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YA and middle grade Publisher's Marketplace See My Clients John Cusick Senior Vice President, Agent I represent a diverse list award winners and New York Times bestsellers. My focus is middle grade and young adult novels, as well as new adult and adult romance and commercial fiction that includes elements of fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, and/or horror. I graduated Wesleyan University in 2007 with a double major in English and Russian Literature—a degree one professor called “fun but useless.” After working as a freelance writer, bookseller, dog walker, cashier, and radio host, I became a literary agent’s assistant and quickly began building my own list. Around the same time I also became an author; my young adult novels, GIRL PARTS and CHERRY MONEY BABY, were published by Candlewick Press. My middle-grade duology, DIMENSION WHY, was released by Harper Collins in 2020, '21. As a writer myself, I bring both a creative and commercial sensibility to my agenting style. I’m an editorial agent who works closely with my clients, whether it’s developing a debut project or helping a seasoned author take that next step. My goal is to match writers with their dream editor, secure the best deals possible, facilitate the exploitation of dramatic (film and TV) rights in my clients’ work, and grow authors’ readership over long careers. I am passionate about helping clients achieve their full potential, and I’m looking for dedicated, original, fervent, visionary creators. A few of the authors & illustrators I represent... What I'm Looking For How To Submit I want stories that move readers, moments that make me look up and say “Wow, yes. I’ve felt that." I want compelling page-turners that create life-long readers, stories that will inspire fandoms, characters readers will cosplay as, obsess over, and never forget. I want stories from underrepresented voices in all styles and genres. I love the strange, iconoclastic, and unusual. Send me the books kids will sneak / steal / borrow in secret. Those intimate, dangerous, life-saving stories. I love proactive protagonists, kids and teens chasing a dream or a hero who swings in with a song in her heart and a knife in her teeth. In adult romance, I love humor, sex- and body-positivity, inclusivity, diverse voices and perspectives, and genre-blends (romantasy, horrormance, thriller-romance, etc.). I love rom-com as well as dark romance, and I love to work with hybrid and indie authors as well. I consider all submissions via Query Tracker. To submit, please visit: https://querytracker.net/query/JohnCusick

Veronica Meliksetian Literary & Operations Assistant I assist Partner Emily van Beek and Director of Operations Aaron Flores. In 2023, I graduated from the University of Cambridge with a MPhil in Education (Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature) and wrote my thesis on queer young adult literature. I love artful, playful, and bold children’s literature. When I’m not reading, I enjoy doing yoga and searching for the best matcha latte.

Middle-grade, YA, Adult Publisher’s Marketplace See My Clients Quressa Robinson Affiliated Agent Quressa Robinson is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management, representing adult fiction with a particular focus on science fiction & fantasy, horror, and romance. She is drawn to work that combines bold, distinctive voice with strong emotional stakes and deeply realized characters. Across genres, Quressa gravitates toward stories that balance big concepts with intimate character work, and she has a soft spot for fiction with cultural specificity, psychological depth, and relationship-driven narratives. Her taste leans toward literary-commercial hybrids, atmospheric worlds, inventive structures, and novels that feel both emotionally grounded and pitchable in one line. Before becoming an agent, Quressa spent five years as an editor and has since built a list known for its strong point of view, rich emotional undercurrent, and powerful character arcs. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing: Fiction from Columbia University, is a former WNDB Walter Grant Committee member and was a Publisher’s Weekly Star Watch Finalist. Originally from San Francisco and now based in New York City, Quressa loves books that stay with you long after you turn the last page—and voices that make you sit up and listen. #MSWL I represent adult fiction exclusively. I am actively seeking science fiction & fantasy, horror, and romance that are voice-driven, emotionally resonant, and anchored by strong character interiority. A few of the authors I represent... What I'm Looking For How To Submit Science Fiction & Fantasy (Adult Only) Looking for: Character-driven SFF with emotional or psychological depth Smart speculative fiction grounded in culture, identity, or community Atmospheric worlds that enhance character arcs Literary-commercial SFF with bold voice and clear hooks Not a fit for: hard military SF or epic fantasy over 120k unless highly voice-forward. Horror (Adult Only) Looking for: Atmospheric, unsettling, psychological, or uncanny horror Socially aware horror with strong POV Character-centered narratives where dread builds from emotion, tension, or place Not a fit for: gore-focused splatterpunk or extreme body horror without emotional grounding. Romance (Adult Only) Looking for: Emotionally complex romance between fully realized adults Distinctive voice, strong chemistry, and layered internal stakes Character-driven love stories with depth, nuance, and a compelling hook Not a fit for: inspirational/Christian romance or erotica. Query me HERE . No snail mail queries or submissions accepted. No email queries or submissions accepted unless specifically requested. For more wish list items, you can check out my #MSWL (manuscript wish list) posts .

