Agent Spotlight: Michelle Witte

This week's Agent Spotlight features Michelle Witte of Mansion Street Literary Management.
Status: 6/10/2020: Ms. Witte is closed to submissions. Check the agency website to find out when she opens to submissions.
About: “Michelle Witte is an author and literary agent with Mansion Street Literary Management specializing in children’s fiction and nonfiction. As an agent, her tastes vary widely, and she represents authors across the spectrum of children’s literature, from illustrated board and picture books to middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction. Michelle is always on the lookout for fascinating stories that are well told, especially those with a distinct and distinctive voice.
"She began her career as a journalist, first reporting and then later copy editing for the Deseret Morning News in Salt Lake City, Utah. From there, she transitioned to a position as associate editor with nonfiction publisher Gibbs Smith, where she edited titles on a variety of topics, including children’s activity, humor, gift, cookbooks, and green living. Her combined experience in the publishing industry is a boon for the authors she represents, as she is able to guide them through each of the stages of publication.
"She is a voracious reader, but most of her reading nowadays comes in the form of client manuscripts and submissions from the slush pile. Her published work includes nonfiction humor books like Happy Little Accidents: The Wit and Wisdom of Bob Ross and The Craptastic Guide to Pseudo-Swearing and The Faker’s Guide to the Classics though her great love is writing young adult fiction. While she considers herself an international vagabond and will travel the world whenever given the chance, she presently makes Utah her home.” (Link)
About the Agency:
“Mansion Street Literary Management got its start in a cute c1839 Greek Revival house on – wait for it – Mansion Street.
“Jean Sagendorph is a twenty-year veteran of the entertainment industry whose award-winning work includes many New York Times bestsellers. She spent more than fifteen years at United Media, where she managed the firm’s publishing, interactive, film, and music interests. While at United Media, her clients included Food Network, Peanuts, Dilbert, Fancy Nancy, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Rainbow Brite, hoops & yoyo, Dirty Dancing, Iron Chef, Iron Chef America, History Channel, Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, and more.
“Jean capitalized on her expertise within the publishing and entertainment industries when she launched Mansion Street Literary Management, a boutique literary agency that seeks exciting new authors and properties to represent.” (Link w/more)
Web Presence:
Mansion Street Literary website.
Michelle Witte Books.
Michelle Witte Blog (Old).
Twitter.
Facebook.
Pinterest.
QueryTracker.
MSLM Blog.
MSLM Facebook.
MSLM Twitter.
What She's Looking For:
Genres / Specialties:
Picture books, middle grade, young adult, and children’s non-fiction. (From her bio above)
From Her Manuscript Wish List:
"Favorite sub-genres: Contemporary YA, Diversity, Gothic Horror, Historical Fantasy, Illustrated, Literary Middle Grade, Literary YA, MG mystery, Magical Realism, Multicultural, Narrative Nonfiction, YA fantasy/light sci-fi, narrative non-fiction YA/MG"
What She Isn't Looking For:
Adult fiction and nonfiction, memoir, and general nonfiction (Link)
Editorial Agent?
Unknown.
Clients:
There is a current list of clients at Ms. Witte’s website. Clients include: Jisuk Cho, Patty Costello, Ginger Johnson, Betsy Schow, Nicole Wolverton, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Yes.
Submission Guidelines (always verify): Ms. Witte is currently closed to submissions.
See Ms. Witte’s website, her Manuscript Wish List, and the agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Response Times:
Unknown.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
7 Questions for Literary Agent Michelle Witte at Middle Grade Ninja (10/2014)
Query Questions with Michelle Witte at Michelle Hauck (02/2014)
Interview with Michelle Witte at YA Lit Class (06/2013).
The Red Sofa Chats – Michelle Witte at Red Sofa Literary – Editor Interview - (07/2011).
Contact:
Please see the Mansion Street Literary Management website and Ms. Witte’s website for additional contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 6/10/2020.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? N/A.
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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(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's/teen fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.