Soooo, I'm officially open to queries, & I'm open to more age groups than last year. You can find out more here: .
I know it's a bit vague. That's because I'm open to being surprised. Note: Please do not send me queries through email; use the link. Thanks!
More things to celebrate in 2023! I’m not in my office, so these poor people out in public are a witness to my body rolls & shimmy dance to celebrate my amazing colleagues (and myself)! My agency fam is the damn business, a wealth of constant support, & I’m lucky to have them!
With 2021 coming to an end, it's reflection/celebration time. In my 1st full year of agenting, my clients & I have sold 37 books (w/some more pending)!🥳 12 announced deals (17 📖s bc of multi-📖 deals)
Let's break it down by age group, & while we do it, insert full-on dancing!
#Writers
, please, please, PLEASE beware of some of the new pitch events that pop up. Sure, it may seem fun, but the truth is, it is not a vetted event.
Wow, 2022 flew by! As I look back at my 2nd full year of agenting, it's been a blessing. My clients & I sold 38 books (+ 3 book covers)🍾!!!
PB = 21
CB = 2
MG = 1
GN = 3
YA = 1
Adult = 10 (I had 0 last year, & so my clients changed that)
With 2021 coming to an end, it's reflection/celebration time. In my 1st full year of agenting, my clients & I have sold 37 books (w/some more pending)!🥳 12 announced deals (17 📖s bc of multi-📖 deals)
Let's break it down by age group, & while we do it, insert full-on dancing!
I love that moment in my query box where I find something SO exciting. I love that I have these moments often. I love (and am honored) that you all even send your work my way.
#loveagenting
#WeekendReading
Alright, breaks over, going back to reading.
Hey
#writerscommunity
, let's start a
#followtrain
for anyone under 2K.
Drop a GIF in the comments that represents the genre of your
#WIP
.
For any of us with more than 2K, like, comment, RT, & please show some love for new friends.
I'll follow everyone!
#FollowFriday
#FF
You know how you read something so good, you can't sleep bc you convince yourself just 1 more chapter? Then the next day, you're so determined to finish any time someone interrupts you, you actually growl at them? & when you're done, you ♥️ it so much you're upset that it's over?
Good morning,
#PBPitch
author and author-illustrators. If I ❤️ your pitch, AND you think we'd make a great fit, please send your project my way using this link: .
Thanks! 😊
On Monday, the 19th, I'm opening up to queries. I've updated my
#MSWL
here:
I'll be open to a lot: Illustrators, MG, YA, and adult fiction, but let me share some things I'm really like to see.
So today is a day of celebration for Saritza and me. It's our first ABLA-versary! We've been a part of the fam for a year, and I couldn't be more grateful!
I am spitting mad for PW’s blatant disrespect for Angie. He didn’t “pluck”her from nothing! He was lucky to have an opportunity to work with her and many other talented authors.
After the very first 🤬 sentence, I simply could not read on.
Since I'm opening back up for queries tomorrow, I thought I'd share some--not all--of my
#MSWL
must-haves.
1st up, I want a pair of witchy sisters or witchy friends with ancestral magic wrestling angry restless spirits in a dark setting, like a swampy, marshy woodland.
🧐 I wonder if it’s that publishing is more open to all forms of diversity, more inclusive, global even, that it has become more competitive for the debut white male author, & your agent friend needs to focus, do his JOB, & HELP his client elevate his prose to get the book deal.
(a friend who is a literary agent told me that he cannot even get editors to read first novels by young white male writers, no matter how good; they are just not interested. this is heartbreaking for writers who may, in fact, be brilliant, & critical of their own "privilege.")
On Monday, the 19th, I'm opening up to queries. I've updated my
#MSWL
here:
I'll be open to a lot: Illustrators, MG, YA, and adult fiction, but let me share some things I'm really like to see.
So, I’m in a Zoom meeting. My kids know not to interrupt. My 6-yr-old comes in. I’m already side-eyeing. 👀 But then she throws something at me, & all these tiny pieces of paper float down, like confetti. 🎉 And then I notice there’s writing. I swear I feed my kids. I do! 😩
🌟I'm SO excited to finally announce this! I ❤️ Maisha's
#PBpitch
, and it sat in my query box for 10 min before I requested more. Within an hour, I asked to chat. Only months (maybe not even 2) later, it was SOLD! Her writing is 🪄, y'all! Many, many congrats,
@MaishaWrites
!!!🥂
FRY BREAD x THE UNDEFEATED, but for hair 💇🏾♀️📚
MY HAIR IS A BOOK with stories of crowns, ponytails, twists, and more. A journey through time & space to celebrate the beauty & styles of black hair.
