Sheila Fernley is a kidlit-focused Associate Agent at Storm Literary Agency whose background as a special education teacher and editor shapes her passion for diverse, underrepresented voices in picture books and middle grade fiction.
In brief
Her deal record is not yet publicly extensive, but her background — special ed teacher, editor, education consultant — signals a strong eye for SEL-rich, educational, and character-driven children's stories.
Her wishlist skews heavily toward picture books and MG; no YA, no adult, and a firm 'no dragons' rule even within fantasy.
She actively wants more male protagonists and stories from male authors — a specific gap she has named repeatedly, making this a real differentiator for querying writers.
Rhyming picture books are a hard pass; she gravitates toward lyrical but prose-driven text with distinct, quirky character voices.
Queries are CLOSED as of March 31, 2025 — confirm current status on the Storm Literary Agency website before submitting.
Lately
Her current agency page confirms she is closed to queries, with the instruction that when she reopens, submissions must go through her online form only — no email or postal submissions will be considered.
What Sheila is looking for
This is the heart of her list. She wants picture books with openings that immediately create wonder and pull the reader forward. Prose-driven and lyrical work earns her attention; rhyming picture books do not. She gravitates toward clever, quirky humor as well as genuinely heartfelt stories — ideally both at once. Author-illustrators are especially welcome. Stories featuring male protagonists and/or written by male authors are a named priority. Diverse and underrepresented voices are strongly encouraged, though she emphasizes that the writing quality always comes first.
She is actively building her MG list, with a particular pull toward contemporary stories, adventure, humor, and fantasy — though fantasy with dragons is explicitly excluded. She wants stories with strong character and story arcs, where the reader genuinely feels the protagonist's emotional journey. Funny MG, found-family dynamics, and fresh structural approaches catch her eye. MG mysteries and MG nonfiction are also on her radar. Male protagonists are a stated priority here as well.
Listed among her sought categories, though she does not elaborate extensively. Writers in this space should apply the same principles she values across picture books: distinct voice, read-aloud appeal, and fresh perspective.
She has specifically called out wanting to add more author-illustrators to her client list. This is a distinct priority beyond simply representing illustrated work — she wants creators who both write and illustrate their projects.
Not the right fit
On Sheila's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Sheila
She is currently CLOSED — check the Storm Literary Agency website before preparing any submission materials.
When she reopens, use only the online submission form. Queries sent by email or postal mail are explicitly discarded without review.
Submit only one project at a time. Do not query her if the same project — or any other project — is currently under consideration by another Storm Literary Agency agent.
Allow roughly two months for a query response and up to four months if she requests a full manuscript.
Lead with a hook: she has repeatedly described wanting an opening that sparks immediate wonder and compels her to keep reading. Your query letter should mirror that — don't bury the premise.
Call out if your project features a male protagonist, comes from a male author, or is submitted by an author-illustrator. These are named priorities and worth flagging clearly.
Demonstrate craft awareness: she specifically looks for writers who study their genre, participate in critique groups, and understand proper formatting. Mentioning relevant writing community involvement (e.g., SCBWI membership, critique group experience) signals you're the kind of writer she wants to work with.
Avoid pitching rhyming picture books, dragon-centric fantasy, YA, or adult projects — these are hard stops, and querying them signals you haven't done your research.
Her background in special education and educational consulting means SEL-rich, emotionally intelligent children's stories are likely to resonate — but lead with storytelling, not educational message, since she always puts the story first.