Bios, interests, and submission instructions can be found here. Ive heard illustrators say they want an agent so they dont have to deal with marketing and contracts and the non-drawing-and-painting aspects of illustration. Childrens/YA D. Bester Making sure Im advocating well and clearly for my client from the get-go is even more critical than usual when there are two times the number of voices in the mix. All agents should share the ability to reasonably negotiate contracts. Provide URLs to your author website and social media that supports your efforts to brand yourself. Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. Children's Book Writers Theyre not your parents. Kayla's submission email is: kayla.submission@gmail.com. While we have different client lists, Ericas and my intentions for the books we represent are largely the same, as is our aesthetic. And Im stirred by pitches that elicit feelings of sympathy or empathy. What if you want to get your rights back? To set up immediate access, click here. For an author or illustrator, most of the benefits of having an agent are fairly obvious. By the end of this post, you may finally have the answer to: Do I need an agent?. Please do not send us submissions of any kind. Youre about to sign with an agent. 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). An agent once said to me, If you think having an agent doesnt give you a distinct advantage, youre crazy. It depends on the agent and the artist, but I tend to agree with her. Congratulations x 2 to Isabelle Arsenault! The project may work. Theyre meeting. Tips for writing and sending query letters. full terms and conditions and this month's choices. Kirsten works intimately with her clients to conceive and develop original story pitches. Even if you get the book deal on your own, a complicated contract is sure to follow, and hopefully an ongoing business relationship has only just begun. It is a precise and qualified process, rather than an independent, possibly unpublished artist spread betting their work across editors and art directors who they do not know apart from an impression of them through social media. Literary agent Kirsten Hall is launching a new company, Catbird Productions, which will package books for publishers, as well as operate as a boutique literary agency for children's book. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! Publishers really enjoy being in control when it comes to matching a text to an illustrator (its an extremely fun (!) How Much Do Authors Make? SCBWI Statement of Intent on Equity and Inclusion, The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children, Co-Agenting with Kirsten Hall and Erica Rand Silverman. Its the most comprehensive (and accurate) list of literary agencies in the world, with detailed profiles for more than 1,100 literary agents. Get updates about Kirsten Hall and recommended reads from Simon & Schuster. 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. But its good to be pushed outside our comfort zones once in a while. Picture books (as a format) seem simple at first blush, but they are often in fact quite layered and even poetic, displaying an elegant interplay between text and art . The Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to foster public appreciation of childrens books and to support the vibrant community of people who create and promote them. . The Cat Agency Inc. (Agents) (Submissions) Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. Even a Twitter or Instagram account can satisfy these questions, but if I look someone up and find nothing, it leaves me looking for more, and often, looking elsewhere. BookStop Literary Agency (Agents & Submissions), Bradford Literary Agency(Agents & Submissions). 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. Part of my job is to break down any remaining barriers, not to guard themto make introductions, to get more eyes on clients work. Memoir/Women L. Lehr . Stop right there. One size does not fit all. Not everythingbut most. Ive learned how important it is to review our individual clients wants and needs before offers start to come in. Send her your high-concept and hooky; your award-winners; the books that will become backlist gold. Agents have a broader knowledge due to their experience, and it allows the creative lines between authors and illustrators and their editors/houses to be cleaner. It was after the 2013 SCBWI NY conference. She is . 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). As an art director, it made no difference whatsoever. Scroll below now to view the email and postal addressfor Kirsten HallFREE in our BookAgents Directory. Hall can be contacted at Kirsten@catbirdagency.com. Catbird's beautifully-crafted documentaries introduce audiences to remarkable human beings, like an Ethiopian aristocrat turned communist rebel, a Montreal poet turned world-renowned winemaker, or a resilient Inuit man who competes in a grueling dogsled race despite a major disability. What percentage of art directors go to agents first to find illustrators? Hall is the author of the picture books The Gold Leaf and The Jacket, which was a New York Times Notable Book in 2014. Co-agenting is Ericas and my way of trying to be as proactive as we can for our clients. Why do I (acting as an author or illustrator need an agent? Well navigate the waters together. Logo designed by Kody Chamberlain Website designed by Ian Bauer. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. (Her rst bookBunny, Bunnywas published when she was in 7th grade. Repeat. get work . Look, I get it, man. (Should you want to learn more first, our Writer's Toolbox has a handful of useful links for writers wanting to improve their craft before seeking publication.). DING! Darius Foroux. Look at what theyll do for you versus what youll have to do for yourself. Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency Picture books pretty much have me wrapped around their finger. HOLD IT! A graduate of Simon Fraser University's Master of Publishing program and a twenty-five year veteran of Canadian publishing, Ron worked with Penguin Canada, Westwood Creative Artists, and Random House of Canada before joining CookeMcDermid in 2009. * Access to all literary agent profiles in the Directory of Literary Agents(1,100+) Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong * Preferred query letter methods (email, online form, postal mail) They open doors to opportunities. We respond to most queries within twelve weeks. Enter your information in the form to the right for FREE INSTANT ACCESS to the Directory of Literary Agents. Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. They are the busiest bees in the hive. The story taps into important truths about love and loss and life. Im reading from an unconventional point of view. 4. Publishing Agent Kirsten Hall is an agent with Catbird Productions. I work alone and basically love knocking on other agents doors and asking them to come out and play! Some of her favorite non-client books in these categories are: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea, Dept. Thank you for submitting your work! Ive seen really exciting work come out of it. When looking for the first time at an artists portfolio, I like to see a cross section of their work. We share with one another,we lean on each other. A thoughtful, personalized query letter does a lot, and obviously if I connect with an art sample or a pitch, its a win, but even then my decision ultimately hinges on what that persons web presence looks like. She is looking for visual storytellers with distinctive, unique portfolios that will stand out in a crowded market. 38.4k Followers, 0 Following, 1,895 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Catbird Agency (@catbirdagencypix) Feeling hurt inflates our ego, which clouds self-awareness, which stunts creative improvement. It frequents gardens and thickets. However, if you would like to get your work in front of her for now or the future, please submit - she reviews ALL submissions! Christie Megill: is eager to work with illustrators, author/illustrators, and picture book authors, offering long-term support in their careers and creative journeys. If you can, find a contract professional to read it. Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. ), etc. Well try to get back to you as quickly as possible. Different authors and illustrators have different needs, which is why finding your perfect agent match is so important. And the value of that growth far exceeds the fees. Sometimes those opportunities come in fast and sometimes they dont. Stagger it. You still need to work hard, improve your craft, increase your self-awareness. No agency can guarantee that a particular project will sell, but we sign clients because we love their writing and want them to succeed. Ive co-agented all kinds of dealsones that have gone to multi-house auctions on day one, one in which only one client saw an offer and the other client gracefully stepped aside, one in which wildly different offers came in and my co-agent and I needed to negotiate with each other as much as the publishers because our clients positions were so different. If tabling at a convention and pitching your work to passersby feels like your worst nightmare, bring your most outgoing friend. A coin is flipped on its head. Pairing up directly with clients from other agencies is a great way to be proactive in making new projects happen. An agent will intuit which clients are going to respond well to the artists work, and this becomes the first port of call for an illustration agent when initially pitching, sharing, and presenting the portfolio to commissioning clients. In a way, you still need to be your own agent. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They step in when needed. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. 2) Those that somehow present the world differently. Copyright 2023 D. B. Righi. Visit your local The Catbird Seat Inc at 271 Rt 46 W in Fairfield, NJ and contact us today for your home, auto business, and renters insurance today or call (973) 808-0110 Then I look for a voice, either in the words of an author or the art of an illustrator. Were not afraid of this. You have to be a detective. Ask around. Congratulations! I think of co-agenting as an opportunity to have double the client list with only half of the responsibility. To me it is the gold standard for a picture book that makes the reader feel. Not accepting submissions for childrens works unless by an illustrator/artist. If youre creating work that could be described as generous, nuanced, and at ease with complexity, shed love to read it. 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. Books invite joy. She has negotiated many hundreds of childrens book deals between authors, illustrators, and all of the major American publishers. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. 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. Here is the: Advice from writing professional Jane Friedman. Lets take a journey together. Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme For middle grade and YA: She is actively seeking fresh young adult and middle grade fiction across all genres. The overwhelming advantage in having this knowledge is proven when we come to share new work; it cuts through the noise and competition. "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. If you have questions, you can build your own network of colleagues who may have the answers. Before working in publishing, Erica was a teacher and dean. Other times, well sell texts to publishers first and then when it comes time for illustrators, if there isnt someone on our list who we think is right to recommend, our next step will be to look at each others lists, or those of other agent friends. * Mailing addresses Memoir/Christian S. LeRette The agent then dedicates energy and resources to get that first commission. . In order for me to co-agent with someone, I need to feel a certain level of trust because the process can be quite unpredictable. Andrea Brown Literary Agency (Agents) (Submissions). Nonfiction/Self-Help A. Goddard You did the homework. What is one misconception about agents? Here is the: AAR Agent Databaseand the list of AAR members who represent picture books. 