There are a ton of resources out there that can help you DIY here, too, but its often the omissions in a contract that people dont see. Others are big box stores. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. Levy Creative Management (Artist Submissions), Liza Royce Agency (Agents) (Submissions). Then I look for a voice, either in the words of an author or the art of an illustrator. Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency, (Prospect Portfolio: Illustrator Submissions), (Molly ONeill: open to illustrators & author-illustrators), Stimola Literary Studio: Books for Children and Young Adults, (Submissions for childrens book illustrators only), Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR), How to Find a Literary Agent for Your Book, Literary Rambles: Spotlighting Childrens Book Authors, Agents, & Publishing, Manuscript Wish List specifically for literary agents of picture books. Although of course it would be totally fine for them to communicate if it would benefit the development of the proposal! A major plus of not having an agent is the money saved. Odds of Getting a Book Agent Not everyone excels at all of these, or enjoys it! We spend a good amount of time bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing good and bad news. SCBWI Statement of Intent on Equity and Inclusion, The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children, Co-Agenting with Kirsten Hall and Erica Rand Silverman. He also co-owned Cooke International, an . get work . Get the facts. Find out whos working in the field. The Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to foster public appreciation of childrens books and to support the vibrant community of people who create and promote them. We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. In childrens fiction, they primarily accept early readers and chapter books, and perhaps the very rare, exceptional picture book. A few books I loved reading in my free time . Ive asked agents James Burns, Kirsten Hall, Jennifer Linnan, Alexandra Penfold, Linda Pratt,and Erica Rand Silverman three simple questions. Its not easy to do it yourself, but it is possible. We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. This is why its so important to make sure theres a termination clause in your contract. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. A graduate of Simon Fraser University's Master of Publishing program and a twenty-five year veteran of Canadian publishing, Ron worked with Penguin Canada, Westwood Creative Artists, and Random House of Canada before joining CookeMcDermid in 2009. Most of the time, Im working with my clients to develop their own dummies or texts to sell directly to a publisher or Ro and I are looking within the studio for an illustrator match to a pre-existing text. I dont know. And so on. the Twitter version of Manuscript Wish List) Agents and editors of all writing genres post what they want. Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. Were allies, strategists, friends, supervisors, listeners, managers, organizers, brainstorming partners. She likens her agency, which specializes in picture books, to a creative playground. The Chudney Agency (Submissions) Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). Childrens/YA D. Bester Read their interviews. Corvisiero Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions) Curtis Brown LTD (Agents) (Submissions) David Higham Associates (Agents) (Submissions) A UK agency. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Need manuscripts and art to stay on schedule? But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. In this post, you and I will go through the steps of a submission, from researching agencies to signing on the dotted linewhile having a bit of a heart-to-heart along the way. Before we see illustration samples or book pitches, we know that the agent has worked hard to make sure their clients best foot is forward. How Much Do Authors Make? Also send five pages from your manuscript. 1) Those that reflect soulfulness and deep consideration. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent?Agents wear many important hats. Its not 100 percent, I can tell you that. Or familiar content has been made unrecognizable. As soon as you register youll get instant access to the following: * A link to the Catbird Productionswebsite, * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions, * Access to all literary agent profiles in the, * Search the directory by book genre/category (more than 100 categories), Scroll back up to the top of this webpage now to enter your name and email for FREE information and listings for all book agents at Catbird Productions, Author Success Story: Nonfiction/Self-Help, [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews]. Hall is the author of the picture books The Gold Leaf and The Jacket, which was a New York Times Notable Book in 2014. She is just as happy working with debut talents as she is best-sellers. You did the homework. A word of warning: There is such a thing as a bad agent. Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. Otherwise, please consider submitting to one of my wonderful colleagues at ABLA. The story taps into important truths about love and loss and life. If tabling at a convention and pitching your work to passersby feels like your worst nightmare, bring your most outgoing friend. If I have requested your work, please email me at lara@andreabrownlit.com and please include the word "request" in your subject line (and please do NOT include the word "query'"). I see you have an email from an agent. 7, Manuscript Wish ListANDManuscript Wish List specifically for literary agents of picture booksAND#MSWL (the Twitter version of Manuscript Wish List) Agents and editors of all writing genres post what they want. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. Provide URLs to your author website and social media that supports your efforts to brand yourself. (Should you want to learn more first, our Writer's Toolbox has a handful of useful links for writers wanting to improve their craft before seeking publication.). I still remember the first time I read Jessixa Bagleys dummy submission. Agents are curators. Shes one of my favorite people in the entire industry. LiteraryAgents.com An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). After about a year, and no work, I asked to break our agreement. For middle grade and YA: She is actively seeking fresh young adult and middle grade fiction across all genres. Again, I digress.). Playing with each others client lists is a way to stay true to that, to not overcommit in order to see more potentially exciting matching possibilities. An agent once said to me, If you think having an agent doesnt give you a distinct advantage, youre crazy. It depends on the agent and the artist, but I tend to agree with her. But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. Maybe not. Prospect Agency (Agents)(Submissions) (Prospect Portfolio: Illustrator Submissions), Raven Quill Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), The Rights Factory (Agents) (Submissions) A Canadian Literary Agency, Rising Bear Literary Agency (Rick Margolis) (Submissions), Rodeen Literary Management (Paul Rodeen)(Submissions), Root Literary (Agents) (Molly ONeill: open to illustrators & author-illustrators) (Submissions), Rubin Pfeffer Content, LLC(Agents)(Submissions), Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Sanford J. Greenburger Associates (Agents)(Submissions), Sean McCarthy Literary Agency (Submissions), Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary (Agents) (Submissions), Serendipidty Literary Agency (Agents)(Illustration Submissions) (Photography Submissions)(Author Submissions), The Seymour Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Sheldon Fogelman Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Stimola Literary Studio: Books for Children and Young Adults (Agents) (Submissions), Stonesong Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Storm Literary Agency (Agents)(Submissions), Thompson Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions) Only considers picture books from established illustrators, Transatlantic Agency(Agents & Submissions) Canadian and U.S.A. offices, TriadaUS Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Trident Media Group (Agents)(Submissions), Upstart Crow Literary (Agents)(Submissions), Wendy Lyn & Co.(Submissions for childrens book illustrators only), Wernick & Pratt Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Westwood Creative Artists (Agents) (Submissions) A Canadian Literary Agency, The Whiteman Agency (Doug Whiteman) (Submissions). Visit their websites, where they explain who they are and what they want. But I dont generally find myself doing much differently with regards to my clients when co-agenting other than have hard conversations on their behalf with my my co-agent up front. Children's Book Writers She is not seeking sci-fi, horror, or high fantasy. Part of my job is to break down any remaining barriers, not to guard themto make introductions, to get more eyes on clients work. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The North American catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), of the family Mimidae (order Passeriformes), is 23 cm (9 inches) long and is gray, with a black cap. Im reminded of my father-in-law, who spends three hours fixing a leak instead of calling a plumber who could do it in one. Kayla is seeking everything from heartfelt or humorous picture books (she has a soft spot for animal protagonists) to dynamic, unpredictable YA (she loves a good murder mystery or a clever rom-com). and strategic process), so its not something we do all the time. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Were not afraid of this. Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong Fiction/Christian K. Sargent . Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR)AAR members must meet the highest standards and canon of ethics. The snob. But were also different from one another; we shine in different ways. "Mark helped me get five different offers for representation from top literary agents. Follow agents on social media. Join QueryTracker to access more query and agent information, including To read more comments about this agent, or to leave comments of your own, become a QueryTracker member. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You have to be a detective. Yes, you pay agents a fee, and that fee could be fairly substantial, depending on the agent. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox We only accept submissions via e-mail. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. Find The Agents With The Fastest Response Times. Agents have a broader knowledge due to their experience, and it allows the creative lines between authors and illustrators and their editors/houses to be cleaner. Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). Because co-agenting can be even more unpredictable than regular agenting, and because two agents naturally need to look at whats best for two clients with different histories and hopes, the co-agenting process requires double the consideration and diplomacy. Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. Regardless,I like to seek out three main strengths any time I review a portfolio: storytelling ability, consistency, and confidence. She started her career at Liza Dawson Associates in Manhattan, and in 2014 launched her own literary agency, Olswanger Literary LLC, where she represents a wide variety of genres, but is currently focused on illustrated books (picture books and graphic novels). We spend a good amount of time bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing good and bad news. Agents are people, too. When I signed, it was very exciting. Wait for a response. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. What do you look for in a submission?The very best in art and literature reveals something real and true about ourselves, and childrens books are no exception. If they do get back to you, expect a rejection . My approach with each client is different based on what they particularly need. Please put your query and sample in the body of the email. I went back to the drawing board., I signed with an agent, thinking that they would get me consistent work. Ask around. What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. On the reverse, sometimes our authors are looking for new inspiration and an illustration can be a great way to get those wheels turning. Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. Erica:Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. catbird seat. They help you skip that much-maligned slush pile. . Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme Agents help a career in ways beyond even my understanding. Read industry magazines and blogs. And sometime between crying, I offered Jessixa representation. DING! You still need to work hard, improve your craft, increase your self-awareness. Different authors and illustrators have different needs, which is why finding your perfect agent match is so important. Danielle is actively seeking projects in a variety of categories. Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). Not of, or relating to, Dogma, Catbird seeks to foster a community of varietous and riotously (not righteously) funny creators in Austin and in the larger state of Texas. They want to represent you?! Were both former educators, are each moms of two boys, and we identify in a lot of ways with one another, are drawn to similar stories and talents. Once that commission has been accepted, the ball is then in motion. Subscribe to The Illustration Department Newsletter, Do I Need An Agent? Prentis Literary (Childrens Fiction) (Agents) (Submissions) In childrens fiction, they primarily accept early readers and chapter books, and perhaps the very rare, exceptional picture book. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Erica is a tireless advocate for her clients and proud to be a part of an industry that is so thoughtfully shaping young minds. But agents help your creative growth in more ways than the obvious. Literary Rambles: Spotlighting Childrens Book Authors, Agents, & Publishing Excellent source for agent interviews, kidlit information, and an agent database you can search by age category (e.g., picture books). When Stephanie first contacted me, she was very excited and said, I cant get your book proposal out of my head. 2. Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator)need an agent?An agent is a matchmaker, negotiator, mediator, lifter-upper, creative confidant, and industry insider all rolled into one. Halls client list at Bright includes Benji Davis, Elly Mackay, Clive McFarland, and Connah Brecon. Insofar as the quality of your work is good, it doesnt matter if you have an agent or not. Listen to podcasts. RESPONSE TIMES We respond to most queries within twelve weeks. Literary Agent List Step 3: Send Out A Lot Of Submissions Before you start using our list of literary agents, it's important you understand that you should approach the process of trying to find and get a literary agent the way agents approach the process of trying to get a publisher. Kirsten Hall has struck out on her own after years of freelancing and started her own literary companyCatbird Productionssearching for debut talent. * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions Scroll below to see a sample. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme What do you look for in a submission?I look to have an emotional response and for the work to be something different than is already represented on my list. Kirsten Hall is President of Catbird, a boutique childrens literary and illustration agency. Honest and open communication is key. Kirsten Hall is a former preschool and elementary school teacher who has authored more than a hundred learn-to-read stories for emergent readers. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Is it consistent? The main reasoning behind this stems from the fact that what an artist feels is their strongest work is not necessarily what the agent would agree is best for the market. We dont take any pleasure in having to pass on your work or give you difficult news. Ive been in publishing for over a decade. It may not. To bridge these twoindustries, she co-founded Room 228, a consulting company that creates educational marketing materials and literacy programming for children. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. Check out her Literaticastpodcast. If you want the most accurate information available for literary agents atCatbird Productionsregister above now for FREE instant access to the Directory of Literary Agents. Tell us what you like and we'll recommend books you'll love. I want an agent to help me . Agents arent just sitting by the phone, hoping to get your submission. The overwhelming advantage in having this knowledge is proven when we come to share new work; it cuts through the noise and competition. Authors pen manuscripts, artists are creators, agents have insight and continued relationships, editors and art directors have the vision. The project may work. In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another. Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Follow your instincts. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer Our hearts are very much in the right place. But theyre not the only key to the door. Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Erica is mostly interested in adding author-illustrators to her list andis looking for a diverse array of voices and styles. You can unsubscribe easily at any time we dont spam. Theyre not your servants. Only considers picture books from established illustrators. I thought if I signed with an agent, I could just focus on making art., Me: How many jobs did they get for you over the past year?. QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. They agreed almost immediately. Thank you for trying us, and all good luck! When our illustrators arent working up a project of their own, were pitching them to get matched up by publishers. Aliza R. Hoover: represents illustrators and author-illustrators. But I dont generally find myself doing much differently with regards to my clients when co-agenting other than have hard conversations on their behalf with my my co-agent up front. Never miss a moment of Fuse Literarys deals and bonus content. If you can, meet them at conferences. Where do I sign? Read their agreement. Repeat. Kirsten HallLiterary Agent is on our list of Publishing Agents USA (book agents in the United States), Fiction Publishing Agents (book agents who represent fiction authors), Childrens Publishing Agents (book agents who represent books for younger readers), Young Adult Publishing Agents (book agents who represent YA books for teens),Middle Grade Publishing Agents (book agents who represent books for middle grade tween readers), and Picture Book Publishing Agents (book agents who represent picture books for kids). Show an agent you are serious about writing as a career. Literary Agent Kirsten Hall Catbird Productions, Author Success Story: Nonfiction/Narrative Nonfiction, [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews]. Id like to thank James Burns, Kirsten Hall, JenniferLinnan, Alexandra Penfold, Linda Pratt, Erica Rand Silverman,and Laura Stiers for their time, generosity, and invaluable contributions to this article. Experience. The one who allows ego to influence their decisions. Thank you for submitting your work! It isnt as automatic as you think. 4. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Cherry is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Susan believes that books can change lives inspire a passion for reading and story; unlock imagination and empathy; move readers to feel, think, wonder, examine, explore, to laugh really hard. Since it was published as Boats for Papa by Neal Porter Books in 2015, I have read it and cried again and again and again.