Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 66

Sales Boost: Your Book���s Business Plan

This article originally appeared on Medium. Reprinted with permission.

By Bree Weber

If you google ‘how to launch a book’ or ‘how to boost your book sales’ you’ll find a plethora of resources suggesting everything from growing an email list to getting early reviews to creating a street team.

This is all wrong.

Before you can jump into pricing strategies or social media giveaways, you need to map out a complete business plan for your book. Let’s face it, as an indie author you are a business owner. A business plan is the tool you use to understand how your book fits into the market, how it stands out from other books like it, and how best to share your book with interested readers.

As you start to write on each subject, you may find connections you previously missed, or opportunities that you hadn’t even considered. Your answers here will help guide you during every book launch to keep you and your team accountable to your goals. So, let’s get started!

1. Summary

I recommend writing this section last as you’re effectively summarizing the entire business plan. This section should answer the question “why is your book going to succeed?”.

2. Brand Overview

Let’s first start with your brand’s history, sort of like a resume for you and your book(s). Write out (as objectively as possible) a history of your career as a writer.

What genre(s) do you write in?Why are you qualified to write on these topics?What past awards have you received?How have past publications performed?Have you hit any key milestones like a bestseller list?
If you’re a debut author, you can include any obstacles you’ve overcome to start writing, finish writing this book and/or start the publishing process.

3. Market Analysis

Market Overview

Here you can detail the size and characteristics of your market as well as the sector and current trends. A great indicator of this is your genre and sub-genre. Take a look online at these categories to get an idea of how many books are already out there.

Relevant Market Size

Now that you know the overview of your genre, you can drill down into it.

Are you in a niche genre? Think of specific keywords that might transcend your genre, but readers are actively seeking out such as ‘strong heroine’ or ‘coming of age’.How open is your genre to new stories and new authors?Do you already have a hold in this market? If so, how large is your market share?How many readers would you have if every reader who reads in this genre read your book?What annual revenue could you expect with 100% of the market?
How to calculate:

[the number of readers who might be interested in purchasing your book each year] x [the amount these readers might be willing to spend, annually, on your books]

4. Customer Analysis

Target Customer

Although you’re actually identifying an entire customer base, try to visualize just one person. Describe how your ideal reader fits into the world. Start with demographics:

Is your ideal customer male or female?How old is she?Where does she live?What does she do for work?Is she married?What’s her educational background?
Take it another step further to map out an emotional side to your ideal customer:

Who is she buying for? Herself, a child, someone else?How does she feel about her job?How does she spend her weekends and holidays?Is she on social media, blogs or other online communities?What problems is she battling in life right now?
Give your ideal customer a name, a background and a personality. Get to know your ideal customer!

Customer Needs

Take what you’ve written down about your target customers to connect your book to their answers. How does your book meet their needs?

If you’re a non-fiction writer, most likely your book helps your ideal customer to solve a problem. Think back to your ideal customer, and be specific about the problem and the solution.

Does your memoir help young adults struggling with body image find the inspiration they need through your personal story to get help? Or perhaps you have a business strategy book that helps solopreneurs manage and scale their local business into an international franchises by incorporating techniques you’ve used with Fortune 500 companies around the world.

If you’re a fiction writer, you might be thinking “my book doesn’t solve problems” or even that “fiction is just entertainment”. Don’t discredit yourself. Fiction is an account of the human condition; in fiction we find insights, inspiration and often pieces of ourselves.

With this framework of fiction in mind, consider what anxieties or complexities your story reveals in your reader. What will your reader learn about herself or her world from your story? This answer is the door to your customer’s needs.

5. Competitive Analysis

Direct Competitors

Direct competitors are the books that fill the exact same customer needs as your book, which is why it is so important to clearly identify your target customers and their needs. Outline the strengths and weaknesses of your direct competitors.

Indirect Competitors

These are the products and services that fill the exact same customer need as your book, but may not be books at all. This could be TV, magazines, etc. Outline the strengths and weaknesses of your indirect competitors.

Competitive Advantages

Now that you have a strong understanding of your competitors — both indirect and indirect — you can list out why your book competes with both. What is special about your book? Why should your ideal customer buy it instead?

6. Marketing Plan

So many authors get hung up on their book’s marketing plan because they haven’t completed the market, customer and competitive analysis. How can you market effectively if you don’t know who you’re marketing to, what else they are considering and how your book competes?

Pricing

Since you’ve already researched your competitors, you should have a good idea of the how books and other services are currently priced. So now you can decide on your pricing model:

FreemiumHigh-low pricingPay what you wantPremium pricing
Consider how your selected pricing model(s) meets the needs of your customer.

Promotions Plan

Now that you’ve gotten to know your ideal customer, you already know where she hangs out offline and online. Keep this in mind when listing out your strategies to attract new customers.

Do you plan to get involved with a community on social media?Are you steadily building an email list?Are you using paid advertising? Where?Will you do local events and bookshop signings?
Distribution Plan

As indie authors, it’s never been easier to publish and distribute a book. Although there are many options, not all will be right for your book, and it may differ from book to book. Think about your target customers:

Do they like to buy direct via author websites?Do they love 2-day shipping from large online stores?Are they bookstore browsers in need of a small local shop?
If you’re going to be using wholesalers, distributors or other partners to sell your book, list them out here. Find out the costs — whether financial, time, or otherwise — associated with working with them and write down the benefits that make that cost worthwhile.

7. Operations Plan

Strategic Calendaring
This is where you’ll want to map out the day to day logistics for every aspect of your book:

WritingEditorialProductionDistributionPublicationMarketingPublic Relations
You’ll want to consider what kind of editing you need, how long will production take, when you need a final cover design file, when you’ll be receiving and proofing print copies, what promotional content you’ll post on social media, etc.

If you’ve built a support team to help you manage your book’s success, you’ll want to write out who is covering what, when you’ll need to give approvals, and deadlines that you need to meet for your team.

Milestones
List out your future goals, and be S.M.A.R.T about it. And by SMART, I mean specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

Include all the details of what you want to achieve, who is involved, where this will happen, when you’d like to achieve it, which obstacles you’ll need to overcome, and why this is beneficial to your author brand or book.

8. Management Team

Although the term ‘indie author’ refers to an independent author, the most successful writers are rarely doing it alone. Take some time to think about your own strengths, and recognize your weaknesses.

Identify where you need help and who to bring in. It might be an assistant, a consultant or a company. Then continually review where there might be gaps in experience or qualifications, especially as your author brand and book sales grow.

For those authors who really just want to focus on the writing, but appreciate the freedom indie publishing provides, you may want to consider creating a ‘board of advisors’ for your to manage and execute all of the goals in this plan.

9. Financial Plan

Revenue Model

List out how your book makes (or will make) money.

If your primary author revenue is book sales, this will likely be a super short section. Be sure to consider different formats i.e. print, digital, audio, etc as well as series, box sets, collections, etc.

If you’re using a book as a platform for other services, or a stepping stone towards other products, itemize your revenue streams as it relates back to your author brand.

