Agent Spotlight: Paige Terlip Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Paige Terlip here. She is a literary agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Status: Open to submissions

Hi­ Paige! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Paige:

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent.

I had a bit of circuitous path to agenting, but I like to think all the varied jobs I’ve had support my career as an agent. I have always been a reader. When I was in high school, I severely injured my back and was on bed rest for most of my junior year. Books were my escape and my connection to the outside world. Since then, it was always a dream to somehow work with books someday. But before finding my way to agenting, I worked in marketing and communications at the National Renewable Energy Lab; web and graphic design for behavioral health businesses; and even at a ranch in the Rockies. Something was still missing, so I went back to school—getting an MA in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University. After that, I worked in a variety of jobs across publishing before landing at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. I have been with the agency since 2017 and have been an Associate Agent for over a year.

 

After my promotion to Associate Agent in early 2021, I focused on building my list of incredibly talented authors and illustrators. I also sold some amazing projects, and I can’t wait until we can announce them all!

About the Agency:

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors.

The Andrea Brown Literary Agency specializes in children's and adult literature, celebrating thousands of titles sold since our founding in August 1981. We work to bring to light the voices and perspectives of new writers as well as to nurture and develop the careers of experienced authors. Our goal, whether seeking to secure a publishing contract for a first book or a fiftieth book, is to make sure that clients are not only published, but published well.

Our philosophy is to remain a "small" agency at heart. We invest a great deal of personal care and attention in each project and in each client, and we are hands-on in all aspects of our interactions. We work closely with clients and devise a strategy at every stage of the writing process - from conception to editorial to submission - that is tailored to the client and that will enable us to find the best publisher for each book. In doing so, we think about both short term and long term goals for our clients, always keeping the trajectory of a successful career in mind.

Our agents have backgrounds in New York publishing, editing, academia, business, teaching, writing, design, marketing, and film, and one of our strengths as an agency is that we work collaboratively. Our clients have the benefit not only of their individual