Ann Rose
Literary Agent
Tobias Literary Agency
agent: @TheTobiasAgency & #rosebudauthor wrangler | author: ROAD TO EUGENICA & BREAKOUT | opinions are my own | she/her rep:@evascalzo layout:@ana_scribe
Literary Agent
Debra Anton @The_DebraAnton
@annmrose Hello, and thank you for doing this. In a middle grade novel, do you feel that the main character having a strong fear of change is enough of an obstacle to reaching her goals?It would be really hard to say without seeing it or knowing more specifics. That is a good internal obstacle, but are there any external ones as well?
Literary Agent
Milo Lorien @MiloLorien
@annmrose How does a one w/a neurocognitive disorder & communication hurdles break through the req’s of agents? I always see how they want diverse voices, but sub req’s are designed for only one type of writer. I can get Mariel Hemingway’s review but not an agents time. Please explain.There is a group that is putting a list together of agents who are open to making accommodations for authors who need them. Is there something particular that you can share as a challenge? I know for myself we have a submission portal which isn't the friendliest...
Literary Agent
Justin McBride @panrec
@annmrose Is posting your novel on Substack a plus or a minus?If it's anything like Wattpad than it's basically published. I would caution posting complete work for public consumption if you are wanting to try to sell it.
Literary Agent
Kady Oliker Eshleman @KadyEshleman
@annmrose Thank you so much for doing this! Is it an automatic turn off if in the query if the word count is on the shorter side. Say 57k for a YA novel?YA contemporary I'm assuming? That isn't that far off 60K which is the low side of that age group/genre so I think you would be fine. I'm always more wary of things over than under.
Literary Agent
Shay Galloway @TheGallowCat
@annmrose 1) Could you query an agent for representation with a book already under a (small) publishing contract?1a-if you get representation for a 2nd manuscript, does the agent retroactively represent your other titles?
2) mentioning beta-reader/reviewer feedback in query letters?
1) Have you already signed the contract? If not, than yes it's possible to query with an "offer of publication." If the contract is already signed then it's best to query the next thing, and that does not mean book two of the series. I'm not sure I understand question 1a...
Literary Agent
Christie Peaslee @CupPeas
@annmrose I get much of the same response when querying, "This sounds like a great project, just not one I feel I'm right to bring to life." It's difficult because it seems polite but with nothing contructive. I'm not sure if I should be trying to change something. Is this response normal?It may mean something in those opening pages just aren't clicking. I would reevaluate them. Are you starting in the right place? This is a common error I find. Have you had other writers look at your work? Critique partners are the best!
Literary Agent
Ruth Owen @Brinestowen
@annmrose If my book is loosely inspired by an Agatha Christie novel, does that cause copyright problems? It's more of a reaction to the Christie novel than a retelling. I haven't been sure whether to mention the connection in a query.You can say it was inspired by, I don't see that as a problem. As long as you didn't copy it, which I feel confident you did not, I don't see any issues at all.
Literary Agent
Wayne Jones @podcastEW
@annmrose @authorjesspayne How much of your time is spent on current authors you represent, and how much is spent on queries? Do you handle the queries or does an assistant help?I give my authors my main focus at all times. I average 40 hours a month on queries which is broken up over the month. I look at all of my own queries. I do not have an assistant. I also read all requested materials on my own.
Literary Agent
Li’l Lisa is a busy 🐝 @lisabornegraves
@annmrose @authorjesspayne If an agent wanted to sign an author for a pen name, would they be entitled to represent author’s works under a different name? Is it likely they might represent other-named books for certain rights only like film or translation? Or is it more like all or nothing for rights?I personally sign authors the people and if they have a pen name great, but to me these aren't two separate things. How other agents do their business I can't say.
Literary Agent
V.L. Aziz is #querying @VLAzizwrites
@annmrose I’m a slow start writer, my question is when we send chapters to an agent, instead of the first three chapters can we send our favorite chapters?No. Unfortunately, that isn't how it works.
Literary Agent
Sofia Aves @AvesBooks
@annmrose @authorjesspayne I see a LOT of form rejections coming through in query groups. Does that line “we loved your characters and plot but it doesn’t fit ymy list” really mean they did like an aspect of it or is it just a nice way to send a rejection? I see this a come up a LOTI don't think agents say things they don't mean. So I would take it at face value. They liked it but it wasn't a good fit which could mean they have something similar already. Keep moving forward!
Literary Agent
Muminah is editing @m_x_manuel
@annmrose Hi! Thank you for this opportunityWhen it comes to the part of the query letter for the author bio, what should be included besides writing-related qualifications? Does the age or the country a writer lives in play a role in the decision for rep?
Nope age and location don't matter--unless it shows you know about the location the book is set then it could help. Just tell us what you want us to know about you. I love getting a little of the author's personality in the bio.
Literary Agent
D. Hawkins 🌈 @DHawkinsAuthor
@annmrose Thank you for this! It seems agents like when we specify when use our own voice, but there are pieces of me that I’m not necessarily comfortable broadcasting widely in a query letter, especially related to neurodiversity. Advice on how to reconcile this?You shouldn't share anything you aren't comfortable in sharing, and no one should make you. If you want to say what you just said here that would be fine (again only if you want)... there are pieces of me and my experiences in this story... and then you don't have to pinpoint
Literary Agent
Vince Adams @VinceAdams19
@annmrose Hi Ann, thanks for your availability. I’m finishing the third book in a possible trilogy first (modern day events) then planning to complete the two chronologically earlier books afterwards. They can each stand on their own. Do you see any marketability issues with this plan?So book three comes first? Not sure I understand, but if the books stand alone then you should be okay. I would hesitate to finish all the books in that world in case it doesn't sell though. Spreading out your eggs instead of having them all in one basket isn't always a bad thing
Literary Agent
Sharon McDonell 🏳️🌈 (they/them/she/her) @1LesbianOutLoud
@annmrose #askagent Should I include comps when they’re not spot on~in space vs grounded, near future vs centuries away?Just say how they are a comp. For example, the family dynamics of X Title, is a way to explain how the book you've chosen makes it a great comp. Make sense?
Literary Agent
Anna Maria Ball @AnnaMBwrites
@annmrose Would you want to know in the pitch letter if the author is neurodivergent?If that is something you want to share. But it's not required for any author to self disclose anything they aren't comfortable sharing.
Literary Agent
STEPHANIE L WARD @StephaineWard
@annmrose Do you like reading about the story or comps and word count first in a query?It doesn't make a difference to me.
Literary Agent
Casey Kincade @Noir_Kincade
@annmrose Thank you for answering all these questions!I’m seeing a lot of agents who are not accepting dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction. Is this a trend that you’re seeing from the inside as well? Seems like a hard time to get traction with those sub-genres.
I don't see many editors actively seeking this right now, which is why agents might not be open to it. That doesn't mean if it is done well it won't find it's home though, so don't be discouraged.
Literary Agent
Michaelina Deneka @M_Deneka
@annmrose Would you prefer that we specify when we’ve borrowed elements from a subgenre our book doesn’t fully fit (e.g. “upper MG contemporary fantasy with a dark fantasy-inspired antagonist”) or just leave it at the narrowest category it fully fits (e.g. “upper MG contemporary fantasy”)?I don't think you need to be that specific
Literary Agent
Ambrielle Butler @AJButlerWriting
@annmrose How do agents feel about authors who are wanting to write across genres? Is that a dealbreaker?Not at all. The trick sometimes is finding an agent that does all those genres. Sometimes that also means having multiple agents. But it's not impossible.