Kelly Sonnack

Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.

My Manuscript Wish List

she/her/hers

I am seeking submissions in 3 categories right now:

1) Graphic novels – I am a long passionate reader of comics and have been representing graphic novels for over 12 years. I love humorous and/or fantastical adventures for a middle-grade and younger readers or personal, layered, contemporary stories for pre-teen and teen audiences. I am also interested in nonfiction.

2) Illustrators – I am on the lookout for dynamic illustrators, whether they’re writing their own books or interested in illustrating other people’s.

3) Contemporary novels: middle grade and YA.

Within these categories, I’m particularly interested in the following:

  • Fiction and nonfiction unafraid to center queer, trans, and nonbinary identities
  • Stories celebrating alternative family structures
  • Comedy/humor
  • Innovative writing and storytelling (including visual storytelling)
  • Bicultural and biracial stories rooted in a creator’s lived experiences
  • Joyful queer friendship stories and joyful queer romance
  • Rich explorations of friendship and sibling relationships

In all of the above, I look for stories about unique, memorable main characters who face (and overcome!) childhood challenges in engaging, and surprising ways. Stories that bring to mind the real life child conflicts universal to all of us.

And I am always open to Black creators and interested in seeing submissions from writers/artists from underrepresented backgrounds.

Fun facts about me:

I started off in textbook publishing and was a Plant, Soil, and Insect Science Editor for Academic Press before moving into agenting. I spent most of my childhood in Singapore (grades 5th-12th and some years as a toddler) and was born in Brazil (and have dual-citizenship). I am gluten-free (not by choice).

I’m on the board of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and also co-chair the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and serve on the Membership Committee. I grew up overseas, primarily in Singapore, and now I live in Southern California. Several years ago, I co-founded the City Heights Young Writers Workshop – a writing workshop for kids from diverse backgrounds, with the hope of helping kids imagine a place for themselves in the industry (as writers as well as publishing professionals).

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to http://QueryMe.Online/ksonnack

Please visit andreabrownlit.com/submissions for up-to-date submission guidelines.

 

Guidelines & Details

Vital Info
Agent
Fiction: Children's, Contemporary, Graphic Novel, LGBTQ, Middle Grade, Poetry, Young Adult
Favorite sub-genres: Contemporary YA, YA/MG graphic novel, contemporary middle grade
I’d like the next…

Novels-in-Verse: The Black Flamingo

NF GNs: They Called Us Enemy; The Best We Could Do; Hidden Systems

Fantasy GNs: The 5 Worlds books

MG GNs: Stepping Stones; Stargazing; This Was Our Pact

YA GNs: Nimona; Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me

 

 

My favorites include…

TV shows: Schitts Creek; The Bold Type; Shrill; Never Have I Ever; The OA; Fringe; Modern Family

Books: Daughter of Smoke and Bone; The Time Traveler’s Wife; Snow Flower and the Secret Fan; The Thirteenth Tale; Unwind; Every Day; The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

My Upcoming Events: