Agent Spotlight: Susan Hawk

This week's Agent Spotlight features Susan Hawk of Upstart Crow Literary.
Status: Update 10/4/2024: Susan is currently open to submissions one week a month. Check the agency website to find out which dates she is open to queries each month.

About: "Susan Hawk has worked in children’s books for over twenty-five years. Her clients include Rachael Allen, author of multiple YA novels, including A Taxonomy of Love and the forthcoming DC Icons title, Harley Quinn: Reckoning; J.M.M. Nuanez, author of the MG novel Birdie and Me; Paul Acampora, whose newest MG novel is the forthcoming In Honor of Broken Things; Sarah Lariviere, author of the YA novel Time Travel for Love and Profit; graphic novelist Rachel Elliott, author of the forthcoming The Real Riley Mayes; author-illustrator Denis Angelov, illustrator of The Big Scream; and Ruth Spiro, author of the Baby Loves Science board book series and the Made by Maxine series of picture books.

Before agenting, Susan worked in the Children’s Marketing departments of Penguin Books for Young Readers, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers and North-South Books, where she managed campaigns for many books and authors including Eric Carle, Mary E Pearson, Richard Peck and Joan Bauer. She’s also been a children’s librarian and bookseller, and spent some time in Dutton Editorial, acquiring select picture book and YA projects for that list." (From the agency website.)
About the Agency:
To begin with, it is an insult slung at the young Shakespeare in 1592 by older, more-established, but less successful playwright Robert Greene. His obvious irritation at the younger artist’s pluck and nerve is, we think, typical of the response of the old guard toward any new talent. There is something in the phrase that speaks of courage and brio and daring, and we feel we should all be upstart crows when it comes to our writing and our work. (From the agency website)

Web Presence:
Upstart Crow Literary website.
Susan Says (blog).
Twitter.
Publisher's Marketplace.
Her Manuscript Wish List.
QueryTracker, AgentQuery.
What She's Looking For:
Genres/Specialties:
Children’s picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult, fiction and non-fiction.
You can find out much more about what she is looking for on her Bio page on the Upstart Crow Literary website, her blog, and her Manuscript Wish List.
What She Isn't Looking For:
Poetry, sports, textbooks/academic books, reference, books for the adult market
Quotables:
“My ideal client is a talented and imaginative writer, who is willing to go deep into their story and characters. Ability to laugh at life makes you good to work with, and makes for good writing too. I also appreciate someone who understands that publishing is a business, and has done their homework.” (Link)
Editorial Agent?
Yes.
Clients:
There is a list of agency clients on the website.
Ms. Hawk’s clients include: Felicia Sanzari Chernesky, Danielle Davis, Jennifer Downey, Joy Janzen, Marcia Lerner, Lisa Lewis Tyre, and Katie Vernon.
Query Methods: Closed to queries.
E-mail: Yes (only).
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify):
See The Upstart Crow Literary or Ms. Hawk’s blog for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Response Times:
The agency has a goal of responding to all queries within a month. If you do not receive a response within this time, resend your query and indicate you are resending. 
Stats on the web show Ms. Hawk responding to most queries within hours to a month. Requested material ranges from days to a few months.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews and Posts:

SCBWI Exclusive Interview (Date unknown)

Podcast interview on Middle Grade Ninja (12/24/2022)
Agent of the Month: Susan Hawk Part 1 and Part 2 at Writing and Illustrating (03/2019)
Agent Spotlight: Susan Hawk at Kidlit411 (06/2015)
Agent Query: 10 Questions With Susan Hawk at Middle-Grade Mojo (03/2015)
A Cafe Chat With Literary Agent Susan Hawk at Eastern Penn Points (10/2014).
Query.Sign.Submit With Susan Hawk at I Write for Apples (01/2014).
Interview With Kidlit Agent Susan Hawk at Tara Lazar (04/2013).
Literary Agent Interview: Susan Hawk at Writer's Digest (01/2013).
Agent Susan Hawk Talks Picture Books at Frolicking Through Cyberspace (02/2012).
7 Questions For: Literary Agent Susan Hawk at Middle Grade Ninja (04/2011).
Contact:
Please see The Upstart Crow Literary website for contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last updated: 4/20/2023.
Agent Contacted For Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 5/15/12.
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Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7(at)gmail(dot)com

Note: These agent profiles presently focus on agents who accept children's and/or teen fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found herein is subject to change.