Welcome to Literary Rambles! While you’re rambling around and exploring the site enter for a chance to win:

THE CRYSTAL RIBBON through February 18th

SIREN SISTERS through February 18th

FROSTBLOOD AND SUZIE TOWNSEND QUERY CRITIQUE through Febrary 25th

THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE through March 4th

Linda Camacho Query Critique through March 11th

Upcoming Agent Spotlights With Query Critique Giveaways:

Kristy Hunter, Wednesday, March 22nd

WriteOnCon Registration Begins July 1st!

We made a hilarious, somewhat random vlog to promote the registration date for WriteOnCon. It features Shannon Messenger, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Elana Johnson, Jamie Harrington, me, and our fabulous guest star Karsten Knight. Check it out!




Registration is for the site forum. Technically, you can register now but we're still tidying up and getting prepared. Most of the threads will be closed until the conference, but there will be a Practice Critiques forum and a place for chatting as we await the big event. So exciting! I'm hoping the faculty will be updated by tomorrow, too. What do you think so far?

Tip Tuesday #43

Sorry I've been scarce! I've been even busier than usual lately. I loved all the Q&A questions you sent in, and I'm hoping to have them back next week. Stay tuned!

Today's fabulous tip was sent in by Ammie Hart and she credits the idea to The Paper Wait. Since Ammie doesn't have a blog, please check out this great group blog instead! Here's the tip:

Keep a journal, a central file, a SOMETHING close by at ALL times that is easily accessible. When that new idea is BURNING in your head and you can hear your characters talking, and see the chapters and plot unfolding in front of your very sleep deprived eyes, take a quick break from your WIP and jot down your thoughts and ideas. I find it's better to take a quick break from the WIP to think inspirationally for a bit as it gets me motivated to finish said WIP so I can get to writing the new inspirational piece. I also find that when I do get back to my WIP, I'm refreshed. I'd like to point out there is one strict rule I have with this--I give myself a time limit. No dilly-dallying here. Usually I allow myself a few days at most, jot down information, keep it on the side, flush out characters, plot, etc, and then back to work on my WIP.

I love this idea, Ammie. I always jot down my ideas but I usually don't flesh them out right away. I think it would be better if I did, when the idea is most fresh and exciting. Readers, what do you do when a shiny new idea strikes?

Agent Spotlight: Adriana Dominguez

This week's Agent Spotlight features Adriana Dominguez of Full Circle Literary.

AdriCrop(2) About: "Adriana Dominguez has over 10 years of experience in publishing, most recently as Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children's Books, where she managed the children's division of the Latino imprint, Rayo. Prior to that, she was Children's Reviews Editor at Críticas magazine, published by Library Journal. She has performed editorial work for many important children's and adult publishers, both on a full time basis and as a freelance consultant, on English and Spanish language books. She is also a professional translator, and has worked on a number of translations of best-selling children's books. Adriana is based on the East Coast (New York), and interested in building a strong list of children's picture books, middle grade novels, and (literary) young adult novels. On the adult side, she is looking for literary, women's, and historical fiction, and in the area of non-fiction, for multicultural, pop culture, how-to, and titles geared toward women of all ages. When not working - which is rare - Adriana can be found at the nearest airport, waiting to be whisked away from it all; along with publishing, travel is her biggest passion!" (Link)

Status: Accepting submissions and actively building her list.

What She's Looking For:

From the website:

"[I am] interested in building a strong list of children's picture books, middle grade novels, and (literary) young adult novels. On the adult side, I am looking for literary, women's, and historical fiction, and in the area of non-fiction, for multicultural, pop culture, how-to, and titles geared toward women of all ages." (Link)

From an Interview (09/2009):

"I am very open to bilingual projects, particularly on the children's side; I have edited a great many bilingual children's books in my previous lives and believe that they serve a very real purpose in the lives of both Latino and Anglo parents and children. I also happen to know that the market craves them more than most people think. I am willing to read queries written in Spanish because I am fully bilingual and want to help as many Latino writers as possible get published. However, I'd look at those queries with the intention of submitting the works to publishers in English, or bilingually, so the writer in question would have to be willing to have his or her material translated before submitting a full proposal to me." (Link)

Ms. Dominguez reports (via e-mail) she is actively seeking MG/YA historical fiction. 

What She Isn't Looking For:

"Please note: we do NOT represent genre fiction (science fiction, fantasy, westerns, crime, horror, mystery, thrillers, detective novels, category romance) screenplays or poetry. Out of respect for our time, please do not send submissions in these areas; we will not respond to such queries." (Link)

Quotables:

"Glorious prose is definitely the best way to impress me! I treasure good writing, strong voices, and compelling stories. Additionally, I often find myself wanting to work with writers who have done their homework and know that building a platform before seeking publication is essential in today's competitive publishing market. Beyond that, I would love to find exciting new concept- and character-driven material." (Link)

"Whether as editor, book reviewer, or translator, my goal has always been the same: To be involved in the development of quality books that enrich people’s lives and bring something new to the market. And as a Latina myself, I am especially interested in helping publishers to increase their output of books of all kinds written by Latinos." (Link)

"I am looking to build long-term relationships. The amount of time and effort I generally devote to my authors would not be worthwhile otherwise, as we often spend long periods of time working on manuscripts and polishing them until they are ready to present to publishers. By the time all that work is done, whether the manuscript in question is sold or not, I have generally fallen in love with the author's work, which means that I am fully invested in my clients' long-term success." (Link)

About the Agency:

"We are a full-service boutique literary agency, offering a full circle approach to our authors. We work with a wide range of nonfiction books, literary fiction, as well as children's books, middle grade and young adult books. Full Circle Literary's unique approach to the agenting relationship helps build authors one step at a time. We know the time and effort you put into your writing. Our underlying policy is that we only sign work we are as enthusiastic about as you are. We use our diverse expertise in book publishing to help build long-term careers for our clients. We'll support you up to and through the publication process. We'll see it through... full circle." (Link)

Dislikes/Peeves:

"I dislike emails that ask questions whose answers can be easily found on our agency website. [...] I am also a stickler for grammar, so typically, a poorly written query, or one that contains grammatical and/or typographical errors directs my attention elsewhere." (Link)

Editorial Agent?

Yes. "...we often spend long periods of time working on manuscripts and polishing them until they are ready to present to publishers." (Link)

Web Presence:

Full Circle Lit website.

Full Circle Lit Publisher's Marketplace page.

Full Cirlce Lit blog.

Voces - Ms. Dominguez's blog.

Twitter.

LinkedIn.

QueryTracker.

Clients:

There is list of select client titles on the website.  Ms. Dominguez's clients include Alma Flor Ada, Reyna Grande, and Lorena Siminovich, among others.

