Q&A with Steven Malk of Writers House

Last Monday I gave you the opportunity to send in a question or two for literary agent Steven Malk of Writers House and quite a few of you did.  Thank you so much for participating!  As promised, here are his excellent answers. 

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Carol Marks asks:

It states on the Submission page to include in your query letter your credentials.  What if this is the first book I've ever written and have no "credentials?"

Hi Carol,

Rest assured that it’s absolutely fine if you’ve never been published before.  I’ve worked with new writers throughout my career and it’s something I greatly enjoy.  However, keep in mind that credentials don’t pertain solely to books that you’ve published.  Perhaps you’ve published short stories, magazine articles, maintained a blog, or done other types of writing.  Or you could be connected to the writing community in other ways, such as working at a bookstore, attending writers conferences, or just having a lifelong love of reading.  Those all count as credentials in my book, and they’d certainly be worth noting in your query.

Kendall asks:

Is your old associate Lindsay Davis still involved in agenting or in the publishing world in general?  Does she plan on coming back?

What are you looking for now and not getting?

Hi Kendall,

Lindsay is no longer working in publishing.  She’s living in England and spending lots of time with her husband and new son.  She’s still reading as much as ever, but I don’t think she has plans to come back to the publishing business at this time.

In terms of your second question, I feel very fortunate to have received some great submissions lately, so I haven’t given as much thought to what I’m not seeing, especially since my general philosophy is always that I don’t look for specific things, but rather strong, original voices that I haven’t read before, whatever genre they may fall under.  That said, one thing I’ve noticed is that I’m seeing quite a few submissions that seem derivative of books or genres that are popular at the moment, which isn’t as interesting to me.  If anything, I’d much rather find the next Munro Leaf, Ruth Krauss, Beverly Clearly, or Judy Blume; I’m always in search of people who have an appreciation for the classics and are able to identify what was so special about those books, and bring that same quality to their own work, but in a way that’s completely their own and feels unique to them.

Timothy Jason Wallis asks:

You've said you like a "strong voice." There are many different interpretations of what a "voice" is in the industry. Could you please expand on the definition of a "strong voice?"

Twilight brought much success to the protagonist First Person narrative. What are your thoughts on novels that change the First Person perspective to different characters and the traditional Third Person narrative?

Hi Timothy,

Yes, a strong voice is and always has been the most important thing to me, and I think the same thing goes for publishers.  It can be a hard thing to define. Technically, I would say that it has to do with having a strong and consistent command over your narration in a way that makes it feel authentic, but, beyond that, I think it has to do with your work feeling fresh, unique, and singular.  I know something has a strong voice when I’m reading it and I truly feel that I’ve never come across this voice before.  I can still remember reading THE CATCHER IN THE RYE for the first time and thinking that Holden’s voice felt real and immediate to me.

It’s hard to comment on first person vs third person. I think they both have a lot of advantages and I can certainly think of many books written each way that I’ve enjoyed.  In terms of shifting perspectives throughout a book, I think it can be very effective, but it really needs to be done skillfully. If it’s not, it can be disorienting.  So, I think an author has their work cut out for them when they do this, but, if it works, it can be brilliant.

Lee Wind asks:

Many writers write for multiple age categories:  ie., MG, YA, PB.  And also sometimes different genres (like NF and Fiction) in the same age category. If he debuts an author with, say, a MG fiction, would he want to wait and follow that up with a certain number of other MG fiction books before trying to sell his client's work in another category or genre to better "brand" the author, or would he rather go with whatever the next great thing the writer has that he thinks could sell?

Hi Lee,

I’ve been fortunate to represent writers who’ve published successfully across different genres. I think Cynthia Rylant is a great example of this.  It’s really something that has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  I truly believe that writers need to follow their heart in terms of what they should be working on, so if someone has written middle-grade fiction and they’re compelled to write a picture book next, I would support them in that. I do think you always want to be looking at the big picture when making these sorts of decisions and you want to be mindful of the importance of building momentum.  Essentially, it’s fine to publish across different genres as long as you’re truly weighing all the pros and cons of changing genres, making an educated decision, and that there really is a larger plan at work.

Carolyn Flower asks:

What books meant the most to you during your childhood and why?

Hi Carolyn,

I could spend a long time answering this question.  It’s one of my favorite topics!  FLAT STANLEY by Jeff Brown meant a lot to me as a kid, because I just loved the sense of imagination, and Tomi Ungerer’s illustrations in the edition I had were an endless source of humor and inspiration to me.  I’LL FIX ANTHONY by Judith Viorst was (and is) a favorite because it’s about a younger brother trying to deal with his older brother (Anthony), and I really do have an older brother named Anthony!  Beyond that, I couldn’t read it without laughing and Viorst is truly a master in the way that she tells stories (as a side note, Lane Smith just illustrated a new book by her called LULU AND THE BRONTASAURUS that will be published later this year, and it was truly a highlight of my career to be tangentially involved with Mrs. Viorst).  Here are some other books that meant an awful lot to me and still inspire me:

•    Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
•    Matilda by Roald Dahl (and just about anything else he wrote)
•    The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
•    The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series by Betty MacDonald
•    The Great Brain series by John Fitzgerald
•    Emma by Barbara Cooney (and anything else she ever did)
•    The Nutshell Library by Maurice Sendak
•    The Frog & Toad series by Arnold Lobel
•    The Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
•    Bill Peet: An Autobiography by Bill Peet
•    Doctor De Soto by William Steig

And many, many more!

Natalie Aguirre asks:

Does he represent fantasy and if so, what types of fantasy is he interested in?

Hi Natalie,

I do represent fantasy, but it’s hard to specify a certain kind of fantasy that I’m most interested in.  As with other genres, I’m just looking for a strong voice and well-developed characters.  I will say that for fantasy, world-building can be crucial, so it’s something that I keep my eye on very closely. 

Laurie Lam asks:

Do you have a story about "the one that got away"?

Hi Laurie,

I really don’t, and I’ll explain why.  Although this may sound a bit hokey (or maybe it fits right in with me being from California!), I try to be very philosophical about this business and I really do believe that books end up with certain agents for a reason.  I’ve been lucky enough to represent some very successful books in my career, and I like to think that my passion for them and understanding of how they needed to be positioned or where they would be best placed had some small role in their path to success.  Similarly, if I pass on a book, and it goes on to be successful with another agent, while it seems natural to regret the decision, it really means that it just wasn’t right for me for whatever reason, and if I didn’t have the right vision for it from the beginning, I likely wouldn’t have done the best job for it, and the author really was better suited for the agent who took it on and championed it.

Leona Broberg asks:

My question for Mr. Malk is, upon reading a manuscript does he immediately know if something is right for him, or does he have to mull it over?

Hi Leona,

I do have very strong instincts and generally have a strong gut feeling about whether something is working, but it’s not black or white, in the sense that things aren’t either clicking on all cylinders or not at all.  There are often cases where I’ll see something in a manuscript that’s really appealing but it needs work or shaping, so often I need to ponder those longer to decide how best to proceed.

