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
eileen @leanerbeans
@BookEndsJessica Is it acceptable to query multiple agents from the same agency? (Assuming the submissions page doesn't say not to)Never at the same time. At least at @bookendslit if one agent passes you are welcome to query another. #askagent #askbookends
Literary Agent
Catrine Kyster @CatrineKyster
@BookEndsJessica Who's the biggest foodie among your picture book agents?Hmmm. That's a question I'm not sure I know the answer to. @bookendslit #askagent #askbookends
Literary Agent
Lucy Flatman @lbrflatman
@BookEndsJessica @whitleyabell Ok, so no to rhetorical questions. But can you hint/tease as with this above sample. E.g dark secret bit, or would you need to explain the secret? Nb: sorry if I’m being thick! 🙈The blurb is your cover copy so you never want to reveal the twist in the blurb. Leave that for the synopsis. To better shape your query blurb, spend time writing cover copy for your favorite books & compare to actual copy. #amquerying #askagent
Literary Agent
Chris Bedell @ChrisBedell
@BookEndsJessica What's the appropriate amount of time for agent to respond to a requested partial from a twitter pitch contest? 3 months? 6 months? #askagentEvery agent is different. At @bookendslit we post our response times on our website. For requested material we ask that you give us 12-16 weeks (I believe). #askagent I think 3-6 months is plenty long.
Literary Agent
Susan @SusieSlushPile
@BookEndsJessica #askagent - Must a new author have a huge author platform with 1000s of followers to be considered for publication? I’m OK with a blog or webpage- social media is frightening to me thoNot for fiction. You can be a nobody with zero followers for fiction. That will grow of course with your career. Nonfiction authors typically need a stronger platform. #askagent
Literary Agent
MHKlump @mh_klump
@BookEndsJessica #askagent I am terrible at writing titles. How much weight do you give a title when considering a query? In other words, if I’m happy with everything but the title, do I wait to query until I have a better one? Thanks!A title can definitely help make, but it won't always break. I would suggest trying to come up with a strong title, ensuring it fits the genre, & then be ready for it to change. #askagent It doesn't need to be perfect, but it should be representative.
Literary Agent
Melissa Charles @2TheImp
@BookEndsJessica I have a cpl of questions for you. First, I've had some freelance articles do well, and contributed to an anthology, but my current ms is MG, so not really applicable (articles/anthology were parenting/humour/opinion) Should I mention those in a query, or not? #askagentAbsolutely! Any professional writing experience is always worth mentioning in a query. #askagent
Literary Agent
Lucy Flatman @lbrflatman
I get so confused by the query letter, some advice says to not leave any unanswered questions or write it like book blurb as below.Also, if we’re unpublished should we have info about ourselves? Some say yes others say don’t put anything not relevant.
#AskAgent twitter.com/whitleyabell/s…
I think @whitleyabell's post is spot on. Don't write in rhetorical questions. Include title, word count & genre. The blurb should read like a book blurb (that's what a blurb is), and include some bio so we get to know you. #askagent
Literary Agent
Lucy Crowe @AuthorLucyC
#askagent Do agents always prefer to use their own editors? Is it the kiss of death if I hire one prior to the query stage?Most agencies do not hire outside editors. @bookendslit agents edit their own authors prior to submission to sell to publishers/editors. I would not object to an author hiring an editor if that's what she wants to do. #askagent
Literary Agent
Amber LaShell @amberlashell
@BookEndsJessica #askagent If a person previously self-published a couple of books (but took the books down) does that affect any future offers for new books? (Not the same books that were previously self-pubbed). Also, do you suggest they use a different author name than the ones self-pubbed?They could, but at this point it is what it is. Go out strong with your next book, pitch it well, write it well and worry about the name later. Different agents and pubs will have different opinions on that. #askagent
Literary Agent
Sarah Jane Pounds🏺🌅 @sarahjp22
@BookEndsJessica If I have a full still out on a previous MS, should I start querying a new one with other agents? (Its different, not a sequel to the first) #askagentI think you should. I don't see any reason to put yourself in waiting mode. It only takes the power away from you & unnecessarily delays thing. Query away. Also, if you have top choice agents with the first, query the 2nd. Why not? #askagent
Literary Agent
Mallory @emmemjackson
@BookEndsJessica I'm sorry if you've answered the ? before. I #amquerying & want to submit a book proposal for my nonfiction self-improvement/self-help book about "helping". Should I wait until the book is done or does your agency consider nonfiction proposals? THANK YOUI'm always happy to answer questions. If the nonfiction is self-improvement/self-help a proposal is fine. You can find more information here: bookendsliterary.com/2009/01/05/wha…
#amquerying #askagent Good luck!
