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Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Soumeya Bendimerad of the Susan Golomb Literary Agency) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Soumeya: Soumeya Bendimerad joined the Susan Golomb Literary Agency in 2012, where she is an agent and the director of foreign rights. Prior to that, she was a literary scout at Sanford Greenburger Associates and an associate editor at MacAdam/Cage Publishing. She is from the San Francisco Bay Area. Find her on Twitter.

(How many Twitter followers will impress an agent?)

She is seeking: She is actively seeking to represent literary fiction, upmarket/book club fiction, and select young-adult and middle grade. She is drawn to intelligent literary fiction with a fresh voice, coming of age stories, novels with elements of travel or stories set in other countries, family sagas, experiments with form, and complex but sympathetic characters. In non-fiction, she is seeking topics in popular culture, music and art history, unconventional business, politics, narrative non-fiction, sociology, cooking, travel, and memoir.

How to contact: Queries can be sent to soumeya [at] sgolombagency.com. Please include a query letter with bio, publication history, and synopsis, and the first three chapters or fifty pages. Only electronic submissions accepted. Please include the word “Query” in the subject of your email.

(How long should you wait before following up with an agent?)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• What’s In a Title? Everything.
• NEW Agent Seeking Clients: Rachel Dugas of Talcott Notch Literary.
• Find Out What Writing Events Host Literary Agents as well as Sessions on Pitching.
• Discussing Credentials in a Nonfiction Book Proposal.
• Literary Agent Interview: Lori Perkins, Founder of L. Perkins Associates.
• Sell More Books by Building Your Author Platform.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

 

 

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Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Stacy Testa of Writers House) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

About Stacy: Stacy joined Writers House in 2011 as an assistant to senior agent Susan Ginsburg and has been actively building her own client list since 2013. Previously, she interned at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Whimsy Literary. Stacy graduated cum laude with a BA in English from Princeton University. Follow her on Twitter: @stacy_testa.

(If an agent rejects you, are they open to reviewing your revised submission?)

She is seeking: Stacy is looking for literary fiction and upmarket commercial women’s fiction, particularly character-driven stories with an international setting, historical bent, or focus on a unique subculture. She also represents realistic young adult (no dystopian or paranormal, please!). For nonfiction, she is particularly interested in young “millennial” voices with a great sense of humor and a strong platform, startling and unique memoirs, and voice-driven narratives about little-known historical moments.

How to submit: Please submit your query, including the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the email (no attachments), to stesta [at] writershouse.com. Please do not query multiple Writers House agents simultaneously.

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• How can we find more time to write? 6 tips for moms (& busy people).
• Looking for an agent? Author Jolina Petersheim explains finding hers.
• Agent Roz Foster seeks clients now.
• Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.
• 7 Ways a Writing Career is Like a Theme Park.
• Writing sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, romance or YA? Query this agent!
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Paul Lamb of Howard Morhaim Literary Agency) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Paul: Paul Lamb of Howard Morhaim Literary Agency is a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and was a recipient of a POSSE Scholarship. Paul joins the agency after nearly a decade in Marketing at both Penguin and Random House, with various imprints. Owing to his professional experience in trade publishing, Paul has a strong sense of publishers’ needs, and a unique insight into the representation of authors.

(11 ways to assist a friend in promoting their new book.)

He is seeking: His tastes lie strongly with nonfiction in a wide variety of genres and subjects, notably business, political science, sociology, memoir, travel writing, sports, pop culture, and music. He is also interested in crime, mystery, and literary fiction.

How to submit: To submit, e-mail your query letter along with three sample chapters (for fiction) or full proposal (for non-fiction) to one of the agents listed below. Average response time is 6 to 8 weeks. Please paste materials [no attachments]. Query paul [at] morhaimliterary.com

(What should you do after rejection?)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• 7 Things Agents Want to See in a Query (and 9 They Don’t).
• The 5 Stages of the Query Process.
• How to Trim Your Query Down to 250 Words of Fewer.
• Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.
• Frequently Asked Questions About Writing a Query.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Mary Krienke of Sterling Lord Literistic) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Mary: Mary Krienke joined Sterling Lord Literistic in 2006 after receiving her MFA in Fiction from Columbia University. Born and raised in Nebraska, Mary received her BA in Psychology and English from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She now lives in Brooklyn. Find her on Twitter: @MaryKrienke.

She is seeking: Mary represents literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and realistic YA that pays close attention to craft and voice. She is especially drawn to new and emerging writers who seek to push boundaries of form and content, and she responds most strongly to writing that reaches great emotional and psychological depths. She is equally interested in work that illuminates through humor or by playing with genre. Her other interests include psychology, art, and design.

