This week's Agent Spotlight features Steven Malk of Writers House, LLC. Childrens/Chapter Book J. Agee I was lucky enough to grow up around childrens books, as both my parents and grandmother owned independent childrens bookstores. Bethany Funk Agent Spotlight Interview and Query Critique Giveaway on 2/23/2023; . All Agent Spotlights & Interviews have been updated as of 7/15/2020, and many have been reviewed by the agents. One of the first stages after the manuscript is written, or at least conceived, is facilitated by a unique, behind-the-scenes player: the literary agent. Nonfiction/Self-Help A. Goddard But there were two problems. By logging in to LiveJournal using a third-party service you accept LiveJournal's User agreement. Very helpful questions and answers! Has anyone heard back from a full from this agent? Her perspective is one that Im thrilled to see shared.. Shes particularly excited to be pitching a book about Greenland, which combines the history of the country with the authors journal entries. A whole bunch of young adult publishers have gay and lesbian novels for young readers, which is fantastic. On an unrelated note, Malk really blossomed as a guitarist with the Jicks and with later projects. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. 4.77. Pre-order book campaigns can be a lot of work. Zeke Pea is a Xicano storyteller and cartoonist from El Paso, TX. Write a Review . I was able to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. It felt so honest, written by a pediatric cardiologist able to dive into the experiences of people she saw in her practice., McCarthy notes that we dont necessarily see characters struggling with these big-picture issues unless theyre white and middle-class. The intersection of the business and artistic side of the industry was really exciting for me. An amazingly experienced publisher in the world of literary fiction, and theyve done a beautiful job of publishing it, Pande says of the company. The annual signature event for the Stags Leap District . My favourite bit of Elise Parsley's inspiring story was this humble sentence Its really crazy to think that a month ago, nobody knew who I was, and now several people do! :-) JJ. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I liked them, but I didnt think they were quite there for me.. Subscribe todayto The Writer magazine for tips, industry news, reviews, and much more. Steven Malk smalk@writershouse.com Andrea Morrison amorrison@writershouse.com Jodi Reamer jreamer@writershouse.com Robin Rue rrue@writershouse.com John Schline jschline@writershouse.com Rebecca Sherman rsherman@writershouse.com Alexa Stark astark@writershouse.com Stacy Testa stesta@writershouse.com Maja Nikolic mnikolic@writershouse.com Cecilia . Keep it cordial and professional. For off-site access, click here. So excited to share that Malk was ranked as the Top Boutique in Vault's Environmental Sustainability Consulting Category. Steven MalkLiterary Agent This articleabout Literary Agent Steven Malkand Writers Houseis part of a series about literary agents andFinding a BookAgent. She got a later start as an author, he says. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, their two children, and two dogs. The market is more competitive than ever, and its worth it to me to take the time to make something as polished as possible. These cookies do not store any personal information. What kind of questions should a writer ask a perspective agent before they sign with them? Think of it as a conversation with a friend about what youre working on., Shes also open to getting emailed query letters from people who have attended a conference at which shes appeared. Our first literary agent query was to Steven Malk of Writers House by email on June 13th 2016. Copyrighted Content. Photos courtesy of Steven Malk. Steven Malk, Matt's literary agent at the Writer's House literary agency. Shes a fascinating woman who takes a scientific approach that I find constantly surprising and interesting., McCarthy notes that the grassroots organization We Need Diverse Books has had a powerful impact on publishing over the past two years. Bye. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. My Manuscript Wish List. I visit every day and although I want to succeed as an author, I have an equal desire for you to as well. Kidlit authors should definitely give him a shot! Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The way that the stories are delivered has evolved and will continue to evolve. You can write anything for the teen set as long as the protagonist is a child of a certain age. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox Im just so happy to be a part of it, Pande says. As an editor, youre troubleshooting the manuscript.. Web: melissahart.com. He suggested I expand the essay into a non-fiction book. This year's Newbery Award winner, Matt de La Pea, phoned his agent, Steven Malk, at 4:30 in the morning to tell him the news about his picture book, Last Stop on Market Street. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I was not expecting the case study questions. If you are submitting by mail please include a self-addressed-stamped-envelope for our reply. Now, shes on the lookout for a book proposal about how one becomes an architect. She is seeking: Picture book, middle-grade, and young adult manuscripts. Anon, sorry for the late reply. While I was in But either way FINGERS CROSSED and THANK YOU for EVERYTHING and GO WRITERS!!! Regular Price: 27.99 USD. Everyone wants to write the next Harry Potter, but there is no next Harry Potter. Steven with childrens writer Maria van Lieshout. I love to hear about other peoples professions, she says. If youre working really hard and trying to get better, good things tend to happen.. The role of the literary agent includes negotiating publishing contracts, but its a much more comprehensive relationship. [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago 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. Founded in 1887, The Writer instructs, informs, and inspires writers, providing practical coverage of the craft of writing and of the publishing industry. Do you feel a childrens lit writer absolutely needs an agent (this is kind of a loaded questions isnt it)? Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (August 3, 2011) With her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Thanks, Casey. Dr. Craig Steven Malk, MD . So, we came up with a living, breathing . He believes the best work comes from a personal place for someone. Great questions and answers. Im lucky enough to work with some of the authors and artists whose books I used to sell, and Ive also done my best to bring new and different perspectives to the world of childrens and YA literature. No. While hes solicited some of his clients, hes found others in the slush pile. Genres: Young Adult. Do you think printed books will endure as the primary reading format for children? Whats on your manuscript wish list at the moment? He requested it after barely 30 minutes of the click of "send." Updated Mr. Malk's sales, photo, and added an AWESOME interview to the "Worth Your Time" section. In 2013 Matthew was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker and was invited to the White House as part of the Champions of Change program. In part two of her interview with Stephen, "Top Gun: Maverick" star Jennifer Connelly shares a clip from the film in which she and Tom Cruise pilot a sailboa. I love books that open windows into a wide range of experiences. I had a lot of notes on it; we went back and forth on well over 20 different versions, and then eventually, I signed her on., Luykens book went to auction and sold in a two-book deal, the first of which The Book of Mistakes will debut next year. The lack of diversity is on the mark. I have a daughter who is almost five and a half, and a son who just turned two. Keep up with current events in the writing world. Naomi Krueger is a freelance writer and managing editor ofBooks Make a Difference. Thanks for the very informative interview. Theyre just doing what someone else tells them to do. Some colleagues specialize in social media; others were or are publicists or attorneys or people whove come from a background in ghostwriting. Many thanks to Casey and Steven for a great Q&A. Im here to help you. Dr. Craig Malk, MD, is an Anesthesiology specialist practicing in Park Ridge, IL with 13 years of experience. It looks like several of these links aren't working, just FYI. Steven Malk grew up around children's books. During the course of your career, youve seen ebooks, apps, and online tools evolve in the publishing scene. Not just outside the box. Ive always had a leaning toward the more fantastical, he says, so Im best known for things that dabble in some way in the worlds of fantasy., These days, he represents psychic intuitive and New York Times best-selling author Victoria Laurie and cryptologist Linda Godfrey. Having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable." QueryTracker Members can view the data gathered by all other members, organized into reports showing 2007-2023 QueryTracker. I am a avid googler, and because I am very leery of bad fake agents, I sometimes go overboard in research but when I find one through all the other main sources that I think I may want to query, I always reference back to your blog for more in depth information, and you never fail! Alexa Stark joined Writers House in 2022, after ten years at Trident Media Group. Publisher: Hyperion (June 1, 2010) Gossip Girl goes to college in this tart satire of the class of 2014, centering on four mixed-up Dexter College freshmen who stumble through their first semester trying on life, love, and drugs. Thanks for sharing! Read comments by other authors who have queried the same agents you have. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! 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. Believe in yourself, and believe that publication can happen it will happen. She also represents biographies, political and pop culture books, and memoir. Your a God send ;D I finally put my query into Mr. Malk and I am crossing my fingers!! It all depends on the client; everyone is different. New York, NY 10271. There youll find an archive of every episode of the podcast. Great questions and great answers! 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. 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