Literary Agent
Author F.J.Kerr @AuthorFJKerr
@BookEndsJessica Do you only rep book authors or do you work with all works from writers?I only rep adult and YA books, but others at @bookendslit also rep illustrators and graphic novelists as well as picture books, etc. #askagent
Literary Agent
BookEnds Literary Agency @bookendslit
Want to know what BookEnds is really like? Dying to find out how James feels about the office scanner? Wondering what Jessica had for lunch today?Lucky for you, I’ve got the answers! Feel free to send questions my way today, for the inside scoop 😉 -OL
I'll start this off. What was the most surprising thing about your internship at @bookendslit? I mean, besides the witty repertoire between @jamerrson and me. #askagent #askBookEnds
Literary Agent
Elisa Stryker is The Real Slim Shady @elisa_stryker
@BookEndsJessica Communication is the biggest thing. Doesn’t need to be weekly updates, I know sometimes it’s slow. But an occasional “hey letting you know what’s up” email works. No ghosting! 🙅♀️One agent said she BCC’s her clients in submission emails. It proves she’s doing what she says
No ghosting should just be a standard rule of life. I agree on updates. I'll admit, sometimes if I have nothing to report I lose track of how much time has gone by & hope authors who are wondering will also send the occasional email. #askagent
Literary Agent
Lisa Trank @ltrank
@BookEndsJessica Be honest, kind, and fight for the integrity of our work. No matter what, I want the truth. Kind, caring truth that is dedicated to the benefit of the work becoming the best it can be. Thank you for asking us!I think that truth is where it becomes difficult for some authors/agents. Some agents are afraid to really tell their authors the truth for fear of being fired. So yes, at times fear controls agents too. #askagent
Literary Agent
Damien Jones @Illio_Jones
@BookEndsJessica Thanks for your time - I feel envious of your authors, I can now hopefully sleep feeling slight less frustration!Thank you for the thoughtful questions. Have faith that most agents are truly hard-working people who believe in their role as and author/illustrator advocate. Most of us are good apples. #askagent.
Literary Agent
Damien Jones @Illio_Jones
@BookEndsJessica They can be but the work generally is book specific - surely there is more work in reading texts than viewing images?Mmm. Maybe. Since I don’t personally rep illustrators I’m not the full expert on this. #askagent
Literary Agent
Damien Jones @Illio_Jones
@BookEndsJessica My personal experience and it is something that I've experience a few times is that communication is between agent and the publisher/client and that us the author/illustrator is kept on a need to know basis, and then we're felt left out the loop and end up playing a guessing gameRemember. The author/illustrator is actually the client so that should not be the case. Although sometimes, long periods can go by with nothing to report. In those times a wondering author needs to reach out. #askagent
Literary Agent
Damien Jones @Illio_Jones
@BookEndsJessica I've really enjoyed your videos on youtube! :DShould the #daniellesmith incident, be a catalyst for change in the way agents and Illustrators/Authors work, and maybe a cry for better communication and a more open working relationship between both parties?
Writers/Authors/illustrators — I was asked this terrific question & while I have/had answers & opinions I ask you— What can agents do to better protect you? To make you feel secure in this partnership? #askagent