II.  SUBMISSIONS & PUBLISHING

Do you consider unsolicited queries or those submitted without a referral? 

No. I have found that over the years, more and more people try to contact agents without having any idea of the kind of books they represent—so most of the unsolicited queries I receive tend to be inappropriate for my list. I do try to respond to queries that have been misdirected to me, to let authors know that they may have been misinformed about what I accept (for example, when someone sends me an adult techno-thriller because he or she read an erroneous posting on the web). Unfortunately, the web, while a great tool, is also the source of a lot of incorrect information, too.

What makes query irresistible to you? Your formatting preferences?

I wouldn’t read something that isn’t at least 12-point type and double-spaced. Anything that isn’t professionally drawn up, as in no handwritten notes, no all italics or all caps—that comes with a thoughtful cover letter of how they came to be referred to me will get read and responded to. But agents have a subjective view of writing, the same as editors do, so sometimes I respond that I don’t wish to see a manuscript simply because it doesn’t pique my interest. I have to love something to want to represent it. If I don’t, it’s better not to waste an author’s time and postage.

What are your usual response times to queries?

If I’m very busy, such as at year’s-end, it may take up to two or even three months. Otherwise, I’ll usually read and respond to queries once a month on a single day.

III. NOVEL GENRES & TRENDS

What kinds of youth novels are selling well?

Writers should look at lists put out by all sorts of organizations and publications to get a sense of what’s selling well: Publishers Weekly, USA Today, the American Library Association’s (ALA) notable books lists, local bookstores, and the like. What’s selling well one month can change depending on the season—but right now, it’s still fantasy and series chick-lit such as The Traveling Pants series.

How are raw, edgy, issue-driven novels faring now compared to recent years? Is there a trend away from this genre? Why or why not?

I feel that editors are still looking for books that express the experience of teens in a very real way—an honest way. Some editors will always want to push the envelope, as will some readers. So in this genre of book, there will be those that are more raw and edgy.

I think these books will always have a place in the market, as long as there are teens who want to read books that reflect their world in whatever shape that world may take in this millennium.

Teens deal with difficult things in their everyday lives; they see them on television or hear about them online. So, placing a character against a backdrop of one or more issues, or making an issue central to the core of a book, as long as it’s handled in service to the story and character, isn’t in and of itself wrong. After all, writers of adult mysteries haven’t stopped writing about murder just because it’s been done before!

But writers do need to keep in mind that if an issue has already been treated many times, then their story has to stand far and above the others—it has to rise above the “problem” and just be a great book.

IV. ON A PERSONAL NOTE...

What do you like most about your job?

So, what I absolutely love best about my job is the clients that I represent.

To see testimonials from Andrea’s clients, click here.

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