Zoie Janelle Konneker (Assistant Editor)

I am Zoie Janelle Konneker (she/her), an Assistant Editor at Peachtree Publishing Company.

I am seeking children’s fiction across middle grade and young adult audiences, as well as both fiction and non-fiction picture books. I am looking for timeless, emotionally evocative, and well-paced books to add to the expanding Peachtree and Peachtree Teen lists!

ALL CATEGORIES

The manuscript should be child-centered and should contain realistic, culturally relevant themes. The history and liberation of the LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and differently-abled communities are top priorities for me, so stories that provide unique, authentic perspectives and insight into their histories and experiences are especially intriguing. When it comes to fiction, I’m always aiming for a writing style that fits somewhere in the intersection between literary and commercial without moving too far in one direction. And I tend to fall in love with books that makes me laugh and/or cry—especially books that do both!

I am not the best fit for: 

• Holiday-themed projects
• Novels in verse
• Angels & demons, fairies/fae, vampires & werewolves
• Magical or non-magical boarding school settings
• Space travel or multiverse sci-fi
• Horror or psychological thrillers
• War-time or war stories

PICTURE BOOKS

I am looking for fiction and non-fiction picture books for children ages 4 to 8 years old. I prefer stories with an original message, a unique spin on a classic tale or lesser-known topic, and stories that showcase an underrepresented perspective or identity. Specifically for non-fiction, I am looking for material that would supplement U.S. public school curriculum and belong in a classroom or library setting.

As I am still developing my picture book list, I am currently open to a broader range of genres and topics.

MIDDLE GRADE

I am looking for standalone books that are full of action and heart. I prefer immersive, evenly-paced writing that emphasizes and amplifies the protagonist’s unique voice. I prefer NOT to acquire books written in verse. I tend to enjoy historical fiction and historical fantasy, contemporary, soft sci-fi, fantasy, and plenty of humor. I prefer a protagonist’s age to be between 8 and 14 years old. My current priority is light-hearted historical fiction with a unique setting/plot and anything magical realism or fantasy.

Cringe-worthy coming-of-age stories with strong-willed, messy, emotional protagonists are my favorite! Stories about a particular time in history that is often overlooked or whitewashed are particularly interesting to me. I also seek out stories with neurodivergent protagonists in particular. Body positivity and body diversity are also extremely important to me!

I enjoy themes of friendship, compassion, sharing, honesty, learning and problem-solving, self-esteem/acceptance and self-reliance, identity, imagination and creativity, decision-making, unconventional or found families, LGBTQIA+ and racial equality.

Bonus points: 

• Well-timed plot twists
• Southeastern U.S. setting
• Complex parent/child relationships

YOUNG ADULT

I am looking for standalone titles with immersive, atmospheric writing that emphasizes and amplifies the protagonist’s (or protagonists’) unique voice. I prefer to acquire books written in prose. I seek out manuscripts that are equally plot and character-driven, highly descriptive, and evenly paced. Atmosphere, mood, and voice are make or break. My tastes skew toward literary over commercial style, but I do not have a strong preference. I prefer NOT to acquire books written in verse. I prefer a protagonist’s age range to fall between ~14 and 18 years old (summer after 8th grade through summer after high school).

As with middle grade, the messier the characters the better! Complex characters with difficult choices are the most fun to read about, regardless of the stakes. I enjoy historical fiction and historical fantasy, contemporary, soft sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, and rom-coms. Themes of family, friendship, new relationships, coming of age or entering the world as an adult, identity, self-esteem, and decision-making will appeal to me.  My current priority is contemporary fiction with a unique setting and voice as well as anything magical realism.

Bonus Points: 

• Gender nonconforming characters
• Astrology
• Cats

My dream projects include: 

• YA/MG American Indigenous protagonist in a contemporary setting
• YA/MG unconventional or lesser-known sports competition rivalry drama
• MG Appalachia magic/folklore
• MG sapphic main character(s), plot not centered around romance

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to zoie.konneker@peachtreebooks.com

I am restricting submissions to AGENTED ONLY at this time. Please check back at a later date for un-agented submissions.

Please email submission materials to

zo***********@pe************.com











and include #MSWL in the subject line.
I strongly prefer to receive plot summaries AND full manuscripts attached as Word or PDF files in a submission/pitch email.

Because of the volume of submissions currently in my inbox, please wait at least 30 days before following up if you do not hear from me.

Thank you so much!