This week's Agent Spotlight features Andrea Cascardi of Transatlantic Literary Agency, Inc.
Status: Accepting submissions by referral only.
About: “Andrea Cascardi has more than twenty years experience in book publishing. Beginning as an editorial assistant at Houghton Mifflin, she moved up the ranks at several major New York Publishing houses (including Scholastic, Crown/Random House and Hyperion) to become Assistant Publishing Director for Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers before joining TLA. Among the award-winning authors and celebrities whose children’s books she edited are Faith Ringgold, Karen Hesse, Julia Alvarez, Raffi, Tim Burton, and Wendy Wasserstein. She also wrote two books for parents about choosing the best books, audio, and video for children, and reviewed children’s book for the Boston Parents’ Paper. Andrea has also taught children’s books publishing for master’s degree-level students at Pace University.” (Link)
About the Agency:
“Transatlantic Literary Agency has been selling rights to literary properties into the Canadian, UK, US and European markets since 1993. Established as a community of creative people with many years experience in book publishing, TLA is a company of professional literary agents with offices in Canada, the United States, and The Netherlands.
“From its early beginnings in children's literature representation, TLA now has a premier list of more than seventy multiple-award-winning children's authors and thirty acclaimed illustrators. TLA has simultaneously become a major force in adult fiction and non-fiction with more than seventy critically acclaimed, award-winning adult trade authors.” (Link w/more)
Web Presence:
QueryTracker, AgentQuery, AuthorAdvance.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Mystery, Juvenile fiction, Children's books, Middle grade, Young adult. (Link)
From the Website:
“Currently only considering commercial young adult and middle grade grade fiction – humorous, or edgy, with a strong voice.” (Link)
From an Interview (2007):
“I will say that a character has to grab me from the start and feel real and yet compelling in order for me to read past the first few pages. I am especially interested in fiction that has a distinct voice.” (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
“No historical fiction, high fantasy, or science fiction.” (Link)
“I don’t generally represent younger fiction, or fantasy.” (Link)
Editorial Agent?
“As a former editor, I can’t help but be involved editorially with my clients. I let prospective clients know upfront that this is something I enjoy. So, if they are only looking for an agent who will market their work without giving editorial comments, I’m the wrong agent for them.
“That said, each manuscript and client are different. I don’t always give the same level of editorial input—it really depends on the needs of the manuscript.” (Link)
Clients:
Donna Broder and Julie Macht, Shana Burg, Mary Casanova, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, John Coy, Dorothy Crane, Kathleen Ernst, Christine Ford, John Grandits, Rita Gray, Erin Haley, Sarah J. Heim, Kris Hirschmann, Lisa Horstman, Johanna Hurwitz, Barbara Johansen Newman, Susan Laidlaw, Patricia Lakin, Craig Moodie, Mary Nethery, Tabitha Olson, Phyllis Root, Roger Roth, Pat Schmatz, Barbara Shoup, Andy Spearman, Nancy Van Laan, Clare Vanderpool.
Sales:
As 04/11, Ms. Cascardi is listed on Publisher's Marketplace as having made 1 deal in the last 12 months and 8 overall. Recent deals include 1 mystery crime.
NOTE: PM is usually not a complete representation of sales.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: Yes.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
“By referral only, please submit a query with outline and SASE. Send manuscripts only when requested by the agent. Manuscripts will not be returned except at the expense of the author.” (Link)
See Ms. Cascardi’s Publisher’s Marketplace page for e-query address.
Query Tips:
“I wouldn’t read something that isn’t at least 12-point type and double-spaced. Anything that isn’t professionally drawn up, as in no handwritten notes, no all italics or all caps—that comes with a thoughtful cover letter of how they came to be referred to me will get read and responded to. But agents have a subjective view of writing, the same as editors do, so sometimes I respond that I don’t wish to see a manuscript simply because it doesn’t pique my interest. I have to love something to want to represent it. If I don’t, it’s better not to waste an author’s time and postage.” (Link)
Response Times:
“Due to the volume of submissions received, replies will be sent only for submissions being actively considered.” (Link)
Ms. Cascardi can take days to a few months to respond.
What's the Buzz?
Andrea Cascardi is an established, well-respected literary agent. She represents this year’s Newberry Medal winner, Clare Vanterpool. Transatlantic Literary is a Canadian based agency but Ms. Cascardi works out of the NY office.
I recommend following her on Twitter @AECbooks for further insight and client news.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Interview with Andrea Cascardi at Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Workshop (2007).
Around the Web:
Andrea Cascardi on P&E. Transatlantic Literary Agency on P&E ($).
Transatlantic Literary Agency, Inc. thread on AbsoluteWrite.
Ask Winston, Andrea Cascardi and Jill Grinberg answer a question at Kirby’s Lane (07/2010).
Andrea Cascardi on Getting an Agent - SCBWI conference notes at Day By Day Writer (02/2010).
How I Got My Agent: Tabitha Olsen at Guide to Literary Agents (09/2009).
Info and client testimonials on Andrea Cascardi at Paficic Coast Children’s Writers Workshop (2007).
Contact:
Please see the Transatlantic Literary Agency website or Ms. Cascardi’s Publishers Marketplace page for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 4/13/11
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.
Thanks for the update. Too bad she only takes referrals. Unlikely that many of us would be able to query her.
ReplyDeleteYeah that is sad, but I still love this feature. :)
ReplyDeleteBy referral only, huh? Ah well.
ReplyDelete