The story of Red Fox Literary began way back in 2002 when a young, novice editor named Abigail Samoun acquired her very first picture book from a talented agent named Karen Grencik. That book, author Sarah Wilson’s George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien, went on to win the coveted SCBWI Golden Kite Award. Not bad for a first collaboration.

In 2006, Karen left agenting to pursue adventures in the tropical forests of Costa Rica. Abigail and Karen’s paths didn’t cross again until the Los Angeles 2010 SCBWI National Conference, where Abigail was delighted to discover that Karen had returned to the States and was plunging back into the world of children’s books. Karen and Abigail decided in March 2011 to form Red Fox Literary, a boutique agency specializing in picture books, middle-grade, and young-adult titles.

Red Fox Literary is pleased to announce its partnership with Rights People, which will act as its foreign rights representative. Visit http://www.rightspeople.com.

Abigail Samoun


Before co-founding Red Fox Literary, LLC with Karen Grencik in 2011, ABIGAIL SAMOUN was an in-house children’s book editor for over ten years. The books she edited received such honors as the CCBC Charlotte Zolotow award, the Ezra Jack Keats award, and the Pura Belpre Honor. As an agent, Abigail represents authors and illustrators working in a range of genres, from board books to young adult novels. Her clients include Hannah Harrison, Matt Faulkner, Betsy Franco, Elizabeth Haidle, Carlyn Beccia, and Dan Krall.

(L to R) Abigail, Krista Marino of Delacorte, Lauren Hodge of Little Brown at SCBWI Wisconsin conference

In addition to agenting, Abigail is the author of several children’s books, including Sterling Publishing’s Little Traveler board book series illustrated by Red Fox’s own Sarah Watts and What’s In Your Purse? (Chronicle).

Abigail likes to organize her library according to which authors would get along well together (the Brontes next to George Elliot, Lois Lowry next to Margaret Atwood). She lives in Sonoma, California with her entomologist husband and two rambunctious little boys.



 

Karen Grencik


Karen Grencik became a literary agent because of a man she admired. She wanted the world to know his story, so she set out to make that happen. Within a year she’d accomplished her goal. Double Luck, Memoirs of a Chinese Orphan, written by Lu Chi Fa with Becky White, was published by Holiday House in 2001.

Over the next few years, Karen signed new clients and sold award-winning titles. Among the awards garnered by her authors are the Parents' Choice Gold Award for Best Non-Fiction, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Best Picture Book Text, and the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best New Fiction.

In June 2011 Karen joined forces with Abigail Samoun to open Red Fox Literary. She has been ranked by Publishers Marketplace as one of the Top 10 agents for children's book sales in both 2012 and 2013.

(L to R) Author Brenda Reeves Sturges, Editor Emma Dryden, and Karen at NE SCBWI conference

Karen’s philosophy is simple: “When you choose to write children’s books, it’s just that—it’s a choice. You do it because you love it. You do it because it fills you with passion. You do it because it brings you joy. You are among the lucky ones who live life with purpose. But you also must do everything you can possibly think of to achieve your goals.

“And you must be nice.”




 

Stephanie Fretwell-Hill


STEPHANIE FRETWELL-HILL started her publishing career in 2004 at Walker Books Ltd. in London, where she sold foreign language rights.

In 2011, she moved back home to Atlanta, where she spent four years at Peachtree Publishers as an editor. During her time there, her acquisitions received such honors as YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, Parents’ Choice Awards, and starred reviews from major trade magazines.

(L to R) author Jaqueline Mitchard, Adriana Dominguez of Full Circle Literary, Stephanie, Alison Weiss of Sky Pony Press, Sally Apokedak of Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency at SCBWI Southern Breeze conference

Stephanie joined Red Fox Literary in 2016. She represents authors and illustrators of literary fiction and narrative nonfiction picture books and middle grade. Her clients include New York Times bestselling author Kelly DiPucchio, Paddington Bear illustrator R. W. Alley, Carolyn Crimi, Donna Gephart, Drew Beckmeyer, and Archana Sreenivasan. The books she represents have won numerous awards, including Newbery Honor, Sibert Honor, the Jane Addams Book Award, the Youth Book Prize for Social Justice, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, and many starred reviews. Stephanie’s tastes are eclectic, but across all genres she looks for compelling, diverse voices and strong hooks combined with literary merit and classroom value. Most of all, she loves stories and art with the perfect mix of humor and heart.

