5 Agents Who Are Open to Query Letters Right Now!

Literary agents open and close their query inboxes. That way they can catch up before they accept another round of submissions. Here is who is open now (and a couple who are closing in a few days)

SALLY KIM

WHEN: She’s open now!

WHAT: Here's her wish list

WHO: Sally Kim at Andrea Brown Literary Agency

WHAT: Authors or Author-Illustrators, children's fiction and nonfiction, middle grade novels, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels  (she's not the best fit for rhyming).

How: Query Tracker

KARLY DIZON, FUSE LITERARY

WHEN: *Dang! She just closed. Check back in September* I added Sally Kim above since Karly just closed. 

WHO: Karly Dizon of Fuse Literary (an agency founded in 2013)

WHAT: Karly represents picture books, middle grade, and young adult. She also wants non-fiction picture books that add the heart, soul, and story of fiction. I want the person, event, retelling to come to life. She’d also like Asian/African/Latin mythology retelling/twists to be told simply yet beautifully for the picture book market but also in more depth with adventure and turn-the-page tension for middle grade and young adult. Have a picture book that’ll make me laugh? Learn? Both? Yes, please. She wants more smart, ingenious kids who utilize STEM to tackle their problems/achieve their goals; a YA contemporary romcom, “Make me swoon, cry, and yell at the pages with all the depth and complexity that our young adults experience today.”; also do you have a MG or YA SFF—if so, it needs to have a strong voice from the first page with an immersive and captivating plot and world.

ABOUT FUSE LITERARY: Fuse Literary is a boutique, collaborative hybrid literary agency founded in 2013 (formerly known as Foreword Literary). It represents fiction and nonfiction authors and illustrators across all age groups, blending traditional publishing methods with digital media, self-publishing networks, and emerging technologies. What does hybrid mean? Beyond selling books to traditional publishers and handling subsidiary rights (film, foreign, audio), they connect clients with cover designers, publicists, and digital marketers.

WEBSITE: Although Karly represent PB-YA, other agents at Fuse Literary represent other genres. https://www.fuseliterary.com/about-fuse/

 

Jessica Berg Rosecliff Literary

When: Open Now

Who: Jessica Berg, founder of Rosecliff Literary represents adult fiction and nonfiction. No matter what you write and no matter who you plan to query, do yourself a favor and follow Jessica Berg on Instagram! Her advice on writing, submitting, creating a synopsis, etc. = spot on!

@jessica__berg

What: Jessica has wish lists for spooky season, for winter, etc. And she says to pay attention, because her cravings change. You can find her up-to-the-minute wish list on her Instagram. You can read the other not exactly up-to-the-minute details at MSWL.

How: Query Tracker https://querytracker.net/query/jessicaberg/

 

Haley Warrington: the Booker Albert Agency

WHEN: She posted that she is open now until August 31, 2026.

WHO: Hayley is a Junior Literary Agent at the Booker Albert Agency. What’s great about a junior agent is that you get to grow your careers together!

WHAT SHE REPRESENTS: YA-Adult. On Instagram, Haley noted, “I'd really like to get some YA fiction on my list.” Please query on Query Tracker if you are a YA author in the following genres, - YA Mystery/YA Thriller;  YA Fantasy; YA Romance; YA LGBTQ+; YA Horror!!  She also represents (but is more selective) Adult, NA, YA Romance, Historical Romance, Fantasy, Thriller, Paranormal, Horror, Mystery, Suspense, LGBTQ+. Others at her agency represents children's through adult fiction—focusing heavily on young adult (YA), middle grade (MG), sci-fi, fantasy, horror, women's fiction, and romance (including contemporary, historical, and small-town).

ABOUT: Haley can be found @hals.war on Instagram. She posts a lot of details about her taste and what she’s reading, so check it out!

Her agency is also on Instagram @bookeralbertagency and Founded in December 2012, the Booker Albert Agency is a hands-on agency, providing marketing and editorial advice, and we strongly believe in taking on clients for their whole career. We adhere to the AALA's canon of ethics. 

WHERE TO QUERY: Query Tracker: https://querytracker.net/query/QueryHaley

WEBSITE: Booker Albert Agency website is: https://www.thebookeralbertagency.com/our-agency.html

 

 

Sharon Belcastro: Belcastro Literary Agency

WHEN:  Now until …. Sharon has a fairly quick response rate. On Query Tracker it shows that she is responding in an average of five days! Most agents average of 8-12 weeks.

WHO: Sharon is the founder of Belcastro Literary Agency. One of my favorite quotes comes from her back in 2021 when she said, “As a female engineer I am looking for middle grade, YA and PB about girls in STEM.” Query Tracker just updated her openings to include picture books though I   don’t see that listed on her primary wish list unless perhaps nonfiction pb. On her current wish list, she has NONFICTION and YA Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action Adventure, Contemporary, Magical Realism, Mystery/Thrill, and Horror.

HOW: Query Tracker https://querytracker.net/agent/4921

 

Miriam Cortinovis at Ki Agency

Miriam Cortinovis at Ki Agency (Miriam goes by @chamomeriam on Instagram) says they are currently OPEN to queries. The Ki Agency was founded in 2011. They are a boutique London-based literary and scriptwriting agency founded in 2011 by Managing Director Meg Davis (they are not currently open to scriptwriters). It represents authors across publishing, TV, film, theatre, and multi-media, focusing strongly on genre fiction and speculative works.

FAQ:   Does it matter if you live in a different country than your agent.

            No.

MIRIAM’S TASTE: In fiction: BIPOC Literature, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Young Adult. “Miriam defines themself an omnivore in regard to Science Fiction and Fantasy, never turning down an original unique piece with a strong voice—so never say never! That being said, a speculative element is required, even if abstract/literary. Miriam also enjoys representing most age targets, from Middle Grade and up to Young Adult (for which they also accept contemporary works without a speculative element) and Adult. To browse a visual MSWL you can visit this Instagram post, while for a more detailed one you can follow this link.”

Complete details at MSWL.

Where to Query: Query Tracker (she has a fast – 23-day average response rate!)

You’ll prepare and post on Query Tracker your first 10 pages, letter, and synopsis using https://QueryTracker.net/query/miriamc. According to their website, Ki Agency is a dynamic literary agency providing management for writers in all media and most genres. They also say, “The Ki Agency is a boutique literary and scriptwriting agency with a focus on genre fiction.”

ABOUT: “Born and raised in Italy, Miriam Cortinovis (they/she) moved to Chicago as a teenager and has since earned a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in Writing & Publishing from DePaul University. After more than a year agenting at ArtHouse Literary (USA), they joined the amazing team at the Ki Agency in 2025, continuing to expand and support their list in everything and anything speculative.”

About the Ki Agency: www.ki-agency.co.uk

 

 KEY

PB= Picture Book

MG= Middle Grade

YA = Young Adult

GN = Graphic Novel

NA = New Adult

MSWL = Manuscript Wish List

 

5 Tips to Help Reluctant Readers Fall in Love With Books

Tips to help reluctant readers fall in love with books

1.       Listen to audiobooks.

2.      Choose visually appealing books.

3.      Take turns reading.

4.      Choose books with white space (that means avoid densely packed/wordy pages). Your child wants to feel successful turning each page. Slow page-turns can make reading feel weighty.