Tara7 asks:

I'd actually like to know whether Mr. Malk is into young adult fantasy/paranormal and if so what kind of fantasy/paranormal stories he likes or would like to see more of. Does he like stuff that's high fantasy like Eragon or Twilight-y paranormal romance? Is he into vampires/werewolves/fairies/ghosts or would he like to see something different than that? Gritty or whimsical, etc.

Hi Tara7,

I do enjoy some paranormal novels, but, unfortunately, I just can’t put specific parameters around exactly what I’m looking for, in the sense that I can appreciate just about anything if it’s executed in a smart, thoughtful way, so I hate to limit myself.  I enjoy both male and female protagonists and can honestly say that I don’t have any preference there.

Alexandra asks:

When reading a query, how do you decide whether to ask for a partial (or more) or flat out reject it?

Hi Alexandra,

I tend to trust my instincts and I usually know very quickly from a query whether it’s something that seems like it could be right for me or not.  Also, I really do appreciate a thoughtful, professional query.  It’s nice to see that someone has clearly done their homework and can explain their work in a clear, concise way and demonstrate an understanding of where their book fits into the market.  It’s also helpful to know why someone has chosen to query me, and that I’m not just one of many agents getting the exact same letter.  At the end of the day, the work will speak for itself, but your chances of getting a request (from just about any agent, I would say) will be exponentially higher if you do those things.

Kristi Helvig asks:

Due to a variety of factors, the responsibility of publicity is falling more and more to the author. Aside from building an online presence, do you have any other marketing suggestions for aspiring authors?

Hi Kristi,

I think that’s true.  One thing not to underestimate is the importance of getting to know your local independent bookstore.  Shop at the store consistently over time, introduce yourself, and get to know the staff.  Although I’m sure the staff at the store will be friendly if you walk in with your book to show them, it’ll be even better if you’ve been supporting the store as a customer over time.  It’s always nice to have a home base like this where you can do a launch event.  In general, building from your community can be very helpful.  Once you have a release date, see if there’s a local paper that might consider doing a story on you, or any local organizations you can speak to.  Speaking at school and libraries is always an excellent idea, as well. I know this all sounds a bit old-fashioned, but it really does work.

Sharon Roat asks:

You represent some of the top writers/illustrators whose books appeal to middle grade boys (John Scieszka, Lane Smith, Adam Rex). My 10-yr-old son is a big reader, and loves them (I do too). What do you see on the YA shelves that will keep boys reading, and what would you like to see more of from YA authors?

Hi Sharon,

Thank you.  The notion of making sure that boys keep reading is something that’s very important to me.  I did want to take this opportunity to say that Jon Scieszka recently relaunched www.guysread.com and Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins will be publishing the first volume in the Guys Read Library, “Funny Business,” this Fall.  It features original short stories from Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, Jack Gantos, Christopher Paul Curtis, Jeff Kinney, Kate DiCamillo, and others.  Here’ a trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCd9ln6Y5Cs

All of the people mentioned above write great material for boys.  In terms of true YA (as opposed to older middle grade), Adam Rex’s new novel, FAT VAMPIRE, is fantastic, but it’s certainly on the older side of YA.  I do think there’s some great YA stuff out there for boys, and some recent ones that come to mind are MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD, LEVIATHAN, THE ARRIVAL, and THE BOOK THIEF.

Again, it’s hard to nail down exactly what I’m looking for in this genre, but I will say that I do always love humor. 

Tamara asks:

When it comes to YA, paranormal is so popular. Are editors still interested in mainstream YA, or in other words, projects with no paranormal elements?

Hi Tamara,

Paranormal is indeed very popular, but I absolutely think that publishers are still as interested as ever in mainstream YA, and there have been big recent successes that weren’t paranormal. 

Katharina Gerlach asks:

Is it a problem if the author does not live in the US, GB or Down Under (especially if (s)he lives in a country where English is not the first language)?

Hi Katharina,

I don’t think this is necessarily a problem.  It’s always good to be available to come to the US to meet with your publisher at some point, but living in a foreign country certainly isn’t prohibitive.  My client, Yoko Tanaka, currently lives in Thailand.

Tunescribble asks:

How do you think the addition of an interactive component for ebooks will modify the writing and publishing process? Do you think that evolution will be confined mainly in the younger genres?

Hi Tunescribble,

This is certainly an issue that we’re all watching very carefully.  The landscape is changing and it can be a bit unsettling on one level, as it’s such unchartered territory.  On the other hand, I don’t think new technology is something to be scared of – it can be used in interesting ways to work with words and pictures.  I’m always going to be partial to good old-fashioned books, personally, but I think it’s important to remain open minded on this front.  Publishers are all experimenting with these new formats, and I think it’s hard to say exactly how it will shake out, but I do think it’s here to stay.  I actually think picture books will be the final frontier and the last to cross over, but I think you’ll start seeing more and more middle-grade and young adult ebooks that have some sort of enhanced feature.

Kai asks:

You sign a client when you are excited about a project.  What happens when the next project they submit to you is something you don't feel you can get behind?  Do you work with client to mold the project into something more enticing or is client on their own with that one?

Hi Kai,

If that happens, I’m honest with my client and I’ll express my feelings about what isn’t working for me.  One way or another – through revision, discussion, or both – we’ll reach a resolution, but it’s an open dialogue. I do think it’s more important than ever for writers to be strategic about what they put out there, and you really do want to always be raising the bar on yourself to always put our your best work.

Ruth Donnelly asks:

Steven, from your impressive client list, I see that you represent some well-known chapter book series authors (Cynthia Rylant, Sara Pennypacker...) Can you talk about querying a single chapter book vs. a series? The common wisdom is to query one book at a time; does that also hold true for chapter books, or would an agent or editor want to see ideas/outlines for subsequent books? I'd also love to hear any other thoughts you have about the current chapter book market.

Hi Ruth,

The chapter book is definitely something that needs to be considered on its own and the rules tend to be a bit different.  Series really are essential, as you’ll rarely see single title chapter books unless they’re part of a larger program.  The challenge is that this market is largely dominated by a few brand-name series, so single title books tend to get swallowed up on the shelf.  You need to have a critical mass of books before you can really make a dent in this market, so if you’re proposing a chapter book, you’ll really want to have at least one book written, but also have ideas for at least 3 or 4 more books in the series.  Because chapter books really do need to be launched as series, publishers are extremely selective, as the commitment is larger, so it’s a challenging market to break into.  However, when something catches on, it tends to really work over a long period of time.

Mike P asks:

Now, if Steve or an another agent has read a novel they requested from a writer and passed on it it, would it be okay to requery the novel if it has been significantly revised with focus on said agent's feedback?

Hi Mike P,

If an agent has given you specific feedback, and you’ve revised the novel along those lines, I absolutely think it’s fine to requery.  Just be sure to  reference that in your letter.

Janet Johnson asks:

What do you read when you aren't working? Or is that ever?

