The Editors and Agents Panel Has Begun!

The first panel of #scbwiSummer22 is a panel of editors and agents, discussing "The Current Market for Children's Publishing."

Moderated by Emma D. Dryden (top left), with ASL sign language interpretation by Jennye Kamin (top center), the panelists are, clockwise from top right:

Namrata Tripathi (Founder & Publisher, Kokila)

James Mustelier (Agent, The Bent Agency)

Elena Giovinazzo (VP & Senior Agent, Pippin Properties)

Tiff Liao (Executive Editor, Zando)

Watch the blog for posts centering on each of the panelists!

Samantha Fabien (Root Literary Agency): Agents' Panel #SCBWIWinter22

 

Samantha Fabien is a literary agent at Root Literary. Before joining the Root team, Samantha worked at LDLA as a literary agent and International Rights Manager. Her background includes a Bachelor’s in PR and Journalism, a certificate from the Columbia Publishing Course, and internships/part-time work at Ayesha Pande Literary, Writers House, and Chalberg & Sussman. From these experiences, Samantha has fostered her love for sharing diverse, lasting, and inclusive stories with the world —both in the U.S. and abroad. Samantha can also be found working with events and organizations like DVcon, #Edits4BlackSFF, Gotham Writers, and the New York Writing Room among others.

Samantha was one of the agents on the "Recipe For Success In 2022 From An Agent's Point Of View" panel, which was moderated by Bonnie Bader. Be sure to check out Conference blog takeaways about other agents as well: Chad Beckerman (The CAT Agency), Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency), Jem Chambers-Black (Andrea Brown Literary Agency), Samantha Fabien (Root Literary Agency), James McGowan (BookEnds Literary Agency).

Some takeaways from Samantha:

Theme of her advice throughout: Keep your eyes on your own paper.

Transparency is important. Writing is often about community and information is power. Engage and consume only what is helpful.

Just because your debut book doesn't hit the bestseller list doesn't mean future books won't.

There is no secret recipe to success.

Keep your eyes on your own publishing path. Sometimes, submission takes years. Sometimes, you don't sell your first book. Not every book is for every reader.

Have realistic financial expectations. Each genre, age range and publisher have their own advance levels. Trust your agent and feel free to ask them questions.

What Samantha is especially looking for:

Samantha is actively looking for adult, YA and MG. "And I am eager to support commercial and high stakes stories featuring BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disability, and neurodiversity representation." Find out more in Samantha's pinned tweet thread from Jan. 4th as well as MSWL (Manuscript Wish List).

Where to find out more about Samantha:

Samantha's website: SamanthaFabien.com (includes her MSL/manuscript wish list)

Linktr.ee page - Twitter: @samanthashsn

Root Literary website ~ Samantha's page on LiteraryAgentsOfColor.com.

James McGowan: Agents Panel #scbwiWinter22

James McGowan is an associate agent at BookEnds Literary Agency and also a children's book author. James represents a talented list of award-winning author and illustrators and his list focuses on illustrated projects for young readers and formats from board books to middle grade. 

Two things that every success story has are PATIENCE and PERSISTENCE. James offers some opportunities of when to have each (give or take).

Patience: 

• the standard pace of publishing
• agent/editor response times 
• how many books your agent can submit at one time
• contracts and payments
• pub date and schedule changes
• sending new things to your agent
• acquisitions processes

Persistent:

• reading books that are currently being published
• writing new projects
• dealing with rejections
• sending new queries
• following up (abiding by query guidelines)
• growing your social media and marking prowess
• connecting with other writers and/or illustrators
• staying up to date about recent acquisitions
• learning and asking questions about the business 
• not giving up
• reading! 

The Agents Panel Begins! #scbwiWinter22

 

Clockwise from top left, Bonnie Bader (moderator), Chad Beckerman (The CAT Agency), Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency), Jem Chambers-Black (Andrea Brown Literary Agency), Samantha Fabien (Root Literary Agency), James McGowan (BookEnds Literary Agency), and ASL interpreter Joanne Carron.

