Jodi Reamer is a powerhouse senior agent at Writers House whose client roster has generated some of the most commercially dominant YA and children's franchises of the past two decades, with a current focus that spans fiction across age groups and a notable emphasis on illustrated and art-driven children's work.
In brief
The sales record speaks loudly: Reamer's career is defined by breakout YA and middle-grade properties — the Twilight and Divergent-era franchises, Nicola Yoon's contemporary YA phenomenon, and Ransom Riggs's 'Miss Peregrine' series — signaling a genuine appetite for high-concept, franchise-building fiction aimed at young audiences.
The current agency page lists Reamer's represented artists as Nidhi Chanani, Bill Cotter, Tony DiTerlizzi, Christopher Eliopoulos, David Ostow, and Dan Santat — all illustrators or author-illustrators — suggesting a strong and active lane in picture books and illustrated children's work, beyond the YA brand most writers associate with this agent.
Reamer operates out of Writers House, one of the most influential literary agencies in publishing, which translates into deep relationships across the major imprints; this agent has a track record of placing clients at the highest commercial tiers.
Despite a long tenure and a star-studded roster, Reamer is listed as open to queries — an unusual access point to an agent of this seniority; writers should verify the live form before submitting, as status can change.
The breadth of the listed genre categories (commercial fiction through picture books) is wide, but the actual deal history skews heavily YA/MG/children's; writers of adult commercial fiction should temper expectations and query with realistic comps.
Lately
The current agency artist page lists six visual creators — including award-winning author-illustrators and Caldecott recipients — as Reamer's active clients, a cluster that signals deliberate investment in the illustrated children's book space well beyond a single legacy relationship.
What Jodi is looking for
This is the category most deeply embedded in Reamer's track record. High-concept, emotionally resonant YA — particularly work with franchise potential or a distinctive narrative hook — aligns with the agent's most celebrated deals. Contemporary, fantastical, and genre-blended YA all appear in the history.
Middle grade with strong voice, imaginative premise, or crossover commercial appeal. The roster includes MG-range work alongside YA, and the illustrated/author-illustrator lane (see below) overlaps here.
The current agency page lists six illustrators and author-illustrators as Reamer's represented artists — a signal that this lane is active and prioritized right now. Writers seeking picture book representation without illustration credentials should note that Reamer's current artist clients are all visual creators; author-only picture book submissions may face a higher bar. Author-illustrators or illustrators seeking representation are particularly well-positioned here.
Commercial fiction for adults falls within Reamer's listed categories, and the agency's broad platform supports adult deals. However, the confirmed deal record skews younger, so adult commercial fiction writers should query with awareness that this may not be Reamer's primary focus at present.
Genre fiction including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thriller, and romance are listed as categories of interest. Within YA and MG, genre work has clear precedent in the roster. Adult genre fiction is welcomed but not heavily evidenced in confirmed recent deals.
Listed as a sought category. Contemporary, voice-driven women's fiction with emotional stakes and broad commercial appeal fits the profile of work this agent gravitates toward across age categories.
Not the right fit
On Jodi's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jodi
Lead with the clearest possible statement of your book's core concept in the first sentence — Reamer's biggest deals are all high-concept properties that can be pitched in a line or two. Do not bury the hook.
Demonstrate franchise or series potential if it exists naturally in your story. The most prominent clients on this roster built multi-book, multi-media empires; if your premise has that DNA, say so without overselling.
For illustrated or author-illustrator submissions, the current artist roster is a genuine strength — if you both write and illustrate, emphasize that credential prominently. Include portfolio links or sample art references as appropriate.
Comp to the right age category. Reamer's deal history is overwhelmingly YA and children's; if you are querying adult fiction, choose comps carefully and make the commercial case explicitly — do not assume the YA track record translates automatically.
Be specific about age category and genre from the first line. With a list spanning picture books to adult commercial fiction, clarity about where your book sits in the market is essential.
Research the current client roster before querying to avoid pitching something that directly overlaps with an existing client's brand — this is especially relevant in high-profile categories like paranormal YA, where Reamer's roster already casts a long shadow.