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. Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 16-28. Jennie’s profile appears first, followed by Stephanie’s. Please read BOTH and then decide who would be the best fit for your work.

GOLD members: Please check the Submission Station section of the forum for additional instructions from each agent.

Jennie Dunham

A little bit about Jennie from the Dunham Literary website:

“Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York, New York since May 1992. In August 2000 she founded Dunham Literary, Inc.

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.

Her clients have been New York Times bestsellers and have won awards such as Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, the Charlotte Zolotow Award, and International Reading Association Award. Her agency represents children’s books for all ages from novelty and picture book through middle grade and young adult as well as literary fiction and non-fiction for adults.

She frequently speaks at writers conferences and events.”

Here is what Jennie is looking for in picture books today: “I like humor and whimsy, but I like picture books with strong sense of story that is age-appropriate. I like quirky, interesting characters, and I like books to be character-driven. Perhaps most important, I look for a strong, unusual voice.

• Jennie was an agent at Picture Book Summit in 2016. See a quick video HERE.
• Julie captured this video just for 12 x 12:

Stephanie Fretwell-Hill

A little bit about Stephanie from the Red Fox Literary website:

“Stephanie started her publishing career in 2004 at Walker Books Ltd. in London, where she sold foreign language rights. Working in a design-led company with legendary artists such as Helen Oxenbury and Lucy Cousins sparked her love of illustration, while her sales role gave her an international perspective on children’s publishing.

In 2011, Stephanie moved back home to the United States, where she joined Peachtree Publishers as an editor. During her four years there, she acquired fiction and non fiction picture books, middle grade, and young adult titles. Her acquisitions received such honors as YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, Parents’ Choice Awards, and numerous starred reviews from major trade magazines.

As the newest agent to join Red Fox Literary, Stephanie represents both authors and illustrators of board books, picture books, middle grade, and young adult. She will consider stories in any genre, but looks for a strong voice, rich and multi-layered plots, and stylish, classic, or quirky illustrations. Most of all, she loves anything that really makes her laugh.

Stephanie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her English husband, brand new baby girl, and a border collie named Rooney. When her nose isn’t in a book, she can often be found changing diapers, renovating a house, traveling someplace new, or cooking dinner.”

Here’s what Stephanie is looking for in picture books:

“I represent fiction and non-fiction picture books. I look for a clear story arc and prefer prose to rhyme. I like character-driven stories, humor, irreverence, and sometimes a little darkness, but I always look for heart. I shy away from saccharine sweet stories and heavy-handed messages. In non-fiction, I prefer a narrative style and look for big ideas expressed in a child-friendly way. I like history, biography, STEAM topics, and social justice, among other things.”

It’s not too late become a 12 x 12 member! To submit to our agents in 2018, you have to be a member in 2017. Join the challenge here.