#PbPitch
#BVM
#POC
#L
I am SO happy to be working with the incredible
@alechiawrites
!!! Her adult romance is funny, sexy, and so much fun, y’all!
Welcome to the
@AndreaBrownLit
fam, Alechia! I am honored to be on this publishing journey with you!
Starting today, I am going to open my query inbox just to illustrators.
In the next several weeks, I will open widely, but I want to consider the fulls and maybes I have first and then create a new
#MSWL
. Until then, I am currently looking for
#kidlitart
#illustrators
.
🌟I cannot SHOUT loud enough about Amaka's RUN LIKE A GIRL! I laughed, y'all. I cried, too! It's just so special.
@ClaireStetzer
gets it, too. And that's why they are such a great team! Congrats, Amaka (
@hahamaka_
)!!! 🥳
It’s the best feeling when you ask your kids to read a clients’ manuscript, & you watch 3 heads with your iPad & they keeping laughing together at the same time. And they get to this place where 1 of them says, “Yo, this kid has problems; he’s hilarious” & then they laugh AGAIN!
I've opened back up to queries today, but only briefly. I will most likely close again in September. However, while I'm open, here's what I'm really looking for (even though my agency's website MSWL still stands ):
#writingtip
for
#MondayMotivation
There are many rules a writer can break—believe it or not—except one: you must write. You will have nothing to revise, nothing to query, nothing to publish. Don’t give up! Push through it, and get it done!
#WritingCommunity
Not sure if you know this about me, but I LOVE 💗 stories. I will ALWAYS be open to adult Romance in my inbox. In ALL subgenres—contemporary, romcom, fantasy, stories w/speculative elements.
But I’m also open to other age groups & genres. Here’s a little more of my
#MSWL
Do y'all remember when I said this?
Weeeeelllllll, I am so excited to represent
@AuthorEtta
and her beautiful book!!! There was a celebration of chair dancing and body rolls.
Welcome to
@AndreaBrownLit
, Etta!!!
I am excited to announce I am now represented by
@Jemiscoe
with
@AndreaBrownLit
. Her enthusiasm for my cautious event-planner and her astronaut is more than I could have hoped for, and I am thrilled to have her on my side!
🌟 Y’alllll!!! I am a grinning fool right now. I’m so stinkin’ happy for Etta! This book is dope, unputdownable, and to be paired with
@esisogah
ANDDD
@BerkleyRomance
!?! Whooo, it’s already good, but it’s going to be 🔥. CONGRATS, CONGRATS, CONGRATS!!! 🥂🌟
Friends, I'm so excited to share that I get to be a
@BerkleyRomance
author! I'm beyond blessed to be able to work with
@esisogah
, thankful to the wonderful
@Jemiscoe
, and can't wait for The Kiss Countdown to be out in the world come Spring 2024!
Alright, I know I’ve had many announcements lately so I hope you aren’t tired of me yet because I AM THRILLED—do you hear me—to welcome Laura back to ABLA, but this time as a client (she interned a while ago)! I fell in ❤️ with her 💕 stories! It’s so good, y’all! Welcome, Laura!
It’s official: I have an agent!✨
I’ve written a book about second chances, lifelong friendships, and ‘90s Nora Ephron vibes, and I’m thrilled to announce that I’m represented by
@Jemiscoe
, whose vision for the story is just incredible. I can’t wait to share more!
BIG NEWS! I'm excited to announce that I am now represented by
@Jemiscoe
at
@AndreaBrownLit
. Can't wait to see what the future brings, but rest assured, we are cooking something up. 🌿✨
Does anyone else have so much to do they just stay frozen, wondering what to do first? Should I read, answer emails, send emails, update spreadsheets, read some more, edit, scroll through Twitter all day, or take a nap?
#fridaymorning
#FridayThoughts
#amagenting
#workstruggles
You know what? I'm going back to work. I'm going to read all the romance and nutty, funny, or magical MG I can find in my query box because some in America are having a tantrum and making America a little too dark of a narrative for me today.
🌟I am SO excited to welcome Amy to ABLA! Her MS has a ride or die friend group, single parents, enemies-to-lovers, a whole lotta steam, & some heartbreak. But don’t worry, Amy will put you back together. Promise. And her writer’s voice forces you to devour pages!
Welcome, Amy!
