Michelle Hauck's Blog, page 80

March 9, 2015

PB Party Agents



Whee! This is the cutest, most hugable mini-contest ever! A big thanks to these agents for agreeing to look at our fabulous entries on March 24. Please thank them with a follow on twitter. 






Maria Vicente of PS Literary
Maria Vicente is a creative and editorial agent, providing support to her clients through all stages of the writing and publication process. Her publishing career began as an intern with Bree Ogden at D4EO Literary Agency, and she also interned at P.S. Literary before joining the agency as an associate agent. Her reading preferences vary across categories and genres, which is reflected in her client list. Maria holds a B.A. in English Literature from Carleton University and a B.Ed. from the University of Western Ontario. She has affinities for literary prose, strong character development, original storytelling formats, and anything geeky. If you would like to send a query to Maria, please click or tap here to review our Submission Guidelines.

Maria is actively acquiring both fiction and nonfiction projects. In fiction, she is looking for Literary and Commercial Fiction (including fiction with a touch of genre), LGBTQ, Young Adult (any genre), Middle Grade (any genre), and illustrated Picture Books. For nonfiction, she is looking for projects in the Pop Culture, Geek Culture, Pop Psychology, Design, and Lifestyle categories. You can view her detailed manuscript wish list here.


Twitter|Website






Heather Alexander of Pippin Properties
Heather Alexander comes from a family where the constant ​​refrain was, “Don’t forget to bring a book!” In college, she hid THE PRINCESS DIARIES between Dickens and Hawthorne. One Children’s Lit class later, and her path in publishing became obvious. Heather landed in editorial at Penguin, where she happily stayed for six years, working with ​both​ debut and veteran authors and illustrators. As an agent, she is ​excited to develop new talent and help shape careers, which is what she loves to do best.
Twitter|Website






Clelia Gore of Martin Literary Management
It was when Clelia first read Charlotte’s Web in the first grade that she got hooked by the magic of books. Her love of children’s books carried through adulthood and she is delighted to dedicate her life to bringing quality books and stories to young (and whimsical adult!) readers. 
Clelia is originally from the suburbs of New York City. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Boston College. She received her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law and practiced law as a corporate litigator in New York City. 
In 2011, she decided to dedicate her career to books and reentered graduate school at Emerson College, where she received a master’s degree in Publishing and Writing. While she was studying publishing and taking creative writing courses at Emerson, Clelia gained firsthand experience in the publishing industry working in the children’s book division at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and in academic books at Oxford University Press.  She also taught academic writing and research courses to freshman students as a graduate student faculty member at Emerson College. 
Clelia acquires picture book, middle grade and young adult books. She is particularly interested in developing her middle grade and young adult nonfiction clientele. With apologies, Clelia is no longer accepting new adult fiction queries at this time. Twitter|Website





Christa Heschke of McIntosh and Otis
CHRISTA HESCHKE 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 looking for picture books, middle grade, and young adult projects. She is a fan of young adult novels with a romantic angle, and strong, quirky protagonists. Within YA, Christa is especially interested in contemporary fiction, horror and thrillers/mysteries. As for middle grade, Christa enjoys contemporary, humor, adventure, mystery and magical realism for boys and girls. For picture books, she’s drawn to cute, funny, character driven stories within fiction and is open to non-fiction with a unique hook.
Christa is not looking for any Adult fiction or non-fiction, paranormal or dystopian at this time.Twitter|Website






Jessica Sinsheimer of Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
Jessica Sinsheimer has been reading and campaigning for her favorite queries since 2004. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she went east for Sarah Lawrence College and stayed for the opportunity to read soon-to-be books for a living.
“Now an Agent at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, she’s developed a reputation for fighting office members to see incoming manuscripts first—and for drinking far too much tea. Her most recent sale is RIPPER, a paranormal/historical YA novel, about a Victorian girl who takes down Jack the Ripper–and its sequel.
“Always on the lookout for new writers, she is most excited about finding literary, women’s, and Young Adult fiction, and—on the nonfiction side—psychology, parenting, self-help, cookbooks, memoirs, and works that speak to life in the twenty-first century.Twitter|Website




