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Guest blogger J.M. Cooper: A Badge For Writing
My grandfather is a retired Episcopalian minister. He used to talk about The Calling as some kind of mysterious, undeniable force that brought him to the church, a voice that couldn’t be argued with,...
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Why I Will Offer You Representation
When you send me an extraordinary picture book, middle grade or young adult manuscript, I’ll be glad to offer you representation. Your manuscript can’t just be fair to middling though. Your story needs...
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Guest Blogger Joe McGee: 10 Things I Learned on the Journey to Publication OR...
Consider this a postcard from the cloud-covered peak of Dream Mountain. Now, don’t be fooled – it’s the first summit in a whole range of goals, aspirations and career dreams. But here I am, playing my...
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Guest Blogger R.L. Saunders: Things That Happen to Writers (and how to deal)
Do you love writing? More than almost anything? Possibly more than Doritos and wine for dinner? Did you recently decide to start calling yourself a writer (out loud) after years of contemplation...
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Guest Blogger Katherine Sparrow: On Writing What Sells
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about marketing, financial success, and sustainability in writing. Not necessarily in a “how to dominate everything” kind of way, but in the quieter way of thinking...
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Guest Blogger Elaine Kiely Kearns: It Takes A Village To Be A Writer
A few weeks ago I was having lunch with a friend who is a writer. Although she isn’t new to writing, she is new to the online writing community and is ready to begin the process of submitting to agents...
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Guest Blogger Natasha Sinel: Tips for Debut Authors
My debut YA novel, THE FIX, is in bookstores now. The official publication date is tomorrow, and I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned this past year, as I’ve gotten ready to become a...
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Picture Books: Disabusing Aspiring Authors of Some Misconceptions
Let’s talk about picture books, ok? I made a little quiz for you all. Check off all the reasons why you might want to write a picture book: ☐I like kids! I even have a few of my own. ☐It would take …...
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A saga of the supermarket and the complex role of the literary agent in the...
I went to the supermarket yesterday to buy dog food. My husband was waiting in the car and we wanted to get home for dinner and to feed the hungry dog a.s.a.p. I grabbed about 12 or 14 of those …...
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Guest Post: Chuck Sambuchino Shares What 12 Debut Authors Did RIGHT On Their...
Hey! My buddy Chuck is stepping in to guest blog! Check it out… Chuck Sambuchino (@chucksambuchino) of Writer’s Digest Books edits the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS and the CHILDREN’S WRITER’S &...
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One Huge Thing Authors Can Do To Improve Their Writing
I recently attended a 3 day writing retreat for children’s book writers, in a beautiful beach house on the New Jersey shore. My job was to critique manuscripts, have one-on-one meetings with the...
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The Blog is Open to Questions on Writing & Publishing Today!
I’M DONE FOR THE DAY, FOLKS! I’LL ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS ANOTHER TIME. HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL. LOOK BELOW IN THE COMMENTS FOR SOME GREAT QUESTIONS. Post questions in the comments section about writing...
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Writing Process: The Best Way to Get a Manuscript Written
By the power vested in me by having an online media presence, I hereby wave my magic wand and give you permission to have whatever the fuck writing process works for you. Stop beating yourself up...
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YA Book Give-Away! Tell Me What You’re Thankful For
I’m very thankful I get to work with such talented authors. I feel so lucky to be able to do what I do as an agent. I spent many years looking for the thing that would give me fulfillment, make …...
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Searching for the Words: My French Love Affair
I don’t know when I first fell in love with France. It feels like it’s always been in my heart. Perhaps Henri Matisse or Claude Monet did it when I was a little girl visiting the Metropolitan Museum of...
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On Writing: Why Story is Necessary (2)
Why I Write for Kids When the World is Dark by Elaine Kiely Kearns “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”- Willy Wonka, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by Roald Dahl Being a...
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On Writing: Why Story is Necessary (3)
by Jodi McKay I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a child in the world today. How confusing and scary everything must seem. It makes me angry that their reality is so harsh, but what can I …...
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On Writing: Why Story is Necessary (4)
by Joe McGee One of the things that can be maddeningly frustrating about the dark marks splashed across the world is that we almost always have little or no control. Bad things happen. Horrible things...
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2015: It’s a Wrap!
Looking back on 2015 to see what I’ve done on this blog, trying to take stock, assess and reassess… I did a lovely series of interviews with some of the top children’s book editors in the business...
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What I’m Looking for in 2016
The start of another year! You may be pleased to know that I am open to submissions again. I represent children’s literature exclusively. That is, I’m looking for picture books, chapter book series,...
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