Middle-grade, YA, fiction, non-fiction Publisher's Marketplace Marcy Posner Senior Vice President, Agent I have spent a lifetime in books. I started out with a brief stint as a children’s librarian, but found it a bit too staid, so moved on to publishing. After fifteen years on the editorial side of the business, I made the jump to agenting, and I have been at Folio for seven years. Editorial skill and a deep knowledge of the publishing industry sets me apart from many of my colleagues. When I work with my authors, I’ll focus editorially on how to make the book as strong as it could be. During that process, I’m able to bring to bear all the institutional memory I possess, knowing which editors and which publishing houses have a penchant for a certain subject, or a different voice, or a particular kind of author. My clients include Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestseller Jacqueline Kelly among others. A few of the authors I represent... See My Clients What I'm Looking For How To Submit I'm never looking for what is currently trendy because it will soon be gone. I'm interested in books like The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate , which transcend the moment. Since I also work in the adult space, I am also looking for books that can cross over from both middle-grade and YA. I am not looking for middle-grade at this time. For YA, I'm only interested in contemporary, historical, and thriller/suspense. I am currently open to YA queries. I am no longer accepting queries through my email. Please follow the link to my Query Manager and follow the prompts.

YA, middle grade, fiction, and non-fiction Publisher's Marketplace Currently closed to submissions See My Clients Melissa Sarver White Director of International Rights What I love most about being an agent is finding new voices that can express something in a fresh way or learning about a new subject matter that makes me view the world differently. As a literary agent and the Director of International Rights at Folio, I enjoy working on a great variety of projects – everything from YA and MG novels to adult books on cooking, business, self-help, health/wellness, and more. The constant exposure to a wide variety of topics is thrilling. I am humbled to play a part ushering innovative projects into the world. After a brief stint in magazine editorial, I have been working in NY book publishing for over a decade. A few of the authors I represent... What I'm Looking For How To Submit In the YA category, my interests are broad: I like contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, historical, magical realism, thrillers, and issue books. I love quirky, humorous writing in contemporary YA, and am always looking for something with a strong hook. I will always get excited about strong sense of voice and writing that packs an emotional punch; but I also enjoy lighter fare with strong romance. As for MG and Chapter Books, I look for contemporary stories that have a classic, evergreen feel to them. I’m not the right agent for your animal-narrated or adventure MG. I AM CURRENTLY CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS.

