Hi all! Just a quick head's up that I'm planning to close to queries for a bit at the end of this month – I have been overwhelmed (positively!) by how much wonderful work I've received, and want to pause to catch up on it all. Rest assured, I will not be closed terribly long. Thanks!! <3

I will be (digitally) scurrying about these next few months! Catch me teaching online workshops with the Orange County Library System (FREE TO THE PUBLIC!) or join me at one of @writingdaywksp.bsky.social virtual pitch events! I hope I get to meet some of you. xx

Dunham Literary is OPEN for queries. Information about how to submit can be found here: dunhamlit.com/how-to-submi.... As of January 2026, Dunham Literary only accepts queries through QueryManager.

Will be peeking around #BluePit today - if I heart your post, please submit a query! <3

I am now OPEN to queries on Query Manager: querytracker.net/query/leemel...

thrilled to announce i now represent the stunning and hilarious kathy yamamoto, whose YA fiction is as scathing as it is laugh-out-loud funny. so grateful to be working together <3 (follow her on ig or tiktok @ notkathyyamamoto)

Can finally say - Dunham Lit is reopening to queries next Monday (1/12), and we're officially making the move to QueryManager! More info here: www.dunhamlit.com/how-to-submit

My updated query wishlist for 2026, if anyone wants to check it out: www.leemelillo.com/wishlist Hoping to reopen very soon! 👀

Merry Christmas & happy holidays, everyone! Wishing you a wonderful end to your 2025, and a smooth transition into the new year. <3

canonically speaking, it's entirely possible scott hunter saw the yuuri x viktor kiss episode of yuuri!!! on ice (premiered nov 2016 btw) and that was what set him on the path to reconciling with kip,,, who said art doesn't change lives ,,, #heatedrivalry

heated rivalry s1 into the pitt s2 into bridgerton s4 begets such terrifying things for my daily screen time

So beyond excited to be working with the ridiculously talented @briewardwrites.bsky.social! Her writing is beyond stunning & I can't wait for everyone to see it <3

i have simply not read enough YA this year. does anyone have some end-of-year recs for their faves that came out this year? literally any genre! my only request is that it's been physically released bc i need to hold books in my hands <3

2 types of sleepy guys:

fun little bday instagram post i made ~ www.instagram.com/p/DQ8EXqugMf...

will be poking through #questpit sporadically today - as always, if i heart your post, feel free to query!

me on the google doc

this was me reading @pearlynwong.bsky.social’s manuscript for the first time btw (and i was right)

me reading a full request and seeing a niche reference to a very specific fandom/subculture i am also part of:

i will be ~haunting~ the #ghostpit tag tomorrow, if i like your pitch, please send a query my way :)

hi! my query inbox is empty as of today (10/24) - if you queried me or i requested your work in a pitch event and you haven't heard back from me, please send a follow-up! you might have gotten caught by spam. [still have quite a few full requests i am considering, this is just referring to queries]

psst btw: i have my own website now! check it out for info about me, my clients, and a more detailed version of my #mswl www.leemelillo.com

More exciting news to end an exciting, news-filled week – I'm thrilled to share that I now represent the lovely VALLI VIKRAM, whose YA mystery is equal parts heart-racing, thought-provoking, and swoon-worthy. So grateful to be working together. <3 #literaryagent #publishing #yafiction

It’s #PortfolioDay! I illustrate picture books, comics, and book covers. I love drawing kids and animals in all kinds of stories. Please visit my website rob-peters.com for more. I’m represented by @bookbarrista at Dunham Literary. #illustration #kidlitart #childrensbook #cartoonist

HONOURED and beyond grateful for @leemelillobooks.bsky.social taking a chance on me (and my manuscript!!!). The journey has been such an exciting one and I can't wait to see where it'll take us!!! 💕💕💕

So thrilled to FINALLY be able to announce this: please welcome my new (& first ever publicly announced) client: PEARLYN WONG! @pearlynwong.bsky.social I cried four times the first time I read her manuscript. I cannot wait to help bring it (and many more!) into the world. <3

Very excited to take one-on-one pitches at the 2025 (Online) Florida Writing Workshop on October 3-4. Join me! Anyone from anywhere can attend. Learn more about the virtual writers conference here: floridawritingworkshops.com

Great news! JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month www.jstor.org/action/showL...

