Seeking advice on getting a book agent for illustrated book

lnelson · January 2009

I have written and illustrated 2 books that are both (in my opinion) all but ready to be published. From having done a fair amount of poking around on the subject, it looks like I need an agent or some kind of direct line to a publisher. The reading I've done is all pretty vague on how to actually get an agent and/or direct line, but maybe someone here knows. In which case I'd be much obliged for any help you can offer.

One of the two books is a straight-up children's book, probably best for preschool-kindergarten.

The other isn't really a children's book, but more like something you'd find in the same section as "Bunny Suicides" and "Stuff on my Cat" and other novelty illustrated books that people somehow managed to get published.

Thoughts on how to move on either/both of these would be exceptionally helpful. Concrete thoughts. Specific thoughts. Advice. Names.

If anyone here can really really help me, like hook me up with an agent or something, I will bake you cookies. Or a pie. If you want.

MOD · January 2009

PM Sweet Tea. She's publishing a book, not childrens, but she might have advice.

apple pants · January 2009

My advice to you is to contact authors in your area/field who like your work, and ask them to introduce you to their editor and/or publisher. Also, and this is important, know your competition. A publisher will want to know how your book compares to other books in your field/area and what need your book fills that doesn’t already exist.

urbancowgirl · January 2009

In general, for children's books (and most first time authors), an agent is unnecessary. This is because the big six rarely publish first time authors and they're usually the only ones who don't accept unsolicited manuscripts. Publishing houses such as Abrams and Chronicle have very, very strong children's titles and do accept unsolicited manuscripts. You can also go to the website for the National Book Network and view the list of smaller/independent publishers for which they distribute and use that as a guide to determine which of those publishers would be right for your book. Submit as many queries as possible and make sure to follow up a few times to 'humanize' the submission. Also, and this is so so important, don't let yourself show frustration or impatience when following up. Be pleasantly inquisitive. Most likely you'll be on the phone with a kid who's been an unpromoted editorial assistant for too long and who'll have the sole power to move your query to the top (or bottom) of the pile. For extra points, let them know that you'd be happy to hear their feedback as well.

Another tactic that I've seen used to some degree of success is to do it yourself, gorilla marketing style. Self publish on LuLu or wherever and infiltrate libraries, doctor's offices, literacy organizations and other nontraditional outlets with donated or heavily discounted books. Get a booth for yourself at ALA. Make business cards (I got a hilarious business card from the woman who played Ginger on Gilligan's Island promoting her new book). Schools and libraries and doctor's offices love free posters and activity pages. The point is to get your book and it's characters in the market as much as possible in order to build your own buzz. Take lots of pictures and snip lots of articles and reviews. Then wrap it up nicely and put it on some nice editor's doorstep.

eggcream · January 2009

I saw Stephanie Meyers on the CBS Sunday Morning show a few months back. She is the author of 3 or 4 highly successful books for young girls all started from a dream.

Anyway, her Bio gives some helpful information and how she got started.

She had help from a literary agent.

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html

booklaw · January 2009

Children’s Book Agents

Barry Goldblatt
Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency
PMB 266
320 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Nancy Gallt
273 Charlton Ave
S. Orange, NJ, 07079
(973) 761-6358
FAX (973) 761-6318
[email protected]

Charlotte Sheedy
Charlotte Sheedy Agency
65 Bleeker Street
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 780 9800

Amy Berkower/Jody Reamer
Writer’s House
21 W.26th Street
NY NY 10010
685 2400

Sheldon Fogelman
10 E. 40th Street
Suite 3800
NYC 10016
532 7250

Maureen Walters
Ginger Knowlton
Curtis Brown Ltd.
10 Astor Place
NY NY 10003
473 5400

Good luck!
Bob

sweet tea · January 2009

for the record, sweet tea does not have better advice than what is already here. the book in question is a lucky one-off kind of thing, and she'll be back to the above for future projects.

good luck, and pass some my way.

Seeking advice on getting a book agent for illustrated book

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories