Alyssa Jennette is a deeply editorial Stonesong agent with an art-school background who specializes in illustrated and design-forward books, children's and adult fiction with strong structural voices, and select pop culture nonfiction — with a particular eye for stories that teach her something new about craft, history, or language.
In brief
Her best-known projects — WHEEL OF THE YEAR, FLORIOGRAPHY, and THE FLOATING GIRLS — reveal a clear lane in illustrated/gift nonfiction and literary fiction that her wishlist only partially telegraphs; writers with visually rich or art-adjacent projects have a real edge with her.
Her BFA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art isn't just biography: it shapes every acquisition. She evaluates picture books, graphic novels, and illustrated nonfiction with the eye of a trained practitioner, not merely a reader.
She is explicitly closed to queries as of the last observed check (April 2019) and has stated she would announce reopening on her agency page — always verify the live status before submitting.
She co-founded the #readmorewomen book club, which is consistent with a client list that skews toward diverse, women-led, and LGBTQ voices — worth noting when framing a pitch.
Her stated disinterest in High Fantasy and Romance is firm and repeated; but archaeology, mythology, codes/cryptology, and art history thread through both her wishlist and her roster, suggesting those subjects are genuine through-lines rather than throwaway interests.
Lately
Her wishlist profile states that as of May 2019 she is closed to queries, directing writers to monitor the Stonesong website and her social presence for any announcement about reopening.
What Alyssa is looking for
Her best-known projects are all illustrated nonfiction titles, and her illustration background gives her genuine expertise here. She's looking for pop culture, pop science, and humor-driven nonfiction with strong visual concepts — think art history, mythology, nature, or craft subjects rendered in a striking, design-forward way. She's also open to reviewing illustration portfolios directly.
She wants fiction that sits at the intersection of literary and commercial — not purely one or the other. Wit, wordplay, and narrative formats tailored to the specific story are major draws. She gravitates toward ensemble casts with distinct, differentiated voices, and particularly values a deceptively simple premise that expands in surprising directions as the author pursues it. Structural experimentation is welcome.
She is drawn to MG and YA that centers characters and communities with limited financial means, explores living with disability in authentic ways, or features secret societies and unreliable narrators. A 'Clueless'-style contemporary retelling of a classic work is a specific wishlist item, as is a friendship breakup story — especially across genders — for any age level. She values diversity and inclusion throughout.
Her illustration background makes her a credible home for graphic novels and select graphic memoir. She evaluates visual storytelling with trained eyes and is interested in both fiction and memoir in the format.
She represents picture books and is open to illustration portfolios, but her expertise and roster suggest she is most engaged with author-illustrators or illustrator-driven projects rather than text-only picture book writers. The illustrated/design lens applies here as it does across her list.
She selectively takes on pop culture, pop science, and humor nonfiction. She describes this as a 'try me' category — meaning the concept and execution need to be particularly distinctive. Cultural criticism and LGBTQ nonfiction also fall within her scope.
Not the right fit
On Alyssa's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Alyssa
Verify current open/closed status on the Stonesong agency website before doing anything else — her closed status was observed in April 2019 and may have changed.
When queries are open, send to the Stonesong submissions email with 'QUERY' and 'Alyssa Jennette' in the subject line; include your query letter and the first ten pages pasted into the body of the email (no attachments).
Lead with the structural or formal hook of your book — she responds strongly to formats that are specific to the story, so if your novel has an unusual structure or epistolary device, put that front and center.
Name the subject matter thread if it connects to her known passions: art history, archaeology, mythology, language/translation, or criminal justice reform. These are genuine interests, not checkbox items.
If you're pitching a YA or MG, note any focus on characters from low-income backgrounds, disability, or secret societies — these are specific wishlist calls, not vague gestures.
Illustrators and author-illustrators should know she is open to portfolio submissions, which is a relatively rare offer; mention your visual background early.
Do not pitch romance, erotica, or swords-and-sorcery high fantasy under any circumstances — these are firm exclusions.
Given her #readmorewomen ethos and client list that skews toward women and LGBTQ creators, diversity and representation in your project is worth naming directly if it's genuinely central to the work.