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Agent Spotlight & Agent Spotlight Updates

  • Agent Spotlights & Interviews have been updated through the letter "H" as of 5/11/2023 and many have been reviewed by the agents. Look for more information as I find the time to update more agent spotlights.

Agent Spotlight: Taylor Martindale Kean

This week's Agent Spotlight features Taylor Martindale Kean of Full Circle Literary.
Status: Open to submissions
About: "Taylor Martindale Kean is a literary agent with Full Circle Literary, representing primarily middle grade fiction, young adult fiction, and illustrators. She is a graduate of The College of William and Mary, where she studied English and Hispanic Studies.
Taylor is looking for young adult fiction and literary middle grade fiction, across all genres. She is interested in finding unique and unforgettable voices in contemporary, fantasy, historical and magical realism novels. She is looking for books that demand to be read. More than anything, Taylor is looking for diverse, character-driven stories that bring their worlds vividly to life, and voices that are honest, original and interesting. Clients include: Emery Lord, Tirzah Price,  David Bowles, Sylvie Lacroix, Anoosha Syed, Isabel Strychacz, Gloria Amescua, Olivia Sua and more. When not working, Taylor can be found traveling, cooking, spending time with loved ones, or (surprise!) lost in a good book.
" (From the agency website)
About the Agency:
"Full Circle Literary is a full-service literary agency, offering a full circle approach to literary representation. Our team has diverse experience in book publishing including editorial, marketing, publicity, legal and rights, which we use collectively to build careers book by book.
"We work with both award-winning veteran and debut writers and illustrators, and our team has a knack for finding and developing new and diverse talent. We work with writers and illustrators from development of concepts and proposals for submission to championing a book into the hands of readers. Our titles have received awards and honors from the American Library Association, National Book Critics’ Circle, Children’s Book Council, Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, National Council of Teachers of English, International Reading Association, and many more." (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
Full Circle Literary
Full Circle Lit blog.
#MSWL on Twitter
LinkedIn.
QueryTracker.
Twitter.  
What She's Looking For:
From the Agency Submissions Page
"Taylor is currently open to submissions in the following categories only: illustrators, author-illustrators. She is not able to respond to queries sent in categories that are not open."

See her bio above for other info on what she's looking for.

"TAYLOR’S WISH LIST  – currently open to illustration submissions only

Illustration that shows the artist’s unique voice and perspective

Magical Realism in Middle Grade and Young Adult

Young Adult fantasy with grounded and compelling world building, diverse casts, and that has smart and savvy heroes and heroines

All Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction with characters who are engaging, imperfect and diverse

A novel that deals with a family living in the aftermath of a serious crime (From the agency website)

What She Isn't Looking For:
Anything other than illustrators or author/illustrators
Editorial Agent?
Yes.
Clients:
There is list of select client titles on the agency website and in her bio.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: Yes.
Submission Guidelines (always verify): 
All submissions should be through their QueryManagr form.
See the Full Circle Literary website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Query tips:
There are a number of great tips from Ms. Martindale in this interview at GotYA.
Response Times:
The agency only responds if interested. If interested, expect a response within 8 weeks. Response times available on the web suggest Ms. Martindale generally responds to queries within that time frame, often sooner. Her response time on requested material is sometimes longer.
What's the Buzz?
Taylor Martindale 's clients seem very happy with her representation. 
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Interview with Agent Taylor Martindale Kean at SCBWI Washington ((01/2018)
A Cafe Chat With Taylor Martindale Kean at EasternPennPoint (04/2017)
Contest interview with Taylor Martindale at Operation Awesome (10/2011).
Interview with YA agent Taylor Martindale at GotYA (04/2010).
Blog Stuff:
Ms. Martindale will be posting on the Full Circle blog occasionally.
Contact:
Please see the Full Circle Literary website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 3/24/2023.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 4/30/2023.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieaguirre7(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.

11 comments:

Cambria Dillon said...

Thanks for another great spotlight, Casey!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Great spotlight. If I ever write a YA urban fantasy, I'll definitely consider Ms. Martindale, especially since she is also looking for multicultural stories.

Anonymous said...

I've had a package sitting on my desk for a week waiting to go out to Ms. Martindale. Then last night, I read on Twitter that she's now accepting e-queries and I wanted so bad to @reply her and say YAY! Needless to say, the package is recycling and the e-query was sent out not long after. She sounds wonderful...here's hoping!

Casey McCormick said...

Ms. Martindale has reviewed her profile. The agency will be going paperless next week. Make sure you e-query!

Lisa Nowak said...

Oh good, another agent looking for women's fiction. Even though you focus on YA and MG, I often find agents here to pass along to my friend who writes for an adult market.

Robin Lemke said...

Ooo, I love the Spotlight! Thanks!

Christina Farley said...

Lots of fantastic research Casey!

Christie Wright Wild said...

I love your spotlights! I made a note that you have listed 7 agents so far that accept picture books. I hope you continue to find even more!

Christie Wright Wild said...

I feel dumb now. Just realized there are 51! I had to go to "older posts" to find them. THANKS!!!

Unknown said...

UPDATE: Taylor Martindale is now at Full Circle Literary: http://www.fullcircleliterary.com/AboutUs.htm

Casey McCormick said...

Thank you Robin. I finally got her profile updated!