Author Interview: Natalie Richards and 15 Secrets to Survival Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have author Natalie Richards here to share about her MG thriller 15 Secrets to Survival. Natalie is a NY Times Bestselling Author and writes YA thrillers as well. I’m excited to read her first MG thriller and to try one of her YA books.

Here’s a blurb about 15 Secrets to Survival from Goodreads:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Five Total Strangers comes a thriller about a group of four classmates forced to navigate the wilderness for a school project with nothing but the pages of a survival handbook--and each other--before the sun goes down..

When classmates Baxter, Abigail, Turner and Emerson are forced to go to the middle of nowhere for a school project, they think things can't get much worse. Why on earth do they need to learn how to survive in the wilderness by an eccentric instructor?

But what starts off as a weekend of team building turns dangerous when their instructor goes missing and they are left with nothing but the pages of a survival handbook to complete a series of challenges.

They will soon discover the woods around them have unexpected surprises that might go beyond the obstacles their teacher set out for them...but will they find they can work together to find their teacher?

A recommended choice for classroom discussions and educators looking for survival books for kids.

Hi Natalie! Thanks so much for joining us.

Thank you for having me!

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.

As an only (and often lonely!) child, I’d make up elaborate stories while playing on my own. These stories could feel so real and true that it was hard not to get swept away. Want a silly example? There was a small hole in my tiny front yard, a remnant from a shrub removal operation. I was utterly convinced that this hole was actually the entrance to a sprawling cave system beneath my neighborhood. I spent hours on my knees with my arm shoved in as far as I could reach, trying to find the larger cave that was surely down there. It’s a miracle nothing I didn’t find something in that hole that decided to chomp off a finger or two. But as silly as it is, that might be the very first hint that I’d spend my whole life dreaming up stories. And once I discovered books and the endless stories they contained? Well, the rest is history.

2. I was lonely too and made up stories in my head. Where did you get the idea for 15 Secrets to Survival?

My parents were divorced when I was very young and my dad would often take me hiking when I was staying with him. True to my front yard cave system story above, I would often wander along those hikes dreaming up scenarios where my dad had to rush off for one reason or another and I’d be forced to find my way alone in the wilderness. Between my imagination running wild and my love for books like Call of the Wild, I knew I’d love to write an adventure story one day. But often adventure stories follow the adventures of one person, and I wanted to see the dynamic of a group of kids trying to figure it out together.

Your Writing Process

3. This is your first middle grade thriller. What made you decide to write a middle grade story and how was it different than writing a YA thriller?

My YA thrillers are often dark and frightening, and while you can usually spot a funny character somewhere in anything I write, it’s difficult to explore the sillier side of life in YA thrillers. Now, anyone who knows me will tell you, I definitely lean toward silly and ridiculous as a person, so I’ve dreamed for a long time of writing something that was both a little bit scary and a lot of fun too. And since I love reading and talking about MG books, it felt like a really natural fit. And guess what? It was! I’ve never had more fun writing a book.

4. What is your plotting process like? Has it changed since you published your first book, Six Months Later in 2013?

Er….no? Ha! I wish I was good at plotting, but I have a secret. Lean in close. (*whisper voice* If I do too much planning, I grow bored and disinterested in writing it *end whisper voice*). Truly, one of the great joys of writing for me is figuring out how on earth everything will turn out. So most of my plotting happens after the story is written when I’m trying to edit my often unwieldy and misshapen first draft into a really good book.

5. It’s reassuring to know that we don’t have to totally plot out a thriller. Share about how you created the main characters in this story—Baxter, Abigail, Turner, and Emerson. What tips do you have on how to make each character unique?

A few tips on characters for fellow writers or folks who might like to write one day! Making characters unique can be tricky because as a writer you have a distinctive voice that bleeds onto every character. And the story itself will also impact character choices and conversations. The trick is to get to know each character independently. Think about the way they talk, what they like, what annoys them, and what makes them sad. Often those things reveal themselves as you write the book, and by the end you’ll have a good idea of who each person is. The trick that helps me best is to write down what I’ve learned about each character after the first draft is done. And then when I go through edits, I can adjust dialogue and scenes to better reflect who each character is.

