Agent Spotlight: Barbara Kouts

This week's Agent Spotlight features Barbara Kouts of Barbara S. Kouts Agency.

About: No bio available.

Status: Closed to submissions.

What She's Looking For:

Interests: Children’s, picture books through young adult, fiction and nonfiction.  It is unclear if she is looking for illustrators but she does represent some.

Known clients and sales suggest she is interested in contemporary and fantasy projects.

What She Isn't Looking For:

Adult projects.

About the Agency:

Founded in 1980.

Editorial Agent?

Unknown.

Web Presence:

AAR.

LinkedIn.

QueryTracker.

Clients:

Elaine N. Aron, Tracey Babtiste, Jeanne Birdsall, Joseph Bruchac, Mary Ann Fraser,  Nina Laden, Riford McKenzie, Robert D. San Souci, Roland Smith, among many others.

NOTE: Some may be former clients.

Sales:

As of this posting, Ms. Kouts is listed on Publisher’s Marketplace as having made 1 deal in the last 12 months and 2 overall.  Deals include 1 YA fantasy and 1 middle grade.

NOTE:  PM is usually not a complete representation of sales, and Ms. Kouts does not actively list hers. 

Query Methods:

E-mail: No.

Snail-Mail: Yes (only).  

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

NOTE: Ms. Kouts is not taking on any new clients right now.

Send a query letter including a description of previously published works and/or current projects.  Include a sample.  Indicate if it’s a multiple submission. (Link)

Response Times:

Ms. Kouts’s response time on queries appears to be one to two weeks, up to a month occasionally.  Requested material generally receives a response within a couple weeks to a month, sometimes up to two.  Stats are limited, however.

What's the Buzz?

As you can see, I found only the most basic information on Ms. Kouts and her agency.  I will see if she is interested in providing more details when I get in touch.  Given her 30+ years of experience, I’m guessing she has a full client list and isn’t taking on many new clients. 

ETA:  I got in touch with Ms. Kouts and she’s currently not taking on any new clients. 

Worth Your Time:

Interviews:

None that I could find online.

Other:

Agent Appreciation Day post on Barbara Kouts by client Tracey Baptiste (12/10).

Barbara S. Kouts Agency on P&E ($ AAR).

Contact:

Please see QueryTracker for contact and query information.

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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.