I'm Not At SCBWI But...

Originally, I planned on having a pity party on the blog today complete with pity party poppers and chocolate--lots of chocolate. One for those of us who are not attending the SCBWI-LA conference but really (really, really) wish we were.

But, when I sat down to get the party goin', all I could think was, "I'm not at SCBWI BUT..."

I would have missed finding a "tree star" with my daughter.
I would have missed the huge smile my boy gave me when I got him out of his crib.
I don't have to miss my family or wonder if my kids are getting along okay without me.
I can follow along via Twitter (#scbwi09) and on blogs.
I saved a lot of money by not going.
I'm not a wreck of nerves and panic (first timer).
I won't be tired as a mule by the end of the day.

So, maybe we can have some pity at the party (and yes, chocolate and poppers) but mostly, I want to see your BUTs (not the bodily kind, please), the positive "I'm not at SCBWI buts..."

Feel free to leave em' in the comments for the entirety of the conference.

I probably will!

(Note: I'm not saying it's better I didn't go, but I'm trying to be positive!)

Agent Spotlight: Marianne Merola

This week's Agent Spotlight features Marianne Merola of Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.
Status update on 12/30/2025: Marianne is open to submissions.
About: "Marianne Merola co-ordinates a global network of foreign co-agents charged with licensing the work of the agency’s authors to a worldwide audience. She values strong and unique narrative voices and domestically represents bestselling and award-winning writers of compelling fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. Query by email only." (Link)
About the Agency:
“Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc. is a full-service literary agency whose work representing authors’ interests has spanned most of the 20th century and continues in this digital age. We aim to give our select list of clients every benefit of our experience and expertise in shaping their writing projects, negotiating their contracts, and increasing their visibility throughout the world.
“Founded by Carl Brandt as an adjunct to the Mary Kirkpatrick Dramatic Agency around 1913, the agency’s original roster of literary clients included the bestselling authors of the time. A succession of family members culminating in Carl Brandt’s son, Carl D. Brandt, expanded the firm to Brandt & Brandt Literary Agents, Inc. In 2001, Gail Hochman became president of Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc. Currently, our staff of senior agents and developing younger agents handles a wide-ranging roster of writers in numerous genres, from literary fiction and memoir to mystery and thriller to history/biography and narrative non-fiction, as well as children’s books. We represent classic titles which have been in print for decades as well as a list featuring 40 to 50 new titles each year.” (Link)
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties: Children's middle grade and young adult, adult literary fiction, and narrative  non-fiction. (Link)
Editorial Agent?
Unknown.
Web Presence:
Brandt and Hochman website.
AgentQuery, QueryTracker.
Clients:
Ron Carlson, Judy Gelman, Heather Gudenkauf, Tim Johnston, Vicki Levy Krupp, Kerry Madden, Joyce Maynard, Heather Millar, Shannon Moffett, Sunshine O'Donnell, Patricia Williams, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: No..
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
E-mail:  Query only.
Response Times:
Unknown.
What's the Buzz?
In line with the agency as a whole, Ms. Merola’s web presence is minimal. However, Brandt & Hochman is a well-respected agency and Ms. Merola is an established agent in the business with many sales under her belt.  Her clients seem happy with her representation. 
Worth Your Time:
Interviews:
None that I could find online.
Contact:
Please see the agency website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 1/6/25
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 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.

Wednesday's Word Count

Another Wednesday, August the 5th. Can you beleive my baby boy is seven months old today, and my other "baby" is two and eleven months? That's right. The big three is less than a month away now. *Wail*

As for my brain child, a.k.a my novel:

Prior Goal: Brainstorming.

Accomplished: Brainstorming, outline, and 3520 new words.

Goal for new week: 5k

Excuses / comments: I think I'm back on track! I listened to all my gut instincts, came up with a new game plan, and got it loosely outlined. I'm still trying to work out some of the middle, but I felt confident enough to jump back in. To be honest, I'm hoping things have finally clicked into place and I'll be able to blow through about 10k this week, but I'm not counting on it (hence the 5k goal).

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement you've given while I've flopped about. I really (really, really) hope this will be "the draft."

How are your goals coming along? Swimmingly? Sinkingly? Do share!

Agent News: Adriana Dominguez Joins Full Circle Literary

Adriana Dominguez, former HarperCollins Children's Books executive editor, has joined Full Circle Literary as a literary agent, effective immediately.

Most recently, Ms. Dominguez managed the children's division of the Latino imprint, Rayo, at HarperCollins, and served as a Children's Reviews Editor at Criticas magazine before that. Previously, she also served as a professional translator for children's books.

Here's the announcement from Publisher's Lunch:

"Adriana Dominguez has joined Full Circle Literary as an agent, based in New York and serving as the agency's East coast representative. Most recently she was executive editor at Harper Children's, where she managed the children's division of Rayo. Dominguez will continue working on children's picture books, middle grade novels, and literary YA novels, as well as representing literary fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, women's interest, multicultural, pop culture, and how-to books."

You can read the full press release on Adriana Dominguez's blog, Voces.

Agent Spotlight Requests

I'm building up my list of upcoming Agent Spotlights for the next few months, so if there is an agent (or multiple agents) you'd like to see featured soon, now's the time to speak up (though I'm always open for requests)!

Don't forget the focus of the Spotlights is on agents who represent children's fiction, so make sure they represent at least one area therein.

That's all!

Please leave a comment or e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com with your requests.

Agent News: Colleen Lindsay Reopening to Subs

Colleen Lindsay of FinePrint Literary announced today on her blog, The Swivet, that she is temporarily reopening to submissions. However, she's only looking for adult urban fantasy/paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy/paranormal, and realistic YA between now and the end of August.

For more details, stipulations, and submission guidelines, see the original post.

(With thanks to Corey Schwartz for prompting me to put this up!)

Agent News: Emily Keyes - L. Perkins Agency

Junior agent Emily Keyes of the L. Perkins Agency is now "avidly seeking middle grade and YA" and "aggressively" seeking new clients.

As per their Agent in the Middle blog, here is what she is looking for:

"I’m tired of getting queries from authors who don’t currently read YA, never read YA, say books published today are terrible, but they heard that Harry Potter lady made more than the Queen, and hey, they can do that! Writing for kids is easy, right?

"I love YA books. I loved them when I was a kid and I still love them now. I want to see manuscripts from people who love it as much as I do. I want to find the books that kids are going to remember with fondness. I inhaled Lois Duncan, LJ Smith, Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley, etc, etc. These days I’m excited by the writing done by Suzanne Collins, Kristin Cashore, Claudia Gray. I’m also into the teen novels by people like Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, Barry Lyga and others. I’m looking for smart middle grade and teen novels. (No picture books, please.) I like fantasy and paranormal, and other odd things. Zombies are pretty big at the moment, and I’d also like to see witches, psychics, time travel and superheroes. As far as non-genre, I like strong, female heroines and books with fresh voices and a quirky sense of humor. I’m really sick of knock-off 'Harry Potters’ and Twilights.'"

A list of Ms. Keyes favorite TV shows and her e-mail is available on the original post.

Great opportunity. Best to those who query!