Paying It Forward Day 5

• Colleen
• Paying It Forward Series
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Day five!

It’s always nice to see what has sold and what the professionals are looking for!

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*Remember to always check individual submission requirements.

Today’s information.

Ammi-Joan Paquette joined the Erin Murphy Literary Agency as an associate agent in early 2009, and placed a dozen manuscripts in her first year. Recent sales include The Monstore, by Tara Lazar (Aladdin, 2012—Yay, Tara!!!!). The Orphan Prince trilogy, by Jennifer Nielson (Scholastic, 2012), and Words in the Dust, by Trent Reedy (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, 2011). Joan represents all forms of children’s and YA literature. She is particularly drawn to a strong lyrical voice, tight plotting, and complex characters. Joan is also the author of The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies (Tanglewood, 2009), as well as the forthcoming PB, Ghost in the House (Candlewick, 2012), and novel, Luchi, Undaunted (Walker, 2011). Joan is happy to look at queries from conference attendees; please use the submission form at http://emliterary.com. There is no time limit on submissions.

Annette Pollert, Associate Editor, Simon Pulse. Annette acquires contemporary, commercial teen fiction and the occasional nonfiction title. Working with and editing paranormal romance writers like NYT bestselling author L.J. Smith, Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie, as well as Jeri Smith-Ready, she is always interested in reading manuscripts in that genre that have inventive hooks and distinctive voices. She also enjoys dark, edgy suspense/mysteries, and novels in verse. Annette is interested in books based in—or out—of reality with complicated, engaging protagonists. Make her laugh, make her cry—mesmerize her with your really awesome manuscript! (No high fantasy, please.)

Beth Potter, Associate Editor, FSG Books for Young Readers. Beth edits children’s books for all ages, from PBs to YA novels. She is the editor of Annie Glover is Not a Tree Lover by Darleen Bailey Beard and (forthcoming this fall) Ellie Ever by Nancy Ruth Patterson and Edges by Lena Roy. She looks for emotionally resonant, smart, well-crafted YA projects that bridge the commercial and literary worlds by combining stellar writing with an irresistible hook. A few items on her acquisition wish-list are: a really gripping YA murder mystery, a project involving food or cooking or restaurants, and a gorgeously-imagined fairy-tale retelling. On the PB side of things, she’s looking for simple, fun, and funny.

Linda Pratt, Agent, Sheldon Fogelman Agency. Linda works with authors ad illustrators in all genres for children. Her clients range from award winners and bestsellers, such as Sharon G. Flake, Denise Brunkus, and Karen Beaumont to rising new talents like YA author and today’s Success Story speaker, Eric Luper (Seth Baumgartner’s Love Manifesto, published June 2010), debut MG novelist, Jane Kelley (Nature Girl, published May 2010), and author/illustrator, Angela Dominguez (Maria Had a Little Llama due out in 2010). Currently Linda is most interested in fiction: strong voices, timeless stories that couple a sense of reality with elements of escapism or otherworldliness, speculative fiction that retains a sense of hope, and characters not seen often or who may be familiar, but are portrayed in a unique way that feels fresh. Linda will be open to receiving submissions post-Rutgers.