MG, YA, and adult fiction See My Clients Lauren Spieller Agent Hello! I represent an exciting and talented list of award winning and bestselling authors. On the kidlit side, I represent MG and YA, along with crossover novels that walk the line between YA and Adult. Whatever the age category or genre, I’m passionate about representing diverse and underrepresented voices, and I’m always on the hunt for a new point of view. I consider myself an editorial agent. I provide support and insight at all stages of a book’s creation, tailoring the way I work to the client’s needs. I am also a fierce advocate and negotiator. It’s important to me that my clients not just succeed in selling one book, but many, and that I do everything I can to help them have a long, creatively satisfying career. That means being strategic about which projects they write, the brand they are developing, and the way we pursue foreign, audio, and film/TV deals. (I also have lots of random advice ready to go. Like that time I taught a client who lives in CA how to remove ice from her windshield using a credit card. I’m full service!) I have a BA and a MA in English because I just couldn’t get enough of books. I’m also the author of two Young Adult novels entitled Your Destination Is on the Left and She’s the Worst . Both are published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. When I’m not working, you can find me playing with my mini goldendoodle, Louise, or binge watching something funny or thrilling. A few of the authors I represent... What I'm Looking For How To Submit I love books that sit at the intersection of “commercial” and “timeless,” especially if they pair a big hook with voicey, upmarket writing. I like to read books that keep me at the edge of my seat, that make me laugh out loud, that make me swoon, or that are simply so unputdownable that I stay up way too late reading. But let’s get more specific. In MG, I’m looking for high concept contemporaries, magical fantasy and kid-friendly romantasy, exciting historical, and spooky horror/mystery. I’d also love to see MG graphic novels, especially if it's set in our world. In YA, I’m drawn to speculative stories (fantasy, romantasy, and horror), contemporary novels with a big hook, romance and RomCom, suspense/thrillers, and graphic novels. I also love smart genre-bending tales, books that tackle a familiar topic or time period from a new or surprising perspective, and stories that take big risks, whatever that means to you . To see my Adult wishlist, click here . For a list of my favorite recent books, and a more detailed wishlist, check out manuscriptwishlist.com . Please visit my Query Manager page to submit. I respond to all queries, but if you do not hear from me within 45 days, please feel free to nudge by sending a message through Query Manager.

YA, fiction, and narrative non-fiction Publisher's Marketplace Erin Harris Senior Vice President, Agent Hello! I’m a Senior Vice President and literary agent at Folio, representing books for both adults and teens. I’m passionate about working with underrepresented and marginalized writers and have the honor (and joy) of working with New York Times bestselling authors; award-winning/award-recognized authors; and debut authors seeking to build long-term careers. A graduate of the MFA program in Creative Writing at the New School, I have a good idea of what it’s like to sit on the writer’s side of the desk and relish the opportunity to work closely with authors in an editorial capacity prior to submitting to publishers. I am an engaged professional partner throughout all stages of the publishing process. A few of the authors & illustrators I represent... See My Clients What I'm Looking For How To Submit For teen readers, I am seeking YA contemporary; YA thrillers and suspense; and YA with speculative elements – though I remain open to being surprised by what captures my imagination and heart! (For my interests in books for adults, please see my full bio here .) I’d be delighted to hear from you! Please send your query letter and the first ten pages of your manuscript (pasted into the body of your email) to: eharris@foliolitmanagement.com.

