Our Agents
Our Agents
For the past 18 years, Kelly has been championing writers and artists in nearly every category, format, and age group within children's literature. She loves working with debut authors and illustrators as well as bestsellers and award-winning creators who are deep into their careers, and excels at developing strategies for clients at each stage of the creator's journey.
Kelly recently served four years on the board of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), and took the position of co-Vice President in her final year. She also co-chairs the AALA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and sits on the Illustration Committee.
Kelly grew up overseas, primarily in Singapore, and now lives in Southern California. She is active in her community's LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and otherwise spends a lot of her time rooting for her daughter's softball team.
RECENT DEALS
Andrea Campos's THE SINGING TAMALES PRESENT: TIS THE SEASON FOR TAMALES!, in which a singing, strumming, drumming band of tamales invites the reader to join in the holiday tradition of making tamales with family and friends, to the tune of “Deck the Halls," and an untitled sequel. Sold to Sourcebooks at auction.
Kim Smith's ALONG THE COAST, a middle grade graphic novel pitched as a cross between GUTS and BE PREPARED, following Eddie, a girl with anxiety and emetophobia, as she braves the wilderness, faces her fears, and makes new friends on a 10-day, 57-mile school backpacking trip. Sold to First Second (US) and Scholastic Canada (Canadian) at auction.
Mary Averling's THE BURN BEAST, a middle grade fantasy novel in which 13-year-old Pira moves to a remote town where the townspeople are unusually afraid of fire, and becomes convinced that there is something supernatural lurking beneath the town's façade. Sold to Putnam.
NYT bestselling illustrator Joy Ang to illustrate GOOD FAMILIES DON'T, a reissue of Robert Munsch's classic, hilarious picture book about a girl who finds a big, colorful fart lying on her bed. Sold to Tundra.
NYT bestselling illustrator Marissa Valdez to illustrate ALACATZAM!, a picture book about a girl who solves problems by turning kids into cats, written by Jessica Lynch-Jonely. Sold to Knopf.
THINGS I LOVE:
Macarons
Earl Grey tea
Nature documentaries
Travel
Comics/graphic novels
I'm the product of a kindergarten teacher mom and a salesman dad. Pretty much the perfect combination for a kids literary agent!
REPRESENTATIVE TITLES
"Writing is nothing more than a guided dream." Jorge Luis Borges
AWARD WINNERS
& BESTSELLERS