#SCBWIsummerspec Agent Panel: Rosemary Stimola

Rosemary Stimola is a former independent children's bookseller, who founded the Stimola Literary Studio in 1997, a boutique agency representing fiction and nonfiction from preschool through young adult, as well as all genres. Stimola Literary Studio is made up of a wonderful team of agents. 

On the wall of Rosemary's office, hangs a framed print of Maya Angelou's poem I Love the Look of Words. In the poem there is a stanza that says:

When I have stopped reading, 

ideas from the words stay stuck

in my mind, like the sweet

smell of butter perfuming my

fingers long after the popcorn

is finished.

I love the book and the look of words

the weight of ideas that pop into

my mind

I love the track

of new thinking in my mind.

This is a mantra for Rosemary. When Rosemary considers a submission, the very first thing that strikes her are the words and the narrative voice that carries them. 

She's attracted to complex characters, even for the youngest readers that exhibit heart as well as well as a penchant for subversive and independent thinking, challenging the status quo, and traversing boundaries. 

Also, who doesn't love a page turner? 

Rosemary shares authors and illustrators she represents that brought words that stuck in her mind, characters that stood up when the world asked them to, and stories that begged to be read until the last page.

All were written by authors that were not so in love with their words that they weren't willing to revise them. And, all sit well in the current marketplace, that seeks diversity, does not condescend to young readers, and challenges them to see beyond themselves.

Rosemary shared some examples.

INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN by Thanhha Lai is a middle grade novel in verse that came to Rosemary as cold submission with a beautifully written query. After reading it, Rosemary was still thinking about it three days later (the words stuck), but she thought she could already write the rejection letters for it. (Historical. Vietnamese protagonist-this was 2009. Told in verse.) This book sold for a very modest advance but went on to win the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor, and still lives on NYT Bestseller list. 

ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M McManus came to Rosemary at the right time, in the right place (with what was happening with young people in the world). It came with a perfectly crafted query. Ro couldn't put it down. This book has spent 100 weeks on the bestseller list and sold in 41 languages. Karen has earned the title of Queen of the YA Mystery Thriller.

Mathew Cordell has been with Rosemary for more books and years than she can remember. 

WOLF IN THE SNOW won the Caldecott Medal. It was his 31st book! There are no words in the books, so you might wonder: Where are the words that stuck in Rosemary's mind? They were there, in the art.

Some books recently published.

James Bird, author of THE BRAVE, had Rosemary at his character's first word, which happened to be a number. 18. This main character has unique condition that leads him to count every word spoken to him. It makes him a target for bullies and a source of frustration for his dad. 

THE FELL OF DARK by Caleb Roehrig (Caleb's fourth YA novel) was just published days ago. Caleb's was a cold submission. He caught Rosemary's attention with a sharp and witty query letter. He also had a compelling mystery and complex LGBTQ  characters, in what became his debut novel LAST SCENE LEAVING. 

And a forthcoming title by Irene Latham and Charles Waters. Poets and authors. They write independently, but when combined they form the dynamic duo referred to as the The I&C Construction Company. Together they have penned CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR and DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD. Their latest brings something very special into our market, looking deeper into stories that have not been told. AFRICAN TOWN, a historical novel, told in verse through multiple voices, tells the story of the last African's brought to America. It comes out spring of 2022. Rosemary says, "It's told in voices that sing and ache. Even the ship has been given a voice that speaks of her human cargo and their fates."

  

These books "go beyond the moment and bring words and pictures together that stick in minds, just like they did in mine."

The Agents Panel Begins!

The Agents Panel at #SCBWISummerSpec

A screen shot of Lin Oliver (top left, moderating) and the panelists Regina Brooks (top right), Linda Camacho (center left), Brooks Sherman (center right), Rosemary Stimola (lower left), and interpreter Jennye Kamin (lower right.)

Editor and Agent Panel: Kirby Kim, Alvina Ling, Marietta Zacker

With a panel of six industry leaders moderated by Lin Oliver, this post features highlights from literary agent Kirby Kim, editor Alvina Ling, and literary agent Marietta Zacker. 

left to right: Kirby Kim, Alvina Ling and Marietta Zacker

 Kirby Kim is an agent at the Janklow & Nesbit Literary Agency.

Alvina Ling is VP and editor-in-chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (a division of Machete Book Group).

Marietta Zacker is an agent at Gallt Zacker Literary Agency.

Things opened up with the question what do you look for in a submission:

Kirby wants writers to focus on one book at a time and do it well.

"I want to see stakes. I like high stakes in my novels. Create an urgency so your character is backed into a corner." 

Alvina gravitates to fresh concepts and voice.

"I’m a sucker for books that make me laugh and cry and important books. I’m always   looking for that feeling, that spark. I want to fall in love."

Marietta is looking for people who create stories and illustrations no one else can create.

"Something unique." 

On themes that are important to them:

Kirby believes forecasting is a difficult thing to do. So when a story idea comes, writers “should focus more on what they want to say and build out a world that encounters that.” Marietta stressed the importance of understanding that writing to trends does not work and to instead start thinking ahead. "What do you want young readers and young adults to be reading four years from now?"

On final thoughts:

Alvina:

            "Follow your compass, and not your clock."

Kirby:

            "Get way below the surface of what you are doing."

Marietta:

            

            "Make room for folks whose voices have always been there but have not been given a chance."

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.

The #NY19SCBWI Agent/Editor Panel: Tanusri Parsanna, Alexander Slater, and Mekisha Telfer

(left to right:) Tanusri Prasanna, Alexander Slater, and Mekisha Telfer

Tanusri Prasanna is an agent at Foundry Literary + Media representing children’s books, middle grade, and YA. Picture books are at the heart of her list. She's especially looking for author/illustrators.

Highlights: 

"The real debate on diversity needs to be on the gatekeeper level... We're really not doing nearly enough."

"If I love it, really love it, I feel confident that I can sell it."

"It really helps, at the agent level, to say 'don't try to write to trends... write what you're bursting to write.'"

Everything that you're writing in a year isn't going to be pearls. 'I have this amazing book coming out, what else do I want to have out there along with that?' Don't throw stuff out there because you're impatient. Be thoughtful about what you're submitting next.


Alexander Slater is an agent at Trident Media Group — his own list focuses on YA and middle grade, graphic novels, and some picture books.

Highlights: 

re: graphic novels "publishers are giving creators the reins" and that's exciting. "I'm not getting as many queries for graphic novels as I want" and Alexander finds he's reaching out to illustrators to encourage them to put together a graphic novel proposal (and he's sold a few of those.)

Diversity is something we should be working on throughout the industry.

Diversify who you're reading, and who you're critiquing with.

In response to a discussion about subscription boxes, "I always tell my clients, 'we need to come up with marketing ideas that don't cost the publisher anything'."


Mekisha Telfer is an associate editor at Roaring Brook Press (Macmillian), where she is building a list of picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels. Her sweet spot is middle grade and YA.

Highlights:

Roaring Brook has First Second as their sister imprint, and Mekisha echoes the panels' interest in graphic novels. "I just bought a graphic novel that was just a script, no illustrator attached."

Something she wants to see more of is more novels about the LGBTQ experience.

"There's still work on the diversity front to be done in the industry... Marginalized children are still under-represented."

On having a "balanced list" - Mekisha speaks of passion being a driver of publishing (she doesn't have to acquire a book if she doesn't love it), and how that means that the more well-rounded your publishing staff, the more well-rounded your list will be.

***

The panel covers creative trends (what editors are interested in right now), diversity, #ownvoices, financial/marketplace trends, what happens in acquisitions meetings, "quieter" books, how to decide what to work on next, their best advice for those just starting out and those already published, and so much more!

Sangeeta Mehta: Self-Publish Like a Traditional Publisher

Sangeeta Mehta

Sangeeta Mehta was an acquiring editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Simon Pulse before starting her own editorial services company, which focuses on middle grade and young adult fiction. She has written several articles about self-publishing for Jane Friedman Media, including “The Business of Self-Publishing Children’s Picture Books,” “Shepherding a Self-Published Picture Book to Success,” and “Should Children’s Book Authors Self-Publish?” A Member-at-Large of the Editorial Freelancers Association, Sangeeta founded the organization’s Diversity Initiative. She also serves on the board of The Word, a nonprofit working to build a more inclusive publishing community. Follow her on Twitter @sangeeta_editor or visit www.mehtabookeditingnewyork.com.

**

Sangeeta starts out by sharing self-publishing success stories, how to determine your publishing goal, answers the question/offers us the mantra "What would a traditional publisher do?", shares resources, and fields questions from the attendees.

Success stories:

Edgar Allen Poe and Virginia Woolf and Beatrix Potter who took matters into their own hands.

More recent examples of break-out self publishing success include The Martian by Andy Weir, Still Alice by Lisa Genova, Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur.

In children's books,

Amanda Hocking's Watersong
Beth Reekles' The Kissing Booth (published as a teenager on Wattpad and won an award there.)
Christopher Paolini's Eragon
Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin's The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep
John and Jennifer Churchman's The SheepOver

She cautions that it's very hard to make it the way these authors have. One of the ways to help make it happen for you is to figure out your self-publishing goal.

Some of the goals for self-publishing Sangeeta shares that we might consider:

-to hone your craft
-to be part of a writing community
-undertake a project that may or may not be lucrative
-create a family keepsake
-become an entrepreneur or leverage your position as an entrepreneur
- promote your backlist
- get "discovered"

Sangeeta shares about WattPad, InkedVoices (an online critique forum), and cites Beth Revis and Cassandra Claire as examples of hybrid authors, who do both traditional publishing and self-publishing.

The heart of the session is this:

If you have a traditional deal, it's the editor who is the center of everything. If you're self-publishing, YOU'RE the center of everything.

She breaks down what the different departments at a traditional publisher do, including the:

editorial department (developmental edits, etc...)

managing editorial department (scheduling everything, copyediting, proofreading, etc...)

design department (interior and cover, etc...)

contracts department (consider if you're hiring professionals i.e,, an illustrator, etc...)

marketing department (including setting publication date, price, advanced reader copies, trades shows, etc...)

publicity department (submit book for review and award consideration, etc.... Shout out to SCBWI's Spark Award for books published in non-traditional ways.)

Hot tip: Pitch articles that tie into your book but aren't necessarily about your book.

subsidiary rights department sells or licenses your book (foreign, translation, audio, etc...)

sales departments (gets your book into bookstores, etc...)

Where to focus first when all this responsibility is on you? Sangeeta suggests we focus on our goals, and let those guide us.

She shares lots of resources, talks about the value of paying for a Kirkus review, being the local hero where you live, shares checklists, discusses how much to invest in your book, "series potential," and so much more!

A few articles Sangeeta recommends:

Check out this article Sangeeta wrote where she interviewed Zetta Elliott, Brent Hartinger, Cheryl Klein, and Stephen Mooser about their experiences and advice self-publishing children's books.

And this article on Reedsy, How much does self publishing really cost? 

(Another resource for authors self-publishing is the nonprofit Independent Book Publishers Association.)

Agent Panel: Tina Dubois & Kirsten Hall

Our agents panel this year covered what you need to know to succeed in 2018 and beyond.

Tina Dubois

Tina Dubois an agent at ICM partners, where she specializes in middle grade and young adult fiction. Her client list includes Laurel Snyder, Anne Ursu, and Laura Ruby, authors of books that have been gilded with award stickers (and possibly cat hair).

Kirsten Hall is president of Catbird, a children's literary and illustration agency. She's also an author, and her first trade picture book was a 2014 New York Times Notable.

Kristen Hall

Tina has been at ICM for 15 years, and she's based in the NY office. Though most of her clients do MG and YA, she has picture books and chapter books. She loves magic, especially dangerous magic ... the kind you think is your friend but isn't. She loves contemporary YA that acknowledges the complexity of teenage lives and doesn't offer easy solutions. (Brandy Colbert's books are an example of these.) She's also looking for stuff that she hasn't seen. She's looking for books that respect kids, and books that turn kids into readers.

Kirsten grew up in the publishing industry. Her mom worked in publishing, and she got to hang out with lots of incredible authors and illustrators growing up. "It was an interesting way to grow up.... I'm proud to take the torch and carry it on." She's been an agent for about 9 years. She loves to do picture books. The books she likes and wants to make are books that make kids think, laugh, feel less alone, and become better people. She mostly represents illustrators and picture books, but she's her own boss and can do more things when it suits.

On today's marketplace: 

Kirsten says the world is a problematic place these days. We need books like Alexandra Penfold's ALL ARE WELCOME.

Tina says it's a great time to be publishing books. There's big, ambitious, bold work happening. Unusual story structures and nonfiction are happening. But as more people come to the table, it's a harder time for books that are quiet or have a more "classic" feel—and that's not something that can be solved by adding a car chase.

What's shifting? 

Kirsten: Stores are starting to realize that books that are spine out are hard to sell. B&N is, as a result, taking fewer books and showing them face out. This means that publishers sell fewer titles to B&N. That forces publishers to start looking at indie stores for distribution.

Bloggers and book reviewers online are also helping raise awareness of books.

Tina: When we're talking about diversity, we're still talking to mostly white writers; Tina wants to shift the discussion so that we don't center white viewpoints in our stories all the time. "For the writers who are telling #ownvoices stories, please don't feel that you have to make it understandable for me, as someone who is part of the dominant white culture."

How many queries do agents? What makes someone stand out? 

What makes a book stand out to Tina—the inbox is a potential bookstore, and she asks herself what she feels like reading. "Ooh! Dragons! I didn't know it was on the menu!"

How can we stay abreast of the market? 

Paying attention to trade journals like Publishers Weekly and Publishers Lunch have useful information about editors and agents, Kirsten said.

How can authors and illustrators protect themselves from unscrupulous agents?
Tina: It's perfectly acceptable to compare notes with other authors. The assumption that it's you is a narrative worth unpacking--it's not you.

Kirsten: The agent-client relationship should look different for everybody. There's no room for deceit. There is zero room for it. There is room to support your client in different ways. It's a business relationship, but you're making books together, and that becomes quite personal. The examples of deceit recently seen are an anomaly. This is a largely trustworthy business.

How do you know what project you should do? 
Kirsten: One that you had to dig deep to do. Spend a lot of time working on what you're working on. Polish it and polish it. Don't rush it. It really shows when you're put your time in. Always be you and do you.

Agents' Panel: Ammi-Joan Paquette

Ammi-Joan Paquette

Ammi-Joan Paquette is a senior agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency, representing all types of children’s and young adult literature. She is also the author of The Train of Lost Things, the Princess Juniper series, and picture books including Ghost in the House, Elf in the House, Bunny Bus, and The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies. With acclaimed author Laurie Ann Thompson, she is also the co-author of the ‘nonfiction with a twist’ series, Two Truths and a Lie. In her agent acquisitions, Joan is particularly drawn to richly voiced, unforgettable characters and settings, as well as tightly paced, well-plotted stories with twists and turns that keep you guessing right until the end. Visit her on the web at www.ajpaquette.com

**

Ammi-Joan started her journey as author. She signed with Erin as her own agent, and then later became an agent at that same agency. She's been a literary agent for nine years.

