Literary Agent Interview: Alexandra Levick and Query Critique Giveaway

 Today I’m thrilled to have agent Alexandra Levick here. She’s a senior agent at Writers House. 

Status Update on 1/21/2026: Alexandra will open to queries on 2/1/2026.

Hi­ Alexandra! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Alexandra: 

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

As soon as I found book publishing, I knew I wanted to be involved. And similarly, as soon as I met an agent, I knew exactly what I wanted to do in publishing. It felt like the perfect blend of creative and business acumen for my personality. 

I’ve been working at Writers House since 2015, first as an intern, then moving up the ranks. I started taking on my own clients in 2018 and then became a senior agent at the end of 2022. During that time, I’ve built a fairly omnivorous list working in both the children’s and adult markets. I would say a majority of my list is picture book and YA, with a bit of middle grade sprinkled in, and I’ve also been growing my adult list, particularly in the rom-com and speculative/fantasy/horror spaces. 

About the Agency: 

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

Writers House was founded in 1973 with a vision for a new kind of literary agency, one that would combine a passion for managing a writer's career with an integrated understanding of how storytelling works. With this two-pronged philosophy, Writers House has played a critical role in developing the careers of hundreds of novelists and non-fiction authors. We believe in offering our clients not only our expertise in negotiating contracts, but in contributing to all phases of the editorial and publishing processes. Our goal is to maximize the value of our clients' work by providing hands-on editorial and marketing advice, as well as leading the way in branding, licensing, and selling film/TV, foreign, audio, dramatic, and serial rights. 

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? 

Children’s:

Picture book: author-illustrators and illustrators only, I do not represent text-only PB projects!

MG

YA (not murder mysteries)

Adult:

Rom-com

Speculative

Fantasy

Horror 

For my full MSWL you can go here: https://www.alexandralevick.com/mswl 

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

I’ve been feeling the need for escapism lately (I wonder why!), so anything that transports me away from the here and now (even a swoony contemporary!) is a welcome reprieve. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

Murder mysteries are not for me and a vast majority of thrillers are not my bag. I also don’t really work on verse novels. 

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? 

Quality first. Always. Even if something doesn’t hit in the market the way we hope, but the quality is there, I think that is a major win and bodes well for the career ahead. Sometimes it takes a few books to find the one the market responds to in a big way. I also spend a lot of time thinking about impact (both intended and unintended) from the work we create, and I want to feel like the books I work on put some net good into the world, even if that’s escapism. 

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’m a very editorial agent. I get deep into the weeds with my clients as early as they’ll let me. For each client that can look a bit different. Some need an idea to take a firm shape before they can invite someone else into the process, others will share several quick pitches and want feedback on which to prioritize. In all cases I’m looking to save clients time and energy by spotting potential editorial or sales issues as early as possible. I absolutely relish my job editing work with clients, I’m truly such a nerd about it, and nothing gets me more excited than brainstorming the perfect solution to an editorial problem with them! 

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? 

The best way to query me is through my Query Manager link: https://QueryManager.com/QueryAlexandraLevick 

In a query of course I want to see the usual: a brief pitch, a couple of comp titles, a bio, etc. but I particularly love to hear about the why. Why this author wrote this particular book. What about this idea called to them? Why are they the best person to write it? I love that insight into the creative process! I love hearing the passion behind a project!! 

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

I don’t love when query letters are written from the character’s perspective, it’s more confusing than intriguing to me and presents a bit of a barrier to entry. 

Response Time: 

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

I aim to be back in six weeks, but honestly the volume has been so high of late that just hasn’t been possible. Right now, it’s more like 8 weeks. But I do respond to each and every query! You will never just not hear back from me, so if you haven’t heard yet I promise I will be back to you shortly. 

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? 

Of course! My advice would be to seriously vet the interest you receive. Particularly recently, a lot of folks have sudden interest in indie authors and you want to be absolutely sure that person knows what they’re doing and can be an effective advocate for you and your work. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

You can find my full list of clients here!

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

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

I don’t know that there is anything that would be helpful to query me in particular, but there are a few resources I absolutely love!

-       STORY GENIUS by Lisa Cron

-       Susan Dennard’s Substack: https://stdennard.substack.com/

-       Becca Syme’s Quitcast 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

The best way to query me is through my Query Manager link: https://QueryManager.com/QueryAlexandraLevick

Please send a query letter and the first 10 pages of your manuscript (or full sketch dummy if you are an author-illustrator). 