(Writing a synopsis for your novel? Here are 5 tips.)

How to submit: Mary is happy to receive submissions via email. If submitting fiction, please send a synopsis and the first three chapters or a 50 page sample. If submitting non-fiction, send a detailed proposal.  The queries should be sent to info [at] sll.com with “Attn: Mary Krienke” in the email subject line. Cover letters should be in the body of the email but send the actual submission as a Word document attachment.

(Find out why agents stop reading your first chapter.)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• 5 Reasons Novelists Should Write & Publish Short Stories.
• A discussion about Steampunk — writers and agents weigh in on the growing sub-genre.
• Need an agent? Lit agent Julie Just has an open call for new queries.
• How to Write Young Adult Horror: 6 Tips.
• Simple Tips on How to Revise Your Fiction.
• Picture book author Natasha Yim explains how she found her literary agent.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and writing a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

You’ve seen those wedding dress shows, right? A bride-to-be goes on a chiffon frenzied quest for the perfect gown while a group of her BFFs sit semi-circled in the salon, waiting to boo-hoo or just boo over her selection. Once in a while, though, the hunter is simply a bride-wanna-be who is willing to throw gobs of moola at a dress, despite her groomlessness. To me, that seems sad, desperate, and at the very least, poorly timed.

When it comes to writers in search of an agent, sometimes it’s really not that different. There’s a time to focus solely on craft, to learning about the industry, reading and networking. But, if this has not yet resulted in a solid, polished product to sell, why would you spend time looking for an agent to represent you?

Let’s say, however, maybe you’re like me, and you’ve been polishing, learning and preparing for quite a spell and you’re wondering if seeking an agent would be a wise next step.Take this quiz to help you decide if you’re agent-ready:

True or False?

____I have at least one thoroughly polished, market-ready manuscript and more in progress.

____I am an active member of a professional organization for writers, such as SCBWI, and follow industry-related blogs, tweets and newsletters to stay current.

____I have a good understanding of the inner-workings of the children’s publishing industry (e.g., the role of publishers, editors, agents, reviewers and authors, the editorial and submission process, how a manuscript becomes a published book, etc.).

____I have sold articles or stories to respected children’s magazines, such as Highlights for Children and/or perhaps even come close to selling a book to a traditional publisher on my own.

____I am actively building a platform via my own web site or blog, as well as social media.

____I am a member of a critique group and/or have a critique partner and/or have received professional critiques from agents or editors.

____I have gone from receiving unsigned form rejection letters to more of the “champagne” variety (personalized notes or letters offering a specific explanation as to why the editor chose to pass on my submission or perhaps offering constructive feedback or an invitation to submit more in the future).

____I understand the role and benefits of an agent, as well as my role as a client.

____I have compiled a list of the qualities and qualifications I am seeking in an agent.

____I have done marketing research to determine where my book fits in the current market and what makes it stand out from similar works. I can explain this in my “elevator pitch” (and I know what an elevator pitch is!)

____I am prepared and enthusiastic to shift from solo writer mode into the role of a professional with a business partner (an agent) so that I can pursue all aspects of a writing career.

____I understand agents, while amazing, do not possess supernatural powers and cannot be expected to read minds, make me stinking rich or fulfill every literary success fantasy I can conjure.

How’d you do?

If you answered with 10 or more “True” responses, consider seeking a literary agent to represent you.

If you answered with 6 to 9 “True” responses, you’re getting closer!

If you answered with 5 or fewer “True” responses, that’s okay. Keep writing, seeking feedback, and using this list as a guide to help prepare yourself to become agent material.

All things are ready, if our mind be so. ~ William Shakespeare, Henry V

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Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Renee Nyen of KT Literary) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

About Renee: Several years in the editorial department at Random House’s Colorado division provided Renee with the opportunity to work with bestselling and debut authors alike. After leaving Random House, she came to KT Literary in early 2013 to cultivate her passion for YA literature. Drawing on her editorial experience, she loves digging into client manuscripts and helping authors shape the best story possible. You can follow her on twitter @Renee_Nyen.

(Tips on how to find more agents who seek your genre/category.)

She is seeking: Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. “I’m always interested in YA historical fiction, mystery, sci-fi, and thrillers, but genre is not as important to me as strong prose and compelling characters.”

Submission Guidelines: Please submit a query letter with the first three pages of your manuscript pasted in the email to queries (at) ktliterary.com.

