How to use this Page

Literary Counsel is a boutique agency located in New York City.

It has two agents:

Frances Black – looking for:

•Contemporary Romance

•Mysteries

•Historical Romance

•New Adult

Jennifer Mishler looking for:

•Young Adult Romance

•Young Adult Contemporary

•Young Adult Literary

•Young Adult Historical

•New Adult

Jennifer is seeking Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Contemporary, Young Adult Literary, and Young Adult Historical.

Twitter: @literarycounsel

Visit her here: about.me/jennmishler

They only accept queries on the 1st and 2nd of each month.

Their Guidelines:

• Genres and Specialties: Romance—contemporary and historical, prior to 1930—Mystery/Crime, YA (Young Adult Novels) and New Adult. No vampires, no werewolves and no erotica.

• Please send us an EMAIL to [email protected] (this is our submission address) with a summary of your manuscript, a short biography introducing yourself, a way to contact you and ATTACH the first three chapters of your manuscript and a SYNOPSIS as a Word doc.

• Your subject line should tell us what genre your manuscript is. (Example: A Young Adult Contemporary, A Historical Romance, A Mystery)

• Please do not paste the chapters in the body of your email (it’s difficult for us to read submissions this way!)

• In your attachment, please have your title, your name and contact info in your first three chapters. Also, make sure your manuscript has page numbers.

• Please include the following information: What genre you feel your work is most like, any similar titles and who your audience is.

• Make sure everything you submit to Literary Counsel has your name included, email address and also please have page numbers.

Some advice..

• If you submit outside the submission deadlines, your manuscript WILL NOT BE READ.

• Your manuscript needs to be double spaced.

• Be professional and courteous in your approach to us. We form an impression based on your e-query, and you want it to be a good impression. Do not write your query in a rush. Take the time to write it well. Make sure your query and manuscripts are polished and error free.

• It could take up to a month to respond to your initial query letter and if we want to read more of your manuscript, we will ask for it.

•The process of reading an entire manuscript can be long. We try to read as much as we can. Please be patient.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

I was talking with Agent Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media (Agent of New York Times and international bestseller Lauren Oliver – Before I Fall, Delirium, etc.). If you attended the NJSCBWI Conference, you met both of them. Anyway, he told me about Children’s Agent and Foreign Right’s Director, Rachel Hecht, at his company who is looking to build her client list. I thought I would share her information with all of you.

As a domestic agent, Rachel is seeking children’s projects of all stripes, from picture books through to young adult fiction, as well as select fiction and non-fiction projects for adults that are wonderfully written and completely absorbing. Drawing on her experience at the forefront of children’s scouting, she loves the thrill of the hunt for new talent and enjoys working closely with authors to develop and refine their projects for submission.

“In terms of adult fiction, the strength of the voice and quality of the writing is what is most important to me.  I am seeking literary as well as upmarket/commercial projects, and would love to see projects with crossover potential as well as those that blur the boundaries between genres – especially in the thriller, fantasy, and historical categories (but a polite no thank you to straight genre writing). For nonfiction, I’m interested in memoirs, pop culture, and narrative nonfiction projects with a great hook – stories that I am unable to put down about topics I had no idea I was interested in.”

Before joining Foundry in 2011, Rachel served as the children’s book scout for Mary Anne Thompson Associates, where she provided exclusive insight into the US publishing world for a diverse roster of foreign publishers. A graduate of Kenyon College with a degree in English, she began her career in New York at Condé Nast before moving into book publishing.

Rachel Hecht accepts paper and email submissions. Please send all digital queries for Rachel [email protected]. For more information on submitting your project, please see the Foundry Submissions page.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

I personally do not know Dede Cummings, but I thought you would want to informed when a new agency opens.  Here is a little bit about Dede, her background, and what she brings to the table.

