Agent Spotlight: Charlie Olsen

This week's Agent Spotlight features Charlie Olsen of InkWell Management.
Status: Update on 2/2/2025: Accepting submissions.
About: “Charlie Olsen started his publishing career at InkWell in 2007 and has been building his client list since. He is interested in fiction, children’s books, graphic novels and illustrated works, and compelling narrative non-fiction. Prior to Inkwell, Charlie studied print journalism at Rider University, covered a beat at a newswire in the District of Columbia, and wrote for two newspapers in New Jersey. He works with award-winning graphic novelists, including New York Times bestseller Matt Kindt, New York Times bestseller Jeff Lemire, and National Book Award finalist Noelle Stevenson; distinguished children’s book authors including New York Times bestseller Andrea Cremer, Amy Ewing, and Gus Gordon; and also represents non-fiction—both illustrated and traditional prose—like Whisk(e)y Distilled by Heather Greene (Viking, 2014); a book about the seven would-be assassins of Queen Victoria called Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy (Pegasus,2012); and The Warren Commission Report: A Graphic Investigation into the Kennedy Assassination by Dan Mishkin, Ernie Cólon, and Jerzy Drozd (Abrams, 2014).” (Link)
About the Agency:
"InkWell is one of the world’s leading literary agencies, proudly representing major literary prize winners as well as many of the world’s bestselling and best-loved authors. We enjoy a considerable international reputation as a significant and innovative player in the industry.
“In addition to its full-time agents and their assistants, the InkWell team includes a tireless foreign rights department, a dedicated social media, marketing and publicity expert, and a meticulous contracts manager. We also join forces with leading literary agencies in every foreign market and have agents based in Australia, Boston, and Dallas. We continue to be excited by—and on the lookout for—original ideas, riveting stories and great writing.” (Link)

Web Presence
InkWell Management website
Twitter
#mswl on Twitter
QueryTracker.
What He's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, illustrated works, narrative nonfiction, commercial fiction. (via e-mail 11/12); Update on 2/2/2025: His QueryTracker page indicates he is still looking for middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels and narrative nonfiction.
What He Isn't Looking For:
Screenplays. (Link)
Editorial Agent?
“Yes. Nothing gets to the submission stage untouched.” (via e-mail 11/12)
Clients:
A list of InkWell Management clients is available on the website.
Mr. Olsen’s clients include: Heather Anastasiu, Andrea Cremer, Amy Ewing, Gus Gordon, Allison Gutknecht, Matt Kindt, Maureen McGowan, Ryan Oakley, Sarah Schauerte, Noelle Stevenson, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
In the body of an e-mail include a query letter and short writing sample of one to two chapters.
Please see the Inkwell Management website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines and terms of agreement.
Response Times:
The agency has a stated response time of up to two months (link) and Mr. Olsen usually responds within this timeframe. Stats on requested material are limited but show a range of 1-4 months.
“If you don’t hear from me in 8-10 weeks, ping me. This is a good practice for all agents you query.” (via e-mail 11/12)
What's the Buzz?
Charlie Olsen has been with InkWell since 2007. He is actively making sales for his select client list and his authors seem very happy with his representation. He represents picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult on the children's side and has a keen interest in graphic novels.
Worth Your Time:
Contact:
Please see the InkWell Management website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 2/2/2025.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 11/15/12.
***
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 and/or teen 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.

Agent Spotlight: Nathaniel Jacks

This week's Agent Spotlight features Nathaniel Jacks of InkWell Management.
Status: Accepting submissions.
About: "Nathaniel Jacks joined InkWell Management after graduating from Columbia University with a BA in literature. Among the books he represents are The Birth of Cool by New Yorker contributor Nicola Twilley, The Heavenly Table by Guggenheim Fellow Donald Ray Pollock, American Hookup by sociologist Lisa Wade, Ph.D., The Code of Trust by behavioral expert Robin Dreeke, and Broad Influence by TIME Washington correspondent Jay Newton-Small. He is excited to work with ambitious authors whose books enlighten everyday life, demystify systems, explore the mind, question the status quo, and empower self-improvement. He also oversees contracts at InkWell." (Link)
About the Agency:
"InkWell is one of the world’s leading literary agencies, proudly representing major literary prize winners as well as many of the world's bestselling and best-loved authors. We enjoy a considerable international reputation as a significant and innovative player in the industry.
“In addition to its full-time agents and their assistants, the InkWell team includes a tireless foreign rights department, a dedicated social media, marketing and publicity expert, and a meticulous contracts manager. We also join forces with leading literary agencies in every foreign market and have agents based in Australia, Boston, and Dallas. We continue to be excited by—and on the lookout for—original ideas, riveting stories and great writing….” (Link)
Web Presence:
InkWell Management website.