Essie White of Storm Literary
Essie White used to be a teacher, and before she was a teacher, she was a graduate student studying Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood Education. It may have been then, or it may have been long before, but at some point, Essie White fell in love with Children's Literature, and it has been the focus of her life ever since.
After earning her MA in Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education, Essie spent several years creating and developing literature based curricula for elementary level programs. She provided classes for parents and educators, specifically addressing emergent literacy in children ages birth to age 8, prior to opening Young Child Academy, an early childhood program. During her tenure as Director at Young Child Academy, Essie wrote several books both with other educators, as well as with the children. For often, she discovered, the best books come from the children themselves! 
Essie considers Storm Literary Agency an extension of what she loves most: Children and Literature. And she cannot imagine one without the other. She desires to work with clients who have not quite forgotten what it was like to be children, who loved books as children, and love them just as much today.Twitter|Website




Ella Kennen of Corvisiero Literary

Ella Kennen is a nomad courtesy of the US Air Force. She's lived here, there, and everywhere and done this, that and the other. She's always on the lookout for new things - in the real world or on the page.

Ella's favorite books leave her a bit shaken at the end - not necessarily because they're emotionally wrought (though they can be), but because they are such thorough world-builders, with such real characters, that it's hard to transition back to the real world when they're over. 

An experienced editor who came to Corvisiero from a publishing house, Ella loves working one-on-one with writers to help mold their manuscripts into the best possible stories. When she's not busy interning, she manages the blog at Rate Your Story, a service that helps writers make sure they'll stand out of the slush pile before they submit. She also teaches drama and creative writing to school-aged kids.

To balance out her right-brain propensities, Ella also has a Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, which means she enjoys thinking about how to make systems run smoothly and efficiently. 

Ella is looking for:-- graphic novels (any age/genre)
-- children's nonfiction (any age/genre)
-- picture book submissions from author/illustrators
-- middle grade and young adult (any genre)
-- new adult (no romance, but romantic subplots welcome)
-- adult nonfiction on parenting or education
Twitter|Website
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Published on March 09, 2015 04:00

March 5, 2015

Valuable Links: Word Count

My first manuscript was a 254,000 word adult epic fantasy. I kid you not. It was an epic all right.
So in ode to that giant overwrite, here's some links on the sweet spot for word count.
This post by Jennifer Laughran is often referred to as the one to check for word count reference. Also see this post about word count on the Writer's Digest site as opinions vary on the perfect word count. In fact, you can check around to different posts and then take an average for what they all say to probably give you best idea of a true range.
Too much over or under the acceptable range is not a good thing. Here's hoping you come in under 254K.
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Published on March 05, 2015 04:00

March 4, 2015

Query Questions with Danielle Barthel

Writers have copious amounts of imagination. It's what makes their stories so fantastic. But there's a darker side to so much out of the box thinking. When a writer is in the query trenches, their worries go into overdrive. They start pulling out their hair and imagine every possible disaster.

 


Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!

If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.

Today we have Danielle Barthel from New Leaf Literary to share some agency insight with us. 




Is there a better or worse time of year to query?

I'd say holidays can be tough, because we're winding down our year and trying to get everything done that's necessary for the business. 


Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?

Not one, no. But it should really be as clean as possible. 



Do you have an assistant or intern go through your queries first or do you check all of them?
At our agency, both agents and assistants go through queries, and we look at every one that comes in.


Do you keep a maybe pile of queries and go back to them for a second look?

I personally do. I give myself some space from them and go back to see if I like them just as much later. 


If the manuscript has a prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?
Yes, if that's where your story starts, that's where we should start reading!


How important are comp titles? Is it something you want to see in a query?
They're really valuable for us, since we have such a small space to get to know the story.


Some agencies mention querying only one agent at a time and some say query only one agent period. How often do you pass a query along to a fellow agent who might be more interested?
New Leaf does this for sure. We're a small agency, and everyone has a specific taste, so we are constantly sharing in house.


Do you prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter, or would you rather hear about the manuscript?
Maybe one line of chat, but truly, at the query stage, it's about falling in love with the manuscript.


Most agents have said they don’t care whether the word count/genre sentence comes first or last. But is it a red flag if one component is not included?
It's just frustrating. Giving us as much information as possible, in a clear and concise manner, is so helpful going in. 


Writers hear a lot about limiting the number of named characters in a query. Do you feel keeping named characters to a certain number makes for a clearer query?
Yes. Queries are all about focus, and if you bring up too many names, we're not sure who to focus on.