Dede Cummings started her literary career as a book designer at Little Brown & Company. Prior to working at Little Brown, she worked at David R. Godine in Boston as a designer and production editor. Design is something she loves to do, and she still designs covers and interiors of books; most notably, she is a six-time winner of the New England Book Award for a number of authors’ works, including Slow Learner by Thomas Pynchon, Voices From The Moon by Andre Dubus, a reissue of Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan, four books of poetry by Mary Oliver, and others.

She is also a publicist and literary agent for emerging writers. She’s been coined as one of the most accessible and yet well-connected agents starting out in the business. Because she is an author herself, she understands both sides of the publishing process. Dede is a 2010 graduate of the Harvard Medical School’s Department of Continuing Education course “Publishing Books, Memoirs and Other Creative Non-Fiction,” under the direction of Julie Silver, M.D. Her first book, Living With Crohn’s & Colitis: A Comprehensive Naturopathic Guide for Complete Digestive Wellness, was published in 2010 by Hatherleigh Press and distributed by Random House. She has another cookbook (Cooking Well:IBS) under the same imprint, and her third book—Questions for the Dalai Lama—is due out in 2014.

Dede holds a BA from Middlebury College in Literature where she was also a poetry contributor at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and was the recipient of the Mary Dunning Thwing Award. In 1991, she received an award to study with Hayden Carruth at the Bennington Writers’ Workshop. Dede has had her poetry published in Mademoiselle magazine and she was a Discovery/The Nation poetry semi-finalist, and she was most recently published by ConnotationPress for her poetry.

Dede has attended the National Publicity Summit in NYC where she made media contacts at this premier event. She is excited to work with writers — from Children’s picture books, YA fiction and non-fiction, to adult trade books, and she will help you think about all aspects of publishing from pitch to publicity, and even self-publishing. In its first year, the Dede Cummings Literary Agency has sold a number of books to the trade, most notably, “Wonder Woman Isn’t Bulletproof,” by Shannon Galpin, to Daniela Rapp at St. Martin’s Press.

Dede is interested in literary fiction, both adult and YA, Children’s illustrated books, self-help memoir, health and wellness. Submissions can be emailed to her at [email protected]  and usually take 6-10 weeks for review. Self- or co-publishing writers may also contact Dede at this email.

Tracy Campbell sent in this April showers illustrations.  She is a writer and an artist, living my dream. When she is not busy with her interior decorating business, she taps away on her laptop and writes for children, tweens, and teens. She also sharpens pencils, flips open paint lids, and yank off marker caps to draw and paint whimsical works of artfrom her second-floor studio in my 1841 farmhouse nestled high on a hill…assuming she doesn’t get distracted by howling coyotes marching up the gangway or by ribbon-streaked sunsets that take her breath away.  She has a whimsical shop where she sell greeting cards, inspired by all things warm and fuzzy. To view my Premier Collection, pop on over to www.tracycampbell.net/shop.html.

At Bloomsbury, Rachel Mannheimer has been promoted to editor.

Tracy Sherrod will join Amistad as editorial director on April 22. Previously she was the founder and proprietor of Tracy Sherrod Literary Services, representing Karine Steffans, Katori Hall, Kalisha Buckannon, and others (and prior to that she was an editor at Simon & Schuster).

Amistad is a division of HarperCollins, who publishes works by and about people of African descent, on subjects and themes that have significant influence on the intellectual, cultural, and historical perspectives of a world audience.

At Simon & Schuster, Nick Greene has been promoted to associate editor and Jonathan Cox moves up to assistant editor.

At Workman Publishing, Raquel Jaramillo, who has been acting creative director for two years, will return full time to her position as director of children’s publishing.

Following on Avon Impulse and Harper Teen Impulse in the US, Harper UK will launch a digital first women’s fiction and romance imprint in May. Harper Impulse, an imprint of their Harper Fiction division, aims “to find, publish and break new talent from debut authors, and import the hottest trends from the US.” Harper Fiction publishing director Kimberley Young will run the line , joined by content developer Charlotte Ledger, who worked previously at Chawton House Library as well as Mills & Boon.

