Literary Agent Interview: Andie Smith Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

 Today I’m thrilled to have agent Andie Smith here. She’s an agent at Creative Media Agency. 

Hi­ Andie! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Andie: 

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

I’m one of the few agents who came into publishing in a more unorthodox way. During my Master’s program (which is not related to publishing whatsoever) I decided to research internships I could do for credit, and stumbled upon publishing internships. I applied to so many both on the agency and editorial side, and managed to land one! I remember thinking, “If anything, I’m getting class credit and I get to read books all day” but it was about 2-3 weeks into the internship when I realized this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, and not what I was going to school for. I stayed on as an intern for almost a year before being promoted to an agent position, and have since moved agencies but have officially been an agent for 2 years now. Since then it’s been a wild ride of queries, pitch events and conferences, and signing new clients. I’ve never looked back! 

About the Agency: 

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

Creative Media Agency was founded by Paige Wheeler and our goal goes beyond just selling books to representing authors for their career. We believe in long-standing partnerships with our authors and are there for them in every step of their publishing journey. Our team focuses on career development and editorial guidance for every author who joins the CMA family. 

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 of now, I represent everything from picture books (based on referral at the moment) through adult fiction. From MG through Adult I am open to fantasy, mystery, thriller, contemporary, and eco-fiction. I’m looking for cozy and campy stories with a fresh voice that feel like a warm hug, or carry some levity but provide light at the end of the tunnel. My taste leans more commercial and I’m very plot driven—I want strong characters but I also need the backbone of the story to be there. 

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

I’m especially on the hunt for a YA thriller that will leave me on the edge of my seat, and a MG mystery series in the vein of Nancy Drew. For picture books, I want sweet and sentient stories and anything with an educational or environmental/STEM theme. In any genre, I’m always looking for eco-fiction themes (not dystopian) that demonstrate issues of climate change and sustainability in our own backyards. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

I am not looking for historical fiction, horror, space operas, or nonfiction proposals. In most cases, I will shy away from stories with heavy themes or on-page mentions of rape, suicide and/or self-harm, cheating, and emotional or physical abuse. 

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 philosophy is to think with my head and follow my heart, as cliché as that sounds. In the authors I work with and the books I want to represent, I am looking for stories that I fall in love with and ultimately can’t live without. I am looking for gaps in the market, and books that fill those gaps and makes a reader feel something, whatever world or storyline that may include. From there, the business side comes into play and once I have a book and an author that I cannot live without, I will fight every day for them in any capacity to bring their story to life and make their dreams come true, however long it may take. 

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 am extremely editorial, and the revision process is my favorite part of publishing. During the offer call, I go over my notes or basic ideas for revisions so the author knows my vision right away and can determine if I would be the best fit for their work. If so, then we move into the revision stage where they receive a full edit letter and comments in the manuscript for my notes. We typically do 2-3 rounds of edits across the board (developmental and then line edits) but more if needed. Once the manuscript is as strong as we can possibly make it both developmentally and on the line level, it’s ready for submission. 

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? 

Authors can find me on QueryTracker here: https://querytracker.net/query/AndieSmith/ 

I ask for the query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters. In the query letter, I like to see our metadata (title, word count, genre, comps), pitch (characters, plot, stakes), and author bio. For comps, I always tell authors to share what about your comps is similar to your story, what theme/trope/element are you trying to display? 

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

I prefer when a query follows the standard format mentioned above, and don’t typically like when a query talks about why the book is the next best thing (which we all want it to be!) but doesn’t actually tell me anything about the book. Your pitch and ultimately for me, stakes, are the most important part of the query letter. 

For pages, it’s hard to say because it really comes down to fit but I love when we are dropped right into a world or setting and we start establishing our main character and their goals, motivation, and central conflict. I love seeing the inciting incident in the opening pages to keep me wanting to read more and ultimately request. 

