Time to march toward a new submission opportunity for our 12 x 12 GOLD members! Be sure to read all the posts in the Submission Station of the forum, before you start submitting. Check out each agent’s guidelines on the forum before you prepare your submission. Little GOLDen Book members will be able to choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in March. (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.)
Laurel Symonds of The Bent Agency will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members March 1-15. Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members March 16-31. Laurel’s profile appears first, followed by Alyssa’s. Please read BOTH and then decide who would be the best fit for your work.
Laurel Symonds of The Bent Agency
A little bit about Laurel:
Laurel Symonds launched as a literary agent at The Bent Agency in Fall 2018 after nearly a decade of experience in the publishing industry. She began her career in the editorial department of HarperCollins Children’s Books/Katherine Tegen Books in New York City and has also held positions in the marketing department at a small publishing house, in a library, and as a bookseller at one of the nation’s best independent bookstores. As a literary agent, she is seeking children’s fiction and nonfiction, from picture books to young adult, particularly focusing on voices that have previously been underrepresented and stories that have been overlooked.
When asked what she’s looking for, Laurel replied:
“I’m open to a wide range of picture books and keep an open mind to those projects that surprise and delight. I’m especially keen for projects from underrepresented perspectives that elevate and explore the relationships within families and communities. For that reason, I’m primarily looking for books with human characters. Generally, I’m not the best fit for issue books, overly saccharine stories, rhyming texts, or body/slapstick humor.”
Laurel has been a Featured Agent previously. You can see our previous profiles here, here, and here. Here are a few more resources for Laurel:
- Check out Laurel’s Instagram
- The Bent Agency website
- Follow Laurel on Twitter
- Laurel’s Manuscript Wishlist (#MSWL)
- Interview on EasternPennPoints
Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary
A little bit about Alyssa:
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.
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 books, Alyssa replied:
“I am especially looking for illustrated projects. I also enjoy nonfiction picture books that feel original and fresh, character-driven picture books with humor, and books that showcase manifestos about confidence and body positivity and the like.”
Alyssa has been a 12 x 12 Featured Agent previously. You can see our previous profiles here, here, here, and here. Here are a few additional resources for Alyssa:
- Check out the Birch Path Literary website
- Alyssa’s Manuscript Wishlist (#MSWL)
- Follow Alyssa on Twitter
- Profile on Kathy Temean’s blog
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 Laurel Symonds from March 1st at 8am ET/5am PT through March 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
Submissions will only be accepted for Alyssa Eisner Henkin from March 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through March 31st 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!
