Amy Nielsen is a former youth librarian turned author and literary agent at The Purcell Agency who brings a rare insider's perspective — two decades in school libraries plus his own published children's books — to representing picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction with a strong emphasis on neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ representation.
In brief
Nielsen's submissions are currently closed, with a publicly announced reopening window of June 12–18, 2026 — mark your calendar and submit within that narrow window.
His own publishing history (a YA debut, autism-focused picture books, and an anthology fighting book bans) makes his stated priorities — neurodivergence, LGBTQ+ themes, age ranges from PB through YA — unusually credible rather than aspirational.
His twenty years as a school librarian at both elementary and middle-school levels is a structural advantage: he has watched children and parents interact with books, knows which characters generate repeat purchases, and filters submissions through that commercial-as-well-as-literary lens.
His deal record at The Purcell Agency is not yet extensive in public view, but his focus is tightly scoped: PB series potential, MG speculative/dystopian, and YA thriller or contemporary romance — he is not a generalist adult-fiction agent despite a broad genre checklist on his profile.
Because he is himself a querying author who has navigated the publishing process, he actively shares craft and business advice through a podcast and webinar resources — writers who do their homework with those materials will arrive better prepared.
Lately
I'm not on this app often, but wanted to let #amquerying authors know I'm opening up for queries on Friday, June 12th-18th for PRIDE! Send me all your queer joy, queer thrillers, queer RomComs, and more! #writingcommunity Check my manuscript wish list for more! :)
Nielsen publicly announced a narrow six-day query window opening June 12, 2026 and closing June 18, 2026, covering picture books, middle grade, and young adult — his first announced reopening after a sustained closed period.
What Amy is looking for
Nielsen isn't just looking for a charming picture book — he wants the seed of a franchise. He's drawn to a central character so distinctive and lovable that children demand the next installment and caregivers happily buy it. The commercial logic is baked in: a trusted character is a repeatable purchase. He cites a cluster of iconic series characters as the benchmark for what that level of attachment looks like.
He is specifically hunting for a MG story that blends magical realism with cryptid mythology — creatures that feel grounded in folklore and possibility rather than pure fantasy. He wants the sense of wonder and adventure that marks the best middle-grade adventure series, with a world and cast kids will want to return to.
Alongside his cryptid interest, Nielsen is actively seeking a dystopian series for the MG space — stories built around big ideas about society, control, or survival that are calibrated for the younger end of the age range. He's looking for strong series architecture, not a standalone.
Within young adult, Nielsen welcomes thrillers — high-stakes, propulsive plots aimed at teen readers. An added layer of social commentary, particularly a dystopian-flavored plot that mirrors a current real-world issue, would strengthen the pitch. He specifically cited a story that could be read as a present-day parallel to a seminal feminist dystopia as an ideal example of the kind of resonance he's after.
He is open to YA contemporary romance within his query window. While he hasn't elaborated at length on this category, it is an explicit stated interest and should not be overlooked by writers with a strong voice-driven teen love story.
This is a cross-category priority, not a genre box. Across every age range and format he considers, Nielsen is specifically seeking stories that feature autistic characters and/or queer characters written with authenticity and specificity — not window dressing or stereotype. His personal experience as the parent of an autistic child and as someone connected to queer communities informs what 'authentic' means to him; he will read these submissions with a critical, informed eye.
Beyond his core search, he has flagged a few specific conceits he'd love to encounter: a Gilmore Girls-style relationship story with a paranormal or speculative element; stories set in coastal boating communities; fairy-tale retellings or reimaginings pulled into a contemporary setting; and stories that evoke the emotional spirit of a rallying-cry underdog anthem. These are bonus points rather than primary search criteria, but hitting one in combination with his core categories could make a submission stand out.
Not the right fit
On Amy's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Amy
His query window is narrow and pre-announced: June 12–18, 2026 only. Missing it means waiting for the next opening — prepare your full packet in advance so you can submit on day one.
He has published his own query-preparation webinar and a detailed submission-polishing guide on his author website — reviewing these before submitting is essentially table stakes, and ignoring them when the resource is freely available will show.
He has stated that he has not proofread submissions after 9 p.m. — a signal that polish and professionalism in your packet matter more than speed; send a clean, finished submission rather than rushing.
For PB submissions, lead with the series concept, not just the single book — he is explicitly looking for a franchise-ready character, so your query letter should articulate what makes this character endlessly revisitable.
For any submission featuring neurodivergent or LGBTQ+ characters, your query should briefly signal the authenticity of your perspective or research — he will be reading with an informed, personal lens and a vague 'diverse characters' mention won't be enough.
He appreciates writers who are engaged with the craft and business of publishing — referencing the kind of careful industry thinking he promotes (without flattery) can demonstrate you're a professional collaborator, not just a cold querier.
Send to his agency email address during the open window; confirm the current submission guidelines on his author website before drafting your query, as specifics may update between now and June 2026.