Karen Tayleur is a Melbourne-based agent at Jacinta di Mase Management specializing in fiction, children's books, and picture books for the Australian market — currently closed to new queries.
In brief
Karen Tayleur operates out of Jacinta di Mase Management, a boutique Melbourne literary agency with a strong track record in Australian children's, YA, and adult fiction since 2004.
As of the most recent observation (May 2026), she is closed to unsolicited queries — writers should monitor the agency's submissions page before approaching.
The agency as a whole leans toward quality commercial fiction and books for children and young adults, with a clear investment in emerging Australian voices alongside established, award-winning clients.
Tayleur's listed categories — fiction, children's books, and picture books — align with the agency's core strengths, suggesting she works within a well-resourced network of publisher relationships in the Australian and international markets.
Because her individual deals and client roster are not separately documented in available records, writers should treat her agency colleagues' track records (strong CBCA recognition, Indie Book Awards wins) as a proxy for the calibre of work the broader team champions.
Lately
The agency's public submissions page confirms the team is currently not accepting new queries, consistent with a closed-submissions period observed in mid-2026.
What Karen is looking for
Commercial fiction with strong narrative drive and broad audience appeal. The agency's wider ethos favours work that engages and entertains while carrying genuine literary quality — likely a useful benchmark for pitching to Tayleur in this space.
Books for young readers across the middle-grade and YA spectrum. The agency has a demonstrated commitment to Australian children's literature and emerging voices in this space, suggesting an appetite for culturally grounded, emotionally resonant work.
Picture books are listed among her categories, though the agency's pattern suggests a preference for author-illustrators or projects with a strong visual concept. Writers without an illustration component should confirm current appetite before submitting.
Not the right fit
On Karen's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Karen
Confirm the submissions page shows an open window before sending anything — Tayleur was closed as of May 2026 and there is no known reopening date.
Follow the agency's submission guidelines precisely; Jacinta di Mase Management is a boutique operation where sloppiness with guidelines is likely to count against a project quickly.
Because Tayleur's individual wishlist is not separately published, study the agency's overall ethos — 'quality books that engage, entertain, and inspire' — and make that case explicitly in your query letter.
For picture books, clarify your illustration situation upfront; noting whether you are an author-illustrator or seeking a separate illustrator will prevent a mismatch.
Australian setting, voice, or cultural context is likely a positive differentiator given the agency's clear investment in Australian stories and creators.
Keep your query concise and commercially framed — this is a commercial fiction and children's agency, not a literary-prize-only house; lead with story and audience.