Agent Spotlight: Ashlee MacCallum
- Brian Gehrlein
- 12 hours ago
- 7 min read
Happy Monday, and welcome back to Picture Book Spotlight!
Hello, all you wonderful picture book humans. It's so great to be with you and to post another Agent Spotlight. So much life has happened since the fall. Most notably, my second picture book, This is Not a Sleepy Bear Book, illustrated by Jenn Harney and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, came out in November. It's been doing fantastic. Thank you all so much for reading and helping champion this book!
I like to think somewhere Owl and Bear are waking up from their long winter's nap. It sort of feels like I am. Spring is upon us, and I'm all of a sudden thinking about grass and watering hostas and hydrangeas. I hope you're thawing out nicely as well. Exciting times are ahead.
And even more exciting, a new book called OUR THIRD BABY is "coming out" in just a matter of weeks. EEEEEK! I'm painting furniture, grading essays, critiquing picture books, guzzling coffee, and writing new work as we anxiously await our kiddo's debut into the world.
It's safe to say I've been a busy boy and have so much to catch up on with you about picture books and agents and the creative process and just ALL THE THINGS. But all of that will have to wait. For now, I've got a fantastic Agent Spotlight for you.
I'm happy to feature a rising kidlit superstar agent who is actively on the hunt for new clients. Ashlee MacCallum is a Junior Agent with Howland Literary Agency. She does have a super legit giveaway with our interview, but you'll have to read to the end to see. This might be the first time an agent has offered something like this. And, in a way, there will be far more than one "winner." Muhahahahaha I love to tease you...
So on that note, without further ado, cue the spotlight.
Here's Ashlee!
Hi, Ashlee! Welcome to Picture Book Spotlight. For all the curious authors out there, are you open to picture book submissions and still taking new clients? If so, what are you hoping to see? What are you hoping not to see?
I am definitely taking on new clients! I’m currently open to picture book queries from authors/illustrators, but I’m happy to review author-only submissions through special events like conferences, pitch events, or referrals. I’d love to find voicey picture books that allow kids to flirt with the dark—ghosts, curses, odd creatures, or folklore—while still landing somewhere warm, whimsical, or a little bit hopeful. I’m also eager to find humor in the picture book space. I'm especially drawn to laugh-out-loud stories that can be read over and over again.
Give us a mini snapshot of your picture book wishlist. What three picture books would you have LOVED to represent? What do you like about them?
Great question! If I had to summarize my picture book wishlist, I’d say I’m especially drawn to bold concepts, unforgettable characters, and stories that feel mischievous, magical, and a tiny bit haunted. I would have loved to represent If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja by Ana Siqueira, I Am Golden by Eva Chen, and I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon.
For If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja, I love how playful this story is. It takes something that might seem scary and turns it into something warm and magical. I also love the representation of Latin American culture and folklore. I Am Golden is one of my all-time favorites. For this story, the lyrical text and affirming voice centered on love, heritage, and identity are what I love. Last but not least, I Just Ate My Friend is a master class in absurd humor and the power of page turns! I adore the simple text and bold illustrations. This is the kind of laugh-out-loud picture book I’d love to add to my list.
Thinking about effective queries that really grabbed your attention in the past, what kinds of things did those authors do?
One of the best things you can do in your query is lead with a sharp, voicey pitch that stands out and conveys the concept of your project in one or two irresistible sentences. For picture books specifically, I’m looking for hook, tone, and child appeal when I analyze the query and the manuscript. Because the picture book market is very competitive, I recommend pitching stories with multiple hooks. For example: STEAM, holiday, folklore, cultural, concept, character-driven, humor, etc.
If we submit to you, what are some essential questions we should ask ourselves beforehand?
