Finding an agent is an exciting step on the journey to publication, but getting your query read can be difficult. Two things that make it easier – finding an agent building her list, or even better, a brand new agent. The good news – today I am bringing you both. The bad? They are from the same agency so you have to pick one. 🙁
First, meet Jaida Temperly
Jaida is actively building both her Children’s and Adult list. She has a particular love for all things Middle Grade, especially those that are a bit quirky, strange, and fantastical (a la The Mysterious Benedict Society, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, Snicker of Magic, Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, etc.). She’s also open to YA submissions (all genres), and picture books by author-illustrators with completed dummies.
For all other fiction (both Adult and Children’s) she has an affinity for magical realism, historical fiction, and literary fiction, as well as stories with a strong mystery and/or religious undertones (The Westing Game, A Discovery of Witches, The DaVinci Code, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Outlander, The Rule of Four, etc.).
On the non-fiction side, she’s actively seeking topics that are offbeat and a bit strange (Stiff:The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, etc.), as well as photography projects that offer unique insight into the human experience (Humans of New York, The Scar Project, etc.).
Prior to joining New Leaf Literary, Jaida grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, studied classical ballet, and briefly attended medical school. She loves art history, traveling, logic puzzles, horticulture, and numerous other topics that come in handy for Trivia Night and crossword puzzles.
You can follow Jaida on Twitter HERE.
Next is Danielle Barthel.
Following her completion of the Denver Publishing Institute after graduation, Danielle began interning at Writers House. While there, she realized she wanted to put her English degree and love of the written word to work at a literary agency. She worked as a full-time assistant for three years, and continues to help keep the New Leaf offices running smoothly in her role of Coordinator of Team and Client Services.
In her downtime, she can be found with a cup of tea, a bar of chocolate, or really good book…sometimes all together.
While her official page at New Leaf doesn’t mention what she is looking for, the great folks at WD say -“Danielle is seeking: Upper middle grade, YA, adult, and nonfiction manuscripts. She’d love to find an amazing MG epistolary, engrossing YA realistic contemporary stories like THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE and ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, well-crafted fantasies, and retellings that truly twist a story from its original version.”
Follow Danielle on Twitter.
You read the New Leaf Literary submission guidelines here.
Good luck!!
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