Response Time: 

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

Every agent is different and every single one of us gets behind even when we swear we won’t! That being said, I really try to stay caught up on queries and respond within 30-45 days, and right now I’m averaging about 3-4 months for a response on a full manuscript. 

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! As an author myself who publishes with small presses, I think this is a great first step someone can take into the industry if it’s right for the book in question. I found one of my authors from reading an ARC of her small press book, and had to work with her for what she’s writing next. As a freelance editor, I work with many self-published authors and think it is a great avenue that gets a lot of hate but really works for so many people. The beauty of publishing is you don’t have to lock in to one way, you can go from trad to self-pub and vice versa, or do both simultaneously if you desire. That being said, most agents and even editors are going to be looking at sales and reviews for taking on a self-published author. These two things are crucial to proving the book has merit and is making a splash in the industry, and have a better chance at seeing a positive outcome if these numbers are high. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I represent many authors from picture books through adult fiction, such as Becky Cummings, Tristen Crone, Carole Stivers, Jessica K. Foster, and more! 

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. 

Flublishing Podcast: I cohost this with Carleen Geisler at P.S. Literary Agency. 

ProsePros: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writing-advice-from-literary-agent-andie-smith/id1835741861?i=1000732821390&l=pt-BR 

Literary Blend: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chapter-1-giving-and-receiving-feedback-with-andie-smith/id1734143486?i=1000648652089 

Path to Publication: https://path2pub.wordpress.com/2024/09/25/agent-interview-andie-smith/ 

The Aspiring Life: https://katrinacouch.substack.com/p/interview-with-literary-agent-andie 

Lit Agents Spill the tea: https://www.writingwithreed.com/post/lit-agents-spill-the-tea 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

I am @andiesmithbooks on X, Instagram, and TikTok and writers can also find me on my website: https://www.andiesmithbooks.com/ 

QueryTracker: https://querytracker.net/query/AndieSmith/ 

Editorial Services: https://www.andiesmithbooks.com/editorial-services 

I also cohost a publishing podcast called Flublishing wherever you listen to your podcasts! 

AALA: https://aalitagents.org/author/andiesmith/ 

Additional Advice: 

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

The simplest advice that is so true is: don’t give up and write the book. If you have a great idea, write it! Put it on paper and then decide what your goals are in publishing of how you want to get it out there. Don’t write for the market, don’t write for a trend, write the book you love and the book you wish you had at some point in your life. You won’t ever see the outcome if you don’t start! 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Andie.

 Giveaway Details

­Andie 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 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 

Wednesday, December 10th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Andie Smith and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, December 15th, I’m participating in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, December 17th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Marissa Cleveland and a query critique giveaway

I'll have more giveaway hops, author interviews and guest posts, and agent spotlight interviews starting on 1/1/2026. 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!

Literary Agent Interview: Vicky Weber Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Follow my blog with Bloglovin I just reactivated my Bloglovin account!

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Vicky Weber here. She’s an associate literary agent at Creative Media Agency. 

Hi Vicky! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Vicky: 

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

I began my career as a teacher, then transitioned into writing and publishing picture books. My love for literature and helping authors led me to join The Purcell Agency as an associate agent in 2022, where I was later promoted to literary agent. In May 2024, I joined Creative Media Agency (CMA), where I focus on high-concept, commercial, and upmarket stories across various genres.  
 
About the Agency:
 
2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.
 
Creative Media Agency (CMA) is a full-service literary agency that represents authors across children’s, young adult, and adult genres. CMA is well-known for its dedication to author’s careers through editorial support, rights management, and a strong network within the publishing industry. That’s probably my favorite part—we're not just out to sell manuscripts, CMA agents believe in building up authors.
 
