Sign in

Kelly Dyksterhouse

@kellydhouse.bsky.social
7.7K followers 1.4K following 235 posts

Literary Agent, The Tobias Literary Agency | #kidlit | AALA | SCBWI | 🐱and 🐶 | writer-hiker-daydreamer | www.KellyDyksterhouse.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
That’s a good question. I think it depends on what your ideal readership is and the story. MG tends to have an internal character arc dealing with the protag’s place in their immediate family/community and YA their place in the larger world. I would pitch as upper MG if you decide it is MG.
010
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Meanwhile, there ARE books out there for these readers, they're just harder to find because they often don't get the publicity and marketing to break through all of the other releases. I am hoping to call attention to some of them!
120
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
I think imprints are experimenting, seeing where these books will stick. They know there's an audience, but not sure where/how to find them. It just takes one big book to open the door for lots of others, and one brave imprint to try it.
220
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
The answer is complex, but the one I hear most from editors is that sales teams don't know where to place these books on library/bookstore shelves, so they don't buy them. But I do sense that things are changing. Seeing a lot more books with 13-16 yo protagonists, most often announced as MG.
310
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Looking for books that bridge the gap between MG and YA? Readers ask me for these books more often than any other, so I thought I would recommend a few. Here are some for readers who love DRAGONS! #kidlit #booksky #MG #YA #MGtoYA
2213
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Colleen Muske @colleenmuske.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
New book alert!
New book announcement for A Garden For All
1132
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
That’s a wrap! Thanks to those who submitted pages for this month’s live first pages session with @thetobiasagency.bsky.social !Our next will be on 3/25. To submit your first page, send to queryconuncdrum@gmail.com. #writers #firstpages #amquerying
071
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Our first live Ask Agent is tomorrow! If you’re free during, hop on over to IG and join us! #amquerying #writers #kidlit #publishingindustry
1175
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Caroline McPherson @carolinemcpherson.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
#kidlitartpostcard ⭐️ Hey there 👋 I’m Caroline, PB author and illustrator with a softly textured style and a love of endearing tales ✏️✨ Rep'd by @kellydhouse.bsky.social 📚 and available for picture books, board books, chapter books, covers and licensing ✨ #kidlit carolinemcphersonillustration.com
1586
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
If this is a first draft, just get the story on the paper. You will have many, many drafts later to refine and work on the word count. Trust the process—and enjoy it!
110
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Happy new year! May the words flow sweetly, may you trust the process, and may you wake up ready to fight Resistance so you may pursue your story with relentless curiosity. Bring on 2026!
2220
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
I love when I can greet the day sipping coffee and scrolling through illustration art here and on the Gram, especially now as they’re filled with images of wintery wonderlands. Uplifting and inspiring. Keep creating, folks!
150
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Not all books are for all people!
000
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Totally valid.
010
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
I’m curious if other readers give books several tries and if so, why? If you’re interested reading about why I recently kept trying a book and what I learned about it, you can read my Substack here: open.substack.com/pub/kellydyk...
open.substack.com
Why SUNRISE ON THE REAPING didn't work for me . . . until it suddenly did.
Large casts of secondary characters can be your best friend!
340
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
But if I’m just browsing in a store, the book gets less than one try: it gets a first sentence, maybe a first paragraph. If I finish the first page, I’m likely to buy it. Proof of 2 things: that first page is truly weighty, and also that word of mouth recommendation sells and builds books.
240
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Readers, how many chances do you give a book? For me, if it’s recommended, I will give it several tries. Sometimes it’s clear I’m not in the right headspace for the kind of story it is and need to wait.
270
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Publishing Pals Podcast @publishingpals.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Our interview with awesome literary agent and author @kellydhouse.bsky.social is out! We had a lot of fun asking our burning questions about author/illustrators and how self-publishing is viewed in the industry. www.buzzsprout.com/2533442/epis...
buzzsprout.com
Interview With Agent Kelly Dyksterhouse! - Publishing Pals
Hello! We are so excited for this episode to interview Kelly Dyksterhouse, an agent at Tobias Literary Agency.  Kelly is an agented writer as well as an agent at The Tobias Literary Agency, a bou...
