Layla Fallah
Literary Assistant
Layla Fallah is a Kurdish author, artist, and advocate for diverse storytellers.
An active member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), Layla is the literary assistant to agents Emily Forney and James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency, where they support 100+ clients, including award-winning, critically-acclaimed, and bestselling authors and illustrators. As of April 2026, they are actively growing their own list of illustrators and author-illustrators.
In addition to their role at BookEnds, Layla co-directs the PB Rising Stars Mentorship, a free program dedicated to mentoring emerging authors and illustrators from historically underrepresented communities.
In all things, Layla is wholeheartedly committed to breaking down barriers in publishing and creating space for diverse voices and visual storytellers. With each story they tell (or sell), Layla hopes to open a doorway for readers who have yet to see themselves reflected in books, and to shine a light on the quiet, everyday magic that surrounds us.
When her pen is at rest, Layla can be found painting Kurdistan, planting seeds, or collecting picture books from the public library.
Open to Queries
Wish List
Layla is actively building a diverse list of illustrators who are interested in working on any of the following:
Graphic Novels (Early Readers, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult)
Board Books
Picture Books
Chapter Books
Spot Illustrations
Cover Art (Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult)
Art Licensing
It is absolutely not required to work in all of the areas above, and it’s perfectly fine if you have a focus or special interest in just one area. Please note your area(s) of interest in your query letter. If you are an illustrator only, please submit your portfolio/website link. Text manuscripts or book dummies are not required. If you are an author-illustrator, please submit a complete book dummy and/or illustrated sample pages of your graphic novel project along with a portfolio/website link. As Layla is primarily seeking illustrators, it is not a requirement to write. But if you are interested in writing, she would love to see a sample of your written work.
Note: At this time, Layla is not seeking text-only creators or submissions.
In Layla’s own words:
I am looking for art made by humans in every sense of the word. Everything that makes us human, our fears and worries, our dreams and wishes, our laughter and joy, and even the sad parts, too. I want to see the human experience, bumps and all. That includes traditional art, digital, and everything in-between. Mixed media is definitely welcome.
I’m not searching for one specific art style, but I am hoping to see a portfolio that feels distinctly like you. I don’t have a checklist, and I don’t think there are strict rules for what makes something “right”. After all, this industry is so subjective, and who am I to tell you whether your art is good enough? Because the only thing I know for certain is that your voice matters, and your art matters. Aside from that, what really matters to me is how you approach visual storytelling, pacing, and perspective. I want to feel something when I look at your work. I want readers to feel seen, or comforted, or surprised. And I would love to laugh. Plot-wise, I’m especially drawn to stories that explore big life moments and even bigger emotions, as well as quieter, slice-of-life pieces that find magic in ordinary moments. Visually, I love spreads that invite a second look, where small details build on each other and reveal more easter eggs with each re-read.
If you’re an illustrator or an author-illustrator who has been waiting for the right moment to put yourself out there, I’d be honored to consider your work.