Anal’a Cabello is an agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. As Anal’a builds her list, sheÕs looking to represent picture book illustrators, authors, and author-illustrators; middle grade fiction; and young adult fiction. In all categories, she is a fan of characters who feel in-between in any sense (identity, friend groups, transitional period of life, etc.); stories of self-discovery and character growth; explorations of sibling relationships and intergenerational families, in the vein of The Penderwicks and Darius the Great Is Not Okay; and stories from creators whose voices have been traditionally underrepresented in the industry. She values cultural specificity and stories borne from personal experience.In illustrators, she looks for art that sheÕd want to live in: pieces that are rich in texture, detail, and narrative, with joyful characters and color palettes that pop.In picture books, sheÕs seeking narrative-driven texts featuring human characters in the vein of Mango, Abuela, and Me; T’a Isa Wants a Car; and My Papi Has a Motorcycle. She would also love to see stories that empower children to explore and affirm identity; celebrate family relationships and community care; and explore things related to gardening, earth, and food.In middle grade and YA, she is primarily seeking contemporary stories with a strong hook and literary-leaning writing, a strong sense of plot, and genre-bending elements. (Do think of her for projects that utilize magical realism or contain magical or supernatural elements, as long as the stories are for the most part strongly grounded in the real world.) She loves distinct character voices, smart and snappy dialogue, and intentional storytelling where every line and scene serves to move the story forward.Some specific wishlist items include:¥Stories with Disney Channel Original Movie vibes and/or the feel of an early 2000s sports movie, like Bend It Like Beckham, Blue Crush, or Ice PrincessÑif itÕs queer, all the better!¥Stories about niche solo sports (like rock climbing, swimming, fencing, surfing)¥Ensemble stories with impeccable character development and dynamics and excellent writing (think The Bear or Reservation Dogs)¥Sweeping, dreamy stories that feel like Makoto Shinkai movies¥Stories in the vein of Vampires Vs. The Bronx: fun, fast-paced, tight and concise storytelling, great friendships + character dynamics, community elements, setting/place that feels like a character, has something broader to say about relevant social issues thatÕs woven seamlessly into the story¥Queer kids growing up in small townsShe is not the right fit for:¥Science fiction and most fantasy (particularly high fantasy and portal fantasy)¥Stories where trauma is part of the primary conflict¥Stories focusing on disordered eating, suicide, parents reacting badly to their children coming out, terminal illnesses, covid/pandemic¥Rhyming picture book texts¥Picture book texts about anthropomorphic animals¥Novels told from the perspective of an animalAnal’a has been working at ABLA since 2021, assisting Executive Agent Kelly Sonnack in championing a diverse list of authors and illustrators. Before that, she was an editorial assistant at Candlewick Press and interned at several literary agencies. She holds bachelorÕs degrees in Child Development and Ethnic Studies, which have informed her passion for the intersections of childrenÕs literature, developmental psychology, and identity. Authors and illustrators were her childhood celebrities; now, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to cheer them on and support them in a professional capacity.