Here youll find everything you need to submit work to Upstart Crow Literary. Follow your instincts. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox What if you cant deliver the work on time? 4. QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. There is a lot of uncertainty that comes along with developing a co-agented pitch from just the seed of an idea. Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani Ive been in publishing for over a decade. We are Catbird Lit, an American journal of humorous writings and visual arts based in Austin, Texas. 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. It feels like youve made it. They step out when not needed. Join QueryTracker to access more query and agent information, including To read more comments about this agent, or to leave comments of your own, become a QueryTracker member. Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong In this way we made a really exciting match for a to-be-announced Jory John and K-Fai Steele project. Sign up for our Children's Bookshelf newsletter! Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. You didnt receive a rejection letter. You received a critique letter. It sounds so much better, doesnt it? (Though slush piles get an undeservedly bad reputation. Memoir/Family/Identity S. Foti * Agent photos A major plus of not having an agent is the money saved. Janklow & Nesbit Associates (Agents) (Submissions)USA & UK agency. But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. 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 still need to work hard, improve your craft, increase your self-awareness. The snob. (Her rst bookBunny, Bunnywas published when she was in 7th grade. Erica:In some cases yes and in some cases no. HOLD IT! Search tools to help you find the right agent for your book. Kirsten:Thats exactly right. (Maybe: Is publishing dead or not? Its not dead, but I digress.). Read industry magazines and blogs. 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. catbird, any of five bird species named for their mewing calls, which are used in addition to song. Scroll below to see a sample. If you find that other aspects of managing your career are getting in the way of actually creating, an agent can help shoulder the burden. 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. Do you need an agent? But Im really thrilled to be co-agenting with Erica. Call:1-800 -278-2991 (outside US/Canada, call +1-847-513-6135) 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday (Central). Some agents are boutiques. He also co-owned Cooke International, an . "Just got great reviews!" is better. Finding a literary agent for children's books is easy using our literary agency database. When looking for an agent, its important to do your homework. 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]. If an agent is interested in representing you, under no circumstances should you simply say, Great! does not support javascript or you have it disabled. Before working in publishing, Erica was a teacher and dean. No agency can guarantee that a particular project will sell, but we sign clients because we love their writing and want them to succeed. 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. Congratulations x 2 to Isabelle Arsenault! * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions Signing with an agent is just one step on an endless staircase. Shes one of my favorite people in the entire industry. 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. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper Theyre not your parents. (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. 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 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. Honest and open communication is key. You should. Its all right. What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. Erica:Were different in that Kirsten does a lot more co-agenting than I do. 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. 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 . Sure you can. This is why its so important to make sure theres a termination clause in your contract. Publishing Agent Kirsten Hall is an agent with Catbird Productions. Childrens/Chapter Book J. Agee Our hearts are very much in the right place. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: Do I need an agent?. It may not even be 50 percent. When Should You Get An Agent? Theyre defending. Thank you for submitting your work! Again, I digress.). Lets stop using that word rejection. Try for a moment to think of it as objective criticism. Catbird Agency Website: catbirdagency.com/ Twitter: HallWaysKirsten AAR/AALA Member: No Accepts Queries Via. Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique childrens book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. . Theyre not your servants. Listen to podcasts. All rights reserved. In a way, you still need to be your own agent. Susan's submission email is: susanhawk.submission@gmail.com. What do you look for in a submission?Illustrators contact me at all different points in their careers, and for different reasonssome are interested in getting more freelance illustration work, some have a childrens book, comic series, or graphic novel theyd like to pitch, and some are simply looking for advice or assistance with their current clients (which could be as disparate as an indie musician and a behemoth advertising agency). 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) Its not 100 percent, I can tell you that. Kayla's submission email is: kayla.submission@gmail.com. Only considers picture books from established illustrators. It was after the 2013 SCBWI NY conference. If I have requested your work, please email me at lara@andreabrownlit.com and please include the word "request" in your subject line (and please do NOT include the word "query'"). Each agent, even within the same agency, has their own ideas of what defines good writing and good illustration. Before you sign, lets talk some more. Enter your information in the form to the right for FREE INSTANT ACCESS to the Directory of Literary Agents. The Cat Agency Inc. (Agents) (Submissions) Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Submit a QUERY and TWENTY PAGES of your manuscript to one of the agents listed below. Having someone on your side who can not only advocate for better terms (and knows what the industry standards are) but also navigate all the legalese with you is key, especially if youre not well-versed. Prentis Literary (Childrens Fiction) (Agents) (Submissions) In childrens fiction, they primarily accept early readers and chapter books, and perhaps the very rare, exceptional picture book. Managing Agent, USA for a London-based children's illustration agency representing 150+ incredibly talented artists. I hear the comparison that the agent-client relationship is like a marriage. 