Hi Janet,

I tend to read almost exclusively non-fiction when I’m reading for fun these days. I particularly enjoy biographies and really like reading about people I admire.  I just finished reading an excellent book about Bill Walsh, the former football coach, called THE GENIUS by David Harris.  I subsequently read Bill Walsh’s own book called THE SCORE TAKES CARE OF ITSELF.   And I recently finished a fascinating book about the history of baseball cards called MINT CONDITION by Dave Jamieson.  What can I say, I’m a sports fanatic.

Elizabeth Lynd asks:

So, a lot of yet-unpublished writers have a manuscript or two that's "under the bed," and some of those really need to stay there. Others, though, might be pretty good, just not good enough (yet). When an agent takes on a new client based on the current project, how likely is it that s/he looks at those older manuscripts and reps them as well? And what kind of help (varies from agent to agent, obviously) should a writer expect for these? Also, will the agent perhaps shop them with the new manuscript for a two- or three-book deal? And how common is all this--or is it more likely the old manuscripts pull a permanent Rumplestiltskin?

Hi Elizabeth,

I think this really varies from agent to agent.  My own philosophy is that its important to be as focused as possible, so I think you want to go out with your strongest project.  If the other books have possibilities but aren’t ready, they can be worked on over time, but if they’re truly just not working for whatever reason, there’s no reason to force it.  You really do want to take a very long view, and think about what’s ultimately going to serve you the best when you make these decisions.

Casey asks:

What do you wish more writers understood about you as a literary agent?

Hi Casey,

One thing I’d love to emphasize is that although some of the things that I say when I’m turning down a manuscript may sound like clichés, such as the fact that this business is subjective and there’s someone else out there who will love this manuscript, they really are very true and things that I truly believe.  There are so many examples of people who took a long time to find the right fit and received many rejections along the way, only to finally end up with just the right person and be very successful.  As I’ve said in other interviews and speeches, it’s crucial to always look at the big picture and not rush yourself – that’s the biggest mistake a writer can make and it can truly derail a career.  I understand that the process of seeking representation can feel like a roller coaster ride and test your will, but you really do deserve an agent who really connects with your work, and you shouldn’t ever settle for less. 

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Awesome answers, right?  I love Steven's explanation of voice.  Everyone, please take a moment to thank Steven in the comments.  He answered way more questions than the average interview and gave us a healthy chunk of his time.  Thanks Steven!  You rock!

Agent Spotlight: Chris Richman

This week's Agent Spotlight features Chris Richman of Upstart Crow Literary.

About: "Chris Richman received his undergraduate degree in professional writing from Elizabethtown College, and an MA in Writing from Rowan University. A former playwright, contributor to The Onion, and sketch comedy writer, Chris broke into agenting in 2008 and has quickly made a name for himself by selling several noteworthy projects. Chris is actively building his list, enjoys working with debut writers, and is primarily interested in middle grade and young adult fiction, with a special interest in books for boys, books with unforgettable characters, and fantasy that doesn't take itself too seriously." (Link)

Read more about Chris Richman by following the link on his bio.

Status: Accepting submissions and actively building his list.

What He's Looking For:

Genres of interest: Children's middle grade and young adult.

From the website:

"Chris is actively building his list, enjoys working with debut writers, and is primarily interested in middle grade and young adult fiction, with a special interest in books for boys, books with unforgettable characters, and fantasy that doesn't take itself too seriously." (Link)

From AgentQuery:

"He is especially interested in books that turn common themes on their heads, books that cause him to laugh in public, and books with well-earned twists ..." (Link)

From an Interview (05/2010):

"I am absolutely seeking new clients. I’m starting to shift completely into new client mode. I’ve been very picky with the material I’ve taken on—in two years I’ve signed only eight projects out of literally thousands—and I’m ready to discover more exciting authors to add to my list. In terms of what I’m seeking, I’m beginning to get a reputation for the “funny boy” books. Part of that is my own background in comedy, and part of it’s because I truly believe there’s a place in the market for these types of projects. I’m a really tough critic, though, when it comes to funny material, so if an author is going to attempt it, they have to make sure it’s really funny, and not merely a collection of fart and burp jokes. Despite my call for boy books, my two most recent sales were for teen girl books. Go figure! I’m mostly seeking standout voices—a teen version of Jonathan Lethem, Annie Dillard, or Kurt Vonnegut—or really terrific and original concepts." (Link)

From the Upstart Blog (01/2010):

"Genuinely hilarious: Humor is tough. I get it. It’s also incredibly subjective. I’ve found, though, that because I say I’m looking for funny books for boys, I tend to see lots of submissions featuring farting, barfing, barfing that smells like a fart, or kids farting on barf. Sure, those things can be funny (even writing that last ridiculous sentence made me chuckle), but it takes more than gross humor to sustain an entire book. I want the sort of humor that makes me read sections out loud to annoyed friends and family. I want humor that arises out of witty dialogue, well-realized situations, and general madcapery (I just made that word up). Some books I read recently that really made me laugh include M.T. Anderson’s Whales on Stilts, Josh Lieb’s I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President, and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.

"Sports-themed, but about more than just sports: I started writing specific information and examples before realizing the topic of sports books will require a separate post. Simply put, I want books that are about more than just the featured sport and stay away from common clichés like the triumph of the underdog or the awesome-athlete-who-falls-from-grace-and-then-redeems-him/herself. More in a later blog update!

"Classic: While this can apply to teen, I’m speaking more about middle grade here. I have a soft spot for books that feel like they could have been written thirty years ago without too many major adjustments. These types of stories often withstand the test of time and don’t become dated as easily as stories fully dependent on technology, trends, and dialect from 2010. Think about Harry Potter: aside from some technologies from the Muggle world, Harry and company could have lived in the 1970s just as easily as the late 1990s/early 2000s.

"Re-envisionings of a classic story/mythology: I’m crazy for the Percy Jackson books for how they pull from and send up Greek mythology, and I’m generally a sucker for works that reinvent or reimagine classic works.I’d love to be able to pitch a project by saying, “It’s King Lear set on a farm in Iowa from the daughters’ perspectives” (Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres) or “It’s Beowulf…WITH MONKEYS!” Okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the point.

"Steampunk: I know, I know, this is a buzz word being bandied about and could be a trend that comes and goes, but there’s something fun about steampunk books that I’m finding very compelling right now. In five months I could decide I’m over it, but for right now, I’d love to see a really cool, inventive book in this category.

"Books that fill a hole in the market I wasn’t aware existed: A brief trip to the bookstore will show you the popular trends in childrens’ literature. Vampires, angels, and post-apocalyptic thrillers are dominating the shelves. Rather than write to the trend that currently exists, however, one way to potentially win me over is by convincing me that there’s a hot topic that hasn’t currently been tackled yet. I realize this goes directly against my desire for timeless stories and against my general advice to avoid chasing trends, but occasionally there are trends among kids that we may not even be fully aware of from our isolated New York bubbles. Are kids joining invention clubs? Playing non-stop canasta? Really into the early recordings of Lou Reed? I’m being flippant here, but I am legitimately interested in what kids are drawn to. Of course, identifying these trends is only the first step: you’ll need to then create a compelling story and prove you can maintain a career as a writer beyond one manuscript to really catch my eye." (Link)

From an Inteview (11/2009):

"I'm definitely looking for projects with something timeless at their core, whether it's the emotional connection a reader feels to the characters, or the universal humor, or issues that are relevant now and will still be relevant years from now. Can readers truly understand what it's like to be the prince of Denmark? Probably not, but they can identify with feeling disconnected from a dead loved one and the anger at watching him be replaced by a conniving uncle. I want stories that, no matter what the setting, feel true in some way to the reader." (Link)

What He Isn't Looking For:

"...nonfiction, books aimed at the educational or spiritual markets, or picture book texts and/or illustrations." (Link)

He is also not interested in chick-lit or sci-fi/fantasy that takes itself too seriously. (Link)

Editorial Agent?

