Agencies are still in there, but the box is getting more crowded all the time. But the truth is everyone in publishing faces rejection at some point. Rest assured, there are far,far fewer of these agents out there. They are the busiest bees in the hive. Theyre defending. Notes/Tips: Our agency does not represent poetry or screenplays. Unfortunately, misconceptions and assumptions related to the job description of an agent are rife in the illustration community. Chad W. Beckerman: is always looking at submissions! Find out whos working in the field. She is the author of 100+ childrens books, has been employed since 2009 as a US-based managing agent at the Bright Agency, which is based in London and specializes in nurturing and developing debut childrens book author/illustrators. Erica:In some cases yes and in some cases no. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. Id like to thank James Burns, Kirsten Hall, JenniferLinnan, Alexandra Penfold, Linda Pratt, Erica Rand Silverman,and Laura Stiers for their time, generosity, and invaluable contributions to this article. Well try to get back to you as quickly as possible. And the value of that growth far exceeds the fees. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. Thats exactly right. They're Skyping. The project may work. I went back to the drawing board., I signed with an agent, thinking that they would get me consistent work. No agency can guarantee that a particular project will sell, but we sign clients because we love their writing and want them to succeed. . If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. May 2010 - Feb 20143 years 10 months. PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Dan Santat, click here to reactivate your immediate access. NOTE: Each year Fuse Literary, as an agency, is closed to new submissions and queries between December 1st to January 15th. What is one misconception about agents?An age-old misconception originates from a simple questionhow can we give equal quality, time, and support to more than one artist? The coach-player analogy is much more accurate. Ron is a literary agent and co-owner of CookeMcDermid. It feels like youve made it. Literary Agencies for Picture Books (A-F) 3 Arts Entertainment (New . And I read it again and I cried again. * Agent photos of Speculation by Jenny Offill, Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J.Ryan Stradal, and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Fairbank Literary Representation (About) (Submissions)Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). Halls client list at Bright includes Benji Davis, Elly Mackay, Clive McFarland, and Connah Brecon. Kirsten works intimately with her clients to conceive and develop original story pitches. Notes/Tips:Our agency does not represent poetry or screenplays. Were allies, strategists, friends, supervisors, listeners, managers, organizers, brainstorming partners. What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. Before you submit: Read their guidelines. We only accept submissions via e-mail. While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. 4. It was after the 2013 SCBWI NY conference. Get An Agent After Self-Publishing This is both a positive and a negative: As a coach, they help your career. Its brilliant I mean, really, its fantastic. You dont have their undivided attention. I love my fellow kidlit agents, and I honestly believe we root for each other and celebrate each others successes. Right now, Brenda is not accepting picture book manuscript submissions, but she is looking for adult historical fiction. Either way, I hope this post helps you move forward with your career. On the reverse, sometimes our authors are looking for new inspiration and an illustration can be a great way to get those wheels turning. To set up immediate access, click here. Well navigate the waters together. You should. Anna Olswanger has been a literary agent since 2005. You can unsubscribe easily at any time we dont spam. He also co-owned Cooke International, an . Were able to spot trends before they enter the marketplace, and this knowledge becomes invaluable in ensuring that your portfolio is as current and fresh as possible. I dont know. I hear the comparison that the agent-client relationship is like a marriage. Literary Agent List Step 3: Send Out A Lot Of Submissions Before you start using our list of literary agents, it's important you understand that you should approach the process of trying to find and get a literary agent the way agents approach the process of trying to get a publisher. DING! The cycle of creating successful titles is like putting on a playeveryone must work to the best of their abilities. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Cat Agency Inc. (Agents) (Submissions) Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. And I can already see that the books were making together are going to be magical. We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. Your submission to agents isnt an Instagram post thats totes gonna get likes. Not necessarily. You submit all this via email. Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) We do not accept or respond to phone, paper or social media queries. Ive heard illustrators say they want an agent so they dont have to deal with marketing and contracts and the non-drawing-and-painting aspects of illustration. Ive co-agented all kinds of dealsones that have gone to multi-house auctions on day one, one in which only one client saw an offer and the other client gracefully stepped aside, one in which wildly different offers came in and my co-agent and I needed to negotiate with each other as much as the publishers because our clients positions were so different. There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. Queries about books that dont conform, but rather provoke, excite me. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. They step out when not needed. Prospect Agency (Agents)(Submissions) (Prospect Portfolio: Illustrator Submissions), Raven Quill Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), The Rights Factory (Agents) (Submissions) A Canadian Literary Agency, Rising Bear Literary Agency (Rick Margolis) (Submissions), Rodeen Literary Management (Paul Rodeen)(Submissions), Root Literary (Agents) (Molly ONeill: open to illustrators & author-illustrators) (Submissions), Rubin Pfeffer Content, LLC(Agents)(Submissions), Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Sanford J. Greenburger Associates (Agents)(Submissions), Sean McCarthy Literary Agency (Submissions), Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary (Agents) (Submissions), Serendipidty Literary Agency (Agents)(Illustration Submissions) (Photography Submissions)(Author Submissions), The Seymour Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Sheldon Fogelman Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Stimola Literary Studio: Books for Children and Young Adults (Agents) (Submissions), Stonesong Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Storm Literary Agency (Agents)(Submissions), Thompson Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions) Only considers picture books from established illustrators, Transatlantic Agency(Agents & Submissions) Canadian and U.S.A. offices, TriadaUS Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Trident Media Group (Agents)(Submissions), Upstart Crow Literary (Agents)(Submissions), Wendy Lyn & Co.(Submissions for childrens book illustrators only), Wernick & Pratt Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Westwood Creative Artists (Agents) (Submissions) A Canadian Literary Agency, The Whiteman Agency (Doug Whiteman) (Submissions). The one thing I look for across the board in a submission is a clean, professional-looking portfolio site! Darius Foroux. Since it was published as Boats for Papa by Neal Porter Books in 2015, I have read it and cried again and again and again. She has incredible vision and is very brave. But I dont generally find myself doing much differently with regards to my clients when co-agenting other than have hard conversations on their behalf with my my co-agent up front. QueryTracker includes resources for all writing genres (not just picture books). She likens her agency, which specializes in picture books, to a creative playground. Your friends will congratulate you. Wait for a response. Your parents, who arent quite sure what you do, certainly know what agents doand that will make them happy. Enter your information in the form to the right for FREE INSTANT ACCESS to the Directory of Literary Agents. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper (Thank you!). Like coaches,good agents get the best out of you. NOTE: As an agency we are closed to new queries and submissions each December 1st to January 15th! Agents are people, too. Look at the length of the agreement. We are particularly interested in work about art, culture, the environment, music, and human rights. Odds of Getting a Book Agent For art directors, editors, and publishers,an agent is foremost a problem-solver. Memoir/Family/Identity S. Foti Were not afraid of this. I work alone and basically love knocking on other agents doors and asking them to come out and play! We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. It might seem strange in another industry to see such interagency fellowship,but it feels right for those whove made a career in making books for kids. The Cat Agency Inc. (Agents) (Submissions) Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. Kayla is also open to representing illustrators. A few books I loved reading in my free time . Scroll below now to view the email and postal addressfor Kirsten HallFREE in our BookAgents Directory. Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. However, if you would like to get your work in front of her for now or the future, please submit - she reviews ALL submissions! Hall is the author of the picture books The Gold Leaf and The Jacket, which was a New York Times Notable Book in 2014. If you can, find a contract professional to read it. After You Get A Book Agent. What do you look for in a submission?The very best in art and literature reveals something real and true about ourselves, and childrens books are no exception. I was able to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. After about a year, and no work, I asked to break our agreement. Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If you dont hear from them after a month or so, gently check in. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent? Once a book is sold, authors and illustrators will be presenting themselves to publishers, booksellers, librarians, and others as a professional. She will happily review your comics, book cover designs, and picture book dummies.Aliza believes in a world where all young people can see themselves reflected in childrens books. Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Literary Agents for Children's Books 2023-2024 - Use our free List of Literary Agents to find children's literary agents accepting submissions for fiction and nonfiction: young adult book agents (YA), middle grade book agents (MG), picture book agents, and chapter book agents. There is just an overwhelming amount of people looking to connect with agents, and it can be challenging for some to give out that warmth all the time. We were thinking of matching up Susan Verde and Jay Fleck for our own pitch and then Susans editor, on her own accord, ended up approaching Jay to illustrate Susans new series. Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Jill Grinberg Literary Management (Agents) (Submissions), Ladderbird Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). The North American catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), of the family Mimidae (order Passeriformes), is 23 cm (9 inches) long and is gray, with a black cap. An agent once said to me, If you think having an agent doesnt give you a distinct advantage, youre crazy. It depends on the agent and the artist, but I tend to agree with her. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The story was called Drift,and it was about a little beaver named Buckley who lives with his mama and makes these beautiful and intricate boats to send off to sea to his absent father. Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. She is . Get the facts. Society of We'd love to see your work! Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Olswanger Literary LLC. Boutique kidlit author/illustrator agency & producer of books for all ages Catbird Agency | New York NY Publishing Agent Kirsten Hall is an agent with Catbird Productions. They operate on your behalf, ever focused on your career. Levy Creative Management (Artist Submissions), Liza Royce Agency (Agents) (Submissions). I read it and I cried. Having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable." Were a tight-knit community! In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another. Kirsten works intimately with her clients to conceive and develop original story pitches. Youve identified fifteen to twenty agents. . That one was just meant to be it seems! Theyre reading. What percentage of art directors go to agents first to find illustrators? There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage Ask around. Once you sign with an agent, you dont just sit back and wait for the jobs to roll in. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Maybe the hardest method, but people do talk . Andrea Brown Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). Literary Rambles: Spotlighting Childrens Book Authors, Agents, & Publishing Excellent source for agent interviews, kidlit information, and an agent database you can search by age category (e.g., picture books). I can tell you why I need an agent. Tugeau 2, A Children's Art & Literary Agency 2231 Grandview Avenue Cleveland Heights, OH 44106 Tugeau 2 proudly serves artists, writers and illustrators with representation in the children's publishing industry. Maybe not. Lets submit your work to an agent. Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique childrens book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. She is drawn to work that showcases expressive characters, timeless palettes, and atmospheric scenes. But Im really thrilled to be co-agenting with Erica. And then there are the projects that never seem to go anywhere at all. You heard it here first! Kirsten opened Catbirds wings in March 2014. Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. Again, I digress.). You didnt receive a rejection letter. You received a critique letter. It sounds so much better, doesnt it? get work . Childrens/YA L. Moe. Not of, or relating to, Dogma, Catbird seeks to foster a community of varietous and riotously (not righteously) funny creators in Austin and in the larger state of Texas. (Or A Blog About the Life of a Submission, in Three Acts), James Burns, Senior Agent, Bright Group US, Jennifer Linnan, Founder, Linnan Literary Management, Alexandra Penfold, Agent, Upstart Crow Literary, Linda Pratt, Founder, Wernick & Pratt Agency. If you want the most accurate information available for literary agents atCatbird Productionsregister above now for FREE instant access to the Directory of Literary Agents. And I can already see that the books were making together are going to be magical. More on her wish list, here. When I signed, it was very exciting. And Im stirred by pitches that elicit feelings of sympathy or empathy. They help you skip that much-maligned slush pile. How Much Do Authors Make? Who reps them? Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox New to PW? Erica:Work is more fun when youre doing it with people you like and respect. I like being asked to see or think about the world divergently. What do you look for in a submission?What I look for in a submission is first a professional introductory letter. 5. What do you look for in a submission?I like two kinds of submissions. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent Shes drawn to projects that are character-driven, tightly plotted, and have a singular, specific voice; always on the hunt for: She looks for projects that know kids are smart and perceptive and feeling deeply; that make the reader feel seen. Illustrators: send 4-6 jpegs of samples, a live link to your website and a short letter of introduction. They step in when needed. Authors and illustrators need an agent because the publishers interests/needs and their interests/needs arent always the same, and you need an advocate to represent you. Children's Book Writers 1. Editors should be salivating by the time they get to the chapter outline. Working with Mark was completely worth it." QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. Co-agenting, or doing that process together, makes it even more fun and is a great way to learn from one another. It all depends on who you are, and what you want. "Just got great reviews!" is better. So how will you know the bad from the good? You have to be a detective. We have invaluable industry insights and connections. Join thousands of other subscribers today by enteringyour first name and email address. While youre working creatively, your agent is out there sharing your work and lining up the next best project. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen I always advise illustrators who are just starting out to identify what they can and/or want to do, and outsource the rest. Co-agenting is Ericas and my way of trying to be as proactive as we can for our clients. "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. Copyright 2023 D. B. Righi. Visit your local The Catbird Seat Inc at 271 Rt 46 W in Fairfield, NJ and contact us today for your home, auto business, and renters insurance today or call (973) 808-0110 Each agent, even within the same agency, has their own ideas of what defines good writing and good illustration. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. All rights reserved. Ask questions. Okay! (Though slush piles get an undeservedly bad reputation. I want an agent to help me . This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Lets take a journey together. Submission Guidelines: Hello! My approach with each client is different based on what they particularly need. Do not send attachments with your query. Show an agent you are serious about writing as a career. For an author or illustrator, most of the benefits of having an agent are fairly obvious. In this way we made a really exciting match for a to-be-announced Jory John and K-Fai Steele project. One size does not fit all. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable toguarantee feedback or advice in our rejections. Scroll below now to viewthe AAR statusand a complete profile for Kirsten HallFREE in ourBookAgents Directory. Astound US Illustration Agency(Submissions scroll down to Artists submissions)Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. Kayla welcomes dark humor, suspense, magical realism, awkwardly adorable romance, and everything in-between. Listen to podcasts. Tools to help you stay organized and error free. Aliza R. Hoover: represents illustrators and author-illustrators. This is probably less often the case once a project reaches the publisher. Visit their websites, where they explain who they are and what they want. All I can say is find the right agent for you, and you wont regret it. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator)need an agent?As mentioned, making a career for oneself in the illustration world can be 100 percent DIY, and many people are great at being self-advocates, negotiating, managing the finances and paperwork, and/or marketing themselves as a commodity/business. Otherwise, please consider submitting to one of my wonderful colleagues at ABLA. But Im really thrilled to be co-agenting with Erica. Agents have their finger on the pulse and understand the rhythm of publishing. Agent statistics, detailing how long each agent typically takes to respond to a query. 2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. the Twitter version of Manuscript Wish List) Agents and editors of all writing genres post what they want. * Mailing addresses But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. Author/illustrators: NBPlease include a link to your online portfolio and/or to your downloadable dummy. Send her your high-concept and hooky; your award-winners; the books that will become backlist gold. Christie Megill: is eager to work with illustrators, author/illustrators, and picture book authors, offering long-term support in their careers and creative journeys. She will leave Bright this Friday. The snob. Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. Erica:We have to make sure that the risk and expectations are clear for all involved. Any agent worth their weight is in a position of privilege given that we see a birds-eye view of the industry, have a fantastic understanding of the publishing houses (in particular what the editors and art directors are looking for), and a deep understanding of imprint listswhich may not be obvious from looking online or at backlist titles. She prefers books that explore deep emotional relationships in an interesting or unusual way. But they are out there. Check out her Literaticastpodcast. 2. Maybe its the prospective client that we missed out on. To submit directly without an agent you need to send them a query letter with a description of your manuscript, how close it is to completion (if it is not yet finished), and a little bit about your writing background. But I dont generally find myself doing much differently with regards to my clients when co-agenting other than have hard conversations on their behalf with my my co-agent up front. She is not seeking sci-fi, horror, or high fantasy. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. With the amount of information available to us through articles, workshops, podcasts, and the like, it takes just a bit of elbow grease to figure things out. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Danielle is actively seeking projects in a variety of categories. . In order for me to co-agent with someone, I need to feel a certain level of trust because the process can be quite unpredictable. Youre the playerone of many players on his or her team. Lemonade Illustration Agency (Artist Submissions) UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. I mean, youre not their only client. A Montreal-based boutique production company, we specialize in award-winning, beautifully-crafted and enduring POV documentaries for Canadian and international audiences. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. She has incredible vision and is very brave. Ask the Agent Informative site ofJennifer Laughran, senior agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, who represents authors and illustrators of childrens and YA books. No, its not. How to Get a Fiction Agent Nonfiction/Self-Help A. Goddard Ive seen really exciting work come out of it. Agents have a broader knowledge due to their experience, and it allows the creative lines between authors and illustrators and their editors/houses to be cleaner. Its also really fun when it happens on the end of the publishers too. Read comments by other authors who have queried the same agents you have. If we are interested in reviewing your dummy, we will request that you send it. Writers can search posts for agents compatible with their work. When our illustrators arent working up a project of their own, were pitching them to get matched up by publishers. And so on. Some of her favorite non-client books in this category are: I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O'Farrell, Heavy by Kiese Laymon, Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl, You Just Need to Lose Weight by Aubrey Gordon, and In Shock by Rana Adwish. It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. It frequents gardens and thickets. OrderID Agency OrderID Date Class Rate Patient Name Area Shift Start End Meal Order Reason O 7138574 08/28/22 to 11/05/22 CNA|T .