Jim Averbeck

An agent with East West Literary Agency (see other agents at this agency).

About

Averbeck is an award-winning author and author/illustrator of numerous picture books including the Sophia series, introduced with One Word from Sophia (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), and Except If (Atheneum). He is also the author of the middle grade novel, A Hitch at the Fairmont (Atheneum). He has been an SCBWI Regional Advisor (SF/South), a knowledgeable conference and workshop presenter, an SCBWI critique group facilitator, as well as a long-time volunteer for We Need Diverse Books.
Averbeck has a decade of experience mentoring new writers. His specialty is editorial feedback to help authors make their stories irresistible to editors. His resume includes a long list of children’s creators who have achieved their goal to become published authors. In picture books, Averbeck is looking for illustrators with a strong, unique illustration style who also have well-developed writing skills and whose stories have a strong emotional core. In middle grade, YA, and graphic novels, Averbeck is interested in science fiction, low or historical fantasy, and literary fiction with memorable, quirky protagonists and steadfast supporting characters who break stereotypes and tropes. All submissions should feature strong, smart protagonists who cleverly overcome obstacles and bring a fresh spin or outlook to the story.

Country

United States

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Fiction Temp Closed

In picture books, Jim is looking for illustrators with a strong, unique illustration style who also have well-developed writing skills and whose stories have a strong emotional core with an ending that evokes a feeling of comfort, closure, or epiphany.
In middle grade, YA and graphic novels Jim is interested in science fiction, low or historical fantasy, and literary fiction with memorable, quirky protagonists and steadfast supporting characters who break stereotypes and tropes.
All submissions should feature strong, smart young protagonists who cleverly overcome obstacles and should bring a fresh spin or outlook to the story.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Children, Middle grades, Young adults.

Genres:

General
Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres
Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres

Lengths:

Novel

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Submissions:

Method: Email.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

No recent cover image of a book represented by Jim Averbeck available.

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Jim Averbeck Submission Statistics

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We have not received any submission reports for this listing in the past 12 months.

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Dates

Last Updated: 22 May 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.