Jessica Faust
Literary Agent
BookEnds Literary Agency
President & founder of BookEnds Literary Agency, author advocate, optimist, & professional pain in the ass. Runs on coffee, wine, & kettlebells. She/Her
Literary Agent
I was asked earlier if I had other blog posts on genre and how to pick a genre. Luckily I have over 10 years of blog posts and I found one that might help. #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2008/10/13/pic…
Literary Agent
Callie Hansen @WriteRepublic76
@BookEndsJessica #askagent If you queried an agent 5+ years ago who ultimately passed on the project and you want to re-query for a new project, do you mention in the new query that they previously requested a full from you?You can. I don’t think it matters either way. #askagent
Literary Agent
Mark Binder Stories @transmitjoy
@BookEndsJessica I write in Children's, MG, YA and adult. Are there agents who can rep me in all those? How do I find/query them. (everyone seems so niched)I would focus on one genre and see how it plays out. There are agents who do all, but I think you’d be narrowing your market too much. Just focus book-by-book. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jen Marie Wiggins @JenMarieWiggin1
@BookEndsJessica What genre would you consider a humerous childrens parody picture book for Brides? Also, do I need to have the illustrations? Getting mixed answers for this. Ty! #askaagent #askbook @BookEndsJessicaWithout seeing it I’d say a gift book for adults. And you would likely need to include illustrations. #askagent
Literary Agent
Sonia Ayoub @Son_Ayoub
@BookEndsJessica How does an author get their books into libraries? Does that fall on the agent or author? Also, are royalties involved? Does it count as a sale or simply an author getting their book into more people's hands? #askbookends #askagentA publisher will sell the book into the library market & yes it’s a sale #askagent
Literary Agent
Jerusha @ICT_Pinup
@BookEndsJessica How long is your ideal query letter? How many paragraphs describing the story? #askagentFor me you should be able to write a 2-paragraph blurb. #askagent
Literary Agent
How to Frustrate an Agent in 5 Easy Steps--my video rant. #askagent #amquerying #mswl youtu.be/PPSB3P0WBTs?a
Literary Agent
Kari Hagen @KariHagenWrites
@BookEndsJessica #askagent - is a book blurb/back cover copy separate from a query or synopsis? When agents ask you to provide one, do you just send the query?The back cover copy is essentially your query. A blurb is similar. A synopsis is a longer and detailed account of the entire book. #askagent
Literary Agent
J.Lee Dodson📖 is revising @JLeeDodson
@BookEndsJessica @bookendslit @AgentJessicaA @NaomisLitPix Hope I'm not late; Question: Would it be ok to pitch a MS in its 3rd draft? I was thinking about going to the Philly writers workshop this November to pitch my novel. #askagentIf you feel it's ready to be published feel free to pitch. If you don't think it's yet ready to be published, then it's not yet ready to be pitched. Only you can decide that. #askagent
Literary Agent
Manddy @DMandzz
@BookEndsJessica @bookendslit @AgentJessicaA @NaomisLitPix Ok so it's really about your understanding of the premise of the book. Yes? Thank you!Think of it as buying a book. Do you read the first few pages of every book you look at or do you make some decisions based on the cover copy? That's how agents look at queries. #askagent
Literary Agent
Naomi Davis @NaomisLitPix
@markdsalzwedel Editors - even ones you know - won't take it personally when you sign an agent to help with any stage of the process. I always recommend going with an agent - we do a lot for that commission, and get a lot of details ironed out for you. #askagentAlso keep in mind that an editor works for the publisher, not for you. Agents work for you. Looking at a long-term publishing career is important. The sale itself is just one tiny detail in the process. #askagent
Literary Agent
Manddy @DMandzz
@BookEndsJessica @bookendslit @AgentJessicaA @NaomisLitPix When considering an author's work, do you always read the accompanying pages? Or do you throw some out bc the query is a horror show? #askagentI don't always read the pages. In fact, I'd say for most I don't. But I wouldn't say my decision is based on a bad query. Usually it's an idea I don't resonate with #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Melanie Harding-Shaw @MelHardingShaw
I'm aiming to query agents from next month. I'm based in Wellington, New Zealand where the 2020 WorldCon will be. Is it realistic to think it could be published in 2019 and use the Worldcon publicity opportunity as a selling point in the query? #askagentIt's possible, except most publishers have already filled their 2019 publication schedules, or are close to doing it. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jennifer Wielt @JWielt
In your opinion, what distinguishes suspense from mystery and thriller? #askagent @BookEndsJessicaBy the way, can I say, suspense is suspenseful, thrillers are thrilling, and a mystery is mysterious? #askagent
Literary Agent
Hannah M Long 🍁 @hannah_m_long
@BookEndsJessica Is it okay to query two differant books, at once, to seporate agents? Thanks so much!Yes, I think it's fine, just be careful though. If you get an offer most agents will want to be your exclusive agent. #askagent
Literary Agent
Michelle Hazen ❤️🎸 @michellehazen
@BookEndsJessica Do you see romcom as more of a subgenre of romance, women's fiction, both, or neither? #AskBookEnds #AskAgentI see it as a subgenre of romance personally, although I think you can have light and comedic women's fiction too. #askagent
Literary Agent
K.E.Hunt @katherin_e_hunt
@BookEndsJessica @bookendslit @AgentJessicaA @NaomisLitPix #askagent I saw your reply stating that a book should be edited before sending a query, but that costs an awful lot of money. How often are edited books accepted compared to unedited? (No disrespect to editors out there who do a fantastic job ♥)I'm not saying you need to hire a professional editor, but the author should edit and proofread and revise the book (with or without critique partners) and know it's ready. #askagent
Literary Agent
Patricia Tavormina @pltavormina
@BookEndsJessica Better to end a query with pure stakes?"He must do XYZ, or horrible things ABC will happen."
OR choice?
"He can choose to do X even though it means A will happen, or he can choose to do Y and hope for B to happen."
I don't think there's an either or with this. End it with what works best for your pitch and your book. #askagent