A new 12 x 12 year has begun and we’re almost ready to open submissions to our 2022 GOLD members! It’s your first submission opportunity of the year! Be sure to read all the posts in the Submission Station of the forum, before you start submitting. Check out each agent’s guidelines on the forum before you prepare your submission. Little GOLDen Book members will be able to choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in February. (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.)
Mary Cummings of Great River Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 2-15. Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary, Inc. will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members February 16-28. Mary’s profile appears first, followed by Jennie’s. Please read BOTH and then decide who would be the best fit for your work.
Mary Cummings of Great River Literary
A little bit about Mary:
After thirteen years as an agent for kids’ books with Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises, in spring 2021 Mary Cummings opened her own agency: Great River Literary. Among her sales are board and picture books, chapter books and novels to such houses as Abrams; Little, Brown; Knopf; Chronicle; Candlewick; Imprint; Feiwel and Friends; Holt; FSG; Random House; HarperCollins; Balzer & Bray; WorthyKids; Holiday House; Wiseman S & S; Philomel; Nancy Paulsen; Viking and others. Articles and publishing tips, background on books sold, links to interviews, info on Mary’s conferences, a wish list, and submission guidelines can be found on greatriverliterary.com
When asked what she’s looking for, Mary replied:
“I encourage people to look on my website, greatriverliterary.com at my wishlist and articles to help with what I’m looking for. As for what I am not looking for: grandparent stories are especially tough to sell now (even though I often like them); Halloween is really tough, though other holidays are welcome (especially lesser known ones); stories that begin with a child waking up to mom’s call to hurry and get ready for school (they are SO common); stories that read more like short stories than picture book texts.”
Mary has been a Featured Agent previously. You can see our previous profiles here, here, here, here, and here. Here are a few more resources for Mary:
- Interview on Literary Rambles
- Interview on Picture Book Spotlight
- Check out the Great River Literary website
Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary, Inc.
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).
When asked what she’s looking for in picture books, Jennie replied:
“I’m looking for character driven fiction with a strong narrative. In nonfiction I like stories that illuminate a popular subject in a new way or that present an important but previously overlooked subject. I’m especially looking for #ownvoices that feature under-represented characters in both fiction and nonfiction. Humor and whimsy are a plus. The approach must be fresh and fun. I appreciate a good twist or two.”
Jennie has been a 12 x 12 Featured Agent from the beginning! You can see our previous profiles here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Here are some new resources for Jennie:
- Listen to Jennie on the Picture Book Summit Podcast
- Find Jennie on Twitter
- Jennie was a 2021 Washington Writers Conference Literary Agent
- Check out the Dunham Literary, Inc. website
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 Mary Cummings from February 2nd at 8am ET/5am PT through February 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
Submissions will only be accepted for Jennie Dunham from February 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through February 28th 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!
