Complex characters with clear arcs, emotional stories, and interesting well-researched nonfiction ideas from middle grade to young adult.
Submissions failing to center child’s perspective or teaching lessons/platitudes like ‘just believe in yourself.’ Not seeking non-author/illustrators in picture books/graphic novels currently.
Rebecca Williamson is a literary agent at Sheldon Fogelman Agency representing children's and young adult literature. She specializes in picture books, middle grade, young adult, and new adult fiction across multiple genres, with a particular focus on author/illustrators and diverse voices. A former dancer and theatre enthusiast, she seeks stories with emotional depth and complex character arcs.
Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] Please read the submissions guidelines at Sheldon Fogelman Agency's submissions website. At this time, Rebecca is only looking for author/illustrators in the picture book fiction, picture book nonfiction, and graphic novel spaces. She is also interested in biographies, memoirs, and nonfiction ideas from middle grade through young adult that are interesting and well-researched. She would be happy to represent an author's full body of work if they write across all ages and genres. If she likes your pitch during any kind of event, please submit it to her no matter what age or genre it is. Picture Books: - Looking for stories that stick with readers and will withstand the test of time - Prefers strong plot and well-defined character arc - Tends to prefer human characters over animals or anthropomorphic objects, but is open to anything - Interested in fiction, nonfiction, and biographies - For illustrations: appreciates whimsy and magic, detailed and complex layered illustrations with movement, atmospheric colors that blend together, hand-drawn styles or digital art that emulates physical mediums over flat vector style, more realistic character styles than cartoon, art that conveys characters' emotions throughout an entire story arc Not the best fit for picture books: board books, wordless picture books, early readers, chapter books, picture books based on learning early concepts (numbers, letters, colors, shapes, educational concepts) Middle Grade Fiction: - Loves any genre, particularly fantasy, mystery, and contemporary - Enjoys middle grade books with a lot of heart - Interested in: fun mysteries in any genre, first crushes, girls in sports, found family in any genre, fantasies based on world mythologies, protagonists interested in social activism Middle Grade Nonfiction: - Open to any exciting/interesting topic - Specific interests: social activism, feminism, intersectionality, world cultures and mythologies, the arts (music, dance, theatre, etc.), pop culture, women's sports (bonus points for soccer, dance, or gymnastics) Young Adult Fiction: - Favorite genres: romance, fantasy, contemporary - Enjoys reading almost anything - Interested in: younger protagonists around ages 14-16, cozy and/or light fantasies with lower stakes or Ghibli-esque stories, fluffy rom-coms, contemporary romances with emotional undertones, historical fiction with diverse characters, girls in sports YA Nonfiction, Biographies, and Memoirs: - Open to any topic - Interests same as middle grade nonfiction above Middle Grade or Young Adult Graphic Novels: - Looking for any of the same genres or bullet points of interest from YA or MG sections - For illustrations: same preferences as picture books New Adult: - Mainly looking for stories with romance, whether main plot or minor sub-plot - Intrigued by genre mash-ups - Extremely open to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC stories - Interested in: cozy and/or light fantasy, sports romance in contemporary or fantasy setting, historical mystery romance, paranormal romance with less common creatures, secret college society with magic, protagonists who are actually the villain, dystopian with strong high-concept hook (not apocalypse stories) Not looking for: horror (specifically jump scare/locked room horror or excessive gore unless not too gruesome), novels in verse or poetry, apocalypse stories unless lighthearted, animals or inanimate objects as protagonists in middle grade or young adult
Last verified: April 3, 2026
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