At Open Book Literary, the focus is on bringing under-represented voices to publishing, especially those voices centering disability, poverty, women, neurodivergence, and Judaism, Islam, and non-western religions.

Life is messy, and so are people. Identities are complex, and Leslie champions the intersections between aspects of identity.


Overall, Leslie seeks books with a strong commercial premise, distinct prose, and multiple layers of meaning that keep you thinking long after you finish the story. Think of a calm sea: it’s cool and inviting, but deeper than you expect. 

You can find information about Leslie's manuscript wishlist (MSWL) here.


Leslie only accepts submissions via Query Manager.  Please fill out her form here

You will need a query letter, a short bio, and the first five pages of your manuscript (or complete picture book text or dummy).