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Interview with Lorin Oberweger, Literary Agent from Adams Literary

By on January 30, 2019   /   Articles  

Hello Mixed-Up Filers! Are we in for a treat today! We have with us, Lorin Oberweger, who besides being a really great person and friend, is also an agent with Adams Literary!

JR: Hi Lorin, thanks for joining us today!

LO: My pleasure! Thanks so much for having me.

JR: To start, could you tell us a little bit about your path to becoming an agent and also about Adams Literary?

LO: Well, that is a long and winding road, but I’ll try to offer the consolidated version! Basically, I’ve been a writer and editor since around the time the earth cooled. I love everything to do with storytellers and storytelling. My editorial services company, founded in 1995, started putting on workshops for writers in 2001, and as of this year, we’ll be into about our ninetieth offering!

Along the way, I started thinking about what else I could do to serve writers, especially those writers who really just needed a boost, someone to advocate for them and for their work.  I was also interested in taking on new challenges for myself. So, I talked to Josh and Tracey Adams (who represent MY writing, by the way) about joining their agency, and they were more than awesome and welcoming.

As I said at a recent writing conference, the path to my building a list and sending out submissions has been a slow one. I’ve definitely met my match in terms of multi-tasking/overcommitting, so I’m working on clearing the decks and really leaning much more heavily into the agenting work. I do have a few clients ready to go out on submission, and I’m super excited for what that will bring.

Here’s the Adams Literary mission statement, which I think sums up their work ethic and philosophy nicely: “Adams Literary is a full-service, boutique literary agency exclusively representing children’s and young adult authors and artists. Founded by Tracey and Josh Adams, Adams Literary prides itself on nurturing the creativity of its clients and maintaining close relationships with editors and publishers in New York City and around the world.”

They really are a family-run business, with all that entails, and I’m so appreciative to be part of that family.

JR: What’s changed in publishing between the time you started and now?

LO: I’ll mention one negative change and then a couple of positive ones. First, the “blah” news: I think it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for authors to make a LIVING as part of the industry. Recent surveys suggest that the average annual income for writers has dropped quite a bit over the last couple of decades.

Part of this has to do, I think, with the absolute explosion in volume of books published, especially if you factor in writers who are publishing independently. There’s just more competition for the audience.

That said, and on the positive side, I think we’re living in content-hungry times right now. Not only are publishers still acquiring at a robust rate, but new imprints blossom with some regularity. Publishers are a bit nimbler in terms of creating homes to spotlight #ownvoices and other stories for readerships that haven’t been that well served until now. It’s a slow and imperfect process, but there’s a real, honest drive to publish works that would likely not have seen the light of day even a decade ago. And credible small presses are doing amazing things, as well. Technology has made it easier to democratize publishing, which has its drawbacks but also has incredible benefits.

The other positive note is that writers are becoming much more expert. In my experience, at least. It’s rare, for example, that I see a totally incompetent query or submission package. Writers are savvier; they’re making use of the resources available to them. As one litmus, back when I first put out my editing shingle there were perhaps three or four legitimate independent editors, and it was tough to convince writers of the benefit of working with one. Now, people recognize the advantages of having an expert, objective advisor on their side.

I will end with this, because I think it’s important. Though the field may feel more crowded than ever, with lower pay, and though publishing can be counted upon to undergo its expansions and contractions, writers make it in publishing ALL THE TIME. It’s very much an open door to those who are diligent, passionate, and who put themselves in service to readers. That is ultimately the secret sauce of writing success.

 

JR: That’s good to hear. It really is about hard work paying off.  What do you enjoy the most about your job?

LO: Working in a developmental capacity with clients, helping to provide the key that unlocks their stories’ real potential. I’m also kind of a research nerd, and I love building submissions lists, trying to find the perfect match between writer and editor.

JR: What sort of books do you look for?

LO: Great ones! Seriously, for me, I’m pretty open to any genre within the MG and YA readerships, though high fantasy or hard science fiction has to offer something fresh AND has to have a potent emotional story for me to feel truly hooked.

As I’d said many times before, I’m also really drawn to characters who demonstrate some level of agency right away, even if their capacity for action is thwarted by circumstances. I want them to feel strongly about themselves or about someone else that they’re urged to pursue a goal and carry us along with them. I’m not such a fan of the victim protagonist who is just pushed through the story, reacting to circumstances as they befall him/her.

