Pronouns: she/they
D. Ann is a queer Black American writer, writing coach for WNDB Black Creatives Revision Workshop, sensitivity reader, and freelance editor with 10+ years’ experience. She has worked with all big 5 publishers, indie publishers, and self-published authors on a variety of adult and kidlit manuscripts. D. Ann brought her passion for kidlit to Emerald City Literary Agency in 2021 as an intern before being promoted to Associate Agent. She is a member of SCBWI, Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Color. Originally from SoCal, she now lives in Oregon where she spends her days reading, writing, and taking photos.
D. Ann is starting to build her own list, and is open to select submissions in PB, MG, and YA fiction and will represent projects alongside ECLA agents Mandy Hubbard and Linda Epstein. As an Associate Agent, she also works on office management and helps with reading queries sent to ECLA agents.
SUBMISSIONS:
D. Ann represents Middle Grade and Young Adult novels and selected PB.
Do not query for new adult/adult books, screenplays, short stories/novellas, or previously published books (including self-published works or rights-reverted books).
D. Ann accepts submissions exclusively through QueryManager. If the link indicates she is closed, please check back regularly–she’s just catching up on a backlog and will reopen soon!
WISHLIST:
All Ages:
BIPOC, LGBTQ+, ND, disability, religions and spiritual beliefs that are underrepresented in publishing. The world we live in is diverse, and our kidlit books should reflect that.
Picture Books
STEM-based, break down gender stereotypes, and a variety of family structures.
PB nos: sports, anthropomorphism, issue books, saviorism, or “inspirational” (that center the dominant narrative that people have to “overcome” their identities)
MG/YA
Horror (darker the better but keep it in the age category), rom-coms with a hook, spec (especially afro-futurism & magical realism variety), mysteries (gimme the new Westing Game!!!), historicals with a twist (spec, queer, mystery, etc.), found families, queer ballet, novels-in-verse, multi-POV (within reason), and stories where race, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. aren’t the center. They can just be bad-ass characters!
I’m also particularly looking for hard topics: grief/death, foster care, etc. especially for MG. Life is sticky and kids need books that acknowledge their lives.
MG/YA nos: Big cities that are not diverse, burying the gays, spec based on colonialism or imperialism, not super partial to contemporary sports settings but twists can help (thrillers, magic, etc.)
Follow D. Ann on twitter @dawilliamsbooks to see more of her #MSWL.
Some of her favorite recent reads include ME (MOTH) by Amber McBride, FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley, EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS BY Joanna Ho, RAYBEARER by Jordan Ifueko, and HANI AND ISHU’S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING by Adiba Jaigirdar.