Beth Phelan
Literary Agent
Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency
she/her. mg & ya literary agent @galltzackerlit. founder 501c3 NPO @_DiverseVoices (#DVpit/#DVart, DVcon &more). closed to unsolicited submissions.
- #mswl (128)
- #querytip (24)
- #pubtip (3)
- #askagent (25)
- #askTBA (17)
- #askDVpit (30)
- #asklitAOC (12)
- #askGZLA (41)
Literary Agent
Ayana Gray @AyanaGray
#asklitAOC bumping because I think mine got lost in the void!this is a good and complex question! i'd like to hear what others say but i wonder if asking their feelings on SRs and the so-called call-outs would be interesting to generate a conversation and see how your thoughts align, or don't. #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Justin Matsen @JustinMatsen15
#asklitAOC A question I’ve been sitting on for awhile... is it a turn-off to use wildly successful stories like Star Wars or Hunger Games as comp titles in your query?might be an unpopular opinion but i think you can do it if you're RIGHT lol #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Sabaah Jauhar-Rizvi @AustenLied
@ThaoLe8 @beth_phelan @ericsmithrocks @leonicka Would you ever suggest someone like me to have a more “white” name to be marketable? I’ve gotten that feedback from other agents and don’t understand why. #askLitAOCWHO IS TELLING PEOPLE THIS????? #askLitAOC
agents, get your shit together my god
Literary Agent
Karuna Riazi @KarunaRiazi
Do you have advice for PoC writing about topics/aesthetics/themes that the industry may claim is "tired out"? Any tips of persevering or how to present themselves? #asklitAOCsometimes they're just wrong tho lol #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
heidi heilig @heidiheilig
You folks are SO IMPORTANT. What can your fellow publishing professionals and other folks in the industry do (either personally or by lobbying the industry) to support established and aspiring agents of color? #asklitAOCsee us, know us, give us pep talks because pretty much every day is a hard day...
and for you heidi, just keep doing what you're doing, you're awesome #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Robert De Negro @baizeodu
How do you feel about your authors later delving into genres that may not be in your area of expertise? #askLitAOCit's a conversation. sometimes i have the connections and feel confident in repping. if i know i'm not what's best, then we'd find them another (or a new) agent #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
T.J. has a draft he should be finishing @diversecrime1
Do you recommend your clients take on different age ranges and genres to remain flexible? #asklitaoconly if they want to write in different categories and genres... it depends what they wanna write and if they know the market #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Dave Rodriguez @DaveARodriguez
Is it possible to find representation or mass market publishing for books you've released through Amazon or an indy publisher? #asklitAOCit largely depends on units sold and the specific story and what the cat/genre is... #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Sarah is revising @sloch
Do you think there's room for a resurgence in contemporary fantasy? It seems like all I'm seeing right now is second world/high fantasy #asklitAOCyessss pleeeease! i have a few on my list and they're delicious #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Erik Thurman @ErikThurman
#askLitAOC What can publishing do to ensure marginalized agents don't wash out of their field? ie. paid internships, allowing remote-work, financial support for the first few years of agenting, etc?i feel like fewer barriers for sure would help and also better mentorship and opportunities in general #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Jibril Stevenson @jsteven38690251
How important are comps in a query? Should they relate to subject matter, characters, aesthetic, all of the above? #askLitAOCthey are helpful! and they should relate in any or all of those, however it best makes sense for your specific story! #askLitAOC
Literary Agent
Stephanie Lau @StephLauBooks
@beth_phelan Q2: Recommendations on querying, if you're a POC who is NOT writing ownvoices? #askLitAOCdo it anyway. some agents/editors will be buttheads but the people who are really in it will understand #askLitAOC