), etc. 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. Erica Rand Silverman is a Senior Agent at Stimola Literary Studio, a full service literary agency devoted to representing authors and author/illustrators who bring unique and substantive contributions to the childrens book industry. She is particularly interested in illustrators from diverse backgrounds and portfolios that depict diverse characters and experiences. Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). 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). For art directors, editors, and publishers,an agent is foremost a problem-solver. She is just as happy working with debut talents as she is best-sellers. Right now, Brenda is not accepting picture book manuscript submissions, but she is looking for adult historical fiction. These letters are just steps on the path. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper 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. But the truth is everyone in publishing faces rejection at some point. 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. Childrens/Chapter Book J. Agee Olswanger Literary LLC. Find out whos working in the field. The story taps into important truths about love and loss and life. Need manuscripts and art to stay on schedule? Publishing Agent Kirsten Hall is an agent with Catbird Productions. She is not considering the following adult categories: romance, political thriller, science fiction, horror, or erotica. Managing Agent, USA for a London-based children's illustration agency representing 150+ incredibly talented artists. Look, even Ive received critique letters. Several of them. She will leave Bright this Friday. Submit to Susan Hawk Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. They're Skyping. Well navigate the waters together. 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. LiteraryAgents.com An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). 2) Those that somehow present the world differently. We only accept submissions via e-mail. Books invite joy. Read comments by other authors who have queried the same agents you have. They lead the cheer for you. Sign up for our Children's Bookshelf newsletter! 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. It is my belief that it comes from the onboarding process. Subscribe to The Illustration Department Newsletter, Do I Need An Agent? Home Book Agents Literary Agent Kirsten Hall Catbird Productions. The subject heading in your email should be simple but enticing. You dont have their undivided attention. WAIT! 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?. The Number of Queries Sent and Their Replies. Thats exactly right. [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago How to Find a Book Agent Where do I sign? Read their agreement. 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 is probably less often the case once a project reaches the publisher. Congratulations x 2 to Isabelle Arsenault! Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Erica is mostly interested in adding author-illustrators to her list andis looking for a diverse array of voices and styles. 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. I always advise illustrators who are just starting out to identify what they can and/or want to do, and outsource the rest. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly She is drawn to work that showcases expressive characters, timeless palettes, and atmospheric scenes. She is looking for visual storytellers with distinctive, unique portfolios that will stand out in a crowded market. Most of the time, Im working with my clients to develop their own dummies or texts to sell directly to a publisher or Ro and I are looking within the studio for an illustrator match to a pre-existing text. You should know, agents are not going to comment right away (if at all). Although of course it would be totally fine for them to communicate if it would benefit the development of the proposal! Can you do it without an agent? Please submit to SUBMISSIONS@CATAGENCYINC.COM & let us know who you are submitting to in the subject line! 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. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: "Do I need an agent?" A good contract should cover not only the essential points of the job/deal but also the worst-case scenarios: What if your client doesnt pay? If tabling at a convention and pitching your work to passersby feels like your worst nightmare, bring your most outgoing friend. In some cases yes and in some cases no. Part of my job is to break down any remaining barriers, not to guard themto make introductions, to get more eyes on clients work. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Darius Foroux. Kirsten opened Catbirds wings in March 2014. Kayla welcomes dark humor, suspense, magical realism, awkwardly adorable romance, and everything in-between. These cookies do not store any personal information. But its good to be pushed outside our comfort zones once in a while. 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. To set up immediate access, click here. Who reps them? Want more information about Kirsten Hall? 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. 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 mean, youre not their only client. Erica is a tireless advocate for her clients and proud to be a part of an industry that is so thoughtfully shaping young minds. Practice professional patience and persistence. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. you guessed it: agents. I look for author-illustrators. Im reading from an unconventional point of view. Layered, flawed, completely human characters. Kirsten Hall is a former preschool and elementary school teacher who has authored more than a hundred learn-to-read stories for emergent readers. Nonfiction/Self-Help A. Goddard 5. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent? You still need to work hard, improve your craft, increase your self-awareness. Author/Illustrators: email a brief synopsis of your manuscript, along with several accompanying illustrations or samples of your artwork. She has incredible vision and is very brave. Youll also get access to our article and audio library with information to help you get a top agent, publisher, and book deal. As soon as you register youll get instant access to the following: * Agent bios for all agents atCatbird Productions Its not 100 percent, I can tell you that. The Chudney Agency (Submissions) Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). Call:1-800 -278-2991 (outside US/Canada, call +1-847-513-6135) 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday (Central). Theyre not your servants. Its not easy to do it yourself, but it is possible. I work alone and basically love knocking on other agents doors and asking them to come out and play! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We revel in rebel voices; cast forward outcasts; and structure the lawless, braless populace into humorous narratives and . Erica:Its also really fun when it happens on the end of the publishers too. "Actor seeking representation" is a bore. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Some of her favorite non-client books in these categories are: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea, Dept. Excellent source for agent interviews, kidlit information, and an agent database you can search by age category (e.g., picture books). Yes, you pay agents a fee, and that fee could be fairly substantial, depending on the agent. Provide URLs to your author website and social media that supports your efforts to brand yourself. I still remember the first time I read Jessixa Bagleys dummy submission. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator) need an agent?Agents wear many important hats. There is a lot of uncertainty that comes along with developing a co-agented pitch from just the seed of an idea. 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. 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. I also ask six well-respected agents to share their thoughts by answering three questions. Hall is Catbird Productions sole proprietor. It all depends on who you are, and what you want. I choose to work with an agent because I value that relationship and I know its helped me to create my best work. Kirsten:Thats exactly right. 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 . For off-site access, click here. It may not even be 50 percent. The one who allows ego to influence their decisions. 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. Please send her: childrens illustration portfolios, picture book dummies, picture book manuscripts, childrens graphic novel pitches, and the select chapter book project. There is a lot of uncertainty that comes along with developing a co-agented pitch from just the seed of an idea. Today, the tools that art directors use to find illustrators are too numerous to list. The second-worst thing to do is to rest on your laurels. Remember, you are a business person seeking a business partner. Authors and illustrators need an agent because the publishers interests/needs and their interests/needs arent always the same, and you need an advocate to represent you. If you can, find a contract professional to read it. An agent delivers. Not everythingbut most. 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. Chad W. Beckerman: is always looking at submissions! Kirsten Hall has struck out on her own after years of freelancing and started her own literary companyCatbird Productionssearching for debut talent. 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. Hear what they have to say. Kirsten opened Catbird's wings in March 2014. Read industry magazines and blogs. Check out her Literaticastpodcast. 3. I also ask six well-respected agents to share their thoughts by answering three questions. All that being said, my bottom-line, if-youre-on-the-fence answer is much more straightforward: CONTRACTS. We respond to most queries within twelve weeks. Erica Rand Silverman, Literary Agent,Stimola Literary Studio, Inc. We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). All rights reserved. Find The Agents With The Fastest Response Times. 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 childrens book author/illustrators, with an emphasis on previously unpublished authors/ illustrators. The one who uses righteous indignation and insults as means to an end. However, there are differences in our tastes and our particular areas of proficiency, e.g., editorial, genre, licensing, promotion, etc. How do you work with your clients individually on something like this? When Should You Get An Agent? Manuscripts sent to them will be discarded unread. David Higham Associates (Agents)(Submissions)A UK agency. Author/illustrators: NBPlease include a link to your online portfolio and/or to your downloadable dummy. They want to represent you?! 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. What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. When Stephanie first contacted me, she was very excited and said, I cant get your book proposal out of my head. So how will you know the bad from the good? Memoir/Multicultural N. Aronheim Were not trying to make your road to publication harder. Once that commission has been accepted, the ball is then in motion. Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. 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. Shes one of my favorite people in the entire industry. Erica:Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. What if you want to get your rights back? Agencies are still in there, but the box is getting more crowded all the time. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. (Her rst bookBunny, Bunnywas published when she was in 7th grade. Need an author or illustrator? Some agents are boutiques. Your friends will congratulate you. It can make me uneasy because it takes time and sometimes doesnt work. Not really. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. Kayla is also open to representing illustrators. 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. "Just got great reviews!" is better. I work alone and basically love knocking on other agents doors and asking them to come out and play! Editors should be salivating by the time they get to the chapter outline. Working with Mark was completely worth it." Copyright 2023 D. B. Righi. It frequents gardens and thickets. 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 . Never miss a moment of Fuse Literarys deals and bonus content. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent I dont know. Your submission to agents isnt an Instagram post thats totes gonna get likes. Rest assured, there are far,far fewer of these agents out there. What is one misconception about agents? * Search the directory by book genre/category (more than 100 categories). However, if you would like to get your work in front of her for now or the future, please submit - she reviews ALL submissions! Your parents, who arent quite sure what you do, certainly know what agents doand that will make them happy. Theyre traveling. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. Listen to podcasts. 38.4k Followers, 0 Following, 1,895 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Catbird Agency (@catbirdagencypix) But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. It can make me uneasy because it takes time and sometimes doesnt work. If you do not receive a reply from Chad in 2 weeks, please assume its a pass. 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'"). What do you look for in a submission?I like two kinds of submissions. I want an agent to help me . Ask the Agent Informative site ofJennifer Laughran, senior agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, who represents authors and illustrators of childrens and YA books. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Cherry is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. 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]. On the reverse, sometimes our authors are looking for new inspiration and an illustration can be a great way to get those wheels turning. 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. I hear the comparison that the agent-client relationship is like a marriage. DING! After You Get A Book Agent. Not necessarily. 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.

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