Yes. "Sometimes, if a manuscript feels like it needs a lot of work, I’ll do revisions exclusively with an author before offering representation. That way we’re able to feel each other out and see if we work well together. Sometimes, the majority of the work comes after signing, especially if it’s a project that’s garnered a lot of interest from other agents, but I always am honest and upfront about how much work I think it’ll require. If what I propose doesn’t sit right with an author, I hope she will sign with another agent." (Link - see comments)

Quotables:

"I’m fairly hands-on when it comes to revisions and helping to direct a project toward its final version. I try to be available to my clients, and transparent in my dealings with both them and the editors. I’ll never say something in hopes of wooing a potential client that I don’t mean—I’ll never promise a certain amount of money or sales, for example—but I enter into each relationship with a commitment to the writer and their work." (Link)

"We definitely discuss projects at Upstart Crow. Before signing new clients, in fact, we generally share a synopsis and sample chapters with the rest of the team, including Danielle Chiotti, our adult expert. It's always great to have another set of eyes on a project to make sure that it's not only good, but saleable." (Link)

About the Agency:

"[Upstart crow] is an insult slung at the young Shakespeare in 1592 by older, more-established, but less successful playwright Robert Greene. His obvious irritation at the younger artist’s pluck and nerve is, we think, typical of the response of the old guard toward any new talent. There is something in the phrase that speaks of courage and brio and daring, and we feel we should all be upstart crows when it comes to our writing and our work." (Link)

His Advice to Writers:

"Once you’ve written the absolute best book you can, try to find agents who have represented works similar to your own, if not in concept, then in tone or style. Don’t be discouraged, however, if someone passes on your work. A large part of our jobs is saying “no,” but that makes the times we say “yes” all the more special. And if your first work fails to find a home, know when to put it aside and work on something new. It’s through hard work and dedication that a dabbler becomes a writer." (Link)

"Take your time with your stories, listen to feedback, and, when you have a real winner, send it to me!" (Link)

Dislikes:

"There are small things that drive me crazy—queries that are obviously sent out to every agent under the sun, queries where a writer promises that their project will be the next bestseller or hit movie—but I suppose queries in which a writer obviously didn’t research me or my tastes at all tend to frustrate me." (Link)

"One of my biggest pet peeves is when writers try to stuff too much exposition into dialogue rather than trusting their abilities as storytellers to get information across." (Link w/example)

Web Presence:

Upstart Crow website.

Upstart Crow blog.

Upstart Crow on Facebook.

Upstart Crow on Twitter.

Chris Richman on Twitter.

LinkedIn.

AgentQuery, QueryTracker, & AuthorAdvance.

Clients:

A list of clients is available on the Upstart Crow website.

Mr. Richman's clients include: Cole Gibsen, Shaun David Hutchinson, Emily Kokie, Shannon Morgan, Matt Myklusch, Cynthia Willett Sherwood, Jacqueline West, among others.

Sales:

As of this posting, Mr. Richman is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 2 deals in the last 12 months, 5 overall, and 2 six-figure+ deal. Past deals include 3 young adult and 2 middle grade. 

NOTE: PM is usually not a complete representation of sales.

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes.

Snail-Mail: No.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

"Interested writers may submit a QUERY and TWENTY PAGES of their manuscripts. Please put your query and sample in the body of the email, we will not open emailed attachments. If your submission is received by our system, an automated response will be emailed to you."

See the Upstart Crow website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines. A no from one Upstart agent is a no from all. (Link)

Response Times:

Stated response time is 8 weeks, though Mr. Richman tries for 1 month on queries and 2 weeks on requested materials. I'm seeing a range from a day to around 6 weeks on queries, and a month does seem to be the average. Requested material generally falls in the 2-3 weeks range.

What's the Buzz?

Chris Richman is a relatively new agent, representing clients since 2008, but he's already made a strong name for himself. He has a small but talented clientele, several impressive sales, the backing of a passionate agency, and a quality web presence. As well as being a popular conference goer, he's active on both the Upstart Crow blog and Twitter, so definitely follow along and get a feel for his personality.

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

Agent Interview: Chris Richman, Upstart Crow at Alice Pope's SCBWI Market Blog (05/20010).

Agent Advice Interview with Christ Richman of Upstart Crow Literary at the Guide to Literary Agents blog (11/2009).

On the Website:

Upstart Crow FAQ.

The Upstart Crow Writers' Toolbox.

Check out the Upstart Crow schedule of events to see where Mr. Richman will be speaking in the upcoming months.

Blogs Posts of Interest:

25 Words or Less (05/2010).

Sports Books, including details on how to write them what he's looking for (02/2010).

My 2010 Wishlist (01/2010).

More of you FAQ Answered (09/2009).

Some of your FAQ Answered (09/2009).

Following the Rules (08/2009).

On Requesting 20 Pages (08/2009).

New vs. Established Agents (08/2009).

This is only a sampling! Follow the Upstart Crow blog and dig through the archives for more great tips and info.

Around the Web:

You can read client Shaun Hutchinson's query letter here.

You can read Agent Appreciation Day posts here and here.

Notes from a SCBWI Midsouth Conference on Hooking an Agent and Finding the Right Agent (09/2009).

Notes on a First Page Session including Chris Richman from SCBWI-NJ at Serendipity (03/2005).

Mr. Richman's pitch winners for a QueryTracker Blog contest.

Contact:

Please see the Upstart Crow web site 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(dot)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.

Tip Tuesday #38

Do you guys remember Ryan? I thought you'd like to know that his hard work and patience paid off. He recently signed with Steven Malk (congrats Ryan!). But, I'm actually bringing him up because he sent in a tip for the week (as much as this is turning into Malk-week, the timing is totally coincidental, I swear). He doesn't have a website or blog up yet, but it's in the works. I'll let you know when we can commence blog-stalking.

Here's his tip:

My biggest motivation in writing is keeping a writing log. I always write down a) date b) chapter c) time spent d) words written e) running total of words in the project. By forcing myself to do so, I frequently push further than I normally would have. I don't so much care about time, but if I've written 850 words, say, I'll want to push it to 1000, and sometimes if I go over that, I'll try to just keep going to 1200 or 1500. One night, I would have stopped at 800, but I pushed further a couple of times until I got to 2000. Beyond the fact that I tend to write more, I also can go back afterward and find out how much time I spent on certain things, what speed I wrote at, and better predict when I'll be done.

