For Agents, Editors, and Publishers
I am an author and illustrator creating formally structured, narrative-driven children’s books that explore fear, imagination, and inner resolve. My work is rooted in rhythm, imagery, and emotional clarity, shaped by my background as an English educator and visual storyteller.
I am currently seeking representation and publication opportunities.
Sarah the Magnificent: The Boy and the Dark
Status: Manuscript complete
Format: Illustrated narrative poem for children
Length: Approximately 1,598 words
Audience: Bedtime and extended read-aloud
The Boy and the Dark is a narrative poem set over the course of a single night, following a young boy paralyzed by fear of the dark and the imagined monsters in his home. When Sarah appears, she does not defeat the shadows for him, but teaches him how courage works, guiding him room by room through fear until he is able to stand alone.
Written in structured verse using rhyming couplets, the text relies on cadence, repetition, and elevated descriptive language designed for sustained read-aloud. The story concludes with the boy facing the darkness on his own, discovering that bravery does not come from a hero or a weapon, but from the light he carries within. Illustrations mirror the emotional progression of the story, transforming fear into motion, wonder, and resolve.
Sarah the Magnificent: The Girl and the Dream
Status: Manuscript complete
Format: Illustrated narrative poem for children
Length: Approximately 1629 words
The Girl and the Dream follows a different child as she confronts fear within her own dreamscape. When a joyful dream turns dark and threatening, Sarah appears to help the girl understand how to reclaim control of her inner world. Rather than relying on external tools, the girl learns to harness her own emotional focus and inner light to face the nightmare directly.
The story is written in structured verse with rhyming couplets and designed for extended read-aloud. It concludes with the girl waking confident and self-possessed, having learned that her dreams and her courage belong to her.
Series Framing
Sarah the Magnificent is conceived as a four-book cycle of companion illustrated narrative poems. Each book centers on a different child confronting a distinct fear, with Sarah appearing as a guiding presence rather than a recurring hero. Every story stands alone, while collectively exploring how courage develops across different emotional landscapes.
Two additional manuscripts in the cycle are planned and outlined.
Materials & Contact
Excerpts and illustration samples available via secure link upon request
Full manuscripts available upon request
For submissions or representation inquiries: dave@davebridger.com