031
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Colleen Muske @colleenmuske.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m reusing my image for this weeks #winterywoodchallenge over on Instagram because I love it! I’m am repped by @kellydhouse.bsky.social @thetobiasagency.bsky.social Happy Holidays!
Family getting a tree
2403
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Caroline McPherson @carolinemcpherson.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Saying a special December hello to any and all publishing folks who may see this post 👋 🙂 I’m Caroline, an author-illustrator, available for picture books, board books and covers ✏️✨ Literary Agent: @kellydhouse.bsky.social ✨📖✨ carolinemcphersonillustration.com #kidlitart #kidlitartpostcard
Picture book illustration of a collection of snow globes for sale in a festive shop window. Wintery colour palette of blues, teals and greens depicts a snowy backdrop with evergreens. A central snow globe contains a tiny mouse with a sleigh, on its way into a Christmas tree farm to choose his tree.
211219
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
The Tobias Literary Agency @thetobiasagency.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
A.A. Vacharat's THIS MOTH SAW BRIGHTNESS made the New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens in 2025. www.nypl.org/books-more/r... #yabooks #writingcommunity #bookcommunity
nypl.org
Best Books for Teens 2025
Our expert librarians have selected the year's best books for kids, teens, and adults! Discover a selection of 25 e-books that you can read right away—with no wait times!—through December 31, 2025, pl...
076
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
If you’re interested, join us for a few minutes or the whole hour. We’d love to take your questions.
050
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
If you’ve got some free time on Nov. 18 from 1-2, pop on over to IG and join us! We will answer questions, tell stories, and talk all things #kidlit in publishing!
1183
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Caroline McPherson @carolinemcpherson.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day ✨ l’m Caroline, 🇬🇧🇦🇺 picture book author-illustrator with a softly textured style and a love of endearing tales ✏️✨ Rep'd by @kellydhouse.bsky.social 📚 and available for picture books, board books, covers and licensing ✨ #kidlit www.carolinemcphersonillustration.com
A young character in a blue snowsuit and rainbow scarf, hat, mittens and boots, stands in the snow looking up at a huge tree with a trunk of rainbow colours. A sweet little squirrel watches on from a nearby rainbow tree. Its snowing.
16914
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Yes, we’re looking for a date in Nov!
000
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Thanks so much!
010
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Lucky you, haha!
010
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
So from what I can tell this Group 7 thing is for adults what 6 7 is for 5th graders. Is that about right?
220
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Come spend your lunch hour with us! Bring your questions—we may or may not be able to answer them but will definitely have fun trying!
260
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Just looked that up. Stunning!
010
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
BOOK GIVEAWAY! To celebrate the paperback release of THE SEARCH FOR THE SHADOWSOUL, I’m giving away a copy of the book that started it all — THE HUNT FOR THE HOLLOWER! 1. Like and follow me and @thesupercallie.bsky.social 2. What creature would you like to be your familiar? Ends 10/21--US only.
3101
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
A fun perk of being a literary agent is that we get copies of our clients' books! My shelves are currently bursting with those copies, and I need more room (for more copies of more clients' work, yay!) So be on the lookout in the coming weeks for some amazing #FREEBooks!
1203
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Yep!
000
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Many #writers get stuck because they mentally treat their #roughdraft like a more finished draft. Let go of that. It’s called a ROUGH draft for a reason. Give yourself permission to write poorly, explore the story, go down rabbit holes. There will be time to perfect the story later. #writinglife
1305
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Jess Brallier @chesterfieldjess.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
"They like my journal!" - Tina www.dionnalmann.com/interviews-b...
dionnalmann.com
A Review: Tuck and Tina and the Lost Fortune
​ H ow delightful it was to find in my mailbox a package containing Tuck and Tina and the Lost Fortune written by my kidlit agency sibling Jess Brallier, illustrated by Jack Keely, and released by...
