Agent Spotlight: Joe Monti

This week's Agent Spotlight features Joe Monti of Barry Goldblatt Literary.

About: "Literary Agent, Bookseller, and publishing wonk. Joe has managed several bookstores, worked as a buyer for Barnes & Noble, been a sales manager for a Houghton Mifflin, and an editor for Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Now he's an agent, a position which suits his experience. He's also really happy about being a dad." (Link)

See a more in-depth bio on the Goldblatt website here.

Status: Open to submissions.

What He's Looking For:

Genres/Specialties:

Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Graphic Works.

From a Conference Bio (10/2010):

“While I made my career by doing what I love, namely championing fantasy works, and helping create the modern YA category; MG fiction is the soft spot in my dragon scale armor, particularly realistic MG. You see, I’m actually still nine years old inside. I’m also not interested in representing folks who solely write PBs or solely illustrate, but happily have clients that do both.” (Link)

From an Interview (09/2009):

"I am a sucker for that well-done magical realist and urban fantasy novel because it just opens up the world of possibility. And then there’s the middle grade novel aimed at a male reader. As I mentioned above, I’m desperately looking for books that would attract that kind of reader, but the male coming of age experience is one I hope to help bring to light more often. (In fact, give me a searching for a father figure themed novel, and I’m yours.)" (Link)

Other interests include multicultural, boy-centric, steampunk, modern immigrant stories, fantasy and science fiction, as well as non-genre MG and YA sci-fi aimed at a male readership. More specifics available in the interviews below.

From the Website (2009):

"As an agent I'll be focusing on children's and young adult, or teen literature, as well as some adult genre fiction. I'm also interested in working with folks who are writer-artists of graphic works, from graphic novels to picture books. Specifically I love work that breaks new ground, a work that is subversive or enlightening by utilizing a different approach.

"I'm also an unabashed lover of genre fiction, particularly fantasy and science fiction. I'm also looking for cultural diversity as I come from a mixed race family, and my son is an even bigger mutt than I am. And lastly, I'm a big believer that the widely held belief 'boys over a certain age do not read' is nonsense. Guys read, especially if they have a range of materials to read from that interests and speaks to them." (Link)

What He Isn't Looking For:

Illustrators who illustrate only, non-fiction projects, certain adult projects (he's mainly interested in fantasy and sci-fi in adult fic).

About the Agency:

“BGLA is a leading U.S. literary agency headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. [Barry Goldblatt] founded the agency in September of 2000.” (Link)

Pet-Peeves:

“Not following our submission guidelines. Reading a cliché within the first paragraph. (They usually crop up within three sentences.) Poor dialogue.” (Link)

His Advice to Writers:

"Don’t hold back from your passion. Too many folks get caught up in what the marketplace is supposedly looking for, and they lose sight of what they’re trying to write. That and read your drafts (Note the plural usage!) aloud for imperfections of language and cadence. It’s an old horse, but not done enough because it may take you days to finish—but the results are astounding." (Link)

Editorial Agent?

Unknown, thought it’s likely given his editorial experience.

Web Presence:

Barry Goldblatt Literary website

Twitter.

Facebook.

QueryTracker, & AuthorAdvance.

Clients:

A full list of Goldblatt Literary clients is available on the website.

Mr. Monti's clients include John Joseph Adams, Tobias Buckell, Stina Leicht, Rajan Khanna, Jon F. Merz, Ellen Oh, Jenn Reese, Misako Rocks, Allan Stratton, Charles Vess, among others.

Sales:

As of 03/2011, Mr. Monti is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 9 deals in the last 12 months, 1 six-figure+ deal, and 14 overall. Recent deals include 3 sci-fi/fantasy, 2 paranormal, 1 non-fiction pop culture, 2 young adult, and 1 middle grade.

NOTE: PM is usually not a complete representation of sales.

Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes (only).

Snail-Mail: No.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

E-queries: Put "query" in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail (no attachments) include a query letter, synopsis, and the first five pages of your manuscript. By querying one agent at Goldblatt you're querying them all, though you may address your query to one agent specifically.

See the BG Literary website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.

Response Times:

The agency’s stated response time is four weeks on queries and six to eight weeks on fulls. Their guidelines state it’s fine to check in with them after those time frames.

“Please know that we will read and respond to every e-query that we receive, provided it is properly addressed and follows the submission guidelines below. We will not respond to e-queries that are addressed to no one, or to multiple recipients.” (Link)

What's the Buzz?

Mr. Monti joined BGLA in 2009, representing children’s/teen fiction and adult sci-fi/fantasy.  His past experience recommends him and his clients seem happy with his representation so far. 

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

Agent Advice Interview with Joe Monti Part I on the Guide to Literary Agents Blog (09/2009).

Agent Advice Interview with Joe Monti Part II on the Guide to Literary Agents blog (09/2009).

Around the Web:

Barry Goldblatt Literary thread on AbsoluteWrite.

Barry Goldblatt Literary on P&E ($, AAR).

You can view Joe Monti's Blogger profile here, which lists favorite books growing up, favorite movies, etc.

Agent Appreciation Day post on Joe Monti by client Jenn Reese (12/2009).

Contact:

Please see the Barry Goldblatt Literary website for contact and query information.

Profile Details:

Last updated: 3/24/11

Agent Contacted For Review? Yes

Last Reviewed by Agent:  N/A

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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.