YA, middle grade, and picture books Publisher's Marketplace Emily van Beek Partner I moved to New York City from Toronto armed with dual citizenship, a dream to work in children’s publishing, and inspiration from my favorite (if clichéd) Zen magnet, “Leap and the net will appear”. I’m a partner and literary agent at Folio. Some of the New York Times bestselling and award-winning clients I represent include Kendare Blake, Lauren Castillo, Amina Luqman Dawson, Jenny Han, Rachael Lippincott, Lois Lowry, Cherry Mo, Sydney Smith, Philip & Erin Stead as well as striking debut and emerging voices. I am an editorial agent passionate about negotiating the best deal possible, working with our esteemed subsidiary and contracts teams to squeeze as much juice out of a property as it will yield, and helping my clients to publish books that will stand the test of time. A few of the authors & illustrators I represent... See My Clients What I'm Looking For How To Submit Please note that my colleague, Estelle Laure, and I work very closely together. Any queries to me should also be considered queries to her. NEW ADULT: We would LOVE a coming-of-age story with series potential; a romantasy series with a new, delicious hook; a cozy mystery with series potential; a high-concept speculative; a juicy family drama. We're always on the lookout for a comedy, rom-com, or otherwise hilarious romp. There is so much to work with in terms of first attempts at adulthood, and we're actively adding to our list in this sphere. YOUNG ADULT: We're eager to find novels that are high-concept and also incredibly well written. We want to be in the marrow of human experience here. Give us something bold and fresh with a voice that’s impossible to put aside. We're probably not the best choice for “message” books or hard science fiction. What we're really looking for is the intersection between stellar writing and plot — something that leaves us puffy-eyed or laughing out loud. We're looking for emotional connection, for drama, for hope. Oh! Something else — we would love, love, LOVE to discover a FUNNY manuscript like RAYNE & DELILAH’S MIDNITE MATINEE by Jeff Zentner. Other favorite YA includes (takes deep breath): TYRELL by Coe Booth, I WILL SAVE YOU by Matt de la Peña, I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson, THE FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley, STRANGE THE DREAMER by Laini Taylor, MOSQUITOLAND by David Arnold, GIRL IN PIECES by Kathleen Glasgow, DAMSEL by Elana K. Arnold, TOKYO EVER AFTER by Emiko Jean, A MILLION JUNES by Emily Henry, THE BELLES by Dhonielle Clayton, THIS SAVAGE SONG by Victoria Schwab, DIG by A.S. King, KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Moldavsky, ALL BOYS AREN’T BLUE by George M. Johnson, and FABLE by Adrienne Young. MIDDLE GRADE: We're very judiciously on the hunt for exquisitely imagined middle grade. We’d love a middle grade crush/first-tremors-of-love book. We’d be thrilled to find a comedy or a humorously mischievous story. We're looking for a plot that works with the middle grade attention span, which is always top of mind. We aren't a great fit road trip or questing-through-the-forest-type adventures. Favorites include: FAR FROM HOME by Jasmine Warga, AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS by B.B. Alston, THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate, KEEPER by Kathi Appelt, ROOFTOPPERS by Katherine Rundell, and PET by Akwaeke Emezi. PICTURE BOOKS: At this time, we're exclusively interested in AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS, especially award-worthy artwork, character-driven series, and work by diverse creators featuring diverse stories. We aren't looking for board books, novelty, picture book texts, or chapter books at this time. Please send along your query letter and first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email to emily@foliolitmanagement.com . Please send your query to this email address ONLY. Queries sent to any other email address may not be considered. If you'd like to submit a picture book, please attach a PDF of your dummy. Links to online portfolios are always welcome. I would very much like to be able to respond to every query, but unfortunately time doesn’t allow for it. Please be sure to write QUERY in the subject line as this will ensure I do not miss your letter. N.B.: This email address is for queries and submissions only. For all other inquiries, please call (212) 400-1494. If you haven’t heard back from me within six weeks, I'm sorry to say I've decided I'm not the ideal match for your project. Thanks again for the opportunity to consider your work.

Our Team Emily van Beek [object Object] Erin Harris [object Object] Estelle Laure [object Object] Hannah Teachout [object Object] John Cusick [object Object] Lauren Spieller [object Object] Marcy Posner [object Object] Melissa Sarver White [object Object] Quressa Robinson [object Object] Veronica Meliksetian [object Object] Our Team. This is your Team section. It's a great place to introduce your team and talk about what makes it special, such as your culture and work philosophy. Don't be afraid to illustrate personality and character to help users connect with your team. Ashley Jones Art Director Don Francis Tech Lead Alexa Young Product Manager Robert Rose Product Designer

Meet Folio Jr. The Team Emily van Beek Partner John Cusick SVP, Agent Quressa Robinson Affiliated Agent Erin Harris SVP, Agent Lauren Spieller Agent Veronica Meliksetian Literary & Operations Assistant Estelle Laure Agent/Senior Content Development Editor Marcy Posner SVP, Agent Hannah Teachout Literary Associate Melissa Sarver White International Rights Director

