Get FREE Access Now to All Catbird ProductionsProfiles! We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. 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. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Writers can search posts for agents compatible with their work. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. . She 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 based in London and specializes in nurturing . A major plus of not having an agent is the money saved. When looking for an agent, its important to do your homework. She is not considering the following adult categories: romance, political thriller, science fiction, horror, or erotica. Please do not send us submissions of any kind. Subscribe to The Illustration Department Newsletter, Do I Need An Agent? "Mark helped me get five different offers for representation from top literary agents. (Maybe: Is publishing dead or not? Its not dead, but I digress.). 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. What is one misconception about agents? You should know, agents are not going to comment right away (if at all). Agents are curators. I choose to work with an agent because I value that relationship and I know its helped me to create my best work. Join thousands of other subscribers today by enteringyour first name and email address. Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique children's book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. They lead the cheer for you. 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. Experience. Theyre reading. Listen to podcasts. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: Do I need an agent?. Today, the tools that art directors use to find illustrators are too numerous to list. In some cases yes and in some cases no. What is one misconception about agents?You wouldnt believe how many conference attendees come up to me to say thank you for being warm and approachable, as if this isnt the norm. She has incredible vision and is very brave. In each case, they pointed out issues in my work that I knew were there but refused to recognize. Erica Rand Silverman, Literary Agent,Stimola Literary Studio, Inc. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. Here is the: Advice from writing professional Jane Friedman. Hall is Catbird Productions sole proprietor. Remember, you are a business person seeking a business partner. Agencies are still in there, but the box is getting more crowded all the time. A few books I loved reading in my free time . You can ask her a question here. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you have questions, you can build your own network of colleagues who may have the answers. 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. Olswanger Literary LLC. Do your clients have more contact with one another than they would if this were set up by a publisher? You did the homework. 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. If tabling at a convention and pitching your work to passersby feels like your worst nightmare, bring your most outgoing friend. Most literary agency directories (print and online) are outdated, incomplete, and riddled with mistakes. They told me they were going to focus on getting me into the industry I love: childrens books. This is probably less often the case once a project reaches the publisher. If they do get back to you, expect a rejection . On the reverse, sometimes our authors are looking for new inspiration and an illustration can be a great way to get those wheels turning. Look, even Ive received critique letters. Several of them. "Referred to you by [insert casting director's name]". When I signed, it was very exciting. 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. 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. 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. Other times, well sell texts to publishers first and then when it comes time for illustrators, if there isnt someone on our list who we think is right to recommend, our next step will be to look at each others lists, or those of other agent friends. I read it and I cried. 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. Nonfiction/Self-Help A. Goddard Theyre defending. . Stop right there. If you rely on those directories to find literary agents at Catbird Productions, youre going to hurt your chances of getting an agent to represent you. Kirsten Hall is President of Catbird, a boutique childrens literary and illustration agency. You have to be a detective. Each have their advantages and disadvantages. 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. Our goal is always to sell their work and properly manage their rights, establishing long-term writing careers for our clients. We spend a good amount of time bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing good and bad news. Kirsten HallLiterary Agent represents the followingbook genres: Scroll below now to view representative titlesand a complete profile for Kirsten HallFREE in ourBookAgents Directory. Learn More. Kirsten Hallis a former preschool and elementary school teacher who has authored more than a hundred learn-to-read stories for emergent readers. Practice professional patience and persistence. If you can, meet them at conferences. Kirsten HallLiterary Agent This articleabout Literary Agent Kirsten Halland Catbird Productionsis part of a series about literary agents and how toFind a PublishingAgent. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. Erica:Its also really fun when it happens on the end of the publishers too. Get An Agent After Self-Publishing We do not accept or respond to phone, paper or social media queries. QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. Get updates about Kirsten Hall and recommended reads from Simon & Schuster. When Stephanie first contacted me, she was very excited and said, I cant get your book proposal out of my head. [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago The Number of Queries Sent and Their Replies. * Mailing addresses Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Books invite joy. Here is a little secret: most of the childrens agents I know are incredibly warm, and kind and fun. 