Sara Sciuto is a recent graduate of University of California San Diego, Sara also completed literature coursework at NYU. Before joining Full Circle, she gained valuable experience working on film and foreign rights with the Taryn Fagerness Agency. Sara is actively building her list with a focus on middle grade and young adult, in particular, dystopian, science fiction, fantasy, and unique paranormal. She also enjoys contemporary stories with a strong, authentic voice (but no chick-lit, please). She has a particular soft spot for anything in the Deep South (sweet contemporary to dark paranormal), gritty contemporary, utilitarian dystopias or dystopian thrillers, anything with international locales or period settings (think flappers or “Mad Men”), and anything with artistic themes. Sara is also looking for standout picture books, especially those with a quirky or humorous narrative. She’s also considering select nonfiction in the areas of craft, design, how-to, lifestyle, and pop culture.

Currently, she is NOT considering any adult fiction (all genres).

Her great passions in life are travel and good food – and good books, of course, but that goes without saying! While she’s always cultivating new obsessions, her latest are photography and sailing.

Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

Getting a first peak at what amazing new ideas writers are coming up with! Everyday I’m in awe of the creativity and ingenuity of new authors, and it’s so exciting to go through submissions and see what fresh and exciting projects I’ll find that are just begging for an audience. It never gets old!

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

Most importantly, I only take on projects that I absolutely love. At FCL, we’re a very hands on agency and work collaboratively to get manuscripts in their best possible shape before submitting to editors. It’s not uncommon for me to go through a couple rounds of revisions with a new or potential client, so I expect authors to understand that any project is a work in progress and be receptive to constructive feedback. That said, it’s not good for an author to be too amenable; I don’t want an author to just plug in my suggestions—they might be symptomatic of a more general problem, they might necessitate additional changes in the book, etc—rather, they should treat revision notes more as inspiration for big picture reconceptualizing, with the goal of coming back with an overall stronger work.

3. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

Not following our submission guidelines (e.g. not including first 10 pages in email body, sending genres we don’t represent, etc.)! Before submitting to any agency authors should always visit their website to view current submission guidelines, which vary agency to agency. My latest query pet peeve is a lengthy letter that describes the themes of the book, why they’re writing it, and/or explains the marketplace/readership/strategy without actually telling me what it’s about! The query letter’s primary function should be to give me a brief description of the project so I can decide if this is generally something I would or wouldn’t be interested in, and if it is, move straight on to the meat of the query—sample pages.

4. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming—or stop reading altogether?

If you’ve already won me over with your description in the query letter, than here I’m looking for execution. Sometimes it’s subjective—Is it executed in a way that I feel best suites the concept? Is the author voice just not jiving with my personal tastes? Or I may love the author’s sensibility but there may be too many technical errors (e.g. bad dialogue mechanics, lots of telling versus showing) which tells me this author may need more time developing her craft.

5. Your agency profile says that you’re interested in young adult, what specific subgenres do you lean toward?

For YA, I’m especially looking for contemporary, science fiction, and fantasy. I’m not big on teen chick-lit and tend to go more for gritty or quirky narratives. I’d be thrilled to see an edgy contemporary, stories set in exotic locales, period fiction (circa “Mad Men” or “Boardwalk Empire” would be fantastic!), a really well done novel in verse, or anything with artistic themes. (See #6 for my fantasy preferences).

6. Your agency profile also says you’re interested in dystopian, urban, and paranormal fantasy, is there any other subgenre of fantasy that you would consider?

Yes, ALL! Though, it’s usually tough to win me over with high fantasy. I’m also being really selective with paranormal—if it doesn’t have a truly unique concept, I likely won’t be interested. I’ll really go nuts for a good dystopian thriller, anything with steampunk elements, a utilitarian dystopia, or a dark paranormal (especially if it’s set in the Deep South). Please note that I’m currently not considering any adult fiction, fantasy or otherwise.

7. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

Yes! I will be on faculty at the following: SCBWI OC Editor’s Day, Cal State Fullerton, Oct. 1 Avondale Writer’s Conference, Avondale, AZ, Oct. 29

8. What’s your opinion on social media for writers looking for representation?

Social media can be an excellent marketing tool for new authors. Establishing a direct dialogue with your readers is a great way to familiarize them with your brand and build enthusiasm for future books. That said, don’t just do it because you think you have to—if you’re not able/willing to provide regular and interesting content than hold off on creating a social media presence. If you ARE able and willing, absolutely, go for it!

9. Where is the best place for someone to contact you?

Via our regular submissions route, by email at submissions(at)fullcircleliterary(dot)com. Please see our website (http://www.fullcircleliterary.com/index.htm) before querying to view full submissions guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on the kinds of projects I’m looking for, my conference schedule, etc, visit my website/blog at http://sarasciuto.tumblr.com/ You can also follow my tweets at @sarasciuto

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

Write what you love! You’ll produce your best work that way—if you write for yourself and not for the marketplace. You’ve heard it before, “don’t write to the trends”, but really, don’t do it. It makes it difficult for your project to stand out and places yet another hurdle before you to overcome (on the already tough enough road to publication!). And don’t give up!

Tamar Rydzinski worked at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates prior to joining the Laura Dail Literary Agency. She graduated from Yeshiva University in 2003 with a major in literature and a minor in business. Tamar is not interested in prescriptive/practical non-fiction, humor, coffee table books or children’s books (meaning anything younger than YA). She is interested in everything else that is well-written and has great characters, including graphic novels. A fantastic query letter is essential – “you need to make me want to read your book, and be excited to read it,” she says, “with those first couple of paragraphs.”

Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

Oh wow! What a question. The best part, to me, is getting to work on books I love (and you’re going to read the word, “love” a lot in this answer). I’ve yet to represent a book that I don’t truly love and I count myself very lucky for that. When I submit a book to editors, I get ridiculously excited. And when I sell an amazing book and I know that the rest of the world is going to get a chance to experience it too, well, I just love that feeling. And, truth be told, I get a little thrill out of negotiating, too; I was a business minor in college.