QueryTracker.
What He's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Fiction: Literary, commercial, women’s, young adult, historical, short story.
Non-Fiction: Memoir, biography, narrative, travel, religion, food & wine, history, current affairs, business.
What He Isn't Looking For:
Screenplays, picture books.
Editorial Agent?
Unknown.
Clients:
A list of InkWell Management clients is available on the website.
Mr. Jack's clients include: Matt Gross, Maria Mutch, Donald Ray Pollock, Molly Knight Raskin, Richard La Ruina, Lise Saffran, Sara Leigh Walsh, Brook Wilensky-Lanford, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):
In the body of an e-mail include a query letter and short writing sample of one to two chapters.
Please see the Inkwell Management website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines and terms of agreement.
Response Times:
The agency has a stated response time of up to two months Stats on requested material are limited but show a range of 1-3 months.
What's the Buzz?
I couldn't find much information on Mr. Jacks beyond what’s on the agency website, but he’s actively making sales and his clients have good things to say. Nothing suggests an interest in middle grade but he does represent select YA projects including Sara Leigh Walsh’s DARKLIGHT (Simon Pulse).
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
None found.
Contact:
Please see the InkWell Management website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 3/19/2024.
Agent Contacted For Review? No.
Last Reviewed By Agent? N/A.
***

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: Catherine Drayton

This week's Agent Spotlight features Catherine Drayton of InkWell Management.
Status: Accepting submissions.
About: "Catherine Drayton graduated from the University of Sydney with a BA in English Literature and a Bachelor of Laws. After graduating from the University of NSW with a Master of Laws she worked as a litigation lawyer specializing in copyright and libel law at a major international law firm. But novels, not legal precedents, were always top of her reading pile so in 1998, after a brief stint as a literary scout, she joined Arthur Pine Associates which subsequently became InkWell. She represents a wide range of fiction from around the world for both adults and children as well as some non-fiction on subjects that intrigue her. Her bestselling and award-winning clients include Markus Zusak, Beth Hoffman, John Flanagan, Becca Fitzpatrick, Gavriel Savit, Cath Crowley and Karen Foxlee. Many of her clients are published in multiple territories and sold for film. She particularly loves working with debut authors and is looking for writing that is memorable and enduring. Catherine is InkWell’s Sydney affiliate and when she isn’t reading, she can be found swimming, surfing, hiking and cooking for family and friends." (From the agency website))
About the Agency: 
"InkWell is one of the world’s leading literary agencies, proudly representing major literary prize winners as well as many of the world’s bestselling and best-loved authors. We enjoy a considerable international reputation as a significant and innovative player in the industry.
In addition to its full-time agents and their assistants, the InkWell team includes a tireless foreign rights department and a meticulous contracts manager. We also join forces with leading literary agencies in every foreign market and have agents based in Australia, Boston, and Dallas. We continue to be excited by—and on the lookout for—original ideas, riveting stories and great writing.” (From the agency website)
Web Presence:
InkWell Management website.
Twitter.
Publishers Marketplace.
AgentQuery
QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Literary commercial fiction, world literature, young adult, middle grade, and picture books. (Link)
From an Interview (09/2010):
“I tend to concentrate on all genres of children’s books (picture, middle-grade and YA) and women’s fiction. In young adult, I love the very literary novel such as The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or The Anatomy of Wings by Karen Foxlee, but I also enjoy compelling commercial projects such as Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan. I look for high-end women’s fiction such as Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman and am always on the look-out for novels that will appeal to women’s book clubs. I’m excited about Cleo, a memoir by Helen Brown that is about to be published, but I don’t do much nonfiction these days.” (Link)
Editorial Agent?
She makes revision requests and edits as needed.
Clients:
A list of InkWell management clients is available on the website.
Ms. Drayton's clients include: Katherine Battersby, Jane Bradley, Nathan Bransford, Helen Brown, Joshua Cohen, Andrew Fukuda,Becca Fitzpatrick, John Flanagan, Peter Hartcher, Jacqueline Harvey, Beth Hoffman, Tara Hudson, Katherine Longshore, Shawn Thomas Odyssey, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Craig Silvey, Markus Zusak, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
In the body of an e-mail include a query letter and short writing sample (1-2 chapters). Despite what it says on the InkWell website, she prefers to receive queries directly. The e-mail address is available on her AgentQuery page.
Please see the Inkwell Management website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines and terms of agreement.
Query Tips:
"The query letter is very important to me. I want to know that an author has done their research and knows what I represent and why their book would be a good fit for my list. Then I look for imagination – a plot that is unusual, creative – and the ability to pitch the book in one paragraph. A brilliant query letter is very persuasive!" (Link)
Response Times:
The agency has a stated response time of up to two months but may not respond if not interested.
What's the Buzz?
Catherine Drayton seems to be an all-around fabulous agent. She's got the three Ps going for her - prompt, pleasant, and professional - along with a great list of clients, many bestselling, and big sales.
I recommend following her on Twitter @cjdrayton.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews and Podcasts:

Update on 1/26/2023

N/A

Contact:
Please see the InkWell Management website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 1/26/2023.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? N/A.
***
Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's and/or teen 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.