Financial Highlights

No need to pull out income statements or balance sheets (yet), but you’ll want to outline a basic summary of your current and projected financial situation:
Annual revenue or how much you’re earning from book salesMajor book-related expenses such as advertising, distribution, etc.Projected net income (revenue — expenses) for this year and next
With these answers in hand, you’ll be able to increase your sales, grow your audience, and create new ways to connect with your readers. This will also serve as your compass keeping you accountable to your goals, helping you avoid mistakes and reminding you to keep your ideal customer in mind at every decision.
______________________ Bree Weber is a book designer and publishing consultant who loves Oxford commas.

In London, Bree studied for her MA in Publishing Culture, while working for several large publishing houses, including Penguin and MacMillan. This is also where her latte addiction first flourished.

Post-Europe, Bree contributed to NYC boutique presses and literary agencies as a digital marketeer and publishing consultant, until deciding the road was the place for her.

Now, as a digital nomad and founder of The Book Octopus, Bree uses her traditional publishing experience to help indie authors produce, publish and promote their books.

If you want to connect with Bree you can reach out to her on Twitter at 
@thebookoctopus and on www.thebookoctopus.com.

27 Calls for Submissions in November 2016 - Paying Markets

There are over two dozen open calls for submissions in November. All genres and styles are welcome, including poetry. fiction, nonfiction, and personal essays. As might be expected, quite a few of these calls are for Holiday themes. All are paying markets.

As always, read the submissions guidelines carefully.

You can find more resources for submission calls, both paid and unpaid, here: Calls for Submissions

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 The First Line. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Must begin with the line: "In the six years I spent tracking David Addley, it never occurred to me that he didn’t exist." Payment: up to $50 per piece. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Ninth Letter. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Southern writing only. Payment: $25 per page. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Virginia Quarterly Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF. Southern writing only. Payment: $200 per poem, $1000+ for fiction and CNF. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Skirt! Genre: Personal essay; Essay Theme: Stories about the merriest of holiday times. Payment: $200. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Sockdolager. Genre: Short genre stories for special issue: Women of War. Payment: 2 cents per word; $15 for reprints. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Ellipsis. Genres: Poetry, fiction, CNF. Payment: $50 for prose; $10 for poetry. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

THEMA. Genres: Short stories, poems, essays on theme of Missing Letters. Accepts reprints. Payment: $25; short-short piece (up to 1000 words), $10; poem. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Kenyon Review. Genres: Fiction, poetry, plays, excerpts. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Pear Tree Press. Genres: Dark poetry and fiction. Payment: $10, $5 for poetry. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Maple Tree Literary Supplement. Genres: Dialogue or interviews on any topic between and amongst Canadian writers. Payment: $30. Deadline: November 1, 2016.(Website is unclear)

Electric Literature. Genres: Personal and critical essays. Payment: $50 per piece. Deadline: November 4, 2016.

How Well You Walk Through Madness. Genres: Fiction, poetry. We are looking for stories that capture ordinary madness-the down and dingy corners of life. Send us the last little hope before getting a boot to the face. Send us experimental fiction or poetry littered with philosophies on a mission to corrupt the norms. Essentially, we're looking for Beat fiction. Fiction that breaks the conventional norms of writing. Be an outsider. Think differently. Get weird and don't be afraid. This anthology is inspired by the Beat Generation writers, a literary movement that is getting a rebirth today. Payment: 1/4 cent per word. $5 per poem if submitting poetry. Deadline: November 4, 2016.

Starwheel. Genres: Fiction, nonfiction. We are hoping for weird, speculative, or literary slice of life pieces that are uplifting and thought provoking. The story must contain some aspect of the fall and holiday season: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. Payment: $2.00 per poem, $3.00 per fiction or nonfiction piece, $3.00 for art & photography, and $6.00 for a one-page illustrated story or comic. Deadline: November 10, 2016.

Lamplight Magazine. Genre: Dark fiction. Payment: 3 cents per word; reprints 1 cent per word. Deadline: November 15, 2016.

Electric Literature. Genre: Reprints. "Unlike our regular submissions period, the cover letter here is important. We want to know about your short story’s original publication, and why it deserves a second life in Recommended Reading. If accepted, we may use this information (with your permission) in our introduction, alongside the story’s publication. As always, we’re looking for stories between 2,000 and 10,000 words that are bold, affecting, and presented with a distinct style." Payment: $100. Deadline: November 15, 2016.

Witness. Genres: "Original fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and photography that is innovative in its approach, broad-ranging in its concerns, and that dazzles us with its unique perspective. We often enjoy material that ventures into international terrain." Payment: $25 for every 1,500 words of prose and $25 per poem, for both print and online work.  Deadline: November 15, 2016.

Bright Wall/Dark Room. Genre: Essays on your favorite Christmas/Holiday/Winter movies. Please note: the movie or television show you write about does not have to be about the holidays - it can be about any film you watch during the holiday season - but the issue itself will be mostly geared toward actual holiday movies. Payment: $25. Deadline: November 15, 2016.

Tiny Tim Literary Review.  Genre: Chronically ill/disability narratives. Payment: $50 per piece. Deadline: November 19, 2016.

Fun Dead Publications. Genre: Dark, spooky stories 1000-6000 words, set in New Orleans. Payment: $10. Deadline: November 25, 2016.

Chicken Soup for the Soul. Genre: True stories and poems for Dreams and Synchronicities. Sometimes magic happens in your life. You have a dream that reveals a truth or a course of action to you. You have a premonition that changes your behavior and saves you or a loved one from disaster. You meet someone at just the right time and you can’t believe the coincidence. Payment: $200. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Chicken Soup for the Soul. Genre: True stories and poems for Military Families. "We are looking for true stories of no more than 1200 words from soldiers who defend and protect our country — both active and retired — and from their families: spouses, children, parents and other relatives. Tell us what it’s like to be part of a military family: the ups and downs, the funny stories, the heartwarming stories, and your best advice for other military families." Payment: $200. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Notre Dame Review. Genre: Prose. Payment: "small gratuity." Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Fairy tale. Payment: Story pay: $30, Poem pay: $10. US dollars only. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

World Weaver Press: Equus: Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menageries. Genre: Speculative fiction stories about every kind of horse from the earthly to the mythological with a special emphasis on horses, unicorns and pegasi. Every kind of magical equine is welcome. Payment: $10 + contributor copy. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

The Pedestal Magazine. Genre: Speculative poetry. Payment: $40. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Literary e-clectic. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction on theme of "lost and found." Payment: $50. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Anthology: MONSTERS AMONG US. Genre: Poetry and Stories up to 7,000 words about ‘psychological horror’, horror that comes from within. Payment: $15. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

33 Writing Contests in November 2016 - No Entry Fees

November may be a cold and dreary month, but it has a bright spot - lots of writing contests! 

This month there are contests for stories, poems, unpublished and published books, translations, essays, plays - you name it, there's a contest for it. None of these contests charge entry fees, so you have nothing to lose by entering.

Make sure to read the contest guidelines carefully, as some have age and regional restrictions.

If you somehow miss your perfect contest this year, don't worry! Many of these are annual contests. You can get a jump on upcoming contests through this month-by-month listing of free contests: Free Contests. 