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

My agenting philosophy is very hands-on. I usually go through quite a few rounds of editing before submitting a book to editors. And I continue to edit second and third books in a series, even if they’ve already sold, because a) I always enjoy reading my clients’ books and b) I think it’s important to have as many pairs of editorial eyes as possible on a manuscript. If your book is good, readers are unforgiving of mistakes or missteps because they’re so invested in the world you’ve created. Plus, I like to tell myself that what I think is important to my clients.

In terms of what I expect from an agent-author relationship, respect is key. I have to respect the work you’ve put into the manuscript and your opinions about every step of the process (my editorial ideas, the cover, etc.) And you have to respect me and the knowledge I have of the publishing industry, my guidance, my time–I try to get back to my clients emails immediately and read their manuscript as quickly as possible, but I have more clients than just you and they deserve my time and respect, too.I also have demands on my time outside of work.

3. What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

The next book coming out that I’ve represented is Nocturne by Syrie James (January, 2011). It’s a wonderful vampire romance set in the Colorado mountains. The book actually came about because Syrie James has written three great books (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, and most recently, Dracula, My Love) which came to the attention of the editors at Vanguard who approached us and wanted Syrie to write for them because they so admired her talent. Which I think is just a really fun story.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

I’m going to answer this with a few tips:

Check an agency’s website and follow the submission guidelines posted there.

Don’t query me with more than one book at a time–choose one, the one that you think is in the best shape and bring that one to my attention.

Make sure that my name and the name of my agency are both spelled correctly.

Make sure to give me a paragraph or two on plot and a paragraph, even if it’s short, about you. It’s OK if you’re telling me that you have no writing credentials but live alone in the woods so you’ve lots of time to reflect and write. Whatever it is, I want some clue as to who you are and more than just a clue as to what your book is.

Don’t tell me your book is the next ______. Comparable books are great, as in, readers of ____ and ____ would enjoy my book. But grandstanding and making outlandish claims is never a good idea.

Check for spelling errors! If you’re too lazy to read your query 25 times to make sure there are no mistakes, then being an author will be tough on you since you will have to go back to your manuscript numerous times, first for your agent, then for your editor, then to make sure there are no mistakes before it’s printed and spelling mistakes in your query doesn’t bode well for the process.

5. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

I guess the two biggest things that make me stop reading are lack of authenticity and lack of pacing. To me, dialogue needs to be spot on or I lose interest in the character or characters, and if I’m not interested in the characters, the story is shot for me. And especially in fantasy/sci-fi, the world needs to be authentic and interesting, too. I want details! Without data dumping. Sound tough? It is! But when it’s done well, you’ve got me hooked. And to make things even harder, while you’re trying to give me realistic characters in a well-developed world, you’ve got to keep the pace up so that I’m not waiting for the story to start.

6. Can you tell us some of the fantasy/sci-fi subgenres that you’re drawn to?

I do love the epic fantasy, but I also love paranormal, historical retellings, steampunk. Um, actually, I’m not sure there’s a subgenre that I wouldn’t be interested in…

7. When accepting young adult, what subgenres do you lean toward?

Again, I’m really open to anything. But I would love to see a thriller, something really dark and twisted. And one thing I love about fantasy is the openness–I find that there’s little attention given to sexual or racial mores of “our world” in these other worlds and I would love to see some more of that in YA, both fantasy and not.

8. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

I don’t have any planned right now.

9. What’s the best way to contact you?

Read through our submission guidelines here: http://www.ldlainc.com/dailsubmissions.html

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

One of the reasons that I don’t like to limit what I’m looking for too much is that you really need to write what you’re passionate about, whatever that is. And if you do that, it comes across and it helps with the authenticity that I mentioned earlier. A reader can tell when you’re writing to a specific genre that happens to be doing well at the moment and this reader, for one, doesn’t appreciate it.

Social media is huge right now. Make sure you’re on Twitter: @trydzinski and on Facebook (I am). Blog, if you can. Basically, build yourself as big of a social media platform as you can before your book ever comes out.

SallyAnne has a BA in English and Sociology from Trinity College, Dublin, and an MPhil in American Literature from Cambridge University. She is currently building her list and looking for talented writers of literary and commercial fiction. She is also passionate about exciting and original writing for children and young adults, and is interested in memoirs, quirky gift books and food writing.

Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

For me, it’s the thrill of finding and working with talented authors, and seeing a project through from typescript to finished book. I also love the variety of my job and how every day is different.

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

I have been growing my client list for two and a half years now and I work very closely with all of my authors, guiding them through each stage of the publishing process. I’m very hands-on editorially, often going through several rounds of revisions with authors before submitting to publishers.

Good communication is crucial in getting the most out of the agent-author relationship; it’s important to establish early on how you would like to work together. Trust and honesty are also very important.

3. What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

I’m really looking forward to the massmarket publication of SIN TROPEZ by Aita Ighodaro, which is out in July and a deliciously enjoyable beach read. I’m also excited about THE STORY OF US by Felicity Everett, which was published recently and has been really well reviewed, and I’m already looking forward to Nelle Davy’s literary debut THE LEGACY OF EDEN which comes out next February.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

I think the main mistake authors make is sending their typescript out too early. Very rarely is a first draft perfect, and I’d advise not beginning to query until you can’t see how you can continue to improve your typescript. It also helps if authors have researched the agent they are submitting to; most agents have profiles on agency websites so there shouldn’t be any excuse for sending projects to agents in genres they don’t handle. Most importantly, as agents have limited time to read unsolicited submissions, you need to grab their attention and often less is more when it comes to query letters.

5. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

From the opening page, the voice will either hook me in or leave me cold. After that, I’m put off by clunky dialogue. In young adult or children’s writing, I’d stop reading anything that talked down to the reader.

6. Your agency profile says that you’re interested in young adult, what specific subgenres do you lean toward?

I love reading young adult fiction and don’t really lean towards any particular subgenre; my tastes range from literary novels such as those by Meg Rosoff and Rebecca Stead, to the very commercial – I devoured the Twilight , The Luxe and Pretty Little Liars series. I’m also looking to find a really great young adult horror or mystery. I was a huge fan of Nancy Drew and Goosebumps when growing up.