Wow, Ryan. You're awesomely organized. I've kept word count logs with dates but never thought to keep track of time spent. I bet that's a great reminder on slow days, knowing how much you can get done in X amount of time. Thanks again for the tip!

Readers: Do you keep a writing log? Consider giving it a try!

Question Cut Off

Good morning!

We've got plenty of questions for the Q&A. Thank you to all who sent one or two in. Most of you followed the instructions and I really appreciate that. I'll post the Q&A as soon as I can.

Thanks!

Q&A with Steven Malk of Writers House

Hey everyone!

I have an exciting opportunity for you. Super agent Steven Malk of Writers House has graciously agreed to do a Q&A with you, Literary Rambles's blog readers!

You'll be e-mailing me your questions but please read the following details before you do.

I'll take questions for approximately 24 hours or until we're entirely too flooded. Steve is going to answer as many as possible but won't be answering all of them, especially since there are bound to be repeats and similarities.

Be original! However, to increase the likelihood of your question being answered, please refrain from asking situation-specific questions. He'd prefer not to receive these, and the best questions will be those that benefit everyone. I also ask that you limit yourself to one question per person, two at the most. When you send your question, please leave the name or screename you'd like your question posted under when the Q&A goes up.

I'll put up a post as soon as we're closed to new questions, and the Q&A will be posted later in the week after Steve has had time to answer.

For information on Steven Malk and what he's looking for, please check out his Spotlight.

Ready? Go! E-mail me your questions at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com. Feel free to ask clarification questions in the comments.

UPDATE! We're all full-up on questions. Thanks everyone!!!!! The Q&A should be posted later this week or early next week.

Agent Spotlight: Kathleen Ortiz

This week's Agent Spotlight features Kathleen Ortiz of Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation.

Status: CLOSED to submissions until August 1, 2011 (Link).

About: “As a former online editor and interactive designer, I use my experience in online marketing to help authors build their communities and promote themselves and their books. I look past the pages of a story and think of ways to help authors reach more readers so they can interact with the characters and their world.

“As subrights director, I handle foreign, audio and digital rights for the agency. I have an intimate list of clients, with Jaime Reed's debut YA paranormal romance, LIVING VIOLET, book one of the Cambion Chronicles, coming out by Kensington in January 2012.

“I am currently closed to submissions (except conference requests) until August 1, 2011.

“You can find me on Twitter or visit my blog for more information or updates on the publishing industry.” (Link)

About the Agency:

"Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation is a full service, boutique literary agency.

"Our guiding philosophy is to make the author's publishing experience as rewarding as possible within today's challenging publishing atmosphere. We are highly selective and keep our client list small so we can be involved in all aspects of bringing a book to its widest audience, from getting the manuscript submission-ready, to negotiating the most advantageous contracts, to advising the author on post-publication book promotion.

"Our clients range from first-time writers to well established authors in both adult and children's literature, New York Times and USA Today bestsellers as well as award-winning authors. Our focus is on building careers, and we look for a strong storytelling voice combined with the writing ability, whether commercial or literary, to bring that voice to life." (Link)

What She's Looking For:

Info pulled as she is currently closed to subs.  Check back August 2011.

What She Isn't Looking For:

Picture books, adult works, screenplays, poetry, textbooks, and books in need of translation.

Quotables:

"I personally don't look at the little details when considering an MS for representation. I can't speak for all agents, but I'm fairly certain there isn't an agent who has received an MS free of errors. Just make sure it's as polished as possible - this is where the rule of thumb of "sticking the MS in a drawer, forgetting about it, and coming back a few weeks/months later" comes in handy. You'll be surprised how many things you find in the later review that you didn't catch the first few times." (Link)

Her Advice to Writers:

"If this is what you want, don’t stop practicing your craft and gaining experience. Conferences, critique groups, even Twitter chats like #kidtlitchat and #yalitchat can be SO much help when you’re starting out. Use all the tools available to you to help improve your craft." (Link)

"Something I've been seeing a lot of recently are fabulous opening chapters (typically the first 3 or first 30 pages) and then after I request the full, it feels as though someone else wrote it. I have a hunch this is typically from those writers who enter and win partial critiques. If this is the case, you must apply the revisions to the entire manuscript - not just the first section that was critiqued." (Link)

Dislikes:

Not following submission guidelines.  Querying a genre she doesn't represent. Using "Dear Sir." Etc.  (Interview w/details).

There's also a healthy list of unprofessional query tactics in this post on Query Etiquette at Neverending Page Turner by Ms. Ortiz.

And... even more Query Blunders in this post at OPWFT.

Editorial Agent?

Yes, she makes revisions requests and gives editorial guidance as needed.

"I've never signed, or seen for that matter, an MS that is ready to go from the start. I don't believe a manuscript like that will ever cross my inbox, and that's ok. It's a really subjective business and even if it's something as minor as a few comma issues, everyone's going to read it differently and have input." (Link)

Web Presence:

Nancy Coffey Literary website.

Blog - Neverending Page Turner.

Publisher's Marketplace page.

Twitter.

QueryTracker.

Clients:

Dawn Miller, Jamie Reed, Jennifer Walkup with more to come!

Sales:

Unknown.  As of this posting, Ms. Ortiz does not appear to have her own account with Publisher's Marketplace and no deals are listed under her name. 

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes.  

Snail-Mail: Yes.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

CLOSED to submissions until August 1, 2011.

Query Tips:

"Even if the rest of the query isn’t as stellar as it should be, if you have a great hook, I’m requesting pages. I totally get that some people just have issues with queries and that’s ok with me. But you have to grab me somehow. I’m also a big fan of personalization. A lot of agents don’t care how you say you found them, but I like when writers put a little effort." (Link)

See the "Dislikes" section above and the "Worth Your Time" section below for more tips, if you missed them.

Response Times:

Ms. Ortiz's stated response time on queries is two weeks and six on requested materials (I believe).  True response times fall anywhere from minutes to several weeks on queries with an average around around two weeks, and just days up to six weeks on requested materials with an average around three weeks.

What's the Buzz?

Ms. Ortiz has great online buzz.  Her online presence through blogging and twitter make her popular among aspiring authors, and she's known for having a fun, approachable personality and love of slush.  She's a newer agent who's actively building her list, so she's hungry for great new talent. 

Definitely follow her blog and twitter to stay up-to-date on preferences and peeves and get a feel for her personality.  She keeps a list of conferences she'll be attending on her blog, and she regularly participates in informative twitter sessions such as #yalitchat, #kidlitchat, #askagent, etc.

Worth Your Time:

Interviews and Q&As:

Interview with Kathleen Ortiz, Literary Agent at YA Highway (03/2010).

Ask Agent Session with Kathleen Ortiz on AbsoluteWrite (05/2010).

Blogs Posts of Interest by Ms. Ortiz at the Neverending Page Turner:

So Pretty Sweet News…(05/2011).

Cool Writers Club, Queries, Partials, etc (04/2010).

Query Etiquette (03/2010).