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. Here is the: Advice from writing professional Jane Friedman. Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. For off-site access, click here. Co-agenting is Ericas and my way of trying to be as proactive as we can for our clients. That one was just meant to be it seems! Please put your query and sample in the body of the email. After You Get A Book Agent. Society of Books invite joy. We will not open emailed attachments. LK Literary Agency is a boutique children's literature agency, so while we are open to general submissions, we kindly ask that you review our guidelines carefully ahead of sending in your submission to be sure we're a good fit for the wonderful work you do.. We are only open to electronic submissions, which means that unless someone from LKLA has specifically requested you send . . I dont think its extra contact our clients see as much as extra opportunity. But, as an individual player, you arent the only one they need to help. Ive worked as a publicist, as an editor, and now as an agent and author. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. Look at the length of the agreement. Thank you. Different authors and illustrators have different needs, which is why finding your perfect agent match is so important. 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! Corvisiero Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions) Curtis Brown LTD (Agents) (Submissions) David Higham Associates (Agents) (Submissions) A UK agency. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong The coach-player analogy is much more accurate. 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. She prefers books that explore deep emotional relationships in an interesting or unusual way. Corvisiero Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Curtis Brown LTD (Agents)(Submissions). How active are they in the industry? Aliza R. Hoover: represents illustrators and author-illustrators. Author/Illustrators: email a brief synopsis of your manuscript, along with several accompanying illustrations or samples of your artwork. Can you do it without an agent? Kirsten: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! Agencies are still in there, but the box is getting more crowded all the time. You still need to hustle. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen Some of her favorite illustrators include Mike Boldt, Amber Ren, Vashti Harrison, and Eliza Wheeler. There are a ton of resources out there that can help you DIY here, too, but its often the omissions in a contract that people dont see. Theyre the coach. All that being said, my bottom-line, if-youre-on-the-fence answer is much more straightforward: CONTRACTS. I mean, maybe some of us are glamorous, but that aside, of the agents I know (myself included) this couldnt be further from the truth. Join thousands of other subscribers today by enteringyour first name and email address. Excellent source for agent interviews, kidlit information, and an agent database you can search by age category (e.g., picture books). Rest assured, there are far,far fewer of these agents out there. (Should you want to learn more first, our Writer's Toolbox has a handful of useful links for writers wanting to improve their craft before seeking publication.). I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. Familiarize yourself with their accomplishments. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. 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. While her taste is broad, shes especially excited to find fresh stories and artwork from voices that have previously been underrepresented. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If youre creating work that could be described as generous, nuanced, and at ease with complexity, shed love to read it. Many writers fear writing queries, but it shouldnt frighten you off! Literary Agencies for Picture Books (A-F) 3 Arts Entertainment (New . A coin is flipped on its head. Catbird Creative Agency Advertising Services Cleveland, Ohio 57 followers catbird seat (noun) an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage Congratulations! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Do not send attachments with your query. 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. Even a Twitter or Instagram account can satisfy these questions, but if I look someone up and find nothing, it leaves me looking for more, and often, looking elsewhere. Youve identified fifteen to twenty agents. Her dream project for young readers is one that challenges and inspires, with a compelling voice that will make her stay up all night reading. To bridge these twoindustries, she co-founded Room 228, a consulting company that creates educational marketing materials and literacy programming for children. Shes one of my favorite people in the entire industry. Keep your correspondence professional. We revel in rebel voices; cast forward outcasts; and structure the lawless, braless populace into humorous narratives and . Thank you for submitting your work! Isabelle Arsenault 161161 5 Comments 5 Shares Like Comment Share Catbird Agency is with Seb Cosset and Brigette Barrager. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator need an agent? There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. Agent statistics, detailing how long each agent typically takes to respond to a query. And Im stirred by pitches that elicit feelings of sympathy or empathy. Agents have their finger on the pulse and understand the rhythm of publishing. And sometime between crying, I offered Jessixa representation. Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR)AAR members must meet the highest standards and canon of ethics. Illustrators: send 4-6 jpegs of samples, a live link to your website and a short letter of introduction. But they are out there. I love my fellow kidlit agents, and I honestly believe we root for each other and celebrate each others successes. Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) Learn More. Kirsten is also an author. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper 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. On the very same day, Colette's Lost Pet has been signed for its 5th co-edition & Cloth Lullaby has been signed for its 10th! Memoir/Christian S. LeRette Responsible for . Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent?The answer to this is clear to me: because it plays to strengths. Where do I sign? Read their agreement. Agents help a career in ways beyond even my understanding. All rights reserved. When looking for the first time at an artists portfolio, I like to see a cross section of their work. I can tell you why I need an agent. 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. Visit our Team Fuse page and click an agent to read their profile. Hall is Catbird Productions sole proprietor. They lead the cheer for you. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox