Jessica Faust

@BookEndsJessica

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

querymanager.com/query/jfaust

publishersmarketplace.com/members/BookEnds

querytracker.net/agent.php?agent=4

· 11 Sep 2018

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…

· 11 Sep 2018

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?

Replying to @WriteRepublic76

You can. I don’t think it matters either way. #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

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)

Replying to @transmitjoy

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

· 11 Sep 2018

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 @BookEndsJessica

Replying to @JenMarieWiggin1

Without seeing it I’d say a gift book for adults. And you would likely need to include illustrations. #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

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 #askagent

Replying to @Son_Ayoub

A publisher will sell the book into the library market & yes it’s a sale #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

Jerusha @ICT_Pinup

@BookEndsJessica How long is your ideal query letter? How many paragraphs describing the story? #askagent

Replying to @ICT_Pinup

For me you should be able to write a 2-paragraph blurb. #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

How to Frustrate an Agent in 5 Easy Steps--my video rant. #askagent #amquerying #mswl youtu.be/PPSB3P0WBTs?a

· 11 Sep 2018

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?

Replying to @KariHagenWrites

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

· 11 Sep 2018

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. #askagent

Replying to @JLeeDodson

If 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

· 11 Sep 2018

Manddy @DMandzz

@BookEndsJessica @bookendslit @AgentJessicaA @NaomisLitPix Ok so it's really about your understanding of the premise of the book. Yes? Thank you!

Replying to @DMandzz

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

· 11 Sep 2018

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. #askagent

Replying to @NaomisLitPix

Also 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

· 11 Sep 2018

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? #askagent

Replying to @DMandzz

I 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

· 11 Sep 2018

Jamie Loves Poetry @PoetJamie

@BookEndsJessica I have written a MG verse-novel, should I be querying agents who work with MG or agents who handle poetry?

Replying to @PoetJamie

I'd shoot for MG agents personally #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

Amanda Jain @wensday95

@OneOfUsHasToGo @BookEndsJessica Usually the problem is slow pacing, especially in that dreaded middle when things can sometimes get saggy. If the pacing is fast, that's great, as long as it isn't at the expense of character development and world building.

Replying to @wensday95

· 11 Sep 2018

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? #askagent

Replying to @MelHardingShaw

It's possible, except most publishers have already filled their 2019 publication schedules, or are close to doing it. #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

Jennifer Wielt @JWielt

In your opinion, what distinguishes suspense from mystery and thriller? #askagent @BookEndsJessica

Replying to @JWielt

By the way, can I say, suspense is suspenseful, thrillers are thrilling, and a mystery is mysterious? #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

Hannah M Long 🍁 @hannah_m_long

@BookEndsJessica Is it okay to query two differant books, at once, to seporate agents? Thanks so much!

Replying to @hannah_m_long

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

· 11 Sep 2018

Michelle Hazen ❤️🎸 @michellehazen

@BookEndsJessica Do you see romcom as more of a subgenre of romance, women's fiction, both, or neither? #AskBookEnds #AskAgent

Replying to @michellehazen

I see it as a subgenre of romance personally, although I think you can have light and comedic women's fiction too. #askagent

· 11 Sep 2018

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 ♥)

Replying to @katherin_e_hunt

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

· 11 Sep 2018

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."

Replying to @pltavormina

I don't think there's an either or with this. End it with what works best for your pitch and your book. #askagent