Query Etiquette Part 2 (03/2010).

Writer Advice: Blunt and Uncensored (link to client post) (03/2010). 

My Road to Publishing (02/2010).

Synop-what? (02/2010).

Enlightening query and partial stats (with tips and commentary): 05/05/2010, 04/28/2010,  03/05/2010, 02/17/2010, 02/16/2010.

Ms. Ortiz also does fun contests and giveaways, so make sure you subscribe and keep up with the latest and greatest.  

Around the Web:

Keep an eye on the Nancy Coffey website for news and happenings.  There's also an Events page on the website for conferences and events.

Subscribe to the Coffey. Tea. And Literary blog for other news and keep an eye on the Query Log, if you're querying.

NYC Publishing Tips: The Movie! featuring Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Michelle Andelman, Laura Whitaker, Suzie Townsend and Kathleen Ortiz.

Query Blunders Take Two: Agent Stories at OPWFT featuring Kathleen Ortiz.

Contact:

Please see the Nancy Coffey Literary website for contact and query information.

Profile Details:

Last updated: 5/4/11.

Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.

Last Reviewed By Agent?  5/21/10

***

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

Tip Tuesday #37

I'm in need of tips for the upcoming weeks, so if you have one to share, please send it in!

Today I'm going to list out some free online communities for writers looking to connect and find support. I find myself recommending forums all the time via e-mail, so I thought it would be good to list some out here and then have you add to the list in the comments.

Larger, active forums:

Verla Kay's Message Board for Children's Writers and Illustrators.
AbsoluteWrite Water Cooler.
Teenlitauthors (yahoo group).
Inkwell (ning).

Smaller forums looking to grow:

Chalk Talk
Unleashed Reviews
The Writers Chronicle (I used to post here, but it's looking dead!)

Your turn! What other free online communities can you suggest?

The League of Extraordinary Writers

An awesome new blog debuted today! The League of Extraordinary Writers is open for your viewing and following pleasure, featuring five 2011 debut authors who write sci-fi and dystopian fiction.

In their words:

"We'll be exploring books, movies, and television; interviewing authors; reviewing dystopian works; and introducing you to our own new works. With a new blog post by a different author every weekday, you're sure to find something you enjoy!"

Sounds great, huh? They're also having a Prize Pack giveaway with signed goodies! Check it out.

Interview with Me at Dark Angel

Hey all -

I've been super busy and will be swamped with school work all weekend, but I wanted to share an interview I did for Sherry at Dark Angel's Blog.

Please check it out. I'll be stopping by for comments and questions, so if you have any feel free to ask there!

Have a great weekend!

Agent Spotlight: Kate Schafer Testerman

This week's Agent Spotlight features Kate Schafer Testerman of kt literary.

Status: Open to submissions, actively seeking new clients.

About: "After nearly ten years with industry powerhouse agency Janklow & Nesbit Associates, Kate Schafer Testerman formed kt literary in early 2008, where she concentrates on middle grade and YA fiction as well as handling some select adult commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. Bringing to bear the experience of working with a large agency, she enjoys concentrating on all aspects of working with her authors, offering hands-on experience, personal service, and a surfeit of optimism.

"Kate is a graduate of the University of Delaware’s Honors Program, a former cast member of the New York Renaissance Faire, and an avid collector of shoes. Her interests cover a broad range including teen chick lit, urban fantasy and magical realism, adventure stories, and romantic comedies. She is an active member of the SCBWI and AAR." (Link)

About the Agency:

"kt literary is a full-service literary agency operating out of Highlands Ranch, in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, where every major publishing house is merely an email or phone call away. We believe in the power of new technology to connect writers to readers, and authors to editors. We bring over a decade of experience in the New York publishing scene, an extensive list of contacts, and a lifetime love of reading to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains." (Link)

Web Presence:

kt literary website.

Publisher's Marketplace page.

kt literary blog.

AAR profile.

Google profile.

Facebook.

Twitter.

AgentQuery, QueryTracker.

What She's Looking For:

Genres / Specialties: 

“We are looking for brilliant, funny, original middle grade and young adult fiction, both literary and commercial, in all genres.” (Link)

From an Interview (11/2009):

"I feel like my cup runneth over a bit in terms of the quality and quantity of YA submissions I receive, but I would love to see more great middle grade novels, particularly those you'd call 'boy books.'" (Link)

From a Contest (04/2009):

"As always, I'm a sucker for a good romantic comedy -- my first choice would be one for a YA audience, but I love women's fiction as well. Some editor friends and I were lamenting the lack of a good Veronica Mars-esque teen detective story, so I'd love to find one of those, and as a former theatre geek, ice skater, and gymnast, I'd love to find YA novels that truly delve into those worlds as well. Beyond that, my interests get more general: adventure stories that keep me up too late reading, especially for middle grade, romances that make me swoon, and anything that makes me laugh out loud. I concentrate on YA and middle grade fiction, women's fiction, and do the very rare popculture narrative nonfiction -- something like Around the World in 80 Dates or Round Ireland With a Fridge." (Link)

See the submission guidelines on the kt literary website for up-to-date details.

What She Isn't Looking For:

From a 2008 post:

"Literary fiction, to start. I like a rousing story, and it seems to me most adult literary fiction is more about language and beautiful prose than plot. Mainstream thrillers, hardboiled detective stories, traditional westerns, high fantasy, cold war spy novels, cosies (or is that cosys?) Lots of different types of adult fiction, really, although some of these genres, if well told in a YA or middle grade novel, might be right up my alley." (Link)

She's also not interested in picture books at this time.  (Link)

Quotables:

"Lots of times, I’ll be really intrigued by a plot, but be disappointed when it comes to reading the chapters, because the narrative voice didn’t live up to the originality of the plot. Of course, voice alone doesn’t work – it still needs a plot. I think Andrew Karre of Flux said something similar, and I bet a lot of other editors and agents would agree. Sometimes it’s a concept, but I need the voice to work for me as well." (Link)

Her Advice to Writers:

"Read everything you can get your hands on!  Read novels in your genre, read books about writing, read author blogs.  And know that just finishing a manuscript, while a personal triumph, doesn't mean your novel is ready to be shopped.  Learn to love to edit, and find a critique group." (Link)

Dislikes:

"In queries, telling me what happens without spending time allowing me to invest in the character. Without that connection, I don't care what happens. I also hate being told that that everything out there in the market is bad, or that the author couldn't find anything good to read, so they decided to write a book themselves. It's insulting to me and to my clients." (Link)

See the "Worth Your Time" blog section below for links to other query don'ts and dislikes.

Editorial Agent?

