GOLD members! It’s time to introduce our September Featured Agents. 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. 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 September. (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.)

Natascha Morris of Tobias Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from September 1-15. Joyce Sweeney will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from September 16-30. Natascha’s profile appears first, followed by Joyce’s. 

Time personalize your submission to the agent of your choice!

Natascha Morris of Tobias Literary

A little bit about Natascha:

Natascha Morris joined The Tobias Agency in 2020 after previously working at BookEnds Literary. With a B.A. in English Literary Studies and a M.S. in Publishing, Natascha is a self-described “publishing nerd.” She spent most of her childhood in a leather chair, with her nose in a book, and her passion for books across genres, coupled with her desire to find amazing talent, drove her to make the transition from editorial to literary agent.

Natascha Morris’s editorial philosophy stems from the idea that all books should be well written and entertaining, and that all children should see themselves and their lives in books. Some of her books include ALA award winning Queen of Physics by Teresa Robeson, Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore, JLG selected We Wait for the Sun and Oona illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, and The Library of Lost Things and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey.

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

“I feel like my picture book list is hard to quantify. I run the gambit from commercial humor to lyrical nonfiction. If anyone wants to look at the projects I have sold: https://www.pinterest.com/nataschamorris/things-ive-sold/picture-books/

I hate to say it, but I know what I like when I see it.”

(You may notice quite a few 12 x 12 members on Natascha’s book list!)

Natascha was a Featured Agent in 2018 and 2019. You can find her previous profile posts here and here.  (Please note: Past profiles reflect Natascha’s time at BookEnds Literary.) Additional resources are below:

• Find Natascha on Twitter/X
• Check out the Tobias Literary website
• Natascha’s Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL)
• Natascha on LinkedIn
• Natascha’s Interview on Chapter Break

Joyce Sweeney of The Seymour Agency

A little bit about Joyce:

Joyce Sweeney is an author and literary agent for The Seymour Agency.

They have written fourteen young adult novels, many of which have won awards. They are also the author of two chapbooks of poetry. Most recently, they have been collaborating on graphic novels.

Joyce was a creative writing teacher, mentor, and coach for over 25 years. They also published a plotting how-to book, Plotting Your Novel With The Plot Clock (Giantess Press, 2019). At this writing, they have successfully mentored 78 authors to traditional publishing contracts.

In 2020, they joined The Seymour Agency and represent picture books, middle grades, and graphic novels.    

Their hobbies are theater, collecting illustration art, and animal causes of all kinds. They live in Coral Springs with their husband, Jay, and cat, Nitro.

When asked what they’re looking for in submissions, Joyce replied:

“I love STEM and STEAM, amazing lyricism, over-the-top humor. Not so responsive to bathroom jokes or overtly religious stories. I like author-illustrators too! Always want diversity but especially like to work with LGBTQ and in particular non-binary authors.”

Joyce is new to 12 x 12. Here are some resources for your research: 

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 Natascha Morris from September 1st at 8am ET/5am PT through September 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
• Submissions will only be accepted for Joyce Sweeney from September 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through September 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!

Not a 12 x 12 member yet? Join our notification for free events and be among the first to hear when registration opens for next year’s picture book writing challenge. Click here.