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Philadelphia-based Eric Smith has worked as an author, an anthology editor, and an agent, and as such has a deep love for children’s literature and an impressive range of experience.  His most recent novel, a YA romcom about two teens whose families own rival cheesesteak trucks, With or Without You, was released in 2023. From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors had the privilege of speaking with Eric about his career, especially his role as an agent for P.S. Literary.

How did you get into agenting? Was that before or after you established yourself as an author?

It was just a smidge after my author life had kicked off. My first book, The Geek’s Guide to Dating, was published with Quirk at the very end of 2013, and I started agenting with P.S. in 2014. My first YA novel, Inked, came out in 2015. So, I was still a bit of a baby author back then.

I had been working at Quirk Books for about five years when I made the leap. I’d been looking for roles in editorial, actually, when the agenting position caught my eye. I’d been lucky enough to work with some of the team at P.S. Literary on books they’d had at Quirk, by my friend (and agency client) Sam Maggs. I reached out and well, here we are a decade later. I feel very lucky.

What can you tell us about P.S. Literary?

It’s an agency based out of Canada, with a bundle of absolutely wonderful agents.  Everyone’s tastes there are so wildly different, that we end up being an agency which works on a wide array of projects. I’d tell anyone reading who loves kid-lit, to check out the work of my colleagues Maria Vicente and Curtis Russell.

What do you look for in a query or manuscript? What themes and topics really call to you? Are you seeking anything in particular right now?

Oooh that’s a tough one! The unhelpful answer is “a good story!” but really, that’s what it usually comes down to.

The thing about a good query, is that it gives me everything I need to know if it’s something I want to request. The basics are there so I know it’s in good shape (good word count, solid comparative titles, the right genre and category for the description of the story), and then the details of the story ground me in the book.

Like, when you look at the jacket copy of any book on your bookshelf, we get a sense of the characters, stakes, and why they can’t just walk away, right? Give those books a look right now! See? We need to get a sense of that in the pitch too.

Once I’ve got all those bits in a query, and as long as the writing is good (again another unhelpful bit), I’ll request away!

As for what I’m specifically looking for… hm. I really want more horror, high-concept romantic comedies, and accessible genre-blending fiction.

Following up on that, what would you like to see more of in middle grade fiction?

More horror please! And I’d love to see an even bigger resurgence in middle grade sci-fi. It’s been such a thrill watching Scott Reintgen’s The Last Dragon on Mars absolutely everywhere. Kids want their science fiction! Let’s make it happen!

What are some of your favorite middle grade authors and/or books? Those can be classic, recent, ones which influenced you growing up, or ones which stand out in today’s market…

I feel like I’m always chasing the thrill of reading an Alex London novel. His Middle Grades, from Battle Dragons to the Princess Protection Program, are just so spectacularly imaginative, accessible, and inclusive. They are the kind of books I cannot wait to give to my kiddo when he’s old enough to read them.

I feel like Olivia A. Cole reinvents themself with every single Middle Grade they write. Where the Lockwood Grows was a masterpiece and then we get hit with The Empty Place, and both books feel so spectacularly different while still so distinctly Olivia. Their books are a literary miracle.

I’ve also loved Sarvenaz Tash and Misa Sugiura’s ventures into Middle Grade after several astonishing YA novels. Definitely pick up the Momo Arashima series and Tash’s debut in MG, The Queen of Ocean Parkway.

As an agent, you’ve represented non-fiction, adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction. Do you have a particular favorite category? What’s it like covering such a wide spectrum of material?

Oooh that’s like asking me to pick my favorite child!

I think my favorite place to work in is always going to be Young Adult books, just because I also write them, which means I get this extra thrill really digging into projects with my YA clients. I like to think I’m really good at those. I hope my clients agree!

What advice would you give an author seeking representation for the first time?

Take your time, do the research. There are a lot of agents out there, but there’s a good chance after you’ve scoured through and made your lists of the ones who will best represent your work, you might only have a couple dozen that feel right. And it’s better to have a good fit.

That said, try not to be nervous? Or intimidated? While there’s an adage floating around about how agents are always looking for a reason to say no, I’d argue that we are always looking for a reason to say YES. We’re people who love books and the folks who write them, and we don’t have a job without creatives.

So yes, take your time. Do the homework. But then take a deep breath. You’re preparing to engage with a bunch of wild fans.

I also keep a bundle of query resources on my website, so if you’re looking to read some sample query letters, give it a look! It’s all free.

What are some of the reasons why you might pass on a query or manuscript? What pitfalls should authors try and avoid?

I mean, it’s never something nefarious. It’s usually a sign that the book just isn’t ready, or they haven’t had anyone else look at it. A word count that is far too low or way too high, a voice that doesn’t fit the category or genre, a fundamentally wrong narrative decision for the project, things like that.

You avoid those pitfalls by being familiar with the space you’re looking to be in. Reading books in the genre or category. I can usually tell right away if a writer isn’t versed in what they’re writing. So do that work.

After all, if you want to write MG novels, you should be a fan of them, right?

How do you balance your author and agent workloads?

Hah! I wish I had some secret hack answer here, but the reality is, I do it the way anyone who has a day job does it. I squeeze in a little time here and there. I wake up early before my kid goes to school, and I write at 6AM until he comes into my office demanding juice. If I’ve had a day that isn’t too exhausting, sometimes I’ll write at night. And I have long standing writing dates with friends that I set up.

It means my books sometimes take a while, and it means sometimes I won’t touch a draft for weeks. But family and work always comes first.

What are you working on now? What projects, both yours and your clients, would you like to hype?

Oh you! My first Middle Grade novel comes out in 2026 with Crown and is called The Adoptee’s Guide to Surviving Seventh Grade. It’s co-written with Jazz Taylor and K.A. Reynolds, and is about a club of adoptees who do not want to talk about their feelings… until they have to, of course.

And there may be another MG announcement on the horizon for me.

As for my clients, there’s a really beautiful MG non-fiction book coming out next year with Bloomsbury by Margeaux Weston called Everything But Typical that I’m very proud of, all about neurodiverse people who have made history, and the latest in Robin Stevenson’s MG non-fiction Kid Legends series, Kid Olympians: Winter, is set to publish with Quirk.

Finally, because I know you’re a proud Philadelphian: Wit’ or witout?  Whiz or American?  And what’s your favorite cheesesteak place?

Hahah, I am a provolone boy, and when it’s available, Cooper Sharp, the best of cheeses. My favorite cheesesteak places are perhaps a bit controversial, as I love the oxtail cheesesteak (you heard me) at Revolution House in Old City, and the curry chicken cheesesteak at Cedar Point in Fishtown. Though most of my Philadelphia friends will tell you, the best cheesesteak is wherever you can get one.