Thursday, July 14, 2011

Good Things Can Happen...and Query Quandary

I'm so excited for my dear friend, Tess Hilmo!  Her book With A Name Like Love comes out in September.  But that's not even the best part of it...With A Name Like Love got a starred review from Kirkus.  A starred review means  they think Tess's book has remarkable merit.  I knew it the first time she shared her work with the Wad.  Tess has a beautiful voice...on paper and in real life.  I hope you will check out her awesome review and buy her book when it comes out.  I preordered my copy last week.    If you don't know Tess please hop over to her blog and her website to check her out.  You won't be disappointed! 

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I have a couple query questions for you guys?  I'm about to query several picture book manuscripts...
  • Do you submit to publishers, agents, or both at the same time?
  • Do you do simultaneous submissions?
  • Do you tell everyone you query that it is a simultaneous submission?
  • Are you querying anything right now?  How's it going?
Any advice is welcome... 

Thanks everyone and have a wonderful weekend! 

45 comments:

  1. Sharon, best of luck querying. I know it can be a stressful process.

    I don't have any pb-specific query advice, but unless an agent/editor specifies that they want to know if it is a simultaneous submission, leave it off as most people assume when you are querying you are sending your work to more than one agent/editor at a time. My two cents.

    Good luck!

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  2. I am so thrilled for Tess and am excited to hear about her starred review! Even the cover is gorgeous!
    I try not to do simultaneous subs, but sometimes I do. I have a query out to an agent right now, hoping to hear back that they'd like to see the actual manuscript(s)!

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  3. Hi Sharon, I haven't queried yet but I heard you could do simultaneous submissions. Just don't have first hand experience yet.

    I love the cover and the title of With a Name Like Love. It really does look like a very interesting book! I will check it out, Sharon. Thanks for sharing :)

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  4. When I query I send to a ton at a time and to agents mostly as there are very few publishers who take them but if there are, I do!

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  5. Good luck to you, Sharon!
    Don't sub to publishers and agents at same time because then there will be less publishers to send to when agents sub. I do simultaneously sub to agents though a handful at a time. But have stopped querying a bit. I still have one full out, but I'm wondering about the whole epubbing thing...

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  6. Have you got a US equivalent of this writer's "bible"?!?!

    The Writers and Artists Yearbook

    http://www.writersandartists.co.uk/

    They also have one specifically for children's authors.

    They are really handy to have - very helpful with tips and guidelines and what to do and what have you. I hope you have a US equivalent. This is a must to have around every year for serious writers at the submission stage imo!! Ahem!

    Good luck lovely Sharon!!!! And yay for Tess Hilmo!!

    Take care
    x

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  7. Good luck with querying Sharon. I think you should do multiple submissions and definitely try for an agent. You should check my blog--Literary Rambles--for agents that accept picture books. I think there's a place on the side bar where you can click for agents looking for picture books. Hope you have good news soon.

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  8. That is sure great for her, it's exciting when good things happen!

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  9. Yay for Tess!!! And good luck with your querying, Sharon!

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  10. Great news for Tess. I will check out her site.
    As for your query, I have one advise. Make sure you know what you are doing with self publication companies.
    Thanks for the advise on vitamins. I heard that lack of Niacin has something to do with dimentia. I will do research.

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  11. Tess's book sounds wonderful!

    I think that simultaneous queries, unless stated otherwise, are acceptable.
    Ann Best, Memoir Author

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  12. Cool! We both posted about Tess's book today. I've never queried a picture book ms, so I'm afraid I don't have suggestions for you. Good luck!

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  13. Congrats to Tess. Very cool!

    I think everything I know has been stated previously, but best of luck on your query!

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  14. Oh, I am so excited for Tess's book to come out too!

    I think its fine to query multiple agents OR multiple editors, but it is NOT a good idea to do both at the same time! No agent is going to want to rep a manuscript if it has already been shopped around to a lot of houses already!

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  15. I'm not querying now, in fact I've only ever sent out a few, but...

    I do send out sim. subs & I don't mention it. I think agents expect them. I haven't tried querying to pubs directly.

    Congrats to your buddy & GOOD LUCK! :)

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  16. I LOVE Tess and I can't wait to read With A Name Like Love. So happy for her and her Kirkus review.

    I'm not querying anymore (except for the fulls already out, as you know). But I think it's always a given that you are subbing simultaneous so I never put it in a query.

    Good luck, my dear, and YAY, Tess!

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  17. Tess's book looks lovely.

    Great advice, above. I echo sending to agents. You can always check their websites for guidelines. Good luck with your submissions!

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  18. I don't know anything about picture books, so I defer to others with expertise! And I'm not querying right now because I do have an agent--but I am on sub (which is just as much "fun" :/)

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  19. Good luck with the queries!

    I am not any kind of expert so sorry I don't have any advice!

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  20. Sharon, thanks for sharing Tess's book and inspiration! I am currently querying two picture books, and have focused more on publishers however...got some good advice from your fellow bloggers and might focus on finding an agent. What I find is a bit frustrating is that I have several projects on the table and they only want to hear about ONE! It would be helpful if when submitting to an agent they would allow a "what do you have and are going to have" policy....
    Good Luck!! (p.s. and NEVER GIVE UP) :)

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  21. I'll add the book to my TBR book list. I like the title and the cover is very nice. Thanks for sharing about it.

    Good luck with the querying!

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  22. Congrats to your friend, her book looks wonderful! I know on some agents sites they'll say on their site to mention that it is a simultaneous submission, but if it doesn't say I don't mention it.

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  23. been gone to Lake Powell and this was a lovely thing to come home to -- thanks, friend!

    and, re mult submissions ... I've always heard that you should simply advise "please be advised this is a multiple submission." at least, that's the buzz I've heard. good luck...anyone would be a lucky duck to work with a gal like you :)

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  24. Sharon thanks for visiting. I query agents right now, but that will change. Simultaneous-not so much, as I am busy and actually need to finish revising the whole thing before I let it out into the big world. As far as how's it going. Good, I have two stories coming out in anthologies this year and I am excited about that.
    Talk to you soon.

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  25. Hooray for Tess! :)

    Good luck with your querying! I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help--I've never queried.

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  26. Thanks for the heads up on the book - congratulations to Tess!

    I am not familiar with children's books, but I do simultaneous submissions. I am looking for an agent at the moment. I sent it to one person exclusively for two weeks - I really want him for my agent. However, if he turns me down, I hope he'll have some feedback for me to try 10 others for my simultaneous submission that I will be doing next. And I do not tell them. If anyone were to criticize that, I would just ask them if they wouldn't do the same if they were in my shoes.

    A agree with others' comments that if you are looking for an agent, it is better to let them submit to publishers for several reason... they have the whole field to work with, and many publishers don't accept unsolicited MS anyway.

    Best of luck to you!

    Saloma

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  27. I have no advice here: since I haven’t queried anything yet. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find the agent you’re looking for.

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  28. hi miss sharon!
    hooray for miss tess and her book getting a great review. i didnt ever do a query yet but i hope for yours you get lots of good answers back.
    ...hugs from lenny

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  29. Congrats to your friend Tess! As to querying simultaneous submissions? Heck yes! Otherwise you'll be sitting around waiting forever for those who like to take way too much time.

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  30. Do you submit to publishers, agents, or both at the same time?

    Used to do publishers. Now mostly agents, except the ones my yearly conference has on their list.

    Do you do simultaneous submissions?

    Yes.

    Do you tell everyone you query that it is a simultaneous submission?

    Yes.

    Are you querying anything right now? How's it going?

    Just started yesterday. I'm already a stressed mess.

    Thanks for telling me about Tess's book. I think she stopped following me so I lost track of her.

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  31. Hi Sharon,
    My friend who writes children's books submitted directly to various publishers, but she didn't look for an agent. The publishers told her to just send the text since they have their own illustrators. I guess it's safe to tell them you are submitting somewhere else.

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  32. I believe I have Tess's book on pre-order. I can't wait to get it.

    I wish I had some advice to give on picture books.

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  33. Good luck Sharon, and great news about Tess! What a fab cover for her book.

    Picture books - it really depends on the company and what you are after. Do you want someone to fight your corner or do you want to go straight to publishers? By simultaneous, you still mean each query is unique, right? I'd probably send a few at a time (and research which places think that acceptable) and would say that in my letter. I'm not querying right now, but hopefully will again by the end of summer!

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  34. I think everyone has covered the advice regarding who and how to pitch.

    So good luck!!!

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  35. Hi Sharon .. popped on over to Tess' blog .. and seen her book etc .. great news that she's been 'starred reviewed' - must be so encouraging for her.

    Sounds like you've had some answers re the Query .. have a great week now! Cheers Hilary

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  36. I subit to agents. Large publishers do not take unsolicited queries and I really don't want a small publisher. Why give them a percentage of the money when they do little to no marketing for you. CreateSpace is a great way to go, and you can still query agents.

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  37. You've gotten great advice already, but I'll add a couple of things I've heard/learned...

    Its hard to find agents that represent picture book authors only (there's not much money in it). Some represent author/illustrators. For that reason, the advice I've heard is to try submitting to publishers first.

    Simultaneous subs are fine, but send out a few at a time. That way you can gauge the responses, and revise if needed before sending out the next batch.

    Good luck!

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  38. I would query simultaneously, but I wouldn't mention it until you get a request. And I think it's okay to submit to publishers and agents at the same time, but be careful. Make sure they accept submissions from unrepresented writers. If they do and their site says that ms coming from agent take priority, you might want to query that one last. That way if you get an agent, you have a better shot.

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  39. Wishing you a terrific weekend Sharon ~ hope you are keeping cool!
    xo Catherine

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  40. Yay for Tess!

    I submit to agents first and do a round of ten at a time. When one comes back, I send another out, so I always have ten in the fire. Or at least that's how I did it, when I was querying. Good luck!

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  41. Querying can be a stressful time. I'd suggest sending out a whole bunch of queries and then working on another project while youre waiting for replies, just so you don't go crazy. I remember checking my email every 2 minutes when I was querying. :P
    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  42. Can't answer your questions, but I can wish you luck and much success with your endeavors.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  43. Congrats to Tess! Good luck with the querying!

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  44. I am super excited for Tess's book also! Her writing is so rich and vivid, I can't wait to read this!

    I would query only to agents if you're looking for an agent. If you query to an agent, and an editor, and they both like it, then you are in a bad spot because the agent is supposed to send it to the editor. the agent wouldn't be happy.
    when you query the agents, I'd also mention that it's going out to a few others as well. Some like that, some don't care.Good luck!

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