5.      Help your child choose books with subjects that are fun and interesting to them.

THE TRUTH ABOUT 5th GRADE (HarperCollins), written by award-winning author Kim Tomsic and award-winning cartoonist, Mark Parisi, is ideal for 2^nd-5^th grade readers who love humor, sloths, wild science, and a funny touch of poetry. This laugh-out-loud story is written as "he-said/she-said" diary entries by two BFFs with different perspectives about the "truth" about fifth grade. For avid readers, reluctant readers, and for fans of Invisible Emmie and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Critical praise:

"The truth is: readers are going to LOVE this HILARIOUS he-said/she-said diary!” — Sarah Mlynowski, author of the NYT Bestselling Whatever After series

 

"The book includes plenty of humor, such as a memory of a ladybug flying up Alex’s nose... The illustrations are appealing and break up the text, making it accessible to reluctant readers. ... “Lively, fun, and deeply relatable."  — Kirkus Reviews

 

"As the besties struggle to get on the same page, [Alex and Charli] navigate friendship rivalries, pranks, and violations of privacy via fast-paced chapters that highlight their differences—and similarities—and offer laugh-out-loud moments."  — Publishers Weekly

“This illustrated diary-style novel delves into the changes and frustrations fifth grade can bring … [It’s a] comical tale of fifth grade that fans of Diary of Wimpy Kid and similar books will enjoy.” — School Library Journal

Book of the Week for Middle Grade Readers Counting Down to Christmas

As the days tick down to Christmas Eve and the house turns cozy with fluffy throw blankets and the scent of oatmeal cookies baking in the oven, it’s a great time to click off the TV and plop a book into the hands of young readers everywhere. So here’s a book that keeps the pages turning—especially for the 3^rd through 6^th grader:

TRACY TAM SANTA COMMAND by Krystalyn Drown turns everything you thought you knew about Christmas on its head—the reluctant reader will enjoy nail-bitter page turns, while the reluctant believer gets an exciting Chirstmas escapade.

Tracy Tam may believe in Santa, but she’s a reluctant believer in his magic. She’s certain everything has a scientific explanation—even Christmas, so on December 24^th she sets out to gather evidence, samples and data to prove the science behind Christmas. If she’s successful, she’ll use the evidence to present at the state Science Fair competition and hopefully win the cash prize. And Tracy desperately wants that prize money, so she can give it to her aunt to pay for her cousin Pim’s expensive operation. Tracy will do anything to help Pim, including hiding in Santa sleigh and hitching a ride back to Santa’s workshop. But the workers at Santa Command will do anything to protect the secret of Christmas magic.  

And so here’s where everything —as promised—is turned on its head—but I won’t ruin the discovery of those secrets here. What I will tell you is the story is packed with fun surprises and zany flips that turn expectations into wonder. Young readers will have a fun adventure reading this story as they wait for their own visit from Santa. Tracy Tam keeps readers as well as everyone at Santa Command on their toes..

Available at and Indie Bookstore here: click here

Available from Amazon or Kindle here: click here

Available from my local bookstore Boulder Books: click here 

Available from my local Barnes & Noble: click here

·         Age Range: 9 and up 

·         Grade Level: 3 and up

·         Series: Tracy Tam

·         Paperback: 300 pages

·         Publisher: Month9Books, LLC (October 21, 2014)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 1939765803

·         ISBN-13: 978-1939765802

Middle Grade or YA Critique with Tricia Lawrence from Erin Murphy Literary Agency #KidLitForHaiti

TRICIA LAWRENCE

KID LIT FOR HAITI:  Tricia is offering a critique of the first fifteen pages of a novel (middle grade or young adult).

I met Tricia Lawrence at an SCBWI conference J and was truly impressed with her both personally and professionally. In panels and workshops, Tricia spoke with knowledge and excitement about the publishing industry. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I am certain she works hard for her clients. I was most impressed when I listened to her provide critiques at the first-pages breakout session. Her feedback to participants was spot-on, but her input was delivered with a gracious touch. She always found something positive to say, while also providing the necessary criticism and fix-suggestions.

Tricia is the "Pacific Northwest branch" of EMLA—born and raised in Oregon, and now lives in Seattle. After 19 years of working as a developmental and production-based editor (from children’s books to college textbooks, but mostly college textbooks), she joined the EMLA team in March 2011 as a social media strategist.

As associate agent, Tricia represents picture books/chapter books that look at the world in a unique and unusual way, with characters that are alive both on and off the page, and middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction that offers strong worldbuilding, wounded narrators, and stories that grab a reader and won't let go.