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Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the British Commonwealth.  Genre: Unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words) in English. Short stories translated into English from other languages are also eligible. Prize: Regional winners receive £2,500 (US$3,835) and the overall winner will receive £5,000 (US$7,670). Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work. Prize: $1,000, 6-month fellowship, and a mentorship from an established author. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Drake University Emerging Writer Award. Genre: First book of short stories (collections).  Prize: $1000 plus travel and lodging expenses to read at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers.  Restrictions: Writers must not have published a book, short story, or dramatic work in the mystery field, either in print, electronic, or audio form. Genre: Mystery stories of the Agatha Christie type—i.e., “traditional mysteries.” These works usually feature no excessive gore, gratuitous violence, or explicit sex. Prize: Each grant may be used to offset registration, travel, or other expenses related to attendance at a writers' conference or workshop within a year of the date of the award (no later than May 2016). In the case of nonfiction, the grant may be used to offset research expenses. Each grant currently includes a $1,500 award plus a comprehensive registration for the following year's convention and two nights' lodging at the convention hotel, but does not include travel to the convention or meals. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

Vermont Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,500 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

Hajja Razia Sharif Sheikh Prizes in Nonfiction and Poetry. Restrictions: Undergraduates. Genre: Awards will be given to the best piece in each genre that addresses the experience of being Muslim in America. Winning pieces will speak to the experience — joys and challenges — of being Muslim in America today in ways that educate and inform our readers. Winning pieces may also demonstrate an understanding of Islamic history, culture, contributions, and / or its influence on society. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Jane Lumley Prize for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: The Jane Lumley Prize will only be awarded to writers who have not already published a full length book. However, they may have published a chapbook, and/or found a home for their works in other literary journals. Genre: Poetry. Maximum of eight poems (totaling not more than ten pages). Prize: $300 and winning entries will be featured in the January issue of Hermeneutic Chaos. Deadline: November 1, 2016. 

Glamour Magazine "My Real-Life Story" Essay Contest. Genre: Essay—no more than 3,500 words. Prize: $5,000, publication in Glamour, and meeting a top New York literary agent. Deadline: November 1, 2016. Read details here.

New York Encounter Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry on the theme "Reality Has Never Betrayed Me." Prize: Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 will be awarded to first, second and third place poems. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

Unified Caring Association Student Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to High School Juniors and Seniors. Genre: Creative nonfiction on theme of caring. Prize: $333. Deadline: November 1, 2016.

RBC Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction. Restrictions: Canadian citizens only. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: C$25,000. Shortlisted authors receive $2,000. Prize: Deadline: November 2, 2016 for books published between October 1 and October 30, 2016. Read details here.

Dylan Thomas Prize. Restrictions: Authors must be aged 39 or under. Eligible books must have been commercially published for the first time in the English language between January 1 and December 31 of the year in which the deadline falls. Genre: Published books of poetry, fiction (novel, novella, or short story collection), radio scripts, or screenplays. Eligible books must have been commercially published for the first time in the English language between January 1 and December 31, 2016. Prize: 30,000 pounds, plus 1,000 pounds for shortlisted authors. Deadline: November 4, 2016. Read details here.

Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. Genre: Published book by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK. Novels must be published in the United Kingdom between 1 April 2016, and 31 March 2017. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of reisdence are eligible. Prize: £30,000.00. Deadline: November 9, 2016.

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. Genre: First published short story. Authors may not submit their own work. Prize: $2000 and publication in The PEN America Best Debut Short Stories. Deadline: November 11, 2016.

Neltje Blanchan/Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Awards. Restrictions: Wyoming writers. Genres: The Frank Nelson Doubleday Award is given for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script written by a woman writer. The Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award is given annually for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script which is informed by a relationship with the natural world. Prize: $1,000.00. Deadline: November 14, 2016.

Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize is sponsored by the Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival. Genre: Non-fiction essay between 4 to 10 pages, set in Brooklyn about Brooklyn and/or Brooklyn people/characters. (Up to 2500 words). Prize: $500. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Flo Gault Student Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Full-time undergraduate college students in Kentucky. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Pushcart Press Editors' Book Award. Genres: Fiction or nonfiction manuscript that has been rejected by a commercial publisher. The award recognizes "worthy manuscripts that have been overlooked by today's high-pressure, bottom-line publishing conglomerates." Each manuscript is nominated by an in-house editor who has seen his or her literary enthusiasms rejected by a U.S. or Canadian publishing company. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Santa Ana Dramatic Works Contest. Genre: Ten-minute dramatic works (12 pages or less) of any medium (play, screenplay, teleplay). Prize: $100. Deadline: November 15th, 2016.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada between September 9, 2015 and December 31, 2015. Self-published books are not eligible. Genre: A book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Prize: Winner: $25,000; Finalists: $2,500. Deadline: November 16, 2016: For books published between September 14, 2016 and December 31, 2016 Read details here.

Payton James Freeman Essay Prize. Restrictions: U.S. citizens. Genre: Essay on the subject of change and changes. Prize: $500. Deadline: November 21, 2016.

Arts & Letters Awards. Restrictions: Residents of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Genre: Original creative work in literature, music, visual art and digital multi-media may be entered. Prize: $1,000.00 CAN. Deadline: November 25, 2016.

Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students. Restrictions: Student writers in the 11th grade. Prizes: First Prize – $500, Second Prize – $250, Third Prize – $100. Deadline: November 27, 2016.

Build Your Own Blog New Writer Scholarship. Restrictions: Students aged 16 years and up. Genre: Unpublished short story/poem/blog post/(Any written material you are proud of). Prize: $4,000.  Deadline: November 29, 2016.

Best Translated Book Awards for Fiction. Genre: All original translations published between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 are eligible. Reprints and retranslation are ineligible. Prize: $5,000.00. Two awards of $5,000: one apiece for the author and translator of the winning book in fiction. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers. Restrictions: Open to writers aged 16-18. Genre: Poem (1). Prize: Full scholarship to The Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop, an intensive two-week summer seminar for writers aged 16-18. Deadline: November 30, 2016. Read details here.

Somerset Maugham Awards. Restrictions: Open to writers under the age of 35. Genre: Published work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry. Prize: 2,500 pounds apiece to four winners. Prize money must be used for travel. Deadline: November 30, 2016. Read details here.

UNT Rilke Prize. Restrictions: US citizens or residents. Open to authors with at least two prior published books of poetry. Genre: Book of poetry published between November 1, 2015 and October 31, 2016. Prize: $10,000.00. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Betty Trask Prize. Restrictions: Author must be a Commonwealth citizen. Genre: First novels, published or unpublished, written by authors under the age of 35 in a "traditional or romantic, but not experimental, style." Prize: Awards totaling 20,000 pounds. Top prize 10,000 pounds. The prize money must be used for foreign travel. Deadline: November 30, 2016. Read details here.

Encore Award. Restrictions: Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. Book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 pounds. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Fountain Magazine Essay Contest. Genre: Essay. 1,500 - 2,500 words. "In the context of this current moment in history, The Fountain’s 2016 Essay Contest invites you to consider the issues facing today’s immigrants. Are you an immigrant, too? Were your parents or grandparents immigrants? Are we all immigrants in this world? How do immigrants contribute to your society? How do they cause problems in your society? How would you help immigrants thrive?" Prize: 1st Place - $1,500, 2nd Place - $750, 3rd Place - $300, Two Honorable Mentions - $200 each. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

New Roscommon Writing Award. Restrictions: All entrants must have a connection with the county of Roscommon (born in, living in, currently working in, went to school in, etc). Genres: All. Prize: €500.00. Deadline: November 30, 2016.

