Agent Q&A with Callen Martin from Madeleine Milburn

Sound the klaxon for an Agent Q&A special!

On Monday 23 March we will be joined by the wonderful Callen Martin, newly installed at Madeleine Milburn Associates, and the judge of this year’s Times Chicken House prize. 

In addition to the normal Pitch Hero chat, Callen will be ready to talk about the London Book Fair, the TCH prize and – in case it’s useful – I’ll join him to co-answer questions about the agent / author process and relationship. On this occasion, it’s a ninety minute session, which Stuart has kindly agreed to host. 

Callen’s very keen to find new MG stars right now. He says: “With 2026 being the Year of Reading, I’m prioritising Middle Grade that’ll get children – especially boys – back into books and the escapist world of stories. There’s so much vying for a child’s attention nowadays (gaming, social media, tv and film) and I want the stories that can compete, capturing the thrill of gaming or adventure or the laughs of a social media trend on the page. I want big adventures, brilliant worlds, and pacey stories for readers aged 7+ in any genre that are told in accessible ways – ideally with a shorter wordcount and a sense of real returnability – with a clear, emotional heart. Stories that I have enjoyed recently include A Box Full of Mysteries, the Skandar series, Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo, Isaac Turner Investigates: The Clockwork Conspiracy, and Grumpfort.”

You can find out more about his wishlist at the MMA website.