(Her rst bookBunny, Bunnywas published when she was in 7th grade. Rest assured, there are far,far fewer of these agents out there. Kirsten:Its true, I love to co-agent, and I do it regularly with agents at several different agencies. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. They are the busiest bees in the hive. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Kaylas taste lies squarely in that sweet spot between commercial and literary, and she is looking for captivating voices and rich worldbuildingwhether its a seaside town in Maine or a fantastical other world. Even if you get the book deal on your own, a complicated contract is sure to follow, and hopefully an ongoing business relationship has only just begun. I want an agent to help me . We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. . They help you skip that much-maligned slush pile. What is one misconception about agents?I can only speak for agents in the childrens book industry, but Im continually heartened and humbled by the camaraderie between kidlit agents. But if we are interested, we will request your full manuscript. We spend a good amount of time bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing good and bad news. When was the last time you checked out Publishers Weeklys Rights Report? Author/illustrators: NBPlease include a link to your online portfolio and/or to your downloadable dummy. Its not easy to do it yourself, but it is possible. Before working in publishing, Erica was a teacher and dean. She is . Notes/Tips: Our agency does not represent poetry or screenplays. How do you work with your clients individually on something like this? Its true, I love to co-agent, and I do it regularly with agents at several different agencies. Call:1-800 -278-2991 (outside US/Canada, call +1-847-513-6135) 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday (Central). Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong Were both former educators, are each moms of two boys, and we identify in a lot of ways with one another, are drawn to similar stories and talents. You still need to work hard, improve your craft, increase your self-awareness. Shes one of my favorite people in the entire industry. USA Literary Agencies and Literary Agents Catbird Productions, Enter your information in the form to the right for FREE INSTANT ACCESS to the, register above now for FREE instant access to the. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci To be taken seriously, read the (damn) guidelines. and Illustrators. Now, let me tell you why you dont need one. Its important to identify who you think are good matches. Your agent cant be expected to do all the heavy lifting. I sent them some dummies, some promotional pieces. Stagger it. Lets stop using that word rejection. Try for a moment to think of it as objective criticism. Youll get free access tothe Directory of BookAgents with detailed profiles for allbookagents,including Kirsten HallLiterary Agent. Please do not send us submissions of any kind. Submit a QUERY and TWENTY PAGES of your manuscript to one of the agents listed below. Thats exactly right. When looking for an agent, its important to do your homework. They're Skyping. You should know, agents are not going to comment right away (if at all). NOTE: Each year Fuse Literary, as an agency, is closed to new submissions and queries between December 1st to January 15th. Books that tell the stories of people, places, and cultures that have been overlooked and ignored for too long are at the top of her list. They step out when not needed. 6. Catbird Productions was founded in 2006 by Katarina Soukup. "Mark helped me get five different offers for representation from top literary agents. Different authors and illustrators have different needs, which is why finding your perfect agent match is so important. And then there are the projects that never seem to go anywhere at all. We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. Not really. Author/Illustrators: email a brief synopsis of your manuscript, along with several accompanying illustrations or samples of your artwork. 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). Darius Foroux. Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. Odds of Getting a Book Agent * Preferred query letter methods (email, online form, postal mail) QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency, (Prospect Portfolio: Illustrator Submissions), (Molly ONeill: open to illustrators & author-illustrators), Stimola Literary Studio: Books for Children and Young Adults, (Submissions for childrens book illustrators only), Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR), How to Find a Literary Agent for Your Book, Literary Rambles: Spotlighting Childrens Book Authors, Agents, & Publishing, Manuscript Wish List specifically for literary agents of picture books. Memoir/Christian S. LeRette Your work has been submitted! WAIT! This is probably less often the case once a project reaches the publisher. Anna Olswanger has been a literary agent since 2005. Before you submit, read this: Please submit to SUBMISSIONS@CATAGENCYINC.COM & let us know who you are submitting to in the subject line! Manuscripts sent to them will be discarded unread. Here is a little secret: most of the childrens agents I know are incredibly warm, and kind and fun. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I also ask six well-respected agents to share their thoughts by answering three questions. Theyre not your servants. Writers can search posts for agents compatible with their work. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming number of submissions received, personal responses are only very rarely possible. You have to register (its FREE unless you upgrade to premium) to use this, but once you register and sign in, you can track your query and find which authors are represented by which agents, a publisher list, an agent list, author success stories, and more. 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. They operate on your behalf, ever focused on your career. Catbird Productions, which will package books for publishers, as well as operate as a boutique literary agency for childrens book author/illustrators, with an emphasis on previously unpublished authors/ illustrators. But they are out there. And Im stirred by pitches that elicit feelings of sympathy or empathy. If we are interested in reviewing your dummy, we will request that you send it. Keep walking. That one was just meant to be it seems! 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. Boutique kidlit author/illustrator agency & producer of books for all ages Catbird Agency | New York NY There is a lot of uncertainty that comes along with developing a co-agented pitch from just the seed of an idea. 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. Theyre traveling. My approach with each client is different based on what they particularly need. Im reading from an unconventional point of view. Ive seen really exciting work come out of it. We do not accept or respond to phone, paper or social media queries. What if you cant deliver the work on time? Manuscripts sent to them will be discarded unread. Catbird's beautifully-crafted documentaries introduce audiences to remarkable human beings, like an Ethiopian aristocrat turned communist rebel, a Montreal poet turned world-renowned winemaker, or a resilient Inuit man who competes in a grueling dogsled race despite a major disability. They agreed almost immediately. And then submit your picture book query letter and manuscript. If your submission is received by our system, an automated response will be emailed to you. Erica:Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique childrens book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. Once a book is sold, authors and illustrators will be presenting themselves to publishers, booksellers, librarians, and others as a professional. I also ask six well-respected agents to share their thoughts by answering three questions. Keep an eye out this spring for DOLL-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey (Little,Brown), Time Tracers by Annabeth Bondor Stone & Connor White (HarperCollins), Finns Featherillustrated by Zoey Abbott (Enchanted Lion Books), and Rock N Roll Soul by Susan Verde and Matthew Cordell (Abrams)! Theyre not your parents. 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. However, there are differences in our tastes and our particular areas of proficiency, e.g., editorial, genre, licensing, promotion, etc. For off-site access, click here. The coach-player analogy is much more accurate. Find out whos working in the field. Do your clients have more contact with one another than they would if this were set up by a publisher? Hall is the author of the picture books. We revel in rebel voices; cast forward outcasts; and structure the lawless, braless populace into humorous narratives and . New to PW? Need manuscripts and art to stay on schedule? AAR members must meet the highest standards and canon of ethics. We will not open emailed attachments. Childrens/Chapter Book J. Agee Before you sign, lets talk some more. Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency (Agents & Submissions)NOTE: This is aUKagency. Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Jill Grinberg Literary Management (Agents) (Submissions), Ladderbird Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). The one who uses righteous indignation and insults as means to an end. Playing with each others client lists is a way to stay true to that, to not overcommit in order to see more potentially exciting matching possibilities. Finding a literary agent for children's books is easy using our literary agency database. Scroll below now to learn more about Literary Agent Kirsten Hall andget free instant access to our BookAgents Directory. As soon as you register youll get instant access to the following: * A link to the Catbird Productionswebsite, * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions, * Access to all literary agent profiles in the, * Search the directory by book genre/category (more than 100 categories), Scroll back up to the top of this webpage now to enter your name and email for FREE information and listings for all book agents at Catbird Productions, Author Success Story: Nonfiction/Self-Help, [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews]. What is one misconception about agents? includes resources for all writing genres (not just picture books). For art directors, editors, and publishers,an agent is foremost a problem-solver. We'd love to see your work! Thank you for submitting your work! She wants to be surprisedtheres nothing like the feeling that youre reading something entirely new. If an agent is interested in representing you, under no circumstances should you simply say, Great! 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). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It feels good to say, I have an agent. Its legitimizing. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. Antony Harwood Ltd (Agents) (Submissions) A UK literary agency. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. . They understand the nuances of contractsforeign rights, royalty escalation clauses, merchandising (how much would you charge for ringtones? Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. Look at what theyll do for you versus what youll have to do for yourself. Agencies are still in there, but the box is getting more crowded all the time. Can you terminate the contract if things go south? Insofar as the quality of your work is good, it doesnt matter if you have an agent or not. Thank you for signing up, fellow book lover! Susan represents work for children and teens only: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult, along with some non-fiction for young readers. Publishing Agent Kirsten Hall is an agent with Catbird Productions. 