West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry and Short Story Competitions. Genre: Poetry, short story. (No limericks.) Prize: Poetry: $200 in each language category (Welsh and English). Short Story: $200.00 (one English-language entry) Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read about the poetry competition here.

3 New literary agents seeking clients

Here are three new agents seeking clients. Rick Pascocello (Glass Literary Management), a long-time marketing executive at Random House, is looking for nonfiction, including memoir, biography, history, narrative, business, sports, and popular culture, along with mainstream and literary fiction.

Grace Ross (Regal Hoffmann & Associates) is interested in literary fiction; historical fiction; international narratives; and dynamic plots that bridge genres. In nonfiction, she is looking for socially and politically conscious narratives, especially those that engage with cultural conversations about gender, race, and class in an accessible way; but she's also drawn to popular science, biography, cultural theory, and memoir.

Shannon Powers (McIntosh & Otis) is seeking adult literary fiction, mystery, horror, popular history, and romance. In YA and middle grade, she is searching for mysteries and thrillers with high emotional stakes, projects with romantic elements (whether fun or angsty), horror, light sci-fi or fantasy, and contemporary with a unique premise.

Note: For a comprehensive list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients see: Agents Seeking Clients

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Grace Ross of Regal Hoffmann & Associates

Grace A. Ross recently joined Regal Hoffmann as a junior agent. She started her career at Oxford University Press in editorial before transitioning to agenting, first at Lowenstein Associates and then at Denise Shannon Literary Agency in 2014. Grace was born in Washington, DC and holds a B.A. in English/American Studies from Wesleyan University.

What she is looking for: Grace is interested in literary fiction that experiments with form and speaks to the current cultural climate; historical fiction; international narratives; and dynamic plots that bridge genres. In nonfiction, she is looking for socially and politically conscious narratives, especially those that engage with cultural conversations about gender, race, and class in an accessible way; but she's also drawn to popular science, biography, cultural theory, and memoir. 

How to submit: Please send query to submissions@rhaliterary.com. Submissions should consist of a one-page query letter detailing the book in question as well as the qualifications of the author. For fiction, submissions may also include the first ten pages of the novel or one short story from a collection.
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Rick Pascocello of Glass Literary Management

Long-time Penguin Random House marketing executive Rick Pascocello has joined Glass Literary Management as a literary agent. Pascocello spent 23 years with Penguin Random House, where he was v-p and executive director of marketing.

What he is looking for: Nonfiction, including memoir, biography, history, narrative, business, sports, and popular culture, along with mainstream and literary fiction.

How to submit: Please send your query to rick@glassliterary.com. He prefers queries that: describe your book concisely; are well-written and typo-free; show an understanding of the marketplace and where your book would fit into it; and show why you are the best person to be writing the book you’re proposing.
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Shannon Powers of  McIntosh & Otis

Shannon Powers is a graduate of New York University. She began her career in publishing at McIntosh and Otis as an intern in 2011, and then went on to intern at The Book Report Network and W.W. Norton & Company. She has also worked as a bookseller. She returned to M&O in 2014, where she assists Shira Hoffman and Christa Heschke and is also looking to build her own list as a junior agent.

What she is looking for: Shannon is interested in representing a range of both adult and children's genres. Above all, she looks for projects with a strong hook, smart plotting, memorable characters, and an addictive voice. She is open to both lighter projects and projects with a darker edge. For adult, her reading interests include literary fiction, mystery, horror, popular history, and romance. In YA and middle grade, she is searching for mysteries and thrillers with high emotional stakes, projects with romantic elements (whether fun or angsty), horror, light sci-fi or fantasy, and contemporary with a unique premise.

How to Submit: Send query letters to SPquery [@] mcintoshandotis.com. Include a synopsis, author bio, and the first three consecutive chapters (no more than 30 pages) of your novel. For YA or MG , include a synopsis and the first three consecutive chapters (not to exceed 25 pages) of the manuscript with your query letter. No attachments. 

17 Writing Conferences in November 2016

November is a great month for writing conferences and retreats. This is a good time to charge up before the Holidays take over your life. (It's hard to focus on writing when the house is in an uproar. I suggest vast quantities of turkey.)

If you miss your ideal conference this year, there is always next year. To find a month-by-month list of conferences all over the US and Canada, go to Writing Conferences. And if you live abroad, check the resources listed there to find conferences overseas.
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The Monterey Writer Retreat in California. November 2 - 6, 2016, Monterey, CA. Three of the best developmental commercial fiction editor-agents in the business--Paula Munier, Kimberley Cameron, and Michael Neff (see bios on the right)--will be available from 9 AM to noon each day of the retreat for one-on-one sessions with writers. Attendance and focus will be up to each individual writer. They will also schedule, as needed, up to two more hours during afternoons for further one-on-one sessions.

Other Words Literary Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Saint Augustine, Florida. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as panels and readings. This year's theme is "Writing Funny: The Literary Art of Humor." The faculty includes poets Kenneth Hart and Michelle Boisseau; fiction writers Ron Cooper and Suzanne Heagy; and nonfiction writers Dawn S. Davies and Bob Kunzinger. The cost of the conference is $50 for FLAC members and $80 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is October 15.


Sanibel Island Writers Conference. November 3-6, 2016, Sanibel Island, Florida. The conference features workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as manuscript consultations, readings, panels, concerts, and book signings. Faculty and visiting writers include poets Richard Blanco, Nickole Brown, and Jessica Jacobs; fiction writers Lynne Barrett, John Dufresne, Gina Frangello, Nathan Hill, Tom Piazza, Darin Strauss, and Liza Wieland; creative nonfiction writers Steve Almond, Sandra Beasley, Stephen Elliott, Jeffrey Thomson, and Sarah Tomlinson; agents Christopher Schelling (Selectric Artists), J. L. Stermer (N. S. Bienstock), and Lauren Tourtelot (Kuhn Projects); and editor Laura Apperson (St. Martin’s Press). The keynote speaker is fiction writer Sue Monk Kidd. The cost of the conference is $500 ($400 for BIG ARTS members and $300 for full-time students). For a manuscript consultation or workshop, submit up to 10 pages of poetry or prose by September 30.

Atlanta Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 5, 2016, Atlanta, Georgia.  publishing panels, pitch sessions, manuscript and query letter critiques, and marketing workshops. Participating publishing professionals include agents Caitie Flum (Liza Dawson Associates), MacKenzie Fraser-Bub (Fraser-Bub Literary), Pete Knapp (New Leaf Literary), Alexa Stark (Trident Media Group), Julie Stevenson (Lippincott Massie McQuilkin), and Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); editors Hannah Braaten (St. Martin’s Press), Gabriella Doob (Ecco), Sarah Guan (DAW Books), Chloe Moffett (William Morrow), Natasha Simons (Gallery Books), and Amy Stapp (Forge and Tor Teen); and marketing associate Kathryn Ratcliffe-Lee. The cost of a single session ranges from $40 to $160; The cost of the discounted “All-Activities Package,” which includes two manuscript critiques, one query letter critique, two pitch sessions, the marketing workshop, and two panels, is $560. Registration deadline November 2.