6. Those are great tips. You’ve published approximately 11 books since 2013. How long does it take you to write and revise a manuscript before submitting it to an editor? What tips do you have on how writers who write slowly (like me) can learn to complete a manuscript quicker?

It varies a bit. I can draft a book quickly (Fun fact! 15 Secrets to Survival was a NaNoWriMo book and I wrote the first draft in 30 days). BUT, and here is the important part, if I draft things quickly, I often have to take longer with edits. Books that take 6-8 months to write might require less edits, but 15 Secrets to Survival took multiple full rewrites. My short advice on this? Trust your own process. There’s nothing wrong with writing slow or fast, but it is important to make the process work for you. If you’re a fast writer, you may need to dedicate big chunks of time for a shorter period of time to get it done. If you’re slower, it might be important to carve out a bit of time each day so you continue with steady progress. In the end, every book gets written the same way—one word at a time.

Your Road to Publication

7. What was your road to the publication of your debut book like? Share a bit about how you obtained your other book deals.

My first middle grade was the fifth full-length novel I wrote. I had submitted earlier books in contests, which were a big thing then, and one of those early books resulted in me signing with an agent. From there, I sold my next book, Six Months Later, and have been lucky enough to be in contract and consistently writing since the beginning.

On Marketing Your Book

8. How do you market your books and how have your marketing plans changed as you became a more experienced author? What advice do you have for newer writers about marketing their books?

I’m NOT great at marketing, so I will leave this question to other writers who have figured this out. For my best advice on marketing, see below…

9. You have a publicist. What made you decide to hire one and how has having a publicist helped you with promotion of your books helped you?

Hiring my publicist was a business decision based on objectively viewing my weaknesses. I know that doesn’t sound too exciting, but I think it’s critical as a professional writer to know and to address your personal weaknesses. I have a very hard time with marketing and sales as I’m very wrapped up in the business of writing the books. As I’ve grown busier, I’ve realized I need some support so I hired a publicist who helps tremendously, arranging events for me, creating creative content, and helping to secure speaking engagements. And so so much more!

10. It’s good to know that a publicist can help those of us who don’t want to market. What are you working on now?

I just wrapped up edits on my next YA Thriller, 49 Miles Alone, which is a very different kind of survival story set in the blistering heat of the Utah back country. That book is due out in July of 2023. And I am over the moon to share that I’m working on a very exciting book that follows a group of kids trying to work through an escape room set in a safari park. This book is extra fun (and challenging) to write because in addition to the story, the book also includes puzzles that readers can solve alongside the characters!

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Natalie. You can find Natalie at @natdrichards or www.nataliedrichards.com.

Giveaway Details

Natalie’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of 15 Secrets to Survival for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by December 2nd. If your email is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and/or follow me on Twitter or Natalie on her social media sites, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Friday, December 1st I’m participating in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, December 6th I have a guest post by debut author Dana VanderLugt and a giveaway of her MG historical Enemies in the Orchard

Monday, December 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Ashley Reisinger and a query critique giveaway

Saturday, December 16th I’m participating in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop

Monday, December 20th I have an interview with author Joanne Rossmassler Fritz and a giveaway of her MG contemporary Ruptured

Monday, January 1st I’m participating in the New Year New You Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, January 3rd I have an interview with debut author Mary Averling and a giveaway of her MG fantasy The Curse of Eelgrass Bog and my IWSG post

Monday, January 8th I have an agent spotlight interview with Leah Moss and a query critique giveaway

Tuesday, January 16th I’m participating in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop

Hope to see you on Friday, December 1st!