They invite unrepresented submissions and are looking for everything from “short reads to epic sagas.” The company says they have received hundreds of manuscripts over the past month and have three acquisitions in the works. and has already received nearly 500 manuscripts in less than a month and has three acquisition deals in the works. Their editorial team will offer writing workshops and events “to give authors a diverse publishing experience.”

Publishers Marketplace reports: After Skyhorse and Start Publishing’s intended joint acquisition of Night Shade Books’ assets ignited public controversy over the original terms of sale (and now, after a revision, the sale “is in a holding pattern right now waiting for all the authors’ feedback”, a Skyhorse spokesperson told us) the two publishers have bought a different science fiction & fantasy publisher, Underland Press, for an undisclosed sum. The deal for the six-year-old press, according to a joint release, is part of Skyhorse and Start Publishing’s plans “to deepen their relationship to the genre community.”

Skyhorse publisher Tony Lyons said in a statement: “We are thrilled at the acquisition of Underland. We look forward to publishing 10–20 new books a year.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Jessica Regel has been with JVNLA since 2002. She maintains her own list of talented writers while also handling Film, Audio, and UK rights for the agency. Originally from Iowa, she was working at her local library when she was offered an internship at JVNLA and she promptly moved to New York City. After receiving her B.A. in English Literature from Hunter College, she became a full agent at JVNLA, representing both children’s and adult writers. With energy and persistence, Jessica works closely with her writers to develop and sell their work to publishing houses.

She is seeking: strong commercial fiction, literary fiction, edgy/hip fiction, young adult, and middle grade novels, children’s non-fiction, and narrative nonfiction. She doesn’t handle practical nonfiction, inspirational/religion, genre science fiction or fantasy, or political thrillers.

Jessica says, “I want to be fully immersed in the story from page one. If it’s funny, I want to laugh. If it’s dramatic, I want to feel connected to the characters. It’s a similar feeling any reader has when they go to the bookstore and read the first few pages of a new book. What makes you buy that book? The line, ‘But it really gets going in chapter 10′ is lost on me. No agent, editor or consumer will get to chapter 10 if they’re not interested in chapters 1-9.”

Jessica is part of the faculty at the New Jersey SCBWI June Conference and she is looking to build her list of clients. Deadline to register is April 30th.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy Temean

Tricia Lawrence is the newest agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency and attending the New Jersey SCBWI Conference in June. As associate agent, Tricia represents middle grade, young adult fiction and nonfiction and is looking to build her list of clients. She’s likes strong world building, wounded narrators, and stories that grab a reader and won’t let go. Tricia lives in Seattle, so you could say she is the “Pacific Northwest branch” of EMLA. With Ammi-Joan in New England and Erin in Arizona, they seem to have things covered, but of course, you do not have to live near an agent for them to represent you.

Tricia says, “I’m also beginning to look for younger books: picture books, early readers, chapter books as well as middle grade and young adult. I love all genres, but find that a story with a mystery is what I’m most drawn to. I love, love, love finding something new, whether it is a character that makes me laugh out loud to a character that continues to persevere in spite of everything being thrown at him/her. I would love to find books that are extremely high-concept, but that have an amazing main character. It really all comes down to character, doesn’t it?

I like historical, scifi, spec fiction, fantasy, paranormal (although the paranormal must be really original), contemporary, mystery/thriller, and adventure. I’m particularly drawn to books that focus on big educational transitions in a kid’s life (what it feels like to be leaving high school, that YA sweet spot or learning to navigate middle school coming from elementary school or learning to deal with school at all for younger readers). I must be reliving my own childhood years in school over and over again! I am also very interested in nonfiction for teens, on subjects covering babysitting to how to prepare for college in a fresh, original spin.”

