Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Literary Agent Alyssa Eisner Henkin is an active literary agent currently accepting queries for children's middle grade and young adult fiction. She is the founder of Birch Path Literary, and was previously and active agent with Trident Media Group.
Alyssa Eisner Henkin
Upon earning my bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania, I fulfilled a childhood dream - to move to New York and work with books. I was fortunate to land a job in editorial at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. At S&S, the time spent learning about the rapidly flourishing kidlit market from the wisest of colleagues was invaluable to my career. Ultimately my entrepreneurial drive led me to become a literary agent at Trident Media Group. At TMG, I cultivated a stable of bestselling and multi-award-winning children’s book authors. A plethora of ancillary deals for audio, film, theatrical, merchandising, and international editions has made me an ardent advocate for the rights of creators.
With the founding of Birch Path Literary, I have the privilege of “soul” proprietorship. I come from a long line of business owners who have always valued professional integrity, optimism, and passion. Just as enterprising Anne Shirley strode down her Birch Path, I thrive on navigating intricate labyrinths with each author and illustrator. We plot and strategize the best long-term opportunities across genre, format, and territory amidst an everchanging but verdant landscape for stories.
Timeless telling styles always entice me as a bicentennial baby fed on Bemelmans, Betsy-Tacy, Burnett, and the Brontës. Yet I am especially hungry for bold, change-making projects that promote underrepresented perspectives and foster inclusion. Certainly, the two categories are not mutually exclusive. My favorite books are character-driven, quirky, heartfelt, slyly humorous, and ultimately hopeful.
Birch Path Literary is a full-service literary agency focused on innovative literature and illustration for children and young adults. We represent a stable of bestselling and multi-award-winning creators and many notable newcomers. Ardent advocates for ancillary and international sales, we work hard to produce books that stand the test of time.