Editor / Agent Spotlight

NEW AGENT: Meet East/West Literary Agent Jim Averbeck

By on October 7, 2024   /   Editor / Agent Spotlight, For Writers   /   1 Comment

We are thrilled to welcome Jim Averbeck to the Agent Spotlight on The Mixed-up Files of Middle Grade Authors today. Jim Averbeck is NEW to agenting as of his September announcement, but definitely not to #kidlit. He is looking to represent picture book author/illustrators as well as middle grade and YA authors. The first client to join him was the NYT #1 bestselling, critically acclaimed author Ellen Hopkins. We are excited to hear all about his new venture with East/West Literary Agency. 

 

Welcome Jim. Are you ready for some questions?

ED: Your #kidlit resume includes so many “chapters” –from award-winning author/illustrator/ middle grade author, SCBWI RA, to mentor and conference critiques and editorial feedback. How might these experiences influence your approach to agenting?

Jim Averbeck: Thank you for featuring me today. As a middle grade author, myself, I have always appreciated this blog.

ED Fun fact: Jim’s mg A HITCH AT THE FAIRMONT (Atheneum) is mentioned in a MUF post: https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/cope/

Jim Averbeck: As for your first question, I think the biggest influence on my agenting style will be the mentoring/editorial work I’ve done (and still do) with authors who want to make their manuscript the very best it can be.

I’ve had more than a dozen people thank me on social media for helping them polish their manuscript in a way that resulted in them selling their first book.  They, and many others, have said they are grateful that I was able to see into the emotional heart of their stories and was able to identify the way to bring it to its best. So I hope to bring that ability to my clients.

ED: How important is the query letter? 

 Jim Averbeck: It’s an opportunity to give some insight into what is unique about your story and why you are uniquely suited to write it. But ultimately the work has to shine on its own.

ED: In addition to repping picture book author/illustrators, your E/W Literary announcement states: In middle grade, YA, and graphic novels, Averbeck is interested in science fiction, low or historical fantasy, and literary fiction with memorable, quirky protagonists and steadfast supporting characters who break stereotypes and tropes. Are there published examples that come to mind, or books that you wish you had agented?

Jim Averbeck: Great question! Here ’s a list of published books I like:

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The City We Became by NK Jemisin

The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

Those books by Laini Taylor about the fierce little fairies (I was super-bummed they didn’t catch on so the series could continue) …

Anything by Neil Gaiman

Anything by Steve Sheinkin

Anything…you know what? How about I just take pictures of my bookcases. Most of what is on them survived the “cull” when I moved 3 years ago, so I probably like the books shown.

Click the photos for an Inside Look at what’s on Jim Averbeck’s shelves!

 

 

Jim Averbeck: As for my TBR pile, I just received a copy of Ellen Hopkins’ latest, SYNC, and can’t wait to dig in.

ED: Claudia, one of the main characters in E.L Konigsburg’s book Mixed Up Files… for which our group is named, is a stickler for grammar. Would you stop reading a submission if it has a few typos, grammatical errors, or misspelled words?

Jim Averbeck: Typos and misspelled words tell me the author is careless so maybe I’d stop if the work wasn’t immediately brilliant. Grammar could have been tossed in service to character or author voice so that probably wouldn’t stop me.  That said, I really hate it when people can’t get lie vs lay straight!  So much so that whenever anyone says “I’m going to lay down” I mentally add “my troubles” to stop from squirming uncomfortably.

ED: Do you plan to notify all who submit to you—both the yays and the nays?

Jim Averbeck: That’s the plan. It would be somewhat rude to leave people hanging. That said, my current system still has a few kinks so it might take a while before it is all running smoothly.

ED: What was your favorite book as a child? What’s on your TBR pile right now? (Besides manuscripts.)

Jim Averbeck: My favorite book as a child was Kathryn Jackson’s and Richard Scarry’s “365 Stories: One for Each Day of the Year”  It’s had a number of titles over the years. I still have the same copy I had as a child – a very worn, very torn copy.

ED: Are you interested in being invited to writer’s conferences?

Jim Averbeck Yes.

