Daniele Hunter is a queer, chronically ill, disabled junior agent at McIntosh & Otis who champions dark, lyrical, issue-driven kidlit—primarily YA and MG contemporary—centering marginalized identities and the stories kids most need but rarely see.
In brief
Her self-described top priority is contemporary YA and MG with literary, lyrical prose—dark and issue-driven work that centers BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodiverse characters.
Confirmed sales include Eva V. Gibson's TOGETHER WE CAUGHT FIRE (YA) and Chad Lucas's THANKS A LOT, UNIVERSE (MG)—both literary, emotionally heavy contemporaries—signaling a clear and consistent taste profile that matches her stated wishlist.
Picture books will be the smallest slice of her list; she favors author-illustrator submissions and has a noted preference for human narrators over animal ones.
She brings an intensely editorial sensibility and describes herself as extremely hands-on; writers should expect a close, communicative relationship rather than a light-touch agent style.
As of early 2026, she remained closed to general queries while selectively participating in conferences and charity auctions—writers should monitor her live submission form carefully before querying.
Lately
While I’m still closed to general queries as I catch up and evaluate my bandwidth, I’m doing my best this year to work with more conferences & donate more to auctions I believe in. One of those is open now via Book Lovers for Liberation, I’ve given two hourlong AMA Zooms! url-shortener.me/D5DD
As of February 2026, she confirmed she remains closed to general queries while working to manage her bandwidth, but is actively engaging with the writing community through conference appearances and charitable auctions—including a pair of hour-long AMA sessions she donated.
What Daniele is looking for
Her single highest priority. She wants literary, voice-driven stories with lyrical prose—novels-in-verse are equally welcome. Thematic interests include mental health, neurodivergence, chronic illness, disability, and the full spectrum of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ experiences. She gravitates toward coming-of-age and slice-of-life, with protagonist ages running from 11–12 all the way through college age. Multiple POVs, mixed timelines, and mixed-media formats appeal to her. Romance works best as a subplot; she is equally interested in non-romantic arcs centered on friendship, found family, friend breakups, and complicated family dynamics. Darkness and grit are welcome—so are moments of hard-won triumph and joy, especially for marginalized characters.
Nearly as central to her list as YA contemporary. The same values apply: lyrical, character-focused writing; BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ experiences; disability, chronic illness, and neurodivergence. She is drawn to voice and interiority and strongly prefers first-person narration. Emotionally resonant, issue-driven stories with moments of joy are her sweet spot.
Contemporary fantasy with lyrical writing and a character-first approach is her strongest interest within this space. Ghost stories are a genuine love. Near-future dystopian work that incorporates social critique and/or magic is welcome, though post-apocalyptic settings are not. She is sparingly open to higher (secondary-world) fantasy only when the world-building is detailed, atmospheric, and accessible—and she explicitly excludes court fantasy, faeries, vampires, werewolves, elves, and most other supernatural creature types outside ghosts. Sci-fi, space, aliens, time travel, and portals are all out of scope.
Only sparingly open. She prefers the nearer past over ancient or medieval settings, and wants stories that illuminate lesser-told moments in history with a strong human-interest core alongside the historical education. Prehistoric settings are explicitly off the table.
Open only when the work leans harder into character and lyrical writing than the genre norm. Murder mysteries appeal to her, especially when the format is unconventional. Standard plot-driven thrillers without a strong voice are unlikely to be a fit.
Sparingly interested in both fiction and nonfiction anthologies. This is a narrow gate—approach with a very compelling hook.
Explicitly the smallest portion of her list. She actively seeks author-illustrator submissions or author-illustrator teams. Thematic priorities: grief (honest and hopeful, never saccharine), BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ stories across the full tonal range from celebratory to issue-based, disability in both fiction and nonfiction, and diverse cultures, holidays, and identities. She is sparingly open to biographies, with preference for women, LGBTQIA+, and/or BIPOC subjects. Human narrators are preferred over animal narrators, though she is not completely closed to the latter. Rhyming texts are off the table unless the author's primary mode is free verse or prose poetry.
Not the right fit
On Daniele's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Daniele
Her form was closed as of late 2024 and still closed per a February 2026 post—check the live form before doing anything else; do not query a closed form.
She is extremely editorially hands-on and values open communication, so your query letter should reflect a writer who welcomes revision dialogue, not someone seeking a light-touch agent.
Lead with voice and interiority: her confirmed sales and stated priorities both point to prose that is literary and lyrical first, plot-driven second. Make your opening pages do that work.
First-person narration is a strong personal preference. If your manuscript is third-person, be aware this is a headwind—she does not reject third-person outright, but it requires her to work harder to connect.
Marginalized identity and experience are central to her list. You do not need to disclose your own identity, but your manuscript should genuinely center or authentically engage with underrepresented characters and experiences.
Specificity about your manuscript's thematic concerns (disability, neurodivergence, grief, LGBTQIA+ experience, etc.) will help her see the fit quickly—be direct about what the book is really about.
If querying a picture book, make clear whether you are an author-illustrator or submitting as part of an author-illustrator team; solo author PB submissions are a harder sell given her stated preference.
Avoid mentioning any of her explicit hard-no elements (court fantasy, pirates, insects, rhyming PBs without a free-verse background, etc.) even as comparisons—it signals a misread of her taste.
She is a member of and active on the AALA DEI committee; writers whose work engages with equity and inclusion themes are in natural alignment with her values.