(What should you do after rejection?)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• What’s In a Title? Everything.
• NEW Agent Seeking Clients: Rachel Dugas of Talcott Notch Literary.
• Find Out What Writing Events Host Literary Agents as well as Sessions on Pitching.
• Discussing Credentials in a Nonfiction Book Proposal.
• Literary Agent Interview: Lori Perkins, Founder of L. Perkins Associates.
• Sell More Books by Building Your Author Platform.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Madeleine Clark of Sterling Lord Literistic) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Madeleine: Madeleine Clark joined Sterling Lord Literistic in 2011 after working for several years in the editorial department at Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Born in London, raised in Virginia, and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Madeleine is an unabashed anglophile and an avid runner. She now lives in Brooklyn. Find her on Twitter. She will be taking pitches at the 2014 Writer’s Digest Conference in NYC (Aug 1-3).

(Read tips on writing a query letter.)

She is seeking: Madeleine is interested in commercial and literary fiction as well as narrative nonfiction. She is particularly drawn to realistic YA, literary thrillers, novels that can believably introduce a bit of fantasy/sci-fi, and books that draw heavily from their environment whether that is geographical or cultural.

How to submit: Madeleine is happy to receive submissions via email. If submitting fiction, please send a synopsis and the first three chapters or a 50 page sample. If submitting nonfiction, send a detailed proposal.  The queries should be sent to info [at] sll.com with “Attn: Madeleine Clark” in the e-mail subject line. Cover letters should be in the body of the email but send the actual submission as a Word document attachment.

(Will an agent be interested in your degrees or where you went to school?)

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• What Does a Literary Agent Want to See When They Google You?
• How to Plan a Great Book Reading: 5 Tips.
• Read an Interview with a Debut Middle Grade Author.
• Writing young adult or middle grade? New agent Sarah Nego seeks clients!
• Trust Your Instincts: Write the Story the Way YOU Think It Should Be Told.
• How a Critique and Accountability Partner Can Help Your Writing and Career.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and writing a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

 

 

 

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Andy Kifer of The Gernert Co.) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

About Andy: Andy joined The Gernert Company in 2012 after two years working for Aram Fox, Inc., where he scouted books for foreign publishers. He grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, lived in North Carolina for five years, and worked briefly as a cross-country coach at a boarding school before starting his career in publishing. He lives in Brooklyn and runs in Prospect Park.

(How to be a literary agent’s dream client.)

He is seeking: “I’m looking for literary fiction, smart genre fiction (in particular, high-concept thrillers or sci-fi), and nonfiction with a strong narrative bent. I’m a sucker for love stories and inventive narrative structure.”

How to submit: Please query me by following The Gernert Company’s submission guidelines (see www.thegernertco.com): send a query letter to info [at] thegernertco.com, with “Attn: Andy Kifer ” in the e-mail’s subject line. I’d prefer to see the first few chapters pasted into the body of the e-mail. Snail mail queries to The Gernert Company’s office, addressed to me, are fine too! I promise I read everything that comes my way, though at Gernert we tend to respond only if something piques our interest.

(Should You Sign With a New Literary Agent? Know the Pros and Cons.)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• 5 Reasons Novelists Should Write & Publish Short Stories.
• A discussion about Steampunk — writers and agents weigh in on the growing sub-genre.
• Need an agent? Lit agent Julie Just has an open call for new queries.
• How to Write Young Adult Horror: 6 Tips.
• Simple Tips on How to Revise Your Fiction.
• Picture book author Natasha Yim explains how she found her literary agent.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and writing a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Michael Sterling of Folio Literary Management) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Michael: “I joined Folio Literary Management in 2011. Prior to that I worked at Habitus: A Diaspora Journal, a literary magazine based in Brooklyn. My work there was editorially driven and I’ve since brought that experience to Folio, where I’ve worked with many best-selling fiction and nonfiction authors across various genres, including thriller authors, cookbooks writers, and literary novelists.”

(What makes an agent more likely to sign one client vs. another?)

He is seeking: Regarding fiction: “I love literary, commercial, and upmarket fiction. Thrillers with tremendous commercial appeal and strong writing are of particular interest to me—I’m a fan of anything from Lee Child to John le Carré. As a reader, I enjoy period novels in any genre. 20th century wars provide some of my favorite temporal settings, for instance. I love novels with high concepts (think THE AGE OF MIRACLES by Karen Thompson Walker, or LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson) and books that can teach me about new cultures and transport me to new countries are always among my favorite.”

Regarding nonfiction: “A self-avowed foodie, I avidly devour cookbooks and am interested in working with authors who share this passion of mine. My tastes veer towards books with a strong narrative element—I’m seeking political books, memoirs, investigative and journalistic works, or titles that place a specific region, historical event, person or thing under a microscope. For instance, I’d love to read more about the Middle East, especially works in which contemporary issues are explored in new ways.”

(In the middle of querying? Here are some helpful tips.)