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. Listen to podcasts. For an author or illustrator, most of the benefits of having an agent are fairly obvious. As soon as you enter your name and email address to the right, youll be able to see complete profiles for every literary agent at Catbird Productions(and every other literary agency). Well try to get back to you as quickly as possible. Not necessarily. Maybe its the prospective client that we missed out on. Hall, who is the author of 100+ children's books, has been employed since 2009 as a US-based managing agent at the Bright Agency, which is headquartered in London and specializes in nurturing and developing debut childrens book author/illustrators. Each provides exact submission information (an email address or an online submission portal). It may not. She likens her agency, which specializes in picture books, to a creative playground. BookStop Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Bradford Literary Agency(Agents & Submissions). Kirsten:Not necessarily. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer She is not seeking sci-fi, horror, or high fantasy. Get FREE Access Now to All Catbird ProductionsProfiles! All rights reserved. Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency Picture books pretty much have me wrapped around their finger. Olswanger Literary LLC. Both literary and commercial work. Kirsten:Because co-agenting can be even more unpredictable than regular agenting, and because two agents naturally need to look at whats best for two clients with different histories and hopes, the co-agenting process requires double the consideration and diplomacy. QueryTracker You have to register (its FREE unless you upgrade to premium) to use this, but once you register and sign in, you can track your query and find which authors are represented by which agents, a publisher list, an agent list, author success stories, and more. Provide URLs to your author website and social media that supports your efforts to brand yourself. The profileabout Kirsten HallLiterary Agent that you see herecontains just some of the information youll find in our free BookAgents Directory, with listings for all publishing agents. She has incredible vision and is very brave. I work alone and basically love knocking on other agents doors and asking them to come out and play! Lets tap into that knowledge. What do you look for in a submission?What I look for in a submission is first a professional introductory letter. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator need an agent? Youre about to sign with an agent. But its good to be pushed outside our comfort zones once in a while. They're signing. But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. Responsible for . Were not afraid of this. Submit to Susan Hawk Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. Postcards, social media, industry events, bespoke product platforms, blogs, galleries, magazines, and store visits are all tools in a rapidly growing toolbox. Erica:Its also really fun when it happens on the end of the publishers too. . Erica:Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. Please submit to SUBMISSIONS@CATAGENCYINC.COM & let us know who you are submitting to in the subject line! You still need to hustle. Literary agent Kirsten Hall is launching a new company, Catbird Productions, which will package books for publishers, as well as operate as a boutique literary agency for children's book. It may not. * A link to the Catbird Productionswebsite Memoir/Family/Identity S. Foti But agents help your creative growth in more ways than the obvious. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent?Agents wear many important hats. If you dont know how to write a query, please read the Writers Toolbox post How to write a query letter for a quick tutorial. Plus, get a FREE ebook when you sign up! I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions 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. Youll also get access to our article and audio library with information to help you get a top agent, publisher, and book deal. Keep your correspondence professional. (Maybe: Is publishing dead or not? Its not dead, but I digress.). The Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to foster public appreciation of childrens books and to support the vibrant community of people who create and promote them. She started her career at Liza Dawson Associates in Manhattan, and in 2014 launched her own literary agency, Olswanger Literary LLC, where she represents a wide variety of genres, but is currently focused on illustrated books (picture books and graphic novels). I still remember the first time I read Jessixa Bagleys dummy submission. Subscribe to The Illustration Department Newsletter, Do I Need An Agent? Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago A thoughtful, personalized query letter does a lot, and obviously if I connect with an art sample or a pitch, its a win, but even then my decision ultimately hinges on what that persons web presence looks like. Co-agenting, or doing that process together, makes it even more fun and is a great way to learn from one another. It is a precise and qualified process, rather than an independent, possibly unpublished artist spread betting their work across editors and art directors who they do not know apart from an impression of them through social media. Either way, I hope this post helps you move forward with your career. If you do not receive a reply from Chad in 2 weeks, please assume its a pass. LiteraryAgents.com An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. Ive worked as a publicist, as an editor, and now as an agent and author.
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