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 bridge these twoindustries, she co-founded Room 228, a consulting company that creates educational marketing materials and literacy programming for children. Tools to help you stay organized and error free. But agents help your creative growth in more ways than the obvious. (Or A Blog About the Life of a Submission, in Three Acts), James Burns, Senior Agent, Bright Group US, Jennifer Linnan, Founder, Linnan Literary Management, Alexandra Penfold, Agent, Upstart Crow Literary, Linda Pratt, Founder, Wernick & Pratt Agency. But if we are interested, we will request your full manuscript. How to Submit Yourself to an Agency (According to an Agent) - Backstage It may not even be 50 percent. But its good to be pushed outside our comfort zones once in a while. Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. Catbird Creative Agency Advertising Services Cleveland, Ohio 57 followers catbird seat (noun) an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage An agent delivers. We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. 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. Here is a little secret: most of the childrens agents I know are incredibly warm, and kind and fun. After You Get A Book Agent. We have invaluable industry insights and connections. Also send five pages from your manuscript. 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. 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. Fairbank Literary Representation (About) (Submissions)Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. But, as an individual player, you arent the only one they need to help. All that being said, my bottom-line, if-youre-on-the-fence answer is much more straightforward: CONTRACTS. *Personal email addresses Manuscripts sent to them will be discarded unread. * Preferred query letter methods (email, online form, postal mail) There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. catbird, any of five bird species named for their mewing calls, which are used in addition to song. If you do not receive a reply from Chad in 2 weeks, please assume its a pass. Thats exactly right. 3. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme The coach-player analogy is much more accurate. and strategic process), so its not something we do all the time. Writers can search posts for agents compatible with their work. When was the last time you checked out Publishers Weeklys Rights Report? In this way we made a really exciting match for a to-be-announced Jory John and K-Fai Steele project. NOTE: As an agency we are closed to new queries and submissions each December 1st to January 15th! (Maybe: Is publishing dead or not? Its not dead, but I digress.). It feels like youve made it. 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. Insofar as the quality of your work is good, it doesnt matter if you have an agent or not. 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 isnt as automatic as you think. Is there a five-word sentence in the childrens book industry more capable of sparking a debate than Do I need an agent? Subscribe to The Illustration Department Newsletter, Do I Need An Agent? Congratulations x 2 to Isabelle Arsenault! 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. Kirsten Hall - Catbird Agency | QueryTracker Kirsten Hall has struck out on her own after years of freelancing and started her own literary companyCatbird Productionssearching for debut talent. Tips for writing and sending query letters. Twitter. It's what's happening / Twitter Regardless,I like to seek out three main strengths any time I review a portfolio: storytelling ability, consistency, and confidence. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. Do I Need An Agent? (Or A Blog About the Life of a Submission, in Three Youve identified fifteen to twenty agents. Please do not send us submissions of any kind. catbird seat. Home Book Agents Literary Agent Kirsten Hall Catbird Productions. Overall, Fuse agents may take 4-8 weeks to respond to queries and then additional time for submissions. 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. Or familiar content has been made unrecognizable. 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. Darius Foroux. Get updates about Kirsten Hall and recommended reads from Simon & Schuster. Search tools to help you find the right agent for your book. Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). The Bright Agency. But Im really thrilled to be co-agenting with Erica. Catbird Agency Website: catbirdagency.com/ Twitter: HallWaysKirsten AAR/AALA Member: No Accepts Queries Via. Notes/Tips:Our agency does not represent poetry or screenplays. 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. Do you need an agent? Hall is the author of the picture books. A good agent is one who helps move a project forward. Its important to identify who you think are good matches. If you have questions, you can build your own network of colleagues who may have the answers. The snob. Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Jill Grinberg Literary Management (Agents) (Submissions), Ladderbird Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). I always advise illustrators who are just starting out to identify what they can and/or want to do, and outsource the rest. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Tugeau 2 We will email you our periodic newsletter, never more than once a month. Get the facts. Theyre pitching. Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. In childrens fiction, they primarily accept early readers and chapter books, and perhaps the very rare, exceptional picture book. Sts ID Perm Fac. They want to represent you?! What I know when co-agenting with Erica is that no matter what happens well always be good. Read their bios to determine which picture book literary agencies and agents might be the best fit. When an artist joins Brightand here I can only speak about Brightan artists dreams and ambition must be aligned with those of the agency. Your agent cant be expected to do all the heavy lifting. 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). 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. There is just an overwhelming amount of people looking to connect with agents, and it can be challenging for some to give out that warmth all the time. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox But they are out there. Submit a QUERY and TWENTY PAGES of your manuscript to one of the agents listed below. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Experience. Look at what theyll do for you versus what youll have to do for yourself. More on her wish list, here. If we are interested in reviewing your dummy, we will request that you send it. Simply click this linkand complete the subscription form. And I can already see that the books were making together are going to be magical. Well navigate the waters together. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. Kayla welcomes dark humor, suspense, magical realism, awkwardly adorable romance, and everything in-between. SCBWI | Co-Agenting with Kirsten Hall and Erica Rand Silverman 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 . 