Yes. "I like to think of myself as a "big picture" editor for my clients. Often when I'm considering a manuscript for representation, I can see ways in which the manuscript can be improved. I like to have a conversation with the author and talk about these possible revisions, see if they mesh well with the author's own thought about their novel. Usually, I will ask for a revision even before officially signing a client, so I can see how they work with editorial suggestions. It's not a line edit, however, I might comment on the pacing of the plot, the characters' motivations and how they're expressed, parts I like and want to see more of, and parts that might detract from the bigger story." (Link)

Clients:

A list of clients is available on the kt literary website.  Clients include:

Sara Beitia, Josie Bloss, Ellen Booraem, Susan Casamento, Kater Cheek, Matthew Cody,  Trish Doller, S. Terrell French, Kiki Hamilton, Carrie Harris, Julie Karr, Maureen Johnson, Stephanie Perkins, Sara Raasch, Ransom Riggs, Daniel Rogge, Susan Sandmore, Thomas E. Sniegoski, Amy Spalding, Lili Wilksonson.

Sales:

As of Jan 2012, Ms. Testerman is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 4 deals in the last 12 months and 18 overall.  Recent deals include 3 young adult and 1 international rights. 

NOTE:  PM is usually not a complete representation of sales.

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes (only.)

Snail-Mail: No.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

Send a query letter and the first three pages of your manuscript in the body of the e-mail.  No attachments.  E-mails with attachments will be deleted unread.  Put “Query” along with the title of your manuscript in the subject line. If you've submitted to Kate in the past and she requested pages, do say so in your query.  If she requests, she will usually request the first five chapters and a complete synopsis.  The synopsis should include the full plot of the book including the conclusion.  No teasers.

See the kt literary website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.

Response Times:

The agency's stated response time is two weeks, which seems accurate.  Response data shows a range of less than 24 hours up to two weeks (with an average around one).  Requested materials range from a couple weeks to 3 months, most falling in the one- to two-month range.

What's the Buzz?

Kate Schafer Testerman has fabulous buzz.  Her presence in social media and willingness to help with queries and questions on her blog and via Twitter make her very popular among aspiring authors, published authors, and the kidlit community as a whole.  She's a member of SCBWI, the AAR, and is actively making sales.  Her clients seem very happy with her. 

Definitely follow her blog and on Twitter to learn more and get a feel for her character. 

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

Live Panel of Industry Professionals: Kate Testerman, Martha Mihalick, Joanna Volpe, Jen Rofe, Diana Fox at WriteOnCon (08/2011).

Live Industry Professional Panel (Michelle Andelman, Molly O’Neill, Kate Testerman) at WriteOnCon (08/2010).

Booklovers Interview with Kate Schafer Testerman at Kay Cassidy's site (01/2010).

Agent Advice Interview with Kate Schafer Testerman at the Guide to Literary Agents Blog (11/2009).

Interview with Kate Schafer Testerman at A View From the Top (11/2009).

Marvelous Market Interview with Kate Schafer Testerman at Market My Words (08/2009). 

Agent Interview: Kate Schafer Testerman at Literary Life (06/2009).

Interview with an Agent: Kate Schafer at Teen Book Review (03/2008).

Blog Stuff:

Definitely check out the Ask Daphne blog for an invaluable amount of information (check the archives too!).  Her Quarterly Status Updates, Live Blogs, and Ask Daphne About My Query posts may be of particular interest.

Do’s and Don’t’s of Querying by literary agent Kate Testerman at WriteOnCon (08/2010).

Are You Ready to Query by Kate Testerman at WriteOnCon (08/2012).

Around the Web:

You can read Agent Appreciation Day posts by clients here, here, and here.

Kate’s love story behind moving to Colorado and founding kt literary at Media Bistro.

Kate Schafter Testerman was the April 2009 Secret Agent at Miss Snark's First Victim.  You can read through the archives to see what she said in her critiques.

Fun fact:  She is the author of THE KING'S SISTER.

Contact:

Please see the kt literary website for contact and query information.

Profile Details:

Last updated: 1/10/12.

Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.

Last Reviewed By Agent? 5/19/10.

***

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

Tip Tuesday #36

Today's tip was sent in by Deren Hansen. Deren blogs at The Laws of Making. Please give him a visit and consider following. Here's his tip!

Once upon a time computers only displayed text in a soothing shade of green or amber. Then came graphical interfaces will colors, bells, whistles, and all sorts of distractions. Several enterprising developers with retro sensibilities now offer "Distraction-free" editors. While no longer restricting you to green characters, these editors give you nothing but a blank screen and your words. Having an editor in which I could focus entirely on my words has helped me use my limited writing time well.

I use a Windows package called Write Monkey [http://writemonkey.com/]. There are similar packages for the Mac.

Of course, life is ever as simple as it should be and Write Monkey has its drawbacks, most of which come back to the fact that it is a text editor, not a word processor. This means that you get plain double quotes instead of the nice opening and closing quotes that Word supplies as you type. Also, Write Monkey doesn't convert a pair of dashes into an em-dash (again, like Word). I turned this liability into a feature: after writing about a chapter with Write Monkey, I import the text into Word and use the fact that quotes and em-dashes need to be corrected as an excuse to edit the new material.

I have a longer note about Write Monkey on my blog at http://blog.derenhansen.com/2010/04/writing-technology-green-screens.html

Deren, I love the idea of a distraction-free window. It would work really well with the "unplug" hours I've been doing. I think I'll try combining the two. I'm bound to get some writing done then!

WINTERGIRLS Winner!

Monday rocked, did it not?!  Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and Spread the Awesome.  I hope you won, bought, and discovered some awesome new books. 

To pick the winner of the signed copy of WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson, I listed everyone out and assigned numbers.  If you spread the word you got an extra entry.  If you were an international commenter I put you down as a chance for my local high school to win.  I checked the list twice!  There were 89 entries with the extras. 

Then... I used the Random.org to generate a number between 1 and 89

                              

 

Commenter number 40!!!!!!!  I checked the list.  And the winner of this fabulousness is.....

 

Taffy  

 

Congratulations Taffy!!!  I'll be e-mailing you shortly. 

If you didn't win PLEASE support Laurie and buy a copy.  If you're interested in purchasing a signed copy Indiebound, feel free to e-mail at caseymccormickya(at)gmail(dot)com for deets. 

A quick WELCOME to my new followers.  Feel free to speak up in the comments and tell me about yourself and your blog.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Agent Spotlight: Tracey Adams

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

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 Taekwondo, kickboxing, and test-marketing children's books with her two daughters." (Link)

Status: Accepting submissions.

What She's Looking For:

Genres of interest: Every age and genre of children's books from picture books to older, edgy YA. They also represent illustrators.

From the web site:

"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 its due consideration, we must admit a fondness for middle-grade and young adult novels with memorable characters and a unique voice. In particular, we're looking for literary stories, high-concept speculative fiction, unique fantasy adventure, humor, and character driven picture books. We gravitate toward the timeless, not the trendy." (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)

Quotables:

About the agency:

"Our philosophy is that we represent authors and artists, not books. As such, we don't work on a book-by-book or term basis, like some agencies do. Instead, we we work closely with our clients to intelligently manage the entirety of their children's publishing careers. We take a long-term view of the market, of our jobs—and of launching and building our clients' careers.

