It’s time for a new year of submitting! Huzzah! 2019 Little GOLDen Book members of 12 x 12 will be able to choose one of two agents to submit their manuscript to each month.
Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 1-15. Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Trident Media Group will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 16-28. Jennie’s profile appears first, followed by Alyssa’s. Please read BOTH and then decide who would be the best fit for your work.
Jennie Dunham
A little bit about Jennie:
“Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York since May 1992. In August 2000, she founded Dunham Literary, Inc. She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her clients have had both critical and commercial success. Books she has represented have appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers list in adult hardcover fiction, children’s books, and children’s book series. Her clients have won numerous awards including: New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Schneider Family Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.”
We asked Jennie what she’s looking for in picture books. Here’s what she had to say:
“In general I like:
- quirky, plucky, unusual characters
- full of real emotions, making mistakes, and individual hopes, desires, and dreams
- strong narrative arc
- unexpected twists, a rise in the climax, and a satisfying ending
- fresh premise
- a story I don’t feel like I’ve read already, a different “take” on a topic
- strong voice
- age-appropriate
- sense of playfulness, both in the story and in the use of language
- humor
“I like creative non-fiction that sheds new light on a topic, person, or event, especially if it shows a different perspective than readers have seen before. In both fiction and non-fiction I like diverse characters from less-represented cultures and heritages and stories that are unique to them.”
Jennie has been a Featured Agent in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. You can read our previous profiles on Jennie here, here, here, and here. Here are a few updated resources for Jennie:
- Jennie participated in Writer’s Digest’s Annual Conference in 2018.
- Jennie was interviewed by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on KUCI FM. (Jennie’s interview starts just after the 26 minute mark.)
- Jennie did a three part interview and critique session on Kathy Temean’s blog HERE, HERE, and HERE.
- Follow Jennie on Twitter.
Alyssa Eisner Henkin
A little bit about Alyssa:
“In 1999, Alyssa Eisner Henkin began her career in editorial at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Here she found colleagues who loved Anne of Green Gables as much as she did and a children’s book landscape that was growing rapidly. Alyssa’s inner-entrepreneur led her to Trident in late 2006, where she could develop a larger and more varied stable of authors and sell them across the industry. 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’s she looking for in picture books today, Alyssa said,
“I am very keen on picture book biographies on figures who are somewhat well-known, especially in 20th and 21st century America, but who’ve yet to have a picture book about them. I really enjoy seasonal stories and would love to find something as clever and heartfelt as SOPHIE’S SQUASH. I’m also very much drawn to humor and would love to find the next THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT or DRAGON LOVES TACOS or THE SCRAMBLED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Alyssa was a 12 x 12 Featured Agent in 2018. You can see our previous profile HERE.
- Alyssa participated in Push to Publish 2018
- 12 x 12 member Justin Colón interview Alyssa on his blog
- Follow Alyssa on Twitter
Please note 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.
Submissions will only be accepted for Jennie Dunham from February 1st – February 15th at 6pm ET/3pm PT.
Submissions will only be accepted for Alyssa Eisner Henkin from February 16th – February 28th at 6pm ET/3pm PT.
Please double check the times 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.
Good Luck!
Want to make sure your submissions are tip-top? Grab this 7-Step Submissions Checklist.
3 Responses
I really enjoyed Jennie Dunham’s talk with examples of Nick Bruel and Barbara McClintock’s work. I’m new here, and this was my first video and blog post.
Thank you both for a chance to submit and bypass the slush pile. I enjoyed the webinar, took lots of notes and learned a few new things.
Thank you so much, Jennie and Alyssa!