Picture Book Illustration: From Conception to Birth. November 4-6, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. This workshop is designed to give you that competitive edge by providing practical tips and direction from an art director with many years of experience working in the trenches.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Fall Conference. November 4-6, 2016, Raleigh, North Carolina. Workshops and master classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as lectures and panels on publishing and finding an agent. The faculty includes poets Dorianne Laux, Joseph Millar, and Lenard D. Moore; fiction writers Clare Beams, Kim Church, and Angela Davis-Gardner; and creative nonfiction writers Haven Kimmel, Bridgette A. Lacy, Debbie Moose, and John Shelton Reed. The cost of the full conference is $200 or $260 (including meals) for members, and $300 or $375 (including meals) for nonmembers until October 28. Onsite registration is $450 for the full conference, $250 for Sunday-only attendance, and $350 for Saturday-only attendance.

Kauai Writers Conference. Nov 4 - 6, 2016, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Kapaa, Hawaii. craft talks, publishing presentations, agent consultations, and readings for fiction writers and nonfiction writers. Participating writers include Lynne Cox, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Kristin Hannah, Jill Landis, Laura Moriarty, and Colson Whitehead; participating publishing professionals include Julie Barer (Barer Literary), Silissa Kenney (St. Martin's Press), and Elizabeth Kracht (Kimberly Cameron and Associates). Registration is limited to 150 participants.

Autumn Writing Getaway. Nov 5, 2016, Galloway NJ. Faculty includes Stephen Dunn, Sharon Olds, Barbara Hurd, Carol Plum-Ucci, James Richardson, Peter E. Murphy and more.

Cascade Writers Workshop. November 5, 2016, Tacoma, WA. Remember, remember the 5th of November! This seems like the perfect theme for a Mystery/Crime/Noir and all mix of cross genres event! Even if you’re writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal, or another genre, knowing how to twist a plot and create tension through crime can make the difference between a best-seller and humdrum novel. Or taking a romance and adding a noir flair gives a fresher voice to the genre. Whether you’re writing straight crime or a mix, join pros Kat Richardson and Brian Thornton for this mysterious event!

ShowMe Writers Masterclass, Nov. 5-6, 2016, Columbia, MO. Sessions on how to get published by publishing pros. Pitchfest with agents.

Words & Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans. Nov 9 - 13, 2016, New Orleans, LA. Faculty includes National Book Award winners Julia Glass, Adam Johnson; Journalist and fiction editor Jorge F.Hernandez; humorists Roy Bount, Jr.and Harrison Scott Key; poets Mark Yackich, Roger Kamenetz, and Peter Cooley; and 16 top agents and editors.

Everything You Need to Know About Children's Book Publishing: A Crash Course. Nov 10 - 13, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. "If you’ve thought about writing for children but don’t know where to start, this is the workshop for you. We’ll guide you through the processes of creating, submitting and selling a book or magazine article, provide you with a one-on-one review of your manuscript and answer all of your questions."

Writing by Writers Manuscript Boot Camp. November 11 - 14, 2016, Tahoe City, California. Workshops for book-length manuscripts, as well as craft talks, readings, and agent panels, and individual meetings with agents. The faculty includes fiction writers Samantha Dunn and Alan Heathcock; and fiction and nonfiction writers Pam Houston and B. K. Loren. The cost of tuition, which includes a manuscript review of up to 300 pages with a faculty member, an individual meeting with an agent, lodging at the Granlibakken Resort, and all meals, is $3,250. Registration deadline September 15.

Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference. November 11 - 14, 2016, Hatfield, MA. features workshops of book-length poetry manuscripts with poets and editors Peter Covino, Joan Houlihan, Stephen Motika, Martha Rhodes, and Ellen Watson. The cost of the conference is $1,375, which includes tuition, a private room, and meals. Using the online application system, submit three to four poems and a brief bio.

Time Sculpting: A Workshop for Parent Artists. November 12, 2016, NY, NY. Writing Faculty includes: Melissa Febos, Carmen Maria Machado, Kristin Prevallet, and Colleen Kinder. Professional Development for Teachers led by Sarah Dohrman.

Wake Up and Write Writer's Retreat Workshop. Nov 14 - 19, 2016, Haverford, PA. Classes, one-on-ones, and plenty of writing time. Faculty: author/Instructor David Corbett (The Mercy of the Night, T
he Art of Character) Author/Instructor Arianne Tex Thompson (Children of the Drought series) Editor-in Residence Jason Sitzes Director/Instructor Carol Dougherty.

The Writers Workshop of Las Vegas, November 19, 2016, Las Vegas, NV. This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Embassy Suites – Las Vegas. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome. Attending agents: Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary); Paul S. Levine (Paul S. Levine Literary); Jamie Bodnar Drowley (Inklings Literary); Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary); Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary); Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates); Jennifer March Soloway (Andrea Brown Literary); and Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary).

25th Free ���Dear Lucky Agent��� Contest: Thrillers and Horror

Every so often, Chuck Sambuccino, the editor of the Guide to Literary Agents, runs a free contest called "Dear Lucky Agent." These contests allow writers to submit one page of their manuscript to be judged by an agent.

Winners of the contest have a more than good chance of getting representation. It's good to enter contests, not just because you may win one, but because they force you to write short summaries and synopses, and to polish your first few pages until they shine. These are usually the only pages an agent will see before making a decision. (Sometimes they only read a paragraph.)

The contest deadline is Tuesday, October 25, 2016. CLICK HERE for more details.

For hundreds of free contests organized by month see: FREE CONTESTS.

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From the Website:

Welcome to the 25th (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the GLA blog. This is a FREE recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. Here’s the deal: With every contest, the details are essentially the same, but the niche itself changes—meaning each contest is focused around a specific category or two. If you’re writing any kind of thriller or horror novel (for adults), then this 25th contest is for you! The contest is live through end of day, Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016. The contest is judged by agent Alec Shane of Writers House.

WHY YOU SHOULD GET EXCITED

After a previous “Dear Lucky Agent” contest, the agent judge, Tamar Rydzinski (The Laura Dail Literary Agency), signed one of the three contest winners. After Tamar signed the writer, she went on to sell two of that writer’s books! How cool! These contests can’t be missed if you have an eligible submission.

HOW TO SUBMIT

E-mail entries to dearluckyagent25@gmail.com. Please paste everything. No attachments.

MEET YOUR (AWESOME) AGENT JUDGE!

Agent Alec Shane began his career at Writers House in September of 2008. He is now actively building his list and currently represents a fairly eclectic mix of children’s and adult fiction and nonfiction. On the fiction side, he loves mysteries, thrillers, bad-ass protagonists with a chip on their shoulders, beautifully told historical fiction (The Vietnam War, the Maccabees, and The American Revolution fascinate him), well-researched adventure stories, and great horror. In terms of children’s books, getting boys to read again is especially important to him, and thus he’s particularly on the lookout for a fun middle-grade adventure series, ghost story, or anything else geared toward younger male readers. On the nonfiction side, he is attracted to odd, quirky histories, military history, biographies of people he didn’t even know existed (but definitely should have), “guy” reads, humor, narrative nonfiction that sheds light on under-the-radar events and lifestyles, and all things sports. Find him on Twitter: @Alecdshane.