Sales:

As of this posting, Ms. Dominguez is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 1 four-book deal in the last 12 months and 1 overall.  Recent deals include 4 picture books. 

NOTE:  PM is usually not a complete representation of sales, and Ms. Dominguez reports she has sold six picture books/board books with more announcements to come.   

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes (only).  

Snail-Mail: No.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

"To submit, send a brief, one-page query (in the body of the email, no attachments please) describing your book project and author highlights. You may also include the first 10 manuscript pages or complete picture book manuscript text in the body of the email. No phone queries, please! Include the name of the agent in the subject line if you are directing specifically to Adriana Dominguez or Stefanie Von Borstel. Currently, Lilly Ghahremani is not accepting general submissions." (Link)

See the Full Circle Literary website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.

Query Tips:

"In terms of my personal preference, I simply need to know, from the query letter alone, what the project/book is about. I would suggest that authors belonging to critique groups bring their query letters to their groups to have them evaluated by others and most importantly, to make sure that they make sense. It is sometimes difficult to tell when you are so close to a project, and having that feedback can help you to write your proposal from the perspective of the reader, rather than that of the writer." (Link)

Response Times:

"Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. We will notify you if we are interested in representing your project or if we will be requesting additional materials (such as sample chapters or a proposal). Unfortunately we cannot respond personally to every query and submission we receive." (Link)

Though information is limited, Ms. Dominguez's average response time on queries seems to be about 2 weeks and 1-2 months on requested material. 

What's the Buzz?

The buzz on Ms. Dominguez is quiet but positive.  She's only been agenting since late 2009 but has over 10 years of experience in publishing, many in editorial positions.  Full Circle Literary is a respected agency with a strong multicultural and green line, and Ms. Dominguez has made several sales as an agent.  While she has a strong desire for multicultural projects, she also seems to be seeking contemporary, historical, and literary children's books.

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

Q&A with Literary Agent Adriana Dominguez at musings (05/2010).

Interview with Literary Agent Adriana Dominguez at examiner.com (09/2009).

Interview with Adriana Dominguez at BronzeWord Latino Authors (08/2009).

Interview with an Editor, Adriana Dominguez at Jeff Rivera Writing and Book Marketing Tips (10/2008).

Select Blog Posts:

2009 Wrap-up including Ms. Dominguez's favorite books of the year.

Follow the Full Circle Lit blog for client updates and news as well as Ms. Dominguez's blog for contests and Latino book happenings and news.

Around the Web:

There is an Info and Upcoming Appearances page on the site worth checking out. 

Full Circle Lit thread on AbsoluteWrite.

Contact:

Please see the Full Circle Literary website for contact and query information.

***

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.

Tip Tuesday #42

I have another great tip today from Ryan who's finally started a blog! It's called The Writer's Arsenal and Ryan will be tackling grammar topics and demonstrating how knowledge of grammar can help in creating voice, pacing, tension, etc. Please subscribe and see what he has to say. But before you go, here's his tip!

To me, one of the best things a writer can do is read and study poetry. We often forget the different things we can achieve through writing, and by looking at poetry, where different techniques are more obvious, we can find so many more tools to use. For example, poetry is a great thing to look at for pacing. If we look at the way poems speed or slow our reading, we can try to put that in our own writing. If we read a poem that uses long lines, but you get a random staccato two-word sentence, it stops us and draws our attention. We can do that in prose too. Beyond pacing, poetry can really help with imagery, metaphor, and attention to details. Since every word matters, we can also better see how our word choice effects the reader in poetry. Some great poets for pacing are: Allen Ginsberg, Olga Broumas and Jorie Graham. Some poets who have terrific imagery are: Brigit Pegeen Kelly and Sharon Olds. To see great examples of voice, check out: Frank O'Hara, Ai, Amber Tamblyn (yes, she's a terrific poet too), and Kenneth Koch.

Great tip, Ryan! I did a study on voice during my last term at school and my professor had me pick up a book of poetry called Asphalt Georgics by Hayden Carruth. It was really interesting to see how voice can be established in so few words.

Q&A with Tina Wexler of ICM

Hey everyone!

I have another exciting opportunity for you. Tina Wexler of International Creative Management has agreed to do a Q&A with us! Last month's Q&A went so well, I've decided to make this a monthly feature, if possible.

You'll be e-mailing me your questions but please read the following details before you do!

Ms. Wexler is going to answer as many as questions possible but won't be answering all of them, especially since there are bound to be repeats and similarities. To increase the likelihood of your question being answered, please refrain from asking situation-specific questions. Think of it like an interview. The best questions are those that benefit everyone. Also, the more original you are, the more likely your question won't be a repeat. Please limit yourself to one question, two at the most. When you e-mail, please include the name or screen name you'd like your question posted under when the Q&A goes up.

The actual Q&A probably won't be posted for a week or two as Ms. Wexler is going on vacation next week. We'll have to be patient. For more information on Tina Wexler and what she's looking for, please check out her Spotlight and the interviews she's done.

I'll take questions for approximately 24 hours at which point a cut-off post will be posted. Ready? Go! E-mail me your questions at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com. Updates will appear at the bottom of this post in RED, if needed.

UPDATE 1 (2:00 p.m.): I've only received a handful of questions. Please take advantage of this fabulous opportunity and send one in!

UPDATE 2 (9:02 p.m.): We have a nice set of questions now, but you still have until tomorrow morning to send them in. Don't be shy! I'm loving the variety.

UPDATE 3 (6/22): Okay, I'm closing this post down. Thanks for spreading the word and sending questions in, everyone! The Q&A will probably post the week after next as Ms. Wexler is going on vacation. Thank you for your patience!

WriteOnCon Giveaway Winner!

I meant to post this yesterday, but the day completely ran away from me. I realize many of you are busy today (Happy Father's Day!!), but I'm still going to announce and e-mail the winner. You guys can catch up tomorrow when you stop by for the Q&A with Tina Wexler!

I numbered everyone and used Random.org to choose a winner. Random.org gave me number...

35! Which, on my list, is Alyssa Kirk. Alyssa, I'll be e-mailing you shortly. Thank you so much for spreading the word about WriteOnCon!!!!

Thanks and Monday Q&A

Thanks for spreading the word about WriteOnCon, everyone! I love all the comments and excitement!! The website should be updated this weekend with awesome new faculty. Believe it or not, there are even more in the works! Keep checking back and follow WriteOnCon on Twitter for updates. My giveaway ends tonight, so if you haven't commented and spread the word, please do so! I'll announce the winner tomorrow.

Also, make sure to stop by on MONDAY, 6/21. I'll be taking questions for 24 hours for a Q&A with the fabulous Tina Wexler of International Creative Management. Please give her Spotlight a read and think up some great questions for her. The Q&A will have the same parameters as the last. NO situation-specific questions. More details on Monday.

Have a great weekend!!!

Agent Spotlight: Wendy Schmalz

This week's Agent Spotlight features Wendy Schmalz of Wendy Schmalz Agency.

wendySchmalz About: "Wendy is the principal and founder of the Wendy Schmalz Agency, founded in 2002. Representing a wide range of writers for both the children’s and adult markets for more than twenty-five years, her current client list includes Sandy Asher, Seymour Simon, and Ed Koch, to name a few. She began her career at Curtis Brown before moving on to Harold Ober Associates, where she was a principal of the company."  (Link)

Status: Accepting submissions.

What She's Looking For:

Genres of Interest:  Children's and adult fiction and nonfiction including middle grade, young adult, literary fiction, graphic novels, gay/lesbian literature, history, politics, current affairs, pop culture, entertainment, narrative nonfiction. 

From an Interview (05/2009):

"Right now my list is about 75% children’s books and 25% adult books. I tend not to handle genre books (romance, Sci-fi, etc.) and I’m not taking on any new picture book writers or books for readers younger than middle grade. Other than that, I represent an eclectic group of fiction and non-fiction writers." (Link)

From a Guest Post (11/2009):

"As an agent, I look for books that are well written and that appeal to my personal taste. I’ve never been a fan of traditional fantasy or science fiction so I’m not a good judge of those genres. I focus on older middle grade and YA fiction. I’m not taking on any new picture book writers." (Link)

What She Isn't Looking For:

"Not currently accepting submissions of genre fiction or children's picture books." (Link)

Including:  Christian literature, comedy/humor, erotica, horror, poetry, puzzles/games, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, western, business/investment, cooking/food/wine, crafts/hobbies/DIY, health/diet, home/garden, mind/body/spirit, music/musicals, parenting/family, professional/reference, relationships/family, religion/spirituality/inspiration, science/technology, self-help, sports, technical/how-two, textbooks, dramatic works, picture books.  (Link)

Quotables:

"I want an open, honest give-and-take with my authors. It should be a close relationship and it’s just as important for me to like my authors as it is for me to like their work. I’m happy to work with my authors editorially. I’m not a good hand-holder and I don’t want to be anyone’s therapist." (Link)

About the Agency:

"Wendy Schmalz Agency represents an eclectic cadre of writers. Founded in 2002." (Link)

Dislikes/Peeves:

"I hate it when people send manuscripts or writing samples without asking first. I will delete those without opening them or send them back unread if they’re sent by snail mail. I don’t like it when people start out their queries with statistics. I’m amused by letters that tell me I’ll regret it if I don’t read their novel because representing them will make me richer than rich (I don’t ask to read those –who wants to represent someone with an out of control ego?)" (Link)

Editorial Agent?

Yes. "I’m happy to work with my authors editorially." (Link)

Web Presence:

Wendy Schamlz Literary website.

Publisher's Marketplace page.

AAR page.

AgentQuery, QueryTracker, AuthorAdvance.

Clients:

Alice Alexiou, Shari Becker, Partricia Calvert, Kathy Charles, Michael Delaney, Erik Esckilsen, Eve Feldman, Myla Goldberg, John Maxwell Hamilton, April Henry, Elizabeth Starr Hill, Marybeth Kelsey, Marlane Kennedy, Jason Little, Robin MacCready, Albert Marrin, Amanda Marrone, Sarah Miller, Alice Peck, Lila Perl, Julie Ann Peters, Dean Pitchford, Bonnie Shimko, Sue Stauffacher, Leonard Todd, Denise Vega, Amy Wallace, Michael Williams, among others.

Sales:

As of this posting, Ms. Schmalz is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 5 deals in the last 12 months and 16 overall.  Recent deals include 5 young adult.

NOTE:  PM is usually not a complete representation of sales. 

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes (preferred).  

Snail-Mail: Yes.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

"Mail and e-mail queries are accepted. Please include a synopsis. Do not enclose or attach the manuscript or sample chapters. Queries sent by mail must enclose an SASE. We will only respond to e-mail queries if we're interested in reading the manuscript." (Link)

See the Wendy Schmalz Literary website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines. 

Query Tips:

"What gets my attention is when someone says why they want me specifically to be their agent. It shows they’ve done their homework – that they know what sort of writers I represent and think we’d be a good fit." (Link)

Response Times:

Ms. Schmalz doesn't respond to e-mail queries unless interested.  Her response time on snail-mail queries seems to be around 3 weeks.  Requested material generally takes 3-4 weeks.

What's the Buzz?

Ms. Schmalz has a good but quiet buzz on the Internet.  She's been representing authors for over 25 years and is taking on very few new clients as a result. She is currently open to submissions.   Her years of experience, sales history, and client list recommend her.  She's also a member of the AAR.

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

Interview with Wendy Schmalz at The Five Randoms (05/2009).

Around the Web:

Guest post by Wendy Schmalz at David L. Harrison's blog (11/2009).

Agent Appreciation Day post on Wendy Schmalz at Jennifer_d_g's blog.

Wendy Schmalz's AbsoluteWrite thread.

Contact:

Please see the Wendy Schmalz Literary website for contact and query information.

***

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.

Tip Tuesday #41

Please check out yesterday's post and giveaway if you missed it! Today I have a quick but awesome tip from my #1 tip contributor, Lisa Nowak! We heart you and your writing tips Lisa! Right guys? I hope you're following her!

When I’m doing revisions it can get confusing trying to follow a particular subplot. To make this easier, I create separate word documents for each subplot. I cut and paste every scene for a given subplot into its document, giving each scene a heading that includes the chapter and page number for easy reference. This allows me to quickly see all the scenes together so I can be sure I’ve included all the pertinent information without being repetitive.

I've done this with two larger plot lines but didn't think to do subplots. Brilliant! Thank you once again, Lisa!

WriteOnCon - The Big Reveal!

If you follow Elana Johnson, Jamie Harrington, Shannon Messenger, Lisa and Laura Roecker, and/or me on Twitter, you've probably seen tweets about a Secret Project and (oh yes!) a VLOG we've been working on. Well, the day has come to unleash the epic and bring you in on the secret. BEHOLD! virtual embarrassment and revelation!



My first vlog, people! I know! I'm sorry! *DEEP BREATH*

Anyway! to recap for those of you at work, the six of us (linked above) and the website goddess Jen Stayroot are organizing a free online writer's conference for kidlit writers!

We’ve all heard friends and fellow writers remark on their inability to attend writer's conferences for one reason or another, and since we’re all about paying it forward, we decided to create our own and to bring it to YOU using the amazing capabilities of the web. And so, WriteOnCon was born—and rated MC-18 (main characters 18 and under).

When? August 10-12, 2010
Where? http://writeoncon.com/
How? Various forms of social media.

I can't even tell you how amazing it's going to be. No, really! We have a ton of great stuff planned and just look at the names already involved: Catherine Drayton, Steven Malk, Michelle Andelman, Suzie Townsend, Mark McVeigh, Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Kathleen Ortiz, Lindsay Eland, Dan Ehrenhaft, Mandy Hubbard, Daisy Whitney, Lindsey Leavitt, Josh Berk, Anica Rissi, Jodi Meadows—with more to come!

I know, right?! *swoon*

PLEASE bookmark the website, subscribe to the blog feed, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook! There are some details available on the site but we'll be leaking more as we draw near the big date.

But before you go, let's have a spread-the-word-GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is spread the word someway, somehow (the more ways and hows the better) by Friday at 12 pm EST (leave a link, if possible) and comment on this post with a way to reach you. The prize is a WINNER'S CHOICE kidlit book sent right to his/her doorstep. I know, I know, I'm so lax! But please, spread the word however you prefer and put the widget on your blog, if you can.

I'm very excited to see what you all think! More details will follow, I promise. Registration opens July 1st! And make sure you stop by my fellow organizers' blogs for more contests and giveaway opportunities!

Agent Spotlight: Diana Fox

This week's Agent Spotlight features Diana Fox of Fox Literary LLC.

foxliterarylogo About: "Diana Fox is the owner of Fox Literary LLC, a full-service boutique literary agency specializing in commercial fiction along with select works of literary fiction and non-fiction with broad commercial appeal.

"Before founding Fox Literary in 2007, Diana spent several years learning the business of publishing at Writers House. Since then, Fox Literary has represented a steadily growing client list, including the agency's first New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Diana studied English literature and creative writing at Smith College, and grew up in the suburbs of New York City; she now lives in Manhattan, where she has no room for dogs or cats as the books have taken over the apartment." (Link)

Status: Accepting submissions, actively seeking new clients.

What She's Looking For:

Genres of Interest: Young adult, literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, thrillers, suspense, and graphic novels. She is also interested in non-fiction memoirs, biography, popular science, history, pop culture, narrative nonfiction and books about sex work, addiction and recovery.

From Publisher's Marketplace:

"I am actively seeking the following: young adult fiction (all genres), science fiction/fantasy, romance, historical fiction, thrillers, and graphic novels. I'm always interested in books that cross genres and reinvent popular concepts with an engaging new twist (especially when there’s a historical and/or speculative element involved).

"On the nonfiction side I'm interested in memoirs, biography, and smart narrative nonfiction; I particularly enjoy memoirs and other nonfiction about sex work, addiction and recovery, and pop culture." (Link)

From an Interview (06/2010):

"My taste in YA probably tends more toward edgy than clean (unless you’re referring to the prose), but I really don’t care whether a book has sex or swearing in it or not, or whether it’s paranormal, historical, or realistic contemporary... as long it’s beautifully written and has a great concept, I’m there. I represent a lot of retellings of myths, fairy tales, poetry, etc. in both adult and young adult fiction, so it’s always a safe bet to send those my way--if it’s got an original twist and a strong voice, I’ll probably be all over it.

"I go for books for older teens rather than middle grade, as a general rule; while there is some middle grade that I enjoy, I read far less of it and therefore it’s much more rare for me to request middle grade manuscripts as opposed to YA for older teens." (Link)

From an Interview (11/2009):

"I'm looking for young adult fiction (all genres, for older teens as opposed to middle grade), as well as romance, science fiction/fantasy, historical fiction, thrillers, crime fiction, and graphic novels. I also represent some literary fiction. On the nonfiction side, I'm looking for memoirs, biography, history, popular science, and smart narrative nonfiction; I’m particularly interested in memoirs and other nonfiction about sex work, addiction and recovery, and pop culture." (Link)

What She Isn't Looking For:

"Fox Literary does not represent screenplays, poetry, category Westerns, horror, Christian/inspirational fiction or nonfiction, or children's picture books. I am also not looking for category romance UNLESS the author also writes single title books or is on the verge of breaking out of category." (Link)

Quotables:

"My client list is small by design, since I want to make sure I have enough time and energy to give one hundred percent to the clients I have. I have a high sell-through rate (in other words, I sell most of the projects I take on), and having such a small list is part of what allows me to do that." (Link)

"[...] I hope people understand that most agents get into publishing because we genuinely care about books and authors--trust me when I say there are far easier ways to make money if that were all we wanted out of a career! Our purpose is ultimately a positive one, and we are being genuine when we say we’re sorry something isn’t right for us but that we wish you success with your writing." (Link)

Editorial Agent?

"Yes. How much I will edit a given manuscript depends on the project and the author, but I still almost always ask for some revisions before we go on submission. When I edit, my goal is to do whatever the manuscript requires. At the same time, I try not to over-edit, because I know that the editor who buys it will have their own vision for the book. (And whenever I suggest an author cut something, I tell them to save it in an outtakes file, because often that's the very thing the editor will ask them to add!)" (Link)

Web Presence:

Publisher's Marketplace Page.

Blog (also on Dreamwidth).

Twitter.

Facebook.

JacketFlap.

LinkedIn.

AgentQuery, QueryTracker, AuthorAdvance.

I believe an official website is in the works, stay tuned!

Clients:

Katharine Beutner, Gwynne Garfinkle, Hannah Harrington, Michelle Hodkin, Anna Katherine, Catherine Knutsson, Nadia Lee, Elizabeth Loupas, Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire, Christine Merrill, Claudia Gray, Prudence Shen, among others.

Sales:

As of this posting, Ms. Fox is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 5 deals in the last 12 months, 1 six-figure+ deal, and 12 overall.  Recent deals include 2 young adult, 1 graphic novel, 1 general other, and 1 sci-fi fantasy.

NOTE:  PM is usually not a complete representation of sales. 

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes (preferred).  

Snail-Mail: Yes.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

E-mail:  Send a query letter and the first five pages in the body of the e-mail.  No attachments.  Put QUERY and the title of the work in the subject line.

Snail-mail: Send a query letter including an e-mail address.  Ms. Fox only responds and requests via e-mail.  Do NOT send a SASE or unsolicited manuscript.

Please the the Fox Literary blog or Publisher's Marketplace page for complete, update-to-date submission guidelines.

Query Tips:

"What catches my interest in a query letter is the same as what catches my interest in a book: good writing. The writing needs to be clean and hopefully polished, but at the very least without obvious errors in punctuation, grammar, etc. (I'm not talking about an obvious typo in an otherwise well written letter). I focus a lot on style and voice, as well as the story. I always ask that authors paste the first five pages of the manuscript into the body of the email, because sometimes the query isn't terrific but the book itself is." (Link)

There are some other great query tips in this interview at client Michelle Hodlkin's blog.

Response Times:

Definitely varied.  Ms. Fox tries to respond to queries within 4 weeks and generally seems to do so.  She often sends rejections quicker than she makes requests, keeping a maybe pile as she goes through queries.  With requested material, however, I see averages around 3 months with other instances nearly a year out.  Note:  She almost always requests fulls when she requests. 

What's the Buzz?

Diana Fox has great buzz.  She's known to be super nice, friendly, and an all around class act.  She maintains a small but successful clientele with a high sell-through rate, and her clients seem very happy under her representation.  Despite sometimes long, fluctuating response times, she's known to love and appreciate slush.  Definitely follow her on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to get the latest updates and a great feel for her personality. 

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

Interview with Diana Fox at Michelle Hodkin's blog (06/2010).

Agent Interview: Diana Fox at The Blog Realm (11/2009). 

Select Blog Posts:

New Adventures in Slush (12/2008).

Post on historical romance novels she likes and is looking for (05/2008).

Post with some submission preferences (04/2008).   

Submission Guidelines.

Consider subscribing to Ms. Fox's blog.  She doesn't update regularly but she talks about client news, submission updates, and appearances when she does.

Around the Web:

Ms. Fox's AbsoluteWrite thread.

Contact:

Please see Ms. Fox's Publisher's Marketplace page, submissions post, and/or AgentQuery page for contact and query information.

***

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.

Guest Blogger Kristi Helvig: Basics of an Elevator Pitch

 

Please welcome guest blogger Kristi Helvig! She's here to talk about the Basics of an Elevator Pitch but make sure to drop by her group blog, Sisters in Scribe, where she's been talking about the Dreaded Synopsis and other great writing topics.

I was fortunate enough to attend an SCBWI talk hosted by talented author Hilari Bell and author/illustrator Anna-Maria Crum. The topic: how to give a brief pitch to agents/editors. Even if you're not doing a scheduled pitch appointment at a conference, a pitch is something you should have ready in case an editor or agent happens to ask, "What's your book about?" That's assuming you'd rather have a more coherent response than "Um, well, there's this guy and he goes to this museum, and there's this um, secret society..."

Wouldn't you rather say (well, if you were Dan Brown):

"A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ." (I found this summary of The DaVinci Code online -- doesn't it have more 'flow' than the first one.)

What is an elevator pitch?

It's one or two sentences (three max) giving an overall summary of your book -- sentences that are compelling enough to make the editor/agent ask more questions. I know, right? Anyway, Hilari and Anna Maria were masters at it. They listened to attendees read part of their query letter or give a description of their book, and within minutes, they'd distilled it into a few succinct sentences. It was amazing to watch. I listened and learned, and here are a few tidbits I picked up along the way. NOTE: All examples below are fabricated by moi, so blame me if they suck.

Be Specific/Don't Be Cliche

Bad Example: When the space monkey arrived, her whole world turned upside down.

Better Example:
When the six-foot space monkey landed in her bedroom, ten-year-old Sarah Connor knew she’d finally found the topic for her science fair project.

Use Strong Verbs/Active Voice

Bad Example: When six-year-old Ben was given a black eye by the school bully, he looked for a way to get back at him.

Better Example: When the school bully pops six-year-old Ben in the eye, Ben exacts revenge the only way he knows how -- with peanut butter and a Nerf gun.

Other tip: the main character (MC) should be identified in the pitch as well as the obstacle they face, though it can be implied rather than obvious. There are exceptions to this but wait until you're famous to break the rules.

Nathan Bransford also has an amazingly comprehensive post on one sentence, one paragraph, and two paragraph pitches.

So there you have it. Any questions? Now get out there and pitch.

Tip Tuesday #40

Hey everyone! If you didn't have a chance to read Sue Walker's interview yesterday, please do. I put it up later than I meant to. Today, your Tuesday Tip comes from Daren Hansen of the Laws of Making. This is his second time on the blog, so please give him a visit!

When I described the WriteMonkey text editor a few weeks ago, I shared only half of my distraction-free writing story. The other half is that I use WriteMonkey on a netbook. Netbooks are smaller, lighter (and some would say underpowered) laptops designed for common applications (like writing), email, internet browsing, etc. There are many models to chose from and you shouldn't have to pay more than about $300.

I did remove most of the software that came pre-installed, which noticeably improved the netbook's performance. In most respects the system was what I expected, but there were two things that surprised me, in a delightful way: the netbook's 9-hour battery life and its light weight. Together, those features opened up my writing horizons. Because the netbook is so light and small, I nearly always take it along if I'm going someplace and might have a chance to write. Similarly, it's perfect to take to whatever corner of the house is relatively quiet and distraction free. And with the stunning battery life (and a captive audience in the car), I was able to turn a road-trip into a productive read-through-and-revise session.

If you're considering a new computer for your writing, I encourage you to take a look at netbooks--their liabilities as a general computing platform are assets for writers who want to minimize distractions when they're trying to write.

Thanks Daren! I've been wanting to get a netbook for this exact reason. It's a pain to tote my regular laptop around and the battery life is awful. I'd love a reliable, on-the-go writing companion! : )

Interview with Author Sue Walker!

I had the pleasure of interviewing Australian author Sue Walker recently and I'm excited to share her answers with you. Sue has published several picture books and young readers and her first junior novel, Arnie Avery, debuts this month.

Hi Sue! Thank you so much for the interview. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks Casey - it’s great to visit.

I’m an Australian author – I live in Sydney with my husband and three children, and I’ve been writing fiction and non-fiction for children for about ten years. When I’m not writing I love walking, baking cakes, and heading off for camping holidays in the bush.

It looks like you write everything from picture books to young readers. Is your upcoming release, Arnie Avery, your first junior novel? Please tell us more about it. I love the cover.

Thank you, and yes - Arnie Avery is my first junior novel. The story is about a typical 13 year old boy. He has a sense of humour, he likes riding his bike, and he likes being with his friends, but he also has a few serious problems – one is his family, and the other is the school bully, Jacko. I think the story demonstrates that no matter how tough things might seem…you can turn your life around.

What do you have planned for the release of Arnie Avery in June? Anything fun?

There’s a lot planned. I’m having two launches for Arnie Avery – one with a local school, and the other at a Children’s & Young Adult Writers Festival. Every participant will be given something special to help launch the book, and there’ll be lots of fun activities for the kids. I’m also having an in-store book signing, plus there’ll be the odd glass or two of celebratory bubbles.

I love your author website and blog. How has the marketing and promotion side of publication been for you? Given your young audience, do you find you focus your time and efforts more on in-person promotion (such as school visits) or online promotion?

The promotion side of publishing is all very new to me, but I realize it’s important to the success of your book. With Arnie Avery, I’ve split my time equally between in-person and online promotion. I have a new website and I’ve increased my online presence, and I’ve actually just arrived home from a school visit. Meeting with kids and sharing my love of writing is always a thrill, and I think readers enjoy connecting with the person behind the book as well.

From your website, it sounds like you had an interesting childhood including preschool in Malaysia on the edge of a jungle! Have any of those experiences made it into your writing?

I’ve lived in lots of different places and little snippets of my childhood do seem to creep into my work. There’s a scene in Arnie Avery that came straight from an experience I had as a ten year old. I was at the pool with my brother and sister when a boy fell into the water. We didn’t know he couldn’t swim until he sank to the bottom, and my brother had to dive in and rescue him. It’s a vivid memory – I can still see that boy on the concrete beside the pool. I’m glad it was a memory with a happy ending.

What did your journey from aspiring author to published author entail? What were the key milestones along the way?

My first acceptance was for a non-fiction piece for a children’s magazine. I was cooking sausages on the barbeque when the editor rang and asked if I could make some changes to the article. I was so stunned I could barely utter a sensible word. That acceptance was a major milestone because it gave me confidence in my skill as a writer.

Later I decided to specialize in chapter books for children 5-8 years. Initially I had a few rejections, followed by some positive feedback, and then finally…an acceptance. A few books later, Best Friends was selected as a Notable Book by the Children’s Book Council. It was very gratifying to receive formal recognition for my work.

Do you have a literary agent? If so, how did you come to work with him/her? If not, how did you come to work with your publisher(s)?

No, I don’t have a literary agent. I started out submitting to slush piles, and over the years developed relationships with a few editors who liked my work enough to comment personally. I’m eternally grateful for feedback – good or bad – because it helps me to improve my writing. I always send letters of thanks to editors for taking the time to respond to my submissions.

Is there anything you've learned or experienced during the publishing process that's surprised you?

Yes. How incredibly long it can take to publish a picture book. After the initial search for an illustrator, it can be years before the artwork is finished.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. If you receive any personal feedback from an editor – celebrate. I’d also try to focus on one area of children’s books, whether its picture books, early readers, mid-grade or YA.

You must be working on something new. Can you divulge anything about your current work(s)-in-progress?

Right now I’m working on a YA novel about a guardian angel, and also a narrative non-fiction picture book (I know – it’s a mouthful!).

You're managing a writing career alongside a family. What's your writing process like? Do you have any tips on writing while raising children?

I write when I can, in between everything else I have to fit into the day. My number one tip is – relax. Don’t feel bad about it when you can’t write, instead spend time thinking about your story while you’re doing other things. And if you’re too tired to be creative, reading is the next best thing.

Where can readers stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest on you and your books?

Readers can visit my website: www.suewalkerauthor.com

To close, what's one interview question you haven't been asked and wish you would be? And please, answer it!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I wanted be a guide dog trainer – I never once dreamed I’d be an author. I think that’s something worth mentioning, because so many authors know from very early that they want to be writers. For me, it came as a surprise. I didn’t start writing seriously until I had children, but now I couldn’t imagine life without it.

Thank you so much for the fabulous interview, Sue. I hope we'll be seeing some of your titles in the US very soon!

Bio: Sue Walker is the author of numerous titles for children. Her book Tilly’s Treasure is part of the award-winning Aussie Nibbles series, and Best Friends is a Children’s Book Council Notable Book. Many of Sue’s poems, articles, and short stories have appeared in children’s magazines, and her books have featured in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Sue lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband, three children, and a scruffy white dog. Further information can be found at www.suewalkerauthor.com

Arnie Avery is available in Australian bookstores, and online at http://www.booktopia.com.au

Agent Spotlight: Holly Root

This week's Agent Spotlight features Holly Root of Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.

Status: Open to submissions.

Screen-Shot-2013-03-22-at-10.46.09-AMAbout: "My favorite part of being an agent is the thrill of discovery. Being the first to experience a new world or a brand-new author simply never gets old. Couple that with the joy of sharing that wonderful book with editors and eventually readers and you’ve got the reason I truly love my job.

“I’m drawn to well-told commercial novels in a variety of genres. I’m much more likely to keep reading if I know from that perfectly-executed first page that this character (or author, in the case of nonfiction) is someone who interests me, someone whose story I’d like to get lost in for the next two hours. I know I’ve found a winner when I encounter writers whose skills on the page make me know beyond any doubt that I’m in excellent hands.

“I’m currently seeking middle grade and young adult fiction, women’s fiction (both commercial and upmarket), urban fantasy and romance. I also represent select nonfiction projects.

“I do not represent poetry, screenplays, picture books, thrillers, or erotica.

“Prior to joining the Waxman Literary Agency in 2007, Holly Root worked at the William Morris Agency and Trident Media Group.” (Link)

About the Agency:

“The Waxman Leavell Literary Agency is a development-oriented firm, specializing in representing nonfiction and fiction authors with powerful stories. Our strength lies in our ability to match authors with ideas and to connect them with the best possible publisher for their book. Our clients are accomplished journalists, experts in their fields, celebrities and first time writers with an exceptional story or message to share. We have been associated with dozens of bestsellers and award winning projects, and look forward to continuing to help bring exciting and successful new voices to American and international markets.

“Founded by Scott Waxman and Byrd Leavell, the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency is a full-service boutique literary agency with a hands-on, dynamic approach to literary representation. Due to the ever-shifting landscape of the publishing business, editors come and go, but WLLA prides itself on building long-term relationships with its clients and remaining as a constant in a writer’s life. Proactive from the start, WLLA offers a range of creative input from idea generation to project development, and proposal editing. WLLA clients benefit from the personalized attention of an intimate, editorially driven office, and from more than forty years of publishing experience.” (Link)

Web Presence:

Waxman Leavell Literary website.

Waxman Leavell Literary blog.

Publisher’s Marketplace page.

Twitter @hroot.

WeBook Profile.

AgentQuery.

QueryTracker.

What She's Looking For:  

Genres / Specialties:

Middle grade, young adult, women’s fiction (commercial and upmarket), urban fantasy, romance, select nonfiction. (Link)

From Her Website Bio (as above):

"I’m drawn to well-told commercial novels in a variety of genres. I’m much more likely to keep reading if I know from that perfectly-executed first page that this character (or author, in the case of nonfiction) is someone who interests me, someone whose story I’d like to get lost in for the next two hours. I know I’ve found a winner when I encounter writers whose skills on the page make me know beyond any doubt that I’m in excellent hands." (Link)

From an Interview (05/2011):

“I love being genuinely surprised (I should clarify this is ‘surprised,’ not ‘baffled’). What does that look like? A fresh spin on a genre I thought I was completely tired of, the execution that reminds me I actually LOVE [whatever genre I forgot that I love], the concept I can't get out of my head, the character who is flawed and frustrating and yet totally, completely lovable for those vulnerabilities. I'm really a fan of lots of kinds of books; it's so much about voice for me that I've fallen for all manner of things against my better sense and only after I've sold it had to be like, ‘Um. Right. I guess I do [chick lit/steampunk/witch/Amish/high fantasy/etc] now.’” (Link)

From an interview 03/2010:

"I do both fiction and nonfiction. For fiction, commercial women's (I'd love to see more projects with book-club appeal along the lines of my client Lisa Patton's WHISTLIN' DIXIE IN A NOR'EASTER), romance (mostly paranormal although not exclusively), and a very select few mysteries. I love young adult and middle grade fiction, which is a growing portion of my list, particularly middle grade. If you've got a good one please do think of me!  On the nonfic side, I tend to know it when I see it, but a strong sense of voice, a great platform and the ability to make me really think are essentials for both prescriptive and narrative projects.

"I am always looking for something that will truly transport me--make me ignore the cats and husband (temporarily) because I just cannot stop reading (they're used to it, don't worry). I love humor, but am tough on anything that tries too hard to be wacky. I love finding writers whose words just ooze confidence and make the reader know they're in excellent hands. Notice how subjective all of that is? :) As far as specifics, I mentioned above that I'd love to find a middle grade. It doesn't mean I'm not looking for other things but there's definitely a nice opportunity there if you've got a killer MG ready to go." (Link)

From a Tweet 02/2010:

"If you have a classic ghost-story-haunting for kids, think of me. Or if you write ghosts like Laura Whitcomb." (Link)

From an interview 12/2009:

"I'd love to see more middle grade, but I am exceptionally specific about voice for that age group, maybe even more reflexively than other genres I handle, so I know I will pass on saleable projects that just don't click with me.

"I continue to love YA that hits me sideways with a completely indelible voice. I'm also a sucker for contemporary fiction, both for young adults and adults, where the worldbuilding is as specific and well done as it would be in the strongest paranormal (as in Kay Cassidy's The Cinderella Society or Lisa Patton's Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter).

"I've talked before about wanting to see fiction for young readers that deals with faith in an ecumenically relatable/personal, rather than strictly market, sense. Think of the way Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret involves, but is not strictly about, a young girl's faith." (Link)

From AgentQuery:

"For mysteries, primarily interested in high-concept cozies. If you have a thriller, try Scott Waxman or Byrd Leavell instead." (Link

What She Isn't Looking For:

Picture books, poetry, screenplays/scripts, thrillers, erotica, sci-fi, epic fantasy, romantic suspense, category romance, true crime, military thrillers, thrillers with Russia or China in the premise, or woman/child peril stories. (Link, Link, Link)

Quotables:

"I think my agenting philosophy and my life philosophy are basically the same--do good work and do right by others. I hope to work with people who are out to do the same. I also believe that you never stop learning--as an agent, a writer, an editor--and like to work with others who see it that way too. I expect my clients to be brilliant writers, and to be professionals who can work respectfully with me and their team whether everything's going perfectly or when it gets trickier." (Link)

"I want my authors to be out there connecting with readers and potential readers, whether via blog or twitter or even in real life, or best yet, all three. Different approaches are right for different kinds of personalities and books. I expect authors to ask questions if they're unsure of what to do next, and to conduct themselves professionally even when frustrated. Beyond that, I want authors to play to their strengths, because you can always tell when someone has a blog only because someone told them that to move copies you have to have a blog (exchange "blog" for whatever other promo tool suits). No two authors' promotional efforts will look exactly the same, and that's a good thing." (Link)

Her Advice to Writers:

"I have a favorite saying that I think addresses most, if not all, of the things that make us crazy at any and every stage of the journey, and it is one we all should've learned by third grade: Eyes on your own test paper. Don't worry about Joe's query or how many full requests Suzy got, or whether Lisa got more co-op or David's deal was a pre-empt. Everyone's road is going to look different. Same thing applies to agents, honestly. Competing with yourself should be challenge enough. Getting wound up in the comparison game is unhealthy: It's unproductive because it's nearly impossible to know the entire story behind the scenes; it encourages a mentality that if someone else gets something good, there is one less good thing for me to get; and perhaps most of all, focusing on others takes your attention off things you can actually improve (i.e., your own work)." (Link)

"90% of writing is rewriting. I don’t know that it ever gets easier, but I know that the more you learn to self-edit and polish, the stronger you’ll be at those skills." (Link)

Editorial Agent?

"I’m a pretty editorial agent; the competition is so stiff these days that I can’t imagine not being that way. There’s definitely a point where you just have to put it out and let the market speak but if I see a way to make a ms that much tighter, why wouldn’t I jump on it?" (Link)

"I almost always have some sort of notes for my clients before submitting a project. It’s always good for them to have a fresh set of eyes, and the market is too tough to send a book out with deficiencies I can see and fix. With some authors, I’ll help brainstorm concepts from the ground up; with others, it’s helping the author decide which of several projects to pursue; and sometimes it’s a more specific edit of a completed project." (Link)

Clients:

There is a page of client books on the agency website.

Ms. Root’s client include: Leo Babauta, Josie Brown, Chelsea Campbell, Rae Carson, Kay Cassidy, Nancy J. Cavanaugh, Jen Cervantes, Lara Chapman, Alison Cherry, Manda Collins, Trish Cook, Diana Cosby, Virna De Paul, Liz Fichera, Jenny Gardiner, Nancy Grossman, Gemma Halliday, Rachel Hawkins, Mary Kennedy, Christina Lauren, Maureen Lipinski, Jennifer Malone, Myra McEntire, Theresa Meyers, Lisa Patton, Misa Ramirez, CJ Redwine, Serena Robar, Victoria Schwab, Kiera Stewart, Sara Bennett-Wealer, Skyler White, among others!

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes (only).  

Snail-Mail: No.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

Send a query letter and the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of an e-mail.  No attachments.

Please check the Waxman Leavell website, blog, and Ms. Root’s Publisher’s Marketplace page for the most current information.

Query Tips / Peeves:

"No need to apologize for yourself— ‘I'm so sorry to take up your time.’ Please don't threaten or beg me to ‘make your dream come true’ or try to pump up the project in ways that mean nothing—telling me how your mom or friends loved it, or that you have 150 Facebook friends, all of whom you're sure would buy a copy. Don't get in your own way! Just tell me about the book, and we'll go from there." (Link)

"Focus on the story. I don't need to know how long you've been writing, or what demons writing helps you exorcise, or any of those things. Just tell me a story and I'll go with you.  But if you must have a peeve, I am a relentless devil's advocate so if you ask me a rhetorical question in a query, you can bet I'm on the other end of my computer screen responding obstinately." (Link)

Response Times:

Ms. Root has an auto-responder for receipt of submission. She only responds personally if interested. Response times on requested material range from one week to several months.

What’s the Buzz?

Holly Root a top-notch agent with an incredible list of clients and sales. Her clients adore and gush about her every chance they get and she’s one of the sharpest, funniest agents I’ve come across. She's recommended by P&E and her active presence on the web makes her visible and popular among aspiring authors. Definitely follower her on Twitter and subscribe to the Waxman blog.

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

Interview with Holly Root at I Want Her Job (10/2011).

7 Questions For: Literary Agent Holly Root at Middle Grade Ninja (05/2011).

Friday in the Fort Interview with Holly Root at Myra McEntire's blog (04/2010).

Hilarious Interview with Agent Holly Root at The Last Word (03/2010).

Interview with an Agent: Holly Root at Mother.Write.Repeat (03/2010).

Brief interview with Holly Root at Jill Myles blog (01/2010).

Agent Advice Interview with Holly Root at the Guide to Literary Agents Blog (12/2009).

Holly Root on Negotiating Publishing Contracts at Romance University (12/2009).

Marvelous Marketer Interview with Holly Root at Market My Words (11/2009).

Book Lover of the Week Interview with Holly Root at Kay Cassidy's blog (09/2009).

Interview with Agent Holly Root at Adventure Into Romance (09/2009).

Interview with Agent Holly Root at The Novel Girls (01/2009).

AuthorMBA Q&A with agent Holly Root (05/2008).

Interview Question with Holly Root of Waxman Literary at A View From The Top (06/2007).

Guest Posts by Ms. Root:

Querying Blunders: How Not to Query featuring Holly Root (04/2010).

Guest Post by Holly Root at Magical Musings (02/2008).

Guest Post by Holly Root at The Plot Monkeys (02/2008).

Selected Posts by Ms. Root From the Waxman Blog:

Is it Who You Know? (08/2012).

Middle Grade Weremonkeys & Embracing Scary (02/2011).

The 10 Commandments of Social Networking for Writers (11/2010).

A Few #askagent Questions (05/2010).

Quick Submissions Update (04/2009).

On Referrals (03/2010).

Letting the Market Speak (10/2009).

With a (Moutain) of Salt (09/2009).

Why I Say No (05/2009).

Recipe for Success?  High Concept (02/2009).

Rejection (10/2008). 

There are other fabulous posts on the Waxman Lit blog and more to come, so make sure you subscribe.

Around the Web:

Waxman Leavell Literary at P&E.

Holly Root at P&E ($, recommended).

Waxman Leavell Literary Agency at P&E ($, recommended).

Waxman Leavell Literary Agency thread at AbsoluteWrite.

Check out the latest at Waxman via their News page.

How I Got My Agent by Jennifer Malone at I Write For Apples (10/2012).

All Your Publishing Questions… Answered by editors Molly O’Neill and Martha Mihalick, and literary agent Holly Root at WriteOnCon (08/2012).

Live YA Q&A chat with Holly Root and Barbara Poelle at WriteOnCon (08/2011).

A Flawless Book Pitch: How Does Literary Agent Holly Root Sell a High-Concept Novel? Like this. at Pitch University (07/2011).

Myths and Misconceptions by literary agent Holly Root, and editors Molly O’Neill and Martha Mihalick at WriteOnCon (08/2010).

Query Dos and Don'ts from Holly Root, Auburn Writers Conference notes at See Heather Write (10/2010).  

Professionally grabbing the attention of editors and agents and keeping it (article featuring some info on Holly Root) by Nikki Duncan (03/2010).

A Look at Diversion Books: What it is and how it relates to the Waxman agents.

2009 Agent Appreciation Day posts here, here, here, here, here, here.

Fall 2008 article on Holly Root from a Harding Univesity Collegiate Seminar Series (about halfway down).

Holly Root was the July 2008 Secret Agent at Miss Snark's First Victim.  If you dig through the archives you can read her critique comments.

Contact:

Please see the Waxman Leavell Literary website and Ms. Root's Publisher’s Marketplace page for contact and query information.

Profile Details:

Last Updated: 6/2/13.

Last Reviewed By Agent? 6/3/10.

***

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.

Yes...

There's another interview with me up on the webs! This one is at Kay Em Evans's blog. She asked some great questions about the Agent Spotlights that you might find interesting. Please stop by and consider following Kay, even if you don't want to read anymore about me. : p

(If you want to follow her, you'll have to click off the interview post and onto the main blog.)

Today, I have some school work to do and a spotlight to finish. What are your Wednesday plans? Feel free to plug your latest blog post in the comments today!

Interview with Me + Fab Giveaway

Just a quick note. There's an interview with me up on Writer's Ally. If you have any questions for me, that'd be a great place to ask. I'll be stopping by on and off today and tomorrow.

Sheri is also doing an awesome giveaway. She's giving away ten books (some signed!) as well as some awesome critiques. Check it out!!

If you missed today's tip, make sure you stop by. Thanks!

Tip Tuesday #39

Hello all - I hope you had a great holiday weekend! I have another fabulous tip from S. Kyle Davis today. Please check out his website and blog on your way out.

Ok, I'll make this short and sweet. Go get this software. I just downloaded it, and it's the coolest software I've seen for writers. I've seen some fancy stuff with plot assistance and all that sort of thing, but honestly I tend to find that sort of thing tiresome. This is simply a project editor. And it's free.

The software eliminates the problems of having either a single huge file that tends to get corrupted, or else a bunch of tiny files that you can't navigate through. It works by creating a number of .rtf files on the back end, but as far as you're concerned, you can edit through this software, including global find/replace.

It will also help you keep track of characters, important items, locations, etc. It doesn't take long to enter all the basic info for your characters (if you enter the goals, etc., it may take longer), and then you just use the "automatically add characters" command, and it links everything up. There is even a "problem words" tool that helps you find overused words, etc.

I actually had the idea for software like this, but didn't have the programming chops to do it. I'm so glad someone else has done it!

http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html

I tried an earlier version of this software and it was pretty darn cool. PageFour is another free writing software I've played around with. It can be nice to get out of Word and try some features geared just toward writers. Thanks Kyle!!
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