Forget leading. It's time to become a follower. I just did! And as a bonus I could win a free chat with literary agent Mark McVeigh. Come on, join me. It's easy. You could win a chat too. Here's how. Go to his blog, The McVeigh Agency Blog, become a follower, and get 10 others to do the same. That's it. It's a blog your going to want to bookmark anyway.

The blog officially launches in two weeks and promises to be loaded with interviews with publishing legends, give-aways, videos, and gossip! Plus, I have the inside scope on his upcoming interview. Stay tuned...

Thanks az-ang for the info!

OK, excuse the bad rhyme in the title. I told you before, I don’t write rhyming picture books. (I hear you breathing a sigh of relief. Me too.)

Kidlit agent Mark McVeigh is running a contest on his new blog. Well, it’s not really a contest, it’s a give-away. Of his time. Find 10 friends to follow his blog and he’ll give you a 15-minute Skype or phone chat.

So, if you follow him, let me know by leaving a comment!

(You should follow him. Don’t make me come over there and beg. It won’t be pretty.)

New Agent Q&A:
Mark McVeigh, The McVeigh Agency...

With years of editorial experience under his belt—most recently as Editorial Director for S&S imprint Aladdin Books, with prior stints at Dutton, Scholastic, Random House and HarperCollins—Mark McVeigh established The McVeigh Agency early in 2009.

"I am a very hands-on, old-school agent who likes to edit manuscripts as much as I like to negotiate deals." he says. "My favorite agents were always what I called 'honest sharks,' out to get the best deal for their client, always looking ahead, but always conduced business in such a way that everyone came away as happy as possible. In short—they had integrity and determination to represent their clients to the best of their abilities, and that’s what I aspire to."

After working in editorial for so many years, what made you put on the agent hat ?

To be honest, I've always been a strong advocate for the creative people behind the books, and agenting seemed like a new and exciting way to get even more involved with them.

You said: “If a person has a unique idea, concept, or vision and a voice, I'll do all I can to help them shape it into a manuscript that can work in today’s market.” Sounds like you plan to have a very hand-on agenting style. What will you do for your clients?

I'll always be an editor. And every editor knows the agents who spend the time to read and critique a writer's draft—working with them to make sure they're putting out their best work—before sending it out. So I anticipate working closely with authors who like feedback so that when the manuscript finally makes its way to an editor, it has been polished to a high sheen.

What type of material are you looking to represent?

I'm doing everything from adult fiction, nonfiction and art books to every kind of children's book known to humankind—and beyond! Click here for more information.

Are you open to unsolicited submissions? If so, how do you want material submitted?

E-mail queries to [email protected] are best.

Are you planning to attend any upcoming conferences or events at which writers could meet you?

I'll be making the rounds of SCBWIs--the best thing to do is check the various regional listings.

My website is up as of April 2009: www.themcveighagency.com and I hope all of your readers will visit regularly to see what my wonderful people are up to.

• For more information about all things agent, visit Chuck Sambuchino's Guide to Literary Agent's blog.
• If you'd like information about our book Guide to Literary Agents, click here.
  

All About Agents...

My Sunday morning started out with an agent panel moderated by Mark McVeigh Editorial Director of Simon & Schuster imprint Aladdin. And here's some news--Mark revealed that Aladdin is now a hardcover imprint and will be publishing picture books through novels for teens.

The panelist were Dilys Evans, president of Dilys Evans Fine Illustration; Michael Stearns, editor-turned-agent with Firebrand Literary; Michael Bourret, agent with Dystel & Goderich; and Laura Rennert, senior agent at Andrea Brown Literary.

Mark asked the panel: Why does a creative person need an agent?

Micheal Stearns: He said writers need agents for two reasons. First, to work out deals with the editor so as not to pollute the writer-editor relationship. (Or, as Mark McVeigh put it, "Let the writer make the snowballs and the agents throw them. He is very much a pro-agent editor.) And second, because agents keep on top of the market in ways that a writer cannot.

Michael Bourret: He said a writer need an agent for direction as the writer builds her career.

Laura Rennert: She said agents are the advocates to deal with situations of problems that arise as the industry changes.

More from the panelists:
Michael Bourret: He shared a success story about his author Jill Alexander whom he met at the SCBWI conference last February. (She also met her editor there). He was taken in my her a title A Hood Ornament in the N0-Jesus Christmas Parade and knew he wanted her as a client. Her book will come out next year. (He agents Sara Zarr, a National Book Award finalist.)

Laura Rennert: She describes herself as a "literary omnivore," and says she's looking for a strong voice, a voice she takes pleasure in, a new perspective, a fresh and unusual angle. (She agents NY Times bestselling author Jay Asher; and Kathleen Duey, also a National Book Award finalist.)

Dilys Evans: She says agents must establish great working relationships with their editors--they must find ways to get what they want, smiling. (Mark McVeigh referred to agents as "honest sharks.")

And I wish you all could have been there to here Dilys Evans tell stories--she was terrific.