Holiday Wishes and Wish Lists from the TBA Agents!

We’ve had a fantastic 2016 here at TBA, and are all very much looking forward to 2017. January is always an exciting time to dive into our submissions inbox and look for that gem that we'll be talking about all year. So, with this in mind, we’ve compiled a wishlist for all the TBA agents, so if you have anything that matches this check out our submission guidelines and send over. We can't wait to read!


Jenny Bent:

• Twisty, creepy, bone-chilling suspense with a female protagonist for an adult or YA audience 
• Quirky, unusual, interesting YA—crazy twists like those in SUICIDE NOTES FROM BEAUTIFUL GIRLS and KILLER INSTINCT, wildly visual worlds like the ones in CARAVAL and SPLINTERED, or outrageously funny like KILL THE BOY BAND
• Emotional book club fiction with a strong hook and/or evocative setting like THE LIFE LIST or GHOST BRIDE or the forthcoming LIGHTKEEPER’S DAUGHTERS by Jean Pendziwol
• Magical MG with a instant classic feel

Gemma Cooper: (Gemma will be opening to submissions on 3rd January)

• Looking for diverse voices, illustrators and stories across my list, but particularly for chapter books and MG. #ownvoices 
• YA or MG with a unique way of telling your story - nonlinear narrative, novels in verse, multi POV’s, letters, illustrated novels, or something else really creative! Be different. Surprise me
• I'm really looking for YA right now and am open to anything but dystopian and angels. Send me your swoony romance, your teen X-Files, your epic fantasy, your re-invented Buffy, your ghosts and anything you can comp to a movie starring Christian Slater. I would go nuts over a voice driven YA with an end of the world feeling romance
• I’d love a new MG epic fantasy, or a MG with a splash of magical realism. If your MG has a strong voice in any genre, I want to read it
• And to be a little specific, can someone send me a MG or YA set during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair? Ideally a mystery

Beth Phelan: (Beth will be opening to submissions on 3rd January)

• Queer POC in MG and YA contemporary, something bright and funny and happy and hopeful. Especially if told in a groundbreaking new way, experimental — I want different storytelling structures and #ownvoices
• Lyrical fantasy in MG and YA that feels cinematic, visual, lush
• Stirring suspense, hair-raising thrillers, with plenty of family secrets and dark histories, #ownvoices

Susan Hawk:

• I’m looking for diverse voices and authors, in just about any category or genre: picture book, chapter book, middle-grade, young adult; contemporary, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.  I’m drawn to heartfelt books rich with emotion and humor, and unique points of view
• I love MG and YA fantasy!  I want to fall in love with your main character, be completely immersed in a world that's surprising and original, and on the edge of my seat, wondering what-will-happen next -- give me high stakes and sneaky twists
• Epistolary novels; a novel-within-a-novel; a journal format; secret letters; found documents – I’d love to see a story for MG or YA readers that centers around these kind of elements
• Calling author-illustrators!  I'm a big fan of Molly Idle, Carson Ellis, Barbara McClintock, Marla Frazee, Christian Robinson, and Sergio Ruzzier.  If your work is as fresh, original and thoughtful as these, please be in touch

Molly Ker Hawn:

• Elegant, emotional literary fiction for young adults like THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES
• #ownvoices projects for middle-grade and YA readers that invite the reader to get to know a culture or community with which they might not be familiar
• Fast-paced, highly imaginative YA fantasy like REBEL OF THE SANDS 
• YA or MG contemporary fiction that explores sexism in a realistic and relatable way
• Super-smart, super-romantic, feel-good YA fiction like SEVEN DAYS OF YOU 

Louise Fury:

• Heavily illustrated MG or YA graphic novels
• A YA that involves a labyrinth, especially one that includes a mystery or pushes the boundaries of realistic contemporary
• Anything funny, short and uplifting
• A cookbook with a big hook/idea
• Interesting, fun and of-the-moment pop culture and non-fiction projects! 

Heather Flaherty:

• Always always want epic-yet-relatable YA fantasy, with beautiful and sometimes dark worlds, unlikely heroines, and civil unrest. 
• Would love a sibling/family story in contemporary YA, a la I’ll GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson, or a mother-daughter Gilmore Girls-esque story, maybe with a STEM angle!
• Commercial women’s fiction, with strong females in interesting and thought-provoking situations. Females in male roles, females choosing themselves, females making change. Both period and contemporary
• I’d love to find the next GIRL ON THE TRAIN, that isn’t GIRL ON THE TRAIN or anything close to it plot-wise. I want the feeling that book evokes: something creepy, and page-turning, and twisty, and sexy, and disturbing, and… 
• Quirky, funny, heartbreaking, wonderful non-fiction for people who don’t read lots of non-fiction. Pop-culture, humor, Lifestyle, industry-books-for-people-who-don’t-read-industry-books (like Alison Green’s ASK A MANAGER website), heartbreaking books that make you feel less alone (like Emily Trunko’s DEAR MY BLANK and LAST MESSAGE RECEIVED)

Victoria Cappello:

• I’m really looking for of-the-moment literary fiction that engages with important contemporary geopolitical events like the Syrian civil war, for instance, or Cuba in the aftermath of the embargo lift
• I love suspense and mystery novels of all stripes—psychological, super creepy, procedural, etc.
• I’m also always in the market for lyrical and atmospheric historical fiction that’s set in the 20th century

Happy Holidays! 