How to submit: “Please submit queries to msterling (@) foliolit.com [be sure to remove the parentheses], and include ‘QUERY’ in the subject line. Please include the query letter and first ten pages of your manuscript or proposal in the body of the e-mail.”

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• Literary Agent Interview: Michelle Johnson of Inklings Literary. She Seeks New Writers.
• Find Out At Which Conferences Agents Will Take Pitches From New Writers.
• Writing Historical Fiction Based On A Family Story.
• Write the Book You Want to Read.
• Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.
• How to Use Storyboarding and Plotting Techniques On Your Novel.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Maria Ribas of Howard Morhaim Literary Agency) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

About Maria: Maria Ribas graduated with English Honors from the University of Richmond. She began her editorial career at Atria at Simon and Schuster, then moved to Harlequin Nonfiction and Adams Media, where she was an associate editor before joining the agency. As a former editor, she has a keen sense of what editors are really looking for, and she has years of experience building relationships with authors. She has always specialized in practical nonfiction and has a firm grasp of how to assess an author’s platform–and how to help authors build that platform.

(11 ways to assist a friend in promoting their new book.)

She is seeking: She’s interested in cookbooks, self-help, health, diet, home, parenting, and humor, all from authors with demonstrable platforms. She’s also interested in narrative nonfiction and select memoir, but she’s looking for a story that is absolutely un-put-down-able. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and proficient in Italian and will be working with select foreign authors.

How to submit: To submit, e-mail your query letter along with three sample chapters (for fiction) or full proposal (for non-fiction) to one of the agents listed below. Average response time is 6 to 8 weeks. Please paste materials [no attachments]. Query maria [at] morhaimliterary.com

(What should you do after rejection?)

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• 7 Things Agents Want to See in a Query (and 9 They Don’t).
• The 5 Stages of the Query Process.
• How to Trim Your Query Down to 250 Words of Fewer.
• Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.
• Frequently Asked Questions About Writing a Query.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents (with this spotlight featuring Michelle Richter of Foreword Literary) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Michelle: Michelle Richter was formerly an editor at St. Martin’s Press. Michelle has a degree in Economics with a minor in Russian from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and left a career in finance for publishing. She joined St. Martin’s Press’ editorial department in 2006 after obtaining a Masters in Publishing from Pace University. Richter says: “What I’ve most loved as an editor is discovering new authors, helping them make their writing stronger, and finding just the right audience for them. Now I’m excited to bring the skills I developed over eight years at St. Martin’s Press to my new role at Foreword Literary. I’ve been impressed by how the Foreword Literary team capitalizes on the myriad opportunities to find writers and reach readers, whether through traditional publishing channels or in the evolving digital landscape, and I’m thrilled to be joining this dynamic, energetic agency.” Find her on Twitter at @michrichter1.

(Can you re-query an agent after she’s rejected you in the past?)

She is seeking: Michelle is primarily seeking fiction, specifically book club reads, literary fiction, well-crafted women’s commercial fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. For nonfiction, she’s interested in fashion, film, television, science, medicine, sociology/social trends, and economics for trade audiences.

How to submit: To query Michelle, please send your query letter, a 1-2 page plot synopsis, and the first twenty pages of your manuscript to querymichelle [at] forewordliterary.com as an attached Word document. Please allow up to eight weeks response time.

(Are you writing middle grade, edgy paranormal, women’s fiction or sci-fi? Read about agents seeking your query.)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount.

 

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:

• How to Write and Plan a Book Series.
• NEW Literary Agent Seeking Clients: Anna Sproul-Latimer of Ross Yoon Agency.
• Make Sure You’re Having Fun When You’re Writing.
• How Rejection Can Lead to Hope.
• Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.
• Read Interviews With Debut Authors Who Found Success.
• Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform shows you how to
promote yourself and your books through social
media, public speaking, article writing, branding,
and more. Order the book from WD at a discount.

Add a Comment

Reminder: New literary agents

(with this spotlight featuring Rebecca Podos of Rees Literary) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Rebecca: Rebecca Podos (Rees Literary Agency

) is a graduate of the MFA Writing, Literature and Publishing program at Emerson College, whose own fiction has appeared in Glimmer Train, Glyph, CAJE, Bellows American Review, Paper Darts, and SmokeLong Quarterly. She represents YA books by talented clients such as Rin Chupeco, Jen Anckorn, Ryan Bradford, Sarah Nicolas, Jen Estes, Kenny Logan, and more.

(What are the best practices for using social-media to sell books?)

Genre Preferences: Rebecca is primarily interested in Young Adult fiction of all kinds, including contemporary, emotionally driven stories, mystery, romance, urban and historical fantasy, horror, and sci-fi. Occasionally, she also considers literary and commercial adult fiction, New Adult, and narrative nonfiction.

