Leah Pierre - Ladderbird Literary Agency

Leah Pierre is a literary agent with Ladderbird Literary. A Texas native, Leah briefly moved to the East Coast to attend Rosemont College to pursue her dream of working in publishing. She graduated from Rosemont College with a B.A. in English and History and soon after became an agent at Ladderbird Literary Agency. Leah then went on to pursue and receive her M.A. in Publishing from her alma mater. Having accomplished her dream of working in publishing, she has since moved back to the South to begin her next adventure and continue searching for the next commercial YA or Adult project that will hook her (or make her cry).

Leah likes to spend her time enjoying the company of fictional characters more than people. But when not in the company of fictional characters, she likes to crochet, travel, hang out with friends and family, and catch up on the movies and tv shows she is always behind on.

Her projects include forthcoming books from H.D.Hunter, Ravynn K. Stringfield, a number of IP projects, and more! She is a tenacious advocate for BIPOC writers and is always looking for ways to bring more diverse intersectionality to the publishing industry.

Maeve MacLysaght - Copps Literary Services

Maeve MacLysaght is an agent with Copps Literary Services. Maeve began her career in publishing bouncing between many roles on either side of the publisher/agent divide, before landing in Foreign and Subsidiary rights with companies like Scholastic and Insight Editions. She began agenting in 2019 with the goal of increasing the amount of BIPOC and queer joy in books of all ages. She focuses on genre fiction, with a particular weakness for genre-blending SFF, horror, and anything with murder or making out (ideally both).

In Kidlit, she reads widely across Picture Book, Middle Grade, and YA, with a focus on Graphic Novels. Send her anything with funny, spooky themes, a mystery, or a monster. 

Natascha Morris - The Tobias Agency

Natascha joined The Tobias Agency in 2020 after previously working at BookEnds Literary. With a B.A. in English Literary Studies and a M.S. in Publishing, Natascha is a self-described “publishing nerd.”  She spent most of her childhood in a leather chair, with her nose in a book, and her passion for books across genres, coupled with her desire to find amazing talent, drove her to make the transition from editorial to literary agent.

Natascha’s editorial philosophy stems from the idea that all books should be well written and entertaining, and that all children should see themselves and their lives in books.  Some of her books include ALA award winning Queen of Physics by Teresa Robeson, Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore, JLG selected We Wait for the Sun and Oona illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, and The Library of Lost Things and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey.    

She’s is primarily looking for picture books, middle grade graphic novels, and young adult across most genres, including graphic novels. She is also open to illustrator submissions.

Sara Schonfeld - Editor at HarperCollins

Sara Schonfeld is an associate editor at HarperCollins. She started her career at Penguin Random House, where she edited books for young readers, before moving to Katherine Tegen Books. Her list includes books with humor and heart, that blend genre and defy categories, all while inspiring and affirming kid readers. An author herself, Sara spends her time writing, reading, boxing, baking, and smiling at dogs she sees on the streets of New York City.

Sophie Sheumaker - Bookends Literary Agency

Sophie Sheumaker currently works assisting senior agent Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary Agency. Together, they work on a range of children's books from heartwarming picture books all the way up to laugh-out-loud middle grades. She plans to start building her own client list this summer under the wing of her mentor Tracy, with an eye towards cozy picture books, hijinks-filled middle grades, magical YAs, and select adult works. She earned her publishing degree at Emerson College and still resides in Boston, though home will always be Colorado.