Kenna DeValor is a queer, nonbinary agent at D4EO Literary Agency whose editorial identity centers on elevating underrepresented voices through LGBTQIA+ fiction, dark YA, poetry collections, and genre-bending adult fiction with gothic, folkloric, or romantasy edges.
In brief
Kenna is closed to queries as of late March 2026 — confirm live form status before submitting anything.
Their wishlist is highly specific: LGBTQIA+ and 'Weird Girl' genre fiction, full-length poetry collections (80–120 pages), graphic novels, and punk-flavored creative nonfiction are all explicitly on the table — a notably broad genre range for a single agent.
No confirmed deal record is available in the provided data, so their commercial track record cannot be independently verified; their strength appears rooted in indie publishing connections (via FlowerMouth Press), literary arts education, and a marketing/PR background rather than a deep traditional-deal history.
Kenna's own creative life — typewriter poetry, DIY zines, punk shows, D&D, anime — is a reliable taste signal: pitches that feel subcultural, unconventional, or 'outsider' in sensibility are likely to land better than polished mainstream fare.
The anti-wishlist carries hard stops that writers often overlook: no stories containing animal abuse or sexual violence, no war/political content (fiction or nonfiction), and a flat no to erotica (though 'spicy' is fine).
Lately
Kenna's agency profile confirms they are currently enrolled in an MA/MFA program at Wilkes University, studying under a working fiction author — a signal that their editorial instincts are actively being shaped by immersive craft training alongside their agenting work.
What Kenna is looking for
This is the throughline of Kenna's entire list and personal identity. They want LGBTQIA+ voices across both YA and adult fiction in horror, fantasy, and romance. Representation of queer, disabled, BIPOC, Latine, AAPI, and neurodivergent characters and authors is a stated priority, not a checkbox.
Kenna names YA repeatedly and with specificity — they want folklore-infused stories, romantic tension (enemies-to-lovers is a named love), horror with atmosphere, and fantasy with genuine magic systems or mythological depth. School settings and secret societies are explicit draws.
Kenna actively seeks adult fiction across multiple genre lanes: romantasy, dark academia (especially school/secret-society settings), gothic horror, and straight horror. They favor stories with dreamlike or fever-dream qualities, vampire mythology, and gothic undertones woven through the narrative.
A named category and a defining taste signal. This covers fiction with unconventional, outsider, or culturally 'strange' female or femme protagonists — books that feel subcultural, punk, or deliberately off-center. Strong female main characters (FMC) are a recurring emphasis across all genres.
Full-length collections only — Kenna specifies 80 to 120 pages. Their background as a typewriter poet, Best of the Net 2025 nominee, and founder of a Gen-Z literary arts magazine (FlowerMouth Press) gives them genuine editorial credibility here. Single poems, chapbooks, or partial manuscripts are not what they're looking for.
Listed explicitly on the current agency page with no further qualifications. Kenna's background as a visual artist and graphic designer suggests authentic enthusiasm for the form. Writers without illustration should clarify their illustrator situation upfront.
Kenna's nonfiction appetite is narrow and specific: punk-inflected memoirs in the vein of raw, confessional, culturally specific personal narratives. The two named touchstones — a grief-and-food memoir and a celebrity survivor memoir — signal they want emotional honesty, cultural specificity, and a distinctive voice over conventional life-story structure. This is not a general memoir slot.
Full-length story collections are listed under fictional sub-genres. The emphasis on 'full-length' suggests they are not interested in slim or partial collections. Genre-inflected (horror, fantasy, dark academia) story collections likely align best with the rest of their taste.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Kenna
The submission form is closed as of late March 2026 — do not attempt to query by email or any workaround; check the agency's site for reopening before doing anything else.
Kenna's personal creative life is a cheat sheet: if your book could plausibly appeal to someone who loves punk rock, D&D, anime, gothic aesthetics, and typewriter poetry, say so naturally in your query — shared subcultural fluency matters to them.
Lead with your protagonist's identity and the book's emotional core before genre scaffolding. Kenna responds to voice and representation first; a cold genre label alone won't hook them.
If querying a poetry collection, confirm upfront that it is a full-length manuscript in the 80–120 page range — collections outside that window do not fit the stated need.
For graphic novel queries, address the illustrator situation clearly. If you are author-only, name your illustrator or indicate the project's visual development stage.
For punk memoirs, anchor your query to cultural specificity and raw emotional honesty — the two named touchstone books share confessional directness and subcultural identity. Generic 'journey' framing will not differentiate your pitch.
The anti-wishlist contains absolute hard stops: any manuscript with animal abuse or sexual violence will be a flat rejection. Do not pitch around this.
Kenna is a newer agent building their list, which means they may take more time developing author careers collaboratively — pitch them if you want a hands-on, relationship-first partnership rather than a high-volume agency dynamic.