


Our agents work globally, with offices in both London and New York, they individually bring a wealth of creative, design and editorial expertise to the list of artists they represent. Our agents have a deep understanding of the intricacies in their specialist areas and collaborate internally to ensure all our artists and authors directly benefit from our vast client base. Supported by in-house finance, marketing and legal teams, we are equipped to handle every aspect of artist and author representation with precision and accuracy.
For over twenty-two years, we have proudly represented some of the world’s most talented and award-winning creatives. We manage all the rights associated with our creators' work, many of whom are both authors and illustrators. Their acclaimed and beloved work has resonated with audiences worldwide, with their books reaching as many as forty-one territories, selling millions of copies, and garnering the industry's most prestigious awards. On top of this success, our artists enjoy the benefits of seeing their work brought to life in film, TV and merchandising as well as a variety of products through licensing their retained rights. As creatives ourselves, we share a passion for bringing to life the loveable characters and rich, immersive storylines that our artists create. In the pages ahead, you will discover the remarkable talents each of our agents represent and quickly understand why they are among the most sought-after and respected agents representing the most outstanding artists in the industry today.
Vicki Willden-Lebrecht CEO
vickiwl@thebrightagency.com
+44(0) 7968 471 618
Vicki founded The Bright Agency in 2003, one of the fastest-growing and established children’s literary and illustration agencies with a global reach. Twice Nominated for Literary Agent of the Year, she has spent the last 22 years as the principal author/ illustrator agent for the company, leading the way for innovation and foresight in the recruitment and development of Bright artists’ work.
Formal training in Graphic Design has given Vicki an expert eye for spotting visually distinctive content whilst maintaining a confident commercial focus. After graduating, Vicki set out to start a pioneering agency that prioritised the creative needs of its artists and publishers as well as the legal and financial offerings of an agency. Bright has since grown into one of the most forward-thinking talent-management agencies, with exceptional results in the last 20 years, now managing artists including Benji Davies, Chris Chatterton and Yasmeen Ismail, to name a few.
GLOBAL MD
james@thebrightagency.com
+1 551 359 9238
James Burns joined Bright in 2009 and boasts a wide range of experience across the children’s and adult publishing markets. In 2014, he moved from the UK to lead the US office, a display of his ambitious, tenacious and adaptable traits. Under his leadership, Bright has established itself as a key player in the US and beyond. As an excellent communicator and relationship builder, this working style perfectly complements CEO and Founder Vicki Willden-Lebrecht’s visionary leadership and industry awareness. A proud advocate for traditionally marginalised voices and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, James is naturally drawn to creative work that reflects ownership of style and has strong messaging behind it. As Global MD, James oversees the overall working of the agency, all of Bright’s divisions and strives to drive new opportunities for all of our represented artists.
Nicky Lander MANAGING AGENT
nicky@thebrightagency.com
+44(0) 7557 996 833
Nicky joined Bright in 2014 with an extensive knowledge of the publishing industry, having worked in both editorial and product development for ten years. With an unparalleled passion for driving and fostering growth, Nicky brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to her role. Her journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment and an unyielding belief in the power of collaboration, working on high-profile book deals with her efficient, hard-working and personable approach. Warm and sincere, she has a great understanding of the needs of the artist whilst delivering what is required for a publisher’s success. Nicky has worked on large, complex, branded characters, and is not only well-versed in deal structure but, with strategic thinking, also encourages the growth of backlist titles.
Susan Penny MANAGING AGENT
susan@thebrightagency.com
+44(0) 7393 126 755
Susan is dedicated to nurturing and empowering artists and authors at all stages of their creative careers. Tuned in to the evolving needs of the global children’s publishing landscape, she is well versed in curating memorable portfolios that will inspire and enchant young readers. Conscientious, flexible and a keen listener, Susan is a calm and trusted pair of hands when running any project, and delights in cultivating meaningful partnerships.