I love this question! I’ll answer it in two parts. First, we can look at project questions, and then agent-specific questions to ask before querying
Before your picture book is query-ready, ask yourself:
1. What is the clear hook or market angle for this book?
2. Does the story feel fresh in voice, concept, or structure compared to what’s already on shelves?
3. Does the manuscript feel tight, rhythmic, and strong enough for a read-aloud?
Before querying me, or another agent, ask yourself:
1. Does this manuscript align with the kind of picture books this agent says they love or represent?
2. Does my story match the tone, themes, or hooks the agent highlights in their wishlist?
3. Would this book realistically fit alongside the authors already on their list?
What advice or encouragement can you offer picture book creators who are just starting out or who are about to jump into the querying trenches for the first time?
Querying can be a lot of fun! Especially at the beginning, when you feel full of hope, but querying can take a toll over time. So, my big advice is, take a break if you need one. It’s okay to give yourself a moment if your mental health is suffering. Constant rejection can be tough, and if it stops feeling like redirection and you’re no longer enjoying writing, take a little break and come back when you’re ready. Self-care is so important!
How many queries do you get per month and what percentage of those submissions are picture books? How many clients do you typically sign per year?
I open and close queries pretty sporadically based on my client’s needs and the number of projects I have to review in my inbox, so I’ll give you a broader scope. Since I opened to queries, I’ve received close to 3,500, and around 1,500 of them are picture books. I have been agenting for under a year, but I currently have five clients. I’d love to add a few more to my list in 2026!
If we could put on “Ashlee MacCallum eyes” to look critically at our stories, what is ONE THING that you always look for that we can too?
I love clear, crisp writing. So, for me, I’m always wondering: does every line move the story forward? In picture books, there’s no room for filler, so each sentence needs to add action, humor, emotion, or momentum.
Complete the following sentence: "Ashlee is an agent who…"
loves bold voices, big feelings, and stories that refuse to behave.
Thanks so much, Ashlee!
GIVEAWAY!!!
Above the slush pile submission opportunity...
As a thank you for stopping by Picture Book Spotlight and reading our interview, Ashlee has generously offered to give readers an exclusive "above the slushpile" query opportunity from now until the end of March. If you feel like you might match well with Ashlee, check out the link below to get your work in front of Ashlee ahead of everyone else. Considering just how many queries she's received so far, this exclusive submission opportunity is PURE GOLD.
Thanks for subscribing to Picture Book Spotlight and sharing this post with other picture book creators.
Query with this unique link until March 31st:
Thanks for reading, kidlit fam. Happy querying and picturebooking!
About Ashlee
Ashlee MacCallum joined Howland Literary after interning at Triada US. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a master’s in Education.
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Ashlee is passionate about championing marginalized creators and uplifting historically underrepresented voices. She gravitates toward high-concept, commercial fiction with bold storytelling, standout pacing, and a distinct voice that grabs you from the first page. A devoted kidlit reader, Ashlee has a soft spot for speculative stories, mysteries, and anything delightfully weird. When she begins building her own list, she’ll be looking for unforgettable picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult fiction.
Ashlee lives in Nevada with her husband and two children. By day, she’s a high school English teacher who assigns cool books, reads powerful essays, and makes her students dramatically reenact Macbeth. Outside the classroom, Ashlee writes picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels. She is represented by Amanda Carbonell at Belcastro Agency.
When she’s not lost in a book or spinning one of her own, Ashlee is probably mapping out her next Disney adventure, binging a true crime podcast, or humming show tunes in the kitchen. She’s fueled by caffeine, charmed by ghost stories, and fluent in banned books.
Please submit all queries via Ashlee's Query Manager link.
For non-submission inquiries, she can be reached at ashlee@howlandliterary.com.
About Brian
Brian is a tired teacher and soon-to-be third-time father. He can be found guzzling copious amounts of coffee, often chasing corgis and children, and assembling (and painting) nursery furniture. He is also known to have an affinity for wolves and often includes them in his picture books. Sometimes his bios are facecious. Sometimes they are real. Sometimes they include hidden emoji codes for giveaways. But not today. There are no hidden emoji codes in this bio, as one would be unnecessary given the nature of Ashlee's giveaway. Brian thanks you for reading all the way to this sentence. And to this one. And this one. And this...hey, are you still reading this?