Agent Spotlight: Paul Rodeen

This week's Agent Spotlight features Paul Rodeen of Rodeen Literary Management.
Status Update on 1/31/2026: Open to submissions.
About: "Paul Rodeen discovered his love of writing, editing and publishing at Knox College where he was the fiction editor and a contributor to the award winning college literary journal Catch. Paul was graduated from Knox College with a Creative Writing major in 2001. Later that summer, he attended the Denver Publishing Institute where he was encouraged to move to New York City to officially start his publishing career. 
"In late 2001, Paul received his first job with the highly respected literary agency Sterling Lord Literistic, Incorporated. He began his career as an assistant to Jody Hotchkiss, a film agent with Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. at the time. After a few months of reading and evaluating scripts, Paul was informed that a position was available in the children’s book division of Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. as an assistant to George Nicholson, the legendary children’s book publisher turned literary agent. Paul welcomed the opportunity to work for such a respected figure in the publishing business and he quickly found that he still loved many of the genres he had enjoyed when he was a child and a teenager. During his three years working as an assistant to George Nicholson, Paul Rodeen signed his first client (the writer/illustrator Peter Brown) and he also closed his first book deal FLIGHT OF THE DODO.  
"In 2004, Paul Rodeen moved back to his home state of Illinois where he opened up a small satellite office in Chicago for Sterling Lord Literistic, Incorporated.  Between 2004 and 2008, Paul expanded his list of clients to include over a dozen talented writers and illustrators of picture books, middle grade novels and young adult fiction.  This group of talented artists became the backbone of what would become Rodeen Literary Management. 
"In late 2008, with much encouragement from his clients, editors, publishers and other agents, Paul Rodeen established Rodeen Literary Agency an agency devoted to supporting the careers of children’s book writers and illustrators." (From the agency website)
What He's Looking For:
Genres of interest:
Children's fiction from picture books to young adult, middle grade and young adult non-fiction, illustrators and graphic novelists.
From AgentQuery:
"He is actively seeking writers and illustrators of all genres of children’s literature including picture books, early readers, middle-grade fiction and nonfiction, graphic novels and comic books as well as young adult fiction and nonfiction." (Link)
From a 2010 Conference Post:
“He currently represents between 20 and 25 clients and would like to build his list up to about 50. The five things that Paul looks for when reading submissions are: conflict, voice, character development, setting, and pace.” (Link)
What He's Not Looking For:
Adult projects. 
Web Presence:
Rodeen Literary website.
Facebook.

Instagram.
QueryTracker, AgentQuery.
Editorial Agent?
Unknown.
Clients:
A list of clients is available on the website. 
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.Submission Guidelines (always verify):
E-mail queries only.  No hard copy submissions. Send a cover letter with contact information and up to 50 pages of material.
See the Rodeen Literary Management website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Response Times:
The agency only responds if they are interested.
What's the Buzz?
There is a lot of positive feedback on Paul Rodeen from clients and aspiring authors who have had experience with him.  He's reported to be a funny, down to earth guy.  He has a great work history in publishing and his agency seems to off to a great start.
Contact:
Please see the Rodeen Literary Management website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 1/31/2026.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? N/A***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.