(The skinny on why to sign with a new/newer literary agent.)

Submission instructions: Submit a query letter and the first few chapters (pasted in the email) to Rebecca [at] reesagency.com.

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:It’s Not a Bad Thing to Write Your Ending First

Romance vs. Women’s Fiction: The Differences.

Agent Suzie Townsend Is Seeking Adult Fiction Clients.

Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.

If You’re a Debut Author, Word Count Matters.

Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter

or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform

Order the book from WD at a discount

.

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Reminder: New literary agents

(with this spotlight featuring Taylor Haggerty of Waxman Leavell Literary Agency) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

About Taylor: “I am a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and received a master’s degree from Emerson College’s Publishing and Writing program. Prior to joining Waxman Leavell

in 2013, I worked at the Gersh Agency.”

(Query letter pet peeves — Agents Tell All.)

She is seeking: “I am drawn to novels with a compelling voice and grounded, relatable characters that pull me into their world from the start. My favorite books have strong emotional elements that stay with me long after I finish reading. My current interests include young adult fiction, historical fiction, and historical romance. I do not represent screenplays.”

How to submit: taylorsubmit [at] waxmanleavell.com. “To submit a project, please send a query letter only via email. Do not send attachments, though for fiction you may include 5-10 pages of your manuscript in the body of your e-mail. Please do not query more than one agent at our agency simultaneously.”

(What to write in the BIO section of your query letter.)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:Meet agent Kristina Holmes. She seeks writers of nonfiction & memoir.

10 Reasons Why Picture Books Are Not Just For Kids.

5 Things Writers Need to Do Besides Write. 

It Isn’t a Bad Thing to Inform Readers (a Little) Through Your Fiction.

Why You Should Reach Out to Successful Authors For Advice.

Sell More Books by Building Your Writer Platform.

Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter

or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

Want to build your visibility and sell more books?
Create Your Writer Platform

Order the book from WD at a discount

.

Add a Comment

Reminder: Agent Spotlights (with this spotlight featuring Allison Hunter of Inkwell Management) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent

who is likely building his or her client list.

 

About Allison:  Allison Hunter, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, began her publishing career in 2005 working for the Los Angeles-based literary publicity firm, Kim-from-L.A. She joined the InkWell Management

team in New York City in 2010. She has a B.A. in American Studies and Creative Writing from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

(What does it mean when an agent says “This isn’t right for me”?)

She is seeking: She is actively acquiring literary and commercial fiction (including romance), memoir, narrative nonfiction, cultural studies, pop culture and prescriptive titles, including cookbooks. She is always looking for funny female authors, great love stories and family epics, and for nonfiction projects that speak to the current cultural climate.

How to submit: Queries should be e-mailed to: [email protected]. Put “Query for Allison: (Title)” in the subject line. In the body of your email, please include a query letter and a short writing sample (1-2 chapters). Due to the volume of queries we receive, response times may take up to two months. By submitting you are acknowledging these terms

.

(Do you need multiple literary agents if you write different genres?)

 

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
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This is not technically a New Agent Alert

, because agent Caitlen Rubino Bradway of LKG Agency is not a new agent. But this does resemble such an alert because Caitlen is making an open call for new submissions from writers. So check her out and see if you can send her (or her co-agent) a query.

 

 

About Caitlen: “I joined the LKG Agency

in 2008, thereby disproving the theory that no English major ever does anything with their degree. I have enjoyed my apprenticeship under Lauren Galit very much, and I am now actively looking to build my own list. In my spare time, I am an author in my own right (or is that write?). My first book, Lady Vernon and Her Daughter, which I co-wrote with my mother, was released by Crown in 2009. We also contributed to Jane Austen Made Me Do It, published by Ballantine in 2011. My first middle grade novel, Ordinary Magic, was published by Bloomsbury Children’s in 2012.”

(Do you need multiple literary agents if you write different genres?)

She is seeking: “I personally am looking for middle grade and young adult fiction. In teen novels, Sci-fi/fantasy is my sweet spot, but I’m open to anything as long as it doesn’t have zombies. (For a more detailed description of what I’m looking for, you can check out my blog post at our website

.)

“Also, the LKG Agency [which has one other agent] is always on the lookout for nonfiction, both practical and narrative. We specialize in women’s focused how-to, such as parenting, lifestyle, health & nutrition, and beauty, but we are open to a lot of nonfiction genres. (For a full list you can check out the submission guidelines

on our website.)”

(The skinny on why to sign with a new/newer literary agent.)

