GOLD members! Welcome to your first submission month of 2023. Read the following profiles carefully, click the links for more info on each agent, and decide who is the best fit for you and your work this month. 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 will be able to choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in February. (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.)
Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 1-15. Adria Goetz of P.S. Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 16-28. Jennie’s profile appears first, followed by Adria’s. Jennie and Adria have been Featured Agents in the past and LOVE to receive 12 x 12 submissions, so be sure to read their previous profiles linked below.
Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary
A little bit about Jennie:
Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York, 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 Best Sellers 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.
She has been a member of AAR (Association of Authors Representatives) since 1993. She served on the Program Committee and was Program Committee Director for several years. She was also a member of the Electronic Committee.
She started her career at John Brockman Associates and then Mildred Marmur Associates. She was employed by Russell & Volkening for 6 years before she left to found Dunham Literary, Inc.
She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Anthropology and has a master’s degree in Social Work from New York University (although she only practices with characters on the page).
When asked what she’s looking for in submissions, Jennie replied:
“I’m looking for fiction and nonfiction with age-appropriate stories that have a strong narrative. I appreciate a good twist or two. I like stories that illuminate a popular subject in a new way or that present an important but previously overlooked subject. I’m especially looking for #ownvoices that feature under-represented characters in both fiction and nonfiction. Voice is a must! Humor and whimsy are a plus. The approach must be fresh and fun.”
Jennie has previously been a 12 x 12 Featured Agent. Please find previous profiles HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. Here are a few additional resources for Jennie:
- A Great Idea! on the Dunham Literary website
- Find Jennie on Twitter
- Listen to Jennie on the Picture Book Summit Podcast!
Adria Goetz of P.S. Literary Agency
A little bit about Adria:
Adria Goetz is a senior literary agent at PSLA representing picture books, middle grade, adult fiction, and graphic novels. She specializes in picture books by author/illustrators. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, as well as the Columbia Publishing Course. She worked at Martin Literary & Media Management before joining the PSLA team. In 2019, she was selected as a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree.
Adria has eclectic taste but particularly enjoys projects that are tinged with magic, have so much heart you can practically hear their heartbeat, and have a compelling, commercial hook. She was recently proud to represent THE OCEAN CALLS by Tina Cho, which received four starred reviews and was optioned for an animated special with 9Story Media, and THE WHATIFS by Emily Kilgore which made the shortlist for Barnes & Noble’s 2020 Best Picture Book Award. She was also proud to represent TASTE YOUR WORDS by Bonnie Clark, THE UGLY DOODLES by Valeria Wicker, NO ORDINARY THING by G.Z. Schmidt, HALAL HOT DOGS by Susannah Aziz, and BATTER ROYALE by Leisl Adams, and dozens of others.
Adria lives in an old Victorian farmhouse in Washington state with her husband and their two darling dust gray cats, Maple and Mulberry.
When asked what she’s looking for in submissions, Adria replied:
“I love stories about food, I love stories that are tinged with magic, I love adventure stories, I love stories about family, I love humor, I love stories about traditions—whether that be an individual family tradition or something that connects to a larger culture or faith/religion. I love atmospheric stories, where the setting is a crucial component to the storytelling. I’m also specifically looking for projects by author/illustrators. A few things I’m not particularly looking for: meta stories, PB bios, nonfiction, or quiet stories that don’t have a strong hook.”
Adria was a Featured Agent in previous 12 x 12 year. Read her past profiles HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. Here are a few additional resources:
- Follow Adria on Twitter
- Check out the P.S. Literary website
- Read through Adria’s Blog to get to know her tastes.
- Adria is a hosting a paid webinar on writing funny picture books on 2/1/23. Details here.
- Interview on Literary Rambles
- Adria’s Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL)
- Book Broker Interview on The Darling Axe
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 Jennie Dunham from February 1st at 8am ET/5am PT through February 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
- Submissions will only be accepted for Adria Goetz from February 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through February 28th 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!
Not a 12 x 12 member yet? Registration is open through February 28, 2023. Don’t let another year go by without joining the friendliest writing community on Earth! Click here.
