Agent Spotlight: Lauren MacLeod

This week's Agent Spotlight features Lauren MacLeod of The Strothman Agency, LLC.

About: "Lauren MacLeod joined the Strothman Agency after graduating cum laude from Emerson College with a BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing.

"Lauren’s primary interests are middle grade novels, young adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as highly polished literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Some of her favorite (non-client) YA authors are Meg Rosoff, Maureen Johnson and John Green." (Link)

Status: Open to submissions.

What She's Looking For:

"Looking for: Contemporary YA & MG, narrative nonfiction for young adults, graphic novels, YA Dystopian with strong world-building, and adult trade nonfiction on quirky subjects or people.  She is currently especially drawn to YA & MG projects with humorous situations or funny characters."  (Link)

"The Strothman Agency, LLC specializes in nonfiction, particularly books by journalist and scholars, but Lauren’s primary areas of interest is young adult and middle grade fiction and nonfiction. She is currently on the look out for more contemporary YA, funny MG, and books with a strong foodie element. She would love to see more MG or YA nonfiction in her inbox.

"On the adult side, Lauren is also looking for literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, especially narrative nonfiction about quirky or unexamined people, places, or events (books like THE ORCHID THIEF or client Christopher White’s forthcoming SKIPJACK, about the last sailing oystermen).

"She has a soft spot for books about sunken ships." (Link)

For non-fiction, she's listed on QueryTracker as being interested in the following: "Biography & Memoirs, Celebrity, Pop Culture, Music, Film & Entertainment, Current Affairs & Politics, History & Military, Journalism, Juvenile, Multicultural, Narrative, True Adventure & True Crime." (Link)

What She's Flooded With:

"Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction, Tragedy Memoirs." (Link)

What She Isn't Looking For:

Romance, science fiction, picture books, poetry. (Link)

Quotables:

The Agency:

"Our extensive inside experience and knowledge of both the editorial and business aspects of publishing—how editors and publishers make decisions, the economics of publishing, the importance of focused and strategic marketing and publicity, the nuances of contracts—as well as our many contacts among independent booksellers give us the ability to provide effective support to our clients." (Link)

"We work closely  with the publisher to assure that our authors have a voice in critical design, publicity, and marketing decisions." (Link)

Lauren:

"'For the record, I prefer not published to self-published. For me, self-published has to try harder. Others feel differently.' She then explained, 'Why my self-pubbed position? 1) I assume it has already been widely rejected by agents, 2) might have already exhausted the market.'" (Link)

Her Advice to Writers:

"A great story with dynamic writing will always be relevant. Write good books, don’t worry about trends." (Link)

Editorial Agent?

Yes. "I still do editing, but I have to really, really, really love the book before I'll take it on. On the fence now equals no, more than before." (Link)

Web Presence:

The Strothman Agency website.

The Stothman Agency blog.

Twitter.

Facebook.

JacketFlap.

LinkedIn.

AgentQuery & QueryTracker.

Clients:

Ms. MacLeod's clients include: Helaine Becker, Hélène Boudreau, Kathryn Miles, Philip Shabecoff and Alice Shabecoff, Christopher White, among others.

Also, the agency has a "Catalog of Published Works" on the website. 

Sales:

Ms. MacLeod is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 3 deals in the last 6 months and 4 overall.  Recent deals include 1 middle grade, 1 picture book, and 1 paper back rights.

Note: PM is often not a true representation of sales.

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes.

Snail-Mail: Yes.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

E-mail: Query letter outlining qualifications and experience, a synopsis, and two to ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the e-mail (for fiction).  No attachments.

Snail-Mail: Follow the above guidelines and include a SASE.

Expect to receive an auto-reply for e-mail queries.  See the Strothman agency website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.

Response Times:

The agency seems to have a no-response policy.  They ask for three to four weeks for response.  If you don't hear form them within six weeks, assume rejection.  (Link)  However, Ms. MacLeod seems to respond to a lot of queries regardless with a response time ranging from a day to about two weeks. 

What's the Buzz?

Given Lauren's active presence on the Internet, particularly on Twitter, and her fun, generous nature, she's very popular among aspiring and published writers as well as publishing professionals.  Many people who've had the opportunity to meet her or work with her have come away very impressed by the experience and have sung her praises as a result.  Her clients seem happy in her hands, which speaks volumes, and she's actively making sales and networking.  Consider following her on Twitter for some great publishing tips and agent info.  It's also a great way to see if you like her personality!

Worth Your Time:

Read the Strothman Agency's FAQ before you query!

Ms. Macleod is active on both the agency blog and Twitter.  Do some research; take the time to look in the archives. 

You can read an Unofficial Official Agent Appreciation Day post about Lauren MacLeod by client Hélène Boudreau.

Lauren MacLeod was a Secret Agent for Miss Snark's First Victim's blog; follow the link and then locate the entries for that month (July) to see her comments on each entry as well as her chosen winners.

QueryDay Q&A summary featuring many comments by Lauren Macleod on Writing For Kids While Raising Them.

Notes from QueryFail at Writing For Kids While Raising Them.  Check out the reasons Ms. Macleod and other agents might reject you.

"Straight Talk on Tough Times for Writers" at Mitali's Fire Escape featuring comments by Lauren Macleod, Colleen Lindsay, and Elana Roth.

"An Agent Talks Trends in MG/YA Publishing" featuring Lauren Macleod; what she's seeing a lot of, and what editors are asking for. 

A relay of some #askagent tweets by Lauren Macleod  on Words of Inspiration and Romance.

Contact:

Please see the The Strothman Agency website for contact and query information.

***

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail.com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.