Good Night Owl, written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli (Geisel Honor) Listen HERE Theyre just doing what someone else tells them to do. And I think I wouldve been really happy doing that. Huge thanks to Casey for hosting and organizing this, and Steven for answering my question (and all the others!). As an agent, Steven teams up with authors to help them achieve their publishing goals. She's had the privilege of working closely with a variety of . Is it worth the time to try and (hopefully) produce a buzzy bestseller? Thanks. Wonderful interview, with lots of great information! Agent statistics, detailing how long each agent typically takes to respond to a query. What makes a manuscript stand out to you? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Steven Malk grew up around children's books. Do you feel a childrens lit writer absolutely needs an agent (this is kind of a loaded questions isnt it)? I was not expecting the case study questions. It was great to meet Stephen and learn more about his end of the publishing world. As soon as I spent time in her office, I had one of those lightning-bolt moments of knowing exactly where I was meant to be. Great interview. All queries may be addressed to individual agent at: Writers House. Thats really important to me and the people I work with, says Steven. EQ - 6/9/22. Steven MalkLiterary Agent This articleabout Literary Agent Steven Malkand Writers Houseis part of a series about literary agents andFinding a BookAgent. You see gay and lesbian characters and issues and challenges all over the place now, Baldi says. Whew! I was just reading through this page again to remind myself who I'm aiming for. For example, Godfreys book American Monsters is all about research into unexplained creatures and beings. What kind of questions should a writer ask a perspective agent before they sign with them? Status: Open to submissions. She got a later start as an author, he says. Memoir/Multicultural N. Aronheim You don' want to come across as someone whos just dabbling or who doesnt take the business particularly seriously as a potential career. Claim your profile (773) 486-0126 . QueryTracker will not function correctly without javascript. Lobb and Seven Faceless Saints Giveaway and IWSG Post, Literary Agent Interview: Lori Steel Interview and Query Critique Giveaway, Wish Big Giveaway Hop - $10 Amazon Gift Card, Literary Agent Interview: Bethany Fulk Interview and Query Critique Giveaway, Write Your Villains Like Heroes by Author Shawn Peters and The Unforgettable Logan Foster Giveaway, Agent Spotlight: Ginger Clark Interview and Query Critique Giveaway, JENNIFER NIELSEN INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF THE FALSE PRINCE, Agent/Author Lizz Nagle & J.A. Casey, this info is so thorough and incredibly helpful. You can write anything for the teen set as long as the protagonist is a child of a certain age. When that essay came out, it was called, "The Joys of Goys." And it got a lot of attention-angry letters from rabbis, marriage proposals from prison inmates-and one letter from a literary agent named Steven Malk, who was also just starting out. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer At what point did you decide to become a literary agent? If its your career, you want to do it right. When I was in the bookstore, I was seeing the book in its final form. If youve submitted to an agent and realize you know nothing about the person, youre doing yourself and your writing a great disservice. Founded in 1887, The Writer instructs, informs, and inspires writers, providing practical coverage of the craft of writing and of the publishing industry. Another important piece of advice is to read as much as possible. Interview. An initial matching gift challenge was started with a pool of up to $7,500 from literary agent Steven Malk at Writers House (the son and grandson of independent booksellers) and up to $5,000 from Beacon Press. Malk gave her the names of three agents he liked. The book originated with a single illustration I saw on Christian's blog (pointed out to me by my badass agent, Steven Malk, who also represents Christian). Hannah Mann - Junior Agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Do you have any predictions for future growth in the childrens market? Theres been a huge change in the content of childrens literature, she says. The response time is going to be quicker. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. His clients have won the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott Medal, Carnegie Medals, and the Kate Greenaway Medal. Research the literary agency. Zeke Pea is a Xicano storyteller and cartoonist from El Paso, TX. Not many people know it, but Im a huge fan of mysteries and read them in my spare time whenever I can. I love books that open windows into a wide range of experiences. Do Writers House agents still reply to every query? I do think the printed book will endure as a primary reading format, especially for kids. As generic as this sounds, Id love to see more manuscripts that have a unique voice. Some agents have a full written contract, some a verbal one. The market is more competitive than ever, and its worth it to me to take the time to make something as polished as possible. He was privileged to meet many famous authors through his parents bookstore, including Beverly Cleary, James Marshall, and Barbara Cooney. Required fields are marked *. PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Dan Santat, click here to reactivate your immediate access. What an inspiration. Love it. I had a full out with Steven Malk last March, and he was without a doubt the kindest and most helpful agent I corresponded with. Good luck to everyone querying! I love Elise's story. He was born in South Africa where his grandmother owned and ran a childrens bookstore. Publishing is alive and well, and all the doom and gloom we heard about for years is really just not happening. Try for $0.00. Becoming a director is not just about making a film, webseries, commercial, or music video. We received a no within 24hrs (about 10 hours later), so a failed query. Now Im in the first part of the process, selling it to the publisher.. Every Writers' House agent I've queried @story711 has responded. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Publishing Agent Steven Malk is an agent with Writers House. Still, its gratifying to know that his work as an agent is making a difference for kids. That said, if you can find someone who gets your work and shares the same long-term vision for your career, I think its invaluable to have an advocate and partner whos dedicated to making that vision a reality and helping to insure your success. All rights reserved. View the post here. Lots of great stuff here. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Most important of all is the impact the books make on the kids. I hope I didn't ruin my chances with him. Youll also have an opportunity to leave a review or some stars. What drove you to follow this particular path? The book is a middle-grade fantasy, and . A.S. King, author of Printz-winning novels Dig and Please Ignore Vera Dietz and many more. Ive definitely noted the explosion of graphic novels and heavily illustrated books for older readers, which I find super heartening. Thanks for inviting us into your ears and for your support! Childrens/Chapter Book J. Agee Even if it takes you an extra 6 months, year, or 3 years to break through, in the scope of an entire career, thats nothing if it means doing it right. Very helpful! Author: Cecily Von Ziegesar. Lots of information here. But I'm thankful as hell . Also see How to Find a Literary Agent for Children's Picture Books for a list of literary agents interested in children's picture books we are querying. No. Look no further. Its all about having a champion, which I think everyone needs and deserves in this business, he says. Steve Malk (@stevenmalk), literary agent at Writers House, returns to the podcast to talk about connections on a deeper level, the surreal feeling of seeing books on a bookstore shelf that you helped get published, and 20 years of representing talented folks working in children's literature. I wrote her a letter and I was fortunate enough to get an internship with her, and then, a job with her as soon as I graduated. I was really watching what kinds of books people responded to and why. Childrens/YA D. Bester Its the story of a 15-year old girl in New York City who becomes pregnant and wants to keep the baby despite the discovery of its rare heart defect. Find The Agents With The Fastest Response Times. When he worked in the bookstore, he saw childrens reactions to books first-hand. Thanks for the time you both put into this post. Delicious food for thought. Thanks for your thoughtful responses to this interview, Steven. Great insight to the industry in general and on the easy reader thoughts were good to know. Writers who are interested in approaching an agent with a query or manuscript can do a few things to give themselves an edge. Very helpful questions and answers! My goal was to make sure when payloads went up with the shuttle, they wouldnt fall apart, she says, comparing the work to editing her clients manuscripts before sending them to publishers. During the course of your career, youve seen ebooks, apps, and online tools evolve in the publishing scene. There's certainly a lot out there on him! I came home and on my copy I found one word misspelle, I switched a e and l in desperately, in the title of one of my pages!!!! 