Brianne Johnson

Some words of wisdom from my brilliant associate @AllieLevick—we always appreciate a heads up! #amquerying #askagent #MSWL

Something that hits literally every note--humor, heart, gentle message that strikes a chord, originality, sales hook. It's a tall order, but in a crowded market, I kinda need all of it #askagent

Personalized #askagent

Sometimes I ask for a second opinion from my assistant or our intern, but I ALWAYS read a full--in full--myself, before offering rep, no matter how glowing my reads are. #askagent

I offer when I finish a bk & can't stop thinking/talking about it. When I fall in #booklove, I talk to my assistant, my BF, my BFF, the person behind me in the checkout line--and then I talk to editors! #askagent

Yes, a novel in verse is a little more probably-salable than a collection in the current market, IMO #askagent

Maybe include one more that's genre- and thematically specific/similar but not as widely known #askagent

I would always tailor your submissions to agents who seem like the best fit for the most important themes in both of your books, if you can. Extra research might be required if you feel passionately about two books that address different ideas/genres/themes #askagent

If you're unpublished, a good social media following does help, as well as perhaps a blog--maybe a good landing page with a link to a blog/social accounts, and a brief bio to start #askagent

I used to be open to illustrators-only, but recently took it off my PM page--illustrators, you're MUCH better off going to @RebeccAgent @stevenmalk or @yikeslouise, they are wayyyy smarter than me about illustration #askagent

I personally alternate between reading from the top down and the bottom up, depending on volume--it's really luck of the draw #askagent

One I just sold! That we will announce soon! Omg that was so unhelpful, sorry! 💩 Fave MG dark comedy is @HollyMMGrant's LEAGUE OF BEASTLY DREADFULS. Hard to come up with YA comps, what's yours? #askagent

When it's well written, personally directed, and something fresh, that I haven't really seen before! #askagent

Not necessarily, but I would definitely mix in some genre-appropriate, successful but perhaps not HUGE-huge comps. If you tell me that your book is TWILIGHT meets HARRY POTTER, I might give you just a liiiil side eye 👀 #askagent

Not necessarily, but I find a romance--or sexual exploration of some kind--often helps. It definitely doesn't have to be the central relationship! It can be a secondary, or even tertiary element. And it definitely does not have to be happily ever after. #askagent

Yes ma'am! One of my favorite parts of the job is going to lunch with editors. We're all book nerds, and it's always fun. I get to know what they're looking for and try my best to deliver it #askagent

It's a crowded field, but not necessarily. If you feel yours is fresh/brings something new to the table, lead with that angle in your query letter #askagent

I think so! Some of my current clients queried me with earlier drafts/books. Be up front and say "oops I initially sent this three drafts too soon, would love to have you re-consider" #askagent

That's a tough one. Teens don't typically "read down" re: protagonist age. You can get pretty dark in MG as long as there's hope, why not make it MG? Or just not include genre in your query, and trust your eventual agent to help you shape/decide? #askagent

I would say probably yes! #askagent