Looking forward to this!

literally had such a blast at @peopleofpublishing.bsky.social today! got to sit on so many informative panels and spend time with friends - what a great event. :)

Very excited to go through the @pitchdis.com submissions later! So grateful there's an event like this and can't wait to see all the awesome work that's been submitted. :)

fantastic time to be a pitt superfan

Episode 5, "Boys," of THE PEEK WITH SAMUEL PEPYS is now live! Join Pepys and Valentino as they interview actor Edward "Ned" Kynaston, famed boy player of the Restoration. Check it out on the podcatcher of your choice: pod.link/1828590877/e... #audiodrama #podcast #stuartrestoration #fictionpodcast

Only 2 days left to snag early bird pricing! Amazing attendees! @joannhnyc.bsky.social @superjane.bsky.social @ecfeinberg.bsky.social @kellypelsue.bsky.social @ecfeinberg.bsky.social @bookbarrista.bsky.social @leemelillobooks.bsky.social @vickyweberbooks.bsky.social linktr.ee/ohionorthscbwi

sigh i miss succession

In case you were wondering, this is how agents (at least me!) watch their inboxes when they're waiting on news 😅

have a horrendous sore throat so, yes, my body is 99% ice pops and gatorade zero at this point, thanks for asking

excited for this!

Spotlighting Lee Melillo of Dunham Literary on our blog today with a special interview! @leemelillobooks.bsky.social Lee answers some pressing questions from writers and all of us here at WDW. See the answers and get more info on our blog: writingdayworkshops.com/blog #amquerying #literaryagent

Thanks so much to the folks at @writingdaywksp.bsky.social for inviting me to be interviewed about my agenting experience so far. Check out the interview here: www.writingdayworkshops.com/blog/agent-i...

Very excited to take one-on-one pitches at the 2025 (Online) Minnesota Writing Workshop (@writingdaywksp.bsky.social) on September 5-6. Excited to meet some of y'all. Anyone from anywhere can attend. Learn more about the virtual writers conference here: minnesotawritingworkshop.com

Congrats to my brother @todgoldberg.bsky.social on the great @publisherswkly.bsky.social review for ONLY WAY OUT. "With comic flair, shocking violence, & a capacity for surprise, this recalls the noir-tinged films of the Coen brothers." www.publishersweekly.com/9781662534089

Great lineup! @joannhnyc.bsky.social @superjane.bsky.social @ecfeinberg.bsky.social @kellypelsue.bsky.social @ecfeinberg.bsky.social @bookbarrista.bsky.social @leemelillobooks.bsky.social @vickyweberbooks.bsky.social And more! Great job by my pals at #scbwiohionorth putting this together!

me: on vacation this week also me: ooooh more time to do work >:)

Okay! The Lee of 16 days ago was a bit ambitious, I'm afraid, but I'm happy to announce that (save the handful of #QueerPit and #PosterPit queries I received this week) I am officially caught up on queries! If you still haven't received a response from me, PLEASE send a follow-up email!

words cannot adequately express the crushing weight of the hurry-up-and-wait vibes i am experiencing at present

finished fruits basket this morning. no one speak to me ever again.

Literary Terms To Know! Boiler Plate Contracts are used by every agency and publisher if they have worked together before. It’s the starting place for most contract agreements, yours included. What other publishing terms do you want to know more about? #publishing #amwriting #writingcommunity

i'm afraid to say i randomly started watching fruits basket last week and now it is going to be my personality for the next business month or so

I'll be poking around #PosterPit today - same as #QueerPit yesterday: if I like your post, please send a query and include 'PosterPit' in your subject line. Also, disregard any auto-message you receive from our query email about being closed to unsolicited queries - that doesn't apply to you!