On a recent panel, I also mentioned that I love stories that have some foundation in myth or folklore, and a story with feminist underpinnings is also :::chef’s kiss:::!

JR: I know you’re very dedicated with your authors. What do you want in an author/agent relationship?

LO: I feel like this is still evolving in some ways, as I grow my agenting “sea legs.” Mutual respect and forbearance are important. And I would say communication, though I’ve been a bit lacking in that arena, given all that I juggle. Working on that!

I think, too, an understanding that though it should be a warm and friendly one, this is a professional relationship. Boundaries are necessary on both ends in order to keep things healthy and vital.

JR: In your opinion, what’s the state of publishing right now?

LO: Still New York, I’d say.

JR: Okay, I’m loving that answer. 

LO: I know, I know! That was terrible, but I couldn’t resist. I think publishing is chugging along. Deals are still being made all the time. Tens of thousands of books are published each year. This year, it may be more difficult to publish books in certain genres that may be all the rage next year.

I’m not a fan of this question because unless publishing literally shuts its doors, there’s ALWAYS an opportunity for a great writer to have great success. That should be the focus, in my view.

JR: What’s going on in Middle Grade?

LO: I think the market is particularly hungry for great Middle Grade stories, especially—but not limited to—stories with #ownvoices appeal.

JR: What advice can you give to authors?

LO: Push yourself to grow your craft and your knowledge of storytelling ALL THE TIME. Don’t settle. Believe that your story might change someone’s life and write a love letter to THAT person.

JR: That’s great advice. What was your favorite book as a child?

LO: Still one of my top five favorites: THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster. I’m literally going to get a tattoo of some of the characters!

The Phantom Tollbooth

 

JR: What’s one thing from your childhood that you miss and wish could come back?

LO: That feeling of having all the time in the world.

 

JR: Where can we find you on Social Media?

LO:

@AuthorLor on Twitter

lorin_o3318 on Instagram

lorin.oberweger on Facebook

And you can probably find me by name on other platforms!

 

JR: Now, in 10,000 words or more, tell me why you love being friends with me.

LO: I’m afraid 10,000 words would hardly suffice. I’ll send you my master thesis when I’m done!

 

JR: Sweet, I can’t wait to read it! Thanks so much for taking the time to speak to us today!

LO: My pleasure! Thank YOU!

 

To check out Adams Literary and where to submit to Lorin:

http://www.adamsliterary.com/

 

Well, Mixed-Up Filers, until next time . . .

 

Jonathan

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STEM Tuesday– Awesome Animal Antics– Interview with Author Patricia Newman

By on January 29, 2019   /   Animals, Common Core & NGSS, Cross-Curricular, STEM Tuesday  

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview & Book Giveaway, a repeating feature for the fourth Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math!

Today we’re interviewing Patricia Newman, author of Eavesdropping on Elephants: How Listening Helps Conservation. This fascinating book is a 2019 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students: K-12 (National Science Teachers Association and the Children’s Book Council) and won a Eureka! Gold Award from the California Reading Association.

Mary Kay Carson: Why did you write Eavesdropping on Elephants?

Patricia Newman: Back in the 1980s I visited Kenya and saw elephants in the wild for the first time. I watched the way they moved, observed their family groups, and experienced how fiercely the matriarch protects her herd when she charged our safari van. One day we took a hike outside the national park and came across a massive elephant skull. Any child who has seen The Lion King understands the circle of life, but it wasn’t at all clear to us how this elephant had died. Natural causes or poaching? The tusks were gone. Did a park official or a poacher take them? The idea that a poacher carried away the tusks under cover of darkness gave me shivers.

I must have passed my interest in elephants on to my daughter Elise, because she worked for Cornell’s Elephant Listening Project as an undergrad. She had daily contact with Katy Payne, Peter Wrege, and Liz Rowland. She explained their research to me and described how she sat in front of the computer cataloguing forest sounds. And she told stories of snatching the headphones off her ears when an elephant trumpeted a very loud alarm call. I knew then I wanted to write about them. Elise handled the introductions, and the rest…well, you know.

School Library Journal says about Eavesdropping on Elephants, “…this book does an excellent job of transporting readers and providing a clear, multifaceted picture of African forest elephants…The more you listen to wildlife, the more your mind opens up to new ideas about why the world is a place worth saving.”

