Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
130 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@abuckslater Talk to us about Graphic Novels! What are your faves? What are you looking for in a submission? #okscbwichat
Replying to @litbeing

Definitely looking for an engaging story that takes full advantage of the medium. Having a comics platform is also very attractive. My fav GNs are THIS ONE SUMMER, ASTERIOS POLYP, NIMONA and more #okscbwichat

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
130 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

gayesanders @gayesanders

@abuckslater What is your favorite thing of being an agent? #okscbwichat @litbeing
Replying to @gayesanders

Being the first to read a project before any one else. I always loved the idea that agents have to find and nurture talent. It’s a big responsibility and I cherish it. #okscbwichat

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
130 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips

Alex Slater @abuckslater

@litbeing Sure! I’ve been a #kidlit agent with @Trident_Media since 2014 but started as an assistant in 2010 and worked my way up to Foreign Rights Agent after that. #okscbwichat
Replying to @abuckslater

I love middle grade and YA and graphic novels in both categories. I rep contemporary, fantasy, and am always eager to read new stories from diverse writers hoping to inspire young hearts. #okscbwichat

Alex Slater
@abuckslater
Literary Agent
Literary agent @GreenburgerLit @GreenburgerKids . Black Lives Matter. he/him.
130 MSWL
32 AskAgent
55 Tips
Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent
Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent
Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@MekishaTelfer You mention an interest in graphic novels - having @01FirstSecond as a sister imprint must be so helpful when developing graphic novels. Tell us more about what kind your interest in this genre. #okscbwichat

Ohh, good question. I love a good coming-of-age story in a graphic novel. Being young is so much harder than it looks and any story that is sympathetic to that experience is one I’ll love.

But I also love monsters and witches and hijinks 😜 #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Gwendolyn Hooks @GwenTheGweat

#okscbwichat Tell us about an acquistion you fell in love with from the first word (unless you have alredy discussed it. I arrived late. @gwenthegweat

t

Not at all! One project I fell in love with immediately was LATE TO THE PARTY by @kellyquindlen 💖💖💖. The pitch her agent sent said it was a “read it in one sitting” kind of book and she was right! #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent
Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Kenda Henthorn @kendahenthorn

About how many publishing projects do you typically accept and edit annually (PB/MG/YA)? And what's the sweet spot on your MSWL this year? #okscbwichat @MekishaTelfer @litbeing

About 7-10 projects a year. And while I do everything across the board, my sweet spot is MG and YA. And I’m really on the hunt for more grounded fantasy and contemporary in both formats #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@MekishaTelfer What advice would you give to those just starting out in Children's Publishing? #okscbwichat

Read, read, read! Be constantly learning about the industry/your craft through the books that at being published right now.

Also, find your people. A writing group that you trust and that challenges you is super important, at any stage of your career. #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Kenda Henthorn @kendahenthorn

@MekishaTelfer We'll be there! :-) So do you see more perks or pitfalls when authors write outside their own experiences? #okscbwichat @MekishaTelfer @litbeing

Hmm I’m not sure I’d think of it in those terms. I think every author has the potential to write a book outside of their experience that really shines. But it takes work! #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Jane Hawkins @mjchawk

@MekishaTelfer #okscbwichat if a PB story really catches your eye but it needs work are you willing to spend time with writer? And when do you know it’s not working? Thank you

Definitely! If there’s something in a project that I really love, I’m always willing to work with an author. That said, I have to have a pretty strong vision for it otherwise I’d be leading us in circles! #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@MekishaTelfer What is something that STOPS you reading a manuscript? Any reds flags that will get an automatic pass from you? #okscbwichat

And as an editor who is often looking for stories about underprepresented characaters, anything that comes across as insensitive or that doesn’t sound authentic is a red flag for me #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@MekishaTelfer What is something that STOPS you reading a manuscript? Any reds flags that will get an automatic pass from you? #okscbwichat

A voice that I just don’t connect with will make me put down an ms after a few pages. Voice is one of the hardest things to edit for and an editor usually knows pretty quickly when something isn’t right for them. #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@MekishaTelfer When reading a manuscript, what KEEPS you reading? What makes it unputdownable? #okscbwichat

Voice and a good hook! When a project hits my inbox with a good hook, I am always excited to dive right in. And the voice is what keeps me reading #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent
Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

gayesanders @gayesanders

@MekishaTelfer what is your favorite thing about your job...that isn't the obvious? #okscbwichat @litbeing

Haha beyond the obvious of getting to work on books that I love, I really love telling other people about the. My job as an editor involves giving A LOT of presentations and overtime I’ve found them to be a lot of fun! #okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@MekishaTelfer Tell us how you came to work in Children's Publishing. What drew you to this profession? #okscbwichat

Publishing didn’t occur to me at all until my last year of college. I was reading Nimona by @Gingerhazing (when it was still a webcomic) just as she announced it would be published as a book. And a lightbulb went off! 💡#okscbwichat

Mekisha Telfer
@MekishaTelfer
Editor
Editor || Roaring Brook Press || Tired || Bi || 🗽🍑🇯🇲 || She/Her
31 MSWL
16 AskAgent

Valerie Lawson @litbeing

@MekishaTelfer Welcome Mekisha! We're so happy to have you join us this evening!

Would you like to start by introducing yourself? @okscbwichat

Of course! I’m an associate editor at Roaring Brook Press (an imprint of MacKids) working on everything including picture books, middle grade, YA, and graphic novels. Fiction and nonfiction! #okscbwichat