Erzsi Deak

Erzsi Deak is the founder of Hen&ink Literary Studio, a boutique literary agency. She represents board books through YA in all genres. She seeks character-driven, voicey stories shared with humor and heart in all categories. Twists are always appreciated. She is open for submissions on “Open Coop Days” or by referral and invitation. Her clients include award-winning and debut authors and illustrators alike: J.M. Lee, Ann Jacobus, Tiffany Rose, Dezh Azaad, Andrea Zuill, Diana Murray, Laura Gehl, Nelly Buchet, Nan Cao, Whitney Stewart, and more… Erzsi is NOT looking for: earnest writing, issue books, high fantasy in any category, nor adult nonfiction, adult general fiction or mystery/thriller/suspense, memoirs, poetry, religious/spiritual books, screenplays, or short stories. Hen&ink is active on Instagram @henandinkliterary

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to http://QueryManager.com/HeninkOpenCoop24

OPEN COOP 2024

Hen&ink Literary Studio is Open for Submissions

Seeking to be (delightfully) surprised!

Greetings,

Thanks for checking in on the Hen&ink Open Coop 2024 wish list.

We are excited to see new work and looking forward to exploring what you’ve been cooking up since our last Open Coop Day.

Hen&ink Literary is open for submissions between July 25 and September 15, 2024.

Please see below what we would love to see and what we do not want to see.

We endeavor to get back to you within 8 weeks, but we are human so it may take a little longer. Thank you for your understanding.

Submission details below.

Cheers,
The Hen&ink Team

A few thoughts…

• It’s all about VOICE.
• Make’em laugh and squeal with delight. [A DUKE FOR CHRISTMAS (NA); DOG VS. STRAWBERRY (PB)]
• We LOVE pitch-perfect and well-timed dialogue that shapes the tone and pace of the story — banter, flirty subtext, interior dialogue that screams to get out. [THE PRINCESS BRIDE]
• We believe in beats and pauses and letting a story take its time but keeping the readers (and the characters) are their toes and the pages turning.
• Send us your…original and hopeful stories filled with heart and soul that make us laugh, wince, cry, and celebrate!

What we’d love to see:

• Shorter novels for MG and YA
• Hybrid/illustrated MG and YA that aren’t graphic novels (LOOKING UP)
• Quirky MG mysteries (THREE TIMES LUCKY; PREMEDITATED MYRTLE)
• Humorous action & adventure MG (SPELLHOUND; FLEDGEWITCH; most anything by Carl Hiaasen)
• Smart humor-driven MG and YA novels with characters who are not perfect but who we root for and will remember forever (ANGUS, THONGS and FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING; THE ROMANTIC TRAGEDIES OF A DRAMA KING)
• Smart YA and NA rom-coms with a twist, something fun, unexpected, unique (SOME LIKE IT COLD; RED FLAGS; A FIVE LETTER WORD FOR LOVE)
• Commercial-literary MG and YA with gorgeous yet accessible writing (HOLES and anything by Kate DiCamillo; ALL THE GIRLS I’VE BEEN; THE PENDERWICKS; The Torch Song Trilogy; THE COURTING OF BRISTOL KEATS; FINDING PHOEBE)
• A tasty YA or NA rom-com that involves delicious food (from farm to table).
• MG, or YA that involves more delicious food (from farm to fork).
• Character-driven picture books that are funny and/or poignant (SWEETY; BIG SISTER, LONG COAT; Peep & Egg series; BEARS MAKE THE BEST READING BUDDIES; OLIVIA; A VISITOR FOR BEAR; CHICK CHAT; DONUT; SLOTH IS NOT A BABY; GUSTAV IS MISSING)
• Beautiful, classic and/or poetic or spare text picture books, richly layered. (THE CARPET; SOUR CHERRIES; THE BOY WHO LOVED MAPS; A FRIEND LIKE N OTTER; GRANDPA’S WINDOW; WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE; WOLF IN THE SNOW; OWL MOON)
• Surprising and fun seasonal picture books (note: not Christmas)
• Creative and original nonfiction for all ages about fun stuff that we haven’t seen before:
  • Food (all aspect — the joy of food; food justice; history; politics; farm-to-fork; community – especially cultural ties to cuisine and food as memory or link to the past)
  • Games focused on play and cultural ties
  • Outdoors and travel
  • Picture book biographies (TINY JUMPER; BEAUTIFUL NOISE; SONG AFTER SONG)
  • Mental health and mindfulness (HOW TO TRAIN YOUR PET BRAIN; Mindful Kids card deck; MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION; THE RABBIT LISTENED)
  • Lifestyle (MY MAMA IS A WORK OF ART)

Please submit via: http://QueryManager.com/HeninkOpenCoop24

WHAT WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE

We are not looking for the following (these will automatically be deletedif submitted):

• body horror
• space operas
• dystopian
• sexual assault
• abuse of any kind that’s the central plot
• thrillers
• high fantasy
• romantasy
• military themes
• sports
• horror of any kind
• fairytale retellings
• other retellings
• sci-fi
• punny humor
• novels in verse
• didactic or lesson-driven books
• anything with a chicken or other fowl
• guns
• gang violence
• trauma with no relief
• suicide
• substance abuse as central plot point
• self-harm
• glorified violence
• straight-up educational projects
• cooking or baking competitions
• Christmas books

> Please do not submit any projects you’ve already submitted to us.

THANK YOU!

Guidelines & Details