Send a Query to Kelly Dyksterhouse at The Tobias Literary Agency

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A quick note about what I am acquiring:
For picture books, I am looking for laugh-out-loud stories with a clear narrative arc, clever wordplay, twist endings, and memorable characters. I am open to both author-illustrators and text only submissions this month. I love a beautifully lyrical text and classic-feeling story, but mostly this month I want to laugh and be surprised.

For both MG and YA, I like to say that my tastes are high-concept plot with high-level writing. I love pace-y, escapist reads, but I also want well defined characters and themes. I am looking for books whose primary plot can be summed up in a single sentence.

In MG, think escapism. I love MG featuring ensemble casts, fast-paced adventure, first crush, age-appropriate romance, grounded fantasy and genre mashups. I love all things spooky and am open to MG horror. I am most interested in stories that bridge the gaps for readers--shorter, illustrated middle grade and more sophisticated stories for the young teen readers. I am particularly interested in books written by and featuring underrepresented voices in ways that showcase kids being kids in all the ways mentioned above. MG I've recently read and loved: The Bletchly Riddle, The Secret Library, The Last Dragon on Mars, The Bad Guys.

For YA, I am particularly on the lookout for a cozy fantasy, a unique retellings, and historical fiction. I'd also enjoy speculative fiction that is layered, has a distinct voice, and is grounded in a universal emotional desire and theme, a fresh take on vampires or the eternal one trope, and would love to see a story that makes me believe in cryptids. I'm especially drawn to contained settings and would love a smart, funny heist or a story centered around a competitive subculture. As with all age groups, representation matters, and I am particularly keen to showcase underrepresented voices.


Again, thanks for thinking of me for your work. I am looking forward to reading it!

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