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 picture books, middle grade (MG), young adult (YA), and select adult categories. In children's literature, I love picture books with a giftable, commercial appeal, playful language, and fresh twists on familiar themes. For YA, I love horror, fantasy, and dystopian themes—stories with gripping emotional intensity, akin to Shadow and Bone. In adult genres, I’m drawn to fantasy (including dark and high/epic fantasy), horror, and suspense with psychological or supernatural elements. I also accept romance, historical, thriller, and more! Across all categories, I especially value lyrical prose, strong character arcs, and stories with a high emotional impact.
 
4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in?
 
I’m particularly excited by high-concept, emotionally charged narratives that drop readers directly into the moment, with characters they can feel for and root for. I want depth, messy characters, and layers all threaded together. Honestly though, I see many strong concepts come across my desk but the execution isn’t there. The books I represent pull me in from page one—I couldn’t put them down if I tried!
 
What She Isn’t Looking For:
 
5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?
 
I’m not currently looking for nonfiction or graphic novels, and I tend to avoid political thrillers (but I love psychological thrillers!) hard science fiction, and time-travel in fiction.  
 
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 build close, collaborative relationships with my authors. I see each client as part of my “extended family,” and I approach their careers with intention and care. I aim to work with authors who are passionate, driven, and open to growth.
 
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! First, I sit down with an author, and I ask questions about their concept to get them to dive as deeply into the plot and character arc as possible. After that, the author dives into revisions, works with critique partners, etc. before sending it back my way. Then I prepare an edit letter, the author revises—rinse and repeat until its ready for submission!  
 
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?
 
Authors can query me through QueryManager, and I prefer a concise, compelling pitch that highlights the hook and character stakes. Remember, the world ending won't feel like high stakes unless we’re emotionally invested in the characters and their lives.
 
9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?
 
Not really. The only thing that stands out is when it’s clear that the author has put little-to-no effort in. Sometimes, I’ll get query letters that are a single sentence or less than 50 characters long, which set off alarm bells for me.
 
As for first pages, I see a lot of cliches and telling vs. Showing, but I wouldn’t say that’s a dislike. It’s just that the manuscript often needs more work than I’m able to take on. 
 
Response Time:
 
10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript?
 
I’m usually quick at getting to initial queries, passing or requesting more materials within 4-6 weeks or less, but evaluating partials and fulls goes much more slowly. It changes with my workload, but I always welcome nudges from authors!
 
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! Several of my authors started in self-publishing and wanted to transition to traditional with future manuscripts.
 
I generally prefer to receive unpublished manuscripts, as they offer the greatest publication potential in the market. While I’m open to self-published titles, I’m typically looking for those with very strong sales, ideally over 10,000 copies. Without a solid sales track record, it’s challenging to sell a previously published book with traditional publishers. For most authors, querying with an unpublished manuscript is preferred.  
 
Clients:
 
12. Who are some of the authors you represent?
 
I represent everything from picture book authors like Annemarie Riley Guertin and Christine Alemshah, illustrators like Sheyla Noguiera, established authors like Theresa Romain and Vikki Patis, as well as debut 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.
 
I’d love to point writers to my blog and YouTube channel, At Home Author. I post a ton of content there to help aspiring authors make their journey smoother and less overwhelming. You’ll find everything from tips on writing engaging picture books to insights on navigating the querying process. My goal is to break things down in a way that feels approachable and actionable, especially if you’re new to the publishing world.
 
I also attend conferences regularly and often appear on podcasts, sharing insights into my journey from teacher to author and agent. For instance, I've been a guest on the Get Out of Teaching podcast, where I talk about the transition out of the classroom and into publishing.
 
Links and Contact Info:
 
14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web.
 
Author website: www.vickyweber.com
Advice for writers: www.athomeauthor.com
Query Me: https://querymanager.com/vweber/  
 
Additional Advice:
 
15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered?
 
Absolutely! My advice is to keep exploring what makes you unique as a writer—lean into the perspectives and experiences that only you can bring to the page. In a crowded market, authenticity and passion make stories memorable, so don’t be afraid to let your voice shine through. Also, know that writing is a journey built on continuous learning. Keep honing your skills, stay curious, and keep up with industry trends. And remember, resilience is key; every “no” gets you one step closer to the right “yes.”
 
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Vicky.  And Vicky asked me to mention that Creative Media Agency is hosting their first online picture book conference with live 10-minute pitch sessions on 1/24/2025. 

Giveaway Details 

Vicky 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 2nd. 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

Monday, December 16th I have a guest post by debut author Vicky Lorencen and a giveaway of her MG The Book of Barf and am participating in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, January 8th I have an interview with author Mackenzie Reed and a giveaway of her YA The Wilde Trials and my IWSG post

Monday, January 13th I have an agent spotlight interview with Estelle Laure and a query critique giveaway

Wednesday, January 15th I have an agent spotlight interview with Jon Cobb and a query critique giveaway

Monday, January 27th I have an interview with debut author Nicole Hewitt and a giveaway of her MG The Song of Orphan’s Garden

I hope to see you on Monday!

Agent Spotlight: Haley Casey Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Haley Casey here. She is an associate agent at Creative Media Agency.

Status update on 10/25/2025: Casey is open to submissions.

Hi­ Haley! Thanks so much for joining us.

Thanks for having me!

About Haley:

 

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

My road to agenting was a bit of a winding one. I knew for a long time that I wanted to work with books, so—living in the middle of Kansas—I started building my resumé toward that career without knowing exactly how I’d break into publishing. I majored in creative writing, worked in the Writing Center at my university, worked at Barnes & Noble, and finally attended the Denver Publishing Institute. That was the first place that I realized agenting was a viable option. Still, my first break was becoming an editor at a magazine publishing company in Topeka, Kansas. A few years later, at the same time I realized that wasn’t where I wanted to stay, I learned that an excellent way into agenting was by interning with an agency or two, and it could be done remotely. I applied immediately. That’s how I found Creative Media Agency, where I interned for two semesters, alongside an internship at Metamorphosis Literary Agency. I was lucky that Paige Wheeler at CMA was looking to bring on a couple of agents to work with her as my time as an intern drew to a close, and I’ve now been working there for just over a year!

Just like all agents, my work is varied and my priorities are different every week. First and foremost, I read and respond to queries (in as timely a manner as I can); read and evaluate manuscripts; and search for those un-put-down-able, beautifully written, moving, and marketable stories that I want to throw my support behind. I’ve signed eight amazing clients, and we’re working on revising their manuscripts, submitting to editors, and brainstorming second projects. If/when we do make a deal (and I have a couple in the works that I can’t announce yet!), I negotiate the terms and the contract as much in favor of those I represent as possible. My authors are my priority, and I’m always championing them as well as I possibly can.

I’m also our digital rights manager, which means I help republish CMA authors’ backlists as ebooks and work to find new digital outlets for their work. I run our agency’s Instagram, and I do have to keep my own social media accounts fairly active so querying authors can learn more about me. Through those channels, I often participate in pitch events, and I usually have a writing conference on my schedule. And of course, I’m always collaborating with Paige Wheeler and Shannon Snow—my wonderful colleagues—and working with our dedicated team of interns to help ensure they receive the same learning experience at CMA that I did.

About the Agency:

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

Creative Media Agency has launched the careers of bestselling authors and sold millions of copies of books around the world, but it still has the feel of a small, personalized, boutique agency. It’s one of the things that immediate drew me to the company. We’re seeking to nurture long-standing partnerships with the authors we represent on top of selling the books they create, which means we want our authors to be as excited about working with us as we are about working with them! Each of us approaches manuscripts with an editorial eye; we want to help make a project all that it can be before it goes on submission. Perhaps most important, though, is that our agents work collaboratively. At any time, I know I can reach out to Paige and Shannon for advice and opinions about projects, revisions, and editors, and they can do the same.

As our website says: “From queries and contracts to subrights and promotion, CMA agents will be with you through every step of your publishing journey.”

