Book Agent Kirsten Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). Any agents not listed above are CLOSED to submissions. What is one misconception about agents? Today, she is the founder and owner of a boutique childrens book illustration and literary agency, Catbird Productions. Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Jill Grinberg Literary Management (Agents) (Submissions), Ladderbird Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). Fuse Literary never charges reading or submission fees, nor is there a retainer fee for our services. Kirsten HallLiterary Agent This articleabout Literary Agent Kirsten Halland Catbird Productionsis part of a series about literary agents and how toFind a PublishingAgent. Get An Agent After Self-Publishing Author/Illustrators: email a brief synopsis of your manuscript, along with several accompanying illustrations or samples of your artwork. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen Catbird Agency Website: catbirdagency.com/ Twitter: HallWaysKirsten AAR/AALA Member: No Accepts Queries Via. Some of her favorite illustrators include Mike Boldt, Amber Ren, Vashti Harrison, and Eliza Wheeler. 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. How do you work with your clients individually on something like this? Ron is a literary agent and co-owner of CookeMcDermid. Find out whos working in the field. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. Playing with each others client lists is a way to stay true to that, to not overcommit in order to see more potentially exciting matching possibilities. In a way, you still need to be your own agent. But, as an individual player, you arent the only one they need to help. 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? The main reasoning behind this stems from the fact that what an artist feels is their strongest work is not necessarily what the agent would agree is best for the market. 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. She is just as happy working with debut talents as she is best-sellers. Illustrators: send 4-6 jpegs of samples, a live link to your website and a short letter of introduction. I dont think its extra contact our clients see as much as extra opportunity. Submit a QUERY and TWENTY PAGES of your manuscript to one of the agents listed below. Here is the: AAR Agent Databaseand the list of AAR members who represent picture books. 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. Kirsten:Thats exactly right. 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. For art directors, editors, and publishers,an agent is foremost a problem-solver. And it isnt cute if you dont follow the rules. Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. Its important to get a sense that a potential client will take that approach. If you still dont hear from them, move on. Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. Do not submit a full-length manuscript or proposal unless requested. We only accept submissions via e-mail. What percentage of art directors go to agents first to find illustrators? Here is a little secret: most of the childrens agents I know are incredibly warm, and kind and fun. 1) Those that reflect soulfulness and deep consideration. Please put your query and sample in the body of the email. * A map to the office ofCatbird Productions Remember, you are a business person seeking a business partner. We dont take any pleasure in having to pass on your work or give you difficult news. 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. They will try to respond within a month. Do you need an agent? What does that mean? [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago We share with one another,we lean on each other. 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). Ive been in publishing for over a decade. 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). She is . Sure you can. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Tell us what you like and we'll recommend books you'll love. 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. NOTE: As an agency we are closed to new queries and submissions each December 1st to January 15th! 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. 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. 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. does not support javascript or you have it disabled. Theyre defending. But the absolute wrong thing to do is blindly sign an agreement. You dont have their undivided attention. 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. Were both trying hard to keep the number of people we represent manageable. We have similar agenting styles, and even more importantly both value our relationship. Regardless,I like to seek out three main strengths any time I review a portfolio: storytelling ability, consistency, and confidence. You submit all this via email. I dont think its extra contact our clients see as much as extra opportunity. SUBMISSIONS. Association of Authors Representatives, Inc. (AAR)AAR members must meet the highest standards and canon of ethics. Our goal is always to sell their work and properly manage their rights, establishing long-term writing careers for our clients. They agreed almost immediately. Your friends will congratulate you. But theyre not the only key to the door. When looking for an agent, its important to do your homework. Society of A word of warning: There is such a thing as a bad agent. Hall previously worked as an editorial assistant at Random House (1996-1997). Logo designed by Kody Chamberlain Website designed by Ian Bauer. Antony Harwood Ltd (Agents) (Submissions) A UK literary agency. Practice professional patience and persistence. 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. Childrens/YA D. Bester That one was just meant to be it seems! 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. This is probably less often the case once a project reaches the publisher. Subscribe to The Illustration Department Newsletter, Do I Need An Agent? You should know, agents are not going to comment right away (if at all). Editors should be salivating by the time they get to the chapter outline. Working with Mark was completely worth it." 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. 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]. Once you sign with an agent, you dont just sit back and wait for the jobs to roll in. And then submit your picture book query letter and manuscript. What if you cant deliver the work on time? Please send work that shows character development, style, color and narrative story-telling. In this way we made a really exciting match for a to-be-announced Jory John and K-Fai Steele project. NOTE: Each year Fuse Literary, as an agency, is closed to new submissions and queries between December 1st to January 15th. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Id like to thank James Burns, Kirsten Hall, JenniferLinnan, Alexandra Penfold, Linda Pratt, Erica Rand Silverman,and Laura Stiers for their time, generosity, and invaluable contributions to this article. Can you terminate the contract if things go south? Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen We will not open emailed attachments. On the reverse, sometimes our authors are looking for new inspiration and an illustration can be a great way to get those wheels turning. 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. Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong It was a natural progression for those conversations to lead to ways our clients could work together. We have invaluable industry insights and connections. Visit our Team Fuse page and click an agent to read their profile. Bios, interests, and submission instructions can be found here. This enables us to put a plan in place before the first portfolio sheet is made. Childrens/YA L. Moe, What Is a Literary Agent? You should. Congratulations x 2 to Isabelle Arsenault! She had been in my session and introduced herself at the end and mentioned that she was sending me her dummy. She likens her agency, which specializes in picture books, to a creative playground. 5. The snob. Start with illustrators you admire. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. If we are interested in reviewing your dummy, we will request that you send it. Having someone on your side who can not only advocate for better terms (and knows what the industry standards are) but also navigate all the legalese with you is key, especially if youre not well-versed. After about a year, and no work, I asked to break our agreement. Kirsten works intimately with her clients to conceive and develop original story pitches. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator)need an agent?An agent is a matchmaker, negotiator, mediator, lifter-upper, creative confidant, and industry insider all rolled into one. Not really. Theyre the coach. 1. 3. Notes/Tips:Our agency does not represent poetry or screenplays. you guessed it: agents. Your agent cant be expected to do all the heavy lifting. Also send five pages from your manuscript. I mean, youre not their only client. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Christie Megill: is eager to work with illustrators, author/illustrators, and picture book authors, offering long-term support in their careers and creative journeys. This is both a positive and a negative: As a coach, they help your career. 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. I appreciate having a trusted ear, an ally, and an advocate for my work and career. Once a book is sold, authors and illustrators will be presenting themselves to publishers, booksellers, librarians, and others as a professional. Thank you for submitting your work! The one who uses righteous indignation and insults as means to an end. Its brilliant I mean, really, its fantastic. Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency Picture books pretty much have me wrapped around their finger. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Lets stop using that word rejection. Try for a moment to think of it as objective criticism. 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. Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) 6. Agents help a career in ways beyond even my understanding. Keep walking. Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. Before you submit, read this: Please submit to SUBMISSIONS@CATAGENCYINC.COM & let us know who you are submitting to in the subject line! 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. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. Ive seen really exciting work come out of it. When Should You Get An Agent? Hall is the author of the picture books. We do not accept or respond to phone, paper or social media queries. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. Follow your instincts. 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). (Maybe: Is publishing dead or not? Its not dead, but I digress.). When I signed, it was very exciting. Theres that one who doesnt communicate. 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. We usually begin by keeping the artist and author separate from one another as publishers do. She likens her agency, which specializes in picture books, to a creative playground. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent Is there a five-word sentence in the childrens book industry more capable of sparking a debate than Do I need an agent? After You Get A Book Agent. I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. 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. Well try to get back to you as quickly as possible. Literary Agencies for Picture Books (A-F) 3 Arts Entertainment (New . Erica Rand Silverman, Literary Agent,Stimola Literary Studio, Inc. David Higham Associates (Agents)(Submissions)A UK agency. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Cherry is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Book Agent Submissions There is a lot of uncertainty that comes along with developing a co-agented pitch from just the seed of an idea. 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. The one thing I look for across the board in a submission is a clean, professional-looking portfolio site! All I can say is find the right agent for you, and you wont regret it. Memoir/Multicultural N. Aronheim Congratulations! . Managing Agent, USA for a London-based children's illustration agency representing 150+ incredibly talented artists. 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. Childrens/YA L. Moe. QueryTracker will not function correctly without javascript. But its good to be pushed outside our comfort zones once in a while. She is looking for visual storytellers with distinctive, unique portfolios that will stand out in a crowded market.
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