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? To be taken seriously, read the (damn) guidelines. an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage . These letters are just steps on the path. Never miss a moment of Fuse Literarys deals and bonus content. Theyre easy. To submit directly without an agent you need to send them a query letter with a description of your manuscript, how close it is to completion (if it is not yet finished), and a little bit about your writing background. They say theyre not good at that stuff. You still need to be good at that stuffor at least have an informed understanding of it. In this way we made a really exciting match for a to-be-announced Jory John and K-Fai Steele project. You still need to hustle. catbird, any of five bird species named for their mewing calls, which are used in addition to song. These cookies do not store any personal information. For art directors, editors, and publishers,an agent is foremost a problem-solver. Do you need an agent? * Preferred query letter methods (email, online form, postal mail) And her first trade picture bookThe Jacketwas a 2014 New York Times Notable!) It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. My approach with each client is different based on what they particularly need. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox Like coaches,good agents get the best out of you. Antony Harwood Ltd (Agents) (Submissions) A UK literary agency. Submission Guidelines: Hello! Author/Illustrators: email a brief synopsis of your manuscript, along with several accompanying illustrations or samples of your artwork. Each agent, even within the same agency, has their own ideas of what defines good writing and good illustration. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. Excellent source for agent interviews, kidlit information, and an agent database you can search by age category (e.g., picture books). Theres that one who doesnt communicate. Each agent lists what they want on their bio page. Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). Here youll find everything you need to submit work to Upstart Crow Literary. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Need manuscripts and art to stay on schedule? Either way, look for agents who show an appreciation for your visual aesthetic. Manuscripts sent to them will be discarded unread. After about a year, and no work, I asked to break our agreement. Not really. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper Fairbank Literary Representation (About) (Submissions)Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. Honest and open communication is key. Thank you for submitting your work! Aliza R. Hoover: represents illustrators and author-illustrators. (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.). Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. catbird seat. 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. Were not trying to make your road to publication harder. I'm obsessed by the story-telling opportunities offered by this highly-visual genre! NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. Only considers picture books from established illustrators. "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. Im reading from an unconventional point of view. Each provides exact submission information (an email address or an online submission portal). Offer of Representation By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. Get free access to the Directory of Literary Agents with detailed agent listings to get a traditional publisher, Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. 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. 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). She prefers books that explore deep emotional relationships in an interesting or unusual way. Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Erica is mostly interested in adding author-illustrators to her list andis looking for a diverse array of voices and styles. 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. Keep your correspondence professional. . 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)! *Personal email addresses 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. Or familiar content has been made unrecognizable. When was the last time you checked out Publishers Weeklys Rights Report? Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Jill Grinberg Literary Management (Agents) (Submissions), Ladderbird Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). Andrea Brown Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). I look for author-illustrators. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer Rest assured, there are far,far fewer of these agents out there. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent In a way, you still need to be your own agent. Right now, Brenda is not accepting picture book manuscript submissions, but she is looking for adult historical fiction. I was able to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When looking for the first time at an artists portfolio, I like to see a cross section of their work. Feeling hurt inflates our ego, which clouds self-awareness, which stunts creative improvement. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen "Just got great reviews!" is better. 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. Catbird Creative Agency Advertising Services Cleveland, Ohio 57 followers catbird seat (noun) an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage How Much Do Authors Make? And it isnt cute if you dont follow the rules. Theyre the coach. full terms and conditions and this month's choices. The project may work. Please send work that shows character development, style, color and narrative story-telling. I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. Finding a literary agent for children's books is easy using our literary agency database. Once that commission has been accepted, the ball is then in motion. and Illustrators. Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. Although of course it would be totally fine for them to communicate if it would benefit the development of the proposal! 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. Again, I digress.). This is probably less often the case once a project reaches the publisher. Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. 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. Maybe the hardest method, but people do talk . Kirsten Hall is a former preschool and elementary school teacher who has authored more than a hundred learn-to-read stories for emergent readers. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen Use our literary agency database to learn more about these literary agencies representing picture book writers. According to Publishers Marketplace, for the past several years Kirsten has been an industryleader in picture booksales. Kirsten:Its so truein the past month alone weve had some particularly exciting pairings between Stimola and Catbird! 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. Kayla's submission email is: kayla.submission@gmail.com. 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. She wants to be surprisedtheres nothing like the feeling that youre reading something entirely new. You heard it here first! In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another.