Literary Agent Interview: Andrea Colvin and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Andrea Colvin here. She’s the president of and an agent at Andrea Colvin Creative Agency. 

Status Update: Andrea will be reopening to queries in June 2026. 

Hi­ Andrea! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Andrea: 

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

I’ve been an agent for just over four months! I started my agency at the end of 2025 after being laid off from my job as editorial director at Little, Brown Ink. But for a long time I’ve been what I call “agenting curious.” I was always a bit jealous of the ongoing relationships agents got to have with authors, whereas editors aren’t always able to acquire their next books, for a variety of reasons. My favorite part of being an editor was always working with authors, and now I get to essentially do that full time! 

About the Agency: 

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

My agency represents authors and illustrators in the children’s space, from board books through YA, from heavily illustrated projects to prose-only projects. Because of my background in graphic novel publishing, my client list has graphic novelists strongly represented, but I also love working with picture book creators and middle-grade and YA authors. My overall goal for the agency is the same as most agencies—to make my clients money and get their work in front of the largest audience possible. But I do think a lot about the experience my clients will have working with me. I want everyone represented by ACCA to feel fully confident that I am working as hard as I can to advance their careers. I want them to know that I will respond to their emails right away. I want them to feel supported! 

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? 

As noted above my agency represents authors and illustrators in the children’s space, from board books through YA, from heavily illustrated projects to prose-only projects. I’m looking for both literary and commercial projects. And I am looking for illustrators who want to illustrate other people’s projects, whether they are graphic novels or picture books, covers or interior illustrations. 

It’s harder than ever to break through the submissions noise these days, so I am looking for projects that connect with readers right out of the gate, where the first page plunges us into the story, tells us what to expect, and instills that urge to keep reading. 

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

I’d love to see a very voice-y middle-grade prose novel or nonfiction manuscript. And a very innovative picture book or early reader with lots of layers. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

I do horror or creepy stuff sparingly (though I have some clients who are terrific at it, I get scared reading it!). And I am taking on picture book authors (who do not also illustrate) only very sparingly. 

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 want to represent diversity in every sense of that word. So I’m looking for authors of different backgrounds (to my own and to each other) and illustrators with different styles. I’m looking for books that are about diverse topics and are different from other books I represent. 

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? 

Very much so (I always say, editors are gonna edit, and I am still an editor on the inside). And it’s getting so difficult to make it through the submissions process that I want all of my clients to be putting their best feet forward. What this usually means is that we have editing rounds before we go on submission. It’s not enough anymore that an editor can see the promise in a project; they must also see the execution. 

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 am closed to queries for the time being while I work through my backlog, but I plan to open back up this summer. My submission guidelines are available on my website here. 

• Please send all queries via the Submission Form or to andrea@andreacolvincreative.com with “Query” in the subject line.
• Novels (middle-grade and YA): Please send a query letter, bio, and the first 10 to 20 pages of your manuscript.
• Picture books: Please send a query letter, bio, and your manuscript and/or dummy as an attachment. If you are an illustrator, please also include a link to your portfolio.
• Graphic Novels: Please send a query letter, bio, and your pitch packet which should include sample pages. Please also include a link to your portfolio.
• Illustrators: For illustrators seeking illustration representation, please send a bio and portfolio, and a brief description of your career goals.

*Though we do our best to respond to every submission, please note that our response time is currently 8-12 weeks.

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

Ask me again in a year! 

Response Time: 

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

I’m running closer to 3 months right now, but I’m hoping to get this back down to 8 to 12 weeks. 

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. They should query the exact same way as unpublished authors. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

https://www.andreacolvincreative.com/illustrators

https://www.andreacolvincreative.com/authors 

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. 

https://youtu.be/cwYwsrVT51g?si=Z44zSXl9KEo5Um2G 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

See above in the query submissions and guidelines section 

Additional Advice: 

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

Try to remember that agents and editors are all human beings with busy jobs. They want you to be successful and they don’t want to ignore you! They are all making decisions about how to spend their time every day and they are often prioritizing existing clients and projects. And trust me, they are all well aware that you could have written the next Twilight or Smile or Harry Potter and they just haven’t found time to read it yet, and yes, they feel terrible about this! 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Andrea! 

Giveaway Details 

­Andrea 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 May 23rd. 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 

Saturday, May 16th, I’m participating in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop 

Monday, May 25th, I’m off for Memorial Day 

Monday, June 1st, I’m participating in the Very Berry Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, June 3rd, I have an interview with Dana Swift and a giveaway of her YA When Dealing With Dragons and my IWSG Post 

Monday, June 8th, I have a guest post by Rebecca Caprera and a giveaway of her MG Eva to the Max 

Tuesday, June 16th, I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, June 17th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Madelyn Knecht and a query critique giveaway 

I hope to see you on Saturday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literary Agent Interview: Erica Bauman and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Erica Bauman here. She’s an agent at Aevitas Creative Management. 

Status: Erica is currently closed to submissions but plans to reopen to queries the first week of June.

Hi­ Erica! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Erica: 

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

I’ve been working in the publishing industry since 2012, and what drew me to agenting was the long-term professional relationship between agents and their authors. I love the idea of not just finding incredible books but talented authors, and helping them grow in their careers and find readers. 

I started building my own client list in 2016, first in the MG and YA space, and then more recently branching out into adult fiction. 

About the Agency: 

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

When I joined what is now Aevitas, we were still two smaller agencies that hadn’t yet merged. In the last ten years we’ve really grown in size, and offer our clients benefits like a dedicated foreign rights team and film team, but still approach our work as a very hands-on boutique agency. All of my colleagues work editorially with our authors to make sure that the version of the book we send out to publishers is the strongest we can make it, and reflects well on our authors as professionals. 

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 represent projects from ages MG and up. In the MG and YA space I’m open to all genres, as well as graphic novels and some select nonfiction. I have a soft spot for speculative fiction, but also love horror, mystery, and fun contemporary and romcoms. And across the board I’m looking to work with BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled and neurodivergent authors and stories. 

My list can be described as projects with a strong commercial hook, depth and emotional resonance, and enthralling writing.   

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

I love when an author brings an element of the unexpected to their project, like an out-there genre mashup or world building element, or a new perspective on a familiar trope or retelling. Something fun and surprising, but also integral to the story you’re telling. 

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

While I do have some picture books on my list, it’s not an area that I’m actively looking for. Anything younger than middle grade—so picture books, chapter books, and early reader—are not really in my wheelhouse. And, while I do represent graphic novel memoir, I’m not a great fit for prose memoir. I also don’t represent story collections or poetry collections. 

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? 

This may be a bit of a cliché answer, but I want to work with authors who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work. The publishing industry is tough—there are a lot of writers and only so many books acquired per year, and more often than not you and your book only get one chance to make a good impression. So when it comes to queries, I’m not only looking for manuscripts that are fun and engaging, but show a level of craft and polish that are evidence of that author’s hard work. 

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? 

Yes—I majored in creative writing, so I love rolling up my sleeves and digging into a manuscript. The submission process in anxiety inducing, and there are so many factors outside of an author’s control, but what we can control is the manuscript and writing itself. So I work closely with my authors and we usually do a couple rounds of revision to make sure that the version of the manuscript we send out is the strongest and most polished example of that author’s writing. 

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 only accept queries through Query Tracker—any unexpected email queries are swept up by my spam filter. As for the query letter itself, I know that one of the biggest challenges is finding the right balance between conveying enough of the specific details of your story so that your concept/plot feels distinct, but not too much in that limited space that it becomes overly complicated and convoluted. It’s tough to thread that needle, and usually takes a couple drafts to get right, but it is so important—I’m looking for a clear sense of what the book is not just to determine whether it’s a fit for my list and something I can sell, but to also get a sense of whether the author knows how to talk about their book. It’s not a skill that comes naturally to most people, so getting outside reads and feedback on your query letter, or studying the jacket copy of the books you already own, or even practicing talking about your book like it was just something you picked up and want to recommend to a friend can all help you distill your pitch. 

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

Query letters are an opportunity for you to argue your case for why someone should read your book, so don’t waste it. A too short query letter is a wasted opportunity—you have the full page, take advantage of it. It’s also a professional introduction to agents of what you will be like as a business partner, so writing from the POV of your characters doesn’t give us a clear picture of how who you are as a colleague and collaborator. And any query letters that disparage other authors or other published books communicates to me someone who needs to tear others down to make themselves feel valued, and that’s not a personality I’m interested in working with. 