Her background in international law gives her a considered insight where the creative and contractual meet.
georgia@thebrightagency.com
+44(0) 7901 371 954
With an eye for original storytelling and an endless appetite for ideas, Georgia works alongside founder and CEO Vicki on all things Children’s publishing. She is known for her personable approach and is a highly dependable contact for creatives and publishers alike. Alongside her love of the written word, Georgia confidently navigates the realms of art direction and is fascinated by the nuanced relationship between text and image.
Dedicated to increasing publishing opportunities for those from underrepresented backgrounds, Georgia continues to learn and adapt her agenting in response to the urgent need for a more diverse industry.
Moore Armstrong MANAGING AGENT
anne@thebrightagency.com
+1 216 333 4511
Anne’s passion is visual storytelling, representing a range of award-winning artists specializing in trade children’s book publishing. She collaborates with clients worldwide to find an artist who can meet their esthetic needs. Having worked in the publishing industry for over 20 years as a book designer and art buyer, she understands their perspecitve uniquely.
Anne also develops author/illustrated picture book stories and mentors her artists into strong children’s book professionals with whom publishers can confidently collaborate.
Andrés
alex@thebrightagency.com
+1 646 577 0831
Alex is a Children’s Illustration Agent at Bright. Both creative and savvy, she pairs talented illustrators with manuscripts that perfectly complement their unique strengths and artistic styles. From board books through middle grade, no matter the format, Alex is well-versed in building spectacular relationships between client and artist.
robyn@thebrightagency.com
+44(0) 7384 463 325
emilyj@thebrightagency.com
+44(0) 7435 013 936
marcia@thebrightagency.com
+44(0) 7384 463 327
Robyn joined Bright in 2017, bringing her editorial experience, and love of non-fiction and middle grade fiction to the agency. Her work spans all areas of publishing, but she is particularly drawn to sophisticated, realistic and communicative art. Her characteristic efficiency and professional approach are tempered by her ability to thoughtfully deliver creative direction, developing her artists’ craft in line with their career aspirations.
AGENT
Emily brings a rich publishing background to the UK team, having worked across middle-grade fiction, non-fiction and poetry books. With a degree in English and History of Art, she has a deep appreciation for the power of visual storytelling and the way it draws in both curious new readers and story-hungry imaginators. Her passion lies in the transformative nature of children’s books, and she takes a versatile and thoughtful approach to discovering and championing talent. Emily is dedicated to nurturing artists and helping bring stories to life - one beautifully illustrated book at a time.
AGENT
With a great love for foreign languages, literature and linguistics, a Master’s in Publishing, and a passion for all things books, Márcia dove headfirst into the world of foreign rights. Now, having worked for various publishers, Márcia has an in-depth knowledge of licensing, co-editions and international publishing markets. Márcia’s bubbly personality, creativity and enthusiasm make her a pleasure to work with, bringing energy and expertise to everything she does.
robbin@thebrightagency.com
+1 646 236 0307
saraht@thebrightagency.com
+1 646 894 5942
emily@thebrightagency.com
+1 646 785 7921
SENIOR AGENT | EDUCATION & RELIGION
An award-winning design director, Robbin brings her vast experience of the publishing world to successfully pair great artists with outstanding clients. Since joining Bright in 2017, she has led the growth of Bright’s Education and Religion division in the US and has developed a glowing reputation for providing genuine and insightful advice to all. With compassion and care, Robbin has guided countless brilliant projects and has been the agent behind a host of major titles in the children’s publishing world.
AGENT, EDUCATION & RELIGION
Sarah is a recent graduate of the University of Arizona where she studied Linguistics and French Language and Literature. With lifelong experience as an artist herself, Sarah brings a creative eye to the team. She’s dedicated to helping connect clients and artists in order to bring every project to life.
AGENT
Emily joined The Bright Agency team in 2022 and has worked in many aspects of the publishing industry, including eBooks, textbooks, medical journals, and trade marketing. She has a BA in English and a minor in Business from William & Mary, as well as a graduate certificate from the Denver Publishing Institute. Emily has always aspired to be either an artist or an agent, and loves that she can bring her two passions together.