Should writers sweat the title of their book (and character names) or is that something that is often changed by publishers?
Don't sweat too much about the titles--those change frequently. Character names usually need a good reason to change (ie. there's already a Katniss out there and she's a big deal).


How many queries do you receive in a week? How many requests might you make out of those?
Our agents receive hundreds per week!

Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?
For illustrators, if you're querying a manuscript dummy, I'd actually like there to be a link, because our agency does not accept attachments, and it will give me an idea of your art style.


 What bio should an author with no publishing credits include?
Just something that might make them memorable. If you have kids, where you live, what your day job is...all acceptable details (and there are certainly more than that!).


What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?
Generally, either it's a genre I wouldn't represent, or I do not connect to the characters.

Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?
We're definitely a hands-on, editorial agency. That's one of my favorite parts!


What three things are at the top of your submission wish list?
Unique retellings, captivating and romantic contemporary, and lifestyle books that are easy to connect to, but have a different hook than books already out there. I also love anything that gives you a look behind the scenes.


What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes? 

I could watch FROZEN every day (I'll always love Disney). SCARLET by AC Gaughen and THE DARKEST MINDS by Alexandra Bracken are fantastic stories, and I've been reading Sarah Dessen since middle school.
---------------------------------------------------
Following her completion of the Denver Publishing Institute after graduation, Danielle began interning at Writers House. While there, she realized she wanted to put her English degree and love of the written word to work at a literary agency. She worked as a full-time assistant for three years, and continues to help keep the New Leaf offices running smoothly in her role of Coordinator of Team and Client Services.In her downtime, she can be found with a cup of tea, a bar of chocolate, or really good book...sometimes all together.
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Published on March 04, 2015 04:00

March 3, 2015

Getting the Call with Natasha Raulerson

Some of you may have seen a writer dropped out of Sun versus Snow just before the agent round because they got an offer. Their entry was actually picked by Amy Trueblood. This is that writer's story! Congrats to Natasha!



I may be the first person to ever get the agent call during a candle lit dinner at the Melting Pot. 
They’d given us a private booth in the back corner for our anniversary, complete with curtains, flowers, and a teddy bear. Of course, I don’t think that stopped the patrons sitting in the main area from hearing my squeal of delight when I realized I had a missed call from Laura Bradford.
I should clarify that I wasn’t expecting a call. Sometimes, agents just call. Which is cool. Unless you’re like me and you miss it.
That’s right. Those words are correct.
I MISSED MY AGENT CALL.No biggie, right? I mean, I just need to call her back. The message requested I do so within forty-five minutes or else, Laura would be at an appointment.
First of all, I have the greatest hubs ever. I’d been warring back and forth as to whether it would be appropriate to call her back during our anniversary.
The hubs looked at me like I was crazy and told me I better damn well call her back!
After listening to the voicemail, talking with the hubs, and assuring the server I was not some crazy chick escaped from a mental institution, I go to call Laura back—only to realize it’d been forty-five minutes since she called.
From there it turned into an email and we got in touch the next day—after a Bluetooth malfunction that caused the radio to blare right into the speaker of my phone—where Laura was trying to hear me. I posted all about those details on my blog, so here, I want to talk about what happened when we FINALLY got on the phone.
For the record, I was on the phone outside of Froggy’s Playhouse because I was supposed to be attending my baby cousin’s birthday.  I took notes on an orange folder I found in my car with a pen from the center console. Honestly, I went prepared, but the timing of the call coincided with all my preparedness being out of reach.
There’d been many blunders up to this point, but Laura was just amazing and understanding. I tried not to sound like an idiot while I spoke with her. My mouth went dry and my embarrassment did not go down as I’d hoped.
We talked about Redemption, the direction of the novel, edits, and other projects I’m working on.  I swear all my responses were probably idiotic. I felt like the kids inside Froggy’s, jumping in bounce houses with no direction.
Then, Laura, in her wonderful way, somehow made me feel at ease despite all that. I don’t know if she could sense my nervousness or if she’s just that good, but everything she said about Redemption, and everything she said to me, just made me feel okay and comfortable, and then she offered representation.
Somehow, I managed to be cordial and professional, thanking her and going through the details of what that would entail. In my head though, I’m pretty sure two brain cells were high fiving each other in a way that would make ‘The Todd’ from Scrubs proud.
I knew as soon as I hung up the phone, Laura was the agent I wanted to go with, but I didn’t even have time to process any of it because I walked into Froggy’s to a birthday with over fifteen kids. I got to tell the hubs I got an offer before being tackled by the now 5-year-old birthday girl.
Six hours later, I finally got to go home, process this, and maybe, just maybe I screamed loud enough to wake the neighbors.
The moral of the story: Agents are humans too. They understand when things happen. I don’t know if I have the most blundered call story in literary history, but I was lucky enough to get the call from an agent that understands life happens. I’m grateful, blessed, and so excited to be a Bradford Babe.
-------------------------------------- 