CLOSED -- Adult Fiction Interns needed!

We have intern positions open for an adult fiction reader.  To become an intern reader for the Bent Agency, you do not need to have any kind of publishing experience, but you should love to read and be familiar with all sorts of fiction in these categories.  In particular, it’s helpful to be familiar with the books on the New York Times bestseller list. 

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 since this is a remote internship. We do 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 “Adult Fiction 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 adult fiction books you've read and your top ten favorite adult fiction 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 January 26th: Applications for this internship are now closed. Thank you so much to all who applied, I'll answer you shortly! -- John

Subsidiary Rights Deal Announcements

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

Meira Drazin’s HONEY AND ME sold in Israel to Miskal. 

Jessica Townsend’s NEVERMOOR trilogy sold in Finland to Otava in a pre-empt, in the Netherlands to Luitingh-Sijthoff in a pre-empt, in Hungary to Kolibri Kiadó in a pre-empt, in Israel to Kinneret in a pre-empt, in France to Pocket Jeunesse in a pre-empt, in Spain to Planeta in a pre-empt, in Turkey to Domingo in a pre-empt, in Denmark to Gyldendal in a pre-empt, in Brazil to Rocco at auction, in Poland to Media Rodzina in a pre-empt, in Norway to Vigmostad & Björke at auction, in Italy to Il Castoro at auction, in China to Citic in a pre-empt, in Greece to Psichogios, in Sweden to Semic at auction, in Bosnia to BTC Sahinpasic, in Romania to Nemira at auction, in Germany to Dressler at auction, in Taiwan to Sharp Point, in Serbia to Urban Reads at auction, in Bulgaria to Bard at auction, in Indonesia to Noura, and in Russia to Robins at auction.

Emily Trunko’s DEAR MY BLANK sold in Finland to Otava and in Brazil to Companhia das Letras.

Emily Trunko’s LAST MESSAGE RECEIVED sold in Brazil to Companhia das Letras.

Sherri Smith’s FOLLOW ME DOWN sold in Poland to HarperCollins Polska and in Estonia to Paikese Kirjastus.

A.G. Howard’s UNTAMED sold in Brazil to Novo Conceito and in Italy to Newton Compton.

A.G. Howard’s SPLINTERED sold in Serbia to Publik Praktikum.

Lori Nelson Spielman’s THE LIFE LIST sold in Finland to Otava.

Lynsay Sands’ FALLING FOR THE HIGHLANDER sold in Japan to Futami Shobo.

Stephanie Garber’s CARAVAL sold in Slovakia to Egmont and in Ukraine to Krajina Mriy.

The first two books in Geneva Lee’s Royals Saga sold in Turkey to Pay Kitap and books one, two and three sold in Bulgaria to Egmont.

Angie Thomas’ THE HATE U GIVE sold in Serbia to Urban reads and in Bosnia to BTC Sahinpasic.

Jonathan Janz’ CHILDREN OF THE DARK sold in Germany to Voodoo Press.

Robin Stevens’ MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE & ARSENIC FOR TEA sold in Japan.

R.M. Romero’s THE DOLLMAKER OF KRAKOW sold in Hungary to Maxim.

Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock’s THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES sold in Poland to Jaguar.

Francesca Zappia’s ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS sold in the Netherlands to Leopold in a pre-empt.

Liz Maverick’s WHAT A GIRL WANTS & ADVENTURES OF AN ICE PRINCESS sold in Germany to Rowohlt.

Becky Albertall’s SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA sold in Serbia to Urban Reads.

Tilli Schulze and Lorna Collier’s MY THOUGHTS ARE FREE sold in Germany to Aufbau.

Jacqueline Sheehan’s THE TIGER IN THE HOUSE sold in Germany to Aufbau.

L.H. Cosway’s Hearts Series (Books 1 - 3) sold in Germany to Lyx.

Aditi Khorana’s THE LIBRARY OF FATES sold in Germany to Dressler and in Turkey to Pegasus.

Lori Wilde’s THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE COLLECTION sold in Germany to Weltbild.

TBA Monthly Wishlist - Dec 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!

Right now I’m feeling dark dark dark, twisted, magical, mystical, eerie, scary, wonderful, heart fluttery - pull me somewhere that both freaks me out and makes me want to stay - Heather Flaherty 

Send me your literary fantasy-horror in the vein of Peadar O’Guilin’s THE CALL — exquisitely written, exquisitely tense - Molly Ker Hawn

My decorations are up, and my desk is overloaded with tinsel - yes, Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I embrace it in a big way! So send me your feel good festive YA or wintery MG adventure - 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

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.