A Toronto-based Transatlantic Literary Agency agent with rare dual expertise as a former UK publisher and animation studio development executive, hunting for children's books—picture books through YA—with serious commercial and awards potential.
In brief
Her deal record is dominated by middle grade and picture books, with crossover YA graphic novels and a strand of adult nonfiction rounding out her list — her stated breadth (children's through some adult nonfiction) is reflected in practice.
Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins) and Macmillan appear as key publisher relationships; her clients also appear at Abrams and Running Press, suggesting wide imprint reach across the major houses.
Rosanne Parry is a confirmed repeat client with at least two high-profile middle grade titles (one NYT bestseller, one Washington Post Best Children's Books) — a strong signal that Kenshole invests deeply in long-term author careers rather than one-off deals.
Her background is genuinely unusual: two decades as a UK publisher (nominated for Editor of the Year at the British Book Awards) followed by a decade as VP of Development and Acquisitions at Laika Studios, the stop-motion animation house behind Academy Award–nominated films. Writers with visual, cinematic, or adaptable storytelling are submitting to someone who has greenlit animated features.
Her picture book client Ann Whitford Paul has sold over two million copies in the IF ANIMALS KISSED GOODNIGHT series — proof that Kenshole can place and sustain a commercial picture book franchise at scale.
Lately
Her agency profile lists children's books, middle grade, YA, children's nonfiction, picture books, graphic novels, and some adult nonfiction as her active categories, confirming a broad children's-focused list with a selective adult nonfiction strand.
What Fiona is looking for
Her deal record centers heavily here, and her most celebrated projects — an NYT bestseller and a Washington Post Best Children's Books title — are middle grade novels. She has demonstrated ability to place literary-quality MG with top imprints and sustain author careers across multiple books. Strong voice, distinct protagonist, and commercial hooks are consistent across her known sales.
Her picture book track record is substantial: a multi-million-copy franchise placed with Macmillan. She has placed series as well as standalone titles, and her client relationships in this space are long-running. Given her animation background, picture books with strong visual storytelling and read-aloud rhythm are likely a natural fit.
She has sold YA with strong commercial appeal — including a title that traded rights in 22 territories — and a YA crossover graphic novel that made year-end best-of lists. Contemporary YA and internationally minded stories appear to resonate with her taste.
She sold a YA crossover graphic novel that earned NYT Best Graphic Novels recognition in 2020, signaling genuine engagement with the form rather than reluctant acceptance. Writers working in comics-format narrative nonfiction or documentary-style graphic storytelling have a real precedent here.
Her client list includes award-winning nonfiction authors (including a YALSA finalist and NYPL Best Book), suggesting she actively cultivates this category within children's publishing rather than treating it as secondary.
She represents some adult nonfiction — her confirmed sale in this space is a popular science/behavior title. This appears to be a secondary, curated strand rather than a core focus. Pitching adult nonfiction without a clear hook or strong platform is unlikely to succeed; projects with crossover or pet/animal/science angles have the most obvious precedent.
Not the right fit
On Fiona's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Fiona
Address her directly and specifically — she has a cinematic background and responds to visual, scene-driven storytelling; if your project has adaptation potential or a strong visual logic, name it early.
Her most celebrated sales share a strong sense of place, an animal or natural-world element, or both (a wolf, a whale, a dog-behavior guide, a kissing animals series) — if your project carries any of these threads authentically, that's worth a sentence.
She is clearly a career-builder: her repeat client relationships span multiple books. Frame your query as the beginning of a body of work, not just a single title — mention if you have a second book in progress or a series vision.
Her international rights track record (22 territories for one YA title) suggests she is attuned to universally resonant themes. Pitch with an eye toward what makes your story travel beyond its home market.
For adult nonfiction, have a strong platform or a genuinely distinctive angle — this is the narrowest slice of her list, and a direct parallel to her existing nonfiction sales (popular science, behavior, accessible research) is your best entry point.
For graphic novel submissions, lead with the format upfront and clarify whether you are an author-illustrator or author-only — her sold graphic novel was by an author; know where you stand.
Confirm her current submission guidelines on the Transatlantic Literary Agency website before sending — requirements can change, and the most recent version of her form takes precedence over anything in a directory or older post.