Bio:
Penelope Burns is
the newest member of Gelfman Schneider/ICM Partners. She came to the agency as
an intern after graduating from Colgate University and the Denver Publishing
Institute in 2012. Currently, as an agency assistant, Penelope is looking to a
build a list of her own. She is interested in Literary and Commercial fiction
and non-fiction, as well as a variety of Young Adult and Middle Grade.
You guys, we are thrilled to have agent, Penelope
Burns of Gelfman Schneider/ICM Partners on the blog today! Thanks so much for
playing along, Penelope!
Get to know Penelope’s agenting style and enter
our Rafflecopter drawing to win a query critique from her below.
QUERYING MINDS WANT TO
KNOW: ARE YOU CURRENTLY OPEN TO SUBMISSIONS? AND HOW LONG IS YOUR GENERAL RESPONSE TIME?
I am currently open to submissions and actively looking to
build my list! My response time is generally around three months, which is not
as fast as I’d like it to be, but I do read and respond to every query.
WHAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING YOU’D LIKE QUERYING WRITERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND YOUR AGENTING
STYLE, BEFORE QUERYING?
One thing is that I consider myself an editorial agent
(which I’ll explain a little more below). The other is that I’m looking to
nurture a writer’s career; you’ll never have to “audition” for me with every
new book you write.
WE ALL WANT TO MAKE A
GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUERYING PET PEEVES OR SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A RED FLAG?
My one pet peeve is queries that
start with just “Dear Agent” or something else along those lines (or even the
wrong name!). I know authors go on multiple submissions with queries, but
there’s something so impersonal about that kind of error. A few typos won’t
make me automatically reject a query, but if the query and the sample pages are
riddled with errors, that would definitely give me pause.
ONCE YOU SIGN A
CLIENT, HOW HANDS-ON ARE YOU DURING THE REVISION PROCESS?
I’m very hands-on, because it’s important that a book is in
the best shape it can be before it goes on submission. You don’t want to give
an editor a reason to turn a book down, especially if it’s something easily
fixable.
IN YOUR OPINION, DO
YOU FEEL ONLINE CONTESTS AND TRADITIONAL QUERYING ARE BOTH EQUAL IN GRABBING AN
AGENT’S ATTENTION?
Definitely equal! I’ve participated in a few contests and
found some really great manuscripts that way, which I may not have seen
otherwise! Contests also can have an extensive selection process, so I know the
author has really worked on their query and opening pages. With traditional
querying, it’s nice to know that an author has specifically sought me out as a
good fit for their book.
STALK AND YOU SHALL
FIND: ARE THERE ANY UPCOMING CONFERENCES, ONLINE WRITER CHATS, OR CONTESTS THAT
YOU’LL BE TAKING PART IN?
I’m very excited to be taking part in Query Kombat hosted by
Michelle Hauck, Laura Heffernan, and Michael Anthony!
DO YOU HAVE ANY
SPECIFIC ADVICE FOR WRITERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN SEARCH OF THEIR DREAM AGENT?
Do your research! There are so many resources out there for
writers these days, for all stages from writing the manuscript to actually
querying. Also, keep an open mind. You may have a dream agent in mind, but
there could be another agent out there who also has the same excellent
qualities.
OKAY, TIME FOR SOME
MGM FAMILY FUED! *cue Steve Harvey entrance music* *DOUBLE CHECKS CUE CARDS*
TOP THREE
ANSWERS ON THE BOARD.
WE ASKED ONE AMAZING
AGENT: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES YOU LOOK FOR IN A NEW CLIENT?:
1. Passion!
2. An open mind.
3. Not afraid to ask questions.
FILL IN THE BLANK:
WHEN I BECOME AN AGENT, I HAD NO IDEA:
How diverse the clients and genres
would be! I consider myself a primarily YA/MG reader, but I’ve gotten some
REALLY good Adult manuscripts I wouldn’t have seen had I limited the genres I
was open to.
SUDDEN DEATH:
FOR THIS QUESTION, WE
ASKED THE AMAZING AGENT FOR THE TOP ANSWER ONLY: WHAT STORY ARE YOU STILL
WISHING WOULD POP UP IN YOUR INBOX?
I would love to see a story
that features reality TV somehow—it’s my not-so-guilty pleasure!
Thanks again for playing, Penelope! We loved having you!
Enter our drawing for a chance to win a query critique from Penelope.
Querying writers, you are going to want this! She gives amazing
feedback!
2 comments:
Great interview! I learned in grad school to take a course with a professor I can work well with, not a topic I like. Is something similar true for finding/selecting an agent? While a MSWL is helpful, I'm realizing personalities should mesh too. Thoughts?
Thank you! I think paths and preferences will always vary from writer to writer. For me, meshing as much as possible on all levels makes for an ideal match in any relationship. (-:
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