Fiona Kenshole, Transatlantic Agency

I love the midwifery of being an agent, from getting your debut published to doing the movie deal, and at Transatlantic we like to sell your book to publishers all over the world so I work with co-agents in 28 countries, selling worldwide rights.

I have lived in lovely Portland, Oregon for the last ten years: I moved to the US from Oxford, England to join Laika, a brand new studio to make animated films. As Vice President of Development Acquisition, my first three films were all Oscar nominated: THE BOXTROLLS, CORALINE and PARANORMAN.

Previously, I was a publisher in the UK where I worked with best-selling names including Michael Bond (Paddington Bear), P.L Travers (Mary Poppins) and the Laureate Michael Morpurgo (War Horse). I was the British editor for authors including Beverley Cleary, Lois Lowry, Richard Peck, Bruce Coville, Gary Paulsen and Cynthia Voigt, and was nominated for “Editor of the Year” at the British Book Awards.

My first job was at age 16, working in a children’s book store. After graduating from Cambridge University, I headed up children’s publishing at Oxford University Press, Hodder (Little, Brown UK), and HarperCollins.

I specialize I children’s and YA books, from picture books to older teenage, split about 70/30 fiction/nonfiction. Some recent successes include Vicki Grant’s YA romcom, 36 QUESTIONS THAT CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT YOU (Running Press), which sold in 22 languages and has just been optioned for TV; illustrator Kass Reich’s picture book CARSON CROSSES CANADA (Penguin Random House) which held the number one spot in the Canadian bestsller lists for 5 weeks; and Rosanne Parry’s forthcoming middle grade A WOLF CALLED WANDER (Greenwillow) which has sold in six languages ahead of publication. I’ve recently been successful selling graphic novels and would love to take on more clients in this area.

I have a special soft spot for unreliable narrators, middle grade stories with real children in an imaginary world, and feelgood YA. I love pretty much anything with cycling in it.I love fast-paced characterful writing – suspense, mysteries, plots that go awry. Most of all I love compelling writing that makes me laugh out loud, or makes me love the characters so much that I love the world more than real life.

I love stories that surprise me. If I can predict the ending in the opening pages (especially with picture books) it’s probably not for me. I don’t represent faith based books – although I’d be interested in a YA novel where a character grapples with understanding faith and the meaning of life, like “Now I Know” by Aidan Chambers. I don’t represent rhyming picture books or poetry.

Member Reviews of Fiona

She helped me see the key next step for my revision!

Fiona Kenshole was generous with her time and comments, warm and easy to talk with, and most of all, she helped me see the key next step for my revision! I am encouraged and challenged, in a good way. I absolutely recommend talking with Fiona to learn how to make your MG more immersive and relatable to the target reader. She also gave me helpful feedback on my query.

Stephanie Jones

I left the meeting feeling encouraged and hopeful

I would highly recommend both the experience of doing the query consult and doing so with Ms. Kenshole. Not only was she very easy to talk with but she gave me feedback that I could immediately put to use. I also had the opportunity to ask my burning questions. I left the meeting feeling encouraged and hopeful. Whether you’re just starting out or have hit a wall—the ten minute consult could be just the help you need.

Julia Cooper

The ten minute consult could be just the help you need.

Julia Cooper

It was amazing! It’s like having a critique done by your wise, funny, loving aunt (whom you’ve never met) but who still always sends you the perfect thoughtful gift on Christmas and your birthday

I had a written critique of my first ten pages done by Fiona Kenshole. It was amazing! It’s like having a critique done by your wise, funny, loving aunt (whom you’ve never met) but who still always sends you the perfect thoughtful gift on Christmas and your birthday. But this aunt just so happens to be a professional literary agent who knows everything there is about publishing, writing, film and being kind, insightful and wonderfully genuine. Don’t we all wish we could have a Fiona in the family. Well, now you can! Or, at least you can pretend to

Jonah Logan

It’s like having a critique done by your wise, funny, loving aunt (whom you’ve never met) but who still always sends you the perfect thoughtful gift on Christmas and your birthday.

Jonah Logan

So impressed!

I’d heard Fiona on the Manuscript Academy several times over the last two years and always came away so impressed with her knowledge and her warmth, so I booked her for a 1st page review. I can say she is just as lovely on the phone as she seems on the podcast! Her advice to change my first sentence, because it didn’t match the rest of the tempo (or mood) of the first paragraph, was very insightful. A small tweak that had never occurred to me, but absolutely made sense. I had some questions for her about whether or not my first paragraph was starting in the right place and before she answered she asked me several things about the manuscript, so that she could give a good answer. Ultimately, I came away confident that I am starting in the right place, and that is what I was looking for.

Sabrina Vienneau

It was just what I expected…and more!

When I won the 30 minute critique and consult with an agent of my choice, I knew I would select Fiona Kenshole. I valued her place in the literary world, especially with picture books. Not only was I impressed with her constructive comments and ideas towards my work, I treasured her tips on ‘making my story funny’ and engaging for young children.

I am revising and refocusing with new plans and strategies to make my story even more enticing and humorous for the audience.

Thank you, Manuscript Academy, for the opportunity to have this poignant conversation with Fiona Kenshole. It was just what I expected…and more!

Annette Murray

Amazing feedback

I’ve been wanting to do an agent one-on-one for quite some time now, and I finally committed. It was so much more than I’d ever hoped for! The 15 minutes flew by, but in that time, Fiona Kenshole gave me some amazing feedback on my first two chapters, things I never even thought of. I’m energized to put her suggestions in motion, see how it flows, and then I’ll be ready to start querying!

Suzy Feine

Absolutely delightful

My consultation with Fiona was all I could have asked for. Her suggestions for tweaking my query were extremely helpful, tightening up the text. Her edits will help me avoid pitfalls I never anticipated. And despite the fact that I asked for brutal honesty, she was absolutely delightful. Thank you Fiona and thank you Manuscript Academy.

Suzanne Diffine

Exactly what I needed

I booked a 15-minute consultation with Fiona, and it was exactly what I needed. She delivered a clear, straightforward, and direct critique with incredible warmth and encouragement. Our time flew by, but I felt like she packed in so much insight advice that it might as well have been an hour! I’m extremely grateful, and so glad that I took the plunge and booked a slot.

Sarah Chalmers

Wonderful pointers and advice

It was a great pleasure chatting with Fiona. She was spot-on about my submission and gave me wonderful pointers and advice – plus she’s a dog lover so my pup, Zinnia, was invited into the Zoom and enjoyed meeting her as well!

Debra Lampert- Rudman

In a matter of seconds, she identified core issues that otherwise may have taken me months to figure out.

Fiona’s brilliant and insightful comments shed so much light on the areas I needed to strengthen in my manuscript. In a matter of seconds, she identified core issues that otherwise may have taken me months to figure out.

Brandon Breen

Thank you to the Manuscript Academy for having such stellar agents here to help us navigate these intimidating waters!

What a wonderful experience! Yes, I was nervous—it was my first-ever Ten Minutes with an Expert. But Fiona Kenshole was so warm and delightful, she immediately put me at ease. She asked though-provoking questions that will definitely help shape my pitch and my novel. Thank you to the Manuscript Academy for having such stellar agents here to help us navigate these intimidating waters!

Cathy Lepik

Ten minutes with Fiona was all I needed to get me enthusiastic about my writing again and excited to get started on my editing!

Ten minutes with Fiona was all I needed to get me enthusiastic about my writing again and excited to get started on my editing! Fiona was absolutely wonderful – she was supportive, insightful, encouraging, and critical in all the right ways. As a new author and someone lacking many connections within the industry, it was great to be able to get expert guidance and to receive really specific, tailored advice that will help me take my query – and my writing – to the next level.

Bryan Smith

This consult was the best thing I’ve done this year to improve my writing skills. Thank you so much!!!

My consultation with Fiona Kenshole was awesome. I scheduled a 15 minute consult w/ the 10 page critique. and I certainly got my money’s worth. She gave me great insight into my story, into my own writing tics and provided me with tools for revising my book. She took her time to ensure I understood what I meant. She asked very specific questions about the story. It was clear she took a lot of time reading and digesting the pages. I learned so much from her. This consult was the best thing I’ve done this year to improve my writing skills. Thank you so much!!!

Nancy Parish

Work with Fiona

LIVE Meetings: Meet face-to-face, from home. Choose Zoom, Google Meet, or phone, and speak for the appointed time about your query, first page, and/or first ten pages (for longer meetings). Does not include written notes, but is a chance to have an honest discussion about your work, and to ask follow-up questions. International meetings welcomed.

WRITTEN Critiques: Get detailed, thoughtful notes on your work. Comes with large-scale edits (character, world, plot, tension, concept, conflict, and similar as needed) in an editorial letter and small-scale, line-by-line notes as needed (for longer critiques, an average of three per page). Work arrives in your inbox within 24 hours of the date on the calendar.

HYBRID is a live meeting at the appointment time, with written notes.