Four Agents Seeking Children’s Authors at D4EO Literary Agency

Bob Diforio launched D4EO Literary Agency in 1989 after a long career at New American Library. Today D4EO is a full-service, six-agent literary agency representing authors of a very broad range of commercial fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults, and adults. Books represented by the agency have topped the The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and agency authors have received awards that include the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and the Nero Award.

With over 1,000 published books under contract, the agency has launched the writing careers of more than two hundred authors.

Samantha Dighton joined D4EO in September 2012. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Dance Theory & Performance Studies.

Prior to joining D4EO, she worked at The Sagalyn Agency and as a reader for Curtis Brown.  She is based in Washington, D.C.

Sam is looking for character-driven stories with strong voice. She likes characters who are relatable yet flawed, vibrant settings that take on a life of their own, and a story that lasts well beyond the final page, generally falling within the categories below:

-Literary Fiction -Historical Fiction -Mystery/suspense -Magical Realism -Psychological thrillers -Young Adult (Realistic) -Narrative nonfiction

Please no science fiction, paranormal/urban fantasy, or bodice-ripping romances (though romantic subplots are always welcome!)

Email Submissions only.

-Send to samantha@d4eo.com .

Mandy Hubbard joined D4EO Literary Agency in February 2010 as a Young Adult and Middle Grade specialist, and has since expanded to include genre romance. Before agenting, she worked with Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency and is also a multi-published YA author. Her books include PRADA & PREJUDICE (Razorbill), YOU WISH (Razorbill), DRIVEN (Harlequin), BUT I LOVE HIM (Flux) RIPPLE (Razorbill), and others forthcoming.

Her leading clients include Lee Bross, author of  TANGLED WEBS (Disney-Hyperion, 2014), Emily Murdoch, author of IF YOU FIND ME (St. Martin’s, 2013)Imogen Howson, author of  LINKED (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013), and Jessica Martinez, author of VIRTUOSITY (Simon Pulse, 2011).

email: mandy@d4eo.com [No Queries at this address] twitter website

Seeking: A broad range of middle grade and young adult.

• Email submissions only
• Put “Query: Book Title” in the subject line of the email
• Paste the first five pages of your novel below your query
• No attachments
• Email Queries to: Mandy.Hubbard.queries@gmail.com

Current Wishlist: You are welcome to query anything that falls within the MG/YA realm, as well as select genre romance but in particular, Mandy is looking for:

• Contemporary genre (Read: adult) romance, the steamier the better
• Regency Romance
• “New Adult” romance (characters in their early 20s!)
• YA Horror and/or thriller, preferably with a body count
• A YA novel in verse
• MG with a fun girly angle and series potential
• YA Romance, whether historical or contemporary
• Historical YA novels based within real tragedies, a la BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY by Ruta Septys, REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnely, etc.
• YA with a hook, a la HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter or THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

Do NOT query anything meant for adult audiences (unless it would be published in the romance section), or non-fiction of any kind.

Paste the first 10 pages in the body of the email, below your query -Please include “Query: Title” in the subject line.

Bree Ogden joined D4EO in November 2011, after having been an associate literary agent at Martin Literary Management for nearly 2 years representing children’s, YA, and graphic novels.

Bree graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University where she served as editor-in-chief of the University’s newsmagazine. She was awarded Most Valuable Player and Editor of the Year, as well as SVU’s Pioneer Award, an honor the University awards to two students each year. She then received her MA in Journalism with an emphasis in editing and expository writing at Northeastern University where she worked on both the New England Press Association Bulletin, and also served as the features editor of the premier campus music magazine, Tastemakers Magazine.

Bree has spent many years working as a freelance journalist and currently co-operates the macabre children’s magazine Underneath the Juniper Tree where she serves as Editorial Director. Bree is an instructor and columnist for the Web site LitReactor.com where she teaches Intro to Graphic Novel Writing. Bree is also the newest judge for the Ghastly Awards–Honoring Excellence in Horror Comics.

Email: bree@d4eo.com  Twitter  Blog Bree’s LitReactor Content  Bree’s Comic Book Reviews

Seeking:
• Email submissions only
• Paste the first five pages of your novel below your query
• No attachments

*NOTE: I am actively seeking children’s/YA nonfiction. NO memoir unless you have a gigantic platform (i.e., The Pregnancy Project). I would love something in the vein of The Letter Q, Dare to Dream!: 25 Extraordinary Lives, The Forbidden Schoolhouse, or a Starvation Heights type historical fiction.

• Highly artistic picture books (high brow art, think Varmints)
• Middle grade
• Young Adult
• Adult
• Graphic Novels
• Nonfiction
• Humor
• Pop Culture
• Art books

Genre-specific (Both in Adult and YA):

Transgressive fiction ~Genre horror ~Genre noir ~Genre romance

Bree’s wish list: (don’t limit your queries to these!)

• Dark (not angst-ridden)
• Realistic
• Psychological horror (with no paranormal elements)
• Hard sci fi. Meaning no fantasy, or magical realism at all
• A Dexter-ish type YA black comedy (COMEDY being the operative word)
• A Roaring Twenties historical for YA
• A manuscript written in the era of Mad Men with panache and style
• A unique and theme-driven art book • Any book dealing with Anne Boleyn or Marie Antoinette (historical fiction, not nonfiction)
• Historical fiction (love crime-driven historical fiction, i.e. Black Dahlia)

Kristin Miller-Vincent was promoted to associate agent in February of 2011, after interning with Mandy Hubbard at D4EO Literary Agency. She graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in English Lit, Women’s Studies and Secondary Education. She publishes magazine and website articles and young adult novels under a pen name, teaches writing and works editorially with clients and other writers.

email: kristin@d4eo.com  (no queries here, please) twitter

Seeking:
middle grade, young adult and picture book (author/illustrators only, please)

Picture Books: Unique, groundbreaking, inventive art; playful, character-driven stories; humor. Nonfiction on topics and people that are interesting and unique, but not very well known as yet, told in a lively way that young child would enjoy. Manuscripts that are less than 750 words. NO morals, NO lessons, NO instructive stories. When querying, please paste the entire story below your query and include a link to an online resource that showcases examples of your art. Please don’t attach art to the query.

Middle Grade: Authentic voice is most important. On the one hand, I love fun, adventure, mystery and big, big characters on a unique journey. On the other,  timeless middle grade with siblings learning about themselves, each other and the world with lovely, literary prose. Something classic, the next The Penderwicks or Anne of Green Gables. Multicultural stories across the spectrum.

Young Adult: Talented writing, first and foremost. I’d like to see writing that shows care for one’s craft. I’m very open to good experimental writing, too. More specifically:

• Sweeping historical fiction, especially with a heavy romance and/or mystery element. I’d love something decadent and lush, set perhaps during Tsarist Russia or the Golden Ages of Vienna or Budapest. British settings work, too. No stilted dialogue, please.
• Contemporary with feminist and social issues themes, characters, concerns. Heavy focus on great voice and crafting. Literary contemporary.
• Horror, but I’d prefer it to be psychological rather than gory, subtle rather than in-your-face.

email submissions only to Kristin.D4EO@gmail.com

• put “Query, genre, title” in the subject line of your email
• paste the first 10 pages below your query in the body of the email
• no attachments

Hope this helps on your search for an agent.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy