Interview with TBA Agent, Beth Phelan

It's time for our monthly interview with a member of Team Bent! Up this month, the marvelous Beth Phelan...

How did you decide that you wanted to become an agent? 

I knew I wanted to work, in some way, bringing books to readers. Especially with YA lit. I originally started with an agency, as a foot in the door more than anything else, on my way to becoming an editor at a big house. But the more time I spent in agencies, the more I liked. When the time came to move on, I looked for positions at an agency. I figured out that it was where I really wanted to be.

What’s your favorite part of being an agent? 

The control. I can be a control freak and I’m really independent and self-motivated. I like to be in charge in a lot of ways. So the editor dream never would have panned out for me. I want to be able to take on the projects I love and decide to spend my time on stories and authors that I believe in. That freedom is really important to me because I love being the first on scene to really fall in love with a book and champion it to shelves.

What are you very hungry to find in your query pile? 

More of everything! I want literary YA and also big YA fantasy. I like things that are ambitious and maybe a little weird. Some kind of speculative contemporary would be great, and laugh-out-loud YA too. For adult, I’d love to add another adult thriller writer to my roster, as well as a writer of diverse contemporary romance.

Tell us about some of your projects – what’s going to hit bookstores shelves this fall or next year? 

I’m really excited to see Kathryn Ormsbee’s LUCKY FEW (Simon & Schuster Children’s) hit shelves in summer 2016. There’s homeschooling, fake near-death experiences, REAL near-death experiences… very black humor, very Harold & Maude. I love it. But this fall, I’m also really eager to see THE DEVIL’S DREAMCATCHER (Holiday House) make its way to readers who loved the first book, THE DEVIL’S INTERN by Donna Hosie, which—ahem—was a Kirkus Best Teen Book and also an ALA YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults book.

Children's books are not easy to write, but they have that reputation. Why do you think people think of them as "easy," and what is it about them that actually makes them very difficult? 

I think people underestimate kids and teens. They understand, appreciate, and remember things as well as adults do, but I think people forget that or just think the bar is lower because they aren’t as “matured” or experienced. But what’s actually difficult about writing for them, I think, aside from there just being so much more competition these days, is that they are so well-informed and they are better, more engaged learners than adults. But it’s hard to capture that authentic teen voice and be able to speak and relate to a generation that’s really just a blip in your life. It’s one of the most important blips, but it happens so fast and is so big that it’s hard to catch.

If you could see any one genre of children's books gain exponentially in strength, what would it be? 

I’d really love to see alternate history really take off!

Do you recall the first book you read and loved? (Or perhaps a major favorite as a child). 

I think the first time I was truly OBSESSED with a book was when I started Cate Tiernan’s Sweep series in high school. I couldn't read them fast enough and I felt so completely swept away from my life and my world that for a while I could have been convinced that my world wasn't real and that Morgan and Hunter and Cal were the real ones!

The natural talent you would most like to have? 

Photographic memory. That’s the dream, isn’t it?

What is the worst job you’ve ever had? 

I spent one summer in my teen years working at a toy store in my hometown. It was a small local chain, located in this semi-deserted outlet mall and we never needed more than one person there at a time, as not many people came in. Most of my shift would be spent trying to make our limited supply of toys and games look like they actually filled up the shelves, or else “demonstrating” the toys on the sidewalk in front (I played with a lot of bubble guns). I would occasionally get to chase kids out of the store, but they always got away with fistfuls of Yu-Gi-Oh playing cards stuffed in their pants.

What did you want to be when you grow up? 

I always wanted to be a veterinarian, until I found out that they had to euthanize pets. Sad face.

Where would you go in a time machine? 

I wouldn’t. For all the time travel I represent, the idea freaks me out!

What are some of your favorite movies? 

Ahh, favorite movies. Well, I really loved The Fall. And I love the Mighty Ducks and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Also the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost trilogy. Love me some Simon Pegg!

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done? 