Tricia loves hiking, camping out in the woods, and collecting rocks. She loves BBC America and anything British. She has way too many books and not enough bookshelves. You can find Tricia's writing about blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, and other social media topics (for authors and the publishing industry at large) 

If you’d like to know more about Tricia, visit my interview here.

Details on critique:  You’re bidding on a FIFTEEN PAGE manuscript critique (middle grade or young adult manuscripts only) from Tricia Lawrence to be exchanged via email. If you win, please format your manuscript in Times Roman, double spaced, one inch margins. 

How do I bid?

Place your bid in the comment section by increasing the previous bid by a minimum of $10 increments. Remember--all proceeds go to a 501 c 3 charity and benefit students in Haiti. Please include information about how I may contact you if you are the winning bidder; you can ask me question at  ktomsic@gmail.com . 

When does the Auction for a critique with Tricia Lawrence close?

**This Particular Auction will close on December 15, 2014**

Official UPDATE: Auction items close on their respective date at 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time (MST)

here's the math time for U.S. residents (you can simply Google the time comparison if you live somewhere else in the world) :

 Pacific Time is one hour behind mountain time; central time is one hour ahead of mountain time; eastern time is two hours ahead of mountain time so:

11:59 om MST = 10:59 pm Pacific Time or 12:59 am Central Standard Time or 1:59 am Eastern Time

What are other items on the Kid Lit for Hait (#KidLitForHaiti) Auction?

To Visit a full list of all the auction items featured on Kid Lit for Haiti: PLEASE CLICK HERE

What happens if I win?

I will contact the winning bidder (as long as you remembered to provide your contact information!). You will make your donation at this donation link and then you will email a copy of your receipt to me at ktomsic@gmail.com Then I will put you in two in touch 

How do I know when new auction items are posted to this blog:

You can receive emails when new auction items are listed. Simply enter your email address in the upper left corner of this blog where it says "Follow by email". You will only receive an email when a new post is created on this blog.

Critique on the First Fifteen Pages of Your YA or Middle Grade Manuscript with Denise Vega #KidLitFotHaiti Auction

KID LIT FOR HAITI: Denise is giving a critique of the first fifteen pages of your middle grade of YA manuscript

Denise Vega

Denise Vega earned her undergraduate degree at UCLA and graduate degree at Harvard (I love bragging on behalf of Denise, since she never brags herself). She served as the RMC SCBWI Co-Regional Advisor for a decade where she not only organized our group of writers and illustrators (and avoided cheese at all costs), but she also taught many writing workshops.

I first purchased a Denise Vega book out of sheer love for Denise; now I purchase Denise Vega books out of sheer love for her writing! Her debut novel  CLICK HERE (To FindOut How I Survived Seventh Grade)  was a bestselling title in the Scholastic Book Club and won the Colorado book award for YA literature—but of course it did—she is a master of creating compelling characters—real and flawed people whom you want to follow—and she knows the art of creating the page turn.  Read her books! Then you’ll know a critique from Denise Vega can help your story come alive!

Grandmother,Have the Angels Come (Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009)

Build a Burrito A Counting Book in English and Spanish (Cartwheel Books, 2008)

CLICK HERE (To Find Out How I Survived Seventh Grade) Little Brown & Co 2006)

Fact of Life #31 (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2008)

AccessDenied (Little Brown & Co.2010)

Rock On  (Little Brown & Co.2012)

And coming soon:

If Your Monster Won’t Go to Bed (Knopf/Random House, Spring, 2017)

And…(we’ll let you know!)

Details on critique:  You’re bidding on  a critique of the first fifteen pages of your middle grade or young adult manuscript given to you via email from Denise Vega. Please format your manuscript in Times Roman, double spaced, one inch margins. This critique will happen via email.

How do I bid?