ED: And now for the question all our readers have been waiting for: How should authors submit to you? Is there a link?

Jim Averbeck: Folks should go to jimaverbeck.com/agenting. There is a button there for submitting a query, as well as information on what to submit.

Endless Thanks to Jim Averbeck for letting us celebrate his new AGENT hat today.

Wishing you great success, Jim.

Let the querying begin!

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Editor Spotlight With Hannah Kimber

By on September 29, 2024   /   Articles, Editor / Agent Spotlight   /   Leave a comment

I’m thrilled to welcome Andrews McMeel Kids editor Hannah Kimber to the Mixed-Up Files. She is the proud cat mom of Gordo, Kiko, and Pickle. She is also my editor for HART & SOULS. I am so grateful she could tear herself away from work and her fur babies long enough to share her wisdom and publishing insights. 

Let’s do this!  (Meow) 

Lisa: Hi, Hannah! Please tell us a bit about Andrews McMeel Kids.

Hannah: Andrews McMeel is known in the publishing world for its high quality webcomic collections, poetry, and of course a handful of middle grade bestsellers like Big Nate, Phoebe and Her Unicorn, and Trapped in a Video Game. In the last few years we’ve added some amazing titles to our kids’ roster, including Meems and Feefs, Pocket Peaches, Enola Holmes Graphic Novel Series and Cat Ninja. Our kids’ publishing program acts as an extension of our history in newspaper comic syndication: high quality graphic novels that inspire, delight, and make reading fun! In addition to graphic novels, we have illustrated middle grade prose (Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes, Hart & Souls, and the Show Strides series), non-fiction, and younger reader graphic novel formats (Bean the Stretchy Dragon, Birtle and the Purple Turtles, and Kitten Ninja). At Andrews McMeel we hope to connect to the—not necessarily reluctant or hesitant, but—”distracted” reader. 

Lisa: How did you get involved with children’s publishing?

Hannah: I started as an assistant to the Andrews McMeel CEO, Kirsty Melville. This was a really unique position because I got to see the business from the top down. Kirsty is a very hands-on publisher and the team is intimate, so I was able to participate in a variety of meetings and tasks related to publishing on both the editorial and the sales and marketing side. I initially thought I wanted to work in adult publishing, but then I met Erinn Pascal, our fantastic Senior Editor, and working with her convinced me that kidlit was the place to be—it’s meaningful, rewarding, and SO much fun! I love that working in children’s publishing reminds me not to take myself so seriously.

Lisa: What middle grade books inspired you as a child?   

Hannah: I’m peak Millennial, so I have to, of course, say Harry Potter. I remember staying up late, the night before I started a new school. I couldn’t sleep but was immediately comforted by escaping into the world of Harry Potter! I was a big fan of fantasy, so I also loved reading The Chronicles of Narnia, His Dark Materials, and even Lord of the Rings when I was a bit too young to truly take it in, but was excited about the movies coming out (I reread it later in college).

 I had a lot of other one-off books that also inspired me. I loved Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, Holes by Louis Sachar, and Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I grew up in Kansas so I also had a particular affinity for the Laura Ingalls Wilder series! I loved anything that was an escape.

Lisa: What middle grade books are you working on now that you’re excited about?

Hannah: I’m doing a lot of graphic novels, which is really fun because my educational background is in art/art history. It’s so fun to not only be stretching my writing muscles all the time, but extending that to visual storytelling and the way that the text and the images work together. I just finished working on a great graphic novel called Life Really Socks about a pair of socks where one “twin” gets lost in a washing machine portal. It’s clever and silly—my favorite!

Lisa: What tips do you have for writers regarding writing and submitting?

Hannah: Don’t give up! But also, don’t linger. Let me explain: Try to remember that publishing and in general the book market is very cyclical. What may be rejected or not sought after for a period of time can also see a resurgence in many ways later down the road. That isn’t to say that we should be repeating things we’ve done in the past, but rather adding new and modern spins to them. If you have a project that continues to get rejected—don’t necessarily give up on it. It’s okay to keep it on the back burner for a while and revisit it later when it may be more viable on the market. And similarly, don’t linger on a project so long that you forget that you have other projects inside of you, too! Keep writing, keep creating, keep being curious and seeing what is out there.

