As promised in yesterday's Monster List of Picture Book Agents post, here is an extra agent listing. Why? Am I mad? Well, as I was gathering information on agents I actually had duelling posts and they were both so good that I couldn't wait to share them! So, today I am happy to feature Sara Sciuto.
Sara is the newest agent at Full Circle Literary and she is actively building her list. That is a great opportunity for a writer on the agent hunt! Sara states in an interview at Mother. Write. Repeat., “While I'm not specifically seeking out picture books right now, if a superbly well-written PB with a quirky or humorous narrative found its way to me I wouldn't pass it up!” So, if you have something that fits that description you may want to give her a try.
There is a great article by Sara in the Spring 2012 edition of SCBWI L.A. Kite Tales. She talks about what she likes to see in a query and states that she does not want to see picture books over 800 words, and the shorter the better. Scroll down to page 21 to read the article.
Sara introduces herself at the Full Circle Literary blog and you can read Sara’s bio at the Full Circle Literary website. Be sure to read the Submission Guidelines while you’re there!
Stacey O’Neale has an interview with Sara where she gives her opinion on social media for writers, among other things.
You can learn a lot on Sara's tumblr, Mental Slush. She has a post on her query response policy that may be of interest if you're planning to query her.
You can find Sara on Twitter @sarasciuto.
Best of luck with your agent querying!
This post is part of the Monster List of Picture Book Agents. If you have any changes that you think should be made to this listing, please contact me or leave them in the comments. Thanks!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Monster List of Picture Book Agents--Michelle Humphrey, Martha Kaplan Agency
Since I am a slacker (Ha ha! I've hardly had a moment of rest in I don't know how long. This running a cafe and a farm, and having three kids in sports stuff is hard work.) and am late on my agent post, I'm going to give you two posts in the next two days--as long as life cooperates! First up, Michelle Humphrey of Martha Kaplan Agency:
Sherrie Petersen has a great interview with Michelle on her blog, Write About Now. Be sure to read the update at the end of the interview. Plus she has tons of great links, so go there and check them out!
You can find Michelle Humphrey on Twitter @m_humphrey.
Michelle lists the books she represents on her Linkedin page where she says, “I'm looking for young adult and middle grade fiction, picture books, and narrative non-fiction (history, pop-cultural criticism, women's studies). Please feel free to send queries to michelle@kaplanagency.net.”
There are some nice comments about Michelle and talk about her response times on Querytracker.
Michelle represents Tracy Marchini and Caroline Starr Rose.
Oh, and she is obsessed with Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Sherrie Petersen has a great interview with Michelle on her blog, Write About Now. Be sure to read the update at the end of the interview. Plus she has tons of great links, so go there and check them out!
You can find Michelle Humphrey on Twitter @m_humphrey.
Michelle lists the books she represents on her Linkedin page where she says, “I'm looking for young adult and middle grade fiction, picture books, and narrative non-fiction (history, pop-cultural criticism, women's studies). Please feel free to send queries to michelle@kaplanagency.net.”
There are some nice comments about Michelle and talk about her response times on Querytracker.
Michelle represents Tracy Marchini and Caroline Starr Rose.
Oh, and she is obsessed with Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Bedtime Monster is on Nook Kids!
I got an email this morning telling me that Bedtime Monster is available on the Nook! Not only does it come in Bilingual English/Spanish and English only versions, on the Nook it comes in a Spanish only version as well. That is a first! I love seeing the cover with the title just in Spanish. You can really see more of Paul's shadow that Bonnie Adamson created:
This is the kind of thing that makes it fun to get up and check my email in the morning. I don't have a Nook, but maybe someday I'll be able to see it on one. I have seen it on the ipad and that was pretty cool!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Meeting with Writers. In Person!
I love my writing community. I have twitter, facebook (including a few rocking fb groups!), Verla Kay's blueboard, blogs, and my fabulous critique partners. Everything I do in my writing life is online except for when I write my first drafts down on paper. But, I only can stand to look at my computer so much before my eyes start bugging out and my body starts wanting to be in position other than sitting. And there's something to be said about getting together with people--in person.
I have to tell you, I've had this secret dream that all children's writers could just move to one localized area. An artists colony. A city of children's writers! Now that would be one whacked out awesome city! I know, I know, reality. That is not going to happen. But a girl can still dream!
As some of you already know, I lived on a secluded mountaintop for the last 16 years. It was a great place to be, but we never had many visitors. Why? Some people are actually a little scared of the one lane dirt road that winds out of town and eventually leads to the house, but mostly, people can't even figure out which turnoffs to take. No road signs can make things difficult. Getting together with other writers in person never even really crossed my mind. It just wasn't possible.
Then, when this new wacky thing happened and my family moved into an inn and opened a café I started thinking about that romanticized notion. Writers at cafés. I'm always jealously reading tweets from my buddy Lisha Cauthen, saying she's going to some sekrit writing spot. Well, why can't my café be a writing spot? Why can't writers gather here?
Even though the solitary introvert part of me made me a little hesitant, I couldn't resist. I put together a meeting for writers. I was definitely nervous. There are so many different kinds of writers and where I live is so rural, people are really spread out. I didn't know who would show up, if anyone at all. I didn't know if I would have anything to offer a writer of science fiction or a poet or whoever might come and expect that I had answers for them since I am a published writer.
