Manuscripts with engaging voice and strong character development, particularly focusing on female protagonists for children and young adult readers.
Horror, true crime, any book where a dog is intentionally harmed.
Marisa Cleveland is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency who specializes in children's and young adult literature. She seeks character-driven stories with strong voice and compelling protagonists that she can't put down. She is particularly interested in character-driven narratives with strong female leads across picture books to young adult ranges.
Please see Query Manager for a current list of age ranges and genres I'm hoping to represent. I am not the right agent at any time for horror or true crime. If you're unable to use Query Manager and need to query via email, please visit The Seymour Agency's Submissions page for guidelines before emailing your query.
Last verified: March 13, 2026
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