How to contact: “We are looking for email queries only. Nonfiction queries should be sent to lkgquery [at] lkgagency.com; we ask that you please mention any publicity you have at your disposal in your query letter. For middle grade and YA queries, email crubinobradway [at] lkgagency.com.”

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount

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Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter

or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and writing a query letter.

 

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Reminder: New literary agents

(with this spotlight featuring Holly Lorincz of MacGregor Literary) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

About Holly: Agent Holly Lorincz spent her youth mainlining salmon, venison and books while sitting, shivering, on a dock on the Columbia River. She’s never recovered from her book addiction, moving instead to making and distributing her literary drug of choice. Holly has a degree in Journalism as well as a MAT focused in writing and literature. She was the editor of the literary magazine Perceptions, and then became a high school and college instructor. During that fifteen year run, she was named Teacher of the Year in Oregon, won two national awards from the National Federation of Schools, coached her high school speech team to two State Championships and nine individual Champions, began an editing service, and published various short works.

(How much money can you expect from selling your first book?)

After an extended illness, Holly has redefined herself, now living the dream of every college graduate with an English degree: she’s published a novel, her editing service is thriving, and she is a full time MacGregor Literary

agent. Residing on the Oregon coast with her son, Holly works out of the MacGregor Literary office one block from the Pacific, huddled next to the heater and coffee pot. She is well aware of the shifting role of a literary agent. While seeking traditional publishers for her authors, she also closely works with clients on alternative publishing options, career development, marketing plans, and media training.

She is seeking: “I am currently only accepting general market submissions in these areas: historical romance, literary or classic westerns, political or conspiracy thrillers, women’s fiction, or literary fiction.”

(Hate writing synopses? Here are nuts & bolts pointers for you.)

How to contact: Please note that while MacGregor Literary, as a whole, is closed to submissions (as per their website), Holly confirmed to me personally that she is open to new queries & clients. In order to submit, authors can email queries to holly [at] macgregorliterary.com. Please include the genre in the subject line.

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount

Other writing/publishing articles & links for you:Interview With Agent Laura Dail, Who Reps Fiction and Nonfiction.

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Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter

or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

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Reminder: New literary agents

(with this spotlight featuring Cate Hart of Corvisiero Literary Agency) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

About Cate: Cate Hart is a Junior Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency

, where she started as an intern working closely with Marisa Corvisiero and Saritza Hernandez. A Tennessee native, Cate earned her B.F.A. from the University of Tennessee. Before joining Corvisiero Literary Agency, Cate worked in financial management.

(Query letter pet peeves — Agents Tell All.)

She is seeking: Cate is seeking Young Adult and Middle Grade, New Adult and Adult Romance (specifically Historical Romance), and select erotica and LGBT. She is a fan of quirky, character-driven Young Adult, and snort-out-loud Middle Grade adventure. She loves Historical and Fantasy and would like to find a steampunk that explores new settings and ideas beyond Victorian London. She is also interested in magical realism, high fantasy, mystery, and any combination of the above.

How to submit: Please send a query letter, a 1-2 page synopsis, and the first five pages of your manuscript to query [at] corvisieroagency [dot] com, addressed to Cate with “Query” and your title in the subject line. You can place the text in the body of the e-mail or include as an attachment.

(What to write in the BIO section of your query letter.)

 

The biggest literary agent database anywhere
is the Guide to Literary Agents. Pick up the
most recent updated edition online at a discount

Meet agent Kristina Holmes. She seeks writers of nonfiction & memoir.

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Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter

or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

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Reminder: New literary agents

(with this spotlight featuring Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Regal Literary) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 
About Claire: Claire Anderson-Wheeler is the newest agent to join the team at Regal Literary Management

. Prior to that she worked at Anderson Literary Management in New York, and at Christine Green Authors’ Agent in London, UK. She holds an LLB from Trinity College, Dublin, and a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, UK. Claire is Irish, was born in DC, and grew up in Dublin, Geneva, and Brussels. For more on Claire’s tastes, you can read an online interview here.

She is seeking: YA with a strong voice (realistic or high-concept), works of narrative non-fiction and pop culture/pop psychology, literary fiction, and commercial women’s fiction driven by strong contemporary issues.

How to submit: Please email your query letter, attaching a full synopsis (i.e. please include spoilers) and the first three chapters as MS Word documents. Thanks!

What could be better than one guide on crafting
fiction from wise agent Donald Maass? Two books!
We bundle them together at a discount in our shop

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Follow Chuck Sambuchino on Twitter

or find him on Facebook. Learn all about his writing guides on how to get published, how to find a literary agent, and how to write a query letter.

