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Agent Spotlight & Agent Spotlight Updates

  • Agent Spotlights & Interviews have been updated through the letter "K" as of 3/28/2024 and many have been reviewed by the agents. Look for more information as I find the time to update more agent spotlights.

Agent Spotlight: Victoria Wells Arms

This week's Agent Spotlight features Victoria Wells Arms of Wells Arms Literary.
Status: Closed to submissions unless through a conference or a request to submit.
About: “Victoria’s career began as an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, G. P. Putnam's Sons and then Bloomsbury USA's Children's Division, where she was the founding Editorial Director and Associate Publisher. In 2013 Victoria started her own agency, Wells Arms Literary LLC, where she represents authors of children's books of all ages, a few adult authors, and many talented picture book illustrators. In 2019 Victoria received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
"In 2018 Victoria and Wells Arms Literary were delighted to join in association with our friends at the esteemed Hannigan Getzler Literary Agency. Victoria is a member of the AAR, PEN America, and SCBWI.” (Link)
Web Presence:
Wells Arms Literary website.
Facebook.
Twitter @VWArms.
What She's Looking For:
"I am not looking to grow my list, but I do look at what comes in just in case I find a voice I haven't heard, a perspective that is fresh and different and maybe even startling. Writers with diverse backgrounds, histories, perspectives and stories to tell are always welcome to send in their work. If you don't hear from us in 3 months you can assume it was not for us."From an Interview (02/2014):
“We tend to ask for things that seem unique or interesting in some new way, and of course, for authors who can pull off some genuinely good writing.” (Link)
What She Isn't Looking For:
“We do not represent to the textbook, magazine, adult romance or fine art markets.” (Link defunct) 
“We see a lot of things with weird death and freaky, gratuitously gruesome after-death scenarios that we try to avoid. I don’t have much interest in self-help (such as potty training type books), or books that feel worthy or overly moralistic.” (Link)
Editorial Agent?
Yes.
Clients:
There is a page of clients on the agency website.
Ms. Wells Arms’ clients include: E. D. Baker, Paulette Bogan, Susan Elya, Rebecca Grabill, Jamie Harper, Hillary Homzie, Anik McGrory, Jamie Michalak, and Sandra Nickel.
Query Methods:
E-mail: Yes.
Snail-Mail: No.
Online-Form: No.
Submission Guidelines (always verify): Ms. Wells Arms is closed to submissions.
See the Wells Arms Literary website for complete, up-to-date submission guidelines.
Response Times:
Unknown
What's the Buzz?
Victoria Wells Arms founded Wells Arms Literary in 2013 after twenty years on the editorial / publishing side of the industry. I recommend following her on Facebook and Twitter @VWArms for the latest.
Worth Your Time:
Interviews and Guest Posts:
From the Desk of a Not-Terribly-Secret Agent Guest Post at 88 Cups of Tea (Date unknown)
Trends in Children's and Teen Literature at SCBWI blog (04/2019).
Agent Victoria Wells Arms on Critiques at SCBWI Kite Tales (08/2018).
An Interview with Victoria Wells Arms at Vermont College of Fine Arts (01/2018).
7 Questions for Literary Agent Victoria Wells Arms at Middle Grade Ninja (06/2015).
Agent Interview: Victoria Wells Arms at Writers’ Rumpus (02/2014).
Contact:
Please see the Wells Arms Literary website for additional contact and query information.
Profile Details:
Last Updated: 6/7/2020.
Agent Contacted for Review? Yes.
Last Reviewed By Agent? 6/8/2020.
***
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.














































11 comments:

Angela said...

Thanks Natalie for this Agent Spotlight. You always provide helpful information. Kudos to Victoria for her vision in starting agency!

Cherie Reich said...

Thank you for the Agent Spotlight. It was nice learning more about Ms. Wells and her agency.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Freaky after death scenarios in kids' books? How odd.

Anonymous said...

Great spotlight. I'll bookmark this agent.

Rosi said...

This is great. Thanks for all this helpful info.

Beth said...

Great information here, Casey. Thanks for this spotlight!

Christine Rains said...

Wonderful spotlight! Have a terrific weekend.

Heather Villa said...

Another terrific agent spotlight! Thank you. And the links are quite helpful.

Ann Finkelstein said...

Thank you for another great agent spotlight. This blog is the best.

Heather said...

Sounds like another great agent is entering the mix! That's great to see in a time when so many are leaving the industry.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Great spotlight Casey. I love reading these posts.