Literary Agent Interview: Morgan Hughes Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

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

Status: Update on 9/28/2024: Morgan is open to submissions.

Hi­ Morgan! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Morgan:

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

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

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

 

About the Agency:

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

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

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

What She’s Looking For:

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

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

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

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

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

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

Agent Philosophy:

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

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

Editorial Agent:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Response Time:

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

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

Self-Published and Small Press Authors:

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

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

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

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

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

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

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

Interviews and Guest Posts:

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

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

https://www.theshitaboutwriting.com/

Links and Contact Info:

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

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

Find me on the web:

FinePrint Website

@mohughes22 on Twitter (X)

Manuscript Wish List

Additional Advice:

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

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

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

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Morgan.

Giveaway Details

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope to see you on Thursday!

Agent Spotlight: Lauren Bieker Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Lauren Bieker here. She is a literary agent and vice-president at FinePrint Literary Management.

Status: As of 9/13/2024, Lauren is closed to queries. Please check the agency website to find out when she reopens to submissions.

 Hi­ Lauren! Thanks so much for joining us.

 About Lauren:

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

I became an agent in a fairly ‘roundabout’ way. I graduated from college with a business degree and an English degree and from there went to an accelerated program for merchandise marketing at FIDM in LA. Shortly after that I accepted a job as a buyer for an online retailer out of LA, all the while, I was an avid reader and writer. I was taking novel writing workshops and crafting stories is really what kept me sane. I knew the fashion world wasn’t for me, so after some solo travel where I spent time writing my own book, I knew that publishing was where I wanted to be. Shortly after, I was chatting with a family friend who happened to be a literary agent. After that conversation I found myself saying, “how have I not been doing this already!” I immediately sought out internships in the industry and was lucky enough to be able to move to NYC to pursue my dream further. I began working with FinePrint as an intern in 2016, I moved up to assistant and then became an agent, all while learning the ins and outs of the business from NYC.

 About the Agency:

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

FinePrint has been around for a long time. My boss, Peter Rubie, has been in publishing for over 30 years and he has worked as an editor and as an agent. He is also a published writer. Working with him and my other colleagues at FinePrint has taught me the value of hard work and commitment. FinePrint may not be the biggest firm out there, but I think that is part of what makes us special. I believe that we are down to earth and humble, while also knowing that as agents we will do whatever it takes to help our client’s stories get told.

 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 love representing YA! It’s been such a blast to read queries and submissions about young people that are honest and endearing. As much as I love MG and pitcture books, I find that they are a bit out of my wheelhouse; I have a harder time vetting their place in the market. So as far as what I rep, it’s YA and adult only.

Update 12/31/2022

Lauren is looking for commercial and upmarket women’s fiction and some well-crafted and differentiated YA novels. She is also open to select science fiction, as well as high concept and literary fiction works. She appreciates great storytelling and is a “sucker” for outstanding writing and convincing characters. While primarily interested in fiction, she will consider nonfiction proposals. She is looking for #ownvoices stories, Feminist lit/#MeToo stories, and LGBTQIA+ authors in both fiction and nonfiction. Her goals is to "hold the mic" for authors to tell their stories and be a helpful support system. (From the agency website)

Update 2/7/2023

Lauren is now representing horror, fantasy (in both YA and adult), and middle grade.

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

Oh wow. Where to even start. First and foremost, my goal is to work with #OWNvoices, LGBTQIA, BIPOC writers, and #MeToo stories. I want to help authors who have thus far been underrepresented.

More specifically, I’m looking for hilarious romance/romantic comedies that have a feminist bend. I’d really love a creepy psychological thriller, both in YA and adult. I would also love to see more commercial women’s fiction that force their main characters to confront some tough questions about who they are and what they want.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

I’m not interested in fiction and non-fiction that relate to military or religion as the main message of the story.

Update 12/31/2022:  

Lauren is NOT looking for religious fiction or political/military fiction. (From the agency website)

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 as an agent is like this: if we are out for a walk and someone were to walk up to my client and say, tell me about your story, I would not only encourage and empower my clients to do so, but to hold a microphone up to their lips so they could share it even louder.

