Zondervan | Deborah Liu

Kathleen Ortiz (she/her) founded her own agency in 2022, after working in publishing and international licensing for over a decade, including roles as Director of Translation, Subsidiary Rights Manager and Literary Agent. She earned her M.S. in Publishing from Pace University, and has spent her career helping build and elevate creative brands.

Her focus is on books and media for adults and children, especially with a visual element. She loves media and books that bring humor and joy and inspire others in life. She is a member of Licensing International and the Association of American Literary Agents.

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Selection of Recent Sales
for a more complete list of recent sales, please see the PM database

Literary agent Jas Perry writing as J.P. Takahashi's TOKYO NIGHT PARADE, pitched as Spirited Away meets WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, steeped in yokai mythology, following a Black Japanese girl returning to Tokyo to visit her grandfather and celebrate the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, illustrated by Minako Tomigahara, to Mabel Hsu at Katherine Tegen Books, in a six-figure deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2023, by Kathleen Ortiz while at New Leaf Literary & Media and Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary & Media for the author, and by Ortiz for the illustrator (world English).

Creator of the Siberian Lizard comics Liza Cooper's MEEMS & FEEFS: FERRETS FROM PLANET FERRETONIA!, in which two young ferrets carry out a series of experiments that go awry and are transported from their home planet to Earth, where they meet a shy human girl and recruit her on a quest to get back home, to Erinn Pascal at Andrews McMeel, in a three-book deal, for publication in spring 2023, by Kathleen Ortiz while at New Leaf Literary & Media (world English).

Shane Richardson and Sarah Marino's HAPPY SPARK DAY, DRAGONS OF EMBER CITY pitched as Paw Patrol meets My Little Pony with dragons, in which three young dragons receive their special power, their spark, and must learn to work together to power the marvelous city they call home, to Karen Nagel at Aladdin, in a two-book deal, for publication in October 2022, by Kathleen Ortiz at KO Media Management while at New Leaf Literary & Media (NA).

Liz Climo's YOU'RE LOVED, celebrating the milestones of a baby's life and the enduring love they deserve, to Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press, by Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media (NA).

Creator of Wawawiwa comics Andres Colmenares' PECULIAR WOODS, pitched as ADVENTURE TIME meets BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER -- a whimsical and adventurous tale of a lonely boy who teams up with a chair and blanket to help other courageous little objects with their problems, to Lucas Wetzel at Andrews McMeel Publishing, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2023, by Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media (world English).

TikTok Christian influencer, with more than 1.5m fans, and fitness instructor Andy Dooley's FAITH, FAMILY, FITNESS, devotional provides weekly readings and challenges which inspire and motivate the whole family to live a healthy Christian life, to Carolyn McCready at Zondervan, in a pre-empt, for publication in fall 2022, by Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media (world English).

Ancestry.com CEO, former Facebook VP, and Women in Product co-founder Deborah Liu's TAKE BACK YOUR POWER, A practical career guide that draws upon Liu's nearly two decades of experience in the male-dominated tech world to create a multi-faceted, inspirational roadmap for thriving at work and at home, to Carolyn McCready at Zondervan, in a good deal, at auction, for publication in fall 2022, by Kathleen Ortiz and Stephanie Kim at New Leaf Literary & Media (world English).

Susie Yi's PAPER GIRL, about an 11-year-old girl who journeys to Korea for her Halmuni's funeral while trying to figure out how to reverse a wish gone wrong in her attempt to fit in, to Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press, in a significant deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, by Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media (world English).

Jory John's SUMMER CAMP CRITTER JITTERS, about adorable critters who are nervous about going off to camp, illustrated by Liz Climo, to Kate Harrison at Dial, by Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions for the author, and by Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media for the illustrator (world English).

Creator of the Instagram comic @YesImHotInThis Huda Fahmy's HUDA F ARE YOU, pitched as inspired by Fahmy's own high school years, following the author through her first year of high school in Dearborn, Michigan, where she's just one of many hijabi Muslim girls, as she tries on identities in an attempt to figure out who (da F) she is, to Dana Chidiac at Dial, in a good deal, at auction, for publication in fall 2021, by Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media (world English).

See PM database for partial listing.

For all subrights inquiries, please reach out to subrights@komediamanagement.com

Currently closed to submissions unless by referral or conference meeting.