042
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
It’s so lovely and captures the sweeping nature of the book so well!
010
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Dana Swift @danaswiftbooks.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
I'm so EXCITED to reveal the cover of WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS!!! Illustration by the talented Charlie Bowater & the cover design by the amazing Anto Marr. WHEN DEALING WITH DRAGONS comes out 6/30/26 with @wednesdaybooks.bsky.social! You can preorder now! tinyurl.com/4eh2xyeb
141
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Okay, Swifties. Is it everything you thought it would be?
040
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
You know I do!
110
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Colleen Muske @colleenmuske.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! Does anyone else find #owls fascinating? I am repped by @kellydhouse.bsky.social @thetobiasagency.bsky.social
Owl talking to a mouse
3626
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
That sounds amazing! And it’s the Grand Tetons. Magical place.
000
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
I’m coming off 2 weekends with book people, and I’m in awe of the contagious nature of creativity. It’s not jealous or possessive, but giving and uplifting. My mind is swirling with possibility and I’m reminded of the value of surrounding myself with those who seek wonder and the joy of Story.
3201
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Is there anything more disappointing than biting into a cookie expecting a chocolate chip and getting a raisin? Nothing against raisins. They’re fine. It’s all about expectation.
290
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
I’m enjoying a quiet morning at the SCBWI Carolinas fall retreat watching these three fishermen cast in one direction, oblivious to the fish jumping consistently behind them. Perfect snapshot of narrative distance working in real time. #povmatters #writingcraft #writinglife #morningmeditation
1131
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
“The answer is always no until you ask.” (Nora Robert’s? Maybe?) But it only takes one yes for the door to open. Sometimes it feels like that door has a million padlocks, but find your passion, be your bravest self, and pursue it recklessly. I needed to hear this, so maybe someone else does too.
1141
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Colleen Muske @colleenmuske.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I am a #kidlitart illustrator and writer from picturesque Stillwater, Minnesota, repped by the amazing @kellydhouse.bsky.social @thetobiasagency.bsky.social
Boy and dog reading book and noticing impending storm
2455
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
A. A. Vacharat @vacharat.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Hi #kidlitartpostcard ! A little cat art for today. I think it captures the current emotional moment 🙃 I’m Amanda. I especially love making illustrations in greyscale, with pen and ink. Rep @kellydhouse.bsky.social at @thetobiasagency.bsky.social
Greyscale illustration of a white fluffy cat atop a fireplace mantel, which is decorated for Christmas. The cat is looking at the viewer while tumping a lit candle over the edge of the mantle, onto a pile of kindling and firewood. 

The illustration is done with pen and ink line work. The values are flat washes of grey scale.
3345
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
Caroline McPherson @carolinemcpherson.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day everyone 💌 l'm Caroline, 🇬🇧🇦🇺 picture book maker with a softly textured style and a love of endearing tales ✏️✨ Represented for writing and illustration by @kellydhouse.bsky.social 📚 #kidlit #kidlitart PORTFOLIO www.carolinemcphersonillustration.com
917027
Kelly Dyksterhouse @kellydhouse.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
It is a gorgeous book. Hendrix is an amazing creator. I think his THE FAITHFUL SPY is the best biography of Bonhoeffer ever published (there are a lot and I’ve read most of them!) Definitely a book for the times.
110
Reposted by Kelly Dyksterhouse
The Tobias Literary Agency @thetobiasagency.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Meet illustrator and author Jack Keely. His art across 30+ books blends traditional and digital elements. Jack is available for picture books,chapter books, graphic novels, and middle grade illustration. He is represented by @kellydhouse.bsky.social
Illustrator Highlight Jack Keely 
The Tobias Literary Agency
071