Place your bid in the comment section by increasing the previous bid by a minimum of $10 increments. Please include information about how I may contact you if you are the winning bidder; you can ask me question in the comment section or  at  ktomsic@gmail.com . 

When does the auction for a fifteen page Ya/mg critique from Denise Vega close?

**This Auction will close on December 15, 2014** Last bid will be accepted at 11:59 Mountain Standard Time. 11:59 PM mountain time = 10:59 PM Pacific Time= 12:59am next day Central Time=1:59am next day Eastern Time

What are other items on the Kid Lit for Hait (#KidLitForHaiti) Auction?
To Visit a full list of all the auction items featured on Kid Lit for Haiti: PLEASE CLICK HERE

What happens if I win?

I will contact the winning bidder (please! provide your contact information!). You will make your donation at this donation link and then you will email a copy of your receipt to me at ktomsic@gmail.com Then I will put you in two in touch.

How do I know when new auction items are posted to this blog:

You can receive emails when new auction items are listed. Simply enter your email address in the upper left corner of this blog where it says "Follow by email". You will only receive an email when a new post is created on this blog.

Want to know more about Denise? Visit her FAQ link  click here 

Critique from SIX Superstars! #KidLitForHaiti

Elaine, Penny, Will, Sally, Kim (sadly, Jerilyn is not in this photo)

KID LIT FOR HAITI:  This auction is for a critique of the first ten pages of your manuscript (PB, MG, or YA) from both of my critiquing groups. That means you will receive feedback from a total of six people!

This auction: is for a pass to my critiquing partners—feedback from me and five others. Each of us come armed with a super-power—creativity, voice, plot, structure, grammar—you’ll get it all! You will submit the first ten pages of your manuscript (or one picture book manuscript). You’ll submit via email in Times Roman, 12 point font, double spaced, one inch margins. After you submit you will receive your six critiques within a month— six critiques! Get the feedback you need to gain insight in your work and take your craft to the next level. 

Who are my fabulous critiquing partners?

Elaine Pease is the award-winning author of four books. Her website can be found at www.peasepodbooks.com One of my favorite titles by Elaine is Tallie's’sChristmas Lights Surpise, A HolidayWhodunit! It’s a picture book with a clever mystery to solve! Elaine spends weeks on the road making school visits—she really has her finger on the pulse of what’s going on in classrooms. Her award-winning historical fiction middle grade GHOST OVER BOULDER CREEK is currently a finalist in the Youth One Book, One Denver 2015 program (and if you're familar with GHOST OVER BOULDER CREEK and would like to vote for it click here ).

Will Limón  has been published by Harper Collins. He is the founder of Will Limón's Plot Chart as well as the workshop Will Limón's Making Scenes Come Alive. If your plot or scene has a hole, Will can certainly identify and point it; he’ll steer you in the right direction. Will’s writing has received recognition—not only is he published in the adult market, his YA work-in-progess received honorable mention (2^nd place) in a regional SCBWI scholarship award.  (P.S.  In addition to Will’s ingenuity and understanding of scene construction, Will is my go-to guy for grammar advice!).

Sally Spear is probably the most creative person I know—I swear wizards speak to her! Sally is the master of the picture book, but when we bring YA and Middle Grade novels to the critiquing group, Sally provides incredible feedback and insight from a completely unique angle. She has the keen ability to spot voice drops and narrator intrusion. My manuscripts always launch in a better direction after critiques from Sally.   

Penny Berman is both a kid lit writer as well as a screenwriter. She studied screenwriting at UCLA and currently has a project receiving a lot of interest in Hollywood (where everything is currently hush-hush, but I can brag that BIG names are involved). Penny is also in the final draft of one of the coolest middle grade novels you’ll ever read.  If you want your manuscript to scream with voice Voice VOICE, then Penny is your go-to gal.

