Jennifer DeChiara is an active literary agent, open to submissions across a broad range of genres, including literary and commercial fiction, children's books, and nonfiction. She accepts queries via email, with specific guidelines for different genres.
About Jennifer DeChiara
Jennifer De Chiara is the president and senior agent of The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, which she founded in 2001. Before establishing the agency, she worked as a literary agent at two New York agencies and in editorial positions at Simon & Schuster and Random House. She has also worked as a writing consultant and frequently speaks about publishing and writing at conferences and universities.
De Chiara represents a broad range of adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction. In adult fiction, she is interested in literary and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, mysteries, suspense, and thrillers, with a particular interest in strong voices, compelling protagonists, and underdog or outsider stories. For children’s books, she represents picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction across a wide range of genres. Her nonfiction interests include memoir, entertainment and popular culture, the arts and performing arts, health, exercise, spirituality, self-help, and books focused on overcoming adversity and personal empowerment. She is also particularly interested in LGBTQ+ subjects and perspectives.
The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency is a New York City-based full-service literary agency founded in 2001. The agency represents children’s books across all age categories, including picture books, middle grade, and young adult, as well as adult fiction and nonfiction in a broad range of genres. JDLA also represents illustrators and screenwriters for television and film.
The agency takes a career-focused approach to representation and provides support in foreign rights, film and television, merchandising, editorial development, and promotion. JDLA represents both established and emerging writers and works with co-agents and industry partners to develop opportunities across domestic and international markets.
How to submit to The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
For queries regarding children's and adult fiction, please send the first twenty pages in the body of your email to jenndec@aol.com, along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis. For queries regarding a non-fiction book, please attach the entire proposal as a Word document (the proposal should include a sample chapter), along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis of your book in the body of your email.
Screenwriters: If you'd like to submit a screenplay, please email a logline, a 150-word description, and your bio, with "Screenplay Query" in the subject line of your email.
Hints
Query one agent at a time; personalize each query; have a one-page synopsis and opening pages ready; no reply after the agent's stated window usually means a pass.