"Drawing upon our editorial expertise, knowledge of the industry, and extensive experience in contract negotiations, we provide editorial judgment and input, marketing consultation, rights management and long-term career planning and advice. In addition to placing and negotiating North American publishing rights, we actively market and negotiate film, UK, translation, audio, merchandising and other subsidiary rights on behalf of our clients." (Link)

Dislikes:

"I throw away anything that says "Dear Sir" immediately." (Link)

"Of course a picture book should never be illustrated by someone who is not an artist, and a rhyming text needs to rhyme. In novels, I'm turned off by telling rather than showing, whiny main characters, too much directly addressing the reader, and violence and profanity when it's only there for shock value." (Link)

Editorial Agent?

Yes. "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)

Web Presence:

Adams Literary website.

AAR.

Twitter (the best way to receive news and updates on the agency).

QueryTracker, AgentQuery, & AuthorAdvance.

Clients:

A complete list of Adams Literary clients is available on the website here. 

Clients include: Margaret Peterson Haddix, Jenny Nimmo, Geraldine McCaughrean, Cynthia Lord, Margery Cuyler, Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Coleen Paratore, Jacqueline Wilson, among many others.

Sales:

As of this posting, Ms. Adams is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 8 deals in the last 12 months, 45 overall, and 1 six-figure+ deal.  Recent deals include 4 picture books, 2 middle grade, and 2 young adult.

Note: PM is usually not a complete representation of sales, and it's been verified the agency reports only a fraction of their deals.

"For various reasons (from discretion to timing issues), we do not post all our deals to Publisher's Marketplace, so numbers there are not truly representative.  We average over 60 deals per year, and have done dozens of 6-figure deals."  (via e-mail)

Query Methods:

E-mail: No.

Snail-Mail: No.  

Online-Form: Yes (only).

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

"We accept submissions and queries only through the online form on the SUBMIT page of our website. We will not review—and will promptly recycle—any unsolicited submissions or queries we receive by post. Through the online form, please attach your complete manuscript as an RTF, DOC or PDF file; for artists in particular, please send a PDF of your illustrations and/or provide your web site so we may view your art samples." (Link)

Query tips: Let them know if your submission is exclusive or non-exclusive. Notify them of any offers of representation. If you need to follow up, use their online submission form and reference your submission. 

"It should be properly addressed, include a one paragraph summary (think flap copy) of the work, and list any professional credentials relevant to children's book publishing. The ideal cover letter shows that the writer has done research on my agency, and perhaps even mentions specific authors we represent." (Link)

Via e-mail (04/2010) Mr. Adams shared the following:

"We do give priority consideration to people who've attended and met us at conferences, not only because we support SCBWI, but because we feel it's important for people to get a good sense of who we are and what we're about, since our philosophy and approach is different than other agencies. (Tracey will be at the SCBWI in NJ in June, and I'll be at the national SCBWI in LA in July-August.)"

See the Adams Literary website for the complete, up-do-date submission guidelines.

Response Times:

The agency's stated response time is 3-4 months, but I'm finding a huge range of response times from under a month up to nearly a year.  I'd say 4-5 months seems average. 

What's the Buzz?

Good!  Adams Literary is a children's book, boutique agency with an impressive list of clients and sales.  They have a great team philosophy (explained further on Josh Adams's profile) and their clients seem really pleased with their representation.  Ms. Adams in particular has great industry experience. 

Their response times can be anywhere from a month up to a year (usually several months), so there's definitely some confusion and angst out there about response times and status queries.  Given this, I wouldn't advise going the exclusive route, though they do prefer them. 

Worth Your Time:

SCBWI Bologna Interview with Tracey Adams at Cynsations (2008). 

Keep up with Adam's Literary News, Events, and Upcoming Conferences engagements on the website or by newsletter.

There's a fabulous lineup of Adams Literary's recent titles on the website.

"How I Got My Agent: Kristen O'Donnell Tubb" client story featuring Tracey and Josh Adams at the Guide to Literary Agents blog.

You can also read Kristen O'Donnell Tubb's query that worked at her blog.

Two Agents, Two Views - panel notes including Tracey Adams on Alice's CWIM Blog (2007).

You can read client Kimberly Griffith Little's "The Great Agent Hunt" story.

Google Blog Search turns up a lot of other brief panel and conference mentions. 

You might also be interested in viewing Josh Adam's and Quinlan Lee's profiles here on Lit Rambles as well.

Contact:

Please see the Adams Literary website for contact and query information.

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

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Tip Tuesday #35

Have you ever wondered how to make an image file from a screen print?  Well, the fabulous Lisa Nowak sent in another great tip with instructions on how to do just that.  Please visit her blog on your way out as thanks!

This isn’t a writing tip per se, but it is something I find helpful for blogging and other creative endeavors. With a PC there’s a simple way to create jpgs of anything you see on your screen without having special photo software. (You Mac people will have to figure out your own way to do it.)

First, locate the image you want to make a jpg of and bring it up on your screen. It can be anything on the Internet or your desktop, or even in Word (for example, I used this technique to create jpgs of two buttons on the Word toolbar).

Next, press the “PrtScrn” key on your keyboard. It should be at the upper right, above the “Insert” key.

Now open a Word document and click “Paste” (or type control “V”). You should see a small replica of whatever was on your computer screen when you pressed the “PrtScrn” key. It may look too tiny to do anything useful with, but we’re not finished, yet.

To edit the picture, right click on it. From the menu choose “Show Picture Toolbar”. The Picture Toolbar should open somewhere on your screen. Click on the “Text Wrapping” tool that looks like a little dog. Select “In Front of Text” from the pull down menu. This will allow you to move the object around on the page independent of any text. It will help in the event that you’ve pasted more than one image into the document.

Now click on the “Crop” tool, which looks like a couple of plus signs at an angle from each other. When you hover over the white adjustment squares at the edges of your image, you should see the cropping icon instead of the sizing arrow (if you don’t, click the Crop tool again). By dragging the white squares you can now crop the image.

Once you’ve cropped your image, click somewhere outside it in the document to deselect the cropping tool. When you click on the image again, you’ll see that you’re back to the resizing tool. You can now drag the white squares at the corners of your image to enlarge it.

When you have the image formatted the way you want it, it’s time to save it as a jpg. I do this with Paint, a program that comes with your PC. You can open Paint by going to “Start” then “Programs” then “Accessories”. With Paint open, go back to your Word document, select your image, and copy it. Return to Paint and paste the image. (If your image is very small, you might need to reduce the size of the white background so it doesn’t show as part of the jpg. You do this by dragging the corners.)

Once you’re image is pasted to Paint select “Save As” from the File menu. When the Save Box pops up, it should direct you to the “My Pictures” file. If you want your image to go somewhere else, select the appropriate location. Now give the image a name in the “File Name” box at the bottom. Directly below that you’ll see the “Save as Type” box. From the pull down menu, select “jpg”. Now click “Save”. You now have a jpg of your image, which you can use the same way you’d use any jpg. Because you can use this method to make an image of anything you see on your computer screen, it’s a pretty powerful tool. When you can’t find any other way to save an image, this will get the job done. Naturally you’ll want to be aware of copyright law when using other people’s images.

Thanks again, Lisa.  I think a lot of people will really appreciate this quick tutorial!