Born in Florida, Natasha has lived in the southern sunshine state her entire life. A student of literature at Florida Atlantic University, she always enjoys reading a good book--especially by the pool during the hot, humid summers. She’s also the founder and host of Whiskey, Wine, & Writing—a webcast and blog dedicated to the writing community as a whole. When not writing she can be found binging on TV shows and movies with her husband, while their two pups steal the blankets. 
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Published on March 03, 2015 04:00

March 2, 2015

Picture and Chapter Book Party!





Spunky. Adorable. Heartwarming.

Those are some of the words that describe picture/chapter books. I'm happy to join with Sharon Chriscoe to do a little something for a group that is left out of most contests. This mini-contest is for you!

And if you don't write picture/chapter books please don't run away. I NEED YOUR HELP NOTIFYING PICTURE BOOK WRITERS. This contest is such short notice that I need everyone to spread the word. Tell your friends who write PB and please post on twitter. Also the twitter party will be for everyone, so I hope to see you there under the hashtag #PBParty. There will be daily topics that apply to all writers during the submission week.

So far there are six picture book agents on board. (Agent post coming later this week when everything is finalized.) The agent round will be March 24th. The submission day is March 16th. Then Sharon and I will go through the entries and pick our favorites. I'm not sure how many entries will be chosen, but the number will be between 15 and 20. Sharon is my expert on this as I don't know much about picture books, except I enjoy reading them.

The Rules:

Please be a follower of this blog. You can click the "Join this Site" button in the left sidebar. Please follow myself and Sharon on twitter. I imagine we will be tweeting hints as well as partying!

You may send two entries for different manuscripts. That's two and only two, whether you have multiple pen names or multiple email addresses. Please be honest and not send more. Only one entry will be chosen per person. If you send two, still only one will be picked. Any attempt to cheat will result in entries thrown out (and sadly it has happened in the past.) 

On March 16th at 4:00 pm Eastern the submission window opens. Do not send early or your entry will be deleted. You may resend at the correct time if this happens. I'm recycling an email address as I already have too many. Please send your entry to SunversusSnow at yahoo dot com

You should receive a confirmation email. If you do not, please contact me on twitter before resending. The window will stay open until we get 111 (yes that number is because I'm a hobbit) entries. However long that takes. It could be minutes or it could be days. I'm really not sure on this one.

This contest is only for finished and polished manuscripts. It has to be ready to go out to agents.

The Format:

Subject Line of your Email: PBParty: Title

Example:  PBParty: Hot Tub Santa

Inside the email please bold where bolded in my example. Single space with spaces between paragraphs. Use Times New Roman or equivalent font and the size should be 12. 

(Here's a trick to keep your paragraph spacing: copy and paste your entry into your email and then put in the line spaces. They seem to get lost when you copy and paste. It may look right but sending scrambles the spacing.)

Name: Sharon Chriscoe
Title: HOT TUB SANTA
Genre: (Here please tell us what type of picture book this is) Example: Board Book, Bedtime Rhyme, Nonfiction, Biography, etc. or List Chapter Book
Word Count: xxx (round to nearest ten, hundred for chapter books)

Query:

Your entire query letter here. Include your comps, bio, greeting, closing. (You may use whatever you want for a greeting. Dear Agent. Dear Michelle and Sharon.) 

Here is your chance to make your entry shine and make the agent fall in love with your words. 

First 50 Words:

Include your first 50 words for a picture book, 100 words for chapter books. Do not stop in the middle of a sentence. You may go over by one or two words to finish a sentence but not more than five. Single space and put spaces in between paragraphs. You may center or tab if appropriate.

Edit: For short picture books, less than 50 words may be submitted. Any count under 50 is allowed.

Also I will delete parts of entries after the contest ends, if requested. For those writers uncomfortable with their work being out there for all to see.  