Estelle Laure Agent, Senior Content Development Editor As a Literary Agent/Senior Content Development Editor at Folio Jr., Estelle edits picture books, middle grade, young and new adult, and acquires and develops existing talent alongside Emily van Beek. Since 2012, Estelle has been working as an editorial consultant and developmental editor with established authors, many of whom are bestsellers and award winners; and while she is committed to supporting published authors, she has also developed a keen eye for new talent and a passion for working to bring a fresh perspective to their work and assist as they move toward publication confidently and with the highest level of artistic creativity. A few of the authors & illustrators I represent... See My Clients What I'm Looking For How To Submit Please note that I share a list with Emily van Beek. Any queries to me should also be considered queries to her. NEW ADULT: I would LOVE a coming-of-age story with series potential; a romantasy series with a new, delicious hook; a cozy mystery with series potential; a high-concept speculative; a juicy family drama. I am always on the lookout for a comedy, rom-com, or otherwise hilarious romp. There is so much to work with in terms of first attempts at adulthood, and I am actively adding to my list in this sphere. YOUNG ADULT: I'm eager to find novels that are high-concept and also incredibly well written. I want to be in the marrow of human experience here. Give me something bold and fresh with a voice that’s impossible to put aside. I’m probably not the best choice for “message” books or hard science fiction. What I’m really looking for is the intersection between stellar writing and plot — something that leaves me puffy-eyed or laughing out loud. I, like most teenagers, am looking for emotional connection, for drama, for hope. Oh! Something else — I would love, love, LOVE to discover a FUNNY manuscript like RAYNE & DELILAH’S MIDNITE MATINEE by Jeff Zentner. Other favorite YA includes (takes deep breath): TYRELL by Coe Booth, I WILL SAVE YOU by Matt de la Peña, I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson, THE FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley, STRANGE THE DREAMER by Laini Taylor, MOSQUITOLAND by David Arnold, GIRL IN PIECES by Kathleen Glasgow, DAMSEL by Elana K. Arnold, TOKYO EVER AFTER by Emiko Jean, A MILLION JUNES by Emily Henry, THE BELLES by Dhonielle Clayton, THIS SAVAGE SONG by Victoria Schwab, DIG by A.S. King, KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Moldavsky, ALL BOYS AREN’T BLUE by George M. Johnson, and FABLE by Adrienne Young. I'm also a huge fan of the POWERLESS series by Lauren Roberts. MIDDLE GRADE: I am very judiciously on the hunt for exquisitely imagined middle grade. I’d love a middle grade crush/first-tremors-of-love book. I’d be thrilled to find a comedy or a humorously mischievous story, but I’m not the right fit for broadly silly. I need a plot that works with the middle grade attention span, which is always top of mind. I want to DELIGHT young ones and make them rabid for books. I am always open to spooky and love a good voice. I am not a good fit for road trip or questing-through-the-forest-type adventures. Favorites include: FAR FROM HOME by Jasmine Warga, AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS by B.B. Alston, THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate, KEEPER by Kathi Appelt, and IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES by Katherine Rundell. PICTURE BOOKS: At this time, I am exclusively interested in AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS. I’m especially looking for award-worthy artwork, character-driven series, and work by diverse creators featuring diverse stories. I am not looking for board books, novelty, picture book texts, or chapter books at this time. Estelle is accepting queries directly to estelle@foliolitmanagement.com .

Folio Jr. in the News Malala Yousafzai honors The Summer I Turned Pretty It’s Not Summer Without Jenny Han: Bestselling Author Turned Mega-Hit Showrunner And Big Sister To Millions ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Returning To Amazon With Expanded 11-Episode Season 3 In 2025 Taylor Swift Weighs in on The Summer I Turned Pretty on Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah American Library Association announces 2025 Youth Media Award winners ‘How do we keep this from happening?’: ‘The Giver’ author Lois Lowry joins The Velshi Banned Book Club ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ Movie Set at Amazon Following Series Finale ‘XO, Kitty’ Season 2: Everything We Know So Far Jenny Han’s Stories Make Space for Herself and Others The Summer I Turned Pretty Gets Wild in Season 3: “Shit Will Hit the Fan” ‘Heroine’ by Mindy McGinnis featured in the Velshi Banned Book Club 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration: Sydney Smith 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3