III. ON A PERSONAL NOTE…

Undoubtedly, you love many children’s books, both classics and contemporary. Please cite three favorites, including at least two MG/YA. What makes each unforgettable?  

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson—this always stands out as a book that was really emotionally impactful for me both as a first-time reader and later as an adult. The voice and characters stand the test of time, and it’s a story that’s satisfying with respect to both larger themes (unlikely friendship; grief) and smaller specific moments within these themes.

Holes by Louis Sachar—this is more like what isn’t unforgettable. The characters, the themes, the mystery, the dark humor… I genuinely love this book.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone—I love epistolary formats of all kinds, and this book took it to a raw, deep, and timely new level. It’s fearless and powerful, and I could not stop reading it.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo—the grit, the worldbuilding, and the cast of outcasts in a heist situation. This book is beautifully written but also a super compelling page turner. A pretty formidable combination.

How does meeting writers at workshops affect you, your perspective, your work? What do you enjoy about participating in writers’ events?  

We get a lot of emails and submissions—I love seeing those anonymous writers as people trying to do their thing, just like me. It makes me root for queries and keeps things in perspective. I’m excited about PCCWW’s full scale, in-depth critiques! It’s so productive to get a full read on someone’s work in order to better understand what they are setting out to write and what their strengths and weaknesses in doing so are.

What would you like writers to know about you, the individual who scrutinizes (and may reject) their literary labor of love?

Keep in mind that this is an almost entirely subjective and very competitive business—it’s a business of rejection, even for agents and editors. We’ve been in situations where an author chooses to work with another agent or publish with another house. So much of it is a matter of time, chance, and vision. I’ve 100% read projects that I know are fabulous and saleable but that I am not the right agent for. You want business and editorial support from a person who understands and loves your project and will help it reach its highest potential. Don’t lose heart—keep writing, keep revising, keep learning, keep conferencing, keep querying, keep submitting. Power isn’t given; you have to take it!

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