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. You have to be a detective. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator need an agent? full terms and conditions and this month's choices. Both literary and commercial work. It all depends on who you are, and what you want. Erica is a tireless advocate for her clients and proud to be a part of an industry that is so thoughtfully shaping young minds. Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). 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). The cycle of creating successful titles is like putting on a playeveryone must work to the best of their abilities. The Chudney Agency (Submissions) Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). Were different in that Kirsten does a lot more co-agenting than I do. I dont think its extra contact our clients see as much as extra opportunity. They told me they were going to focus on getting me into the industry I love: childrens books. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper 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. I still remember the first time I read Jessixa Bagleys dummy submission. What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. 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. I like to feel as if someone is sharing with me, not just shopping to me. Kirsten HallLiterary Agent represents the followingbook genres: Scroll below now to view representative titlesand a complete profile for Kirsten HallFREE in ourBookAgents Directory. I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. An agent will intuit which clients are going to respond well to the artists work, and this becomes the first port of call for an illustration agent when initially pitching, sharing, and presenting the portfolio to commissioning clients. Its not 100 percent, I can tell you that. 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. Again, I digress.). Memoir/Women L. Lehr Book Agent Submissions Susan believes that books can change lives inspire a passion for reading and story; unlock imagination and empathy; move readers to feel, think, wonder, examine, explore, to laugh really hard. In some cases yes and in some cases no. Thank you. Want more information about Kirsten Hall? Although of course it would be totally fine for them to communicate if it would benefit the development of the proposal! Its true, I love to co-agent, and I do it regularly with agents at several different agencies. The subject heading in your email should be simple but enticing. Or familiar content has been made unrecognizable. Youre the playerone of many players on his or her team. Youre about to sign with an agent. Theyre traveling. 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. 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. Wait for a response. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The answer might be a little different for our editorial colleagues with writers. RESPONSE TIMES We respond to most queries within twelve weeks. She is particularly interested in illustrators from diverse backgrounds and portfolios that depict diverse characters and experiences. 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. Kirsten:Not necessarily. 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 . 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. But they are out there. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Lets tap into that knowledge. More on her wish list, here. Kayla welcomes dark humor, suspense, magical realism, awkwardly adorable romance, and everything in-between. Darius Foroux. We spend a good amount of time bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing good and bad news. But if we are interested, we will request your full manuscript. Then I look for a voice, either in the words of an author or the art of an illustrator. I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin Books, which published my book in hardcover! Memoir/Christian S. LeRette And I can already see that the books were making together are going to be magical. It isnt as automatic as you think. Here are their answers: What do you look for in a submission? The story taps into important truths about love and loss and life. Honest and open communication is key. She is just as happy working with debut talents as she is best-sellers. Visit their websites, where they explain who they are and what they want. We are particularly interested in work about art, culture, the environment, music, and human rights. Its important to identify who you think are good matches. Ive worked as a publicist, as an editor, and now as an agent and author. If you can, meet them at conferences. An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). What do you look for in a submission?What I look for in a submission is first a professional introductory letter. Flannery Literary (Agent) (Submissions), Foundry Literary + Media (Agents & Submissions), Full Circle Literary (Agents) (Submissions), Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Golden Wheat Literary (Agents)(Submissions), Greenhouse Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Howard Morhaim Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Before you sign, lets talk some more. Co-agenting is Ericas and my way of trying to be as proactive as we can for our clients. What percentage of art directors go to agents first to find illustrators? WAIT! Logo designed by Kody Chamberlain Website designed by Ian Bauer. Each agent lists what they want on their bio page. 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. An agent delivers. Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. And the value of that growth far exceeds the fees. PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Dan Santat, click here to reactivate your immediate access. And I can already see that the books were making together are going to be magical. I can tell you why I need an agent. How do you work with your clients individually on something like this? Do not query multiple agents at Fuse simultaneously. Responsible for . I was able to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. Andrea Brown Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). On the reverse, sometimes our authors are looking for new inspiration and an illustration can be a great way to get those wheels turning. What is one misconception about agents?That were glamorous, haughty gatekeepers! Each have their advantages and disadvantages. 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. Theyre pitching. . Antony Harwood Ltd (Agents) (Submissions) A UK literary agency. Thank you for signing up, fellow book lover! If your submission is received by our system, an automated response will be emailed to you. Signing with an agent is just one step on an endless staircase. The one who allows ego to influence their decisions. Writing thats confident, vivid, addictive; work thats both ambitious and wise. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. To be taken seriously, read the (damn) guidelines. These letters are just steps on the path. In childrens fiction, they primarily accept early readers and chapter books, and perhaps the very rare, exceptional picture book. 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. Maybe its the prospective client that we missed out on. 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. Im reminded of my father-in-law, who spends three hours fixing a leak instead of calling a plumber who could do it in one. When I signed, it was very exciting. Well navigate the waters together. 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. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: "Do I need an agent?" It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. That one was just meant to be it seems! There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Cherry is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Ron is a literary agent and co-owner of CookeMcDermid. 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. We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. In each case, they pointed out issues in my work that I knew were there but refused to recognize. How Much Do Authors Make? Agencies are still in there, but the box is getting more crowded all the time. While her taste is broad, shes especially excited to find fresh stories and artwork from voices that have previously been underrepresented. Erica Rand Silverman, Literary Agent,Stimola Literary Studio, Inc. And so on. They lead the cheer for you. Home Book Agencies USA Literary Agencies and Literary Agents Catbird Productions. Memoir/Multicultural N. Aronheim Boutique kidlit author/illustrator agency & producer of books for all ages Catbird Agency | New York NY Erica:Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) 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. Publishing Agent Kirsten Hall is an agent with Catbird Productions. Ideally, you handle the creative end, and your agent handles the business end. Stagger it. Its brilliant I mean, really, its fantastic. 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. Offer of Representation While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. Submit to five. Get updates about Kirsten Hall and recommended reads from Simon & Schuster. Practice professional patience and persistence. And then there are the projects that never seem to go anywhere at all. Well navigate the waters together. While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. Scroll below now to view the email and postal addressfor Kirsten HallFREE in our BookAgents Directory. Theyre meeting. They're signing. Warning: This site requires javascript, but it appears that your browser Erica:We have to make sure that the risk and expectations are clear for all involved. 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. UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. 3. * AAR membership status Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent?Agents wear many important hats. Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong Once you sign with an agent, you dont just sit back and wait for the jobs to roll in. How to Find a Literary Agent for Your BookAdvice from writing professional Jane Friedman. 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)! Is there a five-word sentence in the childrens book industry more capable of sparking a debate than Do I need an agent? 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.