Literary Agent with The Bent Agency

Desiree (they/them) began working in publishing in 2014 and joined the TBA team in 2020 after graduating with a master's in book publishing and a post-baccalaureate in comic book studies. They have a passion for graphic narratives that play with comics as a medium, unique, never-before-seen world building, stories in prose and illustration that uplift and tell stories by BIPOC and marginalized communities without focusing on trauma, and allegorical stories for younger readers that help them explore complicated topics through the safety of fiction.

Before joining TBA, Desiree lived a handful of non-publishing lives—including work as a 911 dispatcher, a stint in the U.S. Army, and most of their 20's in healthcare—all of which served to develop a humanist approach that informs their publishing career. They have held acquisitions roles with Ooligan Press and Oni Press, both Portland-based publishing houses, before becoming a freelance publishing consultant providing services including design, marketing & sales, accessibility & DEI, and, of course, editorial. They have worked with companies like Kickstarter, Dark Horse Comics, and Counterpoint/Catapult/Soft Skull Press, as well as with both mainstream and indie comics creators.