EMLA is closed to unsolicited queries or submissions. We consider queries that come to us by referral from industry professionals we know, and individual agents are open to queries from attendees of conferences where they speak. So attending the June Conference in Princeton, will open this door for you. www.regonline.com/njscbwi2013conference

Here are some additional Tricia interview’s to read:

Forever Rewriting

Fresh As A Daisy

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Chuck Sambuchino says Steve Kasdin who joined Curtis Brown in 2012 is looking to build his list of writers. Steve has over twenty years’ experience in books and publishing, beginning his career as the Mystery buyer at Barnes & Noble. He has been a Marketing executive at St. Martin’s Press, Scholastic and Harcourt, an agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Agency and worked on Content Acquisition in the Kindle group at Amazon.com. In addition to representing clients at Curtis Brown, he is also the agency’s Director of Digital Strategy, advising clients on all aspects of electronic publishing.

He is seeking: “The most important thing I’ve learned in over twenty years in publishing is also the simplest: plot sells. And the definition of what makes a great plot is also very simple: interesting, well-drawn characters thrown into unpredictable situations. I’m looking for: commercial fiction, including Mysteries/Thrillers, Romantic Suspense (emphasis on the suspense), and Historical Fiction); Narrative Nonfiction, including Biography, History and Current Affairs; and Young Adult Fiction, particularly if it has adult crossover appeal. I am NOT interested in SF/Fantasy, Memoirs, Vampires and writers trying to capitalize on trends.”

How to submit: skasdin [at] cbltd.com. Responds in 4-6 weeks. Please send a query letter about what makes your book unique, a 1-3 page plot synopsis, a brief bio (including a description of your publishing history, if you have one), and the first 40-50 pages of your manuscript as a Word attachment to the email. “Let me know in your query letter if I am reading your work exclusively, in which case, I shall give it priority. If the book has been self-published or previously published, please let me know all the details – publisher, date, etc.”

Click Here to read Chuck Sambuchino’s article: (Why you should only query 6-8 agents at a time.)

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Bob Diforio launched D4EO Literary Agency in 1989 after a long career at New American Library. Today D4EO is a full-service, six-agent literary agency representing authors of a very broad range of commercial fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults, and adults. Books represented by the agency have topped the The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and agency authors have received awards that include the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and the Nero Award.

With over 1,000 published books under contract, the agency has launched the writing careers of more than two hundred authors.

Samantha Dighton joined D4EO in September 2012. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Dance Theory & Performance Studies.

Prior to joining D4EO, she worked at The Sagalyn Agency and as a reader for Curtis Brown.  She is based in Washington, D.C.

Sam is looking for character-driven stories with strong voice. She likes characters who are relatable yet flawed, vibrant settings that take on a life of their own, and a story that lasts well beyond the final page, generally falling within the categories below:

-Literary Fiction -Historical Fiction -Mystery/suspense -Magical Realism -Psychological thrillers -Young Adult (Realistic) -Narrative nonfiction

Please no science fiction, paranormal/urban fantasy, or bodice-ripping romances (though romantic subplots are always welcome!)

Email Submissions only.

-Send to [email protected] .

Mandy Hubbard joined D4EO Literary Agency in February 2010 as a Young Adult and Middle Grade specialist, and has since expanded to include genre romance. Before agenting, she worked with Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency and is also a multi-published YA author. Her books include PRADA & PREJUDICE (Razorbill), YOU WISH (Razorbill), DRIVEN (Harlequin), BUT I LOVE HIM (Flux) RIPPLE (Razorbill), and others forthcoming.

Her leading clients include Lee Bross, author of  TANGLED WEBS (Disney-Hyperion, 2014), Emily Murdoch, author of IF YOU FIND ME (St. Martin’s, 2013)Imogen Howson, author of  LINKED (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013), and Jessica Martinez, author of VIRTUOSITY (Simon Pulse, 2011).

email: [email protected] [No Queries at this address] twitter website

• Email submissions only
• Put “Query: Book Title” in the subject line of the email
• Paste the first five pages of your novel below your query
• No attachments
• Email Queries to: [email protected]

Current Wishlist: You are welcome to query anything that falls within the MG/YA realm, as well as select genre romance but in particular, Mandy is looking for:

• Contemporary genre (Read: adult) romance, the steamier the better
• Regency Romance
• “New Adult” romance (characters in their early 20s!)
• YA Horror and/or thriller, preferably with a body count
• A YA novel in verse
• MG with a fun girly angle and series potential
• YA Romance, whether historical or contemporary
• Historical YA novels based within real tragedies, a la BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY by Ruta Septys, REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnely, etc.
• YA with a hook, a la HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter or THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

Do NOT query anything meant for adult audiences (unless it would be published in the romance section), or non-fiction of any kind.