Additional Advice: 

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

It’s so important to read and read widely, not just in your genre or age category. And more than reading and moving on from a book, it’s important to analyze why key elements of story worked (or didn’t!) in whatever you just read/watched/played/listened to. How was the pacing? Were the characters dimensional and real? What about the motivations and stakes? Were the characters making choices that drove the action or were things just happening to them? Did the world feel fully-realized and built-out? It's an important editorial muscle to build up in order to improve your own work. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Alexandra! 

Giveaway Details

­Alexandra 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 January 31st. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky 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 

Monday, January 28, I have an interview with Tracy Wolff and a giveaway of her MG The Aftermyth

Sunday, February 1, I’m participating in the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop

Monday, February 2, I have a guest post by V.T. Bidania and a giveaway of her MG A Year Without Home

Wednesday, February 3, I have an interview with Alichia Dow and a giveaway of her YA Until the Clock Strikes Midnight and my IWSG post

Monday, February 9, I have an interview with Seema Yasmin and a giveaway of her MG Maysoon Zayid, The Girl Who Can

Wednesday, February 11, I have an agent spotlight interview with Tamara Kawar and a query critique giveaway

Sunday, February 15, I’m participating in the Wish Big Giveaway Hop

I hope to see you on Monday!

 

 

Tips on Adding Humor to Your MG Story in Any Genre: Guest Post by Leslie Vedder and The Labyrinth of Souls and The Nowhere Beast Giveaway

Happy Monday, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Leslie Vedder here to celebrate the release of The Nowhere Beast, the second book in The Labyrinth of Souls series. I interviewed Leslie when she was a debut author in 2022. This sounds like a rich fantasy series with mysteries to solve, and I’m excited to read both books. 

Here’s a blurb of The Labryinth of Souls from Goodreads: 

A darkly inventive fantasy for fans of Tim Burton, about a girl who can see Nightmare creatures from the forbidden Labyrinth of Souls.

In the Kingdom of Spinar, there are seven rules for safeguarding your soul from the Sorrows and Nightmare creatures—most importantly: never, ever enter the Labyrinth of Souls.

Ix Tatterfall has always been an outcast with big secrets: She can cross into the Labyrinth, home to the powerful Sorrows, and she can see strange Nightmare beasts when no one else can. Some, like the shadowy Inklings or bothersome Stubbed Toads, are merely a nuisance. Many more—like the Jimber-Jawed Hounds—are dangerous. Even deadly.

But something is very wrong in the Labyrinth. A terrible new Nightmare—a raggedy scarecrow called Jack—has been ravaging the misty maze, gobbling up wraiths and lost souls and allowing Nightmares to seep into the Waking World.

On one forbidden trip, Ix comes face to face with Jack. Worse, she’s apprehended by Candle Corps, an elite magical group that protects the kingdom against Nightmares. Instead of exile, Ix is allowed to enter the mysterious Candle Corps Academy. For the first time, she’s surrounded by others who can see what she sees: Morrigan Bea, a hot-tempered girl who might be a monster; Ollie Pembrooke, a shy boy who loves books and Dreamchaser dogs; and Hanky the Inkling, Ix’s faithful Nightmare companion.

But more and more Nightmares are bleeding into Spinar. Raggedy Jack is on the hunt for something—someone—from the Waking World.

Ix Tatterfall herself. 

And here’s a blurb of The Nowhere Beast from Goodreads: 

Ix Tatterfall and the crew are headed back for their second year at Candle Corps Academy. Ix is delighted to leave tiny Brittlewick behind and return to life among her friends and the castle’s friendly Nightmares. But strange things are happening at Covenant Keep: ghosts have begun to rise from the castle, and the Reckoning—a deadly competition that could mean the end of Candle Corps—is upon them all.

Ix, Ollie, and Morrigan are determined to win and save Candle Corps. But a mysterious, shadowy beast has begun stalking Ix, and the Nightmares of the castle are disappearing. Ix's only hope may be a dangerous journey to the mysterious land of Nowhere, home of the elusive Scavenger Prince. 

Now here’s Leslie! 

Fun, Funny, & Punny in MG (and why you might consider mixing a little silly with your scary!) 

When I started working on my first MG book, The Labyrinth of Souls, I’d been writing YA for years, and I realized pretty fast I needed to find a new, fresh voice that suited my younger audience. But what makes something feel middle grade? What keeps kids reading, flipping pages by flashlight long after lights out? Or better yet, what turns them into lifelong readers? 

One of the big answers I came up with was fun—young kids love to laugh more than anything, and bringing some humor into my books really made them come alive! So below, I’m sharing my four tips for adding humor to your MG books, along with a bonus tip about mixing horror and humor. 

1. Dialogue. Dialogue is probably the most natural way to add humor to a book. Young characters are often joking with and teasing each other, and even in the direst of circumstances, somebody’s got to have the last word. (That word can absolutely be bumblefuzz!) Make part of character-building figuring out your MC’s sense of humor. Are they silly? Sarcastic? Punny? This will help you nail the voice in every scene—and hopefully get some laughs too!

For writing dialogue, I’ve got two main tips. First, if you’re stuck coming up with something funny for your characters to say, add depth to the scene around them. It’s really hard to be funny in a vacuum. But if there’s a constantly belching frog in the corner, or the otherwise serious wizard is wearing bunny slippers? Then your characters have something to play off of. 

Second: whenever possible, try speaking your dialogue aloud. Sitting in front of the computer and telling myself BE FUNNY NOW has never worked. Chat it out with someone. Try saying it in a silly voice. It’s always easier to be funny with an audience—even if it’s just your lazy house cat! 

2. Words Are Funny! Honestly, they are. And some words are way funnier than others, like lollygag or catawampus or bumfuzzle, or erf. Yes, erf. A very serious word for serious people :) Also remember you’re never too cool to be punny. Puns, at their heart, are wordplay, and young people are just discovering how magical words can be. 

For The Labyrinth of Souls, I created a bunch of Nightmare Creatures, and naming them was possibly the most fun I had. There are Hookwinklers and Warty Hornswoggles and Gluttonous Gub Leeches, and even Stubbed Toads, which like to roll into your path for maximum toe stubbage. 

So make up creatures and magic spells and names galore. Just remember that Glinda Spellinda is always funnier if the next guy is named Dave. Pepper funny words in like a strong spice—enough to taste, not so much it sets you sneezing. 

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Silly! Food fights, slime, and polka dots—the farther we get from childhood, the easier it is to forget all the silly things that made us laugh when we were young. To find your inner kid, read other MG books, watch some of your favorite kids’ movies (Ghibli is my go-to!), and just remember to let loose and get silly sometimes!

There are scary things in the Labyrinth of Souls, and the main characters face serious emotional challenges. But there’s also Snot Moss that drips on your head, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, and a little creature called a Ding Bat that bounces off things with ridiculous sounds like sploink, ping, or splat! 

So imagine something that would make your kid self laugh—whether it’s a gooey candy cake, a giant flying cat, or an epic three-legged race—and see how much brighter your book becomes when you squeeze that in. 

4. May I Interest You in a Companion Animal or Mythical Creature? Seriously! Kids love animals—especially cats, in my experience. And animals can bring so much humor. Mice are tiny and nibbly. Slobbery dogs can chew up your books, and just imagine what a cat might have to say about that! Not to mention all the trouble you can get into hanging out with a Chamele-Plata-Kangasaurus Rex. The possibilities are endless. 

Plus, animals can be the perfect companions for young characters: fun, powerful, and protective, but not parents. (We all know how pesky parents get in the way of the best adventures.) 

5. Bonus: Horror and Humor Make a Great Combo! A little humor might seem like a strange thing to add to a scary book, but sometimes it’s just the tool to make those stories shine. Laughing releases tension, and having a little silly between the spooky makes it more accessible for kids. 

The Labyrinth of Souls books were born from an idea about a forbidden Labyrinth filled with a plethora of Nightmares. A lot of the material is scary, from the long-fanged Jimber-Jawed Hounds to the creepy scarecrow named Raggedy Jack who’s hunting the main character. I didn’t want to cross the line and end up too scary for young readers. Humor helped me keep those things in balance. Also, as we know from every Halloween movie, the ghost is always scarier when you jump at a cat first! 

Ultimately, humor is a very subjective thing. What we find funny varies from person to person. So when working on humor, follow your heart, get as much reader feedback as possible, and most of all…just have fun! 

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

Website: www.leslievedder.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/leslie.vedder/ 

Giveaway Details 

Leslie is very generously offering a hardback of The Labyrinth of Souls and The Nowhere Beast 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 January 31st. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from 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 other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Leslie 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. and Canada. 

