflict, violence, and power—not quiet or nostalgic, but immersive and propulsive. I’d love something set during the Civil Rights Era.
Layered, mystery-driven narratives with buried secrets and generational consequences, structurally tight and reveal-driven
Isolated or insular settings (compounds, estates, retreats, small towns) where secrets fester, and tensions turn volatile
Ghosts, hauntings, spirits, and eerie, unexplained elements with strong atmosphere and emotional stakes. I’m especially drawn to stories where the supernatural intersects with grief, memory, or buried secrets.
Bubblegum horror! Bright, glossy, hyper-stylized horror with sharp edges—playful on the surface but dark underneath. I’m drawn to bold aesthetics and stories that balance fun, femininity, and danger.
Campy horror that’s bold and self-aware with a sense of fun—over-the-top concepts, big characters, and a willingness to lean into the chaos while still delivering real stakes
Power structures and hierarchy-driven worlds (crime families, cults, elite circles) where characters must navigate loyalty, betrayal, and survival