Children's Books
Prior to lodging a submission please contact The Authors' Agent by email to confirm that the agency is currently accepting submissions for children's books. Provided the The Authors' Agent agrees to consider your submission, the following information will be required:
- if applicable a 300 to 500 word synopsis describing how events unfold and the plot is resolved and/or a chapter-by-chapter summary of the content;
- the classification of your book:
- Fiction or Non Fiction
- Picture Book
- Emergent reader (ages 5-8)
- Early chapter book (ages 7-10)
- Middle chapter book (ages 11-14)
- Young adult (aged 13-16)
- proposed specifications including: number of words, number of illustrations, etc;
- unique selling points;
- main competition: names of similar books on the market that have been successful, plus features that make your book different to and better than the competition;
- description of the target market;
- any useful marketing contacts or opportunities;
- brief bio of yourself, list of any previously published works, writing awards, any media contacts.
View children's books submission guidelines in .pdf format.
Sample manuscript requirements
These vary depending on the category of your work:
- For picture books
- Your submission should include a copy of the entire text. As a rule publishers do not encourage writers to illustrate their own work or seek an illustrator before the manuscript has been accepted for publication. However if you already have illustrations, three to four samples should accompany your submission.
- Do not attempt to lay out picture books - if a publisher offers you a contract this task will be their responsiblity.
- For Emergent/beginner readers
- Your submission should include a copy of the entire text. While this kind of book may often include illustrations, as a rule publishers do not encourage writers to illustrate their own work or seek an illustrator before the manuscript has been accepted for publication.
- For Chapter Books or Young Adult
- You should supply three sample chapters or the first 5000 words of the work, whichever is greater.