I might sound like a dork here but I think the scariest thing I’ve ever done – or at least the most scared I’ve ever been to do something that I did anyway – was agreeing to go to my first conference. I’m terrible in social situations and the idea of a conference with speed-dating pitch appointments and speaking on panels alongside well-seasoned agents had me freaked out. I also have a very real fear of public speaking. So agreeing to go wasn't easy and once I said yes, my stomach was in knots until it was over. I’ve been to many conferences since then, and it’s still a little scary every time, but definitely less so the more I do!

Pie or cake? 

Oh, cake, for sure. 

You can find more Beth here: Twitter, Tumblr, and what she's looking for.

From the archives - Marketing: What You Really Need to Know Before & After Your Book is Published

For the next few months, we are going to be talking about marketing on the blog - so stay tuned for tips from TBA clients, posts from our agents, and lots of interviews.

To start with, we have a very helpful interview from the archives, originally posted by Susan Hawk in June 2013:

Today, I’m excited to have a guest visiting the blog, Nellie Kurtzman, a Director of Integrated Marketing at HarperCollins Children's Books.  Nellie has worked on a number of remarkable books – launching campaigns for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, Lemony Snicket’s Who Could That Be At This Hour?, The Dark by Lemony Snicket & Jon Klassen and Holly Black’s The Coldest Girl in Cold Town.  Currently, she's working on Soman Chainani's The School for Good and Evil and the soon to be released Dumplin' by Julie Murphy.

Nellie and I worked together some time ago at Penguin Books for Young Readers, when she was the Advertising Manager and I was in Library Marketing.  I saw then, and it’s only become more true, Nellie is one the savviest, most creative people in kids books.  So I'm delighted that she took some time to chat with me about how she approaches marketing, especially for debut books.  Here are her thoughts on what’s really important for a writer to consider, what marketing to undertake before your book is sold, and once it's about to hit the bookstore shelves!

You’ve created marketing plans for plenty of debut authors.  When you have a new debut to launch, is it helpful if the author has already done some marketing on his or her behalf?   What kinds of marketing efforts make the biggest difference?

It helps if a writer has a social media presence; otherwise, you’re starting from scratch.  What kind of presence to go after is a changeable thing, as various outlets rise and fall in popularity but right now for a commercial teen or upper middle grade book, I’d suggest Tumblr; for a book that will have a big home in schools or libraries, Twitter.

Facebook can be used more generally, and I’ve seen it be most effective once a book is published and has some traction.  A robust Facebook page will draw readers and that’s usually more possible once the book is out in the world.

An author website is also important, because most likely the publisher won’t be able to create one for you, and if you have a strong, existing site the publisher can piggyback off that and work with you.  Blogs are especially useful for books with a strong school and library presence.

Outside of social media, I love it when a writer has a clear understanding of who their reader is; what market will be at the core of her sales.  Is your book very commercial?  Is it the kind of book that will garner library and school awards?  Is it for younger readers, or older?  This information is the basic building block of every plan marketing and sales will create.  If you have a good sense of this, it will help you understand your publisher’s approach, as well as inform decisions you make in your own marketing efforts. 

It’s also great if an author has taken the time, early on, to think about any contacts and connections they have, and how to leverage them.  If you have a marketing idea you’d like to share with your marketing group, think it through so you can pass it on when the publisher begins building plans for your book.  Though your publisher may choose to go another direction, if you have the details ready it’s helpful. 

Once the book is published, what’s good for writers to do?

Keep up with the social media you’ve created!  Establishing a presence isn’t enough, sites must be fresh and varied.  Of course you can post about upcoming appearances and accolades, but be sure to include content that is incremental to your book.  For instance, if you have a fictional book about baseball for MG, highlight new info about the sport.  Post images that resonate with the subject and tone of your book.  You don’t want the sites you’ve created to become dormant, or too exclusively self-promotional.  Readers are as interested in the subject matter of your book, as they are in you -- think of social media as a way to extend the world building that’s inside your books.

