UPDATE 7/19/22: CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS.
I enjoy working with children’s books for all age groups. Within YA, I’ll read pretty much anything, as long as it has a strong voice, tight plotting, and a great sense of humor. I like to see protagonists struggle with big questions and their place in the world, no matter the circumstances, and welcome darker stories about contending with trauma and grief (as long as there’s still some humor and hope woven in). That said, I’m always a sucker for: secret identities time travel globetrotting adventures high school theatre anything dealing with movies/TV socially conscious protagonists super fluffy rom-coms Also, if you can comp your book to Taylor Swift’s music (especially folklore ), PLEASE send it my way, I beg of you. Middle grade-wise, I generally tend toward books with a lot of heart, especially humorous mystery and adventure stories. I can never get enough of kids going on quests, whether that be to save the world or just to beat a mean girl at the local scavenger hunt. I’m not the best fit for stories from animals’ POVs, but if your protagonist has a cute animal companion who goes everywhere with them, sign me up (as long as said animal companion does not die; the last time I read a book with an animal death, I accidentally threw it across the room). In terms of picture books, I prefer fiction, but otherwise my tastes are very open. I love both laugh-out-loud humor and quieter, more lyrical writing. What I really look for is a strong character arc and sense of plot structure. Across all age groups, a priority is working with underrepresented voices. I’m especially interested in stories with incidental diversity, rather than issue-driven books, and happy (or at least bittersweet!) endings.
Fun facts about me
My childhood dog has my whole entire heart. Her name is Sammy and she’s a beagle. I minored in film in undergrad. I studied abroad at Oxford (twice!) and once produced and acted in a play at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, so I have a soft spot for the UK. I’m a photographer. In middle school, I was the Michigan State Fair Hula Hoop Champion two years running. Submission Guidelines Submissions should be emailed to submissions@ Sheldon Fogelman Agency, Inc. specializes primarily in children’s books of all genres, from picture books through young adult literature. The agency represents both authors and illustrators. We work with our clients on an exclusive basis and primarily take on clients who are looking to build a career in children’s literature. We always welcome submissions, and look forward to adding up-and-coming new authors and illustrators to our client list each year. However, we receive thousands of submissions annually and are highly selective in offering representation. We consider each submission carefully and do our best to respond quickly; however, please be aware that it takes time to read and consider each manuscript. It may take us up to six weeks to consider an initial query, and if we request more work, the process can take even longer. Unfortunately, because we receive so many submissions, it is not always possible to respond to each one. If you have not heard from us about a query letter within six weeks, please consider this a rejection. Please do not query us more than once every six months, unless otherwise requested. A rejection from one agent is a rejection from the agency as a whole. Please only submit previously unpublished work. Please note that we do not charge a reading fee. Additionally, we do not accept physical submissions; all submissions must be sent via email to su ********* @ *******************. If you are interested in submitting to us, please adhere to the following guidelines: For All Submissions Please email us your cover letter and a sample of your work (as stipulated below). Your cover letter should include: a brief synopsis of your work your writing history any relevant background (including, but