WHAT TO SUBMIT (AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REQUIREMENTS)

The first 150-250 words (i.e., your first double-spaced page) of your unpublished, completed thriller or horror novel. You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also note your city of residence (i.e. — the city you live in, not your full address). Submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with each entry. Self-published novels are not eligible.

Please note: To be eligible to submit, you must mention this contest twice through any any social-media. Please provide a social-media link or Twitter handle or screenshot or blog post URL, etc., with your official e-mailed entry so the judge and I can verify eligibility. Some previous entrants could not be considered because they skipped this step! Simply spread the word twice through any means and give us a way to verify you did; a TinyURL for this link/contest for you to easily use is http://tinyurl.com/zagnp4r.

An easy way to notify me of your sharing is to include my Twitter handle @chucksambuchino at the end of your mention(s) if using Twitter. If we’re friends on FB, tag me in the mention. If you are going to just use Twitter as your 2 entries, please wait one day between mentions to spread out the notices, instead of simply tweeting twice back to back. Thanks. (Please note that simply tweeting me does not count. You have to include the contest URL with your mention; that’s the point. And if you use Twitter, put my handle @chucksambuchino at the middle or the end, not at the very beginning of the tweet, or else the tweet will be invisible to others.)

Here is a sample TWEET you can use (feel free to tweak): New FREE contest for writers of thrillers and horrorhttp://tinyurl.com/zagnp4r Judged by agent @Alecdshane, via @chucksambuchino

2 New Literary Agents Seeking Clients

These two agents are actively seeking clients. Vanessa Robins (Corvisiero Literary) is seeking NA—all, especially humor; YA—gritty plots with diverse characters; Fiction—thought out thrillers, romance with strong female leads, heavily based science sci-fi, and sports-centric plots; Nonfiction—memoirs including coming of age, cultural/ethnic/sexuality, survivor, and humor themed. Bonus points for Medical Narratives (characters with medical illnesses and chronic diseases, or MS told through a medical professional’s view point). Amelia Appel (McIntosh & Otis, Inc.) is most interested in literary fiction, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and horror.

Note: For a comprehensive list of new and established agents actively seeking new clients see: Agents Seeking Clients

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Vanessa Robins of Corvisiero Literary

Vanessa is a writer, reader, and lover of food. From Lancaster, Pennsylvania—no, she’s not Amish— she graduated from York College of Pennsylvania in May of 2015 with a degree in English literary studies and a minor in professional writing. Vanessa was Managing Editor of her college’s undergraduate literary magazine for two years, where her love of literature thrived, and her passion for the publishing world was created. When she isn’t reading or working, Vanessa can be found playing rec league softball (her team is called “Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Batman *and Women*,” in case you were wondering), experimenting in the kitchen, knitting, or screaming at her favorite sports teams (go Eagles and Phillies!).

What she is seeking: NA—all, especially humor; YA—gritty plots with diverse characters; Fiction—thought out thrillers, romance with strong female leads, heavily based science sci-fi, and sports-centric plots; Nonfiction—memoirs including coming of age, cultural/ethnic/sexuality, survivor, and humor themed. Bonus points for Medical Narratives (characters with medical illnesses and chronic diseases, or MS told through a medical professional’s view point). See our monthly MSWL blog post for more detailed requests.

Will not represent: PB, MG, Screenplays, and Erotica.

How to Submit: Please query Vanessa Robins by emailing query@corvisieroagency.com and putting “ATTN: Vanessa Robins-Query [Book Title]” in the subject line. Vanessa prefers if you write a brief query letter in the body of your email and attach a 1-2 page synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript to the email in separate Word .doc files. Your query letter should include links to any social media or author websites.
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Amelia Appel of McIntosh & Otis, Inc.

Amelia Appel is a graduate of Hamilton College. Prior to joining the McIntosh & Otis team, Amelia interned at HSG Agency and Writers House, where she was later an assistant. She joined M&O in 2014 as Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein’s assistant and is currently seeking to build her own list as a junior agent. Twitter: @AmeliaLAppel

What she is seeking: Amelia is looking to represent primarily adult fiction with some YA. For adult, she is most interested in literary fiction, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and horror. Projects with a smart, distinct voice, a fantastic setting to jump into, and/or a witty protagonist are all up her alley. For YA in particular she’s interested in stories with a savvy protagonist and a slightly dark tone that deals with serious coming-of-age issues well.

How to Submit: To query Amelia Appel please emailAAquery@mcintoshandotis.com. To submit, please email our agents at the email addresses listed below. To find out more about our agents and their interests please visit our Agents page. We ask that all text be pasted in the body of the email as outlined in the submission guidelines. Emails containing attachments will not be opened and will be automatically deleted due to security reasons.

8 Literary Agents Seeking Horror NOW

These eight agents are seeking horror right now. All are from established agencies with solid track records.

For more literary agents seeking horror see: 9 Agents Looking for Horror Writers

Note: You can find dozens of agents seeking writers here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Ginger Clark (Curtis Brown)

Ginger Clark has been a literary agent with Curtis Brown LTD (New York) since 2005. On the adult side of her list she represents science fiction, fantasy and horror. On the children’s side she represents middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. In addition to representing her own clients, she also handles British Commonwealth rights for the agency’s children’s list. She attends the Bologna Book Fair every year on behalf of her agency, and visits London annually as well. Previously, she worked at Writers House for six years as an assistant literary agent. Her first job in publishing was as an editorial assistant at Tor Books. She is the Chair of the Contracts Committee of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, and a member of its International Committee.

What she is seeking: Open to adult, YA, and middle grade horror.

How to Submit: Send query letter and contact information to gc [@] cbltd.com.

You can also submit via an online form.

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Connor Goldsmith (Fuse Literary)

Connor began his career in publishing in 2012 at Lowenstein Associates, where he was promoted to Associate Agent in March 2013. He joined Fuse in early 2014 and was promoted to Agent in November 2015. Prior to transitioning into the world of books, he spent a year as a full-time intern and relief assistant in the commercial film and television department at Abrams Artists Agency.

Born and raised in New York, Connor lived for a brief stint in the Midwest studying English and the Classics at Oberlin College in Ohio. He is passionate about narrative fiction across all media as a vehicle for social progress, and received a Master’s Degree in Media Studies from The New School for Public Engagement.
How to Submit: Send your query letter, a 1-2 page full plot synopsis, and the first ten pages of your manuscript to queryconnor [@] fuseliterary.com.

Please paste all content into the body of the email; attachments will not be opened.

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Amelia Appel (McIntosh & Otis)

Amelia is a graduate of Hamilton College. Prior to joining the McIntosh & Otis team, Amelia interned at HSG Agency and Writers House, where she was later an assistant. She joined M&O in 2014 as Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein's assistant and is currently seeking to build her own list as a junior agent

How to Submit: Send query letters to AAquery [@] mcintoshandotis.com.

