Is summertime the right time for our GOLD members to meet their agent? Let’s find out! Get to know our June Featured Agents and then read the guidelines on the forum as you prepare your submission and decide which one is the best fit for you and your work. Be sure to double-check everything before you hit the send button.
Little GOLDen Book members can choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in June. (If you are a SILVER member, you may use this info for research. Check out our How to Use 12 x 12 Featured Agent Posts article here.)
Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from June 1-15. Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from June 16-30. Alyssa’s profile appears first, followed by Jennie’s.
Here we go!
Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary
A little bit about Alyssa:
After earning her Bachelors from the University of Pennsylvania, Alyssa Eisner Henkin fulfilled a childhood dream that she professed on a home video at the age of six: move to New York and work with books. Alyssa founded Birch Path Literary in 2021, following over 20 years in the publishing industry, including 14 years as an agent at Trident Media Group and 7 years in editorial at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Alyssa is dedicated to strategic and impassioned representation carefully honed to suit each client’s career path. Ensuring each book’s longevity is her primary goal, from selecting the perfect editor, title, and jacket to overseeing successful subsidiary rights deals, including foreign, merchandising, audio, film, and theatrical. Birch Path’s emphasis is on children’s and young adult literature and illustration, but Alyssa does represent a select number of fiction and narrative nonfiction projects for adult readers.
From extensive editing and idea-honing, to devising lucrative marketing strategies, to shepherding lasting film, foreign, and merchandising partnerships, Alyssa nurtures her books at every stage. “There’s no greater professional joy than championing a book that you believe in and watching the world delight in it.”
When asked what she’s looking for in submissions, Alyssa replied:
“Funny these days. I also like seasonal stories, innovative nonfiction, and, above all, stories that feel fresh and not widely represented in the very saturated PB canon. Something with the game component of Butt vs. Face* really intrigues me format-wise. I’d love to sign another author-illustrator or two.”
Alyssa has been a Featured Agent for several years. You can read her previous profiles here, here, here, and here. Here are some additional resources for your research:
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- Birch Path Literary’s website
- Alyssa’s Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL)
- Alyssa on Agents Helping Writers YouTube channel
- Alyssa and one of her clients were interviewed on Cynsations!
- One of her tips was featured on Writers Rumpus
Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary
A little bit about Jennie:
Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York, New York since May 1992. In August 2000, she founded Dunham Literary, Inc.
She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her clients have had both critical and commercial success. Books she has represented have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers in adult hardcover fiction, children’s books, and children’s book series. Her clients have won numerous awards including: New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Schneider Family Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.
She has been a member of AAR (Association of Authors Representatives) since 1993. She served on the Program Committee and was Program Committee Director for several years. She was also a member of the Electronic Committee.
She started her career at John Brockman Associates and then Mildred Marmur Associates. She was employed by Russell & Volkening for 6 years before she left to found Dunham Literary, Inc.
She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Anthropology and has a master’s degree in Social Work from New York University (although she only practices with characters on the page).
Jennie has been a Featured Agent with 12 x 12 since 2013! You can find our most recent profiles on Jennie here, here, here, and here. Additional resources are below:
- Find Jennie on Instagram. (You’ll find info on picture books AND queries!)
- Check out the Dunham Literary website
- The Dunham Literary blog is especially active here.
- Jennie is on Bluesky
- Check out Jennie’s Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL)
- Jennie has a list of book recommendations for writers here
- Jennie was a guest on the Writer on Writing podcast
Remember: Little GOLDen Book Members may only submit to ONE of these agents. Please choose the agent who is the best fit for you and your manuscript. Look for submission guidelines in the Submission Station on the 12 x 12 forum.
- Submissions will only be accepted for Alyssa Eisner Henkin from June 1st at 8am ET/5am PT through June 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
- Submissions will only be accepted for Jennie Dunham from June 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through June 30th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
Please double-check the times for your time zone on your submissions. Anything received before or after the submissions window is open will be disqualified and you will not be able to submit again this month.
Remember, it is NEVER okay to submit your manuscript twice. Contact Kelli if there is a problem with your submission.
Good luck to our GOLD members! We look forward to your success stories!
Not a 12 x 12 member yet? Join our waitlist and get a free webinar here!
*Butt or Face was written by 12 x 12 member Kari Lavelle!