Bonus: You may attach one illustration to your email to show an example of your artwork. If you don't have artwork, don't worry. 




I would like to thank Mel Stephenson for creating our logo artwork! Be sure to follow her at @paintandwords

That should cover about everything, but you may leave questions in the comments or on twitter. Don't forget the #PBParty hashtag.

We can't wait to see all the cuteness on March 16th! 



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Published on March 02, 2015 04:00

February 27, 2015

Mini-Contest Coming






Not much information yet, but I have a mini-contest coming in March. So far five six agents are signed up. Looks like the submission will be March 16th. Stop by for all the details on Monday.


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Published on February 27, 2015 04:00

February 26, 2015

Getting the Call with Wade Albert White

Success stories for MG writers continues this week. Congrats to Wade! He was our MG Grand Champion from Query Kombat last year and I couldn't be happier to share his story! I won't hold you up. Get to reading this hilarious story from Wade! 



Once upon a time dinosaurs roamed the Earth. None of them wrote a novel for me, so I yet again found myself picking up their slack (don’t even get me started on the whole “a giant asteroid killed us and that’s why we can’t mow your lawn” excuse).
Although I made several attempts at writing a book over the years, and even sold a few short stories, it wasn’t until April of 2013 that I sat down to my computer with real purpose. That purpose was to defeat XCOM: Enemy Unknown. After finishing the game, I figured, hey, why not write a novel too. You know, since I was already sitting there.
About that same time, I came across a contest called “The Baker's Dozen Agent Auction,” run by the Authoress. The entry deadline was in November, over half a year away. I decided I was going to enter, because there’s nothing quite like setting a fire under your feet to make you type faster (SIDE NOTE: setting an actual fire under your feet does not make you type faster, but it does broaden your vocabulary considerably).
Long story slightly less long, I completed the novel (three drafts) and made the entry deadline (happy face). Even better, my entry was accepted into the contest (happy face with exclamation mark!). And on auction day it received multiple bids (exclamation point bonanza!!!).
Then all but one of the agents passed on it (sad face with ampersand). The one agent remained silent, so I began querying.
Five months and seventy plus query letters later…
In May of 2014 I came across another contest called Query Kombat. By this time I had received several requests for the full manuscript, but since I had no idea whether or not they would lead to anything (and since that one MSFV agent was still running silent), I decided to enter. Much to my surprise, I got in, won the Middle Grade category (!), and walked away with several more requests for material (happy face again!).
Shortly after the contest I also received an email from an agency I had queried through regular channels. They really liked the writing and the overall premise, but felt the manuscript needed more work. After a very pleasant phone call and several pages of revise and resubmit notes, I set to work.
Another eight weeks of gut-wrenching editing later...
I sat in the glaring brilliance of my revision (until I adjusted the brightness level on my monitor because, wow, was it ever high).
I sent the revision off to the agency and also to two QK agents who had requested the full manuscript in the meantime. A week later I had an offer of representation (from one of the QK agents). A few days later I had three more offers (including the other QK agent, the silent MSFV agent who requested the revision once I informed her of its existence, and the agency that had issued the R&R).
Holy revisions, Batman, I was on fire!
(please see the aforementioned remark regarding being on fire to appreciate the full implications)
At the risk of mixing both metaphors and comic book universes, my spider senses were definitely tingling (although I hear they have an ointment for that now).
This was the point where panic set in. Or nervousness. Or whatever. We set up phone calls. I may have rambled (= I definitely rambled). All of the agents were fantastic. More than fantastic. Each in their own way, and each with slightly different thoughts about how to proceed and what parts of the novel still needed tweaking, but I could easily envision myself working with any one of them.
So at this point I tried to figure out how I might be able to work with four agents at the same time. You’re allowed to do that, right? I mean, how could I possibly choose?
In the end though, for me it came down to this: everyone was super enthusiastic about the novel, but specifically about this revision. The revision that I had done based on notes. Notes I’d received from one of the four offering agencies. Revisions that had helped me take a book that was receiving interested but polite passes to one that was now in demand. All of the offers were tempting, no question, but in the end I just couldn’t pass on what in my mind had already proven itself to be a winning combination.
So in October of 2014 I officially signed with the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency and couldn’t be happier (although the contract explicitly states that they won’t be mowing my lawn either *sigh*).
-----------------------
Wade hails from Nova Scotia, Canada, land of wild blueberries and Duck Tolling Retrievers. He teaches ancient Hebrew, dabbles in animation, and spends the rest of his time as a stay-at-home dad. It is also possible he has set a new record as the slowest 10K runner. Ever. He owns one pretend cat and one real one and they get along fabulously. He has been writing speculative fiction for over thirteen years and is now represented by Elizabeth Kaplan of the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency.
If he could only bring three series to read on deserted island, it would be the three Hs: Harry Potter, Hellboy, and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Oh, and just for the record, Firefly should have had a seven season run. No question.
You can follow Wade on twitter @wadealbertwhite or check out his website