As for first pages, I see a lot of openings where the character wakes up suddenly from a dream. And—this may just be a me thing—but opening pages that start with an intriguing line or moment, and then immediately flash back to either earlier in the day or to an extended memory to show how they got there. Start the story where it starts. 

Response Time: 

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

Right now my response time for queries is hovering at around 3 months. I tend to put queries I’m intrigued by in my maybe pile for a second look, before requesting more pages, so those take a bit longer. I also read queries by genre, rather than chronologically, so responses can go out of order. 

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? 

I’m open to representing previously published or self-published authors, however when it comes to queries I’m looking for books that have not been previously published. So, if an established author has a brand new project they’re querying, that’s great, but signing an author for a book that has already been released is a little outside of my wheelhouse. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I’m lucky that I get to work with New York Times bestselling author Kayla Cottingham, Eisner and Harvey Award nominated author Tony Weaver Jr., acclaimed YA author Maria Ingrande Mora, and Lambda Literary Fellow Naseem Jamnia, to name a few. 

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. 

“Genres, Tropes, Trends, and Finding Your Agent Fit with Agent Erica Bauman”—The Manuscript Academy Podcast, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/genres-tropes-trends-and-finding-your-agent-fit-with/id1171799743?i=1000663492092 

My MSWL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TTAlk2Accs and https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/erica-bauman/ 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

I can be queried at https://QueryTracker.net/query/EricaBauman, and any updates on my query inbox and MSWL can usually be found on my Instagram: @EricaBaumanBooks 

Additional Advice 

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

It’s good to have goals as an author, but be flexible in how you get there. There’s no set path in publishing, so many factors that affect every step on the path, and every author’s journey is different. So set goals you want to aim for (and communicate those with your agent), but be flexible in that the journey is not always a straight line. 

Same goes with your writing—know the non-negotiables for your manuscript, those elements that if changed or removed would fundamentally affect your relationship with the project, and be open and receptive to feedback everywhere else. You want to find someone whose vision aligns with yours, who values the same things about the manuscript, but can provide editorial insight that you might have overlooked to help you better execute your authorial vision. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Erica!

 Giveaway Details

­Erica 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 May 9th. 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, May 1st, I’m participating in the Come What May Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, May 6th, I have an interview with Dana Mele and a giveaway of her YA The Beast You Let In and my IWSG post 

Monday, May 11th, I have an interview with Sarah Marie Jette and a giveaway of her MG One Fair Share 

Wednesday, May 13th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Andrea Colvin and a query critique giveaway 

Saturday, May 16th, I’m participating in the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop 

Monday, May 25th, I’m off for Memorial Day 

I hope to see you on Friday, May 1st!

 

 

Literary Agent Interview: Saritza Hernández and 45-Minute Ask Me Anything Session Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Saritza Hernández here. She’s an agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. 

Status Update: Saritza is open to queries the first 15 days of each month.

Hi Saritza! Thanks so much for joining us.

Hi! Thank you for having me! 

About Saritza: 

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

 

I think my trajectory is likely similar to others who’ve realized their path in publishing is led by a desire to protect creators’ rights while being excited about ways to usher works into the literary canon. While working in textbook publishing, a friend of mine wrote a great novel that I thought should be traditionally published, but it was also the rise of digital publishing (2008), and I was seeing many writers from underrepresented communities being relegated to that space with little to no support. But many literary agents were not working in that space so there was a need that I felt compelled to fill. I reached out to agents for remote mentorship opportunities. I was a young parent of pre-teens at the time and not living in New York City, so I knew it was going to be an uphill climb but eventually found the L. Perkins Agency where I interned remotely for a few years then moved to another agency where I grew my list. In 2020, I was blessed to have the opportunity to join the Andrea Brown Literary Agency where I’ve continued to grow my list in the KidLit market as well as Adult genre fiction and nonfiction. 

For the past 18 years, I’ve worked with authors and illustrators at various stages of their writing career and am proud to have helped usher their works into the world. 

