Marisa Cleveland is a children's and YA specialist at The Seymour Agency who hunts for voice-driven, character-first fiction—picture books through young adult—anchored by strong female protagonists in any world, real or imagined.
In brief
Cleveland's focus has sharpened to children's and YA exclusively (PB through YA); any older references to adult fiction appear to reflect a past, broader scope and should not be relied on for querying today.
Voice and character are her non-negotiable entry points — a plot-first pitch without a compelling protagonist voice is unlikely to land.
She is explicit that horror and true crime are permanently off the table, with no exceptions noted.
As of May 26, 2026, her submission form is closed — writers should check the live form before querying, as her open windows can shift.
Her Instagram (@thereisnobox) is her preferred channel for spotlighting current clients, making it a useful real-time signal of what's actively on her list and where her taste is trending.
Lately
Cleveland has publicly narrowed her active seeking to children's and YA (picture book through young adult), a tightening from an earlier, broader stated scope that included adult fiction and nonfiction. Writers targeting adult categories should not query based on older directory listings.
What Marisa is looking for
Open to picture books, but her wishlist language prioritizes narrative voice and memorable protagonists, suggesting she favors story-driven PB over concept-driven. Check her submission form for any author-illustrator vs. author-only distinctions, as these can shift.
Character-driven MG with a strong, distinctive narrative voice is a clear priority. She wants protagonists she'd still be thinking about long after closing the book — the kind of kid (or creature, or alternate-world being) who feels like a real friend. Female leads are a particular draw, though not a strict requirement.
YA is at the core of her list. She gravitates toward stories set in this world or fully realized alternate universes, unified by a voice so distinctive it demands to be read in one sitting. Strong female protagonists are a recurring thread. Both contemporary and speculative/fantasy-inflected YA appear to be welcome.
Her agency profile lists general juvenile fiction and children's books as active categories. The through-line across all age groups is the same: voice first, character second, plot in service of both.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Marisa
Confirm the form is open before doing anything else — it was closed as of late May 2026 and reopening is unannounced.
Lead with voice: your query letter should demonstrate the same narrative distinctiveness you're promising in the manuscript. A flat, plot-summary-only query is a mismatch for what she says she values.
Name your protagonist immediately and make her (or them) feel like a real person within the first paragraph — Cleveland's stated goal is to find protagonists she keeps thinking about after the story ends.
If you're unsure whether your specific genre or age range is currently open, check the live form's genre list before submitting — she has indicated the listed categories can change.
Horror and true crime writers should not query under any circumstances; she has flagged these as permanent exclusions, not temporary ones.
If the online form is inaccessible, her agency's submissions page provides an email query pathway — follow those guidelines precisely before emailing directly.
Browse her Instagram (@thereisnobox) before querying: her recent client spotlights are the clearest public signal of what's energizing her right now and can sharpen how you frame your pitch.