How to Hook An Agent (Children's & YA) 2024

Becca Langton (The Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency) has worked across the publishing world, from the editorial team at a children’s imprint to editing a best selling magazine, working in licensing, digital publishing at Pottermore, development at the BBC and in rights as a scout (the super sleuth of the publishing world).

Becca honed her editorial skills working as a consultant and has carried this breadth of experience into her work as an agent with a focus on deep editorial focus and plot development with authors.

Becca is an editorial agent and is particularly keen to work with authors who are looking for a close partnership in developing books from concept to fully fledged manuscript. She is career focused and is always interested in developing talented creators, particularly those writing from marginalised perspectives.

https://www.darleyandersonchildrens.com/team/becca_langton/

Gyamfia Osei joined ANA in 2023 as a Literary Agent in the UK department. She was previously an agent at The Good Literary Agency, where she began building her list of authors. Recent successes include a ‘significant’ 6-figure pre-empt for Busayo Matuluko’s YA debut ‘Til Death, a 5-way auction for Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam and the shortlisting of Ebinehita Iyere’s Girlhood, Unfiltered at the 2023 British Book Awards.

At ANA, Gyamfia will focus on developing the agency’s list of children’s authors, including the representation of ANA’s international children’s authors into the English language, while also representing a bespoke list of commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction.

In the Children’s space, Gyamfia would love to find contemporary stories that are full of heart and joy-driven books that celebrate kids from underrepresented backgrounds (think Clare Weze, Kimberly Whittam and Elle McNicoll). Funny middle-grade and YA horror are currently at the top of her list and she is also keen to read more teen projects (think Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Glow Up Lara Bloom) this year. She is very interested in finding a graphic novel or illustrated project for either MG or YA readers.

Twitter: gyamfia_o

https://andrewnurnberg.com/team-member/gyamfia-osei/

Chloe Seager is a Director & Literary Agent, shortlisted for Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards 2024, who specialises in SFF, Young Adult and Middle-Grade fiction.

Chloe says, "At the moment I’m on the hunt for SFF in the crossover space that could sit on an adult or a YA list, especially dark academia, horror and romantasy. (Bonus points if you can write me a horror romance!) I am drawn to dark humour, forbidden love, morally grey characters and terrible people doing terrible things.

I’m a huge horror fan. From ghost stories to gore, I love it all. I especially want a YA horror that deals with real world issues, like Get Out. Please send me all the spooky! I’m always a fan of gripping YA thrillers, too, with a voice, hook or twist that stands out from other popular books in this area.

In YA fantasy, I tend to veer toward the gothic and fairytale-esque and I’m always interested when magic is used as a vehicle to comment on the real world. I’m a fan of sci-fi, although it has to have an intriguing hook. Basically, I am here for any YA novel that feels like it could be an episode of Black Mirror. 

I’ll always enjoy contemporary YA romance with a strong hook (something that feels like it could be on Netflix) and characters that you keep thinking about long after you’ve stopped reading about them. I particularly love it when a story feels like an updated version of a nineties or noughties classic and have a special weakness for revenge romcoms.

Broadly, I’m on the lookout for writers exploring mythology – particularly those from previously underrepresented cultures.

In children’s, I’m looking for books that capture the pain and joy of growing up. Being a child or a teenager is a unique time in life when you’re discovering the world around you and who you are for the first time, and I’m looking for stories that capture that spirit on the page and will stay with readers for a lifetime.

I love fantasy middle-grade packed with atmosphere, adventure and distinctive magic. I am also drawn to contemporary middle-grade centred around family or friendship, or books that tackle an issue in an accessible, child-friendly and uplifting way. More broadly, I like middle-grade books that feel like modern classics.

I’m forever on the hunt for funny fiction across all ages, as I believe the importance of humour in books is tragically underrated.

We represent all sorts of non-fiction for young people – from politics, to science, to history. I’d love to see anything inspirational or that takes a fresh angle on an interesting topic.

I’m keen to see work from underrepresented authors across the board.

It is hard to sum up one’s taste in one page so if, judging from what you’ve read, you’re unsure if I’ll like your book, please do send it along. Some of the books I’ve loved and taken on have been a surprise — you never know what might blow you away."

After graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in English Literature, Lorna Hemingway (she/her) completed her MA in Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, where she was personally mentored by Michael Rosen.

Lorna joined Bell Lomax Moreton in 2019 and is now building her own list and is searching for picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA. 

For picture books, she is looking for stories that have heart at the core of their foundation that then stay with her for a long time after reading; narratives that subvert classic hooks (e.g. bedtime, new home, friendship) and tell them in a fresh new way and characters that exude warmth and familiarity. She also has a weakness for all things colourful, bold, and shiny!

For chapter books and middle grade, Lorna would love to read any laugh-out-loud funny texts that knock her socks off. She has a special interest in stories with a strong main character that has real brand and series potential. Think James Bond as a suave caterpillar, a Grinch-inspired dinosaur, or a puppy that is a world-renowned rockstar. There are no ideas too weird or wonderful! Please do not count her out for any texts that are a little more on the quiet side with gorgeous lyrical prose and stunning descriptions; as long as they pack a punch and have her grabbing for a box of tissues, she would love to take a look.

For YA, Lorna would love to receive graphic novel proposals that force her to devour the whole thing in one sitting! She has a special interest in non-Western mythologies and would love to share new and interesting stories that have previously been unheard; bonus points if there is a romance subplot!

Lorna is particularly interested in hearing from LGBTQIA+ authors and illustrators as well as other submissions from diverse and marginalised individuals who are currently underrepresented in the industry.