Include a synopsis, author bio, and the first three consecutive chapters (no more than 30 pages) of your novel. No attachments. If querying Amelia, do not query Shannon, also on this list.

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Shannon Powers (McIntosh & Otis)

Shannon is a graduate of New York University. She began her career in publishing at McIntosh and Otis as an intern in 2011, and then went on to intern at The Book Report Network and W.W. Norton & Company. She has also worked as a bookseller. She returned to M&O in 2014, where she assists Shira Hoffman and Christa Heschke and is also looking to build her own list as a junior agent.

What she is seeking: Open to YA, middle grade, and adult horror.

How to Submit: Send query letters to SPquery [@] mcintoshandotis.com. For adult horror, include a synopsis, author bio, and the first three consecutive chapters (no more than 30 pages) of your novel. For YA or MG horror, include a synopsis and the first three consecutive chapters (not to exceed 25 pages) of the manuscript with your query letter. No attachments. If querying Shannon, do not query Amelia, also on this list.

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Elizabeth Copps (Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc.)

Elizabeth migrated from Florida to start her career with Maria Carvainis Agency as an intern in 2010. In 2011 she signed on with the agency as a full-time assistant, and two years later was promoted to Associate Agent. She represents a wide range of genres from MG and YA, to adult contemporary literary fiction, mystery, psychological thriller, women’s fiction, historical fiction, horror, and select nonfiction projects.

What she is seeking: “I prefer psychological horror over the slasher-type violence.”

How to Submit: Send a query letter, a synopsis of the work, first 5-10 pages, and note of any writing credentials. Send queries to mca [at] mariacarvainisagency.com. Attachments must be either Word documents or PDFs.

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Becky LeJeune (Bond Literary Agency)

After graduating from the Denver Publishing Institute, Becky worked for two years as managing editor for a cookbook imprint and another five as a commissioning editor for a local interest and regional history publisher.

What she is seeking: Open to adult, YA, and middle grade horror.

How to Submit: Please send a query letter via email to: queries [@]bondliteraryagency.com.

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Michelle Johnson (Inklings Literary Agency)

After a life long obsession with books, a career in business management/ownership including bookstores and community writing centers, and a few years with small presses in an editorial capacity, Michelle Johnson is now in her fourth year as a literary agent, where she represents many NYT Bestsellers, debut authors, and indie authors alike.

What she is seeking: Open to YA and adult horror. “I prefer psychological horror to gory horror.”

How to Submit: To query, type “Query (Agent Name)” plus the title of your novel in the subject line, then please send the following pasted into the body of the e-mail to query [@] inklingsliterary.com. Include a synopsis and the first ten pages of your manuscript. No attachments.

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Maximilian Ximenez (L. Perkins Agency)

Maximilian Ximenez grew up within the New York publishing industry. Prior to joining the L. Perkins Agency, he worked at Blizzard Entertainment, creators of the popular Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo video game franchises. He is a strong believer in publishing and narrative as a central pillar of franchise and transmedia development.

What he is seeking: “I’m specifically reading for ‘Women and children who kill.'”

How to Submit: Send query letter to submissions [@] lperkinsagency.com. Include the first five pages of your novel with your query letter. No attachments.

2 New Agents Actively Seeking Writers

Here are two new agents seeking clients. Anna Worrall of The Gernert Company is looking to represent smart women’s literary and commercial fiction, psychological thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. Tracy Marchini of BookEnds is seeking picture book, middle grade and young adult manuscripts across most genres, including contemporary, mysteries, thrillers, magical realism, historical fiction, and non-fiction.

Note: You can find dozens of new and established literary agents looking for clients here: Agents Seeking Clients
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Anna Worrall of The Gernert Company

Anna is the Director of Marketing and Social Media and a literary agent at The Gernert Company, which she joined in 2010. After graduating from NYU with a degree in history, she worked in the marketing department at an academic publisher in her native Philadelphia before moving to Hungary, where she taught conversational English and traveled extensively. Twitter: @annaworrall

What she is seeking: She’s looking to represent smart women’s literary and commercial fiction, psychological thrillers, and narrative nonfiction.

How to submit: Queries by e-mail should be directed to: info@thegernertco.com. Please indicate in your letter which agent you are querying. You can visit the OUR TEAM section of the website to get a sense of who might be a good fit for your work. If you have previously corresponded with one of their agents and choose to query another, please let them know of any communication history in your letter. Please do not send e-mails directly to individual agents, even if their email addresses are available elsewhere online. The agency asks that you do not phone the office regarding unsolicited manuscripts for any reason.

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Tracy Marchini of BookEnds

After four years as a Literary Agents Assistant at Curtis Brown, Tracy Marchini left to pursue her own editorial business and to earn her MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons College. Her editorial clients have gone on to secure representation, sell books to traditional publishers, win awards and become bestsellers in the UK. She’s looking forward to being able to work with her BookEnds clients throughout their careers and to (hopefully!) see them grow as authors in the same way.

What she is seeking: Tracy Marchini is looking for picture book, middle grade and young adult manuscripts across most genres, including contemporary, mysteries, thrillers, magical realism, historical fiction, and non-fiction. For picture book fiction, she’s particularly interested in manuscripts that are laugh out loud funny or deliciously dark. For middle grade and young adult, she’s interested in underdogs, strong female characters and/or unreliable narrators. She believes that it’s important for readers of all backgrounds to see themselves reflected in the media they consume, and is looking to bring that diversity to her list.

How to submit: Submissions to Tracy can be sent to TMSubmissions@bookendsliterary.com.

12 Literary Agents Seeking Picture Books NOW

These twelve agents are seeking picture books. For as long as people have children, picture books will never go out of style. (They are even quite entertaining for adults.)

Note: You can find dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

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Jill Corcoran (Jill Corcoran Literary Agency)

Jill Corcoran is President and Founder of Jill Corcoran Literary Agency and an Executive Partner, Branding & Licensing for EverWitt Productions, a film and television content developer. Jill opened the West Coast arm of Herman Agency in 2009, then launched JCLA in 2014. Jill represents many award-winning authors and illustrators, including New York Times Bestsellers, the former US Children’s Poet Laureate, and Famous Monsters of Filmland/American Gothic Press.

What she is seeking: Seeks submissions from author-illustrators only.

How to submit: query [at] jillcorcoranliteraryagency.com. Illustrators should query with a link to your portfolio and the entire PB manuscript in the e-mail body.

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Emily Van Beek (Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management)

"Representing an author or artist, whether aspiring or established, is an honor and a commitment I take very seriously. I am passionate about children’s and young adult books. I am passionate about negotiating the best deal possible. I am passionate about working together with our experienced and esteemed subsidiary rights and contracts teams to squeeze as much juice out of a single property as it will yield. I find it incredibly rewarding to work with new voices (and I’m thrilled to say that I’ve discovered several irresistible projects by debut authors and artists in the submissions pile). I’m also committed to helping established authors and artists continue to grow their careers. I am an “editorial” agent, in that I’ll work through as many drafts over the course of as many years as it takes to polish a manuscript I believe in to a high shine prior to submission. My goal is to build long-term relationships with authors and artists and to help them publish books that will stand the test of time."

