Essie White started her literary career by focusing on those for whom the literature was written: Children. She received her BA in Education with her primary focus in Special Education.  When working with special needs children, struggling with language, Essie discovered that the beauty of words, and the rhythm of a well composed story, engaged them. She later went on to teach traditional elementary students and found that reading was best achieved, when a good book was the focus, not the specific skillset.

Essie later completed her MA in Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction for Early Childhood Education. That’s when her real journey with books began. Using quality children’s literature as the foundation, she began creating curricula for local and national homeschool groups as well as independent preschool organizations. For each subject, each topic, each thematic unit, she used a book as the starting point.

Essie used this combination of skills and passions, to start her own early childhood development program. Still in operation today, after 20 + years, the schools serve young children in Seattle, her original literary home.  Although Essie is no longer managing the programs on site, she continues to coach and model prospective teachers, ensuring children are provided access to stimulating, enriching and gorgeous books.

After relocating to Minneapolis, Minnesota, Essie entrenched herself in the local children’s book community. She started receiving inquiries from local authors, asking about the path to publication. A lot of research later, as well as a lot of work, Essie opened her first small agency with the hope of ensuring capable artists and authors, could eventually get their work seen by editors and publishers. Storm Literary Agency was subsequently launched in 2014. Now in the capable hands of Vicki Selvaggio, Essie left Storm to launch her new literary agency, Essie White Literary.

Essie loves strong writing that hits an emotional core. For her, the writing must be unforgettable, as should the characters and the place. Whether a snippet of life, or a full life, the story should not be easily forgotten. She wants to represent literature that leaves an impact on children’s lives, and she wants to represent artists who know how to speak to the child, through their art.

Essie is fond of many authors and artists, some of whom she feels fortunate to call clients. But some of her favorite classic publications include Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. More recent favorites include: I talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and illustrated by Sydney Smith. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, The Funeral by Matt James and Once, a Bird by Rina Singh and illustrated by Nathalie Dion . Although often in Seattle,  Essie currently lives in Southern California where she’s blessed to be near family and an ocean that provides endless inspiration. With that said, she still dreams about returning to snowy Minnesota where the cold winters fuel the best holiday memories, bookstore treks and seasonal adventures.

Some of my favorite places……..

Wild Rumpus Books-Minneapolis, MN

Any beautiful place and any inviting bookstore…..

The Rabbit Hole-North Kansas City, MO

Books create journeys to beautiful places and unforgettable scenarios. They transport us.

Thank you to artist Farida Zaman for capturing this so well in our new logo. We hope you take a journey with us.

Sunsets Over Lake Minnetonka, MN

“It’s no use to go back to yesterday because I was a different person then”

— Lewis Carroll-Alice's Adventures in Wonderland