Agent 2 for A Stab In The Dark!

It’s been a minute or two since we’ve hosted an agent contest here, hasn’t it? Well at least this should be fun one. There will be teams this time. That’s right, all three of us rejects are going to stalk you guys and carve a pretty little target on each of your backs. The reject who end with the most tortured and mutilated victim will win bragging rights for the rest of the year—though why N~ and Liz want to subject their selves to such a humiliating defeat is beyond me. 

And it won’t be easy for the agents to slice and stab at their intended victims either. Because if the entry they want to make a request on has already received a slice (a 10 page request), any other agent will need to either stab (50 page request) at them or go for the out right kill shot! So shuffle about guys. Make these agents work for their meals.

So, who’s the next agent? It’s Danielle Smith of Forward Literary Agency!

Danielle Smith began her agent career at Foreword Literary Agents in 2013 where she represents picture books and middle grade authors and illustrators. Her enthusiasm for children’s literature began as a young child, but grew exponentially when her own two children were born and shortly thereafter she began reviewing books at her top rated children’s book review site There’s A Book. For more than five years she’s been involved professionally with books through print and online publications such as Women’s World and Parenting Magazine, as a member of the judging panel for The Cybils awards for fiction picture books, as well as locally by serving on the board of The Central Coast Writer’s Conference. 

Danielle is also a writer, represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg for her middle grade novel The Protectorate. She’s a member of SCBWI and can frequently be found on Twitter talking about anything from children’s books to the BBC’s Sherlock to her own parenting woes & joys. 

A few of Danielle’s recent favorite children’s books include CREEPY CARROTS by Aaron Reynolds, RABBIT AND ROBOT: THE SLEEPOVER by Cece Bell, IN A GLASS GRIMMLY by Adam Gidwitz and anything Jon Klassen has had his hands in. 

Danielle is currently looking for picture books, early readers and chapter books with characters that embody the true essence of what it means to be a child. She’s not afraid to represent all that this encompasses whether it be vibrant joyous stories to darker and harder to tackle subjects such as bullying, loss and death. She would also love to find a great new MG novel and/or graphic novel author/illustrator with a flair for great humor that doesn’t involve devaluing others in order to be funny. More than anything she would love to represent authors who are passionate about getting children to love reading and are able to execute that in a way that both children and parents can love.

            Auzy