Status: 9/13/2024: Lindsay is currently closed to queries. Please check the agency website to find out when she reopens to submissions.
Hi Lindsay! Thanks so much for joining us.
Status: Open to submissions
About Lindsay:
1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what
you’ve been doing as an agent.
Thanks so much, Natalie! I’ve always loved stories,
but I fell in love with children’s books again while working as a fourth-grade
teacher in the Teach for America program. I found that I especially looked
forward to the part of each day when we’d read a book together as a class, and
I loved seeing my students get excited and inspired by stories. It made me want
to be a part of bringing children’s and YA books into the world.
My first job in children’s publishing was at Harcourt
Children’s Books. I then joined Writers House as Steven Malk’s assistant, where
I had the chance to work with some of the very best authors and artists in the
industry. I eventually began building my own list, and, before taking time off
to start a family, I helped launch the careers of several bestselling and award-winning
authors. I rejoined Writers House in 2018, and I’m actively building my list of
authors and illustrators.
About the Agency:
2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.
Writers House is a leading
full-service literary agency and is known for providing an extraordinary amount
of individual client attention combined with the benefits of full-service
foreign rights and subsidiary rights departments. It offers the many resources
of a large company and the personal attention of a small agency.
What She’s Looking For:
3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What
genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions for these
genres?
I am open to picture books through YA—including
middle grade, chapter books, and graphic novels. I'm particularly drawn to
mysteries, fantasy, historical fiction, friendship stories, romance, magical
realism, adventure, and books with humor. I would love to see submissions from
diverse or underrepresented authors. I’d also be excited to see illustrated MG and
graphic novel submissions.
As someone who adores
animals and has always been an environmentalist at heart, I’d love to see more
submissions with an environmental element or streak, perhaps in the vein of Hoot
by Carl Hiassen, The Last Wild by Piers Torday, or The Line Tender
by Kate Allen.
What She Isn’t Looking For:
5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?
Screenplays
6. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when
you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors?
Yes, I love working with clients to develop their
story, and to help ensure a book is as strong as possible before it’s submitted
to editors. My process tends to vary depending on what works best for each
author or artist. For a MG or YA project, I’ll usually chat with the author
about the book before sending an editorial letter with suggestions and thoughts
on how the manuscript could be strengthened. After they’ve had time to work on
the revision, we’ll discuss again and work on more
minor changes and tweaks until it feels ready to share with editors.
Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting)
minor changes and tweaks until it feels ready to share with editors.
Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting)
7. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the
query letter?
I accept queries via email only (please see my submission
guidelines below). Just as a manuscript can have a fantastic narrative voice, I
believe the best query letters do as well. My favorite queries tend to give a
sense of the author’s unique style and approach by mirroring the tone, voice,
and rhythm of
their work.
8. Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?
their work.
8. Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?
Sometimes writers forget to put their name in the
query, and, as I always like to address the author
directly in my response, it can be tricky when it’s not included in the letter.
Response Time:
directly in my response, it can be tricky when it’s not included in the letter.
Response Time:
9. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a
manuscript?
My response time can range from a few minutes to a few
weeks, but I usually respond to most queries within two weeks. If it’s been
longer than three weeks, writers are welcome to send me an
email to follow up.
Clients:
email to follow up.
Clients:
10. Who are some of the authors you represent?
Some of the wonderful authors and illustrators I represent include: Cory Anderson, Lisa Stringfellow, Linzie Hunter, Natasha Donovan, Al Rodin, Zoe Si, Megan Litwin, Jody Lee Mott, Janelle Harper, Edwina Wyatt, Sandra Salsbury, Maria Aguila, and Rachelle Michelle Wilson.
Links and Contact Info:
Links and Contact Info:
11. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your
links on the Web.
Authors and illustrators can query me using this form: https://QueryManager.com/ LindsayAuld I do read each query carefully and will respond as soon as possible. I look forward to reading your work!
Links:
http://www.twitter.com/lindsaydauld
Update 12/29/2022:
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Lindsay.
Lindsay is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be
a follower (just click the follower button if you're not a follower) and leave a comment through May 9th. If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter either contest. If you do not want to enter the contest, that's okay. Just let me know in the comments.
If you mention this contest on
Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you
an extra entry. This is an international giveaway.
Last updated: 12/29/2022
Agent contacted for review? Yes
Last reviewed by agent?
Have any experience with this agent?
See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or e-mail me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com
Note: These agent profiles and
interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take
the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The
information found here is subject to change.
Nice interview! A writer not including her name in a query is a lot like a kid not putting her name on her homework. Sometimes it's the little things!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this interview. So informative.
ReplyDeleteI love animals, too.
ReplyDeleteI've received submissions without names. And emails.
Great interview Natalie. Wonderful to read.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Yvonne.
Hey, she was one of our amazing judges for the IWSG's Voyagers!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read much about Lindsay before, so really appreciate the insights here!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. I always enjoy these author/agent interviews!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the generous offer! I always love reading how different agents approach the role.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I shared on Twitter as well. My email address is orchardka@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteWe all make mistakes - but forgetting a name on a query is a biggie!!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! It's always interesting hearing about agent's process and what they're looking for.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine an author not putting his/her name in a query letter. I guess it happens!
