Literary Agent Answers Our Queries…and Then Some

To Whom It May Concern:

How do you know if you’ve got the perfect query? What do agents really think about the publishing industry today? And, most importantly, what are three things aspiring writers should never do in their query letter? (Hint: knowing the agent’s name is a good start).

WordHustler sat down with Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, agent extraordinaire at Nancy Coffey Literary Agency. Joanna gave us the real deal on all things published, especially what she’s looking for as an agent. Are you the next author destined to knock her socks off? Read on to find out!

Love,
WordHustler

WordHustler: How did you get your start in the publishing industry?

Joanna Stampfel-Volpe: I think there are a few things that helped me get into the industry (beside my willingness to work for free and edit for free, I even ran a critique group—anything to get my name out there and to get experience).  Around the same time I was working very part time with a small Long Island publisher, Blue Marlin Publications, I was working at Barnes & Noble, and I was taking some night courses on editing with NYU’s publishing program.  And of course I interned.

WH: Why did you decide ultimately to become an agent?

JSV: As an agent, I get to do everything!  I work with authors, brainstorming and as a sounding board.  I edit manuscripts.  I network and meet with editors, book scouts, publicity people and even film producers.  I get to sell projects I’m genuinely enthusiastic about.  I even work on selling subrights like audio, merchandising and dramatic rights.  Not to mention, I can work on any type of book I want to…I just have to love it.

WH: You represent both children’s and adult authors. What draws you to children’s books and YA? What about an adult book catches your eye?

JSV: Well, from children’s to adult the most important part of a manuscript to me is the voice.  The characters really need to come alive for me on the page whether it’s a fast-paced adventure for kids, a beautiful, family-drama for women, or a dark, horror for teen boys.  I often look for more character-driven stories rather than strictly plot-driven (although plot is important, obviously).  So I guess my taste in children’s, YA and adult is the same: strong voice, no matter what it’s about.

WH: What are a few of your favorite books out there today? And feel free to include books/authors you rep- it’s only fair!

JSV: Oh, gosh…I could go on about this for a while.  Okay, I’ll try to keep this brief…OTTO GROWS DOWN by Michael Sussman (picture book), FABLEHAVEN series by Brandon Mull (middle grade), THE ROCK AND THE RIVER by Kekla Magoon (historical, young YA), CRACKED UP TO BE by Courtney Summers (edgy YA), EVERMORE by Alyson Noel (paranormal YA), BURNED by Ellen Hopkins (verse, YA), THE TORY WIDOW by Christine Blevins (historical fic, adult), JUST ONE OF THE GUYS by Kristan Higgans (contemporary romance, adult), CALLISTO by Torsten Krol (literary, adult), CITY OF JADE by Dennis McKiernan (epic fantasy, adult), THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield (mainstream, adult)…I mean, I guess I’ll stop there, but that’s only what I’ve read recently and LOVED.

WH: What type of books are you looking for that you haven’t found yet?

JSV: I say this at every conference and in every interview but so far I haven’t found it!  But I’m dying to find a dark read for YA boys that’s THE CATCHER IN THE RYE meets STAND BY ME.  Really strong narrative voice, creepy, dark, yet coming-of-age, and realistic.  I recently heard about “hog harvesting” at a conference and thought it would be cool if that could be part of the plot…think dark, Southern…and throw in a little LORD OF THE FLIES type stuff.  Wow, am I sick or what?

WH: What’s your overall take on publishing today? In dire straights or blooming and flourishing?

JSV: I would be lying if I said that all of publishing is flourishing right now.  Editors and publishers are being much more conservative with their acquisitions and with their advances, as they should be in this economic climate. But although some genres have become a tougher sale recently, I personally feel (and I know a lot of editors that feel the same way) that right now is the time for debut authors.  It’s a good time to be starting your career, if you’ve got a strong, fresh voice.  So when the economy swings back, you’ll (hopefully) be ready to bump up in the list!

WH: Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the submission process: how important is the query letter? Do you want to see sample pages or can a query tell you enough at the start?

JSV: The query letter is very important, but I’m not the kind of agent that will reject because of a spelling error or two…I’m more concerned about the story.  As of right now—and this is due to the volume of queries I receive—I am accepting queries only, no sample pages.  So the query is what catches my interest or not.  If a query really conveys the tone of the story or the voice of the protagonist, I tend to get more excited about it.  If it’s kind of standard but the premise is really cool, I might request some sample pages.  But if it’s too brief or too long or unfocused, I most likely will be passing.

WH: What are three things in a query that make you want to read more?

JSV: Strong voice, interesting plot, and if it’s well-written.

WH: What are three things that let you know this project/writer isn’t for you?

JSV: An unfocused query, when the writer is talking more about themselves than the story, and when an author has not done their homework on me (ie – “Dear Ms. Volpe, I’d like to send you my book proposal on the anatomy of the human body…” I clearly state that I am NOT looking for academic non-fiction, yet I still get those queries!).

WH: How does the agenting process work once you find a client you like? Do you and Nancy have to agree on every new client? Once you sign someone, do you usually do another pass of the book with them before sending it out to publishers?

JSV: Once I find a project I LOVE, I call the author to talk to them, get to know them, talk about their goals and their expectations.  If at that point I feel like they are ready for an agent and that our goals are similar, I will offer rep and cross my fingers that they’re just as excited as me about working together.

Nancy and I do not have to agree on every new client, but I often go to her to either gush about the project or to ask advice, so she usually ends up knowing about every new project because I’m uber-excited about it.  Once I sign someone, I ALWAYS do another pass of the book before sending it out.  So far, I have yet to sign anyone that has had the perfect manuscript.  I am working with a lot of debut authors, but even my more experienced clients appreciate (at least, I think they do!) a polished revision before going out.  I want to send it out in the best shape it can be.

WH: What advice would you give aspiring writers out there?

JSV: To just keep writing and reading.  If you get rejected 100 times, just move on to the next project.  Never toss out old manuscripts—you put a lot of work into them, learned a lot from the process…and you never know when you might be able to resurrect it!  But don’t be afraid or upset to put it aside for the next idea.  Also, try to be as informed as possible on the publishing process, what to expect from your agent and editor, and what other authors are writing about.  Just because I work editorially with my authors does not mean every agent will, and there are some really good agents out there who don’t.  You need to find the right match for you.

WH: Do you think WordHustler helps writers successfully get their work out there and into your hands, professionally and effectively?

JSV: Absolutely. And interviews like this help to do exactly what I advised above—it keeps writers informed!  Now every writer who reads this will know what I’m looking for, how to reach me, how to hook me, and what to expect if we work together.  I’d say that’s a huge help.

Joanna speaks the truth, WordHustlers! And so should your query. For tips about writing a great query, look HERE. Then let’s get to work composing some fantastic letters that introduce both yourself and your project. Fantastic agents like Joanna are out there and now’s the time to nab one. Why not send a query to The Park Literary Group or Gina Maccoby Literary Agency? WordHustler can help. Good luck!