Friday, October 28, 2016

TBA Monthly Wishlist - Nov 2016

It's time again for the Monthly Wishlist! Here's the project that each TBA agent would love to see in their submission inbox. If you have something that fits with the below, please check out our submission guidelines and send it over. We can't wait to read!


A fun YA romance that still has a hooky concept. I want to read about first love and romance; lots of kisses an added bonus. Think LOVE & GELATO, or LOVE, LIES & LEMON PIES - Gemma Cooper**

High concept, emotional MG or YA set in this world, with a fantastic/magical realism element.  Think David Levithan’s EVERYDAY or BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver. Definitely want romance (for YA), but other elements too: this could be a friendship or sibling story, or mother-daughter relationships, etc. - Susan Hawk

I’m particularly looking for Middle Eastern narratives right now. I’d love a literary novel that focused on either the Kurdish people or perhaps the current migrant crisis. - Victoria Cappello

Realistic contemporary YA that tackles issues of gender bias with humor and insight, in the vein of THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE-LANDAU BANKS. - Molly Ker Hawn

Fresh epic YA Fantasy set in a world I can feel on my skin, a nation whose plight I would fight for, and an underdog protagonist that I would give my life to help. - Heather Flaherty 

Halloween Edition: Send me your ghosts & goblins, your witches & werewolves, your bogeymen, and—yes—even your vampires. Scare me. - Brooks Sherman**

I am hungry for edgy coming-of-age novels, women’s fiction with a great hook, and female-driven, smart suspense that is creepy and atmospheric—especially written by and featuring a marginalized person. - Beth Phelan**


**Gemma, Brooks and Beth are currently closed to queries, but if you have something that matches their wishlists, please send and add #TBAwishlist to your subject header.

Monday, October 24, 2016

CLOSED -- Generalist Interns needed!

We are looking for intern readers for generalist fiction. You do not need to have any kind of publishing experience, but we’re looking for someone who enjoys books by authors such as:

- Erin Morgenstern
- Tana French
- Eleanor Brown
- Jacqueline Sheehan
- Jodi Picoult
- Gillian Flynn
- Lori Roy
- Laurie Notaro
- Celia Rivenbark
- Elin Hilderbrand
- Kristin Hannah
- Jeannette Walls
- Kate Atkinson

This is an eclectic list, so obviously you don't need to like everyone on it. But basically, you should like at least two of the following genres: humor, memoir, upmarket women's fiction and literary suspense. 

You do not need to live in New York—this is a remote internship. We ask for a ten-hours-a-week commitment. Please note that it is unpaid. 

The internship is a great way to learn more about an agent’s work and decision-making process. Past interns have been writers for children, children’s librarians, elementary school teachers, MFA students, and passionate readers.

The agency runs a monthly educational chat for all of our interns, led by a different agent/on a different topic each time. (Past and upcoming topics include: How publishers create marketing plans, Do we need literary agents anymore?, Digital and social publishing, Literary scouts: What do they do? What are the entry-level jobs in publishing? -- we try to make them as useful as we can.) These are optional, and the days/times vary because all the interns have different 'day job' schedules.


Interested?

1. Send an email to intern@thebentagency.com and put “Generalist intern” in the subject line.

2. Tell us why you want the internship and something about yourself, or include a resume if you have one (although it's not necessary). 

3. Include two lists: the last ten books you've read and your top ten favorite books of all time.


If you've applied in the past, you're welcome to apply again. We usually get a great many applicants and the application period will close fairly quickly; watch this space for details! 

UPDATE on July 19th: Applications for this internship are now closed. Thank you so much to all who applied, I'll answer you shortly! -- John

Friday, October 14, 2016

Subsidiary Rights Deal Announcements

Congratulations to the following TBA clients on their subsidiary rights deals!

R.M. Romero’s THE DOLLMAKER OF KRAKOW sold in the UK to Walker Books, in the Netherlands to Abimo, in a pre-empt, in Turkey to Pegasus, in Italy to DeAgostini, in a pre-empt, in Spain to Roca, in a pre-empt, in France to Gallimard, at auction, in Russia to Family Leisure Club, in Portugal to Presenca, in Romania to Editura ROA, and in Bulgaria to Ciela.

Kristen Ciccarelli’s ASKARI sold in France to Gallimard, in Spain to Nocturna, at auction, in Germany to Heyne, in Turkey to Dogan Egmont, in Poland to IUVI, at auction, in Brazil to Companhia Das Letras, at auction, in the Netherlands to Blossom Books, in the UK to Gollancz, at auction, and in China to Winshare, in a pre-empt.

Julie Israel’s JUNIPER LEMON’S HAPPINESS INDEX sold in France to Casterman, at auction, in Canada (French) to Editions AdA, at auction, and in Poland to IUVI.