About the Agency: 

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

Andrea Brown Literary Agency has been around for over 40 years, and a big part of what has made us a success is our philosophy of making sure that our clients are not only published, but published well! We work collaboratively instead of in direct competition with each other which means our clients get the collective strength of our various areas of expertise. While the company began with Andrea representing children’s book authors in 1981, we now have more than a dozen agents representing HUNDREDS of creators whose works span all categories across children’s and adult literature. 

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?

The bulk of my client list consists of authors and illustrators whose commercial and upmarket work spans across children’s and adult categories. 

My client list consists of creators from the global majority or who identify with a traditionally underserved or underrepresented community. So, I am always looking for more stories for these readers by members of those communities whose stories have been traditionally neglected or dismissed. 

In the young adult space, I’m seeking speculative science fiction that is propulsive, immersive, and inclusive; spacefaring novels with twists that keep you turning pages; romance that feels fresh and funny. 

I’m currently looking for more middle grade fiction and select nonfiction that is fun, funny, quirky and inclusive. In middle grade, I’m eagerly seeking a rom-com approach to a first love story. I love friendship and sibling stories as well and science fiction like The Last Cuentista. I’m also actively seeking more graphic novels in middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction by author-illustrators with a proven track record in this space. 

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

Send me all of the queer, Latiné, and neurodivergent rep in genre fiction across all categories. I’m always looking to highlight the joy in our intersectional communities and prefer to focus on stories that highlight those moments rather than our pain. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

I’m not currently looking for any Christian fiction, memoirs, or super literary work. I’m just not the right agent for these types of projects. 

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? 

While I enjoy working with new authors, I like to see that they’re knowledgeable about the industry enough to know their target audience and the voice of the category they’re writing in. I like to work with authors who understand that we’re partners in their success and are constantly learning and improving their craft. 

I also need to feel like I have a vision for the client’s career as well as the manuscript they’ve submitted. If, for example, they hope to write a memoir or super literary adult novel after the middle grade novel they’ve queried, I’m likely not the right agent for them. 

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 don’t consider myself an editorial agent, no. I tell my clients that I have two (2) strong editorial rounds in me. My most successful clients have strong critique partners and editorial support so that when I get the manuscript, I’m giving them high-level, or big picture edits to get the manuscript out as quickly as possible. That’s not to say I don’t give line edits when needed, of course but I aim to get work out on submission as quickly as possible. 

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? 

We use QueryTracker at the agency so all queries must come through my query form. I like to see a professional approach to the query letter with a clear hook. 

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

I consider the query letter similar to a cover letter for a resume. I like to see a good attitude about the industry, their role in that industry, and a professionalism that lets me know they take the business of publishing seriously. I don’t like to see things like, “you’re probably not going to read this” or being negative about publishing as a whole. 

Response Time: 

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

I respond to every query so it can take some time to get back to folks. At the moment I’m running about 12-14 weeks on novel-length works. But I’m also not averse to a nudge from folks after 6-8 weeks or when they’ve received an offer of representation or publication. 

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? 

Yes, absolutely as long as it’s not previously published then I’d be happy to consider it. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent?

I rep a ton of amazing authors and author-illustrators working on everything from picture books to adult genre fiction. You can get to know them and their works better 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 have a Resources page on my website with links to tons of great publishing information including my agency sibling, Jennifer Laughran’s Ask-Me-Anything Tumblr that has even MORE great information about the industry including the query process. 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

All queries should come in through QueryTracker. 

You can learn more about me and links to my website and Manuscript Wishlist from my agency page here. 

Additional Advice: 

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

Writing can be a lonely profession, but authorship requires community. Be sure to build your community as a writer through critique groups and writing organizations like SCBWI. The relationships you create at the start of your career can be lifelong, make sure that they fuel your creativity as well as your success. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Saritza! 

Giveaway Details 

­Saritza is generously offering a 45-minute Ask Me Anything session 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 April 18th. 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, April 13th, I’m reviewing Jennifer Nielsen’s MG The Free State of Jax and Magnitude with a book giveaway 

Thursday, April 16th, I’m participating in the Rain Drop on Roses Giveaway Hop 

Monday, April 20th, I have an interview with Van Hoang and a giveaway of her MG Auntie Q’s Golden Claws Nail Salon 

Monday, April 27th, I have an interview with Gareth P. Jones and a giveaway of his MG Solve Your Own Mysteries 

Wednesday, April 29th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Erica Bauman and a query critique giveaway 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

 

Literary Agent Interview: Rob Broder and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Rob Broder here. He’s a literary manager at Martin Literary Management. 

