
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

Literary Agent
Sonja Jorsen @SonjaJorsen
@UweStenderPhD What are the most common reasons for you to reject a book after a full request?When I sign a book, I know that I have to re-read over and over again during the editing process. If I like a book, but don't LOVE it that way, I will pass.

Literary Agent
Shelly Jarvis @shellyjarvis
@UweStenderPhD @MalloryCBrown Do you ever consider accepting novellas (especially with last year’s success of Bolander’s “The Only Harmless Great Thing”) or are they only viable as magazine submissions?I don't, but I am sure that other agents do.

Literary Agent
CT Danford @Ctanz731
@UweStenderPhD @MalloryCBrown What exactly is meant by Book Club Fiction? Is it always literary or can it be commercial as well? #askagentCertainly both. It is a book that is worth discussing by well read readers.

Literary Agent
Aneta Cruz @AnetaCruz
@UweStenderPhD @MalloryCBrown How long before I can give a friendly nudge to agents who’ve had my full MS?I would give it 8 weeks.

Literary Agent
Troubador Publishing @matadorbooks
With the Self-Publishing Conference just around the corner, we're delighted to share some exclusive interviews with our brilliant speakers ahead of the event! Up first is @katenashagent sharing some insights into literary agents. pic.twitter.com/8E5PC2KUkBI was asked: "Do the benefits of having a literary agent translate into the self-publishing world?" I replied: "Yes, because agents represent the author, not just individual book deals." #amwriting #publishing #querytip #askagent

Literary Agent
Jess Lucas 🥀🖤🍏 @storybrookelane
Hi. I have a Wattpad question too. If I have a book with over 13k reads, is that an impressive number to add to my query while querying another MS? I have added that it was shortlisted for their Wattys awards but wondering about that too. #askPSLAIt sounds like a good number to me, but honestly I personally don’t care either way about it versus how much I love the new project. So it’s tough to judge, sorry! #askPSLA

Literary Agent
Robin Zabiegalski 🦄 @amiafeministtoo
@kurestinarmada I have a pretty robust digital media portfolio. Is that considered or just nonfiction pieces in litmags?Digital outlets definitely count, so you're in good shape there! #askPSLA

Literary Agent
Robin Zabiegalski 🦄 @amiafeministtoo
What makes a nonfiction (memoir style essay collection) query stand out for you? What do I NEED to include to maximize my chances for a book proposal request? #askPSLABeing published elsewhere in reputable places (whether for those essays or different nonfic pieces) is pretty essential as a starting point. #askPSLA


