Christie Megill is an associate agent at The CAT Agency specializing exclusively in children's literature — picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels — with a particular eye for illustrators, author-illustrators, and authors whose voices have been historically underrepresented.
In brief
Megill's background is distinctly practical: elementary education, New York academic publishing, and years as a bookseller — she understands how children's books reach real classrooms and real kids, not just the trade market.
The CAT Agency's roster she oversees skews heavily toward illustrators and author-illustrators, suggesting she is as comfortable shepherding art-driven projects as text-only manuscripts — a meaningful edge for picture-book creators who draw.
Her personal taste signal is unusually specific: spooky picture books, friendship stories, grounded (realistic-feeling) chapter books, humor-with-heart, and a declared love of cats — writers who can tick two or three of those boxes at once will stand out.
Her touchstone titles span a wide commercial range — from the gentle whimsy of Elephant & Piggie to the gothic-cute atmosphere of Knight Owl and the graphic-novel world of Witches of Brooklyn — signaling she is equally at home with cozy, funny, and delightfully eerie.
She joined The CAT Agency in 2022, making her one of the newer agents at the boutique, which means she is still actively building her list — a real opportunity for debut creators.
Lately
Her agency profile notes she is actively seeking kidlit authors, author-illustrators, and artists with distinctive perspectives — with emphasis on meaningful narratives for today's young readers. The framing is forward-looking, suggesting her list is still growing.
What Christie is looking for
Picture book dummies and illustration portfolios are the heart of what Megill wants. She is drawn to work with a strong, distinctive visual voice — spooky atmospheres, warm friendship dynamics, and humor paired with emotional resonance all catch her attention. She is especially eager to amplify perspectives that have been underrepresented in children's publishing. Illustrators and author-illustrators are explicitly prioritized.
Megill does work with authors who are not illustrators, and welcomes picture book manuscripts. However, the agency's roster and her own emphasis clearly favor creators who also illustrate. Text-only authors should still query, but the bar is high: voice, originality, and a compelling reason why this story needs to exist are essential.
Graphic novel pitches for young readers are a named priority, and her touchstone titles confirm she appreciates the format's ability to blend visual storytelling with layered narrative. She looks for a distinctive artistic perspective and story that works because of — not despite — the comics format.
She has a soft spot for grounded chapter books — stories that feel rooted in real childhood experience rather than high-concept premises. Humor and heart are her stated sweet spot. Projects that combine warmth with genuine emotional stakes are the most likely to resonate.
Not the right fit
On Christie's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Christie
Send all queries to the agency's shared submissions inbox (submissions@catagencyinc.com) — do NOT email Megill's direct address even though it appears on the agency website; her own page explicitly redirects queries to the central inbox.
You may attach documents directly to the email rather than linking out — dummy PDFs are explicitly welcome as attachments, and manuscript text can be pasted into the body of the email.
If you are an illustrator or author-illustrator, lead with your portfolio or dummy: Megill's roster is illustration-heavy and that is clearly where her energy is. A strong visual sample should be front and center.
Lean into specificity when describing your project's tone: 'spooky,' 'friendship-driven,' 'grounded and funny' are words she has used herself. Mirror her language only where it genuinely fits your work — do not force it.
If your book features cats, that is genuinely worth a light mention — she flagged it unprompted and several of her favorite titles (Itty-Bitty Kitty Corn, Katie the Catsitter) are cat-centric.
Underrepresented voices are not a footnote for her — she named it as a top priority. If your background or your character's perspective represents a gap in children's publishing, say so clearly.
She is an associate agent who joined in 2022, meaning she is still building her list. Debuts who might worry about being overlooked by more established agents may find a genuinely motivated champion here.
Always verify query status is still open before submitting, as conditions can change without notice.