It frequents gardens and thickets. Agent statistics, detailing how long each agent typically takes to respond to a query. Join thousands of other subscribers today by enteringyour first name and email address. Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Kirsten Hall is President of Catbird, a boutique childrens literary and illustration agency. The black catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris) is found in coastal Yucatn. an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage Repeat. In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another. Bios, interests, and submission instructions can be found here. The subject heading in your email should be simple but enticing. Not really. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. Lets submit your work to an agent. This enables us to put a plan in place before the first portfolio sheet is made. Fuse Literary represents both fiction and nonfiction in a variety of categories and genres. Hall is Catbird Productions sole proprietor. 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. I went back to the drawing board., I signed with an agent, thinking that they would get me consistent work. Maybe its the prospective client that we missed out on. Its not 100 percent, I can tell you that. Erica:We have to make sure that the risk and expectations are clear for all involved. The one who uses righteous indignation and insults as means to an end. We will not open emailed attachments. "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. The agent then dedicates energy and resources to get that first commission. 2. QueryTracker will not function correctly without javascript. They're publicizing. Bright Agency (Agents)(Submissions)A UK / USA agency. I love my fellow kidlit agents, and I honestly believe we root for each other and celebrate each others successes. Call:1-800 -278-2991 (outside US/Canada, call +1-847-513-6135) 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday (Central). * Agent photos 3. Childrens/Chapter Book J. Agee They're Skyping. When looking for an agent, its important to do your homework. Editors should be salivating by the time they get to the chapter outline. Working with Mark was completely worth it." I look for author-illustrators. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen . We only accept submissions via e-mail. Submit to Susan Hawk Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. Someone asked me once, Do you only hire artists who have agents?Not in the slightest. Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. He also co-owned Cooke International, an . While were waiting on the agents response, can I ask you why you want an agent? Its an honor to see a piece of a creators heart inside a proposals DNA. Catbird Creative Agency Advertising Services Cleveland, Ohio 57 followers catbird seat (noun) an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. Memoir/Family/Identity S. Foti If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. Notes/Tips:Our agency does not represent poetry or screenplays. Humor is important, even in a narrative thats dark or sad or edgy. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Corvisiero Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions) Curtis Brown LTD (Agents) (Submissions) David Higham Associates (Agents) (Submissions) A UK agency. Remember, you are a business person seeking a business partner. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 2) Those that somehow present the world differently. Antony Harwood Ltd (Agents) (Submissions) A UK literary agency. 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 . 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. Well try to get back to you as quickly as possible. It isnt as automatic as you think. Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). Experience. Before you submit: Read their guidelines. Im the person throwing up the grappling hook, not the one pouring down hot oil. Again, I digress.). Memoir/Family/Identity S. Foti After You Get A Book Agent. Getfree access to the Directory of Literary Agents with detailed agent profiles. QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. Its also really fun when it happens on the end of the publishers too. Odds of Getting a Book Agent Find out whos working in the field. One size does not fit all. Kirsten opened Catbirds wings in March 2014. 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! There is a lot of uncertainty that comes along with developing a co-agented pitch from just the seed of an idea. Home Book Agents Literary Agent Kirsten Hall Catbird Productions. Queries about books that dont conform, but rather provoke, excite me. Writing thats confident, vivid, addictive; work thats both ambitious and wise. Many writers fear writing queries, but it shouldnt frighten you off! Ron is a literary agent and co-owner of CookeMcDermid. Theyre negotiating. Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). How did you come to collaborate on books together? . Stop right there. RESPONSE TIMES We respond to most queries within twelve weeks. Co-agenting, or doing that process together, makes it even more fun and is a great way to learn from one another. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. . She likens her agency, which specializes in picture books, to a creative playground. Well navigate the waters together. We have invaluable industry insights and connections. Well navigate the waters together. Today, the tools that art directors use to find illustrators are too numerous to list. Kirsten:Its true, I love to co-agent, and I do it regularly with agents at several different agencies. 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. Author/Illustrators: email a brief synopsis of your manuscript, along with several accompanying illustrations or samples of your artwork. I still remember the first time I read Jessixa Bagleys dummy submission. Ask around. Need an author or illustrator? If you can, meet them at conferences. It all depends on who you are, and what you want. Kirsten works intimately with her clients to conceive and develop original story pitches. Okay! 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. The irony is that by doing it yourself, by finding some amount of success on your own, you become more attractive to . "Mark helped me get five different offers for representation from top literary agents. Order is not locked and is accepting submissions. 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 . 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. 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). Can you terminate the contract if things go south? News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. They understand the nuances of contractsforeign rights, royalty escalation clauses, merchandising (how much would you charge for ringtones? To bridge these twoindustries, she co-founded Room 228, a consulting company that creates educational marketing materials and literacy programming for children. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. I hear the comparison that the agent-client relationship is like a marriage. Its brilliant I mean, really, its fantastic. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. Azantian Literary Agency (Agents)(Submissions), Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises (Submissions), Bookends Jr.: A Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), The Book Group (Agents click Our Staff tab for a drop-down list) (Submissions). Agents are curators. But theyre not the only key to the door. 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! I choose to work with an agent because I value that relationship and I know its helped me to create my best work. 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? Read their interviews. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. She doesnt represent adult projects. It may not even be 50 percent. In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. Kirsten:Its so truein the past month alone weve had some particularly exciting pairings between Stimola and Catbird! They agreed almost immediately. Also send five pages from your manuscript. What do you look for in a submission?What I look for in a submission is first a professional introductory letter. Sense of place mattersprecise, expressive settings delight her. Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani Please do not send us submissions of any kind. Practice professional patience and persistence. Submission Guidelines: Hello! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Not necessarily. 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. The one thing I look for across the board in a submission is a clean, professional-looking portfolio site! Making sure Im advocating well and clearly for my client from the get-go is even more critical than usual when there are two times the number of voices in the mix. Darius Foroux. catbird seat. Yes, you pay agents a fee, and that fee could be fairly substantial, depending on the agent. What is one misconception about agents? Agents help a career in ways beyond even my understanding. How to Find a Book Agent We do not accept or respond to phone, paper or social media queries. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Get the facts. Like coaches,good agents get the best out of you. Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) How to Get a Fiction Agent She is drawn toward gorgeous writing and strong, flawed characters. 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. But were also different from one another; we shine in different ways. Send her your high-concept and hooky; your award-winners; the books that will become backlist gold. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Each agent lists what they want on their bio page. 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. Only considers picture books from established illustrators. For off-site access, click here. The Number of Queries Sent and Their Replies. Maybe its the book that we havent placed yet, but still so strongly believe has a place in the world. Kirsten works intimately with her clients to conceive and develop original story pitches. 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. What is one misconception about agents?That were glamorous, haughty gatekeepers! Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. Childrens/YA L. Moe. Maybe the hardest method, but people do talk . Offer of Representation Childrens/Chapter Book J. Agee 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. It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. Congratulations! * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions Regardless,I like to seek out three main strengths any time I review a portfolio: storytelling ability, consistency, and confidence. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci They are the busiest bees in the hive. Theyre not your parents. Once you sign with an agent, you dont just sit back and wait for the jobs to roll in. The Chudney Agency (Submissions) Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). Erica:Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) Okay! Its so truein the past month alone weve had some particularly exciting pairings between Stimola and Catbird! An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). My approach with each client is different based on what they particularly need. She prefers books that explore deep emotional relationships in an interesting or unusual way. Shes one of my favorite people in the entire industry. * Access to all literary agent profiles in the Directory of Literary Agents(1,100+) 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. 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. You dont have their undivided attention. All rights reserved. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer When I signed, it was very exciting. Then I look for a voice, either in the words of an author or the art of an illustrator. and strategic process), so its not something we do all the time. Ideally, you handle the creative end, and your agent handles the business end. I want an agent to help me . Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer Follow your instincts. NOTE: As an agency we are closed to new queries and submissions each December 1st to January 15th! Scroll below now to learn more about Literary Agent Kirsten Hall andget free instant access to our BookAgents Directory. Please send her: childrens illustration portfolios, picture book dummies, picture book manuscripts, childrens graphic novel pitches, and the select chapter book project. 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. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. Boutique kidlit author/illustrator agency & producer of books for all ages Catbird Agency | New York NY 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. Here youll find everything you need to submit work to Upstart Crow Literary. (Maybe: Is publishing dead or not? Its not dead, but I digress.). Congratulations x 2 to Isabelle Arsenault! In your query letter, stick to professional accomplishments that relate to writing and publishing. Our hearts are very much in the right place. 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. Deborah Harris Agency (Agents) (Submissions), D4EO Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Dunham Literary, Inc. (Jennie Dunham)(Submissions), Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Dystel, Goderich, & Bourrett LLC (Agents) (Submissions)(Nonfiction Submission Guidelines), Einstein Literary Management (Agents) (Submissions), Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). I want to work with an artist whose goal it is to write and illustrate their own books. If you do not receive a reply from Chad in 2 weeks, please assume its a pass. 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). Follow agents on social media. Is there a five-word sentence in the childrens book industry more capable of sparking a debate than Do I need an agent? 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). 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! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. You submit all this via email. Co-agenting, or doing that process together, makes it even more fun and is a great way to learn from one another. 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. 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. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Theyre the coach. I sent them some dummies, some promotional pieces. Catbird Press is no longer publishing. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We share with one another,we lean on each other. An agent delivers. Were not trying to make your road to publication harder. . Check out her Literaticastpodcast. 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. Corvisiero Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Curtis Brown LTD (Agents)(Submissions). Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong 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. Before you sign, lets talk some more. Get a Kids Book Agent All I can say is find the right agent for you, and you wont regret it. UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. Honest and open communication is key. To be taken seriously, read the (damn) guidelines. Ive learned how important it is to review our individual clients wants and needs before offers start to come in. When looking for the first time at an artists portfolio, I like to see a cross section of their work. The overwhelming advantage in having this knowledge is proven when we come to share new work; it cuts through the noise and competition. Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. Kayla welcomes dark humor, suspense, magical realism, awkwardly adorable romance, and everything in-between. She has incredible vision and is very brave. Writers can search posts for agents compatible with their work. Maybe not. 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. We respond to most queries within twelve weeks. Look at the length of the agreement. There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. It feels like youve made it. Use our literary agency database to learn more about these literary agencies representing picture book writers. Tools to help you stay organized and error free. ), etc. 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. 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. Need manuscripts and art to stay on schedule? 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. Read their bios to determine which picture book literary agencies and agents might be the best fit. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Visit our Team Fuse page and click an agent to read their profile. Provide URLs to your author website and social media that supports your efforts to brand yourself. Nonfiction/Self-Help A. Goddard * Search the directory by book genre/category (more than 100 categories).