Jerilyn Patterson is another master of voice and also an expert at turning a scene. And that’s not just my opinion, Jerilyn won recognition by being the first place winner of The Vicki Ferguson Memorial Scholarship where she entered the first ten pages of her manuscript and won free tuition to a regional SCBWI conference. Jerilyn is so amazing at writing and critiquing because she spends a lot of time studying craft—one of her favorite books is called SCENE AND STRUCTURE by Jack Bickham. She will use her creative skills and wealth of knowledge to provide you with the best feedback possible.

And Me (Kim Tomsic) I’ll critique my butt-off for you!

How do I bid?

Place your bid in the comment section by increasing the previous bid. Please include information about how I may contact you if you are the winning bidder; I can be reached for questions in the comment section here or at  ktomsic@gmail.com .

When does this auction close?

**This Auction will close on December 16, 2014** Bidding closes at 11:59pm MST This auction item has closed. Thank you!!

Whatother items are available in the Kid Lit For Haiti auction?

Click here to find out

What happens if I win?

I will contact the winning bidder (remember to provide your contact information!). You will make your donation at this donation link and then you will email a copy of your receipt to ktomsic@gmail.com . Then we will begin the process !

How do I know when new auction items are posted to this blog:

You can receive emails when new auction items are listed. Simply enter your email address in the upper left corner of this blog where it says "Follow by email". You will only receive an email when a new post is created on this blog.

Top Ten with Literary Agent Terrie Wolf

TOP TEN: Info/Advice/& Fun Facts with Terrie Wolf of AKA LITERARY LLC
The Colorado/Wyoming region of the SCBWI is proud to announce Terrie Wolf as a faculty member for the September 2014 LETTERS AND LINES CONFERENCE.
Who is Terrie Wolf? Before becoming a literary agent, Terrie was an editor as well as a member of the international media. She studied English Literature at Cambridge University, Creative Writing at NYU and Journalism at CU-Denver. Terrie founded Wolf Literary Services, and in 2009 she co-founded AKA Literary.

 The Letters and Lines Conference is said to be one of the most intimate ways a writer can connect with leaders in the publishing industry. To launch participants’ conference-connect experience, Terrie has generously agreed to answer the following ten questions:

1.       SUCCESS STORY (the crème brulee):  Hi, Terrie! Thank you in advance for serving on the faculty at the upcoming RMC SCBWI conference, and for taking the time to answer my questions. Before we get into the meat and potatoes (craft), I’d like to start with dessert (contract).  Please tell us about one of your conference success stories.

Thank you very much for including me. After several years in the conference and workshop “trenches” I’m pleased to tell you I signed a conference participant. I was thrilled by a proposal provided by Kathy Borrus at Writer’s Digest West Conference last September. If you like to shop or travel you might recognize her name as Kathy is the author of Five Hundred Buildings of Paris, One Thousand Buildings of Paris, and The Fearless Shopper. Her writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Washington Flyer, and Art Business News among others. So, here we are, ready to work on this adult piece when she mentioned an idea she had for a children’s series of books.  To say I was floored would be an understatement. Ask me at the conference and I’ll fill you in! You’ll love her.

2.      PUBLISHING PATH: I read that before you were an agent, you were an editor with Hobson’s Press and also an award-winning member of the media with NBC and CBS. How and why did you decide to become an agent?

My father always said that if I was stranded on a desert island, I’d be just fine as long as I had a fishing pole, books to read and a phone so I could tell everyone I knew about the books I read and the fish I caught. A series of events that included big trucks, freak southern gales and patio umbrellas all taught me about  resilience and allowed me (forced me) to return to Colorado full time. The outlook may have seemed a little desolate in the beginning but gave me the opportunity to slowly find my way back to wellness. A few years ago I met an author whose work was witty and fresh. It reignited my passion. The author asked me to act as her agent because she said I talked about her work more than she did. That was the beginning. She was right and I still proudly represent her. She tweets @CJDunham1. Get to know her! 

3.      YOUR NEXT CLIENT: In addition to other genres, I understand you represent YA, Middle Grade, and Picture Book writers…excellent!  We all know agents are looking for great and compelling writing, and the word on the street is you pick story over genre. Please give us more insight into your preferences.

There’s so much that goes into this process. I like to know what my editors are interested in finding but I also ask readers what they would like to see. It’s really important to write the story as it is meant to be written rather than for a trend or market. Good stories just have a way of finding good homes.

4.      Sometimes the Internet gets buzzing with a lot of misinformation of where an agent is or isn’t. PLEASE TELL US ABOUT  2012-2014

I took much of 2012 - 2013 and 2014 away from work due to illness, the Black Forest Fire and the 2013 floods. I ran into the big three: my mother’s death, my father’s illness, and I have been stalked daily since April 2013. It’s just part of the drill, part of what helps me decide what I want to do. Usually what I want to do is fall back and read.

Wow! That’s a lot to shoulder. I’m sorry for your difficulties, and I admire your bravery and determination. I’m glad to know your father is doing well again, and your experiences are a testament to how books are friends to people during difficult times—a point that moves me to the joyful side of life—READING: I’m sure you would agree that in order to become great writers, we must first read, read, and read! Writers should also know when shopping for an agent, they should read the agent’s client’s books to help further reveal if the agent is the right fit. Terrie, are you an editorial agent and if yes, tell us more?

I am an editorial agent, and proud of it. You won’t see many of our works for some time due to the publishing schedule. Learn what you can from every single book you pick up.

·         I encourage you to visit our website as a way to familiarize yourself with our clients and their writing The new and improved website should be up no later than Monday, September 22, 2014. It’s been such a wonderful journey!

·         Upcoming Fact: our Kenley Conrad’s HOLLY HEARTS HOLLYWOOD will be released Tuesday, September 23, 2014 via Swoon an imprint of Month9 Books.

     

5.      FAVORITE BOOKS: What were some of your favorite books as a child, and what are your current kid lit favorites (other than the ones you represent J)?

I read everything from Louis L ‘Amour to Zane Grey, Sports Afield and Boys’ Life. I still adore The Velveteen Rabbit, Little House on the Prairie, and Black Beauty.

Current favorites:

-         Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick, 2013)

-         The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (HC, 2012)

-         Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross (Egmont, 2012)

-         Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Chronicle Books, 2011)

-          And the list goes on and on!

Helen Lester’s TACKY THE PENGUIN and A PORCUPINE NAMED FLUFFY still make me giggle. I still love Jerdine Nolan’s HARVEY POTTER’S BALLOON FARM, Robert Munsch’s I’LL LOVE YOU FOREVER, and ROTTERS by Daniel Kraus are all favorites at this very moment. Ask me in ten minutes as my list will change.  

6.      What’s on your wish list of future projects to represent?

Three words: unforgettable, empowering and unexpected. If I can find works that make me laugh out loud, that’s even better.

7.      What can you tell us about the state of the publishing industry?

It has yet to bore me.

8.     How does the answer above influence you as an agent?

I am easily distracted.

9.      Like I said, a special benefit of the Letters and Lines Conference is attendees walk away knowing the faculty on a more personal level. One fun fact about Terrie is that she knows sign language and has served as an interpreter for the Deaf and Blind School in Colorado Springs (cool!!). What’s another fun fact you’re willing to reveal?

I have a piano in my office.

10.  THE MEAT AND POTATOES: What’s the final word of advice that you would like writers to walk away with?

Be the writer your characters know you are. Be kind, be loving and allow everyone around you to see your need for a place like this one.

Thank you Terrie Wolf! I look forward to meeting you in September.

The pleasure is mine, really.

Writers who would like to query Terrie Wolf should email the query and the first ten pages of the manuscript (or full manuscript for picture books) in the body of the email (no attachements, please!) to  aka@akaliterary.com. The AKA Literary website is being updated (due to be ready next week!), and Terrie will soon provide that address link so you can learn more. In the mean time, follow her on Twitter at @AKA_Terrie. Bonus piece of advice: it’s Terrie, not Terry. It’s Ms., not Mr. J