✨BIG NEWS✨
I’m so excited to announce I’m now represented by
@Jemiscoe
at ABLA! I was blown away by her passion and vision for my workplace enemies-to-lovers manuscript!
Jem, thank you for your belief in me and my story! I can’t wait to work with you ❤️
Happy New Year, Everyone!
I am officially open today. My links are below, which include my detailed
#MSWL
.
PM:
Agency Website:
Query Form (no email subs):
hey everyone I'm so excited to annouce I am officially represented by
@jemiscoe
at
@andreabrownlit
! I'm super grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to see what books we make!!🐱
Okay! I'm finally awake and sort of caffeinated. I'm dropping in on
#PitMad
for a little bit. I'm excited to see all the great stories today. If I ❤️ your pitch, please send me the first 3 chapters of your manuscript to .
Up at 4:30am, read queries, got kids up, school shopping, stood in line for Covid tests for school, went to their orientation, back home: emails, meetings, more reading, more emails, laundry, & now I’m looking at kitchen bc it’s dinner time & my body is like…
Let’s sit in this for a moment and then discuss. If we don’t fix this situation, I fear you’ll see more people leaving publishing and it’ll be on the creator and agent side.
This.👇🏾 Our reading time wasn’t just slow bc of a pandemic. People were protesting, some imprints shuttered, there was an election. Hell, CA was on fire & the sky looked apocalyptic. There were other things, big things going on, & we’re STILL not back to normal. We’re trying, tho
Somebody asked, why editors/agents are being extra-slow, and there are lots of reasons -- anyway I did a brief explainer about what publishing has looked like (from my perspective anyway) in the past year, if you can bear it:
My clients are the damn business, and here's our breakdown.
Picture Book = 18
Chapter Book = 10
Middle Grade = 3
Graphic Novel = 3
Young Adult = 2
Non-fiction = 1
Adult = 0 (And in 2022, I'm really looking to change that!)
So please, please, PLEASE take special care. Don’t just research the agents but also the agency because I know from personal experience there is one agency that I will never, not ever, think warm and fuzzies about.
🌟 I am SO excited to finally celebrate working with Robert (
@robertpauljr
)!!!The world has already seen his art, but I can’t wait for everyone to read his writing, too!
Welcome to ABLA, Robert!!! 🌟
Okay y’all, it’s celebration/body roll time!!!
I am so stinkin’ excited to welcome
@lynngracewong
to the ABLA fam!!! Her MG horror is filled w/rebellion, a friend triangle, & an island w/the creepiest of villains from Filipino folklore, & I can’t wait for the world to read it!!!
🥳 Sweet NEWS! 🥳
Beyond thrilled to announce that I am now represented by
@Jemiscoe
of
@AndreaBrownLit
Jem had me at hello! Her passion for diverse stories and her excitement for my writing is 🔥🔥🔥 Could not ask for a better champion for my work!
So many folks to thank...
🌟Y’allllll! So excited that this book is going to be out in the world. Come on, 2024!! Aurora, your writing is amazing, your humor shines throughout this story (and in all our Slack messages), and you and
@sareereer
are an awesome team! I am SO happy for you! Congrats, GF!!!🌟
I can't believe I get to announce that my Desi romcom has found a home with
@BerkleyRomance
. I can't wait to work with
@sareereer
, whose passion for Naomi and Dev blows me away. And endless gratitude to my fierce agent,
@Jemiscoe
, for her support and guidance!!
🌟Y’alllllll! We have a new agent at ABLA and I am so excited we finally get to share the news. Sally is not only knowledgeable about the market and industry, but she’s got a great eye, and the best of all, she’s just great people. I’m lucky to call her my agency sis!!!
So listen, if you are antisemitic, then I'm not the agent for you. If you're filled with any prejudice, I am not the agent for you. I HATE when the people I care about are ABUSED in THIS way!
What do I mean by that? Weeeeelllllll, pull up a chair. Think about the events that have great success for a minute. 🤔 DVPit, PitMad, PitDark, the newer, SmoochPit and countless others. These organizers work LONG hours doing outreach to agents and editors.
🌟 Many, many CONGRATS to Taj on this film/TV deal!!! The way we've been holding in the good news, y'all! But I am so happy we get to SHOUT 📢 about it now! Let's be sparkly for the last day of Black History Month!!! 🌟
🚨🎥🗣️I am OVER THE MOON to finally share that we've sold the option for film/TV rights for SAVVY, my firstborn book baby, with
@CircleBlueEnt
––a Black founded production company––and on the last day of Black History Month?! LET'S GO!!🖤
🌟 I am so excited to share this announcement!!! This father and son manuscript just gets you in the feels, and Nick is the perfect artist to pair with Betty’s funny and sweet text. I cannot wait, y’all!!! Cannot!!! 🌟
Congrats Nick, Betty, &
@T2_AGENCY
!!!
