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| Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff represented by The Greenhouse Agency |
The
Greenhouse Literary Agency
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The Greenhouse Literary Agency
specializes in fiction
for children: picture books to young adult. The agency also represents adult women’s
fiction. Sarah Davies founded the Greenhouse
and is head of the agency. She created the business after moving to the
USA from England in 2007, following a long career as a senior UK children’s
publisher. {More about what Sarah is looking for below.} The agency has three
agents, all of whom are usually open to submissions, though until Nov 4,
2019, only one of them is, new agent, Chelsea Eberly….
Chelsea Eberly joined
Green House Literary on September 30, 2019. Previously, she was a Senior Editor
at Penguin Random House , she edited award-winning and New York
Times bestselling authors such as Tamora Pierce, Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu,
Sarah J. Maas, Matt de la Peña, Mark Siegel, Julia Walton, and Jessica Cluess
to name only a few.
She
has a deep understanding of how publishers think and is an expert advocate for
her clients. Chelsea is also a Publishers
Weekly Star Watch Honoree, which recognizes “the rising stars of
the US publishing industry.”
Like all new agents, she needs authors
and is looking for stories that
will stand out in the crowded US marketplace with depth and heart.
Chelsea Eberly represents authors of middle grade,
young adult, graphic novels, and women’s fiction, as well as
writer-illustrators of picture books.
Chelsea is primarily interested in fantasy, magical
realism, contemporary fiction (particularly romance, thrillers, and humor), and
graphic novels – though please surprise her with an excellent read that she
didn’t know she needed. She has a soft spot for literary when there’s a strong
plot propelling the reader forward. Like everyone, Chelsea would love to see
projects from underrepresented voices. She is also interested in reads that
thoughtfully address mental health and learning disabilities as part of the
story but not necessarily the main focus. She is open to nonfiction with a
unique point of view and/or a platform-driven project.
In Middle Grade, she is
eager to represent an unforgettable voice and an uplifting
take on the problems that middle-school readers face, especially if the story
is told from a specific point of view that can act as a mirror, window, or
sliding glass door into diverse experiences. She loves when authors tackle Big
Truths in a heartfelt way. She is also on the lookout for memorable characters
in action-packed fantasy adventures and humorous voices that can grow to become
series juggernauts.
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| Lara's Gift by Annemarie O'Brien represented by The Greenhouse Agency |
In the
Graphic Novel medium, she looks for Middle Grade and YA contemporary,
fantasy, fractured fairy tales, unique retellings, and select historical/nonfiction
projects if they have clear hooks. She loves when authors are mining their own
experiences in an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical way. Hit her with
side-busting humor or box-of-tissues feels. She has a soft spot for cats.
In Picture Books, she is
highly selective, looking for writer-illustrators
who can create a strong character, a clear conflict, and write with a humorous
voice and/or a surprising twist at the end. Chelsea loves creators who
understand the sense of community that being read a book aloud delivers. She is
open to nonfiction if the story has multiple hooks and an evergreen,
contemporary delivery.
In adult women’s fiction,
Chelsea is extremely picky. She loves
upmarket contemporary fiction with a feminist angle, a strong romantic thread,
and/or a domestic thriller/mystery. Think Queenie, Eleanor Oliphant is
Completely Fine, Where’d You Go Bernadette, Ayesha at Last, Big Little Lies,
and Where the Crawdads Sing as examples of her taste.
Query Chelsea at: submissions@greenhouseliterary.com
Include Chelsea Eberly’s name in the subject line. If you’re writing a novel, paste the first 5 pages of your story into the body of the
email. If you’re writing/illustrating a picture book (no more than
1000 words), paste in the
whole text and either paste in an illustration sample or attach ONE PDF with
sample. If you are a graphic novelist, paste in the
first chapter of your script. If you are also an artist, include a link to your
online portfolio. If your art cannot be accessed online, attach up to 5 pages
of art as one PDF.
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Sarah has been an editor most of her
life and has considerable experience in contract negotiation, marketing and
rights. Excellent publishing contacts in both the USA and Britain, and many
years spent living in both countries, have given her an unusually transatlantic
view of the children’s books industry, from both sides of the desk. Follow her on Twitter at
@SarahGreenhouse.
Sarah is seeking fiction by
North American authors, from Middle Grade through Young Adult and across all
genres (note: she is currently closed to debut Picture Books but does rep PBs
by clients whom she’s initially taken on for older fiction). She loves strong,
hooky, layered plots, writing that is gorgeous but also conceptually strong,
and stories that are really moving but make you think too. Like everyone, she
is particularly seeking authors from under-represented backgrounds and stories
with diverse settings and perspectives.
In YA, she is currently keen to find fresh,
hooky, charming contemporary romance and rom-coms – but note, the hook MUST be
strong and unique; smart, original thrillers that grab you from the first page but
still have great writing; multicultural settings and diverse #ownvoices authors
and characters (she has a particular interest in the Middle East and France,
but authenticity and #ownvoices are essential); stories that deal with
contemporary issues of immigration from an authentic perspective; magical
realism – perhaps where the “real” is skewed by some other dimension; fantasy,
especially by diverse authors, but there MUST be a hook that feels truly fresh
and different to all the other fantasy out in the marketplace.
AND FINALLY: there’s always room for something the market’s never seen before – whatever that may be!
AND FINALLY: there’s always room for something the market’s never seen before – whatever that may be!