 

In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Happy Thursday Everyone! Today I'm excited to participate in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox. I hope you're having a good November and getting ready for the start of the holiday season. And I hope you're grateful for the good things in your life. I practice gratitude every day and have so much to be grateful for--including all of you who keep coming back to my blog.

Book of Your Choice or Amazon Gift Card

I am offering a book of your choice that is $20 or less on Amazon. I’m looking forward to seeing what books everyone is looking forward to reading. If you don’t have a book you want, you can win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Giveaway Details

To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by November 30th telling me whether you want a book, and if so, which one, or the Amazon gift card and your email address. Be sure to include your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. The book giveaway is U.S. only and the Amazon gift card giveaway is International.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Monday, November 20th I have an interview with author Natalie Richards and a giveaway of her MG thriller 13 Secrets to Survival

Friday, December 1st I’m participating in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, December 6th I have a guest post by debut author Dana VanderLugt and a giveaway of her MG historical Enemies in the Orchard

Thursday, December 7th I’m participating in the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop

Monday, December 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Ashley Reisinger and a query critique giveaway

Saturday, December 16th I’m participating in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop

Monday, December 20th I have an interview with author Joanne Rossmassler Fritz and a giveaway of her MG contemporary Ruptured

Hope to see you on Monday!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

And here are all the blogs participating in this blog hop:

Debut Author Interview: DaVaun Sanders and Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have DaVaun Sanders here to share about his MG fantasy Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew. It sounds like it has fantastic world building, and Keynan sounds like a great character. This has been on my TBR list for a while.

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

"Impossible to predict... Your new obsession." —Mark Oshiro, co-author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Sun and the Star

This new middle grade fantasy series follows Keynan's quest to unlock his freestyling magic and unravel the secrets of Peerless Academy.

Keynan Masters doesn't know the truth about Peerless Academy. He thinks it's just a fancy art school that can’t teach him anything he doesn’t already know (how to write fire poems) and won’t solve his problems (the massive storms that threaten his home and family).

But at Peerless, Keynan discovers:

• Secret passageways and unexplainable portals
• A corrupt magic that the school is barely able to contain
• That he can churn up the magic by putting his poetry to rhythm

Together with his crew of new friends, can Keynan prevent the magic from destroying the school—and the world?

Hi DaVaun! Thanks so much for joining us.

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.

Hi there, hello! Thanks for letting me chatter with you today. I’m a SFF author, editor and publisher based in Phoenix, and the current executive editor for the award-winning FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction. While I’m not a native Arizonan, I’ve been out here for just over twenty years. I’ve worn my fair share of hats in that span, with stints in philanthropy, nonprofit work and architecture—but writing has always been a throughline for me, kind of waiting to bubble up from beneath the surface.

Spoken word was a major component of my early years out here, and helped instill a passion for writing and connecting with people through that medium. An actual novel wasn’t on my radar for several more years, not until I had a dream vivid enough to be a movie trailer. I woke up and was like, ‘what am I supposed to do with that?’ A book turned out to be the only answer that made sense, so I set out to write that, which eventually became my indie-published World Breach series.

2. Where did you get the idea for Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew?

I’ll try to answer without spoiling! A core germ of Keynan is how people navigate a landscape where magic itself was broken, and how that dilemma would impact the characters. A school (the titular Peerless Academy) as a main setting grew organically from that initial worldbuilding and created a lot of different, conflicting entry points to understanding magic for the characters.

This naturally led to the question on how (or if) the characters can heal this place, where music and art interacts with corrupt magic in unpredictable ways. More inspiration for Keynan came from all over the place, like Jordan Peele’s Us, the Chernobyl limited series on HBO, some episodes of the Deadline City podcast with Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova, and the Shimmer in Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation.

About Your Writing Process

3. It’s great that you found some inspiration in many places. Tell us about your world-building and magical system development for your story. Is there anything you would do differently if you wrote another fantasy?

I wrestled a lot with how magic itself was portrayed in this story because I’m coming at it from a completely different angle. Keynan and his friends don’t get to cast spells and wave wands to make their magic happen—they first have to learn the dangers of corrupt magic and how to guard against it, then they are basically reverse engineering their working knowledge to try and make magic do what they want. So hopefully this is a fresh take on how we’ve seen magic schools portrayed in the middle grade space.

The elements of Hip Hop quickly became a grounding presence in this story—I loved how they are critical to restoring broken magic. The characters in the story are rediscovering Black cultural expression that gives them strength and guidance in the midst of chaos, and it was important to me to establish that connection.

I definitely have more fantasy stories on deck—this is a perfect place for the Vince Carter meme—and my approach will shift to match the story.

4. Are you a plotter or pantser? Share about this process works for you.

Definitely depends on the project! I oscillate along the spectrum—sometimes in mid-chapter—and do my best to ensure my process molds itself to the story’s needs. My comfort level and familiarity with the characters and the world factor into those choices, and also if my inspiration tank is topped off and what the deadline situation looks like.

5. What was a challenge you faced in writing Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew? How did you overcome it?

Pacing was definitely a challenge, as I tend to favor a breakneck, action packed unfolding of events. That led to plenty of cutting (always painful) and refocusing on characters to make sure they are showing up on the page. I’m grateful to critique partners and editors who tell me when to pump the brakes.

Your Road to Publication

6. Mary C. Moore is your agent. How did she become your agent and what was your road to publication like?

I’d pitched Keynan for #DVPit, and got the best response out of anything I’ve ever shared to a pitch event, leading to several offers for rep from agents I followed up with or cold-queried directly afterward. A dear writer friend got Mary on my radar early in the process. I was encouraged by our initial communication and vibe after she read the story. I’m so grateful for our partnership and her faith in my work. We did some pretty hefty edits on Keynan before going on sub and sold after, I want to say, a month.

7. That’s great that a friend suggested Mary to you. What is something about the craft of writing that you learned from working with your editor and how did this strengthen your story?

Claire Stetzer brought a level of detail and intention to every element of Keynan, ensuring characters were consistent, ironing out description—especially critical for such chaotic worldbuilding—and just being an all around pro’s pro. I’m sure she’s taught me stuff I won’t fully realize until I’m working through edits for my next project.

Promoting Your Book

8. Your book was released on October 17^th. How did you celebrate its release? What other plans do you have for promoting it?

We had a release event at my local indie, Changing Hands. Allie and their entire staff was just amazing to work with and I’m so fortunate to be a part of their established community. My soon to be nine-year-old twins got to come out and that meant the most because I doubt I’d be writing at this age level without their presence in my life. Afterwards we had tacos so it was basically a perfect day.

Promotion...I’ve got some school visits on deck, and I really want to dig into some concept art and animation to share more of Keynan’s adventure with the world! I’m really trying to dig into how I can be a resource for promoting literacy and getting young folks excited about reading in this age of constant screens. Educators, don’t hesitate to reach out!

9. That’s so cool that your sons came to your release event. What are you working on now?

I’m putting the finishing touches on another middle grade I’m really excited to share (but can’t yet!) and after that going to tinker with an adult fantasy that won’t leave me alone.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, DaVaun. You can find DaVaun at:

https://davaunsanders.com/

https://linktr.ee/davaunsanders

https://www.instagram.com/davaunsanders/

https://twitter.com/davaunsanders

Giveaway Details

DaVaun’s publisher, Inkyard Press, is generously offering a hardback of Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crewfor a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by November 25th. If your email is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and/or follow me on Twitter or DaVaun on hs social media sites, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.

 Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Thursday, November 16th I’m participating in the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Monday, November 20th I have an interview with author Natalie Richards and a giveaway of her MG thriller 13 Secrets to Survival

Friday, December 1st I’m participating in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, December 6th I have a guest post by debut author Dana VanderLugt and a giveaway of her MG historical Enemies in the Orchard

Thursday, December 7th I’m participating in the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop

Monday, December 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Ashley Reisinger and a query critique giveaway

Hope to see you on Thursday!

 

Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop

Happy Thursday Everyone! 

Today I'm thrilled to be participating in the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop hosted by The Mommy Island and The Kids Did It. I hope you're having a good start to your November and the start of the holiday season. I know a lot of people don't look forward to November because winter is quickly approaching. I don't mind too much. I always look forward to the break in having yard work to do and extra time to read and work on my blog and my manuscript. Plus I'm looking forward to celebrating the holidays with my daughter and son-in-law. 

I am offering a book of your choice that is $20 or less on Amazon. I’m looking forward to seeing what books everyone is looking forward to reading. Here are some recent releases you may want to choose.  You can find descriptions of these books on Goodreads.

If you haven't found a book you want, you can win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Giveaway Details

To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by November 30th telling me whether you want a book, and if so, which one, or the Amazon gift card and your email address. Be sure to include your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. The book giveaway is U.S. only and the Amazon gift card giveaway is International.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Monday, November 13th I have an interview with debut author DaVaun Sanders and a giveaway of his MG fantasy Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew

Thursday, November 16th I’m participating in the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Monday, November 20th I have an interview with author Natalie Richards and a giveaway of her MG thriller 13 Secrets to Survival

Friday, December 1st I’m participating in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, December 6th I have a guest post by debut author Dana VanderLugt and a giveaway of her MG historical Enemies in the Orchard

Thursday, December 7th I’m participating in the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop

Monday, December 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Ashley Reisinger and a query critique giveaway

Hope to see you on Monday!

And here are all the other blogs participating in this blog hop:

 

<

Literary Agent Interview: Morgan Hughes Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Morgan Hughes here. She is an associate agent at FinePrint Literary Management.

Hi­ Morgan! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Morgan:

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent.

I have only been an agent for a short time. I always knew I wanted to work in publishing, but it wasn’t until the pandemic when I really decided to go for it. I worked as an assistant and foreign rights manager for two years, where I learned and experienced so much (including two international book fairs, which was a major highlight!)

I joined FinePrint as an Associate Agent in July 2023, and I have since been lucky enough to sign my first client. I’m actively looking to expand my client list and meet as many industry professionals as possible!

 

About the Agency:

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.

“FinePrint was launched in September 2007 as the merger of the Peter Rubie Literary Agency and the Imprint Agency. It offers representation and management for new and established writers. Our expertise covers book publishing and subsidiary rights (foreign translation, audio, TV, and film).”

What I love about FinePrint is that my clients not only have me in their corner, but the whole agency. Our VP, Lauren Bieker, and President/CEO, Peter Rubie, are both actively involved and are so encouraging to me and all clients at FinePrint.

What She’s Looking For:

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres?

I am actively seeking MG, YA, and Adult! I’m working across various genres, but mainly focusing on adventure/fantasy for younger audiences (including graphic novels!) and romance/romantasy in Adult. I would love to find a few darker stories as well in the YA/NA space (thriller, dark academia).

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in?

I love world-building, so I really want to see a unique fantasy with a world that is rich and intricate.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?

I’m not a good fit for non-fiction. There are agents at FinePrint who are seeking non-fiction though, so I encourage you to check out the website to see if they might be a fit!

Agent Philosophy:

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent?

I believe books can change the world. I hope to lift up underrepresented voices and help them find the space and opportunity to share their stories!

Editorial Agent:

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors?

I am an editorial agent – it’s one of my favorite parts of the job! From big-picture ideas to the nitty-gritty line work, discussing ideas with clients really excites me, and I love tossing thoughts back and forth.

I’m currently working with my first client to get her book ready for submission, and we’ve had the best time with revisions. I gave her my initial notes and she ran with them, and I can’t wait to go out on submission. We’re almost there!

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting)

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter?

I love seeing comps in query letters! They tell me a lot about what I might expect to see in their story and who might enjoy their book. If you feel the need to personalize your query (which is appreciated, but not always necessary), then tell me why you think I specifically might enjoy the book based on your research.

Whether you’re querying me, or any agent, please be sure to follow their specific guidelines. It ensures that your query makes it to the right place.

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?

I don’t necessarily have specific dislikes in query letters / sample pages, but I think following a basic query letter format is your best bet. It’s always a risk to stray from the tried-and-true, and while it could pay off to do something unique, I encourage you to stick to a standard format.

There are tons of resources for querying authors, including those who share their successful query letters on their social media or blogs. If you’re struggling, I highly recommend reading some of these and looking at their format.

Response Time:

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript?

I have about a 4-6 week response time. I try to respond to everyone, even if it’s a pass, because I believe a confirmed “no” is better than waiting for an answer that might not come.

Self-Published and Small Press Authors:

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them?

Definitely! My advice to authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses is to own the experience and accomplishment, but you should be upfront about it in your query letter. Self-publishing specifically teaches an author a lot about everything goes into publishing a book, but they are doing it all themselves. This is valuable experience, and it can demonstrate to an agent the amount of work you’re willing to put in.

That being said, you should be querying new, unpublished projects if you’re looking to sign with an agent. It’s rare to sell a previously published work, so keep that in mind if that is your goal.

12. With all the changes in publishing—self-publishing, hybrid authors, more small publishers—do you see the role of agents changing at all? Why?

I’m new at this, so I’m speaking from limited experience, but I think the basic job of an agent will remain the same. We all want to advocate for our clients, and while the scope of the role might change with the industry, the goal at the end of the day remains the same: share our clients’ stories with as many people as possible. I do think it’s great that there are options out there for people who want to pursue publishing their work without an agent. However, I value the agent-client relationship a great deal, and if the role does change, I will personally work to be the best partner for my clients under those new circumstances.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

Christie Curry is my first client! She’s written a lovely romance that I can’t wait to share with the world.

Interviews and Guest Posts:

14. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you.

None from me, but a few people recently recommended “The Shit No One Tells You About Writing” podcast to me, and I’ve been binging episodes! It’s packed full of helpful information and advice for writers querying in general.

https://www.theshitaboutwriting.com/

Links and Contact Info:

15. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web.

Queries should be submitted to submissions@fineprintlit.com with “Dear Morgan” in the body of the email, along with the query letter, synopsis, and first 5 pages. Please no attachments or links!

Find me on the web:

FinePrint Website

@mohughes22 on Twitter (X)

Manuscript Wish List

Additional Advice:

16. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered?

Querying is brutal, and I respect anyone willing to put their work out there. It’s scary to open yourself up to criticism. Find a writing group or community who can relate and lift each other up! Having people in your corner can make all the difference.

Also—and I know it’s easier said than done—but patience is so important in this industry. Things move slowly, and timing really is (annoyingly) everything. Your perfect partner might be closed to queries right now, but in six months, they could be looking for your exact story! Don’t get too discouraged by the silence and keep practicing your craft.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Morgan.

Giveaway Details

­Morgan is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through November 18th. If your email is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments.

If you follow me on Twitter or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway.

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Thursday, November 9th I’m participating in the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop

Monday, November 13th I have an interview with debut author DaVaun Sanders and a giveaway of his MG fantasy Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew

Thursday, November 16th I’m participating in the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop

Monday, November 20th I have an interview with author Natalie Richards and a giveaway of her MG thriller 13 Secrets to Survival

Friday, December 1st I’m participating in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, December 6th I have a guest post by debut author Dana VanderLugt and a giveaway of her MG historical Enemies in the Orchard

Thursday, December 7th I’m participating in the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop

Monday, December 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Ashley Reisinger and a query critique giveaway

Hope to see you on Thursday!