Agent Spotlight: Erica Rand Silverman

This week's Agent Spotlight features Erica Rand Silverman of Stimola Literary Studio.
Status: Closed to submissions except for referrals submissions through conferences.

About: “Erica has always been committed to the social and emotional well being of children. First, as a high school teacher and dean, then as a consultant for the Inner Resilience Program, and now as a literary agent in children’s publishing. In her 10+ years in publishing, Erica has worked with some of the most exciting new talent and treasured mainstays in the industry as well as the estates of our favorite classics. She is currently focused on representing authors and illustrators of illustrated books for children and the occasional adult nonfiction project in parenting and wellness. She received her degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a Master of Arts degree in Theater from Hunter College. Erica is a tireless advocate for her clients and proud to be a part of an industry that is so thoughtfully shaping young hearts and minds.” (Link)
About the Agency:
“The Stimola Literary Studio is a boutique literary agency founded in 1997. Through the years, it has established a stellar reputation in children’s publishing, respected for the contributions it has made to the body of literature for young people of all ages, cultures and ethnicities, across all genres and formats. Eclectic in taste but not in standards, we have helped to build careers for writers and artists from picture books through young adult novels with crossover appeal into the adult market. We are proud to count many NYT Bestselling and award-winning authors and illustrators among our clients, including the National Book Award, the Edgar Award, the Caldecott Medal, the Caldecott Honor Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Medal, the Sibert Medal, two Newbery Honor Medals, and the Pura Belpre Honor Medal.
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"And now, expanding our own horizons, our client list has now grown to include graphic novels for both young and adult readers, and projects in parenting, lifestyle, food culture, cookbooks, health and wellness, and green and sustainable eating.
"At the Studio, no matter the project, our goal is not just to sell that first book, but to build careers and strategize how, hand-in-hand, to walk a path of successful publication in the long term and achieve success in the marketplace. Our representation is based not only on a professional skill set, but on a personal passion and a relationship of mutual respect and compatibility. Whether it is a debut or the next in a long line of successes, we work to tap and stretch the talents of each author and illustrator, bringing out the best each has to offer with a sense of timing, publisher insights and market awareness that will serve them well.
"Always seeking licensing opportunities, we are proud to work as part of a very successful wider team of co-agents and subagents around the world, to license film, foreign and other subsidiary rights.” (Link)
Web Presence:
Stimola Literary Studio website.
Stimola YouTube
Stimola Live
Twitter @ericarsilverman
#mswl on Twitter
Instagram @ericarsilverman.
Facebook.  
QueryTracker.
What She's Looking For:
Genres / Specialties:
Children’s picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, illustrators; non-fiction about DIY, children, parenting, and education. Currently, she is interested in authors and illustrators of illustrated books for children and the occasional adult nonfiction project in parenting and wellness.
Via E-Mail (11/2013):
“Thoughtful stories with emotional resonance. I’d love something that is quirky and joyful.”
From an Interview (07/2012):
“A good mystery novel. Conspiracy theories. I’d like to find an author/artist who is writing middle grade or YA and interspersing text and image.” (Link)
“I have been working with some amazing bloggers. For example, check out two projects—Mariah Bruehl’s Playful Learning and Rachelle Dooreley’s Tinkerlab. I would love to work on more projects like these—parents, educators, artists, chefs, professors who are already out there sharing their experiences, ideas, suggestions.
What She Isn't Looking For:
We are NOT interested in:
Picture book texts of 1000 words or more
Fables, folklore or traditional fairytales
"Mood pieces"
Stories for "all ages"
Educational workbooks/activity books
Nonfiction for institutional markets (Link)Editorial Agent?
“Very, though I prefer not to have to be. There are projects I work on for months, even a year before submission.” (Link)
Clients:
Joyce Hesselberth, Chris Gall, Robin Rosenthal, Jashar Awan, K-Fai Steele, Adam Auerbach, Aram Kim, Shanda McCloskey, Doug Salati; comic author-illustrators like: Mika Song and Dan & Jason; authors like: Susan Verde, Matthew Burgess, Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White, Scott Rothman and Jenn Bailey, among others.
Query Methods:
E-mail: No.
Snail-Mail: No..
Online-Form: Yes.
Submission Guidelines (always verify): N/A as Ms. Silverman is closed to submissions
“Please submit a query letter, a synopsis of the work, a brief proposal or the first three chapters of the manuscript, a brief bio or resume, and a stamped self-addressed envelope for reply. Original artwork is not accepted. Enclose sufficient postage if you wish to have your materials returned to you.
“We do not respond to unsolicited e-mail inquiries.”
See the Stimola Literary Studio website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.  
Response Times:
Unknown.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews and Posts:
Authors Connect with Kids Stuck at Home at Books Around the Table (04/2020)
Co-Agenting with Kirsten Hall and Erica Rand Silverman at SCBWI Insight (Date Unknown)
Interview at SCBWI Insight (04/2018)
Agents Looking for Clients: Erica Rand Silverman at Writing and Illustrating (11/2017)
I Met My Agent . . . on Twitter?? by Shonda McClosky at Epic 18 Reads (11/2017)
Agent Erica Rand Silverman at 12 x 12 (08/2017)
Interview with Erica Rand Silverman at SCBWI (07/2016)
Literary Agent Interview: Erica Rand Silverman of Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. at Guide to Literary Agents (07/2012).
What Make a Children’s Book Great? We Have Some Answers at Publishing Perspectives (06.01.2012)
How to Navigate a Changing Business? Children's Agents Shed Some Light at PW (02/2012).
Contact:
Please see the Stimola Literary Studio website for additional contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 5/22/2020.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes
Last Reviewed By Agent? 5/28/2020.
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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/teen fiction. They are not interviews. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying. The information found herein is subject to change.