Steve Malk and Linda Pratt: Agent's Panel

Steve Malk of my favorite agency, Writers House! (with Lisa Yee's Peep)

Linda Pratt of my second favorite agency, Wernick and Pratt!

Lin asks the panel what hooks them:

A hole is to dig, and Mac and Jon are digging a hole—
I think that title font is even an homage to the
Krauss/Sendak book, so nice.

Steve: "I love finding something that references a classic but layers their own point of view on top. With Jon Klassen I thought I could see immediately all of his influences but... he put a fresh point of view on top of that... took it in a completely new direction."

Linda: "I'm looking to meet somebody on a page that intrigues me from the very beginning. Something that I haven't seen before that makes me wonder why I haven't seen it before because it's so obviously interesting."

"And cover letter first, I want to meet that character on the page, but I also want to get a sense of the person I'm going to be working with. I want to know you're going to go out in the world as a professional."

Lin wants to know more about Linda's wishes for a cover letter:

Linda: "I want to know you've done your research, a brief summary of what your work is about, why you're submitting to me, and any credentials you have." (Like that you are an SCBWI member, not that you read your book to a bunch of third graders and they say they liked it and/or didn't fling boogers at you.)

Steve: Cover letters are really important, it's your opportunity to establish yourself as a professional. This is your career, so you should be taking it very seriously. If the letter has misspellings, reads like you just dashed it off, you're kind of selling yourself short.

A good cover letter will predispose us to want to like your work because we know you are serious about your career.

Did you know Marla's BOSS BABY is going to be a movie soon?????

Lin asks, "When you're taking on a new client, do you need to see a brand or be able to see the potential of one?"

Steve: The word brand can be tricky, it can scare certain authors, what if you don't have a narrow focus or niche? Your brand is who you are as a writer, it may be that your brand is that you write cross genres. Don't feel boxed in by the word "brand." For illustrators you don't need to feel like you can only work in one style or one character. Let your brand be that you do amazing work, like Marla Frazee. Everything she does is amazing, but her work is not confined to one character.

Linda: Sure, Hunger Games, Twilight, and Mo Willems are a brand of one type, but LeUyen Pham is an amazing talent and has a range of styles, she adapts her style to the book or project.

Did you know LeUyen is illustrating something for SHANNON HALE?!?

The Agents Panel Begins!

From the seats...

And close up!

Left to Right: Sarah Davies and Steve Malk

Left to Right: Erin Murphy and Aleandra Penfold

Left to Right: Rubin Pfeffer, Linda Pratt and Laura Rennert

Agents Panel: Linda Pratt

Linda Pratt and her longtime colleague, Marcia Wernick, established the Wernick & Pratt Agency in January 2011 after working together for 20 years at the Sheldon Fogelman Agency. Their focus is not just on individual books, but the long term careers of their authors and illustrators in the ever-changing world of publishing. Linda’s clients work in all genres of children’s literature.

Linda says that they represent about half picture books and half fiction (MG and YA), and that

"Middle Grade just sings to me beautifully."

She refers to herself as an SCBWI success story - because she's met clients at SCBWI conferences, like Augusta Scattergood, who she met four years ago via a critique session at a local SCBWI Conference.  Augusta's middle grade debut novel, Glory Be, came out from Scholastic in January 2012.

A SCBWI success story from both perspectives: author AND agent

In response to Lin's question, for the pre-published attendees, "What path to get published?" Linda advises to not get stuck for years on your first book.  She says to finish that first book, polish it, but don't be afraid to move on to the next project, because maybe "you'll learn something in that book that will help you with your first book."

In addition to laughing about "sexy Cyclops books," Linda and the other agents spoke about the Marketplace (where they see opportunities), what rejections might mean, realistic time spans of the publishing process, having a vision for your career, pitfalls to avoid, and lots more excellent advice!