I believe in honest communication and that is one thing that I concentrate on with my clients. We can’t have a great working relationship without honesty, and so I look for clients that will appreciate that within me and that know that trust in an agent /client relationship must go both ways. 

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 love providing editorial feedback. Writing a novel is no small feat and success in publishing does not happen in a bubble. For me, being an editorial agent allows me to connect with the story in a larger way; that way, when I’m pitching the book, I really do know the project backwards and forwards. When taking on a client, I use my editorial nature as a gauge to ask “is this author going to be open to feedback? And how will they respond to that feedback?” After all, even once you sell a project, the author will need to be open and communicative with their editor. So, I find that if someone isn’t able to accept editorial notes with me, even in early stages/before signing, then they likely won’t have a great working relationship with an editor. Thus, it is something that I like to bring to the forefront of any working interaction. 

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 should query me through my work email- they should also note when I’m closed to unsolicited queries. In a query letter, I take comp titles very seriously, so I encourage authors to start with those. I also really do believe in having a strong elevator pitch, if authors find themselves having a hard time drafting one, I say that it’s a sign that maybe you need to step back and really ask “what is the story I’m trying to tell”. I always think of a quote from Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, “Okay, Alexis, I’ll hear your elevator pitch. But keep in mind, I’m getting off at the next floor.” While it can be read as a little ‘harsh’, I prefer for it to be thought of as an experiment and challenge to the author to hone in on what they really want their story to be. Also, when it’s time for me to pitch the book, I often use versions of that very elevator pitch to then take to editors, so it really is an important addition. With strong comps and a strong elevator pitch, I will often skip the synopsis entirely and dive straight into the submitted pages.

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

Not necessarily, I guess my only reminder to authors is that, we are people, too. We aren’t sharks who are trying to eat you and steal your story. We only do well if our client’s do, so I encourage querying authors to embrace that concept when querying.

Response Time:

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

My response time is fairly consistent with the industry standard. I see every query that comes in and will scan it. If I’m hooked right away (and I have the time) I will dive straight in and could even request the full manuscript immediately. However, when I’m on other deadlines, I try to get back to queries within a few months. Obviously, life will sometimes get in the way. I try to remind querying authors, if you haven’t heard from me, be patient and only follow up after about 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?

I am open to authors who have self published and been published by smaller presses. However, I wouldn’t recommend that we try to sell the slef-published book. I’m happy to know that authors are putting their story out there, and from there, I would want to work with them and develop something new that we could sell.

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 see it changing a little bit. I can see authors saying, “well I can do this without an agent, so why not just do it myself”. I see no problem with that. However, I do believe that agent’s offer a great deal; in editorial feedback, in contract reading and negotiations, in publicizing the work, etc. I’d like to think about it like this, “sure you may not need an agent, but wouldn’t you like one?”

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

Many of my authors are working on debut works, so many of them are hard to search. However, I represent Celestine Martin, Abigail Drake, Sarah Madges, Jenna Satterthwaite, Nia Imara, Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu, Shelby Simpson, Zeina Collins,  Alex Gonzalez, Ariane Powell, Danai Christopoulou, A.J. Van Belle, Gatlin Beemus, Len Klapdor, and Nish Amarnath. 

Interviews and Guest Posts:

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

N/A

Links and Contact Info:

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

Although I am currently closed to unsolicited queries, I won’t be forever! I'm hoping to reopen to submissions in January 2021. You can reach me at lauren@fineprintlit.com. I am also on Twitter @lauren_bieker

Additional Advice:

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

I think that’s it!

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Lauren.

­Lauren 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 October 10th. If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.If you 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.

Last Updated: 12/31/22
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 2/7/2023

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.

 

 

Agent Spotlight: Peter Rubie

This week's Agent Spotlight features Peter Rubie of FinePrint Literary Management.
Status: Open to submissions.
About: “Peter Rubie specializes in a broad range of high-quality fiction and non-fiction. In non-fiction he specializes in narrative non-fiction, popular science, spirituality, history, biography, pop culture, business and technology, parenting, health, self help, music, and food. He is a “sucker” for outstanding writing. In fiction he represents literate thrillers, crime fiction, science fiction and fantasy, military fiction and literary fiction, middle grade and young adult fiction.
"Rubie is a former BBC Radio and Fleet Street journalist and for several years was the director of the publishing section of the New York University Summer Publishing Institute. He was a member of the NYU faculty for 10 years, and taught the only university-level course in the country on how to become a literary agent.
"Prior to becoming an agent he was a publishing house editor for nearly six years, whose authors won prizes and critical acclaim. He has also been the editor-in-chief of a Manhattan local newspaper, and a freelance editor and book doctor for major publishers. He was a regular reviewer for the international trade magazine Publishers Weekly, and is a published author of both fiction and non-fiction. He is a member of AAR, and regularly lectures and writes on publishing and the craft of writing. He is the author of two published novels and close to ten non-fiction books ranging in subject matter from publishing and writing to music and Shakespeare. One thing about Peter that is not well known is that he is also a professional jazz musician and from time to time can still be found playing in various jazz venues around New York City and London.” (Link)
About the Agency:
“FinePrint was launched in September 2007 as the merger of the Peter Rubie Literary Agency and the Imprint Agency. It offers representation and management for new and established writers. Our expertise covers book publishing and subsidiary rights (foreign translation, audio, TV, and film)." (Link)
Web Presence:
FinePrint Literary website.
FinePrint Publisher’s Marketplace page.
Twitter @PeterRubie.
AAR profile.
AgentQuery.
QueryTracker.
LSB Editorial.
What He’s Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Fiction: Middle grade, YA, thrillers, crime fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, military fiction, and literary fiction.
Non-Fiction: Narrative, popular science, spirituality, history, biography, pop culture, business/technology, parenting, health, self help, music, and food.
What He Isn't Looking For:
Romance, screenplays, or stage plays (Link)
Editorial Agent?
Yes.
Clients:
There is a list of FinePrint clients on the website.
Mr. Rubie’s clients include: Patrick Carman, P.W. Catanese, Marisha Chamberlain, Nora Charles, Christine Goff, K.W. Jeter, Louise Marley, Luke McCallin, Chandler McGrew, Bill Milkowski, Aimee and David Thurlo, Lissa Warren, Bill Wurtzel, Mirah Bolender, Christopher de Vinck, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
Send a query letter, synopsis, bio, and the first two chapters of your manuscript as a Word doc or PDF attachment when requested.
See the FinePrint Literary website for complete, up-to-date submissions guidelines.
Query Tips:
"Here's the thing about a query letter -- it does many jobs at once. Yes, it tells me about who you are, what you've done, what you areas of expertise are, what you've published (if anything) and so forth. But HOW you write the query letter is really important. More than anything, the query letter gives me a glimpse into the mind of the writer behind the query. I'm looking first and foremost for good writers. The one thing almost all good writers have in common, is that whether it's about scaling Mt Everest or doing the laundry, they find an intriguing, often seductive way to write about their subject that keeps me turning the page. What they are writing, to a degree, is less important initially. If you can write, what you are writing can be something, potentially, we can work on together." (Link)Response Times:
Mr. Rubie tries to respond with rejections to all queries. However he WILL definitely respond if interested.
What's the Buzz?
Peter Rubie is a veteran of the industry and highly respected. At present, Mr. Rubie is CEO of FinePrint Literary, Founding Partner of Lincoln Square Books, and an author of several fiction and nonfiction titles. 
Previously, he was the director of the publishing section of New York University's Summer Publishing Institute, a member of NYU's faculty, an editor, book doctor, and reviewer.
He is open to submissions.
See the “Conferences” page on the FinePrint website for conferences Mr. Rubie is attending and the “New Deals” page for recent deals.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews and Posts:
Interview with Agent Peter Rubie at Author Salon (Date Unknown)What Does Literary Agent Peter Rubie Really Want? at litvote (Date Unknown)
5 Literary Agents Reveal the 9 Pitching Mistakes Authors Make at C.S. Lakin (04/2020)
Agent Interview: Peter Rubie at Duotrope (03/2020)
Agent Alert: Peter Rubie at Writer's Digest (07/2019)
7 Questions for Literary Agent Peter Rubie at Middle Grade Ninja (07/2013)
How to Land an Agent in an Indie World Podcast at Jeff Rivera (04/2013)
Contact:
Please see FinePrint Literary website for contact information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 5/26/2020.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 5//26/2020.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.