Theres already much greater access to the publishing house in the illustration world (versus for writers, who often are barred by company policy from submitting their work directly). What if you cant deliver the work on time? While were waiting on the agents response, can I ask you why you want an agent? Manuscripts sent to them will be discarded unread. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme 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. The Cat Agency Inc. (Agents) (Submissions) Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. This enables us to put a plan in place before the first portfolio sheet is made. No, its not. Her client list at Bright includes Elly Mackay, Benji Davis, Clive McFarland, and Connah Brecon. Layered, flawed, completely human characters. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. If you can, find a contract professional to read it. Don't miss our ebook deals starting at $0.99! Ive seen really exciting work come out of it. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen The cycle of creating successful titles is like putting on a playeveryone must work to the best of their abilities. UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. Your parents, who arent quite sure what you do, certainly know what agents doand that will make them happy. Follow agents on social media. To bridge these twoindustries, she co-founded Room 228, a consulting company that creates educational marketing materials and literacy programming for children. Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency Picture books pretty much have me wrapped around their finger. * Agent photos Thank you for trying us, and all good luck! When an artist joins Brightand here I can only speak about Brightan artists dreams and ambition must be aligned with those of the agency. Its all right. Theyre not your parents. Different authors and illustrators have different needs, which is why finding your perfect agent match is so important. 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. 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. Corvisiero Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Curtis Brown LTD (Agents)(Submissions). * AAR membership status By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. I also ask six well-respected agents to share their thoughts by answering three questions. 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. Childrens/YA L. Moe. Do not send attachments with your query. Home Book Agencies USA Literary Agencies and Literary Agents Catbird Productions. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Each have their advantages and disadvantages. We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. 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 important to identify who you think are good matches. An agent once said to me, If you think having an agent doesnt give you a distinct advantage, youre crazy. It depends on the agent and the artist, but I tend to agree with her. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique childrens book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. 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. How Long to Get An Agent? 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? However, if you would like to get your work in front of her for now or the future, please submit - she reviews ALL submissions! Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. Chad W. Beckerman: is always looking at submissions! I want an agent to help me . Lets tap into that knowledge. 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. Lets stop using that word rejection. Try for a moment to think of it as objective criticism. Lemonade Illustration Agency (Artist Submissions) UK agency for illustrators of childrens books & other media. Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency, (Prospect Portfolio: Illustrator Submissions), (Molly ONeill: open to illustrators & author-illustrators), Stimola Literary Studio: Books for Children and Young Adults, (Submissions for childrens book illustrators only), Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR), How to Find a Literary Agent for Your Book, Literary Rambles: Spotlighting Childrens Book Authors, Agents, & Publishing, Manuscript Wish List specifically for literary agents of picture books. And it isnt cute if you dont follow the rules. May 2010 - Feb 20143 years 10 months. Only looking for author/illustrators (one individual). You can ask her a question here. Your submission to agents isnt an Instagram post thats totes gonna get likes. Astound US Illustration Agency(Submissions scroll down to Artists submissions)Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. Co-agenting, or doing that process together, makes it even more fun and is a great way to learn from one another. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. She will leave Bright this Friday. We share with one another,we lean on each other. 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. Honest and open communication is key. We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. Maybe the hardest method, but people do talk . Kirsten: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. NOTE: Each year Fuse Literary, as an agency, is closed to new submissions and queries between December 1st to January 15th. Visit their websites, where they explain who they are and what they want. We revel in rebel voices; cast forward outcasts; and structure the lawless, braless populace into humorous narratives and . Use our literary agency database to learn more about these literary agencies representing picture book writers. Please do not send us submissions of any kind. She is drawn toward gorgeous writing and strong, flawed characters. Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR)AAR members must meet the highest standards and canon of ethics. QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. New to PW? Kayla is seeking everything from heartfelt or humorous picture books (she has a soft spot for animal protagonists) to dynamic, unpredictable YA (she loves a good murder mystery or a clever rom-com). Theyre reading. Once a book is sold, authors and illustrators will be presenting themselves to publishers, booksellers, librarians, and others as a professional. I like being asked to see or think about the world divergently. Not everyone excels at all of these, or enjoys it! . 