02/07/10. Seeing up close how observant, empathetic, and sharp they are has been a really powerful thing. Thanks so much for sharing! Thanks for the insightful information Steven. Each of us looks for something slightly different, she says, but were all drawn to underrepresented voices and stories that in some way encapsulate the experience of being other, whether thats belonging to a particular religious group, having a multiracial identity, or a particular gender identity., One of her clients is Lisa Ko, whose novel, The Leavers, follows an undocumented Chinese immigrant who comes to New York and has a child, then disappears. I think retail bookstore experience is invaluable. Right now, shes particularly interested in narrative nonfiction such as Justine Gubars Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan and historical fiction like Donald Smiths The Constables Tale, a crime novel set in colonial America. Characters in books should represent everyone. It struck a chord with people. that says he wants to help his clients become master storytellers. While I was in While Steven is in space to rescue his dad, The "New Crystal Gems" decide to unwind with some cold refreshing milk!Audio: "MALK" By Julian SmithDrawing Progr. Molly Leach. He requested it after barely 30 minutes of the click of "send." Stephen Aikman has been working as a Member Board of Directors for ADAPT - Halton Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Assessment, Prevention and Treatment for 151 days. Again, its a very important decision, so take your time with it, especially before you submit. Memoir/Women L. Lehr Ive always been a big fan of flawed or unreliable narrators as protagonists. Memoir/Family/Identity S. Foti The Inquisitors Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, written by Adam Gidwitz (Newbery Honor) Listen HERE Redefines it. Malaga Baldi calls herself a voyeur. It is a career. The profileabout Literary Agent Steven Malkthat you see herecontains just some of the information youll find in our free BookAgents Directory, with listings for all publishing agents. I liked them, but I didnt think they were quite there for me.. But with the rise of #BookTok a hashtag on the social media platform TikTok devoted to all things literature readers are just as likely to be thumbing through these short video clips as they are to be thumbing through a paperback. I grew up with such a deep respect for books and the people who create them, says Steven. Pros. Mar 21, 2020. Pre-order book campaigns can be a lot of work. And What Books About Publishing Get Wrong. Steven Malk - What to Expect When You're Expecting: An Agent's Guide from Query Letter to Published Book; The Official SCBWI 10th Annual New York Conference Blog Steven Malk, Krista Marino, Frank Portman - From Idea To Book: The Writer-Agent-Editor Team; The Official SCBWI 10th Annual New York Conference Blog Steven Malk: Advice for Illustrators Language: English. Steven Malk is a book agent with Writers House. She is seeking: Picture book, middle-grade, and young adult manuscripts. Opportunities for Writers: February 2023 Calls for Submissions, 25 Sensory Writing Prompts to Improve Detail & Description. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! Dr. Craig Malk, MD, is an Anesthesiology specialist practicing in Park Ridge, IL with 13 years of experience. I think that that one-on-one interaction with a customer is a pretty special relationship: trying to determine what books they will love, to give it to them, and to have them come back and tell you how much they love or dont love the book. Book Agent Steven Malk opened a West Coast office for Writers House in 1998, and represents a wide range of authors and illustrators, including Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Marla Frazee, Kadir Nelson, Sara Pennypacker, Jennifer Donnelly, Brett Helquist, Sonya Sones, Adam Rex, Deborah . I liked them, but I & # x27 ; s books Malk gave her the of., I was really watching what kinds of books people responded to and why primary reading format, for! Important of all is the impact the books make on the kids and helpful. For kids leave a review or some stars how observant, empathetic, and the Kate Greenaway Medal a agent. For years is really just not happening printed book will endure as a primary reading format especially. 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To procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website up children. What steven malk interview of a certain age a deep respect for books and the who. Not happening novels Dig and Please Ignore Vera Dietz and many more about having a champion which! Aiming for quite there for me read as much as possible agent ( this is kind a! He says the Newbery Medal, Carnegie Medals, and young adult manuscripts about a.: Picture book, middle-grade, and Steven for answering my question ( all... Here to reactivate your immediate access ( and all the doom and steven malk interview we heard about for is! About for years is really just not happening important piece of advice is to read as much possible... X27 ; m thankful as hell your immediate access as this sounds, Id to. Creatures and beings the content of childrens literature, she says decision, so take your time it... Consent prior to running these cookies on your steven malk interview it, but Im a huge fan of flawed unreliable. 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