Paste the first 10 pages in the body of the email, below your query -Please include “Query: Title” in the subject line.

Bree Ogden joined D4EO in November 2011, after having been an associate literary agent at Martin Literary Management for nearly 2 years representing children’s, YA, and graphic novels.

Bree graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University where she served as editor-in-chief of the University’s newsmagazine. She was awarded Most Valuable Player and Editor of the Year, as well as SVU’s Pioneer Award, an honor the University awards to two students each year. She then received her MA in Journalism with an emphasis in editing and expository writing at Northeastern University where she worked on both the New England Press Association Bulletin, and also served as the features editor of the premier campus music magazine, Tastemakers Magazine.

Bree has spent many years working as a freelance journalist and currently co-operates the macabre children’s magazine Underneath the Juniper Tree where she serves as Editorial Director. Bree is an instructor and columnist for the Web site LitReactor.com where she teaches Intro to Graphic Novel Writing. Bree is also the newest judge for the Ghastly Awards–Honoring Excellence in Horror Comics.

Email: [email protected]  Twitter  Blog Bree’s LitReactor Content  Bree’s Comic Book Reviews

Seeking:
• Email submissions only
• Paste the first five pages of your novel below your query
• No attachments

*NOTE: I am actively seeking children’s/YA nonfiction. NO memoir unless you have a gigantic platform (i.e., The Pregnancy Project). I would love something in the vein of The Letter Q, Dare to Dream!: 25 Extraordinary Lives, The Forbidden Schoolhouse, or a Starvation Heights type historical fiction.

• Highly artistic picture books (high brow art, think Varmints)
• Middle grade
• Young Adult
• Adult
• Graphic Novels
• Nonfiction
• Humor
• Pop Culture
• Art books

Genre-specific (Both in Adult and YA):

Transgressive fiction ~Genre horror ~Genre noir ~Genre romance

Bree’s wish list: (don’t limit your queries to these!)

• Dark (not angst-ridden)
• Realistic
• Psychological horror (with no paranormal elements)
• Hard sci fi. Meaning no fantasy, or magical realism at all
• A Dexter-ish type YA black comedy (COMEDY being the operative word)
• A Roaring Twenties historical for YA
• A manuscript written in the era of Mad Men with panache and style
• A unique and theme-driven art book • Any book dealing with Anne Boleyn or Marie Antoinette (historical fiction, not nonfiction)
• Historical fiction (love crime-driven historical fiction, i.e. Black Dahlia)

Kristin Miller-Vincent was promoted to associate agent in February of 2011, after interning with Mandy Hubbard at D4EO Literary Agency. She graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in English Lit, Women’s Studies and Secondary Education. She publishes magazine and website articles and young adult novels under a pen name, teaches writing and works editorially with clients and other writers.

email: [email protected]  (no queries here, please) twitter

Seeking:
middle grade, young adult and picture book (author/illustrators only, please)

Picture Books: Unique, groundbreaking, inventive art; playful, character-driven stories; humor. Nonfiction on topics and people that are interesting and unique, but not very well known as yet, told in a lively way that young child would enjoy. Manuscripts that are less than 750 words. NO morals, NO lessons, NO instructive stories. When querying, please paste the entire story below your query and include a link to an online resource that showcases examples of your art. Please don’t attach art to the query.

Middle Grade: Authentic voice is most important. On the one hand, I love fun, adventure, mystery and big, big characters on a unique journey. On the other,  timeless middle grade with siblings learning about themselves, each other and the world with lovely, literary prose. Something classic, the next The Penderwicks or Anne of Green Gables. Multicultural stories across the spectrum.