It’s also important to keep your publisher informed of all your marketing efforts.  This way you won’t replicate each other’s work, or send mixed messages.  For instance, if you plan to use a tagline on your book site, run it by the marketing department first, to be sure that you’re both using the same one.  This is true for all marketing efforts, not just those in social media – if you’re planning an appearance, creating promotional material – anything – let your publisher know.

Are there any marketing tools that you think aren’t that impactful – maybe something that people typically do, but may not need to?

Videos.  Writers often request that we do a video, and if something does catch on, it can help.  But these days, video content is pervasive, and the chances that something will break through dwindles accordingly.  And if only 500 people see your video, it won’t have an impact.  Don’t sweat it if your publisher doesn’t plan to make one. 

Do you have any tips for writers about working effectively with their marketing department?

The first step is to find out how you’ll be communicating with the marketing department.  This varies from house to house, so ask your editor if you’ll be talking directly with someone from marketing or publicity.  If not, ask your editor if she’ll be relaying information to them.  Most houses begin creating marketing about nine months in advance of the publication date, so check in before then.  You want to make sure that lines are open so that you can send updates about your social media, etc, as discussed above. 

And one more small parting piece of advice.  Before setting up an appearance, talk to your publisher first.  This way you can be sure that you’ve got the right info to pass along about ordering books etc.

Good luck with your marketing!

Interview with Regina Castillo, Copy Chief, Dial Books for Young Readers

In our continued focus on revision this month, we reached out to Regina Castillo, the Copy Chief at Dial Books for Young Readers, to get the scoop on all things related to the copyedit, an important part of the revision process, and one that I think many of us don't know much about.  Regina has been at Dial BFYR for over twenty years, so we're in very good hands…Enjoy!

 

I think lots of us don't really understand the difference between an Editor and a Copyeditor.  Can you explain that?

Editors acquire manuscripts and help develop stories. They work very closely with authors to get their manuscripts into great shape. The copyeditor then corrects grammar and spelling, and points out inconsistencies or plot issues. Because the editor and author go through multiple drafts and revisions, a fresh pair of eyes is quite useful!

Copy editors are grammar and usage mavens -- something I aspire to be!  Have you always enjoyed that part of reading and writing?

I have always been sort of a grammar nerd! But I never actually thought of it as a career. It never occurred to me that it was a job I could do, and love. 

How did you become a Copyeditor?  What would you recommend for someone who wants to follow that path now?

I began in college doing freelance proofreading for a small publishing house. Someone interested in getting into copyediting might benefit from taking a course, and also becoming familiar with style guides. There are definitely entertaining grammar books on the market that a person can read before moving on to the drier style manuals.  

I'd love to know about some entertaining grammar books and imagine that our readers will as well.  The Elements of Style, with illustrations by Maira Kalman is one of my favorites.  Which do you particularly like?

Woe Is I and Between You & Me, while not guides like the one Maira Kalman illustrated so brilliantly, are fun, entertaining books that people will learn things from without actually realizing they’re learning. 

What's the best part of your job?  the toughest?

The whole process of producing the books is wonderful—seeing something go from a few sheets of paper to a book in the bookstore is kind of amazing. The toughest part is the headache of deadlines. Sometimes a manuscript is a little late, or art is a little late, and that time has to be made up somewhere. 

What do you think people don't know about copyediting?

A lot of people think it’s simply a matter of reading and finding misspellings. There is a lot more involved than that. Besides also needing a good grasp of grammar, a copyeditor needs to watch out for plot problems, timelines, consistency of characters, etc. Copyeditors also have to be fact checkers.

What's the best way to work with a Copyeditor?

The same as working with anyone else—respect on both sides always makes a working relationship better. And authors shouldn’t take their work being “corrected” personally. Everyone involved is only interested in the final product being the best it can possibly be. 

Can you tell us about a particularly complicated issue that has arisen with a particular book?  Or, a book that you're particularly proud of having worked on?

It always makes me proud when a book that I’ve worked on has gotten excellent reviews and has garnered awards. It makes all the complicated issues that arise from time to time just fade from memory!