Lori Nelson Spielman’s SWEET FORGIVENESS sold in Lithuania to Alma Littera, in China to Tianjin Chinese-World Books, at auction, and in Sweden to Bonniers, and audio rights sold in Sweden to Bonniers.

Angie Thomas’ THE HATE U GIVE sold in the Netherlands to Moon, and in Poland to Papierowy.

Jan Moran’s THE WINEMAKERS sold in Russia to Family Leisure Club.  Moran's SCENT OF TRIUMPH sold in Poland to Illuminatio and in Italy to Newton Compton.

Robin Stevens’ FIRST CLASS MURDER & JOLLY FOUL PLAY sold in Italy to Mondadori Ragazzi and in Germany to Knesebeck Verlag.  Stevens' ARSENIC FOR TEA sold in France to Flammarion.

Becky Albertalli’s THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED sold in Brazil to Intrinseca.

Lynsay Sands’ TO MARRY A SCOTTISH LAIRD and HIGHLANDER TAKES A BRIDE sold in Italy to Mondadori Ragazzi.

Layla Hagen’s YOUR IRRESISTIBLE LOVE and YOUR CAPTIVATING LOVE sold in Germany to Piper.

Adam Silvera’s HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME and THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END sold in Denmark to Gyldendal.  Silvera's MORE HAPPY THAN NOT sold in Hungary to Mano.

Lori Roy’s LET ME DIE IN HIS FOOTSTEPS sold in Japan to Hayakawa and in Taiwan to Delight Press. 

Sylvia Halliday’s SUMMER DARKNESS, WINTER LIGHT and THE RING sold in Germany to Weltbild.  

Kendra Fortmeyer’s HOLE IN THE MIDDLE sold in Germany to Oetinger. 

Francesca Zappia’s MADE YOU UP sold in Russia to EXMO, in Hungary to Kossuth, and in Vietnam to Mintbooks.

A.G. Howard’s UNHINGED sold in Croatia to Lumen.  

Jessica Cluess’ A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING sold in Australia, New Zealand and Oceana to Penguin Random House Australia.

Lynn Weingarten’s SUICIDE NOTES FROM BEAUTIFUL GIRLS sold in Brazil to V&R Editoras, at auction.

Geneva Lee’s Royals Saga (Books 1 & 2) sold in Italy to Mondadori.  Lee’s Royals Saga (Books 4 - 6) sold in France to Hugo & Cie.

Seressia Glass’ Sugar and Spice series sold in Germany to Droemer, in a pre-empt.

Janelle Denison’s THE WILDE ONE sold in Germany to Droemer.

Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series sold in France to MxM.

Emily Trunko’s DEAR MY BLANK sold in Italy to DeAgostini and in Finland to Otava.

Scarlett Cole’s Second Circle Tattoo series sold in Poland to Muza.

Susan Crawford’s THE OTHER WIDOW sold in Italy to Piemme.

L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid’s Rugby series sold in France to MxM.

Molly is looking for a YA/MG intern - CLOSED

I’m looking for another intern to read young adult and middle-grade fiction for me. It’s a remote, unpaid position, and the expectation is that my interns read and report on a manuscript every two weeks. You don’t necessarily have to have any publishing experience; I’m looking for a smart person who loves to read, and whose taste is similar to mine (i.e., literary-commercial, with an emphasis on the literary). 

You should be familiar with all sorts of YA/MG fiction, particularly recent award-winners and New York Times bestsellers; even better if you’re a fan of writers like Katherine Rundell, John Corey Whaley, Stephanie Kuehn, Margo Lanagan, Jack Gantos, Marie Rutkoski, Naomi Novik, Jacqueline Woodson, E Lockhart, Gene Luen Yang, Libba Bray…and, of course, my own clients.

It’s important to me to have a wide range of perspectives on my intern team, so I especially welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.

While this internship is unpaid, TBA values our interns' contributions, and holds regular intern Q&A sessions with our agents on a variety of industry topics. And in between those events, I answer as many questions about the publishing process that I can. I ask for a six-month commitment, but most of my interns have ended up sticking around for a year or more—I'm not all that demanding, and I try to make it enjoyable. Several of my interns have gone on to full-time entry-level roles at major publishers.

To apply, please email me at mollysinterns at gmail.com and tell me the last ten books you read, as well your ten favorite books (children's, YA, or adult). Tell me a little about yourself, too, and why you’re interested in the internship. Send a resume/CV if you think it would be helpful, but it's not strictly necessary. Bear in mind that with the Frankfurt Book Fair looming next week, I likely won't start responding to applications till the week of 24th October.

Thanks!

Molly

Update 28 Oct 2016: I am no longer accepting applications for this role. I received over 60 applications (thank you!) and am contacting applicants individually now.