Agent Spotlight: Stephen Barbara

This week's Agent Spotlight features Stephen Barbara of InkWell Management.  

Status: Open to submissions.

About: "Stephen was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, and graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in English language and literature. He began his publishing career in 2005 as an editorial assistant at HarperCollins, and then worked for three years as the Contracts Director of the Donald Maass Agency. Following six years as a literary agent at Foundry Media, he joined InkWell at the start of 2015.

Stephen works with writers, storytellers, thinkers, and entertainers of talent and ambition. A sampling of his clients includes New York Times and international bestseller Lauren Oliver, USA Today bestseller and British Fantasy Award winner Paul Tremblay, Newbery Medal winner and New York Times bestseller Laura Amy Schlitz, National Book Award nominee Lisa Graff, USA Today bestseller Zoje Stage, bestselling fantasy graphic novelist Ethan Aldridge, and children’s author Minh Lê, whose picture book Drawn Together appeared on more than 20 “Best Of” Lists at the end of 2018; he also represents nonfiction authors Meghan Cox Gurdon, Eleanor Herman, and Tom Venuto. In his capacity as agent for media and content company Glasstown Entertainment, Stephen has worked with actress Krysten Ritter, activist Dylan Farrow, novelist Alma Katsu, singer and actress Jessica Jung, and bestselling fantasy author Sara Holland, among others. While selective in taking on new clients, he is always drawn to compelling stories that marry quality writing to bold, imaginative concepts."." (Link)

About the Agency:

"InkWell is one of the world’s leading literary agencies, proudly representing major literary prize winners as well as many of the world’s bestselling and best-loved authors. We enjoy a considerable international reputation as a significant and innovative player in the industry.
“In addition to its full-time agents and their assistants, the InkWell team includes a tireless foreign rights department, a dedicated social media, marketing and publicity expert, and a meticulous contracts manager. We also join forces with leading literary agencies in every foreign market and have agents based in Australia, Boston, and Dallas. We continue to be excited by—and on the lookout for—original ideas, riveting stories and great writing.” (Link)

Web Presence:

Mr. Barbara’s Twitter.

Publisher’s Marketplace page.

InkWell Management website.

InkWell Management Facebook.

InkWell Management Twitter.

AgentQuery, QueryTracker.

What He's Looking For:

Genres/Specialties:

Children’s books and select adult projects (commercial, literary; non-fiction).

What He Isn't Looking For:

Screenplays, Romance, Westerns.  

Quotables:

“I think the basic theme of my career so far has been discovering – and launching – debut authors, particularly first novelists. I haven’t inherited any clients but have been open to taking on clients mid-career.” (via e-mail)

Editorial Agent?

Yes.

Clients:

There is a page of clients on the InkWell website. Mr. Barbara's clients include Atia Abawi, Ethan Aldridge, Lenore Appelhans, Kamilla Benko, Betsy Bird, Matt Bird, Julie Danielson, Glasstown Entertainment, Lisa Graff, Amy Guglielmo, Meghan Cox Gurdon, Eleanor Herman, Lexa Hillyer, Lynne Jonell, Travis Jonker, Minh Lê, Lauren Oliver, Jess Rothenberg, Leila Sales, Laura Amy Schlitz, Vivian Shaw, Zoje Stage, Lindsey Stoddard, Todd Strasser, Paul Tremblay, Kerry Winfrey, Trish Lundy, Clemence Michallon, and Allen Zadoff.
Query Methods:

E-mail: Yes (only)

Snail-Mail: No.

Online-Form: No.

Submission Guidelines (always verify):

Send a brief query letter and the first five pages in the body of an e-mail.
Please see the Inkwell Management website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines and terms of agreement.

Response Times:

The agency has a stated response time of up to two months (link). Mr. Barbara tries to respond to all queries but does not guarantee a response due to the volume of submissions. (Link)

Stats on the web show Mr. Barbara responding to most queries within hours to a week. Requested material usually gets a response within days to a couple weeks.

What's the Buzz?

Stephen Barbara is a favorite among aspiring authors, well-respected for his lightning fast response times and wit.  He has a strong list of clients and sales and his clients seem very happy with his representation.  Conference goers report him as being rather funny and gracious.

I recommend following him on Twitter @Stephen_Barbara.

Worth Your Time:

Articles and Interviews:

Interview With Stephen Barbara at Presenting Lenore (01/2013)

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0912/arts_sciences/agents.shtml

Around the Web:

Literary Agent Stephen Barbara joins InkWell Management (12/2014).

Contact:

Please see the InkWell Management website for contact and query information.

Profile Details:

Last updated: 12/30/2022.

Agent Contacted for Review? Yes.

Last Reviewed By Agent? 2/3/2023.

***

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 focus on agents who accept children's and/or young adult 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.