I needn't have worried. It turns out that there are some other writers around here that just wanted to get together with other writers too. I listened to some poems. I taught someone about platform. I celebrated someones magazine publication! And I talked to a new writer about carving time out for yourself to write. It was a splendid get-together!
I love having writer friends. The more genres the better! Yes, I suppose it could get tough down the road when people are wanting critiques, but now that word is spreading and people have heard that we actually met, it seems like more people are interested. Who knows what kinds of fun this writing group will lead to? Perhaps we will sometimes break off into little groups, perhaps we'll schedule teaching sessions, or maybe we'll just sit around and talk about whatever we're working on at the time. We didn't come up with any solid plans at our first meeting, except that we're going to meet again.
How does your writing life work? Are you mostly online or do you have an in-person group? And what do you do in your in-person writers' group? I would love to hear about your experiences!
I have to tell you, I've had this secret dream that all children's writers could just move to one localized area. An artists colony. A city of children's writers! Now that would be one whacked out awesome city! I know, I know, reality. That is not going to happen. But a girl can still dream!
As some of you already know, I lived on a secluded mountaintop for the last 16 years. It was a great place to be, but we never had many visitors. Why? Some people are actually a little scared of the one lane dirt road that winds out of town and eventually leads to the house, but mostly, people can't even figure out which turnoffs to take. No road signs can make things difficult. Getting together with other writers in person never even really crossed my mind. It just wasn't possible.
Then, when this new wacky thing happened and my family moved into an inn and opened a café I started thinking about that romanticized notion. Writers at cafés. I'm always jealously reading tweets from my buddy Lisha Cauthen, saying she's going to some sekrit writing spot. Well, why can't my café be a writing spot? Why can't writers gather here?
Even though the solitary introvert part of me made me a little hesitant, I couldn't resist. I put together a meeting for writers. I was definitely nervous. There are so many different kinds of writers and where I live is so rural, people are really spread out. I didn't know who would show up, if anyone at all. I didn't know if I would have anything to offer a writer of science fiction or a poet or whoever might come and expect that I had answers for them since I am a published writer.
I needn't have worried. It turns out that there are some other writers around here that just wanted to get together with other writers too. I listened to some poems. I taught someone about platform. I celebrated someones magazine publication! And I talked to a new writer about carving time out for yourself to write. It was a splendid get-together!
I love having writer friends. The more genres the better! Yes, I suppose it could get tough down the road when people are wanting critiques, but now that word is spreading and people have heard that we actually met, it seems like more people are interested. Who knows what kinds of fun this writing group will lead to? Perhaps we will sometimes break off into little groups, perhaps we'll schedule teaching sessions, or maybe we'll just sit around and talk about whatever we're working on at the time. We didn't come up with any solid plans at our first meeting, except that we're going to meet again.
How does your writing life work? Are you mostly online or do you have an in-person group? And what do you do in your in-person writers' group? I would love to hear about your experiences!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Monster List of Picture Book Agents--Deborah Carter, Muse Literary Management
I missed my Monster List deadline, the new one I gave myself even. Ha! But, I have not forgotten!!! So, today I am featuring Debbie Carter of Muse Literary Management because I found her Home Page interesting. On it she states: "Note to picture book writers: Will only consider writers who have at least three complete manuscripts and who’ve taken workshops in writing for young children." Okay, so an opportunity for some, but definitely not all.
Still, I found it helpful that on the Muse Literary Management page she lists her contract expectations right there. Writers looking for an agent can learn a lot from that information. Like no, once you have an agent they do not necessarily take on all of your work! Good thing to know if you didn't already. At the bottom of the page she also has some links to articles she's written so you might want to check those out.
If you are going to query Deborah Carter, be sure to read her Publisher's Marketplace page. She asks that you mention your favorite authors in your query.
She does have a couple of picture book authors on her Client Page and she lists some picture books on her Bookshelf.
You can learn a bit about Deborah in her Agent Advice interview at the Guide to Literary Agents blog and in an interview with her at the New York Public Library blog where she talks about her views on ebooks.
There is also an interesting response times thread for Muse Literary on Verla Kay's Blueboard.
Debbie is on Twitter and Facebook.
This post is part of the Monster List of Picture Book Agents. If you have any changes that you think should be made to this listing, please contact me or leave them in the comments. Thanks!
Still, I found it helpful that on the Muse Literary Management page she lists her contract expectations right there. Writers looking for an agent can learn a lot from that information. Like no, once you have an agent they do not necessarily take on all of your work! Good thing to know if you didn't already. At the bottom of the page she also has some links to articles she's written so you might want to check those out.
If you are going to query Deborah Carter, be sure to read her Publisher's Marketplace page. She asks that you mention your favorite authors in your query.
She does have a couple of picture book authors on her Client Page and she lists some picture books on her Bookshelf.
You can learn a bit about Deborah in her Agent Advice interview at the Guide to Literary Agents blog and in an interview with her at the New York Public Library blog where she talks about her views on ebooks.
There is also an interesting response times thread for Muse Literary on Verla Kay's Blueboard.
Debbie is on Twitter and Facebook.
This post is part of the Monster List of Picture Book Agents. If you have any changes that you think should be made to this listing, please contact me or leave them in the comments. Thanks!