Caryn Wiseman
Andrea Brown Literary Agency
My Manuscript Wish List®
Social Justice and lifting diverse voices have always been at the heart of my list. I represent everything from picture books through Young Adult, both fiction and nonfiction. “Smart with heart” is my watchword, and I love fiction in all categories except high fantasy, paranormal, and really graphic horror. No zombies, fallen angels, or vampires, please! If I need a map to follow, or if I have to stop reading because of all the death and dismemberment, it’s not for me. I’m probably not the right person for witches, either. Darkness is fine in middle-grade or YA fiction or nonfiction, as long as there is hope or redemption in the end. I love a good, cathartic cry.
I represent authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators.
Middle-grade and YA Jewish-themed fiction by Jewish authors. I’m interested in themes of Jewish empowerment and battling antisemitism, settings such as Jewish camp or youth group, stories that celebrate being Jewish, and stories centering characters who just happen to be Jewish. I’m very interested in stories about and by Jews of color and queer Jews. I’d prefer contemporary stories, but I am also interested in historical fiction and nonfiction about lesser known settings or events like the Shanghai Ghetto or stories about Southern Jews.
In general, I am looking for fiction by BIPOC authors, especially queer, disabled, religious minority BIPOC or otherwise marginalized BIPOC.
MG: Please send me contemporary middle grade, stories featuring queer characters in middle school, family stories about characters of color, and spooky middle grade by authors of color!
YA: I’m looking for romantic comedies where both the main character and love interest are POC, mysteries, thrillers, and horror by authors of color, retellings inspired by non-Western cultures, fantasy set in non-Western settings, and heist novels by authors of color!
Submission Guidelines
Submissions should be emailed to http://QueryMe.Online/CarynWiseman
- I only accept queries through my QueryManager form. Please follow the prompts in the form and complete all required fields. When submitting your query via QueryManager, you will receive a confirmation of receipt from this program. https://QueryManager.com/CarynWiseman
- All submissions should include a short Query Letter introducing yourself and including a description of your work, as well as previous publishing credentials (if any), and publisher submission history.
- Following your Query Letter, depending on what you are submitting, you will be asked to include:
- Picture Book text: full manuscript text typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form
- Picture Book with illustrations (if you are an artist and writer): attach the full dummy (in pdf format) that includes 1-2 color samples, and provide a link to your online portfolio
- Illustrations: attach 2-3 illustration samples (in jpeg format), and provide link to online portfolio
- Fiction (chapter books, MG, YA): first 10 pages typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form
- Non-fiction: proposal and sample chapter typed (or copy/pasted) into the boxes provided in the QueryManager form
- Graphic novel (art and text): attach 10-20 sample page spreads in jpg or pdf format, summary/synopsis typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form, and provide link to online portfolio
- Graphic novel (script only): first 10 pages of script typed (or copy/pasted) into the box provided in the QueryManager form
- Please be sure to enclose a contact phone number as well as your email address.
- You are free to submit to agents at agencies other than ABLA at the same time you query me, but it is a professional courtesy to let me know that yours is a multiple submission. If you receive an offer of representation from another agency, please let me know immediately so I can respond accordingly.
Vital Info
Favorite sub-genres:
Children's and Young Adult Fiction and Nonfiction, Contemporary YA, Contemporary Young Adult, Funny MG, Illustrators and Author/Illustrators, Literary Middle Grade, Literary YA, MG contemporary, Middle Grade Humor, Middle Grade Mystery, Social Issues, YA Contemporary Romance with layers, YA Mystery, YA Thrillers, YA horror, YA rom com, YA thriller/mystery, YA/MG graphic novel, Young Adult, contemporary middle grade
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