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!

 

 

 

 

 

Literary Agent Interview: Lindsey Aduskevich and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Lindsey Aduskevich here. She’s a literary manager at Martin Literary Management. 

Hi­ Lindsey! Thanks so much for joining us. 

Hi Natalie! Thank you so much for having me. 

About Lindsey: 

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

Great question! I have been interested in agenting ever since my first SCBWI regional conference in 2019 where I attended as a picture book writer. After honing my writing craft for a few years, I began to apply to agent internships in 2022. Trying to get an agent internship felt just like being in the query trenches. The next three years I got a lot “no’s” and “almosts.” Finally, in the beginning of 2025 I got my “yes!” from senior Literary Manager Kristen Terrette. Kristen spent six months teaching me everything she knows, and it was in October that I received an email with the subject line “Let’s Chat” from Vice President Jen Newens. Very shortly after our meeting, Jen and Sharlene Martin, the president of Martin Literary Management (MLM), offered me a position with the agency. I have been doing my dream job ever since. 

As for what I’ve been doing, I am connecting with editors and reading manuscript after amazing manuscript in search of the ones that won’t let me sleep at night. I made my first offer of rep in December (which I did not get by the way), my second offer in January (which I did get!), and my third in February (which I also got!). I am currently preparing an incredible historical fiction middle grade for submission and plan to go out with another historical fiction in the fall. 

About the Agency: 

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

MLM prides itself on considerate management, meaning we aim to be respectful, kind, nurturing, and communicative. Our agency has been championing books into the world for 23 years now, and thanks to Sharlene Martin’s connections in the film industry, many of those books became documentaries, movies, or series. When I joined MLM as an intern, I was struck by how warm and friendly everyone was. When I joined as an agent, it truly felt like family. We are all here to support each other, answer questions, help with clients’ work, contracts, proposals, submission lists—anything we need from each other. What that means for authors is all the agents here have an incredible support system. With MLM, you don’t just get one agent rooting for you—you get an entire team!  

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, young adult, and new adult. I am open to fiction, informational fiction, and non-fiction. 

For picture books, I love humorous, lyrical, hard topics, silly, serious, prose, rhyme (as long as you know what you’re doing because I don’t!), holiday, dark humor, spooky, historical…pretty much anything. But there is one key ingredient I absolutely must have: heart…and the heart has to be big. I want the whole emotional experience. Send me your manuscripts that will make me laugh, cry, or race to tell my critique partners that I just read the most amazing story! 

For middle grade, pacing and stakes are key here. I am looking for phenomenal voices that keep me on the edge of my seat. I want escalating tension, standout characters, and fresh topics. I am open to paranormal, contemporary, spooky, mystery, horror, or magical. 

For young adult, I would love to see romcoms, romantasy, historical fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, and even some genre mashups. Think paranormal romance, romcom thriller, etc. My true love is a really good historical fiction, but I’m very selective in this area. 

In new adult, I like college campus settings or just starting out in the work force. The same genres for young adult apply here, too. 

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

I would love a good YA horror. One with emotionally complex characters and a swoon-worthy romance. I am also highly interested in a picture book that tugs on my heart and begs to be read again and again. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

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

If I had to list a few things that interest me the least, it would be books about gaming and saving turtles eggs. I promise I’m not a monster! I love all animals, including cute, adorable turtles. I think it’s just an overdone concept for me. But as of right now, I am not closed to anything. If the story is good, I’m game! 

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 am looking for authors who are kind, understanding, and have an open heart. I prefer voices and stories that are uplifting. I want to represent books that foster empathy, shine light on new experiences, teach readers information in exciting ways, and/or help readers escape into a fantastical world. 

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! I will always give my clients both line comments and my overall thoughts. I will focus on assessing character arc, structure, pacing, tension, stakes, grammar, etc. Once I have organized my feedback, I will send it to the author and wait for the revisions. We will go back and forth until we both think the manuscript is perfect. But one quick note: for grammar, commas never landed with me. As hard as I tried, that is my one weakness. That and rhyme. Okay, I have two weaknesses. 

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 love for authors to query me via my Query Manager. Please do not send queries to my email. 