What she is looking for: Author-illustrator submissions only please. No submissions that are text-only.

How to submit: emily [at] foliolitmanagement.com. “To submit a picture book, please attach a PDF of your dummy. Links to online portfolios are always welcome. I would very much like to be able to respond to every query, but unfortunately time doesn’t allow for it. Please be sure to write ‘QUERY’ in the subject line as this will ensure I do not miss your letter. If you haven’t heard back from me within six weeks, I’m sorry to say I’ve decided I’m not the ideal match for your project.”

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Jennifer Flannery (Flannery Literary)

Jennifer Flannery founded Flannery Literary in 1992 in New York after working at a literary agency in her hometown of Minneapolis and then in the trade department at HarperCollins. Flannery moved her offices to the Chicago area in 1997.

What she is looking for: Flannery Literary is looking for strong writing, a unique viewpoint, a memorable story, an intriguing character, and a thought-provoking dilemma a young reader is eager to see resolved.

How to submit: flanneryliterary [at] icloud.com. “I request e-mail queries only with the entire picture book embedded in an e-mail.”

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John Rudolph (Dystel & Goderich)

"After twelve years as an editor, I’m excited to wear a new hat in the publishing industry and discover fresh voices and talent, both in children’s books and on the adult side as well. For middle-grade and YA fiction, I’m on the lookout for authentic kids’ voices and rousing, high concept stories—I love a good “what-if” scenario."

What he is looking for: "I’m eager to find the next great author/illustrator."

How to submit: E-query jrudolph [at] dystel.com.

Will not open attachments if they come with a blank e-mail.

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Victoria Selvaggio (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)

Business owner turned Associate Agent, Victoria A. Selvaggio comes to The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency as a prior Regional Advisor for SCBWI: Northern Ohio, with over 9 years of actively working on the executive board. Drawn to the publishing scene first as an author, with her most recent publication in the 2015 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, Vicki’s passion for honing the craft carried over into reading manuscripts for the agency. Currently, she is excited to read compelling manuscripts that will resonate with her long after she’s done

What she is looking for: Lyrical picture books.

How to submit: Please email a query to vselvaggio [at] windstream.net and put “Query” in the subject line of your email. Include the entire picture book text in your email after the query letter.

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Mary Cummings (Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises)

Mary served for fourteen years as education director at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, where she organized an annual festival of children’s literature and selected judges for the prestigious McKnight Award in Children’s Literature. She represents both career writers and newcomers.

What she is looking for: Adorable, cute, sweet as well as contemporary, quirky books. Strong central character(s) preferred.”

How to submit: Queries for children’s and YA titles should be addressed to b.amster.kidsbooks [at] gmail.com. For picture books, please embed the entire text in the body of your e-mail. “We do not open attachments unless we have requested them. Nor do we respond to phone queries. Please understand that owing to the number of queries we receive, we are able to respond only to those that interest us.

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Wendi Gu (Greenburger Associates)

What she is looking for: “I seek author-illustrators only.”

How to submit: “E-mail me dummies as PDFs or through FTP sites at wgu [at] sjga.com.

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Laura Biagi (Jean V. Naggar Literary)

Laura Biagi joined JVNLA in 2009. She is actively building her own client list, seeking adult literary fiction and young readers books. She also handles the sale of UK and Australian/New Zealand rights, as well as audio rights. She has worked closely with Jean Naggar and Jennifer Weltz on their titles, as well as Jennifer Weltz on the submission of JVNLA's titles internationally. Laura's writing background has honed her editorial eye and has driven her enthusiasm for discovering and developing literary talent. She studied creative writing and anthropology at Northwestern University. She is the recipient of a Kentucky Emerging Artist Award for fiction writing. Laura grew up in a small town in Kentucky and maintains a fondness for Southern biscuits and unobstructed views of the stars.

What she is seeking: “I’m open to both author-illustrators and text only.”

How to submit: There is a submission guideline form on the Jean V. Naggar Literary website.

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Natalie Lakosil (Bradford Literary)

Natalie is an agent at the Bradford Literary Agency. An honors graduate of the University of San Diego, California, Natalie holds a B.A. in Literature/Writing. After nearly four years at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and a brief dabble in writing author profiles and book reviews for the San Diego Union Tribune, Natalie joined the Bradford Agency in February of 2011.

What she is seeking: Natalie is drawn to talented, hard-working new authors with a fresh, unique voice and hook.

How to submit: E-mail your query to queries [at] bradfordlit.com. To avoid falling into spam, the subject line must begin as follows: “Query for Natalie: (The title of the manuscript and any SHORT message you would like her to see should follow). “We do not open email attachments, unless specifically requested by an agent. Picture book submissions should be a short query along with entire manuscript in body of email.”

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Christa Heschke (McIntosh & Otis)

Christa graduated from Binghamton University with a major in English and a minor in Anthropology. She started in publishing as an intern at both Writers House and Sterling Lord Literistic, where she fell in love with the agency side of publishing. Christa has been at McIntosh and Otis, Inc. in the Children's Literature Department since 2009 where she is actively acquiring for all age groups in children’s.

What she is seeking: “I am open to both text only and author/illustrators, though I am very selective. I am more drawn towards character driven stories that are cute and/or funny, not overly sweet. I love twists on familiar characters or storylines and unlikely friendship stories. I also enjoy nonfiction bios on strong women and people of color throughout history, especially. For all categories [of kidlit], I’d love to see more diverse books!”

How to submit: Query CHquery [at] mcintoshandotis.com.

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Erica Rand Silverman (Stimola Literary Studio)

Erica has worked with some of the most exciting new talent and treasured mainstays in the industry as well as the estates of our favorite classics. Erica represents picture books through young adult and the occasional adult nonfiction project in parenting, humor and wellness. She received her degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a Master of Arts degree in Theater from Hunter College. She was a NYC high school English teacherdean and senior literary agent at Sterling Lord Literistic before joining the studio in 2016. Erica is a tireless advocate for her clients and committed to keeping great books alive.

What she is seeking: Seeks submissions from author-illustrators only. Interested in “great read-aloud texts and ones that put a new spin on evergreen topics.”

How to submit: Do not e-query Erica. Instead go online and submit through her agency’s online form.

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Adriana Dominguez (Full Circle Literary)

Adriana Domínguez has 20 years of experience in publishing. Prior to becoming an agent, she was Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, where she managed the children’s division of the Rayo imprint. Before that, she was Children’s Reviews Editor at Críticas magazine, published by Library Journal. Adriana has performed editorial work for both children and adult publishers. She is also a professional translator, a member of the Brooklyn Literary Council that organizes the Brooklyn Book Festival, and one of the founders of the Comadres and Compadres Writers Conference in New York City. Adriana is based on the East Coast.

What she is seeking: Invites submissions from both writers and writer-illustrators.

Her wish list concerning illustrators: “I’m interested in artists with distinctive styles, and on bringing more diverse illustrators into the market.”

Her wish list concerning text: She seeks “picture books that are funny or endearing, with an element of the unexpected. I love twists, strong concepts, and diverse points of view. Picture books that make you wonder, ‘How didn’t anyone ever think of this before?!'”

How to submit: Online submission form: http://www.fullcircleliterary.com/submissions/.