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
Brendan Gibbs @RunningBren
@BookEndsJessica I've been curious how established literary agents have time to take on new clients. I see some agents close to query sometimes, then reopen. Presuming finite time, an existing roster of time-consuming clients... how is there any time for new prospective clients?#askagent
Great question! Thanks. The workload of existing clients ebbs and flows with the client's career. Some retire, some scale back, some need little from the agent because they are working closely with their editor #askagent
Literary Agent
Korina Moss @KorinaLMoss
#askagent @BookEndsJessica I sent my batch of queries for the first cozy mystery in a series. I have synopses for #2&3 but I hesitate to start the 2nd before being repped. Is working on a different series while I wait a good or bad idea from an agent's POV?It will be easy to go back to the series once you have a contract, it will take longer to start something new to submit if you have nothing new to submit. #askagent
Literary Agent
Korina Moss @KorinaLMoss
#askagent @BookEndsJessica I sent my batch of queries for the first cozy mystery in a series. I have synopses for #2&3 but I hesitate to start the 2nd before being repped. Is working on a different series while I wait a good or bad idea from an agent's POV?The reason is if book #1 doesn't sell there won't be a market for #2 or #3. My advice is to start something new and fresh. #askagent
Literary Agent
Korina Moss @KorinaLMoss
#askagent @BookEndsJessica I sent my batch of queries for the first cozy mystery in a series. I have synopses for #2&3 but I hesitate to start the 2nd before being repped. Is working on a different series while I wait a good or bad idea from an agent's POV?You are very smart!! I recommend if writing a series that you never start book #2 until you've got a publishing contract in hand. #askagent Blurbs & synopsis yes, but don't write the book.
Literary Agent
Story Grey @story_grey
I made a landing page for my book. Since I’m unpublished, should I include parts of my book to get people excited? #writing #amwriting #writerslife #askagent #askeditorAt the very least you need a blurb/description of what the book is about #askagent
Literary Agent
Abigail Burke @TheAbigailBurke
Is it true that most agents right away delete queries without reading the rest of it if a word count for a submitted romance ms is over 100k? #AskAgent #QueryTip #WriteTip #literaryagentI don't. I'll even read queries for books with a word count over 200k. It's unlikely I'll request, but I will read. Of course each agent is different. #askagent
Literary Agent
Do Conferences Lead to Representation? #amwriting #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2018/06/07/do-…
Literary Agent
Anatomy of a Book Deal: Inside the Publishing House #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2018/05/29/ana…
Literary Agent
K8 hearts tacos @katealicesandry
@BookEndsJessica I love that definition. In your opinion does own voices refer also to chronic illnesses? Or would one simply relay their shared experience (such as mental illness, neurolodiversity, cancer etc) in a query?If you are writing a book about a character with a chronic illness you share then yes, I believe that's an #ownvoices story. #askagent
Literary Agent
Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica
Honestly, I'm desperate for questions. I can't come up with all of these ideas on my own.Feel free to email bookends@bookendsliterary.com or leave a question in the comments on any blog post at any time. I'll drop it in my files and promise to answer. #AskAgent
Literary Agent
Thanks for the questions that came in on yesterday's blog post: bookendsliterary.com/2018/05/16/que… #AskAgent
Literary Agent
I'm looking to hear from readers--send us your questions & see them answered on the blog. #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2018/05/16/que…
Literary Agent
Susan Nairn @TooieNairn
@BookEndsJessica #askagent If a writer receives great feedback from Beta readers, how can they use that information to entice an agent. The thriller is a great read and I would love to find an agent who wants to read it.They really can't. Agents will make their own decisions based on experience, preferences, and market knowledge #askagent
Literary Agent
Miri C Golden @MaryCWallis
@BookEndsJessica #askagentIf B&N eventually folds, what exposure advantages will trade publishers offer authors to fill in the gap?
I can't imagine there are answers to that yet. Certainly the best, and most amazing, answer would be the rise of indie bookstores. #askagent
Literary Agent
David Rozansky @DavidRozansky
Q from @belle_inreality: How do retellings work? If you aren’t using the same names or locations but the plot is clearly a reworking of Famous Story X, do you need permission? I’m thinking more fairytales and classic novels. #askagent #askeditorIf the book/story is in the public domain you don't need permission. Retellings also don't need to be so close, or even use names or locations. Help! someone out there can come up with a list of great retelling examples. #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Carla Damron @carlawritesfic
@BookEndsJessica #askagent A lovely agent has been subbing my upmarket suspense. This isn’t her usual product and she’s approaching literary publishers. I haven’t signed anything, so wondering if I should approach agent used to this genre?You can definitely try to approach another agent, but I would first separate from this agent and get a clear idea of what she's done for you. #askagent
Literary Agent
Carla Damron @carlawritesfic
@BookEndsJessica #askagent A lovely agent has been subbing my upmarket suspense. This isn’t her usual product and she’s approaching literary publishers. I haven’t signed anything, so wondering if I should approach agent used to this genre?Hmmm. You haven't signed anything? That worries me/confuses me. If the book is shopped, it's shopped. It's going to be difficult to find an agent willing to take on something that's already been seen by, presumably, many places. #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Hannah Miller @HRuthMiller
@BookEndsJessica #askagent In general, if an agent has seen & rejected a full, is considered bad form to re-query that same agent if there has been a major revision if there was no R & R though issues they pointed out have been addressed?I always appreciate a second chance at things. Why not? The worst that happens is a rejection. #askagent