Emelie Burl is a self-described literary omnivore at Susan Schulman Literary Agency whose bookseller roots and cozy-everything sensibility drive her to seek immersive, hope-bent stories for readers of all ages — from picture books to adult romantasy.
In brief
Emelie joined Susan Schulman in 2021 after fourteen years on the bookselling floor, meaning she thinks about books from a reader-first, handselling perspective — a genuinely unusual credential among agents.
Her wishlist skews heavily toward children's and YA categories (MG fantasy, literary MG/YA, picture books, YA horror) while also actively chasing adult cozy fantasy and romantasy — a wider age-range than most agents her size carry.
The 'cozy' thread is the single most consistent throughline across every category she names: she wants warmth, found family, and hope even in horror and dark topics — pitches that lean nihilistic or grimdark are misaligned.
Her social presence centers on intellectual freedom and the right-to-read movement, signaling that she is drawn to books that push back against censorship and champion access to diverse stories — a strong ideological fit signal for authors writing marginalized voices.
Her submission form was confirmed closed as of May 31, 2026; writers should verify the live form status before querying.
Lately
Emelie shared resources for teens and adults looking to protect intellectual freedom and the right to read, pointing to an anti-book-ban toolkit — a clear signal that advocacy for diverse, challenged, and marginalized stories is central to her identity as an agent.
What Emelie is looking for
Emelie actively prioritizes cozy fantasy and romantasy for adult readers — immersive worlds that make you want to nest inside them, with a romantic or warmly atmospheric core. She wants hope woven into the bones of the narrative even when stakes are high, and is drawn to grounded magic systems that feel tangible and lived-in rather than showy.
MG is a clear priority across the full tonal spectrum. She gravitates toward stories that respect children's capacity for darkness while guiding them through it — weird, funny, emotionally resonant books that don't talk down to kids. Found family, intergenerational friendship, and diverse protagonists are recurring asks. Literary MG and commercial MG are both welcome.
YA with teeth — she wants stories that bend toward hope without flinching from the hard stuff. Queer joy, female rage, folklore, and grounded magic are all strong hooks. LGBTQ+ YA and YA fantasy with diverse or marginalized protagonists are especially welcome. Humor alongside emotional depth is a consistent signal.
She seeks clever, witty, laugh-out-loud picture books that meet children exactly where they are — unapologetically weird, funny, and emotionally honest. She is drawn to books that trust kids to handle big feelings and unusual ideas. Note: her stated interest is in picture book authors; confirm current guidelines if you are submitting as an author-illustrator versus author only.
Cozy mysteries across age ranges align with her broader 'cozy everything' philosophy. She wants atmosphere, character-driven plotting, and that particular warmth that makes a mystery feel like comfort reading — not just a puzzle.
She has a specific appetite for journalistic deep dives in which a compelling personal narrative is woven throughout. Pure data-driven or academic nonfiction is less likely to resonate; the writer's own presence and stake in the story matters to her. Topics of interest include science, ecology, culture, LGBTQ+ subjects, memoir, tarot/astrology, and witchcraft.
Adult science fiction and fantasy — particularly climate fiction, Africanfuturism, Indigenous futurism, and culturally specific fantasies (African, Asian, AAPI, Latinx) — are welcome. She gravitates toward the literary end of SFF and toward stories with strong social or ecological stakes.
She is open to nonfiction for younger readers, especially projects that embrace the 'kids are weird and curious' ethos she champions. Science, ecology, and humor-driven informational books fit her sensibility.
Not the right fit
On Emelie's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Emelie
Confirm the submission form is open before sending anything — it was closed as of May 31, 2026, and there is no announced reopening date.
Lead your query with the 'cozy' angle if it applies: name the warmth, the found-family dynamic, or the hope-despite-darkness structure in your first paragraph. This is her most consistent filter.
If your book is weird — genuinely strange in premise, character, or structure — say so plainly and early. She actively seeks work that can be described as 'weird,' 'zany,' or 'unhinged'; do not sand those edges down to seem more commercial.
For narrative nonfiction, make your personal stake unmistakable in the query. She wants the journalist inside the story, not just reporting on it.
For MG and picture books, demonstrate that you trust children as readers — show in your pitch language that your book respects kids' capacity for darkness, humor, and complexity.
Diverse and marginalized voices (LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Indigenous, immigrant) are an explicit priority — if your book centers those perspectives, name that context clearly.
Her email address (emelie@schulmanagency.com) and social handles (@BigKidBookworm) are public, but do not cold-email or DM a query — use only the official submission form per her guidelines.
Her bookseller background means she thinks in terms of handselling: a strong, one-sentence hook that captures the specific emotional experience of the book will resonate more than a long plot summary.