A children's and teen agent with deep editorial roots — sixteen years editing YA and middle grade at major houses before agenting — hunting voice-forward, high-concept young adult and middle grade, with a real appetite for the dark, the edgy, and the genuinely new.
In brief
Young adult and middle grade fiction across all genres, with voice and a grabby hook valued above almost everything else.
Strong pull toward dark and edgy material — atmospheric YA horror that 'doesn't hold back,' retellings of fairy tales and myth, and fantasy that feels distinct from what's already on shelves.
Brings a former editor's eye: spent sixteen years acquiring and editing at top children's and teen imprints before moving to agenting.
Actively wants queer stories across all identities and work by and about under-represented voices — and is explicit that the identity or any marginalized pain need not be the subject of the book.
As of late May 2026 the query inbox is closed while a sizable backlog is worked down; watch for a reopening announcement before submitting.
Lately
Still closed to queries, with the website being updated to reflect that; no reopening date yet, but a reopening will be announced. Reports working down a large backlog — from roughly 2,000 queries at close to about 700 unread, plus around 100 maybes and fulls.
What T.S. is looking for
The core focus. Ferguson wants YA across all genres where the voice is the star and the hook can be pitched in a line or two — plot that grabs and won't let go, lyrical prose, and fresh fantasy that reads as new rather than familiar. Smart-mouthed characters who stand up to authority, unlikeable protagonists, and unusual perspectives (think villain origin stories) all land here.
A named priority. Ferguson is drawn to horror that conveys suspense, dread, or terror through voice and writing, and to YA horror that doesn't pull its punches. A standout big vampire novel is specifically welcomed.
Especially fairy-tale and mythological retellings, and stories told from perspectives readers haven't seen before.
Commercial middle grade with series potential, epic MG fantasy, and middle-grade horror. Kids who can outsmart the adults in the room are a recurring draw.
Queer stories across all identities, and stories by and about under-represented voices of all identities and intersectionalities — across every genre Ferguson represents. Notably, identity and/or marginalized pain does not have to be the focus of the book.
Action-adventure within the YA and middle grade range.
Unusual structures such as epistolary and multi-document storytelling.
Open to graphic novels, with a strong preference for creators who both write and illustrate. If you're writer-only on a graphic novel, this is a narrower door.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query T.S.
Check status first — the inbox is closed as of late May 2026, with a reopening to be announced.
Lead with voice and a hook you can state in one or two lines; that combination is what Ferguson prizes most.
If it's dark, edgy, or horror, lean into it — atmospheric, unflinching material is explicitly wanted, not toned down.
Querying a retelling? Fairy tale and mythology are the sweet spot; a genuinely fresh angle or perspective matters.
Pitching a graphic novel works best if you're the author-illustrator; writer-only graphic-novel pitches face a narrower door.
Do not query two agents at the same agency simultaneously.