The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Celebrating 23 Years!  
New York *  Los Angeles

Tori Sharp joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency in 2020 after a two-year internship.
She has a BFA in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and she is the
bestselling author/illustrator of the graphic novels JUST PRETEND, STAND UP!, and the
forthcoming WING IT from Little, Brown Ink. Prior to her career in publishing, Tori developed a
fascination for pitching, branding, and art direction during her seven years as a consultant for a
large customer relationship marketing agency. When she’s not reading, writing, or making
comics, she can be found swing and blues dancing, playing tabletop games, or admiring her tiny
poodle in beautiful Seattle, WA. Tori represents all manner of children’s literature. You can learn
more about her at www.torisharp.com.

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What I'm looking for

 

CHILDREN’S GRAPHIC NOVELS

 

As a graphic novelist myself, I am eager to represent stunning, playful, diverse, and important
comics for kids of all ages. I want bold and off-putting female characters, uplifting queer
representation, true stories about fresh subjects, and happy books that make me cry. Send me
deeply funny or transportive fantasies, friendship-forward contemporaries, early readers, and
anything about crushes or quests.

My dream project right now would involve secret identities, especially magical girls!
Some of my favorite comics are Just Roll with It, Crush, Shark Summer, Nimona, Fake Blood,
The Prince and the Dressmaker, Witch Hat Atelier, Zita the Spacegirl, On a Sunbeam, and Space
Boy. See my #MSWL Pinterest board for examples of illustration styles I’d love to find in my
inbox: https://www.pinterest.com/noveltori/mswl/comics-illustration/

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MIDDLE-GRADE AND “LOWER” YOUNG ADULT PROSE
 
I am currently looking for middle-grade fantasy manuscripts that make readers think about the
world around them in a new way. I want worlds I’ve never seen, intimate stakes, and clever
twists that I won’t be able to stop thinking about.

I am also, very selectively, considering lower young adult fantasy, heist, and spy manuscripts for
approximately ages 13-15. I love to represent “younger” young adult novels that keep teens
reading and help those who may still be reluctant readers discover what it means to get lost in a
good book.

My favorite MG and YA novels include Saffy’s Angel, The School Story, Ella Enchanted, Eliza
and her Monsters, Howl’s Moving Castle, Binny Bewitched, Spinning Silver, and Front Desk.

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ACROSS ALL GENRES

My favorite writing brims with intention and wit. I prefer prose that is unusual while also
grounded, smart, and evocative: aware of each word’s impact. I am always looking for something
“remarkable”—something readers will talk about—in both prose and plot. If your project
features geekery, riddles or lateral thinking problems, saying “no,” or kids with big dreams, send
it my way.

 

NOT FOR ME

Please do not send me any unsolicited queries for the picture book or adult markets. I’m not the
right agent for horror or “grimdark” projects, stories about sexual assault, medical dramas,
religious fiction, flat portrayals of bullying, or “issue books”.

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How to submit

 
I am accepting children’s fantasy and children’s graphic novel queries for all of November 2024.
Please email a one-page query letter to querytori.jdlit@gmail.com. Include “Query” and the title
of your project in the subject line and follow the instructions below:
 
Prose authors: please paste the first five pages of your manuscript below your query letter. If
available, please also paste a one- to two-page synopsis in the body of your email. Prose queries
with attachments will be deleted.
 
Graphic novelists: please paste a one- to two-page synopsis and five to ten finished sample
comic pages in the body of the email. Include a full link to your online portfolio in your query,
and please do not use link shorteners like bit.ly. Author/illustrators of graphic novels do not need
a full script or thumbnail draft in order to query, but they should have a thorough synopsis
available upon request.

I accept only digital queries via email. Do not mail me hard copies or original artwork. While I
try to respond to every query, if you don’t receive a response within three months, feel free to
query another JDLA agent or send a nudge to let me know that the project is still available.

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