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?

When it comes to children’s lit—though I’m happy to work with clients of mine who write picture books—I’m seeking to represent MG and YA across most genres.

In MG, I always like character-focused, relatable contemporary fiction that showcases diverse experiences; creative and compelling mysteries, like The Westing Game; well-conceived fantasy with high stakes, as in Gregor the Overlander; science fiction that teaches young readers something new; and dystopian settings that speak to the world around us.

In YA, my tastes are even wider! I love complex contemporary fiction that speaks to family dynamics, multifaceted friendships, and personal growth as much as romance—and I do love romance and all the tropes that come with it. I’m also very into mystery and horror for this age group right now, like Karen McManus and House of Hollow; fantasy, especially non-Western, that uses magic and character to say something meaningful, as in The Belles or Cemetery Boys; light science fiction with creative takes on the future of technology; hard-hitting dystopians, like Uglies; and nonfiction with a strong voice and unique perspective.

In all things, I’m seeking to uplift minority voices, including POC, LGBTQ+, disability, and mental health issues. I love thoughtful and meaningful magical realism for any age group; manuscripts with nuanced character relationships; unique urban fantasies; clever fairytale retellings; and reimagined classics. I have to fall in love with your engaging writing; your complex, flawed, and dynamic characters; and your plot, which should breathe new life into your favorite clichés. Whatever you submit, tell me what makes your manuscript different!

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

At the very top of my list at the moment are minority voices across genres and age groups. I’m especially excited about fantasies that aren’t based in Western settings, because I think they’re so interesting and so needed.

I would love to be queried with more books with unreliable narrators, interesting antiheroes, compelling villains, and psychological intrigue.

I’m craving a YA romance with a male love interest who oozes charisma and absolutely know it. As I described it on Twitter: “Please give me your Henry Montagues, Ian Flannerys, Jesper Faheys, and yes, even Jace Waylands.”

Something I’m eternally seeking are contemporary stories with a tight focus on ride-or-die female friendships, like Hello Girls or Booksmart.

Whether for MG or YA, I’m always in the mood for a fun and purposeful heist story with a wonderful and diverse cast of characters.

And truly, I would die for a fantastic, creative, dark, and whimsical take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I already read every retelling I can get my hands on, so to represent one is a dream.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

In general, I’m not looking for children’s picture books, chapter books, or graphic novels, and I’m not the best champion body horror or satire. In nonfiction, I’ll usually pass on self-help and how-to manuscripts and religious, scientific, and academic texts.

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 all of my authors to feel like they know me, that I understand their manuscripts and their writing goals, and that I have their best interests at heart. I want to use my career and the platform it creates to champion underrepresented voices and make sure I’m working to publish works by authors who can help readers—especially young readers—feel seen.

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! Editors see so very many submissions that I want the work I send to have its best chance at standing out in the crowd. However, any revisions I suggest go through the author first—and I tell authors as much before they sign with me.

The first step in my editorial process is to write what we call an “editorial letter.” I’ll take all of my developmental notes from reading the manuscript and describe my suggested changes—and the reasoning behind them—in paragraph form in a 3- to 4-page document. As I always tell authors, I think listing edits isn’t nearly as effective as explaining why I feel they might be necessary; this also gives the author a chance to think through a different change that might have the same effect for the manuscript.

Once I send the editorial letter to the author, they’re encouraged to talk over any concerns or questions with me. If we’re on the same page, however, they’ll dive back into the manuscript to make changes and send it back. If I feel there are still developmental concerns, I may write a second, shorter editorial letter to address them. Often, though, as I read the newly edited manuscript I’ll simply make comments and track changes on the page. This may include anything from suggestions to further draw out a specific scene and its emotional resonance to line edits. This, again, returns to the author for their input or acceptance. We may go back and forth with minor changes once or twice more, but once we’re both happy with the strength of the finished product and everything it has to say, it’ll be ready for submission!