Young Adult: Talented writing, first and foremost. I’d like to see writing that shows care for one’s craft. I’m very open to good experimental writing, too. More specifically:

• Sweeping historical fiction, especially with a heavy romance and/or mystery element. I’d love something decadent and lush, set perhaps during Tsarist Russia or the Golden Ages of Vienna or Budapest. British settings work, too. No stilted dialogue, please.
• Contemporary with feminist and social issues themes, characters, concerns. Heavy focus on great voice and crafting. Literary contemporary.
• Horror, but I’d prefer it to be psychological rather than gory, subtle rather than in-your-face.

email submissions only to [email protected]

• put “Query, genre, title” in the subject line of your email
• paste the first 10 pages below your query in the body of the email
• no attachments

Hope this helps on your search for an agent.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Interview by Katia Raina:  More Than An Agent, More Than An Author: Marie Lamba On Submission Likes and Dislikes, Writing A Practice Novel, Self Publishing And More.

Faithful followers of this blog may already have come across the name of Marie Lamba, Associate Literary Agent with the Jennifer DeChiara Agency. But did you know Marie is a fellow writer as well? As an author, she brings unique understanding when nurturing her clients. As a writer, she is well-positioned to understand the demands of the publishing business. I asked her about being both, and found her journey to be fascinating and inspiring. I hope you will too.

KR: You’re a YA author and a literary agent. What came first, and how did it come about? What led you from one side of the industry to another?

ML: When I was 10 years old, I read Edward Eager’s HALF MAGIC, and that was that. I fell in love with story telling. From that moment on, it was all about writing for me. So, writing definitely came first. I studied writing and fine art in college, and then worked in publishing (doing editing and book promo) and as a P.R. writer and freelance writer and editor for many years, doing a ton of magazine work. But all that time I was also toiling over my fiction. I worked on my first novel, a middle grade fantasy, for 10 years, revising, submitting, revising, submitting (one of my crit buddies likes to call this process “polishing the turd”). And during that time, SCBWI was a critical part of my life, giving me endless guidance and support.

That book never did get published, but I think of that one as my personal MFA, since I learned a ton doing it. Then I wrote the manuscript for WHAT I MEANT… in just a few months, and within a year landed my agent (the wonderful Jennifer De Chiara) along with a publishing contract for it at Random House. For me, moving on from my “learning novel” to a newer manuscript was key, since I was able to bring all I’d learned into WHAT I MEANT… It was hard to move on, though, since I’m a very tenacious person and it felt a bit like I was giving up on that first novel. Looking back though? Smart move.

I’d never ever thought about being an agent until my own agent approached me about working for her. It took me a while to wrap my head around the idea, and I worked for several months as what I call a “secret agent,” reading manuscripts for Jennifer and trying the whole agent thing out for size. It didn’t take me long to see what Jennifer must have seen: that agenting was a great fit for me. I love to mentor people, I brought my own author experience to the table, and as someone with P.R. and book promo experience, pitching books and positioning authors felt natural.

KR: Can you share the story of how you first found publishing success?

ML: Conferences were key for me. And the best conference by far was the Rutgers One on One, where you get paired with a mentor. I subbed my initial pages for WHAT I MEANT… and got paired with Alvina Ling from Little Brown. She is awesome! Alvina recommended several agents for me to approach and encouraged me to use her name. I just about passed out with joy/appreciation. Seriously. Jennifer De Chiara was my top choice so I queried her and that same day got a request for a full manuscript. Yes! But Jennifer was a busy person, and months passed. So in the meantime, I attended the Writer’s Digest Conference, and did their one minute pitch slam (I’ll be at this year’s WD pitch slam, but this time as an agent…). There I snagged the interest of my Random House editor, who requested chapters, and later the full manuscript. That following September was the most surreal time of my life. First I got “the call” from Jennifer, then within the week, I heard from the Random House editor. I introduced my agent and editor and we took it from there!

