You Heard it Here First--Donna Earnhardt Has Signed with Jodell Sadler!
Congratulations to Colleen Koontz Pinyan who won a copy of the audio CD of Augusta Scattergood's book, The Way to Stay in Destiny.
*******I enjoy announcing fellow writers moments of success. Today, please join with me as my friend Donna Earnhardt and Jodell Sadler of Sadler Children's Literary share the events leading up to Donna signing with Jodell.
CAROL: Donna, how did you go about finding an agent? Specifically, how did you find Jodell?
DONNA: I used AgentQuery, Verla Kay (which is now a part of SCBWI) and other places to research agents. I talked to friends and tried to see which agents would be best for my quirky stories. I had already submitted to several agents, and Jodell was one that I wanted to submit to. And when I saw she was offering a class on pacing (in picture books), I decided to take it. One of my best decisions ever. After the class, she offered representation!
CAROL: I love stories that have happy endings--and beginnings too! What was the process like between the two of you after you took the class?
DONNA: This is how I remember it, so Jodell can throw a noodle at me if she remembers it differently...
When I signed up for Jodell's class, I was blown away! She was approachable, down to earth and totally "got" my stories! During the course of the class, we chatted some in private messages and one day, she asked if I was represented. I gladly told her, "NO." It was the first time I'd been happy to tell someone I didn't have an agent! (And she didn't know that I had already decided to submit to her after the class was over!) She suggested we talk a week or so after the class was finished. We did. I think I talked her ear off! She wasn't scared off, though, and sent me a client/agent contract not too long after our conversation. As you can see... I signed! :)
JODELL: No noodles thrown here. Donna’s work stood out for me during my Pacing Picture Books to WOWcourse. I love humor and Donna paces humor well. She’s kind and funny and well grounded in the craft of writing for children. I love that. I also love her first book: Being Frank . When I saw how deeply she cares about the projects she takes on and spends the time needed to develop them into a book children will love, representation was a no-brainer. When I also read some of her older piece in free verse and found it that perfect mix of real and funny, I knew I’d love to represent her.
CAROL: Jodell, do you often to find clients through your classes? What drew you to Donna's work? Are you editorial--have you requested changes in Donna's work before subbing it?
JODELL: I like to find clients through conferences and events as well as my workshops. We spend time together in a class, and I get a good idea of how writers, or writer-illustrators, work, revise, and communicate— I learn more about them as individuals. I think the best matches for me as an agent are those who are focused on craft and the power of good writing. There are no shortcuts, secret formulas, or magic wands in this business. Writers craft the magic. It’s all BIC (Butt in Chair), hard work, and collaboration. Ray Bradbury who said that a writer learns his or her craft until it become all “in and of his fingers” and it is precisely that moment a writer is ready for an agent. A writer who focuses on craft, polishes and hones stories until heart-felt, and attends conferences and events, is an ideal client.
CAROL: What advice would you give to writers seeking representation?
DONNA: Don't give up! I had submitted to agents who loved my voice, but they didn't connect to my stories. I had heard from agents who liked both voice and stories, but not enough to represent me. But then... I met the agent who liked my voice, my stories... and me! YAY!
JODELL: Be yourself. Be quirky and follow your literary gut. Know the rules and break them with intension to fearlessly try something new and fresh. Be you. Be on the page of your writing, believe in your product, and pitch it well.
CAROL: What's next? I guess you can't give hints on editors or houses, Jodell, but if you can tell us a little about your submission process that would be excellent. Can we know what you're subbing of Donna's work, or not?
JODELL: The submission process is a bit like writing picture books. As picture book writers, we marry art to words, and, as an agent, I marry story to editor. While I prefer to keep Donna’s work on the hush until placed, I can tell you that Donna’s work exudes humor, shares life on the cuff, and is really relatable for readers. It doesn’t get much better than that.
CAROL: What are you're looking for in your "ideal" client.
JODELL: An ideal client is one who is ready to sell and sell well. I love to work with writers who work on fiction, nonfiction, and across categories. My sweet spot or niché: top-quality author-illustrators.