 

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Reminder: New literary agents

(with this spotlight featuring Jodell Sadler and Loretta Caravette of Sadler-Caravette Children’s Literary) are golden opportunities for new writers because each one is a literary agent who is likely building his or her client list.

 

 

 

About Jodell: Jodell earned her MFA in Children’s Writing from Hamline University. She is the author of Picture Book Lunch: 20 Tools for Pacing and Writing Picture Books to Wow, and has produced five Writer’s Digest University Tutorials on Children’s Writing. Her published articles include “Picture Book Pacing: Verbal and Visual Tools for Writers, and Picture Book Pacing: The ultimate 20 editing tools for your work,” in the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, 2011 and 2013, respectively. Visit her Picture Book Lunch

website and find her on Facebook.

Jodell is seeking: Jodell is interested in YA, MG (especially funny) , fiction and nonfiction, book proposals, and picture books. She will also coach writers wanting to self publish.  She simply loves a well-paced story that moves her between joy and tears.

(Find more middle grade literary agents

.)

How to contact Jodell: “We only accept queries and submissions via email. Please be sure your subject line reads: QUERY – Name or Title – Genre. Your query may be copied and pasted to the body of your email and should include SCBWI affiliation, publishing credits, etc. if applicable, etc. Tell us a little bit about you: your writing background and goals. Please send queries to: sadlercaravettesubmissions [at] gmail.com. You need only send one manuscript at a time. We will contact you to request additional material. For picture books, send a query and the full ms. For chapter books, young adult and middle grade, send a query and 10 pasted pages. For illustrations, send a query and 2-3 jpegs (or PDF) with pictures of children and animals. We make every effort to respond to submissions/queries within 2 months. Occasionally, it may take longer. As a general rule, if you have not received a response from your queried within 6 months, please assume that Sadler-Caravette Children’s Literary is not interested in your work.”

———

LinkedIn

and Facebook.

Loretta is seeking: Loretta specializes in MG fiction and early readers, and will focus on film rights management. Her academic article, Portrait of the Reader as a Young Child, was published in Children & Libraries: the Journal of the Association for Library Services to Children.

How to contact Loretta: “We only accept queries and submissions via email. Please be sure your subject line reads: QUERY – Name or Title – Genre. Your query may be copied and pasted to the body of your email and should include SCBWI affiliation, publishing credits, etc. if applicable, etc. Tell us a little bit about you: your writing background and goals. Please send queries to: sadlercaravettesubmissions [at] gmail.com. You need only send one manuscript at a time. We will contact you to request additional material. For picture books, send a query and the full ms. For chapter books, young adult and middle grade, send a query and 10 pasted pages. For illustrations, send a query and 2-3 jpegs (or PDF) with pictures of children and animals. We make every effort to respond to submissions/queries within 2 months. Occasionally, it may take longer. As a general rule, if you have not received a response from your queried within 6 months, please assume that Sadler-Caravette Children’s Literary is not interested in your work.”

 

Writing books for kids? There are
hundreds of publishers, agents and
other markets listed in the latest
Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market.

Buy it here online at a discount

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 Here's a comic I did about Ginger a few years ago:

I love my agent. :-)

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Literary Agent Gemma's best picks ... and a BONUS! Nosy Crow publisher Kate Wilson tells us what she's looking for Gemma Cooper is a children’s literary agent with The Bent Agency, representing authors here in the UK and in the US. More information about her and how to submit I’ve read some truly spectacular novels in 2012 and I would love to find some similar manuscripts in my New Year

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Mary Kole’s new book on craft, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, (Writer’s Digest Books, Dec. 2012), isn’t the kind of book you just read; it’s that kind of book that fires up your brain, makes you stop every few pages to grab a pen and paper, and dash out a line or two. I recognized many of Kole’s points, but the insight was this: Much of what an author does is instinctual; what Kole has done is pull the tools out of the box and assign names to them. How much more useful a tool is when you’re aware it exists!

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Did I ever tell you you're my hero? haha

Did I ever tell you I have a You Tube channel? Please check it out! Danette Haworth You Tube Channel Great stuff for authors, including an interview with Barnes and Noble CRM, Geoffrey Shoffstall.

Bargain deals: Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning is available in HARDCOVER FOR LESS THAN $5.00 ON AMAZON! Perfect for your middle-grade reader this Christmas! Also, I've been keeping a craft book open as I work on my new manuscript--lit agent Mary Kole's Writing Irresistable KidLit, available in paperback and ebook. Perfect for the writer on your Christmas list! Look for my review soon!