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Published on February 26, 2015 04:00

February 24, 2015

Query Questions with Jackie Lindert

Writers have copious amounts of imagination. It's what makes their stories so fantastic. But there's a darker side to so much out of the box thinking. When a writer is in the query trenches, their worries go into overdrive. They start pulling out their hair and imagine every possible disaster.

 


Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!

If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.

The series continues with the very gracious Jackie Lindert, Literary Assistant from New Leaf Literary

Is there a better or worse time of year to query?​Not really. Time of year doesn’t really come into play as much one might think. Our whole office somehow manages to be super human—balancing projects, current clients, and queries every day. Query away!
Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?
One? No. A ton? Maybe. But if the hook grabs me, I’ll forget any typos—though proofreading your queries to prevent the need to “look past” the errors would be an excellent idea.
Do you look at sample pages without fail or only if the query is strong?
There could be a diamond in that rough! I always look at the sample pages. The stronger the query, the better, but sometimes queries are just not a writer’s strength.
Do you have an assistant or intern go through your queries first or do you check all of them?
I aman assistant, currently. I do go through the agents’ queries at New Leaf, but they look at everything that comes in, too. I just help with the reading of all those manuscripts. Suzie Townsend, who is a rockstar, will tell you it’s beneficial to have eager assistants get the first view of your query—we tend to be more forgiving and likely to fear that we’re missing some hidden gem of a writer, and if we tell an agent, “Omg I love this manuscript. You have to read it!” they take our opinions very seriously.
Do you keep a maybe pile of queries and go back to them for a second look?
Not really. I’ll either request the full manuscript or pass when I’m going through them.
If the manuscript has a prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?
I’d say it depends on the project. I leave that to the writer, who knows their work best, to decide if it should be included.
How important are comp titles? Is it something you want to see in a query?
Here’s the thing: I love comp titles. Give me books, movies, TV shows, or elements from any of them—I love it! Another thing: If you don’t include comps, and I love the query/sample pages, I’ll forget you didn’t include comps. J
Some agencies mention querying only one agent at a time and some say query only one agent period. How often do you pass a query along to a fellow agent who might be more interested?
In-house, we know each other well enough to know pretty quickly if there is someone better for a project, so we trade queries if it’s in the best interest of the author. A couple of the agents have also passed queries along to agent friends outside of New Leaf as well.
Do you prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter, or would you rather hear about the manuscript?
I’m not a fan of chit-chat, personally. That’s not to be confused with telling me about yourself. I do want to know about the author, but lines like, “How are you?” “Is your cat feeling better (I saw you tweeted that he was sick)?” range from unnecessary to creepy. We can get to know each other and chit chat further down the line.
Most agents have said they don’t care whether the word count/genre sentence comes first or last. But is it a red flag if one component is not included?
If the query jumps right into the story, as long as it’s clear what I’m looking at, I don’t need that to be repeated. Example: “the spaceship was spinning wildly out of control. Who let a 16 year old fly this thing, anyway?” Doesn’t need to be followed up with “YA Sci-fi”. A lot of people follow a formula that includes this info, so it’s really ok either way. If it isn’t obvious, though, I’d definitely want a writer to include what genre it is.
Word count is a plus, but again, not vital. I’ll see the numbers if I request the full manuscript. As you can maybe tell by now, I don’t have much of a “red flag” attitude.
Writers hear a lot about limiting the number of named characters in a query. Do you feel keeping named characters to a certain number makes for a clearer query?
I do. That’s great advice. If I’m confused about who is who before I even start reading sample pages, that’s a bad sign.
Should writers sweat the title of their book (and character names) or is that something that is often changed by publishers?
Don’t sweat it. Don’t get me wrong, a clever, funny, or unique title might grab my attention, but I would never judge a manuscript based on title alone, and that’s always something that can be discussed between author and agent. Same with character names.
I can’t see a publisher changing a title or character names without getting approval from the author (this is why contracts are important!).
