Agent and Editor Panel: Patrice Caldwell, Susan Dobinick, Connie Hsu

With a panel of six industry leaders moderated by Lin Oliver, this post will feature highlights from literary agent Patrice Caldwell, editor Susan Dobinick, and editor Connie Hsu.

left to right: Patrice Caldwell, Susan Dobinick, and Connie Hsu

Patrice Caldwell is an agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency.

Susan Dobinick is Senior Editor, Nonfiction at Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Connie Hsu is an executive editor at Roaring Brook Press at Macmillan Publishing.


On what they're looking for in a submission:

Patrice: She's not looking for books that adults would tell a kid are "important."

"What is that story that would have hooked me? What is super engaging? What's going to make [young people] put down their phones and read a book?"

Susan:

"Deep thinkers"

Connie:

"Voice and the quality of the writing is the top line that drives you in." Then, on a deeper level, I wonder is the reason for the book to be.

On graphic novels:

Connie speaks about Shannon Hale's script for a graphic novel, and how it had emotional resonance.

Susan chimes in with the advice: "write the full script," which the whole panel agrees with.

Patrice shares that she's worked on a lot of graphic novels, and notes that for the ones acquired in 2018, will won't come out until 2021. Script has to be complete and edited, and then the art.

There's discussion on so much more, including the strength of nonfiction and the ongoing interest in middle grade.

Final nuggets of wisdom shared:

Connie:
The core story remains the same as our favorites from when we were kids, but thinking about what kids are absorbing right now. Toxic masculinity, sexism, body image, periods, Don't lose the timeless heart and emotion...

Patrice:
It's not about being preachy, it's about infusing contemporary issues.