Natalie Lakosil and Kayla Cichello - 12 x 12 Featured Agents September 2022

Natalie Lakosil and Kayla Cichello – 12 x 12 Featured Agents September 2022

GOLD members! September submission opportunities are coming your way! Check out our September Featured Agent profiles below and decide who is the best fit for you and your work. Then read the guidelines on the forum as you prepare your submission. Be sure to double check everything before you hit the send button. Little GOLDen Book members will be able to choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in September. (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.)

Natalie Lakosil of Irene Goodman Literary Agency will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members September 1-15. Kayla Cichello of Upstart Crow Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members September 16-30. Natalie’s profile appears first, followed by Kayla’s. Please read BOTH and then decide who would be the best fit for your work.

Natalie Lakosil of Irene Goodman Literary Agency

A little bit about Natalie:

Natalie Lakosil began her career in 2009 as a literary agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and Bradford Literary Agency before joining the Irene Goodman Agency in 2021. An honors graduate of the University of San Diego, California, Natalie holds a B.A. in Literature/Writing. For over a dozen years she has championed and helped to build the careers of numerous award-winning, critically acclaimed and bestselling authors. Natalie represents adult nonfiction, adult cozy mystery/crime, female-driven thrillers, upmarket women’s/general fiction, illustrators, and all ages (picture book, chapter book, MG, YA) of children’s literature, both fiction and nonfiction.

When asked what she’s looking for in submissions, Natalie replied:

“Currently my priorities are beautiful, lyrical text about nature, social-emotional learning, or by and about queer, BIPOC, marginalized voices; funny, clever, and surprising picture books by queer, BIPOC, marginalized authors that have nothing to do with identity. Give me the next CREEPY UNDERWEAR or DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS or PENGUIN PROBLEMS or LLAMA DESTROYS THE UNIVERSE; illustrators and author-illustrators.”

Natalie has been 12 x 12 Featured Agent in previous years. Please see our past profiles of her HERE and HERE. Below are a few additional resources for Natalie:

Natalie’s page on the Irene Goodman Literary website
Natalie’s website
Natalie’s Manuscript Wishlist (#MSWL)
Find Natalie on Twitter
Interview on Only Picture Books

Kayla Cichello of Upstart Crow Literary

A little bit about Kayla:

Kayla Cichello is an agent with Upstart Crow Literary open to picture books through YA and illustrators. She’s searching for voices that can make her laugh, and keep her turning the page, but above all else, voices that feel authentic and honest. Some of her clients include Ana Otaru, author of the upcoming picture book MASQUERADE FOR GRANDPA (Atheneum/S&S, 2023), and a follow up in 2024, and Kat Uno, illustrator of the MERMAID DAYS series (Scholastic). You can find more about Kayla’s taste at www.upstartcrowliterary.com.

When asked what she’s looking for in picture books, Kayla replied:

“I’m looking for picture books with humor and heart, something that kids want to read over and over again. Something with a fresh perspective if the subject matter is familiar and I’m always looking for a surprise or unexpected ending. If it’s nonfiction, I’m looking for stories with universal appeal and subject matter that is both kid and adult friendly.”

This is Kayla’s first year as a 12 x 12 Featured Agent. Here are a few resources for Kayla:

Kayla on the Upstart Crow website
Follow Kayla on Twitter
Interview on Literary Rambles
Feature on Kathy Temean’s blog
Follow Kayla on Instagram

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 Natalie Lakosil from September 1st at 8am ET/5am PT through September 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.

Submissions will only be accepted for Kayla Cichello from September 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through September 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!

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