Lisa: What advice would you give to a debut author? Both in terms of writing and working with an editor?

Hannah: In writing and in terms of working with an editor I would say be flexible and open to collaboration! Editors are kind of interesting people because we have to have both the creative side (type B) and the business side (type A). As a fellow creative, I know how vulnerable it can be to put your work out there, and I try to always respect that in the work I do with authors. The business side of me also wants the project to be the best that it can be based on the knowledge I’ve gathered working as an editor, and the knowledge my team brings to the table! I think it is the most fun for both author and editor when the creative process is a respectful collaboration. And I think that creating kidlit should be fun, honestly!

Lisa: What are some under-represented MG topics you’d like to see more of?

Hannah: I think we are lucky to be in a time where people are becoming more cognizant that there has been a lack of topics, themes, or voices on the market. At Andrews McMeel we are constantly striving to make sure that our books do not reflect one world view or theme, and we are also very careful to make sure that a variety of people with a variety of backgrounds work on each of our books to ensure that they are authentic, sensitive, and relatable. That being said, there are still plenty of topics out there that are not being covered by authors! For example, mythology is a very trendy theme but we still see a lot of Greek or Western-centric mythology. I also am loving the recent surge in middle-grade novels-in-verse. It seems like this format can tackle a lot of themes or topics that may be untouched because they are sensitive (i.e. grief, death, bullying, etc.) I think that whatever theme authors are writing about, as long as it is authentic and comes from a sincere place, then there is a place for it out there!

Lisa: What makes your eyes light up and your heart sing when scanning the submissions folder?

Hannah: A proposal that helps me answer the hard questions! Don’t be afraid to position your proposal and envision it on the market. Don’t be afraid to have comp titles or potential BISAC codes! I think some people can be worried about putting labels on their work too soon and having that be a turn off, but publishers are going to change BISACs/positioning ideas/etc. as they see best for the book. As an editor, what I love is when I can see that the author has thought through some of these questions and really knows their work inside and out. Obviously the real work begins when the deal is made, and many of those things can change. But what doesn’t change is my impression that the author is thinking through all of the decisions related to their book!

About Hannah: 

Hannah Kimber has been with Andrews McMeel since 2019. In 2016, Hannah graduated with her MA in English Literature from Saint Louis University in Madrid, Spain. After three years of living and working in Madrid, Hannah moved back to her hometown of Kansas City and started working as a store manager at Barnes & Noble, a dream-come-true for anyone who understands a serious book-buying addiction. While pursuing a role in publishing, Hannah encountered Andrews McMeel—an independent publishing house right in her own backyard. After joining AMU as an assistant to President & Publisher Kirsty Melville, Hannah was able to get a top-down view of the publishing business.

As an editor, she mainly acquires children’s books in the upper middle grade age-range, with the occasional adult humor or comics collection. Hannah also works on licensed projects in both the children’s and adult categories. Middle grade and YA graphic novels and illustrated fiction are always welcome, but she also enjoys projects that play with format and design in interesting ways. Fantasy, adventure, and historical and contemporary fiction are her favorite themes. She appreciates stories told from a fresh perspective.

To learn more, please check out her Manuscript Wishlist .

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Agent Spotlight: Meet Literary Agent Sally Kim

By on August 29, 2024   /   Articles, Editor / Agent Spotlight, For Writers  

We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Sally Kim to the agent spotlight here at From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. Sally is a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency (ABLA). She represents fiction and non-fiction picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels and is especially eager to see authentic explorations of underrepresented cultures, relationships, and identities.

Sally took time out of her busy agenting life to share more about her pre-kidlit career, what she loves about being an agent, and some cool books from ABLA to check out.

From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors: How did you become an agent? 

