Upcoming Agent Spotlight Interviews & Guest Posts

  • Stuti Telidevara Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 3/20/2024
  • Agent Rachel Orr and Author Cathy Carr Guest Post and Lost Kites and Other Treasures Giveaway on 3/25/2024
  • Paula Weiman Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 4/8/2024
  • Hillary Fazzari Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 4/22/2024
  • Miriam Cortinovis Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 5/6/2024
  • Jenniea Carter Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 5/8/2024
  • Caroline Trussell Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 5/20/2024
  • Jenna Satterthwaite Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 6/10/2024
  • Bethany Weaver Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 6/24/2024

Agent Spotlight & Agent Spotlight Updates

  • Agent Spotlights & Interviews have been updated through the letter "H" as of 5/11/2023 and many have been reviewed by the agents. Look for more information as I find the time to update more agent spotlights.

Agent Spotlight: Tracey Adams

This week's Agent Spotlight features Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.

Status: Tracey is currently closed to queries.   

Tracey Adams About: “Tracey Adams co-founded Adams Literary in 2004, after nearly a decade with literary agencies Writers House and McIntosh & Otis, where she was the head of the children's department. Prior to becoming an agent, she worked in the marketing and editorial departments of Greenwillow Books and Margaret K. McElderry Books.
“A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Tracey speaks frequently about her profession and the children's book industry at conferences across the country. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Association of Author Representatives (AAR), and a founding member of the Women's National Book Association (WNBA) chapter in Charlotte, NC. 
In her spare time, Tracey enjoys traveling, playing tennis, cheering for the Carolina Panthers, and test-marketing children's books with her two daughters.” (Link)
About the Agency:
“Adams Literary is a full-service, boutique literary agency exclusively representing children's and young adult authors and artists. Founded by Tracey and Josh Adams, Adams Literary prides itself on nurturing the creativity of its clients and maintaining close relationships with editors and publishers in New York City and around the world.” (Link w/more)
Web Presence:
Adams Literary website.
Twitter.
AgentQuery,
QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Every age and genre of children's books from picture books to older, edgy YA.
From the website:
"We know that you are just as passionate about children’s books as we are. Our clients’ work spans every age and every genre—from picture books to middle-grade and young adult fiction, from historical novels and fantasy to books that tackle important contemporary issues.
"While we give every submission careful consideration, we look for unforgettable, life-changing books: literary stories, high-concept speculative fiction, unique fantasy adventure, humor, and character-driven picture books. At this time, we only consider picture book submissions from author-artists (someone who is both author and artist of their work, not a team). We gravitate toward the timeless, not the trendy. We don’t typically handle textbooks, novelty, craft, how-to or coloring books—and we don’t handle any adult works." (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
"We don’t typically handle textbooks, novelty, craft, how-to or coloring books—and we don’t handle any adult works." (Link)
Editorial Agent?
"Because there is a definite need for manuscripts to be more polished when submitting today, I am happy to work with an author editorially. I feel confident in doing so because of my editorial background.  But I always tell an author only to revise to my suggestions when it rings true and she believes it is making the work stronger - because once you have an editor, you'll be starting from scratch with a new partner.  That said, I am very happy to have a manuscript which is strong enough to submit as is, so I can leave the editing where it really belongs - in the hands of the editor who will publish you." (via e-mail)
Clients:
A complete list of Adams Literary clients is available on the website here.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No.
Snail-Mail: No.  
Online-Form: Yes (only).
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
NOTE: Adams Literary is currently CLOSED to submissions. "We take submissions only through the online form on our website. (We recycle any unsolicited submissions we receive by post.) On the form, attach your complete manuscript as a DOC or PDF file; for artists in particular, include your website or attach a PDF of your illustrations so we may view your art samples. We cannot accept any files over 10MB in size." (Link)
See the Adams Literary website for complete, updated submission guidelines.
Response Times:
The agency only responds if interested, usually within 6 weeks (link).
What's the Buzz?
Adams Literary is successful, well-established agency with a wonderful roster of clients.  They have a great team philosophy and their clients seem pleased with their representation. They have made quite a number of big deals.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Interview with Tracey Adams at Fiction Southwest (5/2016).
Around the Web:
A Day in the Life of Adams Literary at Carol Baldwin’s Blog (04/2014).
Query Questions with Tracey Adams at Michelle4Laughs (10/2013).
Contact:
Please see the Adams Literary website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 3/12/17. Updated 5/10/2020 just to confirm that the agency continues to be closed to submissions
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 3/13/17.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's literature. 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.



































































14 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks, Casey! My list of agents to query keeps growing...and growing. :)

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Casey, you are an endless fountain. Thanks.

Yat-Yee said...

Thanks for another informative post. I've sent my ms to the agency. From what I've gathered, any of of the agents: Tracey, Josh and Quinlan, would be great.

To provide more data for your response-time: they've had my ms for almost 6 months now.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Tracey Adams was the first agent I ever met at a SCBWI conference about 5-6 years ago. She was so approachable. I have her on my list to submit to.

Martina Boone said...

Another fantastic, thorough profile, Casey. You are so generous to us!

Jill Wheeler said...

Edgy YA! I'll definitely add her to my list!

Matthew MacNish said...

Thanks for always posting these great in-depth looks Casey, and please don't ever take them down. I don't need them so badly right now as I'm not querying, but one day they will come in VERY handy!

Ann Marie Wraight said...

BRILLIANT WORK as always Casey!

THANK YOU for the in depth research!

CL said...

Thanks so much for all this great information!

Kate Evangelista said...

Another agent to query! Yey!

Stina said...

Yay, the agency's finally opening its door to all writers, not just the ones the agents meet at a conference. Thanks for the update!

kanishk said...

Thanks for always posting these great in-depth looks
free classified india

Casey McCormick said...

Thank you for the comments, everyone! I really appreciate them.

Ms. Adams has reviewed her profile. I've made some updates and added new quotes given over e-mail.

Stella said...

Tracey is currently open is submissions, according to the Adams Literary website.