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 

Wednesday, January 21, I have an agent spotlight interview with Alexandra Levick and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, January 28, I have an interview with Tracy Wolff and a giveaway of her MG The Aftermyth 

Sunday, February 1, I’m participating in the Heart 2 Heart giveaway hop 

Monday, February 2, I have a guest post by V.T. Bidania and a giveaway of her MG A Year Without Home 

Wednesday, February 3, I have an interview with Alichia Dow and a giveaway of her YA Until the Clock Strikes Midnight and my IWSG post 

Monday, February 9, I have an interview with Seema Yasmin and a giveaway of her MG Maysoon Zayid, The Girl Who Can 

Wednesday, February 11, I have an agent spotlight interview with Tamara Kawar and a query critique giveaway 

Sunday, February 15, I’m participating in the Wish Big Giveaway Hop 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

 

 

Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm excited to participate in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox and MomDoesReviews. I hope you're having a good start to 2026 and that your winter weather isn't too bad. After it was frigid in Michigan in December, we're finally getting into the 30's. Woo hoo! I'm spending a lot of time working on my blog, crocheting amigurumi animals to donate, and reading.  

Book of Your Choice or Amazon Gift Card Giveaway 

I’ve got a lot of exciting newly released MG and YA book choices this month that you might like. You can also choose another book in the series by these authors or a book of your choice. You can find descriptions of these books on Goodreads. Here are your choices:

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 February 28th 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 I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from 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 other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky, 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, January 19, I have a guest post by Leslie Vedder and a giveaway of her MG The Labyrinth of Souls and The November Beast

Wednesday, January 21, I have an agent spotlight interview with Alexandra Levick and a query critique giveaway

Monday, January 28, I have an interview with Tracy Wolff and a giveaway of her MG The Aftermyth

Sunday, February 1, I’m participating in the Heart 2 Heart giveaway hop

I hope to see you on Monday!

Here are all the other blogs participating in this blog hop:

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

Literary Agent Interview: A.J. Van Belle and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent A.J. Van Belle here. They’re a junior agent at The Booker Albert Literary Agency. 

Status: A.J. is closed to queries until 2/1/2026 and will be open to queries on days 1-5 each month.   

Hi­ A.J.! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About A.J.: 

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

This may sound a bit clichéd, but it’s true: I was moved to enter agenting by how inspiring my own agent is at her job. As a lifelong writer, it took me a while to find the right partner in an agent, someone whose enthusiasm makes me feel endlessly supported. Once I found that, my creativity soared. I wanted to offer that same support to help other writers grow and reach their audience. Having been a beta reader and critique partner for fellow writers for decades and a mentor in formal programs for the last few years, I decided to apply as a literary agent intern at the Booker Albert Agency in 2023. After interning for 18 months, I stepped into the role of junior agent and opened my own inbox. 

So many exciting queries came in that I’ve only been open to queries for two short periods in 2025, and I have a lot of wonderful requested material from that second open period yet to read. Out of more than 2,700 queries received, I’ve signed 15 clients. Ten of my clients are on sub, with the other five preparing their manuscripts to head out to editor inboxes in 2026. Three client books have sold already:

A Legacy of Blood and Bone by Millie Abecassis, available now from Row House Publishing and Spotify

The Color of Time by Millie Abecassis, coming in May 2026 from Shiraki Press

Spit and Touch Iron by Michael Strode, coming soon from Ruadán Books 

About the Agency: 

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

What I love most about the Booker Albert Agency is that every single one of us is dedicated to building long-term relationships with our clients. As a boutique agency, we have the ability to develop personal connections with our clients and focus on building each author’s career, with attention to each client’s specific goals for creative growth and publication. 

What They’re 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 represent all age groups. So far, I haven’t sought queries specifically for picture books, since I launched my agenting career with less expertise in that market than in MG and YA. However, I now represent two amazing picture book authors and I’m excited to be expanding into this younger area. 

In MG and YA, I’m open to all genres. I receive more fantasy submissions than any other genre, so, while I love fantasy, I would also love to see more of just about everything else. I’m always happy to see MG and YA contemporary, historical, sci-fi, thriller, horror, speculative, literary, mystery/suspense, and romcom in my inbox. 

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

Some things I would love to see are:

• Historical MG and YA with just as much lovingly crafted, thorough world-building as we often see in fantasy.
• Sci-fi that’s rich in sensory detail and in character emotion we can relate to. Stories that are grounded in the characters’ experience of the moment, even if they’re not grounded on Earth!
• Own-voices BIPOC, trans, and disabled characters.
• Fiction that explores fresh, nuanced perspectives on technology.
• Nonfiction in all age categories. 

What They Aren’t Looking For: 

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

I’m not the right fit for books that center on organized religion, of any denomination (but am very open to elements of non-denominational spirituality).

Any book that has been published before will, regretfully, have to be a pass, since books that have already been published are a tough sell in the traditional market. 

Apart from that, my interests are broad, so the old adage “don’t self-reject” applies here. Try me! 

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? 

My top priorities as an agent are bringing fresh voices to readers, and nurturing the creative capacities of the incredible writers I’m lucky enough to work with. My philosophy is to partner with writers to help their books become versions of themselves that are true to what the author hoped to create, and never to lose sight of what a privilege it is to work with people who have such talent with the written word. While it’s important to know how each book fits into the market, I’m also here for helping writers follow their unique visions and carve their own niches. This means I’m interested in working not only with authors who do superb work that conforms to established genre norms but also those who aren’t afraid to break the mold and trust their intuition as it leads them into unusual genre blends or works that challenge expectations. 

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! As a writer myself and as someone who’s been critique partners with Big 5-published authors for decades, I tend to be decisive in knowing what developmental work I want to suggest to help each book become the best version of itself. I’m also flexible, pending the author’s input. I don’t expect writers to put those recommendations into action until we’ve discussed their goals for the book, developed a shared vision for it, and mutually created an edit plan. The author always has final authority over their book.

With some books, the changes are minimal. With others, we do multiple rounds of deep-dive edits. It all depends what it takes to reach the goal of bringing the author’s vision fully to life. 

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 accept queries via QueryManager, at https://querytracker.net/query/3779. I'm open to queries on days 1-5 of each month.

My query form asks for a standard query, a synopsis, and the first 10 pages of the manuscript. In the query letter, I recommend starting with the main character and what they want. Make sure the big-picture stakes are clear in the query pitch, even if that means revealing a twist or two. In your bio, I would love to hear something fun about you, whether it’s your day job, your hobby, or something about your life experiences that inspired you to write the book you’re pitching. 

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

I’m open to such a range of styles in both queries and pages that it’s hard to name specific dislikes. With that said, after reading thousands of queries, I do notice a pattern in which queries that start with a lot of world-building or high-level information about the way the plot is organized are less likely to catch my attention than those that give me an immediate window into the main character’s emotions and core conflict. Bonus points if there’s a splash of personality and something colorful or surprising to grab my imagination within the first couple of lines. 

As an example, here are two possible different approaches to the beginning of a query pitch for The Wizard of Oz (which I chose because it’s in the public domain): 

Possibility A:

The Emerald City is terrorized by an evil witch who uses her magic against its people, who believe their only hope is to endure, until the arrival of a young girl named Dorothy who is magically brought to their land from a faraway realm. Dorothy’s arrival accidentally kills a similar evil witch who was terrorizing a neighboring municipality, leading the girl to be celebrated as a talented witch killer.

Possibility B:

When ordinary girl Dorothy finds herself transported from Kansas to a strange land full of Munchkins and magic, the last thing she expects is to be celebrated as a hero. In fact, all she wants is to go home to her family’s farm. 

Possibility A reads a bit like a textbook history lesson, albeit a fictional one. Once we’ve dug into it, we do see an interesting character who may be poised for a good adventure. But we have to work to extract what’s fun and exciting about the story’s setup. 

In contrast, Possibility B tells us something about Dorothy within the first few words. We’re introduced to the story through the lens of what Dorothy is feeling, rather than via a mini-treatise on the politics of the situation. Even though we have less information about the story (I haven’t explained about the evil witches yet, nor have I mentioned the Emerald City), we’re more engaged, because we have a sense of Dorothy as a person and we’re beginning to care what happens to her. 

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I dislike seeing queries that read like Possibility A, but they’re less likely to make me sit up, take notice, and decide I have to read more about this girl from Kansas who’s thrust into the position of being an unlikely hero (for example). 

Response Time: 

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

This varies a lot, so I don’t like to set expectations that are too specific. I don’t always read in order for a variety of reasons, including sometimes grouping by genre rather than the date a query or manuscript was submitted, needing to read before a deadline when an author has an offer of representation from another agent, and knowing I’m likely to have an opening in my list for a particular type of book. My longest response time on a query has been just shy of six months, and I currently have some manuscripts in my queue still waiting to be read that have been there for more than four months. 

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? 

Absolutely, yes! I love working with authors who’ve taken the initiative to publish independently, whether with a small press or via self-publishing. These authors’ prior experience usually stands them in good stead when they undertake the journey toward traditional publishing, too. I’m also always open to my clients seeking traditional publication in partnership with me for some of their projects while self-publishing other works.

The one thing it’s important for previously self-published authors to keep in mind when seeking an agent is that unless they’ve had truly phenomenal sales with their self-published book, an agent is unlikely to be able to sell that previously published book to a publisher. It’s important to query agents with a new book that has never been in print. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I love to shout about how awesome my clients are! Here are a few of the amazingly talented writers I represent. 

Mary Boone is the author of more than 70 nonfiction books for kids, including Pedal Pusher, School of Fish, and Bugs for Breakfast. Two more books are set for release in 2026: Flying Feminist and Unfathomable: 20 (Wild but True) Stories of the Ocean. Her latest nonfiction picture book about a fascinating natural and cultural phenomenon, BATS IN THE BIBLIOTECA, is on submission now.

Lauren D. Fulter, who is working toward a BFA in creative writing at John Paul The Great University, previously independently published a YA science-fantasy series, The Unanswered Questions, funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign. She is an active member of SCBWI and a marketing and publicity intern for Whimsical Publishing. Her adorable and adventure-filled middle-grade fantasy novel, TROLL SCIENCE, is on submission now. 

Helen Whistberry came to their current calling as an author/illustrator after a long career in library work. Helen has self-published numerous books as well as contributing horror and fantasy stories to anthologies, and cover and interior illustrations to various magazines and books including their own. We are preparing Helen’s brilliantly illustrated picture book, GARY THE GARDEN GHOST, for submission. 

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

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

I had a lot of fun doing this podcast interview a few weeks ago, and I hope it’s helpful and encouraging to writers at all stages of their careers: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VgGrtsSSnFEQZS2kXf0VV 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

My username is ajvanbelle across social platforms, and my website is www.ajvanbelle.com. I only accept queries through Query Manager. At the moment, I’m closed to queries except through pitch contests or referrals from existing clients, but keep an eye on my agent profile page at https://www.thebookeralbertagency.com/aj-van-belle.html and my socials for updates.

I also have a newsletter at https://ajvanbellenews.substack.com/. Subscribing is a great way to get updates, pick up some advice on writing and publishing, and hear about my own writing projects too. 

Additional Advice: 

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

If there’s one hard-won realization I could magically implant in the mind of every writer, it’s that your success at achieving publishing landmarks such as signing with an agent and receiving offers of publication is not the only or even the best reflection of the worth of your work. Does your writing have to be good for these achievements to be more likely? Yes! But can your books be smashingly, stunningly good, and still not hit the right editor’s desk at the right time to mean they’ll land that dream contract? Also a resounding yes. 

The lesson I would love all aspiring authors to take home from this is that the inevitable rejections that happen in the publishing industry should not shape your perception of yourself as a writer, and they should not affect your view of what’s possible in the future. Everything can change for the better in a moment. The time you’ve spent working toward becoming a published author is time you’ve spent strengthening your craft, building your knowledge of the weird and imperfect but wonderful world of publishing, and growing as a person with an ever-evolving storehouse of life experience that enriches your writing. I know you’ve been doing those things because if you weren’t, you wouldn’t be here reading this. All that learning will make you a better writer who’s incredibly proud of the work you produce once you do succeed. 

Or, to put it more succinctly: Keep. Writing. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, AJ.! 

Giveaway Details 

­A.J. 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 January 24th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky 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 

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

Monday, January 19, I have a guest post by Leslie Vedder and a giveaway of her MG The Labyrinth of Souls and The November Beast

 
Wednesday, January 21, I have an agent spotlight interview with Alexandra Levick and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, January 28, I have an interview with Tracy Wolff and a giveaway of her MG The Aftermyth 

Sunday, February 1, I’m participating in the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop 

Monday, February 2, I have a guest post by V.T. Bidania and a giveaway of her MG A Year Without Home 

Wednesday, February 3, I have an interview with Alichia Dow and a giveaway of her YA Until the Clock Strikes Midnight and my IWSG post 

I hope to see you on Friday!