Alyssa Jennette
Literary Agent
Stonesong
I ask a lot of questions. Painfully earnest. Art school grad (MICA '10). Literary agent at @StonesongNYC. Silence is not peace.
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q9. YA. Unusual plot and voice for YA, so I see crossover potential here. I definitely want to see more pages. #10QAJQ10. YA. Definitely too long, and I'm really not interested in a clumsy-perfect protagonist. Pass. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q8. YA. Interesting, but a better fit for my coworker. Off it goes! #10QAJQ9. YA. Unusual plot and voice for YA, so I see crossover potential here. I definitely want to see more pages. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q7. PB. Cool concept in theory, but the execution could be snappier. Pass. #10QAJQ8. YA. Interesting, but a better fit for my coworker. Off it goes! #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q6. YA. Private school, superpowers, murder, and puzzles? I'M DOWN. #10QAJQ7. PB. Cool concept in theory, but the execution could be snappier. Pass. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q5. YA. On the short side. Hooky, but derivative. I'm not super-wowed. #10QAJQ6. YA. Private school, superpowers, murder, and puzzles? I'M DOWN. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q4. YA. Fantasy is effective when the rules are clear. If I can't figure out the hierarchy/laws/expectations, I'm not sold. #10QAJQ5. YA. On the short side. Hooky, but derivative. I'm not super-wowed. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q3. YA. I like when the opening moments upend the expected format; sometimes a sub can be perfectly good, but still not for me. #10QAJQ4. YA. Fantasy is effective when the rules are clear. If I can't figure out the hierarchy/laws/expectations, I'm not sold. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
2. MG. Seems very similar to another hit, and a bit on the short side. The writing is good, but I don't feel that pull. Pass. #10QAJQ3. YA. I like when the opening moments upend the expected format; sometimes a sub can be perfectly good, but still not for me. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q1. MG/YA? Gotta get squarely into one demo! Magical, empowering, and a mystery? Definitely worth a closer look! #10QAJ2. MG. Seems very similar to another hit, and a bit on the short side. The writing is good, but I don't feel that pull. Pass. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Okay, this is going to be the last #10QAJ for a while, simply because I need to move through my queries a little more quickly! Let's go!Q1. MG/YA? Gotta get squarely into one demo! Magical, empowering, and a mystery? Definitely worth a closer look! #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q9. YA. Eh, just not really an interesting premise to me. Pass. #10QAJQ10. YA. On the short side. Great concept, but the execution isn't there. Pass. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q8. YA. The premise is kickass, but the writing is thick with tropes/filler. Maybe salvageable? #10QAJQ9. YA. Eh, just not really an interesting premise to me. Pass. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q7. YA. I think this starts in the wrong place, but I can't totally tell because I have no anchor in this premise after 3 chapters. #10QAJQ8. YA. The premise is kickass, but the writing is thick with tropes/filler. Maybe salvageable? #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q6. MG. I've never really seen an MG thriller before, and I'm not sure the grit is working for me. Pass. #10QAJQ7. YA. I think this starts in the wrong place, but I can't totally tell because I have no anchor in this premise after 3 chapters. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q5. MG. Giving me Fforde's SHADES OF GREY vibes, with a dash of MATILDA. Interesting! I think I may request. #10QAJQ6. MG. I've never really seen an MG thriller before, and I'm not sure the grit is working for me. Pass. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q4. SF/Urban Fantasy/Steampunk--that's a lot of genres. The writing is very roundabout; get to the point, please! #10QAJQ5. MG. Giving me Fforde's SHADES OF GREY vibes, with a dash of MATILDA. Interesting! I think I may request. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q3. Thriller. Great query, but I'm not really in love with the writing. Pass. #10QAJQ4. SF/Urban Fantasy/Steampunk--that's a lot of genres. The writing is very roundabout; get to the point, please! #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q2. PB. REALLY similar to Q1, actually, but more successful. There's tension, there's humor, and some educational bits. I'm into it! #10QAJQ3. Thriller. Great query, but I'm not really in love with the writing. Pass. #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Q1. PB. Quiet, cute, and educational, but lacking some punch. I'll send a little feedback, but for now, it's a pass. #10QAJQ2. PB. REALLY similar to Q1, actually, but more successful. There's tension, there's humor, and some educational bits. I'm into it! #10QAJ
Literary Agent
Alyssa Jennette @AlyssaJennette
Lunch and coffee break means #10QAJ!Q1. PB. Quiet, cute, and educational, but lacking some punch. I'll send a little feedback, but for now, it's a pass. #10QAJ