Juliet Mushens
Literary Agent
Mushens Entertainment
Literary agent at @MushensEnt, sartorialist and cat wrangler. Wartime consigliere. Pollyanna-ish. Generally heard before I'm seen. Bend and SNAP.
Literary Agent
L M Coker @Lola81701535
@mollykh @mushenska @julietpickering @jounwin #AskAgent What book have you recently been blown away by and why? What made it stand out from all the other submissions. Thank you!I just signed a clever thriller about consent and abuse which turns every trope on its head - and great writing too #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Sarah Lawton 🇪🇺 @sarahwrites80
@julietpickering @ECbookblog @mushenska @mollykh Is being a ghost writer something you can apply to be? Sorry just hopping in here!Yes and no - most tend to be journalists so proven writing track record. The big name ghosts with a good track record of bestselling books are often v in demand #askagent
Literary Agent
JD Horner @jd_horner
#Askagent Hi all. Hope you are all fit and well. Just wanted to know - what makes a submission stand out from the rest? Trying to break through that glass ceiling! Many thanks.V annoying answer I know but I know it when I see it! I love a clever high concept pitch, pageturning plot and strong writing #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Eilidh G Clark @EilidhGClark
@jounwin #Askagent I'm writing a novel with a framed narrative where the majority of the story is a monologue (mother telling daughter a story) which in the outer frame, the daughter uses first person 'I'. So, two narrative 'I'. Is this too risky?Hard to know without reading it to be honest but sometimes complex structures CAN be difficult to follow (not always!) #askagent
Literary Agent
Literary Agent
Janelle McCurdy @JanelleLMccurdy
@mushenska @julietpickering @mollykh I've written an MG fantasy with diverse characters. Should it be mentioned in the query that the characters are diverse/BAME? Or is that weird? Haha, thanks once againI think a judgement call! If the agent is specially calling out for own voices or diverse rep then no harm pointing it out explicitly #askagent
Literary Agent
Andrea Fazackerley @andreafaz08
#ASKAGENT Info for my WYP MA @bathspa. Could you tell me if you've noticed if books from the US get more publicity in the UK than UK books? Any thoughts greatly appreciated.Having an author on hand for events and tours is certainly easier logistically #askagent
Literary Agent
Katie Hurse @ECbookblog
@mushenska @julietpickering @mollykh I’m writing an MA essay on Ghostwriting. Just wondering how often you might pick up a ghostwriter themselves? Whether that’s based on a submission or the quality of their work. Do you think ghostwriting first helps or hinders when considering a debut? Thank you! #AskAgentI rep 2 ghost writers but that is their specific job ie they ghost write manuscripts for celebs/brands etc - it doesn’t necessarily translate to writing original work and some have no desire to write original work! #askagent
Literary Agent
Simon Granville @SimonGranville
@jounwin Hello All. I was too late last time so apols for the repost. If you get an offer from a publisher before you get an agent, then you get one, can it overly antagonise said publisher?Not a good publisher. I have stepped in to negotiate a couple of times - sometimes makes process easier on the publisher too having a middle man to deal with #askagent
Literary Agent
Danelle We @WeDanelle
@jounwin ...(Good thank-you and yourself?) My #ASKAGENT question is...I am at the submission stage of a completed work (whistles) and feedback on my writing style has been mixed (though enough encouragement on the same). Do I change it? (I really don't want to as this is my voice).Fundamentally has to be your decision as to whether you change your voice or not - but be prepared for some agents to have response your early readers have had #askagent
Literary Agent
Christopher Buecheler @cwbuecheler
@mushenska @dreamoforgonon Thanks for doing this! Q: If you have two unrepresented, unpublished manuscripts that you think would both be good for an agent, and they've passed on the first, how long is polite to wait before querying for the second? Or does that really matter?#askagent
I would say it doesn’t really matter as long as you feel the submission is as strong and polished as you can get it #askagent
Literary Agent
𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗠. 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲 @amanda_m_pierce
@mushenska @julietpickering @mollykh Hello thank you for doing this! I’ve written a YA novel that I’m calling “Science Fantasy” because it does veer in the science fiction direction sometimes. Given the current feelings about science fiction not selling, should I call it just Fantasy in my query letter?You saying it veers in an SF direction sometimes makes me think it is mostly fantasy so I would describe it as that #askagent
Literary Agent
Lis J @todayiseena
If you request a full manuscript, does that mean you will definitely respond with a yes or no at some point? And does a long wait for a response = a good or a bad thing? #AskAgentYes it does mean I will respond - time taken normally means I am busy and haven’t had a chance to read it yet #askagent
Literary Agent
John Allen @TheOnlyJohnnyA
@julietpickering Hi #AskAgent. Do you think some publishers are pricing effectively online? I often see ebooks for a new release at around £9.99 - £15 and the print counterparts at lower prices. Increased author/publisher earnings? Trying to encourage higher print sales?I could write an essay on this subject. Some publishers are very proactive and experimental with pricing whereas others tend to be much more sluggish - but eg selling 100 books at 99p might not be as effective as 10 at £12.99 so depends on author and genre #askagent
Literary Agent
Ms. Young Professional @MsYoungProfess
@mushenska Thank you! Following on that — do authors normally have one agent and one publisher? Or multiple if you have 2 or 3 key markets?Normally one primary agent but for example I then work with an agent in America who sells books there on my behalf #askagent
Literary Agent
Grace Walker @GraceRoseWalker
@julietpickering @jounwin I have had a handful of full manuscript requests, with each one, agents have enjoyed the writing but criticised the pace of the book. I'd love to know what you look for in terms of pace/structure. It seems to be my downfall! #askagentWell done for getting this far! I always think of it in terms of what questions will the reader have and how and when will you answer them? #askagent
Literary Agent
Mr Craptramp @craptramp
@mushenska If you don't have any publication history, what, if anything, should you write in the personal section of the cover letter? Thanks! #AskAgentLiterally just ‘I live in Middlesex and work as a beekeeper. This is my first novel’ is fine #askagent