Regarding query letters, we all know writing is HARD! There are so many rules. For some of us, (me for sure!) it takes years to hone our craft. And we don’t just have to learn how to write a story, we have to learn how to write a query letter. A well-written query letter tells me that you have spent time on your craft, and that you are invested in your future as an author. I love a well-written query letter. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine, but don’t stray too far from the structure. 

What I personally like to see is the hook, book, and cook technique all on one page. 

1.     Start with a few lines about why you are querying me (not always necessary but appreciated).

2.     Give me your pitch—bonus points if it is in the voice/tone of your manuscript.

3.     Comps, themes, and why this book is needed in today’s market.

4.     Bio. Don’t forget your bio! I love a good, succinct bio. 

All of these things are what make a great query letter, but don’t stress too much about them. If one or more of these areas are stressing you out, do your best and that’s good enough! 

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

I don’t have dislikes, but I do have things that will make me hesitate. If a query barely resembles what a query should look like, then I don’t feel as connected to the author and (not willingly) find myself less invested. 

As for the first pages, again, no dislikes, but try to stay away from overdone scenes. Waking up in bed and stretching is an overdone opening scene (though I’m not saying this won’t work!), and so is “once upon a time” and “there once was a little boy who…”. Challenge yourself to find something unique that will set your book apart from all the others. 

Response Time: 

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

Right now, I am aiming for three weeks or less for queries. As I build my list, I know this will not be feasible. For those I request more pages from, sometimes you will hear from me in about a week or so. Longer manuscripts could take up to a month. If it’s been over three months, absolutely nudge. But please know I will always try to respond as quickly as possible. A month tops would be my goal. 

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 definitely open to authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses. This should never make a writer hesitate to query me as long as it’s new work. My advice to self-pubbed or small press pubbed authors is to keep writing amazing stories and getting them out there. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

Right now, I have two clients who I am still pinching myself over. Mengxi Seeley is an incredibly talented author who writes novels inspired by historical research, with fantastically happy endings. And Victoria Winterhalter Brame who writes exceptional middle grade and young adult novels focused on hidden histories and characters discovering their self-worth.

I am eagerly searching for more talented writers to join our team, and I hope to sign some soon! 

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’m going to skip this question since this is my first interview. 

Links and Contact Info: 

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

QueryManager: https://QueryTracker.net/query/4083

Website: https://lindseyaduskevich.com/

X: @LAduskevich

Bluesky: @laduskevich.bsky.social

Insta: @lindsey_aduskevich 

Additional Advice: 

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

You’re never going to get your “yes” if you give up. Writing may be a rollercoaster, and gosh darn those “ups” are high and those “downs” are low, but if you give up…it will never happen. And always remember, not every story will land. In fact, most of your stories may not. But don’t forget, you write because you love it. You love the community, you love putting your emotions down on paper, you love creating characters and situations that are going to resonate with readers. Just because a story you wrote doesn’t land with your critique partners, an agent, or an editor, doesn’t mean you didn’t create something special. Something that, hopefully, brought you joy, exercised your writing muscles, and led you to the path you are currently on. If you are in that boat where your stories aren’t landing (and so many of us are!), give yourself a moment to feel those feels, but then pick yourself up, dust yourself off, write something new (or revise something old), and get yourself back out there. Because…your “yes!” can only come if you don’t give up! 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Lindsey! 

Giveaway Details 

­Lindsey 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 March 21st. 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. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Monday, March 16, I’m participating in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop 

Monday, March 23, I have a guest post by Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his MG You Are Now Old Enough to Hear 

Wednesday, March 25, I have an agent spotlight interview with Rob Broder and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, March 30, I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop 

I hope to see you on Monday! 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Literary Agent Interview: Jen Newens Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Jen Newens here. She is a senior literary manager at Martin Literary & Media Management.

Update on 1/2/2026: Jen is temporarily closed to submissions. She states on her QueryManager to check back soon. Please check the agency website to find out when she reopens to submissions.

Hi­ Jen! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Jen:

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

I was the publishing director at West Margin Press for 7 years when the parent company sold the press in October 2022. When I was winding down my job and contemplating what to do next, I had a lot of people say, “Have you ever thought about being a literary agent? You’d be really good at it.” That planted a seed. In early 2023 I saw a job posting on LinkedIn by Sharlene Martin, head of Martin Literary Management and we had a conversation and just clicked. I started at the agency in April 2023.

