Publishers Marketplace: Hannah VanVels Ausbury

I'm a literary agent with Belcastro Agency representing picture books, middle grade, young adult, and select adult genres.

Previously, I was an acquiring editor at a young adult imprint with HarperCollins. After finishing my BA at the University of Michigan and an MA at the University of Chicago, I've been working on books for over a decade as an editor and now as an agent.

What I’m looking for:

First and foremost, I'm building an inclusive list with a variety of voices and genres. I love working on #OwnVoices stories, and I'm looking for BIPOC voices, queer voices, neurodivergent voices, and generally, voices from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, regardless of genre.

In Picture Books, I prefer human characters over animal characters, and I'm looking for books that don't shy away from tough topics. I'm also looking for books that celebrate cultural and family traditions and how they shape us. I love books that pique curiosity and imagination such as ISH and THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES. In nonfiction, I'd love to find stories focused on biographies or eras that have been historical overlooked.

In Middle Grade, I'm looking for fantasy inspired by myths, folklores, and legends--particularly those that are non-western in origin. I'm also looking for neurodivergent characters, but their store is not centered around that; it's just who they are. Ghosts, creepy crawlies, and witches welcome! In middle grade, I love a heart wrenching animal protagonist story such as PAX or THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN.

In Young Adult, my first love is character-driven fantasy. I'd love to add more thrillers and horror to my list as well with well-paced plots, clever and nuanced characters, and fresh twists. I'm eagerly seeking romantic comedies and high concept contemporaries focusing on body positivity, self-love, girls supporting girls, and friendship and friendship breakups.

In Adult, I'm looking for dark fantasy and dark and devious horror. I'm also open to romantic comedies especially if they are queer or having a baking or cooking aspect to them.

I am not a good fit for screenplays, epic fantasy with a 150k or above word count, excessive violence on page, or political thrillers.