KR: How does your agenting work feed into your work as an author, and vice versa?

ML: As an agent who is also an author, I can be as editorial as an author needs. Some clients need light editing, and for others with amazing work that isn’t quite ready, I’m not afraid to help them reach the finish line. Also, since I’ve got mucho hands on experience with the whole “author promoting herself” thing, I can offer my clients a perspective of what they can really do publicity-wise. And my author background has really helped me in understanding any concerns my clients feel about their careers.

On the writing side of things, I’ve gained huge insight into what really grabs a reader and an editor, and I get to ask editors what they are hoping for in the future. I can stick that info into my own personal plot incubator and let it stew…

KR: I notice that at least one your books, “Drawn –” a time travel love story that intrigued me enough to order it as soon as I saw you quoting from the book in this post (http://marielamba.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/writer-wednesday-on-writing-magic/) — is self published through Lamba Associates, Inc. Can you talk a little bit here about this choice, and what your experience as been as an author who is using a variety of channels for her work? In what ways do these compliment each other?

ML: We writers now have so many ways to reach readers, and this couldn’t have come at a better time! It’s no secret that the recession hit publishing, along with people’s pocket books. My first novel, WHAT I MEANT… came out through Random House in 2007, but publication of its stand-alone sequel was derailed. OVER MY HEAD sat on my shelf for years until at last self-publishing became viable. But I still wasn’t sure about doing the whole indie thing, until my friend and superb best-selling author L.A. (Leslie) Banks had a talk with me. She, too, had a YA sequel without a home and had just self-published that novel (SHADOW WALKER). She was thrilled with the results and told me to go for it. So I did. Leslie even gave me an awesome cover quote for the novel. Sadly, Leslie passed away shortly before my novel launched, but, corny as it sounds, I felt her there with me at that first signing, and I knew it was definitely the right thing to do.

My paranormal YA novel DRAWN was on submission with publishers for 2 years, and had gotten some strong interest and a ton of positive comments, but no offers, so I decided to take it off submission and publish it myself. While I would always prefer to go the traditional publishing route and to have the wisdom and promo muscle of a big publisher behind me, sometimes publishers just aren’t on your same page. I’m pleased with how DRAWN is performing. It’s gotten high ratings from readers and reviewers alike, has been rated a Top Pick and a Best Book by book bloggers, it’s just snagged an award, and the ebook version, especially, has been downloaded a ton, reaching well over 16,000 readers.

For the next book I write, I’ll definitely have my agent go for the top markets, but, as I’ve said, it’s wonderful to know that we writers can reach our readers in many different ways and continue to build on our careers.

KR: Finally, I’d love to get a word of your updated query policy. What are you looking for nowadays, and what have you seen too much of? What is the best way to query you?

ML: What am I seeing too much of? Novels with fantasy elements that feel tacked on to an otherwise interesting plot. Heroines with so many problems when one overwhelming problem would have sufficed. Books that feel like re-do’s of what’s already out there. Angry teens being dumped off at grandma’s in their mom’s old town and finding out secrets about their mom, whether supernatural or scandalous or both. Books that are really just thinly-veiled autobiographical stories about less than unique experiences.

I’m open to queries for middle grade and YA novels, for women’s and adult fiction, and for memoir. I don’t rep non fiction, picture books, short stories, poetry, category romance (though romantic elements are welcome), high fantasy (though fantasy elements are welcome), or strictly sci fi novels (though futuristic elements are welcome). And if you write gory horror or extreme violence, I’m definitely not the agent for you. I’m drawn to books that are moving and/or hilarious. If you have an engrossing story, please do send it my way!

Currently my client list includes both new and previously published authors writing books that range from contemporary to humorous to historical mid-grade novels, YA that is smart and romantic and touched with fantasy, and also sweeping adult historical.

Please do check out my guidelines, since they allow for you to paste in the first 20 pages of your manuscript right into the query. You can find them here: http://jdlit.com/submitpages/mariesubmit.html   

And if you subscribe to my website (www.marielamba.com ), you’ll catch my weekly Agent Monday posts and Writer Wednesday posts.

