I'm looking for powerful, original writing that makes me laugh out loud and stays with me long after reading. I want projects at the intersection of literary and commercial, particularly in middle-grade and young-adult genres like magical realism, science fiction, historical, contemporary, fantasy, epistolary novels, picture books, and stories set in small communities or boarding schools. I'm also interested in conceptual picture books, author-illustrators, and layered stories that are both funny and heartbreaking.
Poetry, sports, textbooks/academic, reference, adult market.
Susan Hawk is a literary agent at Upstart Crow Literary who represents middle-grade, young adult, picture books, and non-fiction. She is known for seeking powerful, original writing that blends literary and commercial appeal, with a particular passion for character-driven stories that resonate emotionally.
Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] - Submit a QUERY and TWENTY PAGES of your manuscript. - Please put your query and sample in the body of the email. We will not open emailed attachments. - Author/illustrators: NB—Please include a link to your online portfolio and/or to your downloadable dummy. (Thank you!) If your submission is received by our system, an automated response will be emailed to you.
Last verified: April 4, 2026
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