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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: Karen Grencik

This week's Agent Spotlight features Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary.
Status: Closed to submissions. As of 5/6/20 Ms. Grencik and the other agents at this agency are closed to submissions.
karengrencikAbout: “Karen Grencik became a literary agent because of a man she admired. She wanted the world to know his story, so she set out to make that happen. Within a year she’d accomplished her goal. Double Luck, Memoirs of a Chinese Orphan, written by Lu Chi Fa with Becky White, was published by Holiday House in 2001.
"Over the next few years, Karen signed new clients and sold award-winning titles. Among the awards garnered by her authors are the Parents' Choice Gold Award for Best Non-Fiction, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Best Picture Book Text, and the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best New Fiction.
"In June 2011 Karen joined forces with Abigail Samoun to open Red Fox Literary. She has been ranked by Publishers Marketplace as one of the Top 10 agents for children's book sales in both 2012 and 2013.
"Karen’s philosophy is simple: “When you choose to write children’s books, it’s just that—it’s a choice. You do it because you love it. You do it because it fills you with passion. You do it because it brings you joy. You are among the lucky ones who live life with purpose. But you also must do everything you can possibly think of to achieve your goals.
“And you must be nice.” (From the agency website)
About the Agency:
“The story of Red Fox Literary began way back in 2002 when a young, novice editor named Abigail Samoun acquired her very first picture book from a talented agent named Karen Grencik. That book, author Sarah Wilson’s George Hogglesberry, Grade School Alien, went on to win the coveted SCBWI Golden Kite Award. Not bad for a first collaboration.
"In 2006, Karen left agenting to pursue adventures in the tropical forests of Costa Rica. Abigail and Karen’s paths didn’t cross again until the Los Angeles 2010 SCBWI National Conference, where Abigail was delighted to discover that Karen had returned to the States and was plunging back into the world of children’s books. Karen and Abigail decided in March 2011 to form Red Fox Literary, a boutique agency specializing in picture books, middle-grade, and young-adult titles.” (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
Red Fox Lit website.
Facebook.
QueryTracker.
Twitter   
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
The agency represents children’s book illustrators and authors whose work is aimed at picture book, middle-grade, and young-adult readers.
What She Isn't Looking For:
Adult Projects
Editorial Agent?
Unknown
Clients:
There are lists of authors and illustrators on the Red Fox website.
Ms. Grencik’s clients include: Lana Bloch and Tanya Bloch, Sandra Brug, Amy Dixon, Lu Chi Fa, Julie Musil, Michele Shaw, Mary McKenna Siddals, Sarah Wilson, Natasha Yim, among others.
Query Methods: Ms. Grencik is closed to submissions but these were the submission guidelines.
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
For complete, up-to-date submission guidelines see the Red Fox Literary submissions page.
Response Times:
Unknown
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
Interview at Middle-Grade Mojo (03/2015)
Interview with Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary Agency at Becky Levine’s blog (06/2011).
Contact:
Please see the Red Fox Literary website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 2/10/2023.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes..
Last Reviewed By Agent? 10/27/11.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(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.































































9 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Karen sounds like an awesome agent. I was super excited because my main character is a Chinese adoptee, but then I saw she doesn't want any high fantasy. Oh well, she still sounds awesome.

Michael G-G said...

I had a great interaction with Ms. Grencik earlier this year, and although she ended up passing on my project she was extremely persoanble and professional. I think she'd be a great advocate and agent.

Carol Riggs said...

I met Karen at a recent SCBWI Oregon retreat, and she's definitely personable--and sweet! Thanks for the informative run-down on Karen. It's nice to see she represents picture books, because a lot of children's book agents don't. :)

Rachna Chhabria said...

My interaction with Karen has left me with a great love for literary agents, she has literally made me change my opinion about agents. She had the nicest things to say about my 10 pages. I am sure she would be an absolute delight to work with. I wish Karen all the best with her agency. She comes across as a wonderful person and agent.

Anonymous said...

Great post. Thanks for sharing about Karen and Red Fox Literary Agency.

Michele Shaw said...

Karen just happens to be my agent, and I can tell you all the positive things you've heard are correct! She is a dream to work with, so enthusiastic about my work and supportive at every turn. We immediately clicked and she felt like an old friend. When she offered, I had other fulls out, but knew in my gut that she was the one. I'd met other agents and pitched them, but never felt quite as comfortable as I did just talking to Karen on the phone! She has an amazing attitude that is contagious!

Victoria Lindstrom said...

Karen Grencik is the first literary agent I have met in person. Her professionalism and kind heart are a great combination!
It was a highlight for me to meet her at the recent SCBWI retreat in Oregon. Thanks for the interview. Victoria

Anonymous said...

According to the "Red Fox" website, it looks like they're not accepting unsolicited submissions.

Vivian Kirkfield said...

Thanks for a lovely profile of an awesome agent!