Its not easy to do it yourself, but it is possible. Excellent source for agent interviews, kidlit information, and an agent database you can search by age category (e.g., picture books). If you can, meet them at conferences. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator)need an agent?An agent is a matchmaker, negotiator, mediator, lifter-upper, creative confidant, and industry insider all rolled into one. The Number of Queries Sent and Their Replies. * A link to the Catbird Productionswebsite Co-agenting is Ericas and my way of trying to be as proactive as we can for our clients. Snail-Mail: Closed E-Mail: Closed Online Form: Closed Learn more about this agent, including: Genres of Interest Typical Response Times Best Query Methods Become a QueryTracker Member (Free) Fuse Literary represents both fiction and nonfiction in a variety of categories and genres. 38.4k Followers, 0 Following, 1,895 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Catbird Agency (@catbirdagencypix) In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another. She will leave Bright this Friday. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper In your query letter, stick to professional accomplishments that relate to writing and publishing. SUBMISSIONS. Ive seen really exciting work come out of it. and Illustrators. Your submission to agents isnt an Instagram post thats totes gonna get likes. How is it different from the way you usually rep a book? NOTE: As an agency we are closed to new queries and submissions each December 1st to January 15th! Warning: This site requires javascript, but it appears that your browser Kayla is seeking everything from heartfelt or humorous picture books (she has a soft spot for animal protagonists) to dynamic, unpredictable YA (she loves a good murder mystery or a clever rom-com). Scroll below to see a sample. * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions The main reasoning behind this stems from the fact that what an artist feels is their strongest work is not necessarily what the agent would agree is best for the market. She has incredible vision and is very brave. When I offer representation, ideally Id like to be in it for the long haulwhich means I want to really know who Im signing up to work with: Do they have other work thats equally enticing? And then there are the projects that never seem to go anywhere at all. NOTE: Each year Fuse Literary, as an agency, is closed to new submissions and queries between December 1st to January 15th. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. What do you look for in a submission?What I look for in a submission is first a professional introductory letter. . After You Get A Book Agent. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. Plus, get a FREE ebook when you sign up! Logo designed by Kody Chamberlain Website designed by Ian Bauer. These cookies do not store any personal information. . While were waiting on the agents response, can I ask you why you want an agent? Hall is the author of the picture books. Repeat. While her taste is broad, shes especially excited to find fresh stories and artwork from voices that have previously been underrepresented. Before you sign, lets talk some more. When Im looking at a submission, I want something that makes me feel and makes me think, and most of all, makes me want to read it again. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable toguarantee feedback or advice in our rejections. The black catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris) is found in coastal Yucatn. 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 Overall, Fuse agents may take 4-8 weeks to respond to queries and then additional time for submissions. This is probably less often the case once a project reaches the publisher. Lets be real, Im always looking for an excuse to hop on the phone or grab lunch with Ericaso working together gives me the perfect excuse! Please put your query and sample in the body of the email. I thought if I signed with an agent, I could just focus on making art., Me: How many jobs did they get for you over the past year?. includes resources for all writing genres (not just picture books). Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. To bridge these twoindustries, she co-founded Room 228, a consulting company that creates educational marketing materials and literacy programming for children. The overwhelming advantage in having this knowledge is proven when we come to share new work; it cuts through the noise and competition. Otherwise, please consider submitting to one of my wonderful colleagues at ABLA. Other times, well sell texts to publishers first and then when it comes time for illustrators, if there isnt someone on our list who we think is right to recommend, our next step will be to look at each others lists, or those of other agent friends. Theres already much greater access to the publishing house in the illustration world (versus for writers, who often are barred by company policy from submitting their work directly). 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. Some favorite titles that provide a sense of her tastes: Picture book: Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon; Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown; I Dont Want to be a Frog by Dev Petty; Bad Dog by Mike Boldt, Middle grade: Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina; The Year the Swallows Came Early by Katherine Fitzmaurice; Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed; The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Young adult: The Sea is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt; Dumplin by Julie Murphy; The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman; To All the Boys Ive Loved Before by Jenny Han; The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Either way, I hope this post helps you move forward with your career. 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. Order is not locked and is accepting submissions. Andrea Brown Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). Sign up for our Children's Bookshelf newsletter! Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen I hear the comparison that the agent-client relationship is like a marriage. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Ive learned how important it is to review our individual clients wants and needs before offers start to come in. Join thousands of other subscribers today by enteringyour first name and email address. She is . Maybe its the prospective client that we missed out on. Then I look for a voice, either in the words of an author or the art of an illustrator. What is one misconception about agents?One misconception about agents is that we are interchangeable. 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. Picture books (as a format) seem simple at first blush, but they are often in fact quite layered and even poetic, displaying an elegant interplay between text and art . If you can, find a contract professional to read it. Memoir/Multicultural N. Aronheim Kirsten:Its true, I love to co-agent, and I do it regularly with agents at several different agencies. Right now, Brenda is not accepting picture book manuscript submissions, but she is looking for adult historical fiction. Catbird Productions was founded in 2006 by Katarina Soukup. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator need an agent? I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. If an agent is interested in representing you, under no circumstances should you simply say, Great! And sometime between crying, I offered Jessixa representation. Well navigate the waters together. When an artist joins Brightand here I can only speak about Brightan artists dreams and ambition must be aligned with those of the agency. You didnt receive a rejection letter. You received a critique letter. It sounds so much better, doesnt it? You still need to work hard, improve your craft, increase your self-awareness. An agent delivers. Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. Some of her favorite non-client books in this category are: A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti, Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai, Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, Chime by Franny Billingsley, Swing by Kwame Alexander, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, Still Life With Tornado by A.S.King, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). We spend a good amount of time bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing good and bad news. What if you cant deliver the work on time? That one was just meant to be it seems! And I can already see that the books were making together are going to be magical. What do you look for in a submission?I look to have an emotional response and for the work to be something different than is already represented on my list. Not everyone excels at all of these, or enjoys it! When an agent is pitching or submitting the work, it is my belief that the success rate is so much higher. 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. Maybe. 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. Check out her Literaticastpodcast. But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. I want an agent to help me . "Actor seeking representation" is a bore. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! 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. Martin Literary Management (Agents & Submissions), McKinnon Literary (Agents) (Submissions), Metamorphosis Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. (Agents) (Submissions), Page Turner Literary Agency(Agent) (Submissions opendates for submissions are noted on agencys submisions page), Peters Fraser + Dunlop (Agents) (Submissions)A UK agency, Pippin Properties (Agents)(Submissions), Plum Pudding Illustration Agency (Submissions) UK agency specifically for illustrators. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Before we see illustration samples or book pitches, we know that the agent has worked hard to make sure their clients best foot is forward. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Agents Seeking ClientsAuthor Erica Verillo has links for agents seeking clients and other excellent resources for writers, including kidlit writers on her blog Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity. What is one misconception about agents?That were glamorous, haughty gatekeepers! But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. get work . Our goal is always to sell their work and properly manage their rights, establishing long-term writing careers for our clients. What percentage of art directors go to agents first to find illustrators? Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme Catbird Press is no longer publishing. Your friends will congratulate you. of Speculation by Jenny Offill, Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J.Ryan Stradal, and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. And thats just on Monday. As soon as you register youll get instant access to the following: * Agent bios for all agents atCatbird Productions We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The Chudney Agency (Submissions) Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci You submit all this via email. She is not seeking sci-fi, horror, or high fantasy. In this post, you and I will go through the steps of a submission, from researching agencies to signing on the dotted linewhile having a bit of a heart-to-heart along the way. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Cherry is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. What if you want to get your rights back? Fuse Literary never charges reading or submission fees, nor is there a retainer fee for our services. And Im stirred by pitches that elicit feelings of sympathy or empathy. 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. To set up immediate access, click here. Show an agent you are serious about writing as a career. These letters are just steps on the path. Ive asked agents James Burns, Kirsten Hall, Jennifer Linnan, Alexandra Penfold, Linda Pratt,and Erica Rand Silverman three simple questions. I appreciate having a trusted ear, an ally, and an advocate for my work and career. Part of my job is to break down any remaining barriers, not to guard themto make introductions, to get more eyes on clients work. Think about it: They meet with the editors and art directors at many publishing housesalways learning what they want and dont want; always given inside looks into publishing plans, present and future; always gaining further insight into who loosens or tightens the purse strings. Work is more fun when youre doing it with people you like and respect. What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. For off-site access, click here. Youll get free access tothe Directory of BookAgents with detailed profiles for allbookagents,including Kirsten HallLiterary Agent. It isnt as automatic as you think. Feeling hurt inflates our ego, which clouds self-awareness, which stunts creative improvement. Kirsten opened Catbird's wings in March 2014. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Congratulations x 2 to Isabelle Arsenault! Catbird Creative Agency Advertising Services Cleveland, Ohio 57 followers catbird seat (noun) an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage Notes/Tips:Our agency does not represent poetry or screenplays. While youre working creatively, your agent is out there sharing your work and lining up the next best project. All rights reserved. Its so truein the past month alone weve had some particularly exciting pairings between Stimola and Catbird! Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. 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. They lead the cheer for you. They help you skip that much-maligned slush pile. It may not. A Montreal-based boutique production company, we specialize in award-winning, beautifully-crafted and enduring POV documentaries for Canadian and international audiences. Okay! A word of warning: There is such a thing as a bad agent. While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. Youll also get access to our article and audio library with information to help you get a top agent, publisher, and book deal. We respond to most queries within twelve weeks. Theyre not your servants. You should know, agents are not going to comment right away (if at all). Different authors and illustrators have different needs, which is why finding your perfect agent match is so important. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer Look at the length of the agreement. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer Hear what they have to say. It can make me uneasy because it takes time and sometimes doesnt work. For nonfiction: she is looking for compelling, voice-driven projects that shed a humorous or thought-provoking light on a previously unknown topic in the areas of narrative nonfiction/memoir, lifestyle, relationships, humor, current events, food, wine, and cooking. She wants to be surprisedtheres nothing like the feeling that youre reading something entirely new. Maybe its the book that we havent placed yet, but still so strongly believe has a place in the world. 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. And so on. Before you submit: Read their guidelines. Agents are curators. I also ask six well-respected agents to share their thoughts by answering three questions. Do not query multiple agents at Fuse simultaneously. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent?Agents wear many important hats. Where do I sign? Read their agreement. . They step out when not needed. (Though slush piles get an undeservedly bad reputation. Co-agenting is Ericas and my way of trying to be as proactive as we can for our clients. Want more information about Kirsten Hall? Many writers fear writing queries, but it shouldnt frighten you off! Scroll below now to learn more about Literary Agent Kirsten Hall andget free instant access to our BookAgents Directory.