Taylor Martindale Kean is a literary agent with Full Circle Literary, representing primarily middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, and illustrators. She is a graduate of The College of William and Mary, where she studied English and Hispanic Studies.
Taylor is looking for young adult fiction and literary middle grade fiction, across all genres. She is interested in finding unique and unforgettable voices in contemporary, fantasy, historical and magical realism novels. She is looking for books that demand to be read. More than anything, Taylor is looking for diverse, character-driven stories that bring their worlds vividly to life, and voices that are honest, original and interesting. Clients include: Emery Lord, Tirzah Price, David Bowles, Sylvie Lacroix, Anoosha Syed, Isabel Strychacz, Gloria Amescua, Olivia Sua and more. When not working, Taylor can be found traveling, cooking, spending time with loved ones, or (surprise!) lost in a good book.
RECENT BOOK DEALS BY TAYLOR
Pura Belpré Honor author ‘s Abuelita’s Song, about how generations of a family come together to share their love through music, illustrated by , to Catherine Laudone at Paula Wiseman Books, for publication in summer 2025.
‘s A House in My Barrio, following a young boy who, after a beloved pillar of his community is bedridden, inspires his family and neighbors to come together to support the woman that has done so much for him and the people he loves, illustrated by , to Mark Podesta at Holt Children’s, for publication in fall 2026 by Taylor Martindale Kean for the illustrator.
Author of Pride & Premeditation Tirzah Price’s Lizzie & Darcy, a new mystery series starring a sleuthing duo as they investigate murder cases in 19th-century London and navigate their complicated romantic relationship, to Claudia Gabel at Harper Children’s, in a two-book deal, for publication in summer 2024, by Taylor Martindale Kean.
Anoosha Syed to illustrate Sari Sisters, by Anitha Rao-Robinson, in which a girl sees how anxious her older sister is about wearing a sari for the first time, and helps her find the joy and playfulness in the experience by throwing a dance party; and when the older sister steps in to help the younger one tie her sari at the party, their special bond comes full circle, to Aneeka Kalia at Viking Children’s, for publication in fall 2024, by Taylor Martindale Kean.
David Bowles’s The Prince & the Coyote, a historical novel in which the 16-year-old crown prince of Tetzcoco goes on the run from a tyrant after his city falls in 1418 and his family is slaughtered; adopting the name Nezahualcoyotl (Fasting Coyote), he manages to survive, retaking his homeland and establishing a powerful new alliance: the Aztec Empire, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos, to Nick Thomas at Levine Querido, for publication in fall 2022, by Taylor Martindale Kean.
David Bowles and Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s The Secret of the Moon Conch, a YA fantasy romance in which a young Aztec warrior and a contemporary immigrant Mexican girl, connected across the centuries by a sacred conch, flee oppression and fight to survive; against all odds, they struggle to find their way to each other, for even 500 years isn’t enough to keep them apart, to Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury Children’s, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2023, by Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary for Bowles, and by Andrea Cascardi at Transatlantic Literary Agency for McCall.
Olivia Sua to illustrate Uno Más, One More, by Silvia Lopez, a bilingual story pitched as retelling of the folktale Always Room for One More, following parents and their children and assorted pets as they welcome all to their one-room casita for a fiesta, to Christy Ottaviano at Christy Ottaviano Books, for publication in 2024, by Taylor Martindale Kean.
Debut illustrator Olivia Sua to illustrate Water Day by Newbery Honor and Pura Belpré Award winner Margarita Engle, about a girl and her community celebrating the arrival of the water man, to Reka Simonsen at Atheneum, for publication in summer 2023, by Taylor Martindale Kean.
Anoosha Syed to illustrate Rani by Saadia Faruqi, about a modern South Asian princess living in a bustling castle by the sea who goes out seeking an adventure and finds a friend instead, illustrated by , to Jennifer Greene at Clarion by Taylor Martindale Kean.
Aisha Saeed’s new picture book The Together Tree to be illustrated by LeUyen Pham, about the pain of bullying and the redemptive power of friendship and compassion, to Zareen Jaffery, while at Simon & Schuster, with Kendra Levin editing, by Taylor Martindale Kean for the author. Publication is slated for 2023.
TAYLOR’S WISH LIST – currently closed to submissions
Illustration that shows the artist’s unique voice and perspective
Magical Realism in Middle Grade and Young Adult
Young Adult fantasy with grounded and compelling world building, diverse casts, and that has smart and savvy heroes and heroines
All Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction with characters who are engaging, imperfect and diverse
A novel that deals with a family living in the aftermath of a serious crime
CONFERENCES
Taylor is not currently scheduled for any upcoming conferences.
Author of SPANISH IS THE LANGUAGE OF MY FAMILY Michael Genhart’s MARIPOSA, which features a queer Latino boy who can rely on his grandmother’s loving support to help him feel safe and confident, and whose story reclaims the Spanish word for butterfly which, for too long, has been used as a slur for effeminate and gay boys and men, illustrated by Pura Belpre Honor winner Carlos Aponte, to Neal Porter at Neal Porter Books, for publication in spring 2027 by Nicole Geiger.
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