7. You said that your interest in fantasy is very limited. Is there any subgenre of fantasy that you would consider?

I’m not drawn to epic fantasy, particularly when it comes to adult fiction, but I could certainly be convinced otherwise by brilliant writing. First and foremost, I’m looking for brilliant characters, a compelling voice, and a world I don’t want to leave, so I am open to any novel that can offer that!

8. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

I will be at the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival in Italy this September.

9. What’s the best way to contact you?

Submission guidelines are on our website . We prefer submissions by post if possible, but authors living outside the UK are welcome to email .

10.Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

Read as much as you can in the genre you are writing in, and keep trying!

Sara has been with the Nelson Literary Agency since early 2006. Her first responsibilities included reading the query letters, sample pages and full manuscripts that were submitted for representation. In early 2009, she was promoted to Associate Literary Agent and is now actively accepting submissions of her own. From sexy romance to epic fantasy, Sara has loved reading since picking up her first copy of The Hobbit. Sara has a B.A. in Women’s Studies and a B.A. in American History from Northwestern University. She lives in sunny Boulder with her beat-boxing husband, adorable son and two fuzzy cats.

Follow Sara on twitter @SaraMegibow

Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

The best part about being a literary agent? For me, it’s seeing art come to life. I love the art of literature and I believe each and every one of my clients is brilliant and talented. Helping to get those books on the shelves is a dream come true for everyone involved and the small role I play in that adventure is exciting and rewarding!

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

Fundamentally, I believe that a client’s book is THEIR art. So, in terms of philosophy – I encourage my clients to write the books of their heart. Likewise, I choose clients to work with whose books I absolutely love, love, love.

From there, my “agent philosophy” is all about communication. Once a book is finished (and yes I do editorial work with my clients before we call it “finished”), I put together a submission list based on editors I think will love the work – my clients know to whom I submit, when and what the response is. My clients usually hear from me every week – with updates on submissions, offers, releases, sales numbers and ideas for marketing, publicity or promotions. Aside from talking about submissions, the two top things I encourage my clients to do is to get a professional author website together and to keep writing.

These are things that I expect of myself: answering client questions within a reasonable time, updating clients on submissions/ offers and release information, giving editorial feedback and the best possible advice on contracts, marketing and rights sales. What do I expect from my clients? To be on top of any and all personal marketing opportunities (again, having a professional author website and doing some other social networking – twitter, facebook, blogging, etc). I expect them to meet deadlines – so if we’re under contract for multiple books, then those books are submitted to the publishing house on time and in a professional manner. Also, I expect that they treat their editor (and all publishing house contacts) with 100% professionalism at all times.

3. What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

I’m excited about everything that I represent! That being said, I’m a fairly new agent. When a book is sold, there is usually an 18-24 month turnaround before those books hit the shelves. Here are some upcoming YA novels by my fabulous clients:

SCORE by Miranda Kenneally will be on shelves in late 2011 from Sourcebooks. SCORE is a contemporary, fun YA in which the heroine is quarterback of her high school football team and is caught in a love triangle with a rival quarterback and her favorite wide receiver.

SHOOTING NED HARTNETT by Allison Rushby will be out with Walker/ Bloomsbury in early 2012. NED is about a young woman in LA who works as a paparazzo – taking pictures of famous people for money. She hates the job and wants out, so she accepts a high paying gig only to realize that she will have to betray the only star she’s ever liked.

TIGERSEYE by Jennifer Shaw Wolf will be available in late 2012 also from Walker/ Bloomsbury. This book (yet another debut author) is about a young woman healing from a car accident that killed her boyfriend, but what she’s really hiding is the truth about their relationship.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

The number one mistake by far is querying an agent for a work in a genre that we don’t represent. We reviewed 37,000 query letters in 2009 which sounds daunting. But, please realize that one third to one half of those were for books we would never consider because of genre (self help, mysteries, screenplays, etc). If a writer sends a query for a book outside of what we represent, that writer will receive the auto “no thank you” letter from us.

Other than genre mistakes, the main mistake I see in queries is datadump or some other form of being too wordy. If the query letter is too wordy, the manuscript is typically too wordy. If the writer uses datadump to “explain” their world, their story, or their characters, then typically they’ve made the same mistake in the manuscript.

5. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

The number one mistake in sample pages/ partials is (like in queries) datadump. “Datadump” sounds like this: “Sam sat with a cup of coffee and thought about the past year in which he had to overcome XYZ” or “Sam looked out over the plain where a spaceship was landing and that spaceship was 15 feet wide and bright green with two external ports.” These are both classic examples of “telling” instead of “showing” and to me it simply means the manuscript isn’t ready yet. The writer may need another round of revisions, or some work on the craft of telling a story, or to move on to the next book. In any event, datadump or “telling” is almost always a deal breaker for me.

A super generic concept can make my eyes glass over too – a young hero or heroine who has just discovered they have a magic power and must save the world. I see that one a lot. It can work, but the writer really needs to identify quickly what makes their story unique. Another one I see a lot of in women’s fiction – a 45 year old woman catches her husband cheating with the secretary, she leaves him and moves to Vermont to open a B&B. Again, the concept CAN work, but the writer will need to draw the reader in with some tremendous writing and with a unique hook. I hesitate to mention “generic concept” because it’s much more subjective than datadump. Still, it’s true and it’s a red flag.

6. You said that you would like to work on more fantasy and science fiction, can you elaborate more on fantasy/sci-fi subgenres that you are drawn to?

I love all fantasy and science fiction – adult, YA, MG, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, cyberpunk, hard science fiction, space opera – you name it, I love it. I shy away from the true horror, but other than that I love everything. I have one urban fantasy client and I think he is a genius: ( www.stevewvera.com ). And I have one MG science fiction client who I also think is a genius: (anitalaydonmiller.blogspot.com).

I am particularly interested in books in which world building is effortlessly integrated with the story. Great characters are important too – I’ve seen sample pages with a really complex world but by page 30 I still don’t know the main character’s name (that’s a mistake on the writer’s part). John Scalzi’s OLD MAN’S WAR is one of my favorite books of all time, as is Transformation by Carol Berg. On the young adult side, I am a huge fan of ASH by Malinda Lo and GIRL PARTS  by John M Cusick.

I recently attended the science fiction convention in Denver (MileHi Con) to learn more about sf/f writers and where they are and what they write. I loved it!

7. When accepting MG and YA, what subgenres do you lean toward?

I’ll take anything well written and with a unique concept. That being said, I *tend* to lean toward contemporary, multicultural and/or historical. In terms of paranormal and fantasy, I also love it all (although the story really has to stand out in this very competitive market). I like sexy YA or sweet YA, I like light or literary and I like any subgenre imaginable. Basically.bring it on! If it’s well written I will love it!

My full client list as well as my personal tastes are flushed out on my publishers marketplace site: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/SaraMegibow/

8. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

Excellent question! My schedule is usually up to date on the “News” page at http://nelsonagency.com/news.html

9. What’s the best way to contact you?

I’m on twitter: @SaraMegibow although I don’t tend to get in conversations there. For pitching me your manuscript, the best way is the traditional way – email a query letter to query@nelsonagency.com . There are sample query letters, FAQs and resources on our website to help and to answer more questions. (www.nelsonagency.com)

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

These are great questions! You haven’t left many stones unturned. Let’s see – in terms of the publishing industry, the more research a writer does, the better. And, if you don’t know where to start, our website (again, www.nelsonagency.com ) has a terrific resources page. There are lots of other great websites out there, but anything we list there I can vouch for.

Also, if you write and are interested in publishing, then you should read too. Read books in your genre – the award winners, the ones getting buzz or great reviews, and anything else that interests you or catches your eye. I keep a spreadsheet of everything I read, who the editor is and what the imprint and publishing house is. Holy cow – my list is over 300 books since I started at Nelson Agency in 2006!

Another piece of advice – network, network, network. I am super proud of my clients because they seem to really reach out to each other – to support, encourage, beta read, help promote, etc. Writing is a beautiful art, but the business of publishing is a harsh one. Having friends tell you “you’re doing great” and “good luck” and “congratulations” can be unbelievably helpful!

“My favorite books are ones that keep me up all night with characters that I can’t stop thinking about long after I’ve finished.”

After teaching high school English for several years, Suzie Townsend started her career in publishing at FinePrint Literary Management in January 2009. Now an agent at Nancy Coffey Literary, Suzie is actively looking to build her list. She’s an active member of AAR, RWA, and SCBWI.

Suzie is specifically looking for adult romance (historical and paranormal) and fantasy (urban fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, epic fantasy).

In childrens’ books she loves YA (all subgenres) and is dying to find great Middle Grade projects (especially something akin to the recent movie SUPER 8).

She’s interested in strong characters and voice driven stories: she’s particularly keen on strong female protagonists, complex plot lines with underlying political, moral, or philosophical issues, and stories which break out of the typical tropes of their genre. Some of her favorite novels (that she doesn’t represent) are Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, Jellicoe Road and Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Jeaniene Frost’s Vampire Huntress series, Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series, and Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series.

She drinks too much diet orange soda, has a Starbucks problem (those soy chai lattes are addictive), and lives in Brooklyn with two dogs who know that chewing on shoes is okay but chewing on books is not.

Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

I read for a living. There’s nothing better than that.

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy?

What do you expect from an agent-author relationship? I like to edit and really make sure the manuscript is the best it can be before sending it out to editors so it’s important that any author I work with likes to brainstorm and revise. I also think communication is really important for both parties so I always want to hear from my authors, even if it’s just a quick email to touch base.

3. What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

A BRUSH OF DARKNESS by Allison Pang came out January 25th, and I’m really excited because it’s one of the best urban fantasies I’ve read in a long time. And Lisa Desrochers’ sequel to PERSONAL DEMONS came out July 2011 called ORIGINAL SIN and it’s fabulous.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

The biggest mistakes I see all come back to lack of research. Everything from writers who call and try to phone query, or writers who don’t realize their word count is really off for their genre, or writers who write a query that doesn’t once explain what their book is about–all those issues are fixed if that writer does some research before they query.

But for the writers who have done their research, I see a lot of queries that are bogged down with too many details and/or too many characters. Queries should be short, concise, and intriguing.

5. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming—or stop reading altogether?

I heard an agent say once that the voice had to grab him on the first sentence and not ever let go. I think that’s true of most agents. I’m drawn first and foremost to characters. If they don’t have a voice or they start to feel bland or uninteresting, it’s hard for me to keep investing in them.

6. You said that you would like to work on more fantasy and science fiction, can you elaborate more on fantasy subgenres that you are drawn to?

I really like it all. I loved Lord of the Rings and epic fantasy has always been a favorite subgenre of mine. I also like urban fantasy and paranormal and accessible science fiction. I like space operas (I’m a huge BSG fan) and I love aspects of fringe science (Fringe is my favorite TV show right now), but I can’t feel like I’m reading a science textbook. But I’m also a romantic at heart, so anything with a swoonworthy love story underneath the plot is huge.

7. When accepting young adult, what subgenres do you lean toward?

Again, pretty much everything. I like contemporary, speculative, paranormal, fantasy, and I’m really looking for horror or thriller.

8. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

In January I’ll be at the Writers Digest Pitch Slam in NY and I keep my calendar on my blog at http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/p/events-conferences.html

9. What’s the best way to contact you?

Our submission guidelines are listed here: http://nancycoffeyliterary.com/submissions.cfm

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

Write another book. Seriously, writers shouldn’t ever attach themselves too much to one book. They should write another book while they’re querying or on submission and keep moving forward.

Laurie McLean joined the two agency founders in 2005 following a 20-year stint as the CEO of a successful Silicon Valley public relations agency. Laurie was able to switch gears in 2002 to immerse herself in writing. She has penned three manuscripts to date, and if that wasn’t enough, she decided that the life of a literary agent would be the perfect complement to her duties as a writer of genre fiction. Laurie has been writing professionally since high school–first as a journalist, then as a public relations agent. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the State University of New York and a Master’s Degree at Syracuse University’s prestigious Newhouse School of Journalism. Laurie specializes in adult genre fiction (romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, westerns, horror, etc.) plus middle-grade and young adult children’s books. She does not handle non-fiction, or commercial, literary or women’s fiction, nor does she handle children’s picture books or graphic novels.

The Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

I love writing in all its forms and working with authors and editors. I love that every day is different and filled with vitality and challenges. I love that I get to use both sides of my brain for creative and analytical activities. And I love meeting new people at conferences. I pretty much love nearly every aspect of my job. (One aspect I don’t like, rejecting so many hopefuls.)

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

I consider myself the business side of the creative-business partnership with an author. I mentor, guide, critique, negotiate, advise, help develop an author’s career, brainstorm marketing ideas, etc. I want a partner who is as strong and committed to developing their talents as I am. I want a book a year, minimum, for 5 years at least, from my clients. I want a civilized, respectful relationship. I want my clients to learn about and understand the publishing process. And finally, I want clients who embrace and actively use social media tools and techniques for promoting their author brand. The days of being a writer and that’s it are over. You need to market your work or you will not rise about the noise level.

3. What’s something coming out new/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

Oooh. Mad Skills by Walter Greatshell is a game-changing book that features a teen girl who undergoes brain surgery after a freak amusement park accident that leaves her with a super genius IQ. However her implant is being used for sinister reasons and she becomes kind of a hybrid bionic-woman-MacGyver activist fighting the corporation who is trying to control her. Amazing writing and action scenes from the guy who brought you XOMBIES. I challenge anyone to read his prologue and not buy the book. It’s simply heart stopping. Also, Pip Ballantine’s GEIST is out.supernatural fantasy at its most creative. And she is teaming up with Tee Morris for a new steampunk series called The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences coming out next May. Think X-Files in Victorian England. It’s hilarious. Julie Kagawa’s popular IRON FEY series (The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight has some of the best fantasy writing anywhere. Just sold more books in that series, plus she’s creating a post-apocalyptic series as well. Man, there are so many of my clients’ fantasy books I’m excited about. One more. Jennifer Rardin, who passed away this fall, has the seventh book in her Jaz Parks urban fantasy series, BITTEN IN TWO, out now, with the final book in the series, The Deadliest Bite , coming next year. The whole series is phenomenal. Well worth reading them all.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in the query process?

Well, a lot of writers spend so much time researching/writing/editing/polishing their manuscript only to send it out in a big unfocused blast to a list of agents who they haven’t even qualified. I urge writers to take 10 percent of the time they spent writing their book(s) and research the agents they want as potential business partners. Every agent is on the Internet (with a few exceptions). Look at what they’re seeking, what they’ve sold recently, who their clients are. If they have a blog, read it. Then craft a personalized pitch to that agent. Sure, 75% of the pitch can be the same for all agents. But you’d be surprised at the impact of a query letter that shows you did your homework. It really pops for us. That’s the main mistake I see. Along with using “Dear Sir/Madam” as the salutation, getting the gender of the agent wrong, misspellings, grammatical errors.minor things like that. Take your time. Get it right. You only get one chance usually, so make it count!

5. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

The usual suspects. Grammatical errors, misspellings, too much exposition, too little character revelation, using too many words to say something, passive verbs, too little or too much world building, slow pacing, backstory, etc. In this modern age, and especially with fantasy, you need to pack as much power into your opening scene as possible. Your world should be front and center, but not so much that you slow the pacing of the action to a crawl. Banish backstory in this scene. Instead feather it throughout the manuscript-exactly what is needed exactly when the reader needs to know it, not before. And make your characters compelling. If the reader doesn’t like the character enough to want to take the journey of a story with them, you’ve lost me.

6. You said that you would like to work on more fantasy and science fiction, can you elaborate more on fantasy/sci-fi subgenres that you are drawn to?

I love all fantasy and science fiction. All of it. But what’s popular right now, so as an agent it’s what I’m looking for, is post-apocalyptic YA fantasy, vampire YA fantasy, shape-shifting YA fantasy, YA science fiction that is mostly space opera (not so much hard spec-fic), futuristic YA fantasy, YA historical fantasy. Crossover YA/Adult is the holy grail, so if teen characters can interest adults it interests me. Steampunk is growing quickly so I’d love to see some more of that. Gothic fantasy would also be nice, although there is no market for it yet. I think it could catch fire with the right story.

7. When accepting young adult, what subgenres do you lean toward?

Anything really. One of the reasons I love the YA market so much is that it’s experimental and all encompassing. So as long as the writing is stellar and the storytelling superb, pretty much anything goes. I’d like to see gritty contemporary drama, school dramas, romantic comedy, fantasy of all stripes, science fiction, literary YA, mysteries, thrillers with teen protagonists, anything dark and compelling that I can’t put down.

8. Will you be at any upcoming conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

I keep that information updated on my blog: www.agentsavant.com

9. What’s the best way to contact you?

I only accept submissions via email, no attachments, to query@agentsavant.com . I don’t want query letters. I just want the first 10 pages plus a 1-2 page synopsis. And since most prologues are written in a different style than the main manuscript, please start with chapter one instead of the prologue. Because I receive 1200-1500 submissions every month, unfortunately I do not have the time to answer each query with even a form letter. So, you’ll receive an auto responder when I open your email (usually I check my query emailbox twice a week) letting you know that I have received your submission, will read it in chronological order, and if you haven’t heard from me within 8 weeks, assume I am rejecting your submission. But you’ve got an open invitation to send future work, just not the same revised submission. For non-query communication, I can be reached at laurie@agentsavant.com .

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

Write every day. Even if it’s just a sentence, a blog post, a journal entry, a poem, whatever. You’ll keep your writer’s brain lubricated and just like any exercise, the repetition of it keeps you in tune and fresh. If you do only one thing, do this.

Oh, and maybe one more. J Keep developing your craft. Even best sellers are constantly learning and improving their writing, their storytelling, their pacing. Writing is a journey, not a destination. Be open to erasing bad habits and inventing new talents. And enjoy yourself!

Molly has been working closely with Folio authors’ projects since 2008, and is now aggressively and selectively building her list of clients. She is thrilled to be part of the recent launch of Folio Jr., a division within the agency dedicated to developing and nurturing the careers of YA and children’s authors.