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?

Please send any queries to query@cmalit.com—addressed to me specifically! For any agent at CMA, we request that you include the first five pages of your manuscript below the query letter for fiction, or an extended author bio and the marketing section of your book proposal for nonfiction. (Memoirs can be a bit of a hazy area, but personally I prefer to see the pages in that case more than the book proposal sections, as the voice will be key.)

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

Query letters can be so difficult to write, and you’re probably going to hear different pieces of advice from anyone you ask. For me, first and foremost, you have to get my name right. If you don’t, I’ll be skeptical right away—and it happens more than you think. Same with following query guidelines. More specifically, though, while I do want to know a little about you as the author and where your inspiration started, I need to know about your book and its plot, conflicts, themes, and characters. If an author spends multiple paragraphs describing themselves and the reason they began writing, I’ll lose interest because I’m not hearing about the project they’re pitching me.

As for the first pages, I recommend doing your absolute best not to start the manuscript with backstory. You only have five pages to give your book its best chance with me, and an intriguing situation, a compelling voice, and/or emotional resonance will hook me more than hearing the history of a character I’m not yet connected to.

Response Time:

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

I try to respond to queries no later than two months after they’re sent, partial manuscript requests (the first three or five chapters) in two to four weeks, and book proposal or full manuscript requests within three months. Generally, I hope you’ll hear back from me earlier than that, but if I have a lot of client or agency work waiting for me, reading queries and manuscripts will be put on the backburner.  

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 am open to represented previously self-published authors, or those who have been published by smaller presses. In fact, some authors I represent now fall into that category! However, generally I’m looking to represent new projects by those authors, not the same book that’s already been published.

I think it’s best to be upfront with any potential agent about the fact that you’ve been previously published in some manner, because finding out after the fact can sometimes change our plan for pitching what you’ve written. Personally, I like to know whether that book is still available for purchase, or whether you’ve taken it down (if self-published) or had the rights reverted back to you (if published by a small press). If it’s no longer available, I also like to know why. Having all of the information helps me make the best possible decision about whether I’m the right agent to represent you, and how best to move forward should I choose to do so.

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 think that the role of an agent is to act as an author’s inroad into traditional publishing as well as the custodian of their career, and I don’t think that should change no matter how publishing shifts. Those changes to the publishing industry simply effect what we should be aware of as agents, what we need to learn about to best assist our clients, and what responsibilities we may have in the future.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

As of this interview, my clients are Alli Vail, Stephanie Campisi, Sara Pintilie, Ana Wesley, Emma Duval, Stacey Anthony, Elizabeth Barrera, and Isabel Yacura.

Interviews, Guest Posts, and Podcasts:

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

The Manuscript Academy podcast: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-haley-casey

SWW Workshop on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MFqf7xYQb4

Links and Contact Info:

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

To query me, please send your query letter to query@cmalit.com. Our detailed submission guidelines can be found at https://cmalit.com/submit/.

Online, I can be found at…

CMALit.com: https://cmalit.com/haley-casey/

Manuscript Wish List: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/haley-casey/

Publisher’s Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/HCasey/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Haley_J_Casey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haley_j_casey/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-casey-6805a9127/

Additional Advice:

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

My evergreen piece of advice for aspiring authors is that no agent is better than a bad agent. Make sure that any agent you query—especially those who make you an offer—is someone you genuinely want to work with, who shares your goals, and who sees a long-term future for you and the books you want to write.

And I do want to finish with some encouragement: Just by being here and following Natalie’s incredible posts, you’re putting in the time to help make your journey into publishing a successful one, but I know it takes time, and it can feel discouraging. Keep researching, writing, pitching, and querying; ask questions of people in the industry when you have a chance; and be patient! Your time will come.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Haley.

­Haley 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 29th. If your e-mail 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 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.

Profile Details:
Last Updated: 1/18/2023
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 10/17/2022

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail 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.