Jill Grinberg is a veteran New York literary agent who built one of the industry's most recognizable lists by championing bold, character-driven fiction and nonfiction across age categories, with a particular strength in young adult, middle grade, and adult literary and commercial work.
In brief
Jill Grinberg heads their own boutique agency in New York and has been placing books with major publishers for decades — the depth and longevity of their list signals strong relationships across the Big Five.
Their sales record skews heavily toward YA and middle grade, making this a go-to destination for writers of those categories even when Jill's stated wishlist touches adult fiction as well.
The agency's roster includes multiple award-winning and bestselling authors, demonstrating consistent commercial and critical performance rather than one-time luck.
Jill Grinberg is currently open to queries as of April 2026, but status can shift — always confirm via the live submission form before sending.
The agency is a boutique operation, meaning Jill Grinberg works closely with a small list; writers should expect a highly selective eye and should tailor their pitch carefully.
Lately
The agency's submission portal reflects an open status for picture books as of mid-April 2026, suggesting Jill Grinberg is actively building in that category at this time.
What Jill is looking for
Jill Grinberg is accepting picture book submissions. Given the boutique nature of the agency and the selectivity typical of this category, writers should bring a genuinely distinctive concept and strong voice. Note: confirm whether the agency's picture book interest applies to author-illustrators, author-only submissions, or both before querying.
YA represents the densest part of the agency's demonstrated sales record. Jill Grinberg has placed YA across a wide range of subgenres — from literary to commercial, contemporary to speculative — with major publishers. Character-driven narratives with a strong and urgent voice are a consistent thread through the list.
Middle grade is a proven category for the agency, with multiple titles reaching award and bestseller status. Jill Grinberg has a demonstrated ability to place MG with top imprints, and the list reflects both adventure-driven and emotionally resonant stories.
Adult fiction appears on the list, though the agency's center of gravity remains in children's and YA. Writers with adult literary or commercial projects should query with the understanding that Jill Grinberg is selective here and will likely prioritize projects with a strong narrative hook and distinctive voice.
The agency has placed nonfiction, but this appears to be a selective category. Writers should look closely at recent deals to gauge the specific nonfiction lanes that are currently active before querying with a proposal.
Not the right fit
On Jill's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jill
Query only one agent at the agency at a time — submitting to multiple agents simultaneously at a boutique house is generally unwelcome.
The agency is currently flagged as open for picture books specifically; if your project is in another category, confirm the current open categories on the live submission form before sending.
Jill Grinberg leads a boutique list, which means selectivity is high — research the agency's existing clients and recent deals to make sure your project fits the established taste before querying.
Lead with your story's emotional core and the specific voice that makes it distinctive; the agency's track record shows a consistent preference for character-driven, voice-forward work.
Follow the submission form instructions precisely; boutique agencies with small staff have little tolerance for queries that ignore formatting guidelines.
Do not query with a project you have simultaneously sent to multiple agents at other agencies without noting it — the agency expects transparency about multiple submissions.
If you are querying with a picture book, be explicit about whether you are an author-illustrator or author only, as these are typically handled differently.