The 2027 KCU Pitchfest jury is officially announced!
We’re thrilled to welcome an outstanding lineup of 16 literary agents, editors, and publishers from the United States, UK, and Singapore. These industry pros will be reviewing submissions to KCU Pitchfest, our annual showcase of unpublished graphic novel pitches for children and teens.
Thirteen of our judges will also be offering one-on-one pitch reviews. These are fantastic opportunities to get personalized feedback on your work from people who know the graphic novel publishing market inside and out.
If you’re hoping to book a one-on-one, take some time now to explore the list of judges carefully.
These sessions are always popular, and some judges’ one-on-ones will probably sell out as soon as we open registration on February 1, 2027.
Judges Offering One-on-One Reviews
Literary Agents
- Alice Jin “AJ” Zhang [BookEnds Literary Agency] — AJ is an agent who is also an artist. AJ is building a diverse list of illustrators across a wide range of styles and champions artists with a passion for craftsmanship, creative problem-solving, and authentic storytelling.
- Britt Siess [Britt Siess Creative Management] — Founder and President of a Seattle-based literary and illustration agency specializing in graphic novels and comics, Britt brings extensive experience in licensing, rights, and editorial development to her work with creators.
- Hollie Michaels [Martin-Newens Literary Management] — Hollie is actively building her list across children’s and adult publishing, including picture books, middle grade, YA, and graphic novels. She brings a background in theater, creative writing, and children’s literature.
- Megan Muralles [WME] — Megan is looking for graphic novels, manga, fiction, and nonfiction across all ages. She is especially passionate about unconventional voices and stories that don’t fit neatly into categories.
- Sara Crowe [Sara Crowe Literary] — Founder of her own literary agency, Sara represents a wide range of children’s and adult books, including graphic novels. Her clients include New York Times bestsellers and winners and finalists of major literary awards.
- T.S. Ferguson [Azantian Literary Agency] — Before becoming a literary agent, T.S. spent 16 years as an editor at major children’s and YA publishing houses, including Little, Brown and Jimmy Patterson Books. He now represents authors and graphic novel creators, including KCU’s own Bailey Culver.
Editors & Publishers
- Felicia Low-Jimenez [Difference Engine] — Felicia is Co-Founder and Publisher of Difference Engine, an award-winning independent comics publishing house based in Singapore, which champions diverse stories from Southeast Asia and beyond. Felicia is also the co-author of the bestselling Sherlock Sam middle-grade mystery series.
- Ian Tseng [Chronicle Books] — Ian is an Assistant Editor in the children’s division who is actively acquiring titles for his own list. His editorial work includes the popular Little Finger Puppet board book series.
- Ivan Taurisano [First Second Books] — Ivan is an Associate Editor looking for commercial, laugh-out-loud graphic novels with quirky, unforgettable characters. His publishing experience spans everything from picture books and middle grade to graphic novels.
- Juan Botero [Candlewick Press] — Juan is an Associate Editor and Coordinator of Spanish Language Publishing. Juan is particularly drawn to fantasy, horror, magical realism, and character-driven visual storytelling that pushes creative boundaries.
- Melissa Manlove [Sourcebooks] — An Executive Editor with more than 20 years of experience in children’s publishing, Melissa acquires illustrated fiction and nonfiction across multiple age categories and loves fresh, unusual approaches to storytelling.
- Michael Petranek [Scholastic Graphix] — Editorial Director of Scholastic’s Graphix Media and AFK imprints, Michael oversees licensed graphic novels and video game tie-ins. He’s a lifelong comics and gaming enthusiast who has worked at Scholastic since 2015.
- Rachel Stark [Little, Brown Ink] — A Senior Editor with more than a decade of experience editing graphic novels, Rachel’s editorial credits include bestselling and award-winning books such as InvestiGators, Pumpkinheads, and Stargazing.
Additional Pitchfest Judges
These judges will also be reviewing and voting on Pitchfest submissions, but won’t be offering one-on-one sessions.
Literary Agents
- Jessica Saint Jean [Root Literary] — Jessica is a Literary Agent specializing in visual storytellers working across illustrated formats in children’s publishing. Before becoming an agent, Jessica spent a decade working in editorial and art departments at children’s publishing houses.
Editors & Publishers
- Julia Sanderson [Scholastic Children’s Books UK] — A Senior Commissioning Editor for Fiction based in London, Julia has a particular passion for illustrated fiction and a growing focus on graphic novels. She works with both bestselling author-illustrators and exciting new talent.
- Naomi Colthurst [Puffin Graphics] — Publisher of Puffin Graphics, the children’s graphic novel imprint launched by PRH UK in 2024, Naomi champions immersive, imaginative, and accessible graphic novels across a wide range of genres and age groups.
Get Ready for Pitchfest 2027!
We’re incredibly grateful to these 16 publishing professionals for generously sharing their time and expertise with the KCU community.
Be sure to explore the full jury profiles, including their recent books, to get a sense of the kinds of projects they’re passionate about.
Mark your calendars for these important Pitchfest 2027 dates:
- February 1: Registration and submissions open
- February 22: Submissions close
- April 24: Pitchfest Gallery reveal and live industry panel
Now is the perfect time to start polishing your graphic novel pitch.
And if you know other creators working on graphic novels for kids and teens, please share this announcement. We would love for as many storytellers as possible to know about this opportunity.
We can’t wait to see what you’ve been creating!
