Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Rachel Tomlinson @RachLTomlinson

@SecretAgentBri What trends are you seeing in #PB publishing? And in such an overcrowded market what makes a pb manuscript sing to you?
Replying to @RachLTomlinson

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Bridget Baker @BGBakerWrites

@SecretAgentBri Also, do you read your own fulls? Or have an assistant pre screen them?
Replying to @BGBakerWrites

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Bridget Baker @BGBakerWrites

@SecretAgentBri What does it look like when you adore a query? Fall in love with a full? When do you request at each step, and when do you offer? Who else do you talk to about it, if anyone?
Replying to @BGBakerWrites

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips
Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Allie Therin @allie_therin

@SecretAgentBri Thank you for doing this!! (1) Is it okay to assume agents are open to LGBT/diversity in submissions even if not explicitly stated? (2) If my new book is a different genre than my current query, should I look for agents who rep both? #askagent
Replying to @allie_therin

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Koji @KojiADae

@SecretAgentBri Thanks for doing this!

1) Do you look at a potential client's website, and if you do, what do you like to see?
Replying to @KojiADae

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Rosalyn Ransaw @RosalynRansaw

@SecretAgentBri what’s one thing that used to be on your mswl but isn’t anymore and pi *coughs* I mean why? #askagent
Replying to @RosalynRansaw

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips
Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Michele Thornton @michelethorn

@SecretAgentBri What's your favorite dark comedy in YA?
Replying to @michelethorn

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Elizabeth Pope @elizaylottpope

@SecretAgentBri What makes you light up when you start a query letter?
Replying to @elizaylottpope

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Laura Todd Carns @LauraToddCarns

@SecretAgentBri Is it an automatic turn-off if someone lists critically-acclaimed, much-buzzed-about books as comps?
Replying to @LauraToddCarns

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

M.E. Walker @MEWalker7

@SecretAgentBri Does YA have to have romance to be enticing? #askagent
Replying to @MEWalker7

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Miri C Golden @MaryCWallis

@SecretAgentBri What’s your process for subbing to editors?Is there an established relationship? How does that all work?
Replying to @MaryCWallis

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Brett Rushing @BrettRushing

@SecretAgentBri are portal fantasies dead on arrival in an agent’s inbox? #askagent
Replying to @BrettRushing

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

Kaylee Errecaborde @KayleeMyhreErre

@SecretAgentBri If we are a first time novelist and realize we started agent submissions about four drafts too early #newbie, will agents consider re-submissions?
Replying to @KayleeMyhreErre

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips

A. Guillemette @AGuillemette87

@SecretAgentBri I have one question. I'm writing a YA novel with a 10 y/o protagonist. Agents keep telling me it's MG because of this, but the subject matter is DISTINCTLY not MG. It's a YA story. I can't change his age either for the story I want to tell. How would you query around this?
Replying to @AGuillemette87

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

Brianne Johnson
@SecretAgentBri
Literary Agent
pottery teacher, Muggle tolerator, Literary Agent @HGLiterary . querymanager.com/BrianneJohnson
10 MSWL
27 AskAgent
31 Queries
3 Tips