JERRY SEINFELD and ORNY ADAMS! On separate dates in January, I get to see Jerry Seinfeld at the Bob Carr, Orlando, and Orny Adams at the Improv! I cannot wait! I've never seen Seinfeld live before, but I have seen Orny and he was excellent. Not only that, but he did a meet-and-greet afterwards and was so patient with me and my sister, spending probably fifteen minutes or so with us because my iPhone camera was flaking out (which, honestly, worked out, because we got to spend more time with Orny!). The only thing that could make the new year better? Brian Regan tickets in February? Dare I to spend more money on comedy

And finally, Casey and I were hanging around in the backyard today, and I swear I smelled the sweet, powdery scent of orange blossoms. My neighbor's trees are ornamented with perfectly round, shiny oranges, but no blossoms. A close inspection of the greenbelt behind my yard (read: marsh populated by gators, river otter, rattle snakes, scorpions and more) revealed some kind of weedy tree, resplendent with tiny white buds, emitting the sweet perfume.

That is all for today! Tomorrow, back to work!

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The Publisher’s Marketplace ranks these agents as the top YA agents for the last 12 months. As always, when you look at statistics from Publisher’s Marketplace Dealmakers, remember that these deals are self-reported; there may be other agents who sell more, but don’t participate here, or some agents who–for some odd reason–don’t report a certain sale. Also, sales are just one of the many criteria in choosing the right agent for you and your books. For full information, join Publisher’s Marketplace.

1. Sara Crowe (Harvey Klinger) – 14 deals
2. Lauren Hammond (ADA Management Group) – 13 deals
3. Sarah Davies (Greenhouse Literary Agency) – 11 deals
4. Ammi-Joan Paquette (Erin Murphy Literary Agency) – 9 deals
5. Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency) – 9 deals
6. Jennifer Laughran (Andrea Brown Literary Agency) – 8 deals
7. Michael Bourret (Dystel & Goderich Literary Management) – 7 deals
8. Laura Rennert (Andrea Brown Literary Agency) – 6 deals
9. Stephen Barbara (Foundry Literary + Media) – 6 deals
10. Jim McCarthy (Dystel & Goderich Literary Management) – 6 deals

Nook Kindle PDF Look for it in the iBook store.

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I have a YA/MG/(fill in the blank) manuscript. Who's your agent?


I get this question a lot now, and the answer is more difficult than you'd think. Not because my agent is top-secret (he's Stephen Barbara at Foundry, and yes, he's awesome), but because finding an agent should be more involved than asking for a name. And I didn't always know that either, so I thought I would give you the five-minute answer here.

How you should select your agent:

1. Does (s) he have the same vision for your manuscript (and career) as you do?

This seems like an easy one, and "I don't care, as long as (s)he sells it!" is not the right answer. You'll be doing edits, changing plot lines, characters--your agent will also be your editorial adviser. Make sure YOU know what you want your work-in-progress--and your career as a writer--to be.

2. Do you communicate well with each other?

This is a big one, and I didn't get that until I worked with some people who just didn't communicate like I do. I like straight answers, directness, specificity. Just tell me what stinks. Some people like an agent who talks in broad terms, maybe you're looking for lots of small talk or weekly updates. Think about all this before you sign with an agent. Ask questions. Talk a while, and ask yourself if you're both on the same page.

3. Has (s)he sold manuscripts in your genre?

You need an agent who has the connections to editors, and having sold manuscripts is the real test here. If you go with a brand-spankin' new agent, make sure they're with an agency that has those connections. See the resources below on how to get this information.

Ask your prospective agent where (s)he thinks your manuscript might fit (publishing house, editor). Better yet, do your own homework, and know who publishes what in your genre.

4. What agency is the agent with?

You want an agent who has access to other agents, to sell foreign rights, movie rights, etc. If the agent is a solo op, ask how (s)he handles this.

These are just a few questions I would ask. Think of your own, and add them to the list. You'll be working closely with your agent, so make sure (s)he is the right agent for you.

Here are some resources online, so you can research stuff:

Publishers Marketplace: Agents get to design their own page here, so you know you're getting the info about submitting, etc. straight from them. You can subscribe to get access to Publishers Marketplace's deals database (see #3 above).

Agentquery: Great for a quick database, but make sure you check all info against the agent's website.

Preditors and Editors: To make sure your agent didn't sell swamp land in Florida last week. Simply check the name against their A-to-Z database.

Jacketflap: A hub for kidlit writers, editors and agents. Vet any agent name against the sources above, because remember: anyone can call themselves an agent.

AAR: Association of Authors' Representatives--a regulating organization that's all about protecting your rights. Extra points if your agent or their agency belongs to AAR, because that means they'll adhere to their canon of ethics. Belonging to AAR comes with a price tag, though, so I wouldn't rule out an agent based on their AAR membershi

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