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? Author/illustrators: NBPlease include a link to your online portfolio and/or to your downloadable dummy. Olswanger.com It may not. He also co-owned Cooke International, an . Do not send attachments with your query. They told me they were going to focus on getting me into the industry I love: childrens books. Youll also get access to our article and audio library with information to help you get a top agent, publisher, and book deal. In some cases the text and art may be developing simultaneously off of one another. 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. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage 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. Memoir/Women L. Lehr There may come a time where it makes sense for the artist and author to collaborate more directly. And Im stirred by pitches that elicit feelings of sympathy or empathy. Antony Harwood Ltd (Agents) (Submissions) A UK literary agency. Home Book Agencies USA Literary Agencies and Literary Agents Catbird Productions. 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. Prospect Agency (Agents)(Submissions) (Prospect Portfolio: Illustrator Submissions), Raven Quill Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), The Rights Factory (Agents) (Submissions) A Canadian Literary Agency, Rising Bear Literary Agency (Rick Margolis) (Submissions), Rodeen Literary Management (Paul Rodeen)(Submissions), Root Literary (Agents) (Molly ONeill: open to illustrators & author-illustrators) (Submissions), Rubin Pfeffer Content, LLC(Agents)(Submissions), Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Sanford J. Greenburger Associates (Agents)(Submissions), Sean McCarthy Literary Agency (Submissions), Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary (Agents) (Submissions), Serendipidty Literary Agency (Agents)(Illustration Submissions) (Photography Submissions)(Author Submissions), The Seymour Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Sheldon Fogelman Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Stimola Literary Studio: Books for Children and Young Adults (Agents) (Submissions), Stonesong Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Storm Literary Agency (Agents)(Submissions), Thompson Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions) Only considers picture books from established illustrators, Transatlantic Agency(Agents & Submissions) Canadian and U.S.A. offices, TriadaUS Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Trident Media Group (Agents)(Submissions), Upstart Crow Literary (Agents)(Submissions), Wendy Lyn & Co.(Submissions for childrens book illustrators only), Wernick & Pratt Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Westwood Creative Artists (Agents) (Submissions) A Canadian Literary Agency, The Whiteman Agency (Doug Whiteman) (Submissions). 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. Responsible for . Youre the playerone of many players on his or her team. Catbird Press is no longer publishing. CookeMcDermid Submissions LK Literary Agency Kirsten Hall | Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. Illustrators: send 4-6 jpegs of samples, a live link to your website and a short letter of introduction. I can tell you why I need an agent. Were not trying to make your road to publication harder. Agents are curators. Ive learned how important it is to review our individual clients wants and needs before offers start to come in. You still need to hustle. Nonfiction/Self-Help A. Goddard When I signed, it was very exciting. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. Scroll below now to view the email and postal addressfor Kirsten HallFREE in our BookAgents Directory. What percentage of art directors go to agents first to find illustrators? Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique children's book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. Theyre traveling. Erica:Work is more fun when youre doing it with people you like and respect. If you still dont hear from them, move on. Kirsten Hall | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster Take time with it. Your work has been submitted! What is one misconception about agents?I can only speak for agents in the childrens book industry, but Im continually heartened and humbled by the camaraderie between kidlit agents. Humor is important, even in a narrative thats dark or sad or edgy. Both literary and commercial work. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme Each agent lists what they want on their bio page. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! Erica:Its all about matchmaking matching up talent to work together, matching up talent to editors and publishers. 1) Those that reflect soulfulness and deep consideration. 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). Agencies & Agents - Picture Book Planet What is one misconception about agents? Work is more fun when youre doing it with people you like and respect. We are Catbird Lit, an American journal of humorous writings and visual arts based in Austin, Texas. Kirsten HallLiterary Agent represents the followingbook genres: Scroll below now to view representative titlesand a complete profile for Kirsten HallFREE in ourBookAgents Directory. Susan's submission email is: susanhawk.submission@gmail.com. Before working in publishing, Erica was a teacher and dean. Getfree access to the Directory of Literary Agents with detailed agent profiles. Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani includes resources for all writing genres (not just picture books). I'm obsessed by the story-telling opportunities offered by this highly-visual genre! And I read it again and I cried again. We spend a good amount of time bouncing ideas off of each other and sharing good and bad news. I want to work with an artist whose goal it is to write and illustrate their own books. But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. Plus, get a FREE ebook when you sign up! By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: "Do I need an agent?" 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! She is not seeking sci-fi, horror, or high fantasy. Repeat. I choose to work with an agent because I value that relationship and I know its helped me to create my best work. Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani She is looking for visual storytellers with distinctive, unique portfolios that will stand out in a crowded market. I went back to the drawing board., I signed with an agent, thinking that they would get me consistent work. 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. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. A graduate of Simon Fraser University's Master of Publishing program and a twenty-five year veteran of Canadian publishing, Ron worked with Penguin Canada, Westwood Creative Artists, and Random House of Canada before joining CookeMcDermid in 2009. The Cherry Weiner Literary Agency officially started her agency in May of 1977. 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. How to Get a Fiction Agent How to Find a Book Agent Literary Agents for Children's Books 2023-2024 | Kids' Book Agents 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. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Levy Creative Management (Artist Submissions), Liza Royce Agency (Agents) (Submissions). And thats just on Monday. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Theyre not your servants. Susan's submission email is: susanhawk.submission@gmail.com. List of Literary Agents 2023-2024 | Agents Looking for New Writers Layered, flawed, completely human characters. 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). Who reps them? Aliza R. Hoover: represents illustrators and author-illustrators. 1. Warning: This site requires javascript, but it appears that your browser Olswanger Literary LLC. While youre working creatively, your agent is out there sharing your work and lining up the next best project. The black catbird (Melanoptila glabrirostris) is found in coastal Yucatn. If your submission is received by our system, an automated response will be emailed to you. Is it consistent? Read industry magazines and blogs. How do you work with your clients individually on something like this? An online list of agents who represent all genres (not just picture books). Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. Picture Book Literary Agents 2023-2024 | Accepting Submissions Snail-Mail: Closed E-Mail: Closed Online Form: Closed Learn more about this agent, including: Genres of Interest Typical Response Times Best Query Methods Become a QueryTracker Member (Free) Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. Different authors and illustrators have different needs, which is why finding your perfect agent match is so important. What is one misconception about agents?That were glamorous, haughty gatekeepers! And then there are the projects that never seem to go anywhere at all. I mean, maybe some of us are glamorous, but that aside, of the agents I know (myself included) this couldnt be further from the truth. "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. DING! Her client list at Bright includes Elly Mackay, Benji Davis, Clive McFarland, and Connah Brecon. It might seem strange in another industry to see such interagency fellowship,but it feels right for those whove made a career in making books for kids. Catbird | bird | Britannica Find out whos working in the field. Remember, you are a business person seeking a business partner. She has negotiated many hundreds of childrens book deals between authors, illustrators, and all of the major American publishers. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. One size does not fit all. You heard it here first! 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. I work alone and basically love knocking on other agents doors and asking them to come out and play! Corvisiero Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions), Curtis Brown LTD (Agents)(Submissions). Don't miss our ebook deals starting at $0.99! Editors should be salivating by the time they get to the chapter outline. Working with Mark was completely worth it." "Actor seeking representation" is a bore. 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. Where do I sign? Read their agreement. Look, even Ive received critique letters. Several of them. . "Referred to you by [insert casting director's name]". Agents help a career in ways beyond even my understanding. For an author or illustrator, most of the benefits of having an agent are fairly obvious. I like being asked to see or think about the world divergently. We promise not to share your information with third parties, and we do not spam. Kirsten opened Catbird's wings in March 2014. Again, I digress.). How Much Does An Agent Cost? How I Went From Unemployed to Building a $30K/month Online Business in 12 Months! They open doors to opportunities. Ideally, you handle the creative end, and your agent handles the business end. Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency Picture books pretty much have me wrapped around their finger. Please submit to SUBMISSIONS@CATAGENCYINC.COM & let us know who you are submitting to in the subject line! Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). Ive asked agents James Burns, Kirsten Hall, Jennifer Linnan, Alexandra Penfold, Linda Pratt,and Erica Rand Silverman three simple questions. Catbird Agency (@catbirdagencypix) is on Instagram "Mark helped me get five different offers for representation from top literary agents. It sounds less hurtful. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Wait for a response. Writing thats confident, vivid, addictive; work thats both ambitious and wise. Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer 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. How to Get a Nonfiction Agent Now, let me tell you why you dont need one. Submit to five. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin Books, which published my book in hardcover! 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. Once that commission has been accepted, the ball is then in motion. I want an agent to help me . 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. * Mailing addresses Its also really fun when it happens on the end of the publishers too. For adult fiction, Danielle is seeking upmarket commercial fiction and literary fiction. 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. Honest and open communication is key. As an art director, it made no difference whatsoever. She is drawn to work that showcases expressive characters, timeless palettes, and atmospheric scenes. Each agent, even within the same agency, has their own ideas of what defines good writing and good illustration. They're signing. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: Do I need an agent?. Yes, you pay agents a fee, and that fee could be fairly substantial, depending on the agent. I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. Its not 100 percent, I can tell you that. 2. Thank you for submitting your work! Do your clients have more contact with one another than they would if this were set up by a publisher? Theyre easy. Were a tight-knit community! All rights reserved. Need an author or illustrator? Visit their websites, where they explain who they are and what they want. They're Skyping. 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. 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. I sent them some dummies, some promotional pieces. Co-agenting, or doing that process together, makes it even more fun and is a great way to learn from one another. We do not accept or respond to phone, paper or social media queries. Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. ), etc. Theyre the coach. To me it is the gold standard for a picture book that makes the reader feel. Youre about to sign with an agent. They lead the cheer for you. QueryTracker 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. But, when it feels right and exciting on our end, we hope that it will be received that way by the publishers. Erica is mostly interested in adding author-illustrators to her list andis looking for a diverse array of voices and styles. When looking for the first time at an artists portfolio, I like to see a cross section of their work.