Deirdre Power

Having worked in literary agencies and children’s editorial teams, I joined David Higham Associates in 2023 and assist Caroline Walsh with her list. I’m in the early stages of building my list of children’s writers and illustrators. Born and raised in Ireland, I’m particularly on the lookout for children’s writers and illustrators born in or based in Ireland. I’m more widely focused on writers based in the UK, though submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world.

In YA, I’m mostly looking for contemporary stories of any genre – swoony romance and romcom with any blend of rom and com, gripping thrillers or mysteries, drama, and I’d especially love something heisty. I always love fiction that explores a difficult area of life or important topics for teenagers today, so I love hard-hitting fiction that tackles family dynamics, illnesses, relationships and relationships, especially toxic or complicated friendship dynamics, and I’d also really like to see texts that explore social media and being online, issues of privacy and sharing online. I’m also really keen to see stories that are centred around teenagers performing or competing a really high level – think Olympic-level sports or worldwide competitions, conservatoires for classical music, national or international competitions for performing arts, or chess, or parkour, or video games, or anything else you can think of. Quiet YA is really valuable to me as a quiet kid, stories about teenagers who are just trying to figure it out and are going through what everyone goes through. I’m also interested in dystopia and more sci-fi based than fantasy stories, with a solid plot and strong character dynamics, morally grey characters and tough decisions.

I’m actively looking for manuscripts in the ‘in-between’ spaces, for tweens, in any genre or world setting – I’m thinking manuscripts that are aimed at the 12-14 age group, and incorporates the experiences (painful or otherwise) of that transitional age. The best ones for me are the ones that blend a strong story that might fit in either teen or middle grade with that awkwardness of growing older and ordinary life looking different outside of the main plot. I find that anxiety is a huge factor in this early teen space, so I think anything that can bring a light-hearted touch to that – books like Geek Girl or Dork Diaries or Emma Nash, but updated for the newer audience coming, and also a similar approach aimed more towards boys and non-binary readers.

In middle grade, above all else I’d love to see something that pays homage to the Lemony Snicket books and their sense of self-awareness, with that sort of atemporal and macabre feel to it. I love anything that is a bit weird and displaying a degree of irreverence for conventions, anything that has a meta approach or “breaking the fourth wall”. If it’s quirky and different, I want to see it. I love to see anything that features a popular topic for young children (like space, dinosaurs) that feels like a natural graduation for them.

I’m always looking for adventure and sweeping fantasy for middle grade. In adventure stories, I’m more interested in finding a really pulsing plot with momentum than meeting certain requirements for the kind of story or the kind of world that’s being built, so if it’s fast-paced and juicy, I’m excited to read in any genre or subgenre. I think some dream books would be adventure outside of fantasy – spies or explorers

I’m also really looking for quieter stories about difficult experiences for this age group, that deals with something seriously but sensitively. As with YA, I’m aiming to build a list that contributes to giving every child the ability to see themselves in it, so I’m interested in the “smaller” stories that might feel real and resonant to readers. This doesn’t always have to be heavy, and instead could be new challenges, discovering a new hobby, changes in circumstances.

I also love a slightly darker adventure story, along the lines of Dave Rudden or Derek Landy, and something with a slight steampunk vibe would be great.

On the younger end of the ‘in-between’ spaces, for 5-7s who are graduating from picture books, I’d love to see laugh-out-loud, quirky, outright ridiculous stories with some heart to them. Self-contained stories that don’t necessarily have to be read in order but make up a cracking series with familiar (outlandish) characters is my sweet spot. In this field, I’m also always on the lookout for more reluctant readers who may not be ready for the dense middle grade fantasies – in the same vein as Wimpy Kid, Liz Pichon, Adrian Mole.

In picture books, above all else I’ll be drawn to something that’s just got a lot of heart at its centre, and a powerful message. I think I err on the gentler side of stories, but I’m open to the wackier, funnier and sillier side here. I’m hugely interested in voice here and especially a sense of rhythm in the writing as they’re going to be read aloud, so I’m always looking for that really strong ‘storytelling’ flair that makes them a joy to read aloud and really involve this age group in the reading experience. I also really enjoy high-concept or meta-piturebooks, something like I SAY OO YOU SAY AHH where there’s a direct call and response and conversational aspect to it. Anything that plays with the form and takes advantage of the format and the act of reading is absolutely delightful.

Tidbits:

I’m especially interested in stories across all age groups that deal with grief and loss. For picture books, I’d like to see a fresher take on this but I’m open to anything.

On that note, mental health is also a really important topic for me – I like to see it incorporated into normal life and its portrayal not always being the focus of the story, but equally open to stories where mental health is the main driving point of the story.

I’m also really excited to see mysteries or detective stories for all age groups, especially something a bit spoofy and not always really high-stakes (although that’s fine too.)

I don’t mind horror, but I’m interested more in the uncanny and spooky, just a little to the left of centre-stage for scary things. I think I prefer to be unnerved rather than terrified, but atmosphere is everything.

Originality is key, and I think the prose I like best is the kind that makes you feel like you’re being wrapped in a blanket.

Across all age groups and genres, I really love being surprised by something I wasn’t expecting or searching for, so I’m always waiting for something that isn’t on my wishlist to drop in my inbox and make me fall in love!

Submission Guidelines

Please send your cover letter, synopsis and first three chapters to deirdrepower@davidhigham.co.uk with your name and the word SUBMISSION in the subject line. For picture books, please send your pitch and up to three full texts.

Guidelines & Details