Status Update: Rob just reopened to queries.

Hi­ Rob! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Rob: 

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

I’ve been an agent for a few months now, and I became an agent after talking with my agent, Jen Newens about being an agent. We discussed everything involved and she knew my background, so it was a nice fit. I was considering becoming an agent when I sold our press, but other things at the time took over. I have received hundreds of submissions since becoming an agent and have signed to represent my first picture book author.

About the Agency: 

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

Martin Literary Management, founded in 2003, is a full service literary and media management agency. We focus on representing authors of adult nonfiction, fiction, and books for children and young adults. Our clients’ titles have appeared on the New York Times bestseller and other national bestseller lists, earned strong reviews, received many awards, and garnered national media attention. Many of our clients’ works have been optioned and developed for film and television projects and have helped promote speaking engagements.

 

We pride ourselves on providing thoughtful and considerate management of our clients. We also pride ourselves on being a modern literary agency capable of developing the many potential ancillary opportunities that exist outside of the book world.  

What He’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 gravitate toward picture books, because it’s my comfort zone, but I represent any kid lit and graphic novels. I also like graphic memoirs. I first am looking for something well written, and the writing really knows the genre they are writing for. And then it’s the story. Something fun, creative and unique. If I read a submission I’ve never seen before, I get a little excited and want to reach out to that author. 

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

Something extremely unique while showing me that you read the genre you write. 

What He Isn’t Looking For: 

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

I’m generally not interested in rhyming picture books, and books about how much I love you to the moon and back. I’m not interested in how you rescued your dog or anything too violent or disturbing. 

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 would say honesty and transparency. Be open to edits and rewrites to make your story the best possible story. If I want to represent you, it’s because I believe in you and see something in your writing.  

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’d like to say I’m not, but with picture books, I can’t help myself and give constructive edits on making it the best possible manuscript possible. 

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 would like authors and illustrators to query me through query-manager. If I request direct email, please do so. I’d love to see the query short and sweet and to the point. Get me hooked and make me what to scroll down to your manuscript. If I like what I’m reading, I’ll scroll back up and check out your bio. 

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

You do not need to start your query with, “Hello my name is . . .” Because I know who you are based on the email or I’ll see your name on the signature.  So, I want to get hooked, so just start describing your story. 

Response Time: 

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

I try to say two weeks, but with the number of queries I’ve been receiving its more like three to four weeks. 

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? 

I’m fine if they have been self-published or published with a small press.  If they have something new they are working on, I’d be interested in taking a look. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I am currently building up my client list. 

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 hope this link comes through… here are a bunch of articles and interviews through Writers Rumpus when I was a publisher. Hope this helps. https://writersrumpus.com/?s=broder 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

Please submit through QueryManager listed here: https://www.martinlit.com/robbroder 

Additional Advice: 

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

Like I said, please read the genre you write. Be authentic and your true self. And be open to rewrites and edits, while standing ground on your story if you really believe in it. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Rob! 

Giveaway Details 

­Rob 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 April 4th. 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, March 30, I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, April 1st, I have an interview with Christopher Roubique and a giveaway of his MG Mythspeaker and my IWSG post 

Monday, April 6th, I have an interview with Jill Tew and a giveaway of her MG Rayana Johnson’s Giant Leap

Wednesday, April 8th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Saritza Hernández and a a 45-minute Ask-Me-Anything giveaway 

Monday, April 13th, I’m reviewing Jennifer Nielsen’s MG The Free State of Jax and Magnitude with a book giveaway 

Thursday, April 16th, I’m participating in the Rain Drop on Roses Giveaway Hop 

Monday, April 20th, I have an interview with Van Hoang and a giveaway of her MG Auntie Q’s Golden Claws Nail Salon 

Monday, April 27th, I have an interview with Gareth P. Jones and a giveaway of his MG Solve Your Own Mysteries 

Wednesday, April 29th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Erica Bauman and a query critique giveaway 

I hope to see you on Monday!