In addition to agenting, Molly utilizes her editorial background, previous work experience in the e-publishing industry, and intimate knowledge of the Folio list in her position as Subsidiary Rights Associate. She actively pursues sales of all unsold subsidiary rights, helping Folio clients’ books reach wide audiences in as many formats as possible. Molly is an avid reader, and when she’s not devouring manuscripts, she can usually be found camped out in the aisles of her local bookstore (until they kick her out at closing time). Molly says: I focus exclusively on middle grade and young adult fiction. I’m looking for books that challenge the reader intellectually and emotionally, from the high-concept and fantastical to the frank, fresh, and contemporary. I love fiction set in another country, time, or place (real or imagined!) that opens up a rich new world for the reader to discover. Stories featuring characters with strong passions, talents, or smarts – or characters in search of theirs – resonate with me. I’d also like to see: Edgy YA that’s not afraid to explore complex social issues, historical fantasy, smart adventures (I’d love a modern-day Indiana Jones with a female protagonist!), dystopian fiction, and – most importantly – books with a voice that makes the reader think, “This narrator gets me.”

The Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

For me, the best part of being an agent is waking up each morning knowing that I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing with my life. I get to help facilitate the publication of books that have the potential to enrich, even change, young people’s lives. I love reading, writing, being a part of the creative process-and I’m passionate about the business aspect of the industry, too, from pitching editors to negotiating deals. Publishing is a vibrant, exciting community, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. As writers well know, it’s an incredible blessing to be able to do what you love. That’s part of why I enjoy working with writers: we’re both doing something we can’t live without! (Also, you can’t ignore the added perks of being able to read books before they’re published and getting tons of free books. In many ways, I still feel like a kid reading under the covers with a flashlight, giddy as though she’s getting away with something.)

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

I’m a very hands-on, editorial agent, so good communication is key! I work with each client to figure out what kind of contact is most helpful to them as a writer. I’m always available to talk by phone or email, any time of the day or night. I’m always happy to read backstory or deleted scenes so that we’re on the same page, so to speak. Since this is a very competitive market, I often go through several rounds of revisions with a writer before submitting a project. We both want the best for the manuscript, so it’s important that we can talk things through in an open, honest way. I don’t expect my clients to agree with everything I say in my editorial letters-they know the world they’ve created better than I do, and I’m always astounded by their work. But if I didn’t quite understand what the author intended to convey in a certain scene, there’s a good chance their readers might not, either. We can work together to peel back the story’s layers and make sure the author’s vision is coming through as clearly as possible.

3. What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

As a new agent who also handles subsidiary rights like foreign and audio for our agency, I’m building my client list very selectively. I have several really exciting projects in the pipeline, but the one that’s coming out this year is something I coagented with a colleague: Gever Tulley and Julie Spiegler’s groundbreaking Fifty Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do). Though it’s a nonfiction/parenting title, it’s absolutely reflective of my overall philosophy on books for young people. Young readers need to be exposed to some danger in order to decide what’s “safe” for them on a personal level. I believe that YA novels are a great way for teens to explore complex situations and establish their own boundaries and opinions. Censorship is a terrible thing.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

The most common are the little mistakes: not following the guidelines on my webpage, misspelling words, misattributing a quote or client to me, or addressing me by the wrong name. These are silly errors, to be sure, but they’re not the end of the world if your query material is otherwise great. A writer once called me by another agent’s name, then wrote a quick “oops!” email afterward-I was intrigued by her writing, we laughed about the mistake, and I requested her manuscript.

The most problematic mistake, in my opinion, is querying before your manuscript is ready. Sometimes I’ll get a query, be really excited about it, and request the manuscript only to find that it could have used another round of edits. This especially seems to happen after conferences. Query workshops are great, and I love seeing the well-polished letters that come to me as a result, but the manuscript has to be equally polished. It’s disappointing, because I’m always hoping to fall in love when I start reading a new manuscript. So before you query, ask yourself: Am I sending this query because I’ve made the manuscript the best it can possibly be, or am I just sick of looking at it and anxious to get it out the door? If it’s the latter, don’t query-sit on it for awhile, or pass it to a fresh pair of eyes!

5. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

Dialogue that’s stiff or unrealistic. There are a few dialogue issues that let me know a writer’s not quite “there” yet in his or her writing journey. Repeated use of verbs other than “said” in dialogue tags (i.e., everything is “screeched,” “cried,” “squeaked,” etc.) is one. It shows me that the writer probably hasn’t developed her characters and world fully enough. If a manuscript is well-crafted, readers won’t need fancy dialogue tags to understand the character’s emotional state. Characters who constantly address each other by name (“What should we do, Billy?” “I don’t know, Jane, but the water is rising faster!” “Oh, Billy, we’re going to drown!”) is another tip-off-people don’t do that in real life. These dialogue issues may seem like easy fixes, but I’ve found that if a writer hasn’t yet honed these basic skills, the manuscript is likely to have other issues, too. It’s true that a high-concept plot is a huge plus in YA, but don’t scrimp on the nuts and bolts of writing in your hurry to get there! Great writing trumps everything. We can work on tightening the plot or developing characters together, but you’ve got to bring your best writing skills to the table. That’s something each of my clients does very well.

6. Your Folio profile says that you’re interested in historical fantasy, can you elaborate more on other fantasy subgenres that you’re drawn to?

I love all kinds of fantasy! It’s what I grew up reading. Sci-fi/fantasy, alternate history, and urban fantasy are particular favorites. I’m least partial to high fantasy, though, because I feel like it’s one of the hardest sub-genres to write well. A lot of world-building needs to be done for high fantasy to feel original. It’s a rare writer who can balance all that world-building with solid character development.

7. When accepting young adult, what subgenres do you lean toward?

For me, it’s more about the writing than the genre. I lean toward projects that feel “big”, that elicit an intense emotional reaction as I read. When I’m so invested in a character that I have chills down my spine or tears in my eyes as I read, then I’m hooked! I have an amazing group of clients, and they’re all very different writers-one is working on a heart-poundingly suspenseful post-apocalyptic novel; one is honing a gorgeously epic science fiction/fantasy project; another is writing a laugh-out-loud contemporary piece. There’s very little that, if written well, would be an automatic “no” for me (though I’m not a fan of vampires or werewolves).

8. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

My conferences are updated here: http://foliolit.com/molly-jaffa/

9. What’s the best way to contact you?

Via email, at molly@foliolit.com . Please include your query letter and first ten pages in the body of the email. I don’t open unsolicited email attachments, and I don’t accept snail mail submissions. You can read more about Folio’s query guidelines at www.foliolit.com .

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

That’s hard-you’ve asked such good questions! I’d have to say, make sure you’ve established your stakes in the novel’s opening pages. What does your character stand to lose? What does he or she want? Make it big; make it vital. If it’s not, your readers won’t be able to invest fully in the novel’s outcome. The stakes don’t actually need to be life or death-the fate of the world doesn’t need to hang in the balance-but to that character, whatever she stands to lose or gain needs to feel that important.

Louise believes in the power of marketing and is constantly on the lookout for authors who know how to promote themselves.

She is seeking graphic novels, well written, teen Sci-Fi and Young Adult horror . She is also on the hunt for deep, dark contemporary YA and select Middle Grade fiction with a literary feel– it must be realistic and thought provoking and the characters must be authentic and original. Louise is a huge adult horror fan, but also loves romance (especially Regency & Victorian) and is looking for steam/cyberpunk with series potential.

In nonfiction, please send humor and pop culture manuscripts her way. NO memoirs or erotica!!

The Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

I feel like a treasure hunter when I am going through my query folder. There are some duds, but when you get that perfect nugget, it’s an adrenaline rush. Once I am representing an author and we are shopping the project, the excitement is tangible and when I get an offer and present it to my clients, I feel like a fairy godmother. I love that I can help someone achieve their dreams. It is also an added bonus that I get to read books before they are published. This is the best job in the world!

2.   How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

I have to really love a project before I take it on. Even if it is from an author I already represent. I am very involved in the revision process and I am always brutally honest even though that means often saying the things a writer may not want to hear. The submission process is not an easy one, but my authors and I are in it together and being part of a team is often the key to everyone’s sanity!

3.   What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

Forest of Shadows (Samhain) is a horror novel by Hunter Shea, Tooth and Nail (Nightshade) by Jennifer Safrey hits stores in February and I just sold a romantic work of women’s fiction to Harper Collins called Vanity Fare by Megan Frampton. That won’t be out till next December, but I can hardly wait for readers to experience that book.

4.  What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in the query process?

They get too personal. I need to know about your book, not every detail about your life. I also think writers sometimes forget that this is not personal, this is a business and if I pass on your query/partial it is not because I don’t like you.

5.  With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

This is such a tricky question because it really depends on the tone, the premise, the writing etc. But I do start to skim if I see that you start the first line with someone waking up. I read it about a dozen times a day and it really distracts me from the manuscript. It also makes me feel like the author didn’t know where to start, so they just started at A beginning, not THE beginning. The beginning of a day, does not always equal the beginning of a story.

6.  Your agency profile says that you’re interested in steam/cyberpunk, can you elaborate more on other fantasy subgenres that you might consider?

I love sci-fi, especially if the characters are well-developed and the story is strong, regardless of setting. I love space opera and horror. I am especially looking for realistic contemporary stories in elaborate and fictional worlds that will tear your heart out.

7. When accepting young adult, what subgenres do you lean toward?

Right now, original Sci Fi and horror elements and realistic, heart-wrenching contemporary stories.

8.   Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

I have just come off a huge conference marathon and now have a few months to do office work and catch up, but I will be in South Africa for the month of February, where I will be meeting with South African publishers, writers and librarians. Then the Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference on Saturday March 17 th , The RWA DC chapter meeting on March 24 th and The TEXAS TWO STEP conference March 31 st – April 2 nd . Then of course RT in April.

9.  What’s the best way to contact you?

Send a query and the first 5 pages to louise@lperkinsagency.com

10.   Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed ?

Be polite and professional on and off line. When I am seriously considering an author for representation, I am just as thorough in my research as I expect authors to be. I research the authors, read their blogs and their twitter feeds. If I see that they are nasty or mean or too negative, it does make me rethink and often reconsider offering representation. I don’t want to work with rude, mean or unprofessional people. And that goes for editors, writers and other agents. I am at that stage in my life where I love my job, I love my friends and I love the people I work with. When I find a manuscript I love, I want to like the author too, because we are going to be communicating quite a bit and an unpleasant experience can tarnish the entire process. So don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in a public arena, because that is what the Internet is. A VERY BIG public stage.

Michelle Wolfson formed Wolfson Literary Agency in 2007 and is actively seeking authors of commercial fiction in the following categories: mainstream, mysteries, thrillers, suspense, chick-lit, romance, women’s fiction, and young adult. She is drawn to well written material with strong interesting characters. She is also interested in practical and narrative non-fiction projects, particularly those of interest to women. Michelle holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from New York University. Prior to forming her own agency, Michelle spent two years with Artists & Artisans, Inc. and two years with Ralph Vicinanza, Ltd. Before that, she spent several years working outside of publishing, in non-profit and then finance, and she brings the skills she learned there plus a lifetime love of reading to the table as an agent.

Interview

1.   What is the best part of being a literary agent?

For me, the best part of being a literary agent is the variety of tasks. Every day is a little bit different. I get to be involved in so many aspects of publishing-strategy, marketing, business, creative-and it’s all directed at books and reading which I love. I never know what the day will bring-a quiet day can suddenly turn crazy as I put out fires and handle things, which keeps me challenged and feeling great.

2.  How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

For my personal agenting philosophy, I suppose I would say that I only take on projects that I absolutely love. I have a relatively small list of clients and I find I have the most success when I focus on a core group of clients whose work I really believe in. I fight hard for my clients and hope to always feel that I’ve done my best, whatever the outcome.

3.  What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

In March, New York Times bestselling author Mark Di Vincenzo is coming out with his second book YOUR PINKIE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN YOUR THUMB: And 333 Other Surprising Facts that Will Make You Wealthier, Healthier, and Smarter than everyone Else . This book is filled with all kinds of fascinating facts-great for cocktail parties, bathroom reading, in-law gifts or really any situation.

