Melissa Edwards represents children’s books for all ages and adult commercial fiction, as well as select pop culture nonfiction. Melissa joined Stonesong as a literary agent in August 2016. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt Law School, Melissa began her career as a litigation attorney before transitioning into publishing. She is an advocate for her clients and a constant partner during the publication process and beyond.
Elizabeth Law is an editor at Holiday House who specializes in mining their backlist and acquiring middle grade fiction. She has worked in children’s and young adult publishing for thirty years, including most recently as publisher of Egmont USA and as a freelance book doctor and editor at ElawReads. Elizabeth was previously associate publisher at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Viking Children’s Books. She has edited and published every genre from picture book through nonfiction and YA and new adult.
Gary Schmidt is the author of more than a dozen books for children and young adults. He received both a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy and a Newbery Honor for The Wednesday Wars. He is a Children’s Choice winner, and a National Book Award finalist. He teaches writing and children’s literature at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI.
Jessica Watterson
Jessica joined The Dijkstra Agency in 2013. A graduate of the University of California at Irvine, Jessica is a life long book lover and former indie book reviewer. Jessica is privileged to represent many amazing clients, including: Alexa Martin, Kristin Rockaway, Angie Hockman, Rosie Danan, Izzy the Frenchie, Lillie Vale, Saumya Dave and many other amazing writers.