ReplyDeleteI find it refreshing, Lindsey, that you respond in such a timely manner when so many agents and editors don't respond at all. Interesting interview. Thank you for offering a critique to the lucky winner.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wonderful interview. I too love animals and tend to write them into my picture books. Thank you so much for offering a critique.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview and thank you for the query critique opportunity - I shared it on Twitter too :) The information on Lindsay Davis Auld's favorite queries is really good to know.
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview, Ladies. Thanks for providing a critique, Lindsay.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks for the interview abd the opportunity.i did Rt. Ck out my blog as well http://booksbypamelathompson.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteLindsay seems like a great agent to work with! I can’t wait to query her in the future!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete^Technical errors^
ReplyDeleteLindsay's a dream agent! 10/10 will be triple checking that I've included my name in all queries going forward. kwcalv at gmail dot com!
(Not so sound too thirsty with three comments in a row but I also shared via twitter @klaa27)
ReplyDeleteHello! Thank you for this. Shared via twitter @sarakapadia
ReplyDeleteMy email is sarakapadia@gmail.com
Thank you for this query offer! Lindsay sounds like an amazing agent who I'll definitely query for my environmentally focused chapter book. Thanks for the interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the query critique opportunity! I enjoyed this interview!
ReplyDeleteLindsay seems genuinely kind—a wonderful character trait in a literary agent! Thanks for doing this interview.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful interview!! Lindsay sounds like a dream agent! Shared this blog post on my twitter! @cwbrindley / charlotte.w.brindley@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSo excited! Wonderful interview! Lindsay sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteMy email vanessa.peay@gmail.com
Thanks Lindsay!
ReplyDeleteI've shared this post on Twitter.
My email is molly.beth.wilder@gmail.com
Thank you for the interview! I'd love a chance to win a query critique. (jesheets@alaska.edu)
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Would love to have a critique of my YA historical fantasy novel by Ms. Auld.
ReplyDeleteYou love children's book and helping fledgling authors. I find that encouraging. I write for Early Readers and would love a critique of one of my stories. Thanks.
ReplyDeleterlbrown1028@gmail.com
What an interesting interview! I am amazed that authors sometimes forget to put their own name in their queries. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Jess
Ha. I can't imagine sending a query without my name. That is just crazy. Thanks for another informative interview. I will pass on the query critique since I recently won one here.
ReplyDeleteFor Angie Quantrell. Great interview. :)
ReplyDeleteI also tweeted about the post.
Thank you!
angelecolline@yahoo.com
This was very informative. Thanks! Will tweet as well - Sandhya authorsandhya@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThe first book I ever wrote was a YA with an environmental theme. I've moved on from it, though. :)
ReplyDeleteI've loved to be included for my newest YA! Thanks for doing this!
ReplyDeleteAnother great interview. I like that Lindsay started as an agent by working with children.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to enter! I've also been a fourth grade teacher, and it's such a crucial age for building literacy skills and a love of books! These interviews are so helpful in finding out the personalities and working styles of different agents. Thank you for your efforts in conducting them!
ReplyDeleteWonderful to hear that you are an environmentalist at heart - I'd love to see more MG novels with environmental themes. Thanks for including me in the critique giveaway.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting interview. Always nice to read about people who love animals. I can’t believe some writers forget to sign their emails... Over the last year, I’ve contacted a couple of agents at Writers House in regards to my travel memoir. I’m always interested in a query critique. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Would like to query Lindsay with my middle grade historical fiction. Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteJust mentioned this contest on my twitter page.
ReplyDelete@Patsy_Danna. Thanks for letter me enter the contest.
Thank you for a great interview and critique opportunity. I love learning about agents through these interviews. I've also shared on Twitter. tracyhora (at) att (dot) net
ReplyDeleteThank for you sharing this interesting interview, Natalie and Lindsay. I always enjoy reading about how agents work and what they are seeking to represent.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your interview with Lindsay. I studied with Steven Malk at an SCBWI Conference in LA. He's wonderful. I like what she's looking for and how prompt Lindsay is in responding. Quite remarkable with the volume of queries she receives.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy and learn from your agent interviews. Thanks for this one. I will pass on the giveaway since I won recently.
ReplyDeleteAnother great sounding agent from Writers House.
ReplyDeleteI always love reading these agent spotlight interviews :)
ReplyDeleteReading about agents again after editing, editing and editing. Liked the interview and that there's an opportunity for a critique.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! And thank you for the opportunity to enter this contest.
ReplyDeleteI also shared the contest on my twitter account! :)
Would love a query critique! I tweeted about it, too. You can email me through my website aealexander.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this great interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I also shared on twitter @chasady_smith
ReplyDeleteGreat interview and thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteGreat opportunity
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview. My kitties would like it too, if they could read. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLoved the interview, quite informative. I love animals and am actually an ex- National parks and wild life ranger. Would really love to work with you if my query makes the grade.
ReplyDeleteReading time was a favorite of mine, too, Lindsay. I still remember listening to Born Free in third grade. Thank you for being open to picture books!
ReplyDelete