In fiction, I’m looking forward to Tawna Fenske’s romantic comedy debut in August, MAKING WAVES . Tawna’s books make me laugh out loud no matter how many times I read them. I can’t wait to share them with the reading public.

Also coming out end of Summer or early Fall is New York Times bestseller Kiersten White’s SUPERNATURALLY , the second book in the PARANORMALCY trilogy. I know readers can’t wait to see what happens to Evie, Lend, Reth and some new fascinating characters.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

I think the primary mistake writers make is forgetting that the query is supposed to catch my attention . And what’s going to catch my attention? Your writing and your story. Not the fact that this is your first manuscript or your 23 rd manuscript. Not that you have no literary background or your mother really loves your writing. That stuff just gets in the way.

I think the best queries look something like what you’d find on the back of a book in a bookstore. What’s tempting you to buy that book, to want to read it? Those same things will tempt me to want to read your manuscript. Who is the main character? What is his/her conflict? What’s at stake?

5.   With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

Sometimes I will stop reading a partial because the writing is just not good or I actively dislike a character or some other detail. However, often, I may read and enjoy something but put it down because I reached my stop on the subway, or maybe my dinner is ready, or the phone rang. The real question is, did I pick it up again. I love to read. I get a lot of good stuff. But I am looking for great.

6.   With a client like Paranormalcy author, Kiersten White, I’m going to assume that paranormal fantasy is an agency interest. Can you give us any other fantasy subgenres that you’re drawn to?

I tend to have very commercial taste, and fantasy is obviously very popular. However, I have never been much of a fantasy reader so I have to say that my taste in fantasy is pretty picky and very hard to describe. I think the best way to explain it is to say that I’m open to it, but I generally don’t like it. But when I do.I really love it. And then I’m the best champion for your work ever. Because no one will ever convince me that you weren’t meant to be a bestselling author.

7. When accepting young adult, what subgenres do you lean toward?

I’m not looking for any specific subgenres. I am looking for great writing first and foremost. After that, I want memorable characters that I can’t stand to leave at the end of the book and a story that keeps me reading late into the night when I should be sleeping.

8. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

We keep that information updated on our blog: http://wolfsonliterary.wordpress.com/

9.  What’s the best way to contact you?

Our submission guidelines are listed here: http://wolfsonliterary.com/

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

Don’t give up.

Courtney began her career in publishing at Random House, where she spent a number of years in subsidiary rights sales and in contracts before joining Sanford J. Greenburger Associates in 2005. A member of the Romance Writers of America, she is seeking new voices in women’s fiction, romance, historical novels, and literary fiction. Courtney also looks for non-fiction projects on unusual topics, science, personal finance, business, pop culture, lifestyle books, and craft books. Excellent credentials are a must. She represents a limited number of children’s book authors and illustrators. Courtney holds a B.A. in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a M.A. in English from The Johns Hopkins University.  She prefers to receive submissions via e-mail at cmiller [at] sjga [dot] com.

The Interview

1. What is the best part of being a literary agent?

I’ve always loved to read, and being a literary agent means spending all day, every day, thinking about and talking about books. I get to help writers make their dreams come true, which sounds cheesy but is a pretty fabulous job.

2. How would you summarize your personal agenting philosophy? What do you expect from an agent-author relationship?

I am very hands-on with my clients and their projects—I see it as part of my job to help make the manuscript into the best book it can be. I only work on projects I really believe in, and I hope my passion for the work is always clear to my authors, even if the feedback is sometimes hard to hear.

As for what I expect, first and foremost it’s important to be professional. Most authors have day jobs. Everyone has a personal life, and emergencies, and days when they just want to ignore all their responsibilities. I know authors are balancing a lot of stuff besides their writing, but I expect them to keep their word regarding deadlines and other obligations, and to treat writing as a job. Because if you’re lucky, it will be your job.

3. What’s something coming out now/soon that you’ve represented and are excited about?

Lots of things! To name two, first of all, Vicky Alvear Shecter’s debut YA novel CLEOPATRA’S MOON will be released this summer by Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic).

I’m also immensely proud of Pamela Schoenewaldt’s debut (adult) novel WHEN WE WERE STRANGERS, which was published earlier this year by HarperCollins, and was chosen by Barnes and Noble for their Discover Great New Writers program.

4. What are the primary mistakes you see writers make in query process?

Misspelling my name (or, worse, using the wrong name). Not following the query guidelines on my website. Querying me on genres I don’t represent. Not selling their work (and themselves!) effectively enough to make me want to read the manuscript.

5. With fiction partials, what makes you stop reading and start skimming-or stop reading altogether?

The two things I see causing the most problems are (1) the voice—do I like this character? Do I want to spend 300 pages with this character? And (2) good old “show, don’t tell.” Think long and hard about whether you need that much exposition up front. Sometimes leaving things a bit mysterious gives your reader the momentum to keep turning pages.

6. Your agency profile says that you’re interested in a limited amount of children’s, can you elaborate more on subgenres that you might consider (example: fantasy)?

I don’t do straight fantasy (in the Robin McKinley vein), but I like novels with some fantastical or supernatural elements. I like dark, issue-driven YA (not too after school special or moralistic) and funny middle grade. I’d love to see more “crime fiction,” especially for YA readers. I don’t much care for rhyming picture books, talking animals, or Holocaust stories. Really I’ll consider anything as long as it feels fresh and original.

7. When accepting romance, what subgenres do you lean toward?

I’m especially fond of Regency historicals, but I read widely across all genres. I don’t like “old school” romances with dominant heroes and submissive heroines. I’d love to see more historical romance in periods that haven’t been done to death—after Downtown Abbey, for example, I couldn’t stop wishing for an Edwardian series. But I’m actively looking for new clients in romance and women’s fiction, so please query me!

8. Will you be at any upcoming writers conferences where people can meet/pitch you?

Yes! I’ll be at the RWA national conference at the end of June, doing a two-hour pitch session on Friday morning.

9. What’s the best way to contact you?

Via email at cmiller [at] sjga [dot] com.

10. Best piece(s) of advice we haven’t discussed?

The most important thing is to believe in your own work. Write what you love, rather than writing to the current trends. Books take at least a year to be published, and what seems like the hot new thing today could be yesterday’s news long before a book hits the shelves.