Thanks so much for having me here, Katia, and good luck to you all! I wish everyone a rock star writing year in 2013.

Katia Raina is the author of “Castle of Concrete,” a young adult novel about a timid half-Russian, half-Jewish teen in search of a braver “self” reuniting with her dissident mother in the last year of the collapsing Soviet Union, to be published by Namelos. On her blog, The Magic Mirror, http://katiaraina.wordpress.com Katia talks about writing and history, features interviews, book lists and all sorts of literary randomness.

Throughout the month of December, Katia is gathering participants for a new challenge for those who’d like to do better next year in sticking to their goals and making their dreams happen. To participate in the “31 minutes” challenge – and the giveaway – visit here and leave a comment telling Katia about your project and committing to working on it 31 minutes a day, every day in January. http://katiaraina.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/the-31-minute-challenge-faq-getting-ready-for-january/  

IT IS TIME TO NOMINATE WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING www.kathytemean.wordpress.com for the WRITER’S DIGEST’S 101 BEST WEBSITES FOR WRITERS!

If you have enjoyed the articles and information you received everyday this year, please help by dominating my blog. Submit an email to [email protected] to nominate my blog www.kathytemean.wordpress.com

I would greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

For the last few years the NJ SCBWI has invited Agent Stephen Fraser at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency to our June conference. Not only is he a very talented, successful agent with many years experience, but he is also a very nice man. I am sure that combo is the reason for his success. I know so many of you would love to have Stephen represent you, but let’s be logically, Stephen can not take on an unlimited amount of new writers. So today when I received an e-mail from Marie Lamba at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, I realized I should point out the Associate Agents at the agency. They are building their list and they have the backing of a good agency, making this a great opportunity you may not have thought about after getting stars in your eyes with Stephen. Below you will find the three Associate Agents at the Jenniffer De Chiara Agency and what they like:

Maria Lamba Associate Agent is currently looking for:

Young adult and middle-grade fiction, along with general and women’s fiction and some memoir. Books that are moving and/or hilarious are especially welcome. I am NOT interested in picture books, science fiction, or high fantasy (though I am open to paranormal elements), category romance (though romantic elements are welcome), non-fiction, or in books that feature graphic violence.

To Submit
Please email a query to [email protected] and put “Query” in the subject line of your email.

For queries regarding children’s and adult fiction, please send the first twenty pages in the body of your email, along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis.

For queries regarding a non-fiction book, please attach the entire proposal as a Word document (the proposal should include a sample chapter), along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis of your book in the body of your email.

Linda Epstein, associate agent is looking for accessible literary fiction, quality upscale commercial fiction, vibrant narrative nonfiction, and compelling memoirs – A MG, YA or Adult manuscript she can’t put down with a distinctive voice.  She says, “I love to learn something about another time, place, or culture while engrossed in a gripping story. Books with Jewish or other spiritual/religious themes or undercurrents are of particular interest. I am partial to underdogs and outsiders. Occasionally I like to read something funny, and sometimes a little magical realism is entertaining. I don’t like bodice-rippers and won’t read anything with dead, maimed, or kidnapped children. I don’t read horror. I’m not really interested in traditional SciFi, but I do like fantasy and I’m intrigued by Steampunk. I’m the wrong person for romance, thrillers, or anything but a very offbeat cozy mystery.  For middle-grade, it should be particularly character driven and quirky, with excellent pacing and rhythm. For YA, I’m a sucker for strong girls, deep friendships, and overcoming adversity.”

For Non-fiction 
She likes alternative health and parenting books, cookbooks (especially, but not limited to, Gluten Free cooking), select memoirs, and the right spiritual/self-actualization book (think Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Don Miguel Ruiz).

She is particularly committed to representing books that include, are about, or are geared toward people in the LBGTQ community, for both adult and children’s literature.

To Submit
Please email a query to 1 Comments on Looking for an Literary Agent?, last added: 7/8/2012