Were you a reader as a child?  Can you tell us about a favorite book?

We were all voracious readers as kids in my house. I always thought—and still do—that books are magical. It’s difficult to pick a favorite because there are so many that I love. When I was a child, my favorite book was a version of Thumbelina that had incredible art and an almost 3-D effect on the cover.

A Conversation with Heather Flaherty

As we transition out of last month's topic, Conferences, we're bringing you another new feature that you can expect to see on the blog regularly – an interview with one of the TBA agents.  We're starting with Heather Flaherty, who joined the agency earlier this year.  We had a couple questions we were dying to ask about Heather's previous work as a scout, her favorite movies, her dog, and... well, you'll see.  If you read on, you'll understand how happy we all are that Heather's now part of the TBA team.  She's the bee's knees!  More on what she's looking for here and here.  And now for the questions...

In your bio, you mention that you started working in NYC as a playwright!  I’m fascinated!  What can you tell us about that?  Did you perform as well?  Were some of your plays produced? 

Yes! I did. It’s actually what lead me to writing novels, which led me to publishing! I will always appreciate my playwright beginnings for the solid handle on dialogue they gave me. And yes, I did have a couple produced – one was even off-Broadway (literally, not technically… lol!) And—this is something I have kept to myself for a very long time, but—yes, I did perform. I even had an agent here in NYC. 

You also mention some country-hopping, which sounds very fun.  Where did you go?  I guess you lived the longest in London; anywhere else you stayed for a while?  Any place you can imagine another life in, Sliding Doors style? 

I have so many sliding door fantasies! I’d visited a lot of places when I was in my teens, thanks to my folks. But my first independent move was when I was 21: I moved to the west coast of Ireland and worked as a pony trekking guide in Connemara (I know, right?). I spent some time with the Irish boy I was dating when I was there, then moved back to New England and married him. We then moved to London, because at the time I was like, “What the hell! We need to do that because we CAN!” Then we moved to California, again for the same reason. I feel like in our younger years we were constantly searching for the place to make our lives better, or perfect, instead of looking within ourselves. We moved back to England again, to Bath and the West Country for a bunch of years… it was beautiful. Then after a year or so in North Carolina, which was super fun, we put roots down in NYC so I could ramp up my career.

Some folks might not know what a scout does.  Can you explain?  Can you tell us about some exciting books you read/were involved in as a scout?

Oooo… the mysteries of scouting revealed! Dun dundun! Okay, so scouts are hired by Hollywood and foreign publishers as sort-of consultants to advise them what upcoming books they should be buying for filming and publishing. They ALWAYS want to know scouts’ predictions for the biggest books (which they compete with other similar companies with scouts for), but also they have specific tastes themselves for smaller books that we have to keep an eye out for. Basically, scouts act as a filter, cutting down the mass numbers of books out there, to a smaller amount they should consider for their own particular lists. And… we also try to have inside knowledge of the bigger books, books being positioned as lead titles, books set to go viral, and especially books recently sold and being produced for film – we try to keep our clients ahead of their competition. To do this, we of course read like crazy, read super fast, get everything we possibly can as early as humanly possible, and of course keep an ear in Hollywood to know what’s recently been bought for film adaptation. 

The most exciting books for me were those I was able to directly help my clients acquire, like All The Bright Places, An Ember In The Ashes, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, A Study In Charlotte, Riders, and The Walls Around Us.

People are always curious about trends.  Scouting likely gave you a great sense of that.  What can you tell us about trends in YA and MG? Elsewhere in books? 

Trends are funny and complicated, some are decade-long waves that go in and out of popularity forever… I kid you not, come 2030, we’ll be craving our vampires again! Others come and go quicker than we expected due to UTTER saturation (hello dystopian!). And there are those trends that are forever, they just gain and lose in popularity through the years like Christmas-cookie weight – i.e., YA contemporary.  Right now, the trending I find most interesting isn’t in genre, it’s in audience age-range. Kids are reading above their proposed ranges, and expecting far more mature themes and topics. Middle-graders are expecting more grit in their reading, and even some darkness, something they can relate to, because they’re growing up way quicker each year. That’s not to say that a cute, fun adventure story is no longer valid; it’s to say that those books need a little more oomph in general.