In Middle Grade, she is looking for classic-voiced
and heartfelt stories that offer a fresh take on the tropes of identity,
independence, growing up (perhaps helped along by an interesting and different
structure or point of view); adventure with a touch of magic or magical
realism; graphic novels by author/illustrators who can create fab and fun young
fiction. Again, she always looks for a fresh hook, matched by strong writing.
Additionally, Sarah is open to
children’s/teen nonfiction projects that have a strong angle on a subject that
jives with today’s concerns. Age-appropriate writing (and formats?) essential.
She is also open, by referral, to women’s fiction — especially in the suspense
genre.
Query Sarah at: submissions@greenhouseliterary.com
Note: Sarah is closed to submissions
until November 4, 2019.
When you do query her, include Sarah Davies’
name in the subject line. If
you’re writing a novel, paste the first 5
pages of your story into the body of the email. If you’re
writing/illustrating a picture book (no more than 1000 words), paste in the
whole text and either paste in an illustration sample or attach ONE PDF with
sample. If you are a graphic novelist, paste in the
first chapter of your script. If you are also an artist, include a link to your
online portfolio. If your art cannot be accessed online, attach up to 5 pages
of art as one PDF.
Polly
Nolan represents UK, Irish, Commonwealth and North
American authors only.
Polly joined Greenhouse in June 2013
as our UK agent. This was after a distinguished career at many of the UK’s top
children’s publishing houses, where she started as a Junior Editor and finished
as a Publishing Director over fifteen years later. Polly made the move into
agenting to do more of what she enjoys most – finding new writing talent,
helping to develop great fiction, and achieving publishing deals for authors
both new and established. She has an enviable record as a talent-spotter
and experienced nurturer of writers. You
can follow her on Twitter at @NolanPolly.
Polly is seeking outstanding
writing for readers up to YA. She is open to most genres and is always looking
for those rare and wonderful novels in which she can lose herself
completely. You know: the types where you start by thinking, I’ll just read this for 10 minutes and
suddenly hours have disappeared.
Original, compelling story is key, as
is uniqueness of voice. She is after novels that pull at the heartstrings, make
her care deeply about characters that feel real but that also make her think.
She believes that exceptional novels confound genres and so finds it easier to
list what she isn’t searching for than what she is.
So please do not send Polly “cross over”
novels or books where the protagonist is a talking bird (though she does love a
good animal story). She would not jump on sci-fi (particularly ones with
aliens for middle grade readers) and she avoids stories that feel didactic or
earnest in their message. At the moment, she isn’t looking for dystopian
YA or fantasy YA.
Polly represents a very small number of picture
book authors but only where they also illustrate their work. However, if
you have an exceptional story to tell and can do so in a distinctive way, she
can’t wait to hear from you.
Query Polly at: submissions@greenhouseliterary.com
Note: Polly is closed to submissions
until November 4, 2019.
When you do query her, include Polly Nolan’s
name in the subject line. If
you’re writing a novel, paste the first 5
pages of your story into the body of the email. If you’re
writing/illustrating a picture book (no more than 1000 words), paste in the
whole text and either paste in an illustration sample or attach ONE PDF with
sample. If you are a graphic novelist, paste in the
first chapter of your script. If you are also an artist, include a link to your
online portfolio. If your art cannot be accessed online, attach up to 5 pages
of art as one PDF.
See The
Greenhouse’s full submission guidelines here.
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| Kelley |
If you’re interested in getting
published, now or sometime in the future, don’t miss our upcoming How to Get Published workshop with literary
agent Stephanie Winter of P.S. Literary on
Saturday, November 23, in Niagara on the Lake with (see here).
Also, don’t miss “You can write great dialogue,” Sunday,
Oct 20, in Sudbury (see here),
How to Write a Bestseller with New York Times #1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong,
Saturday, Oct 26, in Waterloo (see here),
and How to Build Your Story: Plotting novels & Writing short stories, Saturday, Nov 16, in
Guelph (see here).
This winter, a full range of weekly courses is on
offer:
Burlington: Next Step in Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons, Jan
21 – March 31.
1st reading emailed Jan 16. Details here.
1st reading emailed Jan 16. Details here.
Burlington: Intensive Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings , Jan 15 – March 11. 1st readings emailed Jan 8. Details here.
Toronto: Intensive
Creative Writing, Friday mornings, Jan 17 – March 13. 1st readings
emailed Jan 10. Detail here.
Plus check out these writing
retreats …
November at the Briars Writing Retreat
Friday, November 1 – Monday, November 4.
Four days of creativity in a setting with the warmth of a country estate
steeped in history while providing all the benefits of an extensive, modern
lakeside resort. Details here.
{At this point, it’s waiting list only for the Briar’s retreat.}
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| Relaxing at Arowhon Pines Resort |
Algonquin Writing Retreat, Friday, June 5 - Monday, June 8, 2020. Four days of luxury and writing in one of most
beautiful spots in Ontario. This is the area that inspired the Group of Seven;
come and let it inspire you, too. Still lots of room. Details here.
To reserve a spot in any upcoming weekly course,
weekend retreat, or Saturday workshop, email Brian at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
See Brian’s complete current
schedule here, including
Saturday writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend
retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton,
Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Jackson’s
Point, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, New Tecumseth,
Oakville, Ottawa, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton,
Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
Navigation tips: Always
check out the Labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct
collections of postings. If you're searching for more interviews with literary
agents or a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.
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