And then there are the projects that never seem to go anywhere at all. A few books I loved reading in my free time . 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). If you have questions, you can build your own network of colleagues who may have the answers. Her dream project for young readers is one that challenges and inspires, with a compelling voice that will make her stay up all night reading. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming number of submissions received, personal responses are only very rarely possible. Show an agent you are serious about writing as a career. Maybe the hardest method, but people do talk . A major plus of not having an agent is the money saved. Erica:We have to make sure that the risk and expectations are clear for all involved. Managing Agent, USA for a London-based children's illustration agency representing 150+ incredibly talented artists. Susan's submission email is: susanhawk.submission@gmail.com. They step in when needed. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. Childrens/YA L. Moe, What Is a Literary Agent? She is . For nonfiction: she is looking for compelling, voice-driven projects that shed a humorous or thought-provoking light on a previously unknown topic in the areas of narrative nonfiction/memoir, lifestyle, relationships, humor, current events, food, wine, and cooking. . 3. How is it different from the way you usually rep a book? What is one misconception about agents?You wouldnt believe how many conference attendees come up to me to say thank you for being warm and approachable, as if this isnt the norm. SUBMISSIONS. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Only considers picture books from established illustrators. Get free access to the Directory of Literary Agents with detailed agent listings to get a traditional publisher, Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong Kayla is also open to representing illustrators. LK Literary Agency is a boutique children's literature agency, so while we are open to general submissions, we kindly ask that you review our guidelines carefully ahead of sending in your submission to be sure we're a good fit for the wonderful work you do.. We are only open to electronic submissions, which means that unless someone from LKLA has specifically requested you send . Isabelle Arsenault 161161 5 Comments 5 Shares Like Comment Share Catbird Agency is with Seb Cosset and Brigette Barrager. If they do get back to you, expect a rejection . 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. All rights reserved. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme Look at what theyll do for you versus what youll have to do for yourself. Search tools to help you find the right agent for your book. Were able to spot trends before they enter the marketplace, and this knowledge becomes invaluable in ensuring that your portfolio is as current and fresh as possible. Even if you get the book deal on your own, a complicated contract is sure to follow, and hopefully an ongoing business relationship has only just begun. 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]. UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. It might seem strange in another industry to see such interagency fellowship,but it feels right for those whove made a career in making books for kids. As soon as you register youll get instant access to the following: * Agent bios for all agents atCatbird Productions It feels good to say, I have an agent. Its legitimizing. All that being said, my bottom-line, if-youre-on-the-fence answer is much more straightforward: CONTRACTS. She is drawn to work that showcases expressive characters, timeless palettes, and atmospheric scenes. Bios, interests, and submission instructions can be found here. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: Do I need an agent?. They told me they were going to focus on getting me into the industry I love: childrens books. It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper Well navigate the waters together. You still need to work hard, improve your craft, increase your self-awareness. Look, even Ive received critique letters. Several of them. You heard it here first! And then submit your picture book query letter and manuscript. We were thinking of matching up Susan Verde and Jay Fleck for our own pitch and then Susans editor, on her own accord, ended up approaching Jay to illustrate Susans new series. While were waiting on the agents response, can I ask you why you want an agent? Lemonade Illustration Agency (Artist Submissions) UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. (Maybe: Is publishing dead or not? Its not dead, but I digress.). So how will you know the bad from the good? Thank you. What is one misconception about agents?That were glamorous, haughty gatekeepers! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Read comments by other authors who have queried the same agents you have. Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong You heard it here first! The second-worst thing to do is to rest on your laurels. 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. Where do I sign? Read their agreement. Not necessarily. Warning: This site requires javascript, but it appears that your browser How to Find a Literary Agent for Your BookAdvice from writing professional Jane Friedman. Lets stop using that word rejection. Try for a moment to think of it as objective criticism. 8. Agencies are still in there, but the box is getting more crowded all the time. of Speculation by Jenny Offill, Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J.Ryan Stradal, and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. 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. Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani How Long to Get An Agent? You have to be a detective. SCBWI Statement of Intent on Equity and Inclusion, The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children, Co-Agenting with Kirsten Hall and Erica Rand Silverman. Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. You still need to hustle. Theyre the coach. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Theyre defending. In order for me to co-agent with someone, I need to feel a certain level of trust because the process can be quite unpredictable. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. Its true, I love to co-agent, and I do it regularly with agents at several different agencies. Its also really fun when it happens on the end of the publishers too. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Cherry is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Want more information about Kirsten Hall? Literary agent Kirsten Hall is launching a new company, Catbird Productions, which will package books for publishers, as well as operate as a boutique literary agency for childrens book author/illustrators, with an emphasis on previously unpublished authors/ illustrators. Most literary agency directories (print and online) are outdated, incomplete, and riddled with mistakes. I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. Having someone on your side who can not only advocate for better terms (and knows what the industry standards are) but also navigate all the legalese with you is key, especially if youre not well-versed. We dont take any pleasure in having to pass on your work or give you difficult news. Find out whos working in the field. Again, I digress.). Agents are people, too. She had been in my session and introduced herself at the end and mentioned that she was sending me her dummy. Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique children's book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. They step out when not needed. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Submit to five. Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique childrens book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. If your submission is received by our system, an automated response will be emailed to you. Or familiar content has been made unrecognizable. Ive learned how important it is to review our individual clients wants and needs before offers start to come in. We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. Find The Agents With The Fastest Response Times. 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). Some of her favorite illustrators include Mike Boldt, Amber Ren, Vashti Harrison, and Eliza Wheeler. If we are interested in reviewing your dummy, we will request that you send it. Stagger it. The project may work. Erica:Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) What does that mean? Its all right. I appreciate having a trusted ear, an ally, and an advocate for my work and career. These letters are just steps on the path. How to Find a Book Agent Read their interviews. She is the author of 100+ childrens books, has been employed since 2009 as a US-based managing agent at the Bright Agency, which is based in London and specializes in nurturing and developing debut childrens book author/illustrators. Agents are curators. We only get paid when the author gets paid after we sell an authors work. Its so truein the past month alone weve had some particularly exciting pairings between Stimola and Catbird! 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. What is one misconception about agents?An age-old misconception originates from a simple questionhow can we give equal quality, time, and support to more than one artist? Co-agenting is Ericas and my way of trying to be as proactive as we can for our clients. Both literary and commercial work. Theyre not your servants. Kirsten:Thats exactly right. The story was called Drift,and it was about a little beaver named Buckley who lives with his mama and makes these beautiful and intricate boats to send off to sea to his absent father. The Number of Queries Sent and Their Replies. *Personal email addresses And thats just on Monday. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer When Im looking at a submission, I want something that makes me feel and makes me think, and most of all, makes me want to read it again. Im the person throwing up the grappling hook, not the one pouring down hot oil. Were a tight-knit community! A thoughtful, personalized query letter does a lot, and obviously if I connect with an art sample or a pitch, its a win, but even then my decision ultimately hinges on what that persons web presence looks like. Co-agenting, or doing that process together, makes it even more fun and is a great way to learn from one another. Look at the length of the agreement. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. The project may work. They lead the cheer for you. Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR)AAR members must meet the highest standards and canon of ethics. Christie Megill: is eager to work with illustrators, author/illustrators, and picture book authors, offering long-term support in their careers and creative journeys. Memoir/Family/Identity S. Foti Thank you for submitting your work! Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator)need an agent?As mentioned, making a career for oneself in the illustration world can be 100 percent DIY, and many people are great at being self-advocates, negotiating, managing the finances and paperwork, and/or marketing themselves as a commodity/business. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Our goal is always to sell their work and properly manage their rights, establishing long-term writing careers for our clients. 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. But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. Erica:In some cases yes and in some cases no. Ive seen really exciting work come out of it. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent More on her wish list, here. Youre about to sign with an agent. You have to register (its FREE unless you upgrade to premium) to use this, but once you register and sign in, you can track your query and find which authors are represented by which agents, a publisher list, an agent list, author success stories, and more. Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. Each agent, even within the same agency, has their own ideas of what defines good writing and good illustration. Tell us what you like and we'll recommend books you'll love. How Much Does An Agent Cost? Wait for a response. does not support javascript or you have it disabled. For more specifics on what Susan is looking for, including information about genres and categories, please see here and here. Some of her favorite non-client books in this category are: I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O'Farrell, Heavy by Kiese Laymon, Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl, You Just Need to Lose Weight by Aubrey Gordon, and In Shock by Rana Adwish. What is one misconception about agents?One misconception about agents is that we are interchangeable. Bookmark Literary (Submissions) Open to illustrator submissions. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. This is both a positive and a negative: As a coach, they help your career. Feeling hurt inflates our ego, which clouds self-awareness, which stunts creative improvement. The one who allows ego to influence their decisions. DING! Now, let me tell you why you dont need one. Books that tell the stories of people, places, and cultures that have been overlooked and ignored for too long are at the top of her list. get work . 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. Home Book Agencies USA Literary Agencies and Literary Agents Catbird Productions. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. Its not easy to do it yourself, but it is possible. Ive worked as a publicist, as an editor, and now as an agent and author. (Though slush piles get an undeservedly bad reputation. Erica:Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. When I offer representation, ideally Id like to be in it for the long haulwhich means I want to really know who Im signing up to work with: Do they have other work thats equally enticing? I dont think its extra contact our clients see as much as extra opportunity. Click here to retrieve reset your password. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly They're publicizing. Odds of Getting a Book Agent Illustrators: send 4-6 jpegs of samples, a live link to your website and a short letter of introduction. But, as an individual player, you arent the only one they need to help. All agents should share the ability to reasonably negotiate contracts. Kirsten Hall is President of Catbird, a boutique childrens literary and illustration agency. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. 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