Natascha Morris, Agent, BookEnds Literary Agency

You need to know where your novel would sit in the bookstores. B/c it is only going to sit in 1 place. Take Outlander for example. Originally, it was shelved in romance. Now it is shelved in fiction. But it is also historical and sci-fi. But it is mostly romance or fic #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Mar 26

Kara Mugleston @klmugle

If an agent represents one of my books (an MG), would it be more likely for them to represent another book (a YA)? #AskAgent

Replying to @klmugle

For Kidlit, yes. Though have a conversation with your agent, since they may have a brand vision for you. For me, I am selfish and I want all my clients' kidlit stuff. Now if they want to do some adult thriller stuff, then we might talk them needing an adult agent. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Mar 26

Joanne Machin is querying! @heyjomachin

Any quick tips for assessing and improving pacing in a ms? :) #askagent

Replying to @heyjomachin

Read SAVE THE CAT, and try reading it on your Kindle. Also @NaomisLitPix has a great link she shared with me once on this so I am tagging her in #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Mar 26

Chad & Dad Richardson @ChadandDadRich

How do you expect the slow down in the economy to impact the publishing industry? Do you think it will slow things down significantly? #askagent

Replying to @ChadandDadRich

I mean we are all kind of stressed and some have admitted to having a hard time focusing, but people need books. And we need queries. So BookEnds is moving like normal. Will we see things effected, yes, but we work 2 years in the future, so we need to work for 2022. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Mar 26

Jessica Alvarez @AgentJessicaA

@WriterRowland Yep. Once an editor, always an editor. #AskAgent

Replying to @AgentJessicaA

hahahaha this! So much this! #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Mar 26

Jael R. Bakari @jaelrbakari

I know every scenario is different, but are there any commonalities in agent/author relationships...i.e. things communicated about regularly besides deadlines? #askagent

Replying to @jaelrbakari

i do alot of author care: talking about new projects, how we feel about editorial responses, if they need me to step in for them, also being second eyes on their work. Really we are kind of like gardeners meets best friends, always there to lend a hand and prune things. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · Mar 26

Emily Bonar @emjbonar

@bookendslit #askagent What's a topic in #PB that you haven't seen in the past few years that you would love to see as a literary agent?

Replying to @emjbonar

I am such a sucker for daddy/daughter books. And I love HAIR LOVE. So to me it is breaking down those expectations of what dad roles and mom roles are. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

BookEnds Literary Agency @bookendslit

@ShiraZwiren Start looking for internships and make sure you’re very well reads in the current marketplace #AskAgent

Replying to @bookendslit

Also consider how your job experience is an asset. Work at Bank? Customer service experience! Teacher? Project management experience! You still need to learn the ins here on the ground, but those skills can transfer and be helpful. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

Kim Lionetti @BookEndsKim

@Nicky_Adams_Pen @bookendslit @NaomisLitPix Unfortunately, I think historical in general is a little tough for YA. You never know, though, when a trend will change...

Replying to @BookEndsKim

I agree, historical is really tough in YA. That being said, if you can bring something FRESH then I am open to seeing it. WWII might be a bit tired if you are going the usual story routes, and personally, it needs to be extremely researched. But I'm game. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

James McGowan @jamerrson

@TalynnL @SoCalledYALife @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit No, you can save that for the synopsis. You want to get us intrigued for me. #AskAgent

Replying to @jamerrson

So here one of my client's query letters. She posted it to her blog so other people could see what worked for her: laurataylornamey.com/writing-tip-qu… Hope that helps! #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

Laura Lavoie @lhlavoie

How important is it for authors who are yet to be published to have an author website? #askagent

Replying to @lhlavoie

I always actively encourage my authors to set up a website. It is never to early to start marketing yourself as an author. You are not aspiring: you ARE. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

Julie Weathers @Julie_Weathers

@inthesestones @ICT_Pinup @bookendslit #askagent Some writer friends were discussing comps the other day and one mentioned a television show. "Fans of this show would probably enjoy your book." It would make a good comp, but...it's a television show. Should I keep casting for novels?

Replying to @Julie_Weathers

I mean I did this for a MG I sold. It is perfect for fans of the AMAZING RACE. But if you have ever watched the Amazing Race, and then read the book (which comes out 10/1/19) you will see why the comp works. It needs to be well known enough, people understand the comp. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

Jessica Faust @BookEndsJessica

@catecaldwell66 If it works use it. Comps can be a bit personal. I, for example, am famously known at @bookendslit for my lack of tv/film knowledge. Others however would definitely connect to a comp. 2002 is too old IMHO #askagent

Replying to @BookEndsJessica

For books, you want to use something in the last 2-3 years. For TV/Movies/Musicals you are really using it for plot comps so you need to be really spot on. Comps can be tricky as they set expectations since they can also be used to allude to your writing style as well. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife

@jamerrson @RachnaChhabria1 I wish I was always that certain! The real truth is that sometimes talented authors have books that aren't quite right and we have to think about it more. Do we have time to really dig in? Do we have the passion for this? Does it change the author's vision if we do X? #askagent

Replying to @SoCalledYALife

Is the timing right? All these questions pile up so we say, okay set it aside and come back to it. There are alot of authors that were so close that I am keeping my eye on because they ended up in my maybe pile. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

James McGowan @jamerrson

@RachnaChhabria1 Oh, no. We're often on the fence about stuff. Sometimes we'll sit on it for a bit and come back to it with fresh eyes, or get second reads, etc. #AskAgent

Replying to @jamerrson

I wish I was always that certain! The real truth is that sometimes talented authors have books that aren't quite right and we have to think about it more. Do we have time to really dig in? Do we have the passion for this? Does it change the author's vision if we do X? #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

James McGowan @jamerrson

@WReader23 That's not necessary, I don't think #AskAgent

Replying to @jamerrson

Honestly, I don't care. Your work is going to stand for itself regardless if you are 16 or 60. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 28 Feb 2019

Talynn Lynn @TalynnL

#askagent How much of the story should be included in the query? The opening scene? All the way to the end? One plot point? Thank you:)

Replying to @TalynnL

You want the same as you would see on the back of a book. What would make you pick up a book and read it? Same holds for a query. You are selling your book to us, the same way a book sales itself to a read. @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit might have blog post about this. #askagent

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Natascha Morris @SoCalledYALife · 31 Aug 2018

Lara D. Elliott @lara_d_writer

@SoCalledYALife Do you like to see an age range given for picture book queries?

Replying to @lara_d_writer

I think an age range can bite an author in the ass, particularly if they don't understand it. So if an author is like "I have a picture book for 10-15 year olds" I know they don't know the category. So personally, I think it can hurt you. #askagent

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Natascha Morris

@SoCalledYALife

MSWL