Excited to share I’m illustrating this cool story by Betty Tekle
All about a kid named Issac and his love for his dad’s beard and the desire he has to be just like him. Can’t wait to bring this story to life in 2023. Special thanks to my agent
@jemiscoe
&
@andreabrownlit
I read queries during early mornings, at night, and on weekends. When I first started out, I could read during the week, but now it’s hard to find the time.
Either way, I respond to everything in my query box (eventually), and I’m always excited to find new books/art!
Do some agents wake up eager to read queries? Do they sift through them on the weekends like browsing Netflix shows? Dedicate a time each day to tackle their pile? Maybe even one day/month? During office hours only? Scroll through before bed? 💭
#amquerying
Sometimes in publishing, the waiting is hard. For all of us. I'm feeling this today, and for many different reasons, too. I've been hitting refresh over and over but what I want isn't there!!! 🥺
Hannah, you're not alone. No one is exempt from rejection in publishing. None of us. It's heartbreaking, and sometimes we all just need to have a cry. But then we show up again.
So
#writerscommunity
, Hannah is open to queries.
It's hard breaking into the field as a new agent. No matter how qualified I am, I don't look as good as those with years of experience. I get my heart broken a lot, but I want people to find the best agent for them. Sometimes that's not me. That's okay, because sometime it is 💛
It's late, but when happiness is afoot, you don't sit on it; you SHOUT 📢 it out!
I am excited to welcome Tee to ABLA!!! This lady's writing is the business, and I'm grateful and humble that she wants me on her team! 🥂
Alright
#WritingCommnunity
,
#PitMad
is tomorrow. I want to support as many as I can, so If you’re participating like and/or comment so I can find you.
So I peeked in on
#PBpitch
. Then I stalked my inbox. To say I’m delighted to work with Maisha is just not enough! I am excited, y’all! I can’t wait until you get to read her picture books, and get the same ❤️ experience I did.
Welcome to
@AndreaBrownLit
, Maisha!!! 🥂
🚨🚨🚨I’ve got news, y’all!!! 📢
I am beyond excited to announce that I am now represented by THE AMAZING
@Jemiscoe
of
@AndreaBrownLit
!!! To say that I’m grateful to the
#WritingCommnunity
is an understatement. 1/2
This is your work. Your novel. Your writing career. Your dreams!!! And if you end up signing with someone without the contacts, the training, the damn gusto to act on your best behalf, will this event take responsibility? 🤷🏾♀️
Sooo, if you’re an author or an artist know this: you deserve to be here. It has nothing to do with your identity. (& I’m especially speaking to ALL my clients—current & future)
However, if you do come from a marginalized background…
Hell-to-the-fucking-yeah, it’s about time!!
Hiya,
#MoodPitch
creators! Bex (
@wordsfrombex
) and I are going to peek in on all your beautiful visuals. If either of us ❤️ your pitch, AND you feel like I'd be a good fit, please send the first 3 chapters using this link: .
They vet us to protect YOU! That is not the case here. How do I know? Because a lot of us know each other. We talk. And most of us—at least the MANY agents I know and talk to—were not invited to this event. Those that were, well, it was done in an unprofessional manner. 🥴
My dad lives in France. I mention it bc he calls @ 12am his time to say that he’s seen my deals & he’s proud of me but he’d like free books 😂. So I asked him if he read SAVVY SHELDON yet. He hasn’t. But I’m waiting for him to get to that kitchen scene bc I LIVE to scandalize him
I am SO excited to welcome James (
@jasillustrated
) to the
@AndreaBrownLit
fam! His art AND writing wowed me! I can't wait for everyone to see what he has planned!
Welcome, James! I'm happy to be working with you!!!
I’m super excited to share the cover reveal for JOIN THE CLUB, MAGGIE DIAZ (out Spring 2022)!!!
@Nina_Writes
and
@_courtney_luv7
have created something special, and I can’t wait for the world to get their hands on all the awesomeness that is Maggie Diaz!!!
🌟Announcement! 🌟
@anniesilvestro
's book, BRAVO, LITTLE BIRD!, teamed up with
@RamonaKaulitzki
's illustrations, is going to make for such a beautiful book. It'll be out in spring 2023 with
@CatherineLaud
at S&S, BFYR.
