Jodie Hodges

I started working with Rosemary Canter in 2006, assisting her on her list. I was made an agent in 2010 and always have an open list for submissions.

I’m too much of a magpie for a wish-list, but my areas of interest and where I feel I can really add value to the career of an author or illustrator have stayed pretty consistent over the years.

I love picture books and young fiction. I enjoy the rules and the boundaries the formats tend to impose. Seeing creators conjure up stories that generate laughter, conversation or love of a character so deep that the World Book Day costume is a given; that demand repeat readings without the adult reader feeling it a chore while working within these boundaries is pure magic.

I’ll always be keen to see classic storytelling for 8-12s be it an adventure, a fantasy, historical, domestic, a comedy. Anything and everything to appeal to the both the voracious child reader I was and those children for whom books aren’t an everyday part of life.

I’m not the right agent for YA, but if you are writing this then I enthusiastically point you to my esteemed colleagues Emily Talbot and Molly Jamieson.

Additionally, I’m always searching for children’s book illustrators or writer/illustrators who know their own style and are attuned to the children’s book market. I also represent creators of comics and graphic novels for children and very happy to see more.

My favourite books are ‘Skellig’ by David Almond and ‘Junk’ by Melvin Burgess; and my favourite piece of illustration is the night-time spread in ‘The Tiger Who Came To Tea’ by Judith Kerr, in case you were curious.

Submissions:

I am happy to receive submissions, but due to the volume received, I’m afraid I cannot respond individually, so if you have not heard back in 12 weeks then please consider that a pass, with thanks.

While I appreciate there is a security in formatting your proposal using AI tools, I strongly recommend you avoid – I’m looking for voice and personality and I’m afraid I find none in AI-written or AI-aided covering emails. Additionally, I hope it goes without saying that I am not interested in receiving submissions that have used generative AI in their creation.

Children’s Fiction (early chapter book, young fiction, middle-grade, teen)

Please send a covering email with a synopsis and the first three chapters as attachments to agarvey@unitedagents.co.uk.

Picture Book texts

Please send a covering email and at least three stories (not in a series) as attachments to agarvey@unitedagents.co.uk.

Illustrators (including author-illustrators)

Please send a covering email with a selection of jpegs or a PDF portfolio as attachments to jhodges@unitedagents.co.uk. If you write your own stories then also include a selection of those or a PDF dummy.

Comics / Graphic Novels

Please send a covering email, an outline and some sample script of the comic or graphic novel and some sample artwork if you illustrate yourself as attachments to jhodges@unitedagents.co.uk.