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. The Cat Agency Inc. (Agents) (Submissions) Open to illustrator & author-illustrator submissions. They're publicizing. Janklow & Nesbit Associates (Agents) (Submissions)USA & UK agency. Kirsten opened Catbirds wings in March 2014. In each case, they pointed out issues in my work that I knew were there but refused to recognize. I'm obsessed by the story-telling opportunities offered by this highly-visual genre! An agent delivers. I work alone and basically love knocking on other agents doors and asking them to come out and play! David Higham Associates (Agents)(Submissions)A UK agency. I went back to the drawing board., I signed with an agent, thinking that they would get me consistent work. However, there are differences in our tastes and our particular areas of proficiency, e.g., editorial, genre, licensing, promotion, etc. Familiarize yourself with their accomplishments. 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]. Dont send your work to all of them at once. Click here to retrieve reset your password. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable toguarantee feedback or advice in our rejections. SUBMISSIONS. Writing thats confident, vivid, addictive; work thats both ambitious and wise. If you can, meet them at conferences. Get FREE Access Now to All Catbird ProductionsProfiles! Kirsten Hall is President of Catbird, a boutique childrens literary and illustration agency. When an agent is pitching or submitting the work, it is my belief that the success rate is so much higher. Your work has been submitted! Theyre defending. And her first trade picture bookThe Jacketwas a 2014 New York Times Notable!) Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Once a book is sold, authors and illustrators will be presenting themselves to publishers, booksellers, librarians, and others as a professional. What do you look for in a submission?Illustrators contact me at all different points in their careers, and for different reasonssome are interested in getting more freelance illustration work, some have a childrens book, comic series, or graphic novel theyd like to pitch, and some are simply looking for advice or assistance with their current clients (which could be as disparate as an indie musician and a behemoth advertising agency). Either way, look for agents who show an appreciation for your visual aesthetic. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What if you cant deliver the work on time? Look at the length of the agreement. 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. My approach with each client is different based on what they particularly need. I look for author-illustrators. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly They lead the cheer for you. [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago It is my belief that it comes from the onboarding process. And so on. Read comments by other authors who have queried the same agents you have. This is both a positive and a negative: As a coach, they help your career. Theyre not your servants. 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. 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. Need manuscripts and art to stay on schedule? How to Get a Nonfiction Agent Your parents, who arent quite sure what you do, certainly know what agents doand that will make them happy. Theyre traveling. Today, the tools that art directors use to find illustrators are too numerous to list. Our goal is always to sell their work and properly manage their rights, establishing long-term writing careers for our clients. We will not open emailed attachments. NOTE: Each year Fuse Literary, as an agency, is closed to new submissions and queries between December 1st to January 15th. an enviable position; having the upper hand or greater advantage What do you look for in a submission?I like two kinds of submissions. Start with illustrators you admire. Only considers picture books from established illustrators. A word of warning: There is such a thing as a bad agent. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. If you dont get a good feeling from them in any correspondence, your gut is trying to tell you something. What do you look for in a submission?The very best in art and literature reveals something real and true about ourselves, and childrens books are no exception. Your agent cant be expected to do all the heavy lifting. Home Book Agents Literary Agent Kirsten Hall Catbird Productions. Visit their websites, where they explain who they are and what they want. Hall is Catbird Productions' sole proprietor. Many of us are friends. Literary Rambles: Spotlighting Childrens Book Authors, Agents, & Publishing Excellent source for agent interviews, kidlit information, and an agent database you can search by age category (e.g., picture books). Theyre the coach. The profileabout Kirsten HallLiterary Agent that you see herecontains just some of the information youll find in our free BookAgents Directory, with listings for all publishing agents. If you want the most accurate information available for literary agents atCatbird Productionsregister above now for FREE instant access to the Directory of Literary Agents. Please send work that shows character development, style, color and narrative story-telling. I dont know. Christy Ewers: is mostly closed to submissions for the time being. QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. We have invaluable industry insights and connections. There are a ton of resources out there that can help you DIY here, too, but its often the omissions in a contract that people dont see. These letters are just steps on the path. They step out when not needed. Submission Guidelines: Hello! If we are interested in reviewing your dummy, we will request that you send it. Keep an eye out this spring for DOLL-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey (Little,Brown), Time Tracers by Annabeth Bondor Stone & Connor White (HarperCollins), Finns Featherillustrated by Zoey Abbott (Enchanted Lion Books), and Rock N Roll Soul by Susan Verde and Matthew Cordell (Abrams)! WAIT! Work is more fun when youre doing it with people you like and respect. To submit directly without an agent you need to send them a query letter with a description of your manuscript, how close it is to completion (if it is not yet finished), and a little bit about your writing background.