*********Thank you Donna and Jodell, for sharing all of this with my readers. And for those of you who subscribe to Talking Story, the newsletter which I co-publish with Joyce Hostetter, we'll be giving away a copy of Being Frank in mid-September. Click
*******I enjoy announcing fellow writers moments of success. Today, please join with me as my friend Donna Earnhardt and Jodell Sadler of Sadler Children's Literary share the events leading up to Donna signing with Jodell.
CAROL: Donna, how did you go about finding an agent? Specifically, how did you find Jodell?
DONNA: I used AgentQuery, Verla Kay (which is now a part of SCBWI) and other places to research agents. I talked to friends and tried to see which agents would be best for my quirky stories. I had already submitted to several agents, and Jodell was one that I wanted to submit to. And when I saw she was offering a class on pacing (in picture books), I decided to take it. One of my best decisions ever. After the class, she offered representation!
CAROL: I love stories that have happy endings--and beginnings too! What was the process like between the two of you after you took the class?
DONNA: This is how I remember it, so Jodell can throw a noodle at me if she remembers it differently...
When I signed up for Jodell's class, I was blown away! She was approachable, down to earth and totally "got" my stories! During the course of the class, we chatted some in private messages and one day, she asked if I was represented. I gladly told her, "NO." It was the first time I'd been happy to tell someone I didn't have an agent! (And she didn't know that I had already decided to submit to her after the class was over!) She suggested we talk a week or so after the class was finished. We did. I think I talked her ear off! She wasn't scared off, though, and sent me a client/agent contract not too long after our conversation. As you can see... I signed! :)
JODELL: No noodles thrown here. Donna’s work stood out for me during my Pacing Picture Books to WOWcourse. I love humor and Donna paces humor well. She’s kind and funny and well grounded in the craft of writing for children. I love that. I also love her first book: Being Frank . When I saw how deeply she cares about the projects she takes on and spends the time needed to develop them into a book children will love, representation was a no-brainer. When I also read some of her older piece in free verse and found it that perfect mix of real and funny, I knew I’d love to represent her.
CAROL: Jodell, do you often to find clients through your classes? What drew you to Donna's work? Are you editorial--have you requested changes in Donna's work before subbing it?
JODELL: I like to find clients through conferences and events as well as my workshops. We spend time together in a class, and I get a good idea of how writers, or writer-illustrators, work, revise, and communicate— I learn more about them as individuals. I think the best matches for me as an agent are those who are focused on craft and the power of good writing. There are no shortcuts, secret formulas, or magic wands in this business. Writers craft the magic. It’s all BIC (Butt in Chair), hard work, and collaboration. Ray Bradbury who said that a writer learns his or her craft until it become all “in and of his fingers” and it is precisely that moment a writer is ready for an agent. A writer who focuses on craft, polishes and hones stories until heart-felt, and attends conferences and events, is an ideal client.
CAROL: What advice would you give to writers seeking representation?
DONNA: Don't give up! I had submitted to agents who loved my voice, but they didn't connect to my stories. I had heard from agents who liked both voice and stories, but not enough to represent me. But then... I met the agent who liked my voice, my stories... and me! YAY!
JODELL: Be yourself. Be quirky and follow your literary gut. Know the rules and break them with intension to fearlessly try something new and fresh. Be you. Be on the page of your writing, believe in your product, and pitch it well.
CAROL: What's next? I guess you can't give hints on editors or houses, Jodell, but if you can tell us a little about your submission process that would be excellent. Can we know what you're subbing of Donna's work, or not?
JODELL: The submission process is a bit like writing picture books. As picture book writers, we marry art to words, and, as an agent, I marry story to editor. While I prefer to keep Donna’s work on the hush until placed, I can tell you that Donna’s work exudes humor, shares life on the cuff, and is really relatable for readers. It doesn’t get much better than that.
CAROL: What are you're looking for in your "ideal" client.
JODELL: An ideal client is one who is ready to sell and sell well. I love to work with writers who work on fiction, nonfiction, and across categories. My sweet spot or niché: top-quality author-illustrators.
*********Thank you Donna and Jodell, for sharing all of this with my readers. And for those of you who subscribe to Talking Story, the newsletter which I co-publish with Joyce Hostetter, we'll be giving away a copy of Being Frank in mid-September. Click
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