TOP TEN:
Info/Advice/& Fun Facts with Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency
(EMLA)
The Rocky Mountain
Region of the SCBWI looks forward to the wisdom of Tricia Lawrence. She will serve on this year's conference faculty
for the September 20 & 21, 2014 LETTERS AND LINES CONFERENCE. If you haven't registered, we are accepting walk-in registration on September 20 at 7:45am or September 21 at 8:15 am at the Marriott Denver West, 1717 Denver West Boulevard, Golden CO 80401.
Who is Tricia Lawrence? Tricia is the "Pacific Northwest
branch" of Erin Murphy Literary Agency (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), 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 world-building, wounded narrators, and stories that grab a reader and
won't let go.
You can find Tricia's writing about blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, and other
social media topics at http://authorblogger.net/ and
at http://trishlawrence.com/
THE TOP TEN WITH TRICIA:
1. SUCCESS
STORY: Hi, Tricia! Thank you for serving on the RMC SCBWI faculty and for
agreeing to this interview. I love starting with dessert, so please tell us a
yummy conference success story.
My first PB client is the past conference coordinator for
Western WA, Kerri Kokias. I met her as a brand-new agent (not yet repping picture books)
looking for a critique group and we hit it off. Of course, she will say I made
her work. I made her write a ton. And I did. But when I was ready to sign PB
clients, she was my first one. We are friends, crit buddies, and then
author/agent. And it was the best decision I made! She is AWESOME!
2. PUBLISHING
PATH: I’ll bet your experience as a social media strategist serves you and your
clients well now that you’re an agent. What smart social media
tips can you provide?
For my full-throttle social media for authors, you'll have to
come to my workshop. In the meantime, look back over your social media content.
Is it 80/20 (content/marketing)? For marketing, I mean "come buy my
book" or "come to my book signing" and by content, I mean
"there was this fascinating article I just read about bullying, which is
one of themes of my next book" or "We need diverse books shared this
article that really spoke to me about the important of diversity" and
don't pitch anything. Just share, share, share. And if it has a theme to it,
all the better. See you at my workshop!
3. YOUR
NEXT CLIENT: I understand you represent Picture Books, Chapter Books,
Middle Grade, and YA. At every conference—regardless of genre—agents say
they are looking for great and compelling writing. Please give us more insight
into your preferences.
I
love all sorts of styles in kidlit. I do love a mystery, I love dark novels,
dark young readers. For novels, I'm looking for the character I've never met
before, but I feel as if I know already. Someone who just walks off the page
into my life. Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE series was that
for me. Karou is someone I've never met before, but I now feel like she's
someone important in my life. Challenge: how would you do a mystery PB?
4. READING:
I believe in order to be a great writer, a person should be prolific reader. I
also believe when writers research and shop for an agent, they should read the
agent’s client’s books in order to understand if the agent is a fit. Tricia,
are you an editorial agent? Also, please tell us about some of your clients’
books.
I
am an editorial agent. My books don't start coming out until Fall 2015, but in
the meantime, on EMLA's website www.emliterary.com you
can see what our agency is publishing month to month. Any of those would
be a great idea to read. Robin LaFevers' HIS FAIR ASSASSIN series, GRAVE MERCY,
DARK
TRIUMPH, and the third in the trilogy, MORTAL HEART. Anything by Deborah
Underwood or Pat Zietlow Miller or Liz
Garton Scanlon, picture book wise. Anything by Trent Reedy, Conrad
Wesselhoeft, Laurie Thompson, Laura Resau, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Ruth McNally
Barshaw. I could go on and on and on. I'm a huge fan of EMLA 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)?
Favorite series: Narnia.
Second favorite series: Little House on the Prairie. Current kidlit favorites
are FLASHLIGHT by Lizi Boyd (a work of art), I WANT MY HAT BACK by Jon Klassen,
LET'S GET LOST by Adi Alsaid, GAIJIN
by Matt Faulkner (my client, but I didn't rep this one).
6. What’s
on your wish list of future projects to represent?
I'm
looking for innovative picture books, using other genres to tell a story in
that format (murder mystery, horror, etc.). I'm looking for retro illustrations
that are just alive. I'm looking for a super-duper chapter book series or two a
la Penderwicks or CLEMENTINE. I am hungry for more girl middle grade. I'm
also looking for amazing YA fantasy, fractured retellings (so, instead of
fractured fairy tales, take a classic work of literature and crack it
open). I'm wild about anything Bronte, Dickens, Hugo, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky.
I was raised on these books, so if you're doing something innovative and
new with them, bring it to me!
7. What
can you tell us about the state of the publishing industry?
In
total flux. Indy bookstores are growing. The industry seems to be able to
handle the massive changes being thrown at it. It's a great time to be an author
or illustrator. If you're hesitating, why? Go for it! Write!
8. How
does the answer above influence you as an agent?
Always
figuring out how to represent my clients better, how to inspire more
authors/artists, how to be more creative myself! I feel as if I'm in a continual
college semester, with always changing classes and I'm always carrying too many
credits and wanting to learn more.
9. A
benefit for attendees of the Letters and Lines Conference is getting to walk
away knowing the faculty on a more personal level. One fun fact about Tricia is
that she 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. Please give us one more fun fact!
If
I am at a beach, I pick up pockets full of rocks and shells. If I am in a
parking lot, I pick up rocks. If you show me a rock, I will want it. I have now shared
my rock obsession with my neighbor's 3-year-old and she comes up to me now and
asks for rocks. :) Funny how I always have one to give her.
10. What’s
your final word (for today) of advice that you would like writers to walk away
with?
Writing
is not easy. You are walking in footsteps of so many great writers and also
great souls! Do not be discouraged! Press on! Don't give up! Write,
write, write.
Thank you, Tricia!
For submission guidelines, please visit the EMLA website and follow the guidelines.
Submission
Policy: Good news-- if-- you attended the Letters and Lines
Conference!
EMLA is closed to unsolicited queries or submissions
BUT Tricia is open to queries from attendees of conferences where she
speaks. If you met Tricia at the conference or have a referral, please paste your
query into the contact form on our contact page. Please note that EMLA is no
longer responding to queries or submissions from those who do not have a
referral or have met them at a conference. Those sent in hard copy form via post
or other means will receive no response from EMLA, and those sent via email will receive
an automated form rejection.
***This is your big chance to query, so take the time--polish your prose--use advice your received at the conference--seek out a critiquing group--repolish your work--read the submission guidelines carefully--polish one more time--AND THEN send your query. Good luck!
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