MKC: How did you research this book? Did it involve travel? 

Patricia: I did not spend time with forest elephants. The scientists were not at their research station in the Central African Republic when I wrote this book, but I did sit in the Elephant Listening Project’s lab and listen to forest sounds. I had headphones on my ears and for hours I watched video and listened to sound files.

You might think listening to sounds is a poor substitute for actually being in the field, but it wasn’t. The sounds were transformative and immersive! I felt elephant rumbles and roars deep in my chest. I heard water sloshing as elephants walked through it. I literally swatted away a mosquito buzzing in my ear. I could imagine the forest mud sucking at my feet. And I learned how to identify the sounds of frogs, buffalo, parrots, gorillas, and chimps.

By allowing my ears to take over, I learned to appreciate the forest in a whole new way. And I wanted my readers to have the same experience. Eavesdropping on Elephants tells the story of field scientists helping an endangered species, but it’s so much more. Through the power of video and audio QR codes, the book allows readers to walk in the scientists’ shoes inside the forest. I always ask kids to tell me what they see in the videos or hear in the audio. Their responses would make Katy and Peter proud.

Patricia Newman’s books show kids how their actions can ripple around the world. Newman hopes to empower kids to think about the adults they’d like to become. Find out more about the author and her award-winning books at www.patriciamnewman.com.

MKC: To whom did you imagine yourself writing to while writing the book?

Patricia: Throughout, I imagined my daughter at age ten. What would she want to know? Elephant facts, for sure. But she was also interested in the “how” and “why” of the world. This book was a challenge because the narrative unfolded over the course of many years. How would I squeeze in Katy Payne’s early work with infrasound, sprinkle in some Elephant Listening Project history, and still keep the ten-year-old Elise engaged? I decided to use the passage of time to my advantage.

Science is not performed in a vacuum, nor is a long-term investigation quick. I thought the story of how Katy’s work on infrasound at the Oregon zoo morphed into ELP was a great example of real science in action. Questions and observations often lead scientists down unexpected paths and to unexpected conclusions.

Also, scientists sometimes age out of their work. When Katy retired from ELP, Peter carried on her vision but added his own flair. I thought the staff change was a great example of the inclusiveness of science—how different individuals can contribute to and build on the same project.

MKC: For readers who loved Eavesdropping on Elephants, what other middle-grade books would you suggest?

Patricia: A tough question because I don’t know of any other books about forest elephants for children (or for adults for that matter). They are just coming into their own as a species and few people know about them. Young readers interested in elephant research might consider The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson, which features Caitlin’s work with savanna elephants. Also, consider Bravelands #3: Blood and Bone by Erin Hunter, the author of the Warriors series. The third installment of Bravelands is told by the African elephant—but it’s a savanna elephant, not a forest elephant.

Win a FREE copy of Eavesdropping on Elephants!

Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below. The randomly-chosen winner will be contacted via email and asked to provide a mailing address (within the U.S. only) to receive the book.

Good luck!

Your host this week is fellow elephant fan Mary Kay Carson, author of Mission to Pluto and other nonfiction books for kids. @marykaycarson

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Literary Activities for African American History Month

By on January 25, 2019   /   Articles, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers  

African American History Month starts next week, and schools across the country have a variety of activities planned to celebrate. In addition to being a middle grade writer and blogger, I am the PTA President at my kids’ elementary school, and so I’ve had the good fortune to be involved in our school’s planning for this special time. Of course, reading had to be a big part of it!

We decided to welcome parents into the classroom to read works by and about African Americans. First, we met with principal, and discussed our mutual goal of enhancing kids’ understanding of the breadth of the contribution of African Americans to American history. Often, kids point to the same five or seven famous African Americans, without a sense of how many more people have shaped our society in a broad range of ways. We then put together a list of books that included biography, fiction, poetry, and more, all by or about African Americans. We worked with the librarian to find out which of those titles our library already contains, and created an Amazon wishlist of the remaining. We will send that out to parents, to see if anyone would like to contribute. The librarian will collect the selected books onto a few shelves of the library for parents to choose from when they come in to do their reading at the appointed time.

As we planned, we came across a number of other ideas and resources for those putting together literary activities for African American History Month. Here are a few:

I hope this African American History Month is filled with fun, discovery, and plenty of great books!

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