She represents all children's categories, PB through YA, has just started working with author/illustrators, and is excited about graphic novels.

Highlights from what Ammi-Joan shared...

What she's drawn to:

Stakes, tension, resonance, classic feel, books that catch you by surprise.

What's hot in the marketplace:

Older nonfiction, narrative nonfiction that tells a story. For fiction, fiction that digs deep into personal experience, that is heartfelt.

Ammi-Joan speaks of the tidal nature of the industry, picture books being not hot and then hot, and the evolution in the demand for shorter and shorter picture book texts (no longer than 1,000 words. Then, 800. Then, 600. Then 500...) and now she feels the pendulum is swinging a little the other way.

There's so much more discussed on the panel, including writing outside your culture (and the responsibility that comes with that choice), the need to champion other's books, the volume of queries and how many new clients they can realistically take on, and how authors and illustrators can protect themselves when entering a business relationship with an agent.

One more piece of Ammi-Joan's advice to share:

"The best thing you can do is just read as much as you can... Be aware of the books that are standing out."

The Agents' Panel!

Moderated by Alexandra Penfold (far left)(, the panelists at the table are (left to right): Tanusri Prasanna, Ammi-Joan Paquette, Kevin Lewis, Kristen Hall, Tina Dubois, and Jenny Bent

The Editors' Panel is About to Begin!

Moderated by Lin Oliver, the panelists are:

Left to right: Krista Marino, Amanda Maciel, Elizabeth Law

Left to right: Laura Godwin, Namrata Tripathi, Francesco Sedita

Agent Panel: Marietta Zacker and Brooks Sherman

Marietta Zacker is the owner of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. She is a literary agent who has worked with books, authors, and illustrators throughout her career – studying, creating, editing, marketing, teaching, and selling. She supports independent bookselling, believes in libraries, and takes pride in her work as a Latina in the world of publishing. She is always on the lookout for visual and narrative stories that reflect the world we live in, not the bubbles in which we put ourselves. She loves books that make readers feel and shies away from those that set out to teach the reader a lesson. Whether she is reading a young adult novel, a middle grade novel, or a picture book, Marietta looks for a book in which young readers can identify with the actions and reactions of the characters, not the perspectives of the author or illustrator. She aims to shine the spotlight on soulful, insightful, well-crafted, literary or commercial projects aimed at any age group. Some of the books she is championing during 2018 include This Is It by Daria Peoples-Riley, Sometimes You Fly illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt, Trace by Pat Cummings, It Wasn’t Me by Dana Alison Levy, and the Narwhal & Jelly series by Ben Clanton.

Brooks Sherman is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. He client list includes #1 New York Times best seller Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give), New York Times best seller Adam Silvera (They Both Die at the End), Morris Award winner Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda), acclaimed author/illustrator Sam Garton (I Am Otter), and many more. Brooks is currently on the lookout for middle grade fiction of all genres (especially fantasy and contemporary), young adult fiction of all genres except paranormal romance, and character-driven picture books with an emphasis on humor. Across all categories, he seeks projects that balance strong voice with gripping plot–ones that make him laugh earn extra points! He is particularly drawn to stories that elevate marginalized voices and where contemporary social issues are either prominently centered or woven into the worldbuilding; he prefers nuanced narratives over “issue books.” You can find him sharing publishing perspectives and horrible puns on Twitter at @byobrooks.

***

The panel opens with a joking challenge Brooks puts down, about how he's sure he has the "most random path to publishing." He shares his very circuitous path that includes the Peace Corps – and then Marietta takes the challenge with one sentence, "I was a math major in college."

Brooks speaks about the "absence of trends in the YA space" and how that's a good thing from his perspective, as it allows the focus to be on each story individually, He worries, with the new focus on diversity and #ownvoices, if publishers are starting to emphasize diverse author's identities over their stories.

Marietta also touches on the opportunity the lack of a current YA trend creates, telling us there's now space for all of us to tell our own stories. "Give yourself permission to write your own story" in the way only you can, and how that leaves room for everyone to speak... and how that also means that sometimes, you have to ceed the floor.


The panel talks more about books being relevant to today's issues versus being ever-green, diversity, the line children's and teen books walk between protecting innocence versus telling the truth, and much more!

Agents' Panel: Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary

Tricia Lawrence is the "Pacific Northwest branch" of EMLA—born and raised in Oregon, and now lives in Seattle. After twenty-two years of working as a developmental and production-based editor (from kid’s books to college textbooks, but mostly college textbooks), she joined the EMLA team in March 2011 as a social media strategist. As an agent, Tricia represents picture books/chapter books that look at the world in a unique and unusual way, with characters that are alive both on and off the page, and middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction that offers strong worldbuilding, wounded narrators, and stories that grab a reader and won't let go. www.trishlawrence.com

Tricia Lawrence is an actively acquiring agent at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency with more 20 years experience in publishing. "I started in publishing when I was 21, so I've been in publishing for a long time, but a lot of it was on the other side of the desk in production and marketing."

These days, "I rep picture books through YA -- so zero to 18, and my clients are awesome," she says. Here's a Q&A she did with Lee Wind about what she's looking for.

Clients include: Kim Turrisi, Debbi Michiko Florence, Courtney Pippin-Mathur, Paula Yoo, HM Bouwman

"I'm looking for wounded narrators, especially in the YA side," she says. "Everyone is writing because something has happened to them -- what prompted you to start writing? I want those life-changing moments. I'm a sucker for a good story where the characters fly off the page and won't leave my mind."

Tricia's big takeaway? Be ambitious, do the work -- and be prepared for publishing to take you in directions you'd never imagine.

Case in point: One of her clients, Debbi Michiko Florence, out writing YA. " She queried me with YA, then with a middle grade, and then started writing something else," Tricia says. "Then I got a call. 'I think I have something cooking.' An editor had expressed interest in another project. I was like, 'The YA?' Nope. Chapter book. They took one book into acquisitions, and came out with an order for FOUR books. A four-book chapter book series right off the bat."

That series, centered around Jasmine Toguchi, kicks off with two books debuting next week.

Jasmine Toguchi, 8, is a Japanese American kid who's learning to make mochi with her family -- and instead of rolling the mochi with her mom and the women, as tradition dictates, she wants to do the rice pounding part, with her dad and the men.

"You write what you love, you find someone who loves your work, but the publishing industry often has its own ideas about what goes first, the order of things. Ultimately, though, it's your time and your career. The thing I love about Debbi is, she goes with it. Have your meltdown moments, eat your chocolate, but at the end of the day, she knows we're going to do this. Get your work done. Embrace what happens."

Tricia points out that the connections you make at conferences like SCBWI LA stay with you even once you have an agent. Being proactive is a major plus. "We like to know the relationships you've been building," she says. "I love it when clients say, 'I ran into so and so and told them what I'm working on and they said please send it.' This is your career. You should have a say in where it goes."

That said, "We're also your safety net -- you can try your ideas and pitches out on us," Tricia says. "I love helping my clients feel really empowered and strong about their work when they're sharing it with the world."

As for trends, Tricia says, "Publishing is trying new things, changing it up a bit. For example, I'll submit a picture book and it will get turned into a board book instead, or a novelty books." For her, though, "this is the year of the novel -- middle grade, YA and chapter books. I really like character-driven and beautiful writing. And I'm very interested in non-fiction, both narrative and expository."

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Agents' Panel: Jennifer Laughran (Andrea Brown Literary)

Jennifer Laughran joined Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2007 after a long career as a bookseller, buyer and event coordinator. Always on the lookout for sparkling YA and middle grade fiction with unusual and unforgettable characters and vivid settings, she loves funny books, thrilling books, romantic books, books that make her cry, and all-around un-put-downable books… and her true favorites are all of the above. Some clients include author-illustrators like Giselle Potter, Don Brown, Raul the Third and Phoebe Wahl; middle grade authors like Daniel Pinkwater, Kate Messner, Alex Gino and Linda Urban; YA authors like Erin Jade Lange, Paula Stokes, Karen Rivers and Ellen Emerson White, among others. Visit www.andreabrownlit.com.