About the Agency:

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

Martin Literary Management has been around for over 20 years. It offers authors a comprehensive suite of literary agenting services and works with publishers big and small. It also offers foreign rights representation and our founder has strong relationships with entertainment brands. When I was a publisher, I loved working with Martin Lit agents because they were so professional and delightful to work with—it’s part of the reason I wanted to join the team.

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 all kidlit age groups from board books through YA. All genres are fair game for me, but I’m not as keen on sci fi or fantasy. That hasn’t stopped me from signing them, however, when the story is good. I have a soft spot for underdog stories and historically excluded groups.

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

Something laugh-out-loud funny. Something I don’t want to put down. Something with a premise I’ve never seen before. Something that makes me cry.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

Horror, scifi, high fantasy. I’m a little tired of retellings of fairy tales, but I can see a place for them in certain circumstances.

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’m pretty open as to who I want to represent. I love debut authors who have done their homework about how traditional publishing works and are keen to work with the system and not against it. (I’m aware that publishing has its challenges, but working with a client who wants to “disrupt” traditional publishing would be exhausting.)

I’m drawn to ideas that are unique, not derivative (which makes it hard to find comps, but I accept the challenge!)

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, but I’m looking at edits through the lens of what is going to help my authors get the best book deal. I leave it to the editors at the publishing houses to further edit the stories for the marketplace.

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?

First and foremost, they should get my name right. After that, I’d like to see the following:

·       One paragraph pitch

·       Story synopsis

·       Author bio

·       Word count

·       List of previous published books (if applicable)

·       Note if author has been previously represented by a literary agent 

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

I prefer that authors do not send manuscripts with query letters; please wait until I specifically ask for them. I prefer to work on one story at a time, so please do not send multiple submissions (series submissions are fine).

Response Time:

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

My response time varies with the volume of queries I receive, the number of active clients on my roster, and the time of year. I wish I could be clearer on this question, but it really varies.

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. I used to run a small press and I am a big champion of them. Self-publishing and hybrid can be fantastic for some types of books. Traditional publishing can be a good choice for other types of books. I think there is a time and place for all modes of publishing, and I believe authors can choose any of them depending on which ever mode best suits their book or their needs at the time.

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 haven’t seen this yet, but I’ll keep watching.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

Rob Broder

Tenisha Bernal

Anne Broyles

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.

https://www.pbspotlight.com/single-post/agent-spotlight-jen-newens

Update on 1/19/2025

Interview at Eleanor Ann Peterson (08/2023)

Agent of the Month at Children's Writing and Illustrating Part 1 and Part 2 (05/2023)

Links and Contact Info:

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

https://www.martinlit.com/jennewens

https://www.jennewens.com/

Update on 1/19/2025:

Twitter

Instagram

Publishers Marketplace

Query Tracker

Blue Sky

Additional Advice:

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

Don’t give up! I know it sounds cliché, but if you keep following your dreams, they can come true. One of my clients, a debut picture book author at age 50, had been trying to find an agent and get a story published for years. One day, she posted on Twitter that all she wanted for her birthday was to find an agent. I responded, “I’m an agent, let’s chat.” Three months later I got her a two book, five-figure deal with an option for a third book from a big-name publisher. You just never know when things are going to happen for you!

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Jen.

Giveaway Details

­Jen 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 7th. 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.

Last updated: 1/19/2025
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 01/22/2025

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, October 4 I have an interview with debut author Kellie Parker and a giveaway of her YA thriller Thin Air

Thursday, October 5 I’m participating in the Howl-O-Ween Giveaway Hop

Monday, October 9 I have an interview with debut author Sean O’Brien and a giveaway of his MG historical White House Clubhouse

Wednesday, October 11 I have an agent spotlight interview with Lane Clarke and a query critique giveaway

Monday, October 16 I have an agent spotlight interview with Jane Chun and a query critique giveaway and am participating in the Silly Pumpkin Giveaway Hop 

Monday, October 23 I have an interview with debut author Elisa Stone Leahy and a giveaway of her MG contemporary Tethered to Other Stars

Hope to see you on Wednesday!