Sally Kim, literary agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Sally Kim: After 15+ wonderful years in children’s book publishing, I was looking for my next big opportunity and specifically, I wanted to return to working closely with individual authors and illustrators. At the advice of trusted colleagues in the industry, I sought out informational calls with a handful of well-respected literary agents and asked them what it took to be an all-around exceptional agent. What qualities were essential from Day 1 and what skills could be learned on the job? My goal was to objectively assess my potential before taking the leap. To my delight, all the conversations went very well and strengthened my resolve to move forward. In a few short months, I was thrilled to find a place with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. I haven’t looked back since!

 

MUF: Your pre-agenting background was in kidlit marketing and publicity. How do those skills translate in your current role? 

SK: My years working in marketing and publicity gave me broad exposure to the children’s book market and an understanding of how publishers work to connect books to readers, to adapt to the ever-shifting landscape of key retailers and sales channels, and to day-in and day-out launch new books and make each of them stand out from the crowd. As a marketer, I spent many years partnering with colleagues in editorial and sales to participate in heated auctions, build bestselling brands and series, and position books for long-term success.

I believe as a new agent, I am uniquely positioned to help my clients understand how their work, whether it be a lyrical picture book or a middle grade novel-in-verse, fits into the market and where it can find its target readership. And in my time in publishing, I particularly enjoyed collaborating closely with authors and illustrators on their launch campaigns–traveling with them to conferences, bookstore appearances, and just generally evangelizing about their talent. There’s a lot of great crossover to life as an agent.

MUF:  What does a typical workday look like for you?  

SK: There is no typical day! But I can definitely describe a typical work week. The first thing to note is that while I build my career as a literary agent, I am still working as an independent consultant for children’s book publishers around the world. I’m often on early morning Zoom calls with folks on France and late afternoon calls with folks in Australia.

Thankfully, my consulting work is very flexible and I still have plenty of time and energy for agenting. In a typical week, this includes giving clients feedback on their manuscripts, strategizing on the next project to go out with, researching potential editors for an upcoming pitch, having calls with individual editors to get to know their tastes and current wishlists, and of course reading queries! Always reading queries!

Also, I should say that the agents at Andrea Brown are incredibly communicative and collaborative. All day long, we’re chatting on Slack and over email, sharing feedback and suggestions with one another on any number of topics. I’m soaking it all in and eagerly learning from my peers and mentors.

MUF: What’s your least favorite part of your job as an agent?

SK: I think my clients will agree with me, but every time an editor passes on a project, it’s hard not to feel momentarily discouraged. But I like to tell myself (and them!) that it’s all part of the process. Upward and onward we go.

MUF: What’s your favorite? 

SK: That elusive moment when I’m deep in the trenches of queries, reading my twentieth manuscript of the night and suddenly I’m blown away by a project from start to finish. The good ones really jump out and grab you in the best, most exciting way. The thrill of discovery is real!

MUF: Book bans are on our minds. What should writers, readers, parents, librarians, and other do to support access to books for kids? 

SK: Great question. And as I type out my answer, I’m really talking to myself most of all. We should all try to keep up with the latest on book ban news. Learn which of your favorite authors are being affected and make every effort to support them through it. Speak up and speak out about the harmful effects of book bans to your friends, family, and your larger community. Use every opportunity to amplify messages that support the freedom to read.

And have you heard of Authors Against Book Bans? If you are a book creator of any kind, I encourage you to join. And please listen to Jenn Laughran’s Literaticast podcast interview with founding members Maggie Tokuda-Hall and David Levithan. The episode goes live this month (August 2024) and I will be first in line to listen and take notes.

MUF: Any kidlit books coming out soon (or just out!) from your clients that we should keep an eye out for?  

SK: Yes! While I’m about to go out on submission with my first MG project (fingers crossed!), I going to take the opportunity to recommend several exceptionally good books written by other agency clients. Please check them out!

Vega's Piece of the Sky by Jennifer Torres

 

MUF: Where can people find you online? (Social media, work website, other) 

SK: Let’s connect! Please query me at https://querymanager.com/query/sallyabla. Follow me online on Instagram @sallymkim and Bluesky @sallymkim.bsky.social. And to learn more about Andrea Brown Literary agency, go to our website:  https://www.andreabrownlit.com.

 

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