Rebecca Williamson is a children's and YA specialist at Sheldon Fogelman Agency who hunts for emotionally resonant stories with complex character arcs — and whose picture book and graphic novel slots are reserved exclusively for author-illustrators.
In brief
Williamson's wishlist is unusually wide — picture book through adult — but the picture book and graphic novel categories have a hard gate: author-illustrators only, not standalone writers.
Their strongest stated enthusiasms cluster in YA romance (especially cozy/light fantasy and fluffy contemporary rom-com) and middle grade fiction with heart (fantasy, mystery, found family, social activism).
For nonfiction, they favor rigorously researched projects touching social activism, feminism, intersectionality, world cultures/mythologies, and women's sports — from middle grade through YA and adult.
The wishlist explicitly invites writers who span multiple age groups or genres: Williamson is open to representing an author's entire body of work if the work fits.
Writers who pitch Williamson at a conference or event get a standing invitation to submit regardless of category — a rare and notable door.
Lately
Williamson's current wishlist makes clear they are especially energized by YA romance in a cozy or low-stakes fantasy register, citing a Ghibli-esque sensibility as a named aesthetic — signaling a preference for warmth, wonder, and emotional intimacy over epic conflict.
What Rebecca is looking for
Williamson is drawn to picture books — fiction, nonfiction, and biography — that will outlast the moment: stories with strong plots and well-defined character arcs. They lean toward human protagonists over animals or anthropomorphized objects, though they're genuinely open to exceptions. Crucially, this slot is closed to writers who are not also the illustrator; author-only picture book manuscripts will not be considered.
Fantasy, mystery, and contemporary are the favored genres, especially stories with warmth and emotional depth. Specific interests include: fun mysteries across any genre; first-crush storylines; girls in sports narratives; found-family stories in any genre; mythology-rooted fantasies; and protagonists engaged in social activism. Williamson has named specific titles as touchstones for several of these threads.
Any compelling, well-researched topic can catch Williamson's eye, but they have particular enthusiasm for social activism, feminism, intersectionality, world cultures and mythologies, the arts (music, dance, theatre), pop culture, and women's sports — with a bonus for soccer, dance, or gymnastics. Recent reading in this space signals an appetite for frank, inclusive, and culturally engaged nonfiction.
Romance, fantasy, and contemporary are the sweet spot. Williamson gravitates toward younger YA protagonists (roughly ages 14–16) and specifically wants: cozy or lower-stakes fantasies with a love story; paranormal romance; fluffy rom-coms with genuine squeal-worthy moments; contemporary romance with emotional depth; historical fiction with diverse casts across romance, fantasy, or mystery; and girls-in-sports storylines. Ghibli-esque atmosphere is a named aesthetic touchstone.
Thematic interests mirror the MG nonfiction list: social activism, feminism, intersectionality, world cultures, the arts, and women's sports. Williamson has also called out a desire for a YA-flavored equivalent to a well-known adult nonfiction work about fan culture and online community — suggesting appetite for culturally sharp, deeply reported narrative nonfiction at the YA level.
Williamson is interested in graphic novels across the full range of genres and themes listed for both MG and YA fiction. As with picture books, this category is limited to author-illustrators; writer-only submissions for graphic novels will not be considered.
Williamson is open to adult projects, but the details of this category were not fully captured in available sources. Writers with adult work should verify current preferences directly before querying. The clearest known pathway here is an in-person pitch or event connection: Williamson has an explicit standing policy of accepting any project — including adult — from someone who pitched them at an event.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Rebecca
Address the author-illustrator requirement early: if you're submitting a picture book or graphic novel, immediately establish that you are also the illustrator — failure to do so may result in an automatic pass.
Lead with emotional stakes and character arc. Williamson explicitly flags 'voices that jump off the page' and 'sucker punch' emotion as primary draws — your query letter should demonstrate this, not just describe it.
If your project fits one of their named sub-interests (girls in sports, mythology-rooted fantasy, found family, cozy/low-stakes YA romance, social activism), name that thread directly in your query to signal alignment.
For nonfiction at any level, emphasize the research foundation and the cultural or social relevance of the topic — Williamson reads widely in this space and will notice thin research.
Writers pitching a multi-age body of work should say so explicitly: Williamson has flagged openness to full-career representation, which is a competitive differentiator.
If you met or pitched Williamson at a conference or event, mention this prominently — there is an explicit standing invitation to submit in that case, regardless of category.
For YA, Williamson prefers protagonists around ages 14–16; make sure your character's age is clear in the query.
Confirm query status and any specific submission requirements directly on the agency's current submission page before sending — status can change after any cached observation date.