Agent Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow

Danielle Chiotti Agent at Upstart Crow

Danielle has worked in publishing for sixteen years. Formerly an editor, she joined Upstart Crow when it was founded in 2009, specializing in young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as cookbooks, select nonfiction, and literary and upmarket fiction for adults. Thanks to her extensive editorial background, she enjoys working closely with authors to develop projects. She welcomes first-time authors with a unique voice and point of view.

For Young Adult and Middle Grade:  She is drawn toward gorgeous writing and strong, flawed characters. Her dream project for young readers is one that challenges and inspires, with a compelling voice that will make her stay up all night reading. Good examples of this are Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, Chime by Franny Billingsley, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, Still Life With Tornado by A.S.King, The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma, Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo, and When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

For adult fiction, she is seeking  up-market commercial fiction. She prefers books that explore deep emotional relationships in an interesting or unusual way. Good examples of this are Shine Shine Shine  by Lydia Netzer, The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty, and A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki.

For nonfiction, she is looking for compelling, voice-driven projects that shed a humorous or thought-provoking light on a previously unknown topic in the areas of narrative nonfiction/memoir, lifestyle, relationships, humor, current events, food, wine, and cooking. She is also interested in healthy living, lifestyle, culture, parenting and select self-help topics.

She is not considering the following adult categories: romance, mystery/suspense/thriller/political thriller, science fiction, horror, or erotica.

Upcoming projects include: The Ostrich and Other Lost Things by Beth Hautala (Philomel), Knucklehead by Adam Smyer (Akashic), The Instant Pot No Pressure Cookbook by Laurel Randolph (St. Martin’s) The Collectors by Jacqueline West (Greenwillow/Harpercollins), Grits: A Culinary Journey Through the South by Erin Byers Murray (St. Martin’s), Majestic by Matt Myklusch.

Fun facts about me:Gilmore Girls enthusiast. Food nerd. Grower of vegetables.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to danielle.submission@gmail.com

I accept email queries in my query box only at danielle.submission@gmail.com.

Please be sure to check out the submissions guidelines on the Upstart Crow website and send your query letter and the first 20 pages of your project, pasted into the body of the email. Please put the title of your project in the subject line of your email.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy