James McGowan

This depends on the agency, but BookEnds is super collaborative and connects daily. I stress to authors on the call that I've got an immensely talented & intelligent team behind me. That support certainly means a lot, even if they don't know it's happening. #AskAgent

· 29 Jan 2020

Alice Arley 🐇🌹🍵 @AliceArley

@BookEndsJessica For PB representation, is it best to have a number of completed manuscripts even though you only query one at a time? I have been told that agents want to see that you aren't going to be a one time deal. They want someone who is likely to write multiple PB books.#askagent

Replying to @AliceArley

You are correct. Having 3-4 polished picture books at the ready is best when you’re beginning querying PBs #askagent

· 8 Oct 2019

Abbi Lee @abbilee18

@jamerrson I'm curious...if an agent asks for additional manuscripts, do you send similar work or varied?
For example, if I query out a prose fiction pb, would I send out more prose when requested or send a mix of rhyming, narrative nf, etc since I write those too? #askagent

Replying to @abbilee18

It’s always great to show variety, but if you do one thing well, you can show that too!

· 8 Oct 2019

Abby Brinkerhoff @BrinkLr

@jamerrson Any advice on author bios? I've started querying and have had to include bios as part of my #query, but I have no idea what to say. What should we include? What tone should we take? Playful? Serious? Neutral? Also, thanks for answering questions! #AskAgent

Replying to @BrinkLr

I think author bio could be very simple, even if you don’t have any writing credits. Where you’re from (if you want to share), career (if you want to share), writing credits. It could be a neutral tone, first person. Don’t overthink it!

· 8 Oct 2019

Mister Hand @MisterHand1

@jamerrson @bookendslit If I don’t hear anything from my last pending full request in the next month, I will have had to CNR 4 of the 10 requests I received for more materials. 9 fulls, 1 partial. Is this a run of bad luck,or is no response on becoming the new normal when rejecting fulls?

Replying to @MisterHand1

No response depends on agency guidelines. Are the no response means no agencies?
I think its harder to answer this without full scope of numbers and feedback, but never hurts to start something new while querying

· 8 Oct 2019

Kiana Harris @Kiana_Tamarie

@jamerrson Is there much flexibility for deadlines for clients or is it are the deadlines pretty rigid? And is there an issue with writers who might write and/or revise slowly? #AskAgent

Replying to @Kiana_Tamarie

There’s definitely flexibility, and your timelines are something you should talk to your agent about. 99% of the time, I’m sure it’s fine and reasonable.

· 8 Oct 2019

Ashley Congdon @AshleyCCongdon

@jamerrson What themes, topics, styles, etc. excite you right now for picture books? #askagent

Replying to @AshleyCCongdon

Is it fair to say everything? If I had to choose, non-fiction is most exciting to me right now, and I’m especially looking for some climate/environment related stuff. But I always love funny pbs. #MSWL

· 28 Feb 2019

Talynn Lynn @TalynnL

@jamerrson @SoCalledYALife @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit Sometimes, writing can be confusing. But this makes sense, so thank you for taking the time to answer my question. PS: You don't want to include the ending of the story in the query, correct?

Replying to @TalynnL

No, you can save that for the synopsis. You want to get us intrigued for me. #AskAgent

· 28 Feb 2019

H.L. Van Gogh @_BooksByHannah

How do agents have the time to read both client work and submissions? Do you sleep?! #AskAgent

Replying to @_BooksByHannah

Sleep? Kidding. It all comes down to good time management and prioritizing. #AskAgent

· 28 Feb 2019

Brian Conley @BaghdadBrian

#askagent do you see a clear difference btw upmarket, commercial, and literary-X (eg literary thriller)? If so, could you elaborate? @bookendslit

Replying to @BaghdadBrian

That really comes down to the writing style/voice. Commercial is a more accessible voice/writing style, and upmarket is a mix between the both, that appeals to both readerships #AskAgent

· 28 Feb 2019

Talynn Lynn @TalynnL

@SoCalledYALife @BookEndsJessica @bookendslit Right! But I mean, does the query discuss the entire book? Wouldn't that be more of a summary? So, like, should the query cover like two or three chapters? I don't know. Maybe I'm not making sense. #askagent

Replying to @TalynnL

I see what you're saying. It should get the entire book's plot in there, but not in a summary sort of way. So hard to explain, but good research comes from reading the backs of already pubbed books! #AskAgent

· 28 Feb 2019

Joanne Roberts @BookishAmbition

Would you say that you personally are very hands on or editorial with your clients? Thanks #askagent

Replying to @BookishAmbition

I am, yes! I think they would agree. #AskAgent

· 28 Feb 2019

Write_reader23 @WReader23

For relatively young authors (in their teens), would you want to see their age in their bio or does that create bias? #AskAgent

Replying to @WReader23

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

· 28 Feb 2019

Rachna Chhabria @RachnaChhabria1

An agent once emailed me apologizing for the delayed response to my partial, saying she had put my manuscript in her "Maybe" pile. I thought agents were always clear about a rejection or acceptance. #AskAgent

Replying to @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

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