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. Scroll below now to view the email and postal addressfor Kirsten HallFREE in our BookAgents Directory. Thank you. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: Do I need an agent?. But agents help your creative growth in more ways than the obvious. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Shes one of my favorite people in the entire industry. Its brilliant I mean, really, its fantastic. Catbird Productions was founded in 2006 by Katarina Soukup. Most literary agency directories (print and online) are outdated, incomplete, and riddled with mistakes. . 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). There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. "Actor seeking representation" is a bore. But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. Not really. Kirsten HallLiterary Agent This articleabout Literary Agent Kirsten Halland Catbird Productionsis part of a series about literary agents and how toFind a PublishingAgent. The second-worst thing to do is to rest on your laurels. What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. They operate on your behalf, ever focused on your career. Agents arent just sitting by the phone, hoping to get your submission. You did the homework. We are particularly interested in work about art, culture, the environment, music, and human rights. But were also different from one another; we shine in different ways. She prefers books that explore deep emotional relationships in an interesting or unusual way. Each agent, even within the same agency, has their own ideas of what defines good writing and good illustration. In this way we made a really exciting match for a to-be-announced Jory John and K-Fai Steele project. Andrea Brown Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Think about it: They meet with the editors and art directors at many publishing housesalways learning what they want and dont want; always given inside looks into publishing plans, present and future; always gaining further insight into who loosens or tightens the purse strings. 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. Visit our Team Fuse page and click an agent to read their profile. does not support javascript or you have it disabled. Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani Its so truein the past month alone weve had some particularly exciting pairings between Stimola and Catbird! Look at what theyll do for you versus what youll have to do for yourself. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Maybe its the prospective client that we missed out on. For an author or illustrator, most of the benefits of having an agent are fairly obvious. But its good to be pushed outside our comfort zones once in a while. For art directors, editors, and publishers,an agent is foremost a problem-solver. These cookies do not store any personal information. [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago Hall, who 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 headquartered in London and specializes in nurturing and developing debut childrens book author/illustrators. For adult fiction, Danielle is seeking upmarket commercial fiction and literary fiction. It is my belief that it comes from the onboarding process. Theyre defending. It all depends on who you are, and what you want. They will try to respond within a month. 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. A good agent is one who helps move a project forward. She is particularly interested in illustrators from diverse backgrounds and portfolios that depict diverse characters and experiences. Some agents are boutiques. Visit your local The Catbird Seat Inc at 271 Rt 46 W in Fairfield, NJ and contact us today for your home, auto business, and renters insurance today or call (973) 808-0110 DING! And I can already see that the books were making together are going to be magical. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. Once you sign with an agent, you dont just sit back and wait for the jobs to roll in. Read their bios to determine which picture book literary agencies and agents might be the best fit. Childrens/YA L. Moe, What Is a Literary Agent? Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. Erica Rand Silverman, Literary Agent,Stimola Literary Studio, Inc. 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. Publishing Agent Kirsten Hall is an agent with Catbird Productions. (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.). Each provides exact submission information (an email address or an online submission portal). Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If you can, meet them at conferences. 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. Author/illustrators: NBPlease include a link to your online portfolio and/or to your downloadable dummy. PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Dan Santat, click here to reactivate your immediate access. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: "Do I need an agent?" 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. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming number of submissions received, personal responses are only very rarely possible. Anna Olswanger has been a literary agent since 2005. Were different in that Kirsten does a lot more co-agenting than I do. But I didnt get the level of attention I was expecting. How is it different from the way you usually rep a book? Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago We have to make sure that the risk and expectations are clear for all involved. 