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

· 27 Jun 2018

Sassy Cat Chat @LisaLDriscoll

@BookEndsJessica I fell my Query is a bit long but having a really hard time cutting it. Does having a QL that's a page deter an agent or is ok?

Replying to @LisaLDriscoll

Hmmm. Have you looked at the manuscript? Might that need cutting too? Maybe the query is indicative of something larger? In a nutshell, if you feel it's too long then I would say it's too long. #askagent

· 27 Jun 2018

Purple @Ppurple_w

@BookEndsJessica Hi! I have a silly question. Is it ok to use a pen name? And will that affect me in any way in the future?

Replying to @Ppurple_w

It is okay and the only impact it might have is that you'll be required to use it forever (ala Nora Roberts). #askagent

· 27 Jun 2018

E @ewc_cooper

@BookEndsJessica #askagent I write in multiple genres. Should I mention this in my query bio? (Thinking a short sentence.) I’m hoping to find an agent who might be interested in other ms down the line.

Replying to @ewc_cooper

I would not. Focus right now on the book you are writing. #askagent

· 27 Jun 2018

Chelsea Covington Maass @chelseasfiction

@BookEndsJessica Say you get a submission with solid voice and excellent plot - the MS is complete but still needs work. How do you determine which books to take on? What are the biggest factors? #askagent

Replying to @chelseasfiction

It usually doesn't "need work" from the author's point of view. We take on books that we see need very little work, that we think are fantastic and that the market is asking for #askagent

· 27 Jun 2018

tim @timsalterego

@BookEndsJessica #AskAgent Besides the story itself, what does an agent hope for in a client? What makes a "good" client (or a nightmare one)?

Replying to @timsalterego

Someone open to revisions, critique and brainstorming. Someone willing to work hard on the book as well as marketing & social media. Someone who communicates & asks questions. Someone who sends presents (that one is a joke...sort of). #askagent

· 27 Jun 2018

Julia Martins @books_by_julia

@BookEndsJessica What are your thoughts on using a book the agent represents as a comp? (For context: they're similar in voice/style, but not in theme/plot) #askagent

Replying to @books_by_julia

I think it's a good idea. You at least know the agent knows the book. #askagent

· 27 Jun 2018

Chelsea Covington Maass @chelseasfiction

@BookEndsJessica What's your current dream submission? #askagent

Replying to @chelseasfiction

I'm still looking for domestic suspense, but am tired of the husband/wife scenario. I'd like one featuring a mother and child or a friendship. #askagent #MSWL

· 27 Jun 2018

Chelsea Covington Maass @chelseasfiction

@BookEndsJessica What's your current dream submission? #askagent

Replying to @chelseasfiction

Does it just have to be one dream submission? I'd love a dual timeline women's fiction too, but ala Next Year in Havana featuring diverse voices. #askagent #MSWL

· 27 Jun 2018

Julia Martins @books_by_julia

@BookEndsKim If I'm planning on referencing things the agent asked for on their blog/agent bio/mswl in the first paragraph of my query, how long should that paragraph be? #askagent

Replying to @books_by_julia

I don't think it needs to be longer than a sentence or to frankly. #askagent

· 27 Jun 2018

Devin Overman @devinlikescake

@BookEndsJessica Hi! Thanks for doing these!

Q: If you have a few queries out and one requests a manuscript, should you follow up with the other queries or wait until an offer of representation/publication is extended? Or neither? #askagent

Replying to @devinlikescake

There is no reason to inform other agents of a request, I'd wait until you have an offer. Most agents will assume others are reading. #askagent

· 21 Jun 2018

Alyse @alysealexandrac

@BookEndsJessica Good Morning. Could a novel about a 21 year old not in school but lives at home because she's the daughter of a mob boss be considered YA?

Replying to @alysealexandrac

No, she would really be too old for YA #askagent

· 20 Jun 2018

The Impact Previous Book Sales Have on Your Current Submission #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2018/06/20/the…

· 19 Jun 2018

Using Comp Titles in Queries #amwriting #amquerying #askagent bookendsliterary.com/2018/06/19/usi…

· 18 Jun 2018

VBOwrites @vbowrites

@BookEndsJessica Submissions question: When sending a manuscript to an agent or publisher, is it proper to include any quotes at the beginning of the book? I have two quotes that are very pertinent to the material and I don't want to get anything wrong when submitting.

Replying to @vbowrites

Do you mean quotes about the book from others or quotes that you pulled from other works? I would not put in review quotes about the book, but quotes from other works are fine. #askagent

· 14 Jun 2018

greendragon9 @greendragon9

@BookEndsJessica #askagent I'm querying a new MS. But if you've got other books published through small press, should you mention the number of copies you've sold? (i.e., over 5,000 copies sold since publication in 2015)

Replying to @greendragon9

I don't think you need to mention that in the query. The agent will likely ask later #askagent

· 14 Jun 2018

Shannon Fisher @MsShannonFisher

@BookEndsJessica How much detail should be included in an initial nonfiction pitch? Three paragraphs (author's bio, platform, and synopsis)? Or should writers include a full outline? #askagent

Replying to @MsShannonFisher

blurb (not necessarily synopsis)--like back cover copy, author bio and platform should be enough for the query. #askagent With nonfiction the platform is vital.

· 14 Jun 2018

DeeLinn @Roaringmoms

@BookEndsJessica I was told once that agents hate it when writers sub to publishers accepting unagented ms. If that is available to us, shouldn't we give it a go?

Replying to @Roaringmoms

Another issue is that you've now possibly closed the door on that house. Even if you submitted to the wrong editor, or with an unrevised book. #askagent

· 14 Jun 2018

DeeLinn @Roaringmoms

@BookEndsJessica I was told once that agents hate it when writers sub to publishers accepting unagented ms. If that is available to us, shouldn't we give it a go?

Replying to @Roaringmoms

you absolutely can. The problem is that often when you get an agent the agent will do revisions with you before submitting. Which means you submitted a presumably less then perfect work #askagent

· 13 Jun 2018

Kaylen Wade @kaylen_wade

@BookEndsJessica If you write in two genres, how important is it to find a single agent who reps both, and why? (WF & PBs--there are some, but it's tough to build a very robust query list so far.) Would it be terrible to have two agents? #askagent (thank you for doing these!)

Replying to @kaylen_wade

I would focus on finding one agent for one book first. Once that happens you can see where your career leads you and if you need two agents or have found one who can do everything. #askagent

· 13 Jun 2018

Gabriella-L-Garlock @HistoReWriter

@BookEndsJessica So what is it with this New Adult tag? I've heard everything from it's up and coming to it's death to a query to "it'd better be full of sex". I just wanna write for young people starting out in life. #askagent

Replying to @HistoReWriter

Skip new adult and write YA or fantasy, or SFF, or romance. Young people are reading all sorts of things. Oh, I forgot MG. New adult doesn't have any traction. #askagent