Stephanie lives in Asheville, NC with her polymath husband, two feisty girls, and one perfect border collie. When she isn’t working, she can often be found hiking, sewing, playing the ukulele, or hanging out at the playground.




 

Jenna Pocius


JENNA POCIUS was a children’s book editor before joining Red Fox Literary as an agent in 2017. She represents authors and illustrators of picture books and middle grade novels, both fiction and nonfiction. She loves stories with strong voices, humor, and heart.

Jennie Kendrick


JENNIE KENDRICK represents YA, MG and select picture books with Red Fox Literary. A former criminal defense attorney and history major, she has worked in the publishing industry since 2013, including reviewing for publications such as Kirkus, and part-time bookselling at a local independent bookstore. Jennie’s passions include history (especially medieval European history), the criminal justice system, art, tarot, rock music, and cooking. She loves well-researched character-driven fiction, narrative non-fiction, and is particularly looking for Own Voices works and books from marginalized creators. Jennie is always looking for a phenomenal ghost or vampire story, regardless of children’s age group. You can find more about her taste at jenniekendrick.com



 

Sarah Stephens


Sarah Stephens is a children’s book enthusiast in every sense. She has worked as an editor, author, and indie bookseller, and before that she was a book-loving child. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Sarah moved to Rhode Island and got her first editorial job at Houghton Mifflin in Boston. When East Coast winters grew too long for the California native, Sarah returned to the San Francisco Bay Area where she continued her editorial career at Chronicle Books and then Lucasfilm Licensing. Though she eventually left the office for the flexibility of freelance Sarah never left children’s books. She has continued her work as a freelance editor and authored numerous original (Maiden Voyage, Bug Girl, Rescue Dogs) and licensed (Curious George, Star Wars, DC) titles.

As an agent, Sarah is looking to champion books that make her laugh out loud, delight her with new wonders or quirky surprises, or speak deep truths—books that make her want to say “yes.” She is interested in elevating the voices of marginalized individuals, amplifying stories that need to be heard, and connecting children to nature. She likes authors and illustrators who know their craft and tell their own unique tales with humor, heart, and integrity. Though she enjoys everything from board books to YA, if forced to pick favorites, picture books, early chapter books, and middle-grade fiction would be top of the heap.

 

Eve Adler


Eve Adler worked as an editor for over 16 years before becoming an agent. She edited books mostly for ages 0-12 at Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Union Square Kids, including a NY Book Show Merit award winner, New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, a Sydney Taylor Notable Picture Book, and many titles that garnered starred reviews. In 2015, Eve was a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree.

Eve is building her list with authors and illustrators of board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, and middle grade projects. She’s drawn to stories that make kids feel comforted, loved, and understood; to diverse voices; to ideas that break the mold; to projects that meet kids where they are developmentally; and to books that expand kids’ worlds while helping them understand their own.

After years of working in-house, Eve loves how agenting offers the ability to discover talent anywhere, to develop ideas with authors and illustrators, and to find the right home for projects, whether at big or small publishers. She's looking forward to being an advisor and cheerleader for clients throughout their careers, and is eager to find new talent!

Lori Steel


Lori Steel began her career in young people’s literature first as an educator and school librarian, and later as a freelance editor and writing instructor. She is also a writer and earned an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. As a Red Fox Literary Agent, Lori approaches her work from these diverse industry experiences and perspectives. She’s a long-time member of SCBWI and ALA, and passionately believes all readers deserve equal access to stories, no matter their age.
 
Lori’s clients include both debut and award-winning authors, and she continues to seek diverse perspectives, literary approaches, and unique story experiences to add to her list. Lyrical language, compelling settings, and stories told with heart are areas of particular interest in any genre/audience. 
 
Originally from the Washington DC area, Lori has also called Appalachia and England home. When not at her desk, you can often find her plotting her next travel adventure, testing out a new recipe, or pottering in her Washington DC garden with her English husband and their secret-agent pup sidekick, Juice.