Before becoming an agent, I marketed children’s books, so that’s a lens that I look through as I consider new projects and building a client’s career.  How does being a scout inform your approach to agenting?

Scouting takes into consideration every part of the business: the house and imprint who bought the initial book, how they bought it (auction, pre-empt, etc.), sale price, list-position, marketing backing, foreign territory sales and position, film interest, where it lies inside or outside the current trend, how the acquiring house will treat their next books and that author, what the future trends will be, cultural mirror/impact, and generally how books fair against one another… and so much more I'm leaving out. I feel all these aspects of being a scout mirror being an agent. The difference is, a scout banks on a book for a moment in time, whereas an agent banks on an author for the indeterminable future. (Generally speaking, of course).

What's your dream project to find?  What are you really hungry for, as an agent?

I’m looking for a lot right now. My wishlist basically changes daily with my mood. But right now, the thing I find I’m most yearning for, is excellent YA contemporary with a very specific character voice, dealing with teen issues – these issues don’t have to be extreme, they can be normal high-school BS, because frankly, those are extreme as it is. Especially when you’re there.

You're building your client list, and have taken on your first writers.  What can you tell us about their projects? 

They’re so awesome… and varied. MG and YA contemporary, magical realism, fantasy, gothic horror, period, and uber pop-cult, to name just a few. I am insanely excited and grateful for such talented people to have saddled up with me.  ☺

Finally, can you tell us about some of your favorite books, authors and movies?  Is there a book that made you want to work in publishing? 

Ahhh… Best. Question. Ever.  So… I’d been knee-deep in classics for FOREVER, especially when I was on the grad-school track. I remember looking in a tiny bookstore’s window one day while passing through a crookedy old town and seeing this amazing cover… all black with what looked like Snow-White’s hands offering a red apple. And it hit me: I don’t read enough popular fiction. Hell, I don’t read ANY popular fiction. So I bought it, and fell in love with YA right then and there. Yup, Twilight was in fact the book that introduced me to YA… and for that I will always appreciate it. Other nostalgic faves: 13 Reasons Why, Before I Fall, The Hunger Games, Mortal Instruments, Maximum Ride, The Maze Runner, Divergent, all of Roald Dahl, The Book Thief, The Mists Of Avalon, Jane Eyre, and Watership Down (I have always loved those damn bunnies).

But I have to say… there’s some remarkable stuff coming out next year that have already trumped my faves… sadly, I can’t talk about those!  

Movies!  Oh God, movies shaped me, and I still struggle with the fact that life is not like them. Goonies has to be my #1 all-time favorite. Otherwise, The Secret of NIMH, The Last Unicorn, all animated movies ever, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Legend, Star Wars (the oldies), Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow... I also was a big gamer (and still am) – I love how far the industry has come, these games have become interactive movies basically, on an epic scale!

What’s on the bedside reading table?

Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke.

If you weren’t an agent, or involved in books at all, what would you be?  I think there’s a secret opera singer in me somewhere….

Looks like we got a karaoke night in front of us, Susan. I’d be a large animal vet.

Ok, true confessions time…please tell us five silly or unusual things about yourself!

• I wish my love of bluegrass music came from something deeper than seeing the movie O Brother Where Art Thou.
• I secretly dream of being a sheepherder, in like 1430. Then I think of toilets and gender equality.
• I’m a gamer, favoring RPGs because I truly live vicariously through my little person running around on the screen. Escapism much?
• Sometimes I listen to Gregorian chant in the morning, and pretend I’m in a medieval church.
• This is my dog on his birthday…  yes. I did that to him. I’m THAT person.

 

And finally, if you could have lunch with any writer, living or dead, who would it be? Why?

Allie Brosh. Love her. Love her sense of humor, her experiential way of writing/blogging, and her inward struggles.