It’s time to get to know our June Featured Agents. GOLD members, decide which one is the best fit for you and your work. Then read the guidelines on the forum as you prepare your submission. Be sure to double-check everything before you hit the send button.

Little GOLDen Book members can choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in June. (If you are a SILVER member, you may use this info for research. Check out our How to Use 12 x 12 Featured Agent Posts article here.)

Charlotte Wenger will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from June 1-15.  Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from June 16-30. Charlotte’s profile appears first, followed by Alyssa’s. 

Here we go!

Charlotte Wenger of Prospect Agency 

A little bit about Charlotte:

Born and raised in Pennsylvania and Virginia, Charlotte Wenger grew up with a bookish, editorial mind but was first drawn to publishing work in college. She then worked for a publishing services company in Philadelphia until shipping up to Boston to earn her MA in Children’s Literature from Simmons. After gaining editorial, sales, and agency experience, she became an associate editor for Page Street Kids, where she loved working with debut talent and building relationships with authors and illustrators. She brings the same mindset to agenting, valuing the developmental and relational work that goes into creating successful stories and fostering long-lasting collaborations. She also serves on the national advisory board of the Mazza Museum, the world’s largest collection of original artwork by children’s book illustrators, and enjoys music and adventuring outdoors in her free time.

When asked what she’s looking for in submissions, Charlotte replied:

“My picture book interests range from the gentle heart of Ready to Soar by Cori Doerrfeld to the quirky humor of Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo, as well as nonfiction like How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Frank Morrison, and Glitter Everywhere! Where It Came From, Where It’s Found, and Where It’s Going by Chris Barton, illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. I’m especially looking for author-illustrators these days.”

Charlotte has been a Featured Agent in previous years. You can find our past profiles here, here, and here. Additional resources for your research are below: 

Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary

After earning her Bachelors from the University of Pennsylvania, Alyssa Eisner Henkin fulfilled a childhood dream that she professed on a home video at the age of six: move to New York and work with books. Alyssa founded Birch Path Literary in 2021, following over 20 years in the publishing industry including 14 years as an agent at Trident Media Group and 7 years in editorial at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Alyssa is dedicated to strategic and impassioned representation carefully honed to suit each client’s career path. Ensuring each book’s longevity is her primary goal from selecting the perfect editor, title and jacket to overseeing successful subsidiary rights deals including foreign, merchandising, audio, film and theatrical.  Birch Path’s emphasis is on children’s and young adult literature and illustration, but Alyssa does represent a select number of fiction and narrative nonfiction projects for adult readers.

From extensive editing and idea-honing, to devising lucrative marketing strategies, to shepherding lasting film, foreign and merchandising partnerships, Alyssa nurtures her books at every stage. “There’s no greater professional joy than championing a book that you believe in and watching the world delight in it.”

Alyssa is especially drawn to lyrical prose, tight plotting, school stories, period pieces, diverse regional and ethnic flavors, themes of social justice, intergenerational family sagas, incorrigible underdogs, and lots of humor and authenticity buoyed by a big heart. “I am also eager to find authors and author-illustrators who specialize in inventive nonfiction, especially for middle grade. And highly original picture books are always intriguing. It was Madeline and Frances, after all, who kindled my passion in the first place!”

When asked what she’s looking for in picture book submissions, Alyssa shared this:

” I like funny books and nonfiction that is not biography.”

Alyssa has been a Featured Agent previously. You can find past profiles here, here, and here. Additional resources are below:

• Birch Path Literary’s website
• Alyssa will appear at the Carolina 2024 SCBWI Conference
• Alyssa’s Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL)
• Alyssa on Agents Helping Writers YouTube channel

Remember: Little GOLDen Book Members may only submit to ONE of these agents. Please choose the agent who is the best fit for you and your manuscript. Look for submission guidelines in the Submission Station on the 12 x 12 forum.

• Submissions will only be accepted for Charlotte Wenger from June 1st at 8am ET/5am PT through June 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
• Submissions will only be accepted for Alyssa Eisner Henkin from June 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through June 30th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.

Please double-check the times for your time zone on your submissions. Anything received before or after the submissions window is open will be disqualified and you will not be able to submit again this month.

Remember, it is NEVER okay to submit your manuscript twice. Contact Kelli if there is a problem with your submission.

Good luck to our GOLD members! We look forward to your success stories

Not a 12 x 12 member yet? Join our waiting list here.