Literary Agent
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@abuckslater Talk to us about Graphic Novels! What are your faves? What are you looking for in a submission? #okscbwichatDefinitely 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
Literary Agent
gayesanders @gayesanders
@abuckslater What is your favorite thing of being an agent? #okscbwichat @litbeingBeing 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
Literary Agent
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. #okscbwichatI 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
Literary Agent
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@abuckslater Welcome Alex! We're so happy you could join us this evening!Would you like to start by introducing yourself? #okscbwichat
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
Editor
Kenda Henthorn @kendahenthorn
Have you had any great conference connection finds or are the vast majority of your acquisition successes from agent submissions? #okscbwichat @MekishaTelfer @litbeingI have something in my inbox that I have high hope for as we speak! But Yes, the majority of my acquisitions come from agent submissions #okscbwichat
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer What are you currently reading or what book have you read recently that you absolutely loved? #okscbwichatSpinning Silver by @naominovik!! It was amazing and I highly recommend ❤️ #okscbwichat
Editor
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. #okscbwichatOhh, 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
Editor
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. @gwenthegweatt
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
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer You have a wonderfully eclectic #mswl and you discuss wanting to build a list of contemporary and speculative teen and middle grade fiction. Is there something you're still not seeing in submission that you're yearning for? #okscbwichatDefinitely! I’ve seen a lot of high fantasy lately, but not as much grounded fantasy or magical realism as I would like. #okscbwichat
Editor
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 @litbeingAbout 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
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer What advice would you give to those just starting out in Children's Publishing? #okscbwichatRead, 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
Editor
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 @litbeingHmm 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
Editor
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 youDefinitely! 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
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer What is something that STOPS you reading a manuscript? Any reds flags that will get an automatic pass from you? #okscbwichatAnd 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
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer What is something that STOPS you reading a manuscript? Any reds flags that will get an automatic pass from you? #okscbwichatA 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
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer When reading a manuscript, what KEEPS you reading? What makes it unputdownable? #okscbwichatVoice 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
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer You're going to be speaking at our @SCBWIOK spring conference in April, what can those attending expect to take away from your talk if they attend? #okscbwichatSure! I’ll be talking a little about writing characters outside of your own experiences and about voice in middle grade and YA. I hope to see some of you there! #okscbwichat
Editor
gayesanders @gayesanders
@MekishaTelfer what is your favorite thing about your job...that isn't the obvious? #okscbwichat @litbeingHaha 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
Editor
Valerie Lawson @litbeing
@MekishaTelfer Tell us how you came to work in Children's Publishing. What drew you to this profession? #okscbwichatPublishing 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
Editor
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