How many queries do you receive in a week? How many requests might you make out of those?
I don’t receive many of my own queries yet, but New Leaf agents get a couple hundred, collectively. They’ll request 1-3 (each) of those every week, on average. There are always some weeks that are better than others in terms of request rates.
Many agents say they don't care if writers are active online. Could a twitter account or blog presence by a writer tip the scales in getting a request or offer? And do you require writers you sign to start one?
If your story or your writing blows me away, it makes no difference (except I’ll be sad I can’t tweet at you). However, readers care—they want to see and communicate with authors. It’s a great way to gain a following. We recommend picking a social platform that best suits an author and what they want their image as a professional to be, and working on that. Sometimes, it’s just not in the cards, though, which is still fine, in my book.
Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?
If your blog has an impressive following, or you have a website that shows you’ve been featured in smaller publications, or just shows off you and your hobbies, that’s great! Include your Twitter handle, too—that’s what signatures are for now, right? Let me creep on your Twitter to get a sense of who you are beyond what I get from your query. Just make sure you haven’t tweeted something like, “All agents are lame.” 
If a writer makes changes to their manuscript due to feedback should they resend the query or only if material was requested?
For me, I’d say only if material was requested, and even then, only if the changes are significant. If you are making changes after I’ve requested your work, let me know right away so I don’t take the time to read the non-updated draft. I’ll read it when you’re finished.
 What bio should an author with no publishing credits include?
Show your personality. What are your hobbies? Do you have a family? A day job? Where are you from? A few lines about who you are is important to me. If you’re funny, sweet, or talented, show me that. I’m considering entering into a long-term relationship with you—who are you? Humanize yourself.
What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?
If I say that, I mean that either the themes or the characters in your manuscript didn’t fit my taste. Publishing is a very subjective industry, which can be disappointing, but it means there is always a possibility that it’s exactlysomeone else’s jam.
What themes are you sick of seeing?
Damsels in distress. Correction: Damsels in distress who need a man to rescue them. Other than that, I don’t rule anything out if the voice feels fresh and different.
Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?
Yes. I wanted to work in editorial, originally, until I found out some agencies are taking on those roles (woo!). I’m lucky to be at New Leaf where everyone is careful and thorough. We all make sure submissions go out in the best possible shape.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing you’ve seen in a query?
Hmm. Someone once prefaced their query by mentioning they hoped God would smite me if I passed on their query. That person is not my client, so obviously I live in a state of constant fear, but so far, so good.
What three things are at the top of your submission wish list?
I’m not good at being specific. I just want to be wow’d. Floor me with excellent writing. The three areas I’m looking to build my own list in are YA (all subgenres), adult upmarket fiction, and literary MG.
What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes? 
My movie tastes are totally different from my book tastes, so I’ll stick with books!
I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy NelseonMOSQUITOLAND by David ArnoldGRACELING by Kristin CashoreRED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh BardugoASK THE PASSENGERS by A.S. King LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES by Alexis Bass
And probably plenty more that I’m forgetting about. 




-------------------------- Jackie earned her degree in English in her home state of Wisconsin. After college, she trekked to Colorado to attend the Denver Publishing Institute, eventually landing an internship in NYC with New Leaf Literary & Media. Following the internship, she found a job with the publishing house formerly known as Penguin Group as a Subsidiary Rights assistant. One year later she finds herself back at New Leaf as an assistant handling client care, mailings, and best of all, reading manuscripts.

Fun Facts: She grew up in the Water Park Capital of the World and has a cat named Humphrey Bogart.Follow her on  t witter  or   pinterest !
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Published on February 24, 2015 04:00

February 23, 2015

Getting the Call with Kendra Young

Whoo for MG writers! I love it when good things happen to nice people! I had the honor of reading part of Oliver's Ghost Machine during Pitchwars and it has such an outstanding voice. It caught the eye of many mentors. Best of luck on submission, Kendra, and hoping for more great things down the line!

