Lindsey Aduskevich is a Literary Manager at Martin Literary & Media Management who focuses exclusively on children's and young adult literature, actively building a list that spans picture books through new adult with a strong emphasis on emotional resonance and empathy-driven storytelling.
In brief
Aduskevich is actively building her list across the full kidlit spectrum — picture books through new adult — making her a strong target for writers at any of those age levels.
She is an agented picture book writer herself (repped by Joyce Sweeney at The Seymour Agency), which means she brings firsthand knowledge of the query and submission process to her author relationships — a genuine differentiator worth noting in a pitch.
Her stated emphasis on empathy, emotional depth, and books that deepen understanding of the world signals a preference for meaningful, character-driven work over pure plot or high concept alone.
Her deep roots in the picture book community — 12 x 12 challenge, SCBWI, critique groups, PBParty honorable mention — suggest she is especially well-networked and passionate in that space, even if her list extends further.
Her sales record is not yet publicly documented at scale, consistent with an actively list-building stage; query writers should weigh her enthusiasm and community engagement as indicators of a hands-on, invested partner rather than relying on a long track record.
Lately
I'll be taking pitches and participating in a First Pages Panel next Friday at the 2026 Connecticut Writers Conference. If you're in the area, I'd love to see you there. :) #kidlit #writingcommunity #amwriting #amquerying connecticutwritingworkshop.com/schedule-202...
Aduskevich announced she would be taking pitches and sitting on a First Pages Panel at the 2026 Connecticut Writers Conference, welcoming attendees from the writing community to connect in person.
What Lindsey is looking for
Aduskevich has the deepest personal investment here — she writes picture books herself and is embedded in the PB community through multiple critique groups and challenges. She gravitates toward books with genuine humor or big emotional moments, but insists on heart as the grounding force. Work that fosters empathy or opens a window onto experiences beyond the reader's own is squarely in her wheelhouse.
Middle grade is part of her stated open list. Her broader taste — empathy-forward, emotionally grounded, world-expanding — translates naturally to this age category. No specific subgenre has been flagged as a priority, suggesting she is open to strong work across the MG spectrum.
YA is explicitly welcomed. Given her emphasis on books that inspire deeper understanding and connection, character-driven YA with emotional stakes is likely to resonate most. No subgenre has been singled out, so genre-spanning YA — contemporary, speculative, or otherwise — appears to be on the table.
New adult is listed as part of her open categories, making her one of the fewer agents to name it explicitly. However, she has not elaborated on what specifically she wants here, so query writers in this category should pay close attention to her broader taste signals — empathy, emotional authenticity, character — and make sure those qualities are front and center.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Lindsey
Address her by name and demonstrate that you have read her specific interests — generic queries to 'the team' will not stand out.
Lead with emotional stakes and the empathy thread in your manuscript; she has consistently described wanting books that foster deeper understanding, so show her that quality up front in your pitch.
Picture book writers should highlight whether the work is humorous, emotionally resonant, or both — these are the two poles she has publicly described as her sweet spot.
New adult queriers should frame their work carefully, since she has named the category without elaborating; draw explicit connections to character depth and emotional authenticity to align with her broader taste.
Mention any relevant community involvement (SCBWI, 12 x 12, critique groups) if you have it — she is embedded in those communities and it signals shared context, not just a cold pitch.
Confirm her submission guidelines and form status directly on her current agency page before querying, as details can shift.
If you are attending the Connecticut Writers Conference or similar regional events, she has shown willingness to engage with writers in person — a face-to-face pitch or feedback session can supplement a formal query.