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. A Montreal-based boutique production company, we specialize in award-winning, beautifully-crafted and enduring POV documentaries for Canadian and international audiences. If you need contractual help, you can find an attorney who would only charge a one-time fee. She is not seeking sci-fi, horror, or high fantasy. I see you have an email from an agent. What do you look for in a submission?What I look for in a submission is first a professional introductory letter. The one who allows ego to influence their decisions. Were not afraid of this. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Sometimes your work just isnt a fit for our skill set or interests. Again, I digress.). 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. Erica is mostly interested in adding author-illustrators to her list andis looking for a diverse array of voices and styles. 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. We'd love to see your work! 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. Start with illustrators you admire. Its not easy to do it yourself, but it is possible. Catbird Productions, which will package books for publishers, as well as operate as a boutique literary agency for children's book author/illustrators, with an emphasis on previously unpublished authors/ illustrators. I dont think its extra contact our clients see as much as extra opportunity. They're Skyping. 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. Okay! 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). To set up immediate access, click here. . Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer I think authors and illustrators sometimes forget that agents, too, face disappointment. Read comments by other authors who have queried the same agents you have. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Regardless,I like to seek out three main strengths any time I review a portfolio: storytelling ability, consistency, and confidence. Agents have their finger on the pulse and understand the rhythm of publishing. Please send her: childrens illustration portfolios, picture book dummies, picture book manuscripts, childrens graphic novel pitches, and the select chapter book project. Ask around. Show an agent you are serious about writing as a career. The black catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris) is found in coastal Yucatn. 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! Were a tight-knit community! Stagger it. * Preferred query letter methods (email, online form, postal mail) 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. They open doors to opportunities. Work is more fun when youre doing it with people you like and respect. 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? Signing with an agent is just one step on an endless staircase. Kirsten Hallis a former preschool and elementary school teacher who has authored more than a hundred learn-to-read stories for emergent readers. I dont know. Let me give you examples from two of your colleagues: I signed with an agent thinking that they would get me work right away. All that being said, my bottom-line, if-youre-on-the-fence answer is much more straightforward: CONTRACTS. While youre working creatively, your agent is out there sharing your work and lining up the next best project. Kirsten:Not necessarily. "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. She wants to be surprisedtheres nothing like the feeling that youre reading something entirely new. The greatest advantage (good) agents provide is knowledge. It frequents gardens and thickets. Follow your instincts. In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another. * Mailing addresses I can tell you why I need an agent. Overall, Fuse agents may take 4-8 weeks to respond to queries and then additional time for submissions. How did you come to collaborate on books together? Before you sign, lets talk some more. Halls client list at Bright includes Benji Davis, Elly Mackay, Clive McFarland, and Connah Brecon. If you dont hear from them after a month or so, gently check in. Look, I get it, man. We dont take any pleasure in having to pass on your work or give you difficult news. Simply click this linkand complete the subscription form. Part of my job is to break down any remaining barriers, not to guard themto make introductions, to get more eyes on clients work. Hear what they have to say. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. It feels like youve made it. Theyre traveling. Bookmark Literary (Submissions) Open to illustrator submissions. Kayla welcomes dark humor, suspense, magical realism, awkwardly adorable romance, and everything in-between. Scroll below now to viewthe AAR statusand a complete profile for Kirsten HallFREE in ourBookAgents Directory. Once that commission has been accepted, the ball is then in motion. 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. It was after the 2013 SCBWI NY conference. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. Lets take a journey together. But theyre not the only key to the door. 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. If you have questions, you can build your own network of colleagues who may have the answers. While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. She has incredible vision and is very brave. I hear the comparison that the agent-client relationship is like a marriage. QueryTracker will not function correctly without javascript. Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique children's book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. Youll also get access to our article and audio library with information to help you get a top agent, publisher, and book deal. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If they do get back to you, expect a rejection . What do you look for in a submission?The very best in art and literature reveals something real and true about ourselves, and childrens books are no exception. Here is the: AAR Agent Databaseand the list of AAR members who represent picture books. How Much Do Authors Make? Memoir/Multicultural N. Aronheim Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer She has negotiated many hundreds of childrens book deals between authors, illustrators, and all of the major American publishers. 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.