Reiko Davis joined DeFiore in 2016. Before that, she was at Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency for four years. She grew up in Kansas City, received her BA in Comparative Literature and Art History from Brown University, and is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course.
She represents both adult and children's books.
On the adult side, she's seeking literary and upmarket fiction as well as narrative non-fiction.
For adult fiction, she loves:
- Historical and contemporary novels set both in the U.S. and internationally
- Ambitious, multigenerational family sagas
- Novels that rewrite what it means to be an American today
- Stories set in our world with speculative or magical elements
- Offbeat novels with troubled but loveable protagonists
- Mystery, crime, and suspense novels with a literary edge to the writing
- Coming-of-age stories, especially later in life
- Linked story collections
For adult non-fiction, she loves immersive, investigative works of journalism, history that fills a gap on the bookshelf, and cultural criticism. She's drawn to compelling narratives that read like fiction or that use an intimate personal story as a lens for a larger issue or analysis. This especially includes works that explore social justice, the history and experiences of women and people of color, and contemporary culture. She is also on the lookout for true crime projects that shed light on larger societal issues. She does the very occasional book on writing craft.
For children's literature, Reiko is actively looking for middle grade projects that aren't afraid to tackle big questions or important emotional truths, and do so through remarkable storytelling, humor, and heart. In addition to MG novels, she has a soft spot for MG non-fiction in the areas of mental health, science, political activism, environmentalism, and narrative history. She loves works that empower kids to make a difference in their communities.
Reiko is not currently looking for YA or picture books. She does not represent genre category SFF, horror, or romance. Nor is she the best agent for practical non-fiction with a prescriptive bent.
Fiction Highlights:
Lucy Jane Bledsoe A THIN BRIGHT LINE; THE EVOLUTION OF LOVE; LAVA FALLS; TELL THE REST
Joey Falco BLOOD ON THE VINE (forthcoming)
Devi S. Laskar THE ATLAS OF REDS AND BLUES; CIRCA; MIDNIGHT, AT THE WAR (forthcoming)
Genevieve Plunkett PREPARE HER; IN THE LOBBY OF THE DREAM HOTEL
Shannon Sanders COMPANY
Children's Highlights:
Lucy Jane Bledsoe RUNNING WILD; NO STOPPING US NOW
Andrea Debbink THE WILD WORLD HANDBOOK: HABITATS; THE WILD WORLD HANDBOOK: CREATURES; SYLVIE AND THE WOLF; IF THE RIVERS RUN FREE; I WITNESSED: THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (forthcoming)
Dawn Cusick THE ASTROCHIMPS
Brittany Geragotelis STEALING GREENWICH, GOING WILD, and NO ADMISSIONS (THE INFAMOUS FRANKIE LORDE series)
Lindsey Klingele THE MARKED GIRL; THE BROKEN WORLD; THE TRUTH LIES HERE
Sean O'Brien WHITE HOUSE CLUBHOUSE; WHITE HOUSE ON FIRE! (forthcoming)
Stephanie Seales JODIE DOESN'T LOVE DOGS (forthcoming)
Kristina Wong, Dr. Theodore Chao, Jenessa Joffe, and Anna Michelle Wang AUNTIE KRISTINA'S GUIDE TO ASIAN AMERICAN ACTIVISM (forthcoming)
Nonfiction Highlights:
Andrea Debbink THRIVE WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED; FLOWER FINDING; BIRD WATCHING (forthcoming)
Freda Epum THE GLOOMY GIRL VARIETY SHOW (forthcoming)
Alan Gelb HAVING THE LAST SAY; CONQUERING THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY IN TEN STEPS; SEVEN STEPS TO CONFIDENT WRITING
Nancy A. Nichols WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL
Alison Owings MAYOR OF THE TENDERLOIN
Katie Simon UNTITLED ON SEX AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT (forthcoming)
Dennis James Sweeney HOW TO SUBMIT (forthcoming)
Brittany Wagner NEXT CHANCE YOU
Mallory Weggemann LIMITLESS
How to Submit to Reiko Davis:
Please email her at reiko@defliterary.com with "Query" and the title of the project in the subject line as well as the following:
- A brief description of your project
- A brief, relevant bio
- For fiction, please include the first twenty pages of your manuscript pasted in the body of your email.
- No attachments, please.