And as I mention 2022, I just wanted to let you know that I will be opening my query box on January 1st. I look forward to reading (or checking out the portfolio of) what you've been working on.
Happy New Year, y'all!!!
Hey, Writers & Illustrators! I’m closing to queries next week (8/31). I’m behind on queries. Again! I know, I know. It’s the story you’re hearing from everyone in publishing, but it’s true. To take care of my clients & the 💯s of queries in my inbox, I’m out for a minute. But…
December was really hard for me, but today I woke up, & I realized I have A LOT to celebrate. & here's just a snapshot of one of those blessings.
Here's to 2023 being amazing for everyone--full of laughter, ❤️, success, & time spent w/fam & friends! Cheers 🥂 & Happy New Year!
Many congrats to Jasmine!!! 🥳 Her graphic novel series, THE ADVENTURES OF MAKER GIRL AND PROFESSOR SMARTS is sooo funny! I cannot wait for kids to get their hands on this, especially with these fun DIY projects.
🌟 I am so thrilled to welcome Kim to the ABLA fam! Y’all know I like to body roll when there’s pub good news, & guess what? Kim has a whole sexy scene with a dance instructor & the MC doing that move. But it was Kim’s voice that had me devouring those pages. Get ready, y’all!
✨Y’all, I found THE ONE!!! 🥰 I could not be happier to announce I am now represented by the fabulous
@Jemiscoe
of
@AndreaBrownLit
! Jem connected with my voice from PAGE 1 and has a vision that perfectly aligns with mine. A dream come true!✨
I am SO happy to finally, officially shout to the world and welcome
@tiffanychenart
to
@AndreaBrownLit
! I can’t stop staring at her art! Welcome, Tiffany! Your art is the business and we’re happy to have you at ABLA!!!
I can’t believe I get to announce this! I am beyond excited to be able to share my author-illustrator debut, AT THE COOKOUT ☀️ It was inspired by my own family’s cookouts and all the fun times we’ve had.
🌟Ooooooo, I am ridiculously EXCITED to congratulate Amy (
@ABuchananBooks
)!!! LET'S CALL A TRUCE is coming, y'all! I know that her, her editor, Christina (
@christinaelpz
), and
@StMartinsPress
make a perfect team!!
CONGRATS, Amy!!! 🥂
It’s a wild and wonderful day! Thank you
@christinaelpz
for your faith in my story and
@Jemiscoe
for your unending support through this process!
So excited to share Juliana and Ben with the world ❤️
I'm behind on reading, I know. Because of this, I'm closing to queries on Fri, the 5th. I have client manuscripts, contracts, several full requests, & hundreds & hundreds of queries left unread 🥺. Clients come 1st, & writers who've already queried are next up. I've got to...
I am so thrilled for the opportunity to work with Prerna!! Her writing, the voice she brings to every freaking page is phenomenal!! Welcome, welcome, welcome to the ABLA fam!!! 🥂
✨Announcement Time✨
I'm happy to announce that I'm now represented by
@Jemiscoe
! Jem's enthusiasm for my work and her knowledge of the industry have got me excited (and optimistic) about my career and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish as a team!
Couldn’t ask for better ladies to work with!!! My agency sisters are that awesome! And nothing like day drinking to toast 40 years and the blessing of having a really great literary family. 🥂 Cheers to many, many more years!!! 🥳
Tatiana's work is not only adorable but filled with culture, luminous color work, and whimsy, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her.
Welcome to
@AndreaBrownLit
, Tatiana!
I'm so proud to announce that I'm now represented by
@Jemiscoe
of
@AndreaBrownLit
!! Jem's vision and passion for my work spoke deeply to my heart and I couldn't be happier with this partnership!! This would've not been possible without the support of
@BCinKidLit
and
@LatinxPitch
!
You do not get to say what you said but then call for "diverse characters" in your MSWL. We see your racial slurs, your hate language, and we will remember you. If anyone asks, because my DM is open, I will call you by name. BIPOC & LGBTQIA will know who you are--not an advocate.
I can’t wait for the world to meet Mao Mao, the perfect precious panda, and super cute Olivia who challenges him!
Congrats and Happy Born Day, Laan!!! 🥳
Soooo to add to my Birthday surprises… word is finally out!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 I am so excited to share my 2nd Picture Book has a home
@randomhousekids
with my AMAZING editor Maria Correa. And a HUGE THANK YOU to my agent
@Jemiscoe
for being so FABULOUSLY fantastic!!!