I loved Jennifer's story about meeting Kate Messner at an SCBWI conference, and signing her as her first author about ten years ago. (They've sold forty books together!) While waiting to sell her first novel with her new agent, Kate drafted a poem  on the back of a brown paper bag that quickly became Over and Under the Pond.

While Jennifer reminds us we can't replicate any author's success, she says: Absorb the SCBWI anecdotes shared by agents, editors, authors, and illustrators, but know your path in publishing will be unique, too.

That said, some of the traits she credits Kate for bringing to their successful partnership are:

• Flexibility: she rolls with the punches and isn't afraid of revisions. 
• When an idea isn't working, she's willing to try something new.
• Communicative
• Actively working on new projects
• Attending an SCBWI Conference! That's how they met.

Catch more of the conference highlights this year through blog posts tagged #LA17SCBWI or as-it-happens on Twitter.

Agents Panel: Quressa Robinson

Quressa Robinson joined the D4EO Literary Agency in 2016 after working as an editor for five years. She represents a wide range of literature in the adult and YA market and is actively building her client list. Quressa was an acquiring editor at St. Martin’s Press, where she edited both fiction and nonfiction. Her acquisitions include Certain Dark Things (a Publishers Weekly Fall Announcement Top 10 Pick and B&N Staff Pick) and The Beautiful Ones, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia; Spells of Blood and Kin (which received a starred PW review) by Claire Humphrey; and The Atlas of Forgotten Places by Jenny D. Williams. She is an alumnus of the University of California Santa Cruz, and Columbia University’s MFA program. www.d4eoliteraryagency.com

Quressa shares that she started as an editor (for five years) and is a "hungry new agent, building a list."

She wants to get lost in the world of a story, to be passionate about it and feel a personal connection. She's interested in #ownvoices stories, character-driven, darker, timeless.

She cites two titles she acquired when she was an editor as indicative of her taste,

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno Garcia

and

The Atlas of Forgotten Places by Jenny D. Williams

And on Quressa's passion for #ownvoices stories, she says,

"Not only are publishers and editors and agents asking for more, there are also more breakout successes. …Keep 'em coming. We need more."

The Agents Panel!

With Lin Oliver moderating, the panelists are (from left),
Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary
Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary
Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary
Quressa Robinson, D4EO Literary
Kate Testerman, KT Literary

Jenny Bent: The Agents' Panel

Jenny Bent founded The Bent Agency in 2009; the agency now has nine agents, offices in New York City and London, and a strong focus on international rights. Her authors include SE Green, Tera Lynn Childs, AG Howard, and Lynn Weingarten. She is actively looking for new clients across all categories of middle grade and young adult. Her website is www.thebentagency.com and you can find her on Twitter @jennybent.

Highlights of Jenny's comments:

She starts out with mentioning some of her recent debut author sales, saying she has a lot of debut authors.

For YA she's looking for edgy, different, manuscripts that could almost be adult books, that push the envelope.

Calling herself "highly editorial," Jenny speaks of working with her clients on "at least two or three drafts before sending everything out."

As publishers are consolidating, she sees herself as "ever more of a protector," holding onto rights for her authors, and then being active about selling them. (Rights outside the primary U.S. deal like audio, foreign and film.)

"My big thing as an agent is honesty." Jenny explains her clients know when she praises their work that she's being real about it because when things aren't working she tells them about it. "What I'm looking for in a client is someone who will be honest back with me... Respect and honesty on both sides."

There's lots more discussion, about consolidation, social media, and even how her agency posts what they're looking for, once a month on their blog.