Like most writers I always imagined what it would be like to get that blessed email from an agent asking if they'd like to set up a time to talk. But never in all my daydreams did I once see myself waiting on meatloaf to finish baking when the email came. Not my savory rosemary chicken with balsamic vinegar drizzle that makes mouths water, or even my ooey gooey lasagna that drips cheese from one end of the table to another.Nope. My story involves meatloaf.But before I go into exactly what happened while I was waiting on my meatloaf, I suppose I should back up and tell you a bit about the manuscript that caught my agent’s eye. First, I should probably tell you that Oliver's Ghost Machine wasn't my first completed manuscript. I began querying my first manuscript, A Girl Called Graye, in December 2013. I sent out over 60 queries for Graye’s story and garnered a few full requests, but no offers of representation. In the meantime, I finished Oliver’s story and started polishing it up. I can honestly say I didn’t feel the agony some writers do when I switched my querying attention from Graye’s story to Oliver’s. In fact, it was quite the opposite. While I loved Graye’s story (and still do) I knew Oliver’s story was the stronger of the two manuscripts and was anxious to see how it would fare in the query trenches. I began querying Oliver’s story in May 2014, about the same time I discovered online writing contests. Each contest I entered resulted in some level of revision to Oliver’s story and query letter. Requests began to pour in, followed by waves of rejection. And then there was this one agent who kept catching my eye, but I always seemed to get interrupted every time I’d try to query her. One evening I decided I wasn’t moving from my desk until I’d queried this particular agent. A quick review of her online interviews led me to Michelle’s blog, where agent wonderful mentioned historical fantasies and family secrets at the top of her submission wish list. Of course, this bit of personalization went straight into my query letter. The very next day I received her request for the full. I hooted, or fist pumped, or something, and happily sent it off. Eleven days later I was cooking meatloaf for dinner. It needed a few more minutes, so I decided to check my email and there it was. Taylor Haggerty had finished reading and wanted to talk! TO ME. I screamed so loudly my husband and daughter thought I'd been injured and came running into the living room. They said it was when my second scream split the sound barrier that they suspected what might be going on.The fact that I was half-hyperventilating while holding up my laptop saying, "Agent! Wants TALK!" or something like that might have also clued them in a bit.A few more emails exchanged and we set up the time for the following day. I can honestly say I wasn't prepared for how enthusiastic she was about my work. She also answered almost all of my questions before I asked them. Then came the worst part. Notifying all the other agents who had my manuscript or who had been recently queried--and waiting.  No matter how many grueling questions I asked myself about the other possible agents, I kept circling back to Taylor. She was everything I'd hoped to find in an agent. Enthusiastic, great industry connections both with editors and other agents, a well-respected agency, and she was open to my other works--all the ingredients I'd hoped for to create a career-long agent/writer relationship. Did I mention her enthusiasm? It was all I could do not to email the other agents and say, "Thanks for considering, but I really feel like Taylor is the best fit for me and my work." I didn't do it, but I really wanted to (and there are a couple of critique partners and Pitch Wars mentors who can testify to this, since they were the ones who talked me off that particular ledge). Anyway, you already know how this part of the story ends, since I'm now represented by Taylor Haggerty of the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency, so I'll stop babbling now! -----------------------------------------------

Kendra lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband, Tim, who’s responsible for making her believe all her writing dreams will come true, and their amazing daughters, Savannah and Tabitha. Fueled by caffeine and a macabre sense of humor, her love of all things abnormal comes out in her writing. If it has fangs or goes bump in the night, she’s writing about it.
By day, Kendra teaches seventh grade science in an urban middle school where she shares her love of writing and dreaming “big dreams” with her students. She’s even been known to dress in costume for “Interview with a Dead Scientist Day.” Characters and costumes with a touch of creepy—it’s all the same right?
Kendra is represented by Taylor Haggerty of the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. You can follow Kendra’s writing adventures on her blog, AccidentalWriter, or on Twitter @KendraLYoung.

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Published on February 23, 2015 04:00

February 20, 2015

Valuable Links: Blog Blitz

Here's a great helping hand for your blog from DL Hammons. Want to get your blog visited by a ton of new people? Join this group.

The Blog Blitz picks someone almost every week to visit and blitz, leaving a blizzard of comments.

You'll have to wait for your turn and visit the other blogs being blitzed, but who knows you may find valuable sources of information or entertainment. Plus it's just plain fun to gang up on a blog and leave a hundred comments.
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Published on February 20, 2015 04:00