Agent Spotlight: Marie Lamba

This week's Agent Spotlight features Marie Lamba of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency.
Status: Open to submissions, actively building her client list.
About: “Marie Lamba (www.marielamba.com) is author of the young adult novels What I Meant… (Random House), Over My Head and Drawn, of the picture book Green Green: A Community Gardening Story(Farrar Straus Giroux), and of the upcoming picture book A Day So Gray (Clarion). Her articles appear in more than 100 publications, and she's a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest.  Marie has worked as an editor, an award-winning public relations writer, a book publicist, and has taught classes on novel writing and on author promotion. ” (From the agency website)
About the Agency:
“The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency is a New York City-based full-service literary agency founded in 2001 and named one of the top 25 literary agencies in the country by Writer’s Digest. The agency represents children’s literature for all ages – picture books and middle-grade and young adult novels – but also represents high-quality adult fiction and non-fiction in a wide range of genres. JDLA is proud to represent illustrators, as well as screenwriters for both television and film, including Emmy and Peabody Award-winning writers and illustrators. What sets JDLA apart from other agencies is our holistic approach to managing every aspect of an author’s career to make the most of their project's potential.” (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
JD Lit Website.
Author website/blog.
Twitter.
Facebook.
Manuscript Wish List
LinkedIn.
QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction and adult fiction and nonfiction.
From the Website:
“​I'm currently seeking middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction, especially with diverse points of view, or a STEM tie-in. I also want general adult fiction and women’s fiction. I’d love to find an original women's novel that would inspire the next smart and funny chick flick. I want memoirs with strong voices and unique, inspiring stories (especially foodie memoirs, or ones with a celebrity or pop culture connection). I also represent a select number of established illustrators and picture book authors. I’d love a fresh non-gory ghost story for any age. I’m fascinated with hidden treasures, artifacts and with discovering ancient civilizations right beneath our feet. I’m a huge fan of folklore and fairy tales, and, while I wouldn’t want a retelling, I always enjoy those elements woven into a story in a unique way. Overall, books that are original, moving and/or hilarious are especially welcome.” (From the agency website)
What She Isn't Looking For:
“I'm NOT interested in Christian fiction, adult non-fiction, horsey books, genre science fiction or high fantasy (though I am open to speculative elements, especially in middle grade fiction), erotica, category romance (though romantic elements are welcomed in novels), or books that feature graphic violence.” (From the agency website)
Editorial Agent?
Yes, as needed.
Quotables:
“Some favorite titles on my reading shelf include One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London, Searching for Caleb by Anne Tyler, Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Shug by Jenny Han, Little Bear’s Big House by Benjamin Chaud, and Dogzilla and Hallo-weiner by Dav Pilkey. I’m also a big fan of the shows Veronica Mars, The Crown, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Queen’s Gambit, and Bridgerton, and the flicks Never Have I Ever and Lovebirds. For more insight into my tastes, check out the books I’ve authored, as well as the works of the authors I represent, and visit marielamba.com for my Agent Monday blog posts.” (From the agency website)
Clients:
The agency represents over 200 clients, including a PEN Award-winner and a Newbery Honor Medal winner. A list of selected clients can be found on the agency website. 
Ms. Lamba’s clients include: Carmella Van Vleet, Tracey Baptiste, Erin Teagan, Harmony Verna, Gregory Frost, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Yes.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Submit your query via Marie Lamba's Query Manager Page.
Query only one agent at the agency at a time. 
See the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines. 
Response Times:
She responds to all submissions that follow the guidelines, but her time period for doing so varies widely depending on her workload.
What's the Buzz?
Marie Lamba began agenting July of 2011 and is actively building her client list. She has been very selective so far.
You can find her on Twitter and her blog where she talks about her books, writing and, occasionally, agenting things.
Worth Your Time:
(Agent) Interviews and Podcasts:

Podcast with Marie Lamba (YouTube) at Middle Grade Ninja (08/2021)

Interview at EasternPennPoints (03/2019)

Interview at Quick Brown Fox (04/2017)

Blog Stuff:
Ms. Lamba has a blog on her author website. She has an Agent Monday post where she often spotlights other agents.
Contact:
Please see the Jennifer DeChiara website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 3/29/2024 
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 4/30/19.
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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change.