Lori Steel is the founder of SteelWorks Literary — a boutique, DC-area agency launched in 2024 that hunts for voice-driven, genre-bending children's and YA projects from authors, illustrators, and graphic novelists who challenge conventions and reflect the full breadth of human experience.
In brief
SteelWorks Literary is a young agency (founded 2024), which means Lori Steel is actively building a client list — but submissions are currently closed and typically flow through conferences, referrals, and special opportunities rather than a perpetually open inbox.
The client roster and associated titles skew heavily toward picture books and illustrated work, with strong representation of author-illustrators; writers querying purely text-based projects should note that illustrated and graphic forms appear to be a genuine core competency, not a side interest.
Steel's wishlist is unusually broad in stated categories, but the emphasis on voice, structural experimentation, magical realism, fabulism, and socioeconomic diversity across all of them suggests a unifying aesthetic: literary ambition packaged accessibly for young readers.
The agency's explicit preference for conference, referral, and curated-opportunity submissions — rather than an always-open slush pile — means relationship-building and staying alert to announced submission windows will matter more here than cold querying.
Several apparent client-roster entries (e.g., academic and adult titles predating 2024) predate the agency's founding and are best read as signals of Steel's wide-ranging literary taste rather than evidence of active representation in those categories.
Lately
Steel's submission page makes clear that unsolicited queries are the exception rather than the rule — most new projects come in through conference relationships, referrals, or targeted submission calls. Writers are directed to monitor the agency's website and social presence for any windows when the form reopens.
What Lori is looking for
Steel's most expansive category. Priority goes to high-concept, voice-forward YA that disrupts familiar formulas — think contemporary stories tuned into current cultural moments, historical fiction that shines fresh light on underrepresented perspectives, grounded fantasy and dystopia, magical realism, and fabulism rooted in folklore. Romantasy and light-hearted romance are welcome; Steel's touchstone is the warmth and wit of Emily Henry-style emotional storytelling. New adult projects that straddle the YA market (along the lines of Alex Award-recognized titles) are of particular interest. Genre hybrids, literary-commercial crossover, found-family dynamics, and socioeconomic diversity are recurring priorities across all YA submissions.
Steel wants MG that earns its young readers' trust — contemporary coming-of-age, propulsive adventure, accessible historical fiction with a particular lean toward non-Western settings and perspectives, and fantasy with inventive world-building and genuinely kid-friendly themes. A specific gap Steel is looking to fill: younger MG that bridges the jump from early chapter books, with illustrative potential (spot art, heavily illustrated novels) welcome. Folkloric and magical realist undercurrents are as welcome in MG as in YA.
Steel represents graphic novels across chapter book, MG, and YA age ranges, for both fiction and nonfiction. The non-negotiable: author-illustrators who have a genuine grounding in sequential art and comic-making. Unique visual voices, perspectives, and color palettes are a plus. Note: scripts submitted without accompanying art are not being considered.
Steel is specifically seeking picture books from author-illustrators — not from writers alone. The ideal project pairs economical, precise text with art that does real narrative work, plays with structure, and invites reader participation. Quirky, subversive, and humorous storytelling is welcome; so is whimsy that serves a point. STEAM-focused nonfiction picture books with clever conceits are of interest. Rhyming picture books in the tradition of Seuss or Silverstein are not a fit.
Steel also represents illustrators independently of text projects. The aesthetic bar: a distinctive, original visual style that marries classic sensibilities with a contemporary sensibility, paired with strong narrative instincts — the ability to convey character emotion and story arc through imagery alone. Commercial viability in both school/library and trade channels, with international market appeal, matters to Steel in evaluating illustrator portfolios.
Steel considers nonfiction that plugs directly into conversations already happening among teen and middle-grade readers. Crucially, the writer must bring a credible platform or verifiable expertise in the subject — a strong editorial vision alone is not sufficient. STEAM-focused nonfiction for younger readers and graphic nonfiction also fall within scope.
Not the right fit
On Lori's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Lori
The form is currently closed (verified 2025-11-30) — do not attempt to submit until a new window is announced. Check the agency's website and social channels regularly for updates.
Steel's preferred pipeline is conferences, referrals, and curated submission opportunities. If you have a chance to meet Steel at a children's/YA publishing conference, that connection will carry more weight than a cold query through the form.
When the form does open, lead with voice and structural originality — Steel's stated priorities across every category center on how a story is told, not just what it's about. A query that demonstrates your narrative voice from the first line will land better than a plot-forward pitch.
Be specific about your genre blend. Steel actively seeks genre-bending projects, but that means you need to name the blend precisely (e.g., 'contemporary MG with magical realist elements rooted in Appalachian folklore') rather than describing the book as 'hard to categorize.'
For picture books, confirm upfront that you are the illustrator as well as the author — Steel is not currently seeking text-only picture book writers.
For graphic novel submissions, include sample art or a portfolio link. Steel explicitly does not consider scripts without accompanying visuals.
Socioeconomic diversity, regional voices, non-Western historical settings, and found-family dynamics are recurring themes across Steel's wishlist — if your project touches any of these authentically, name them in your query letter.
Avoid framing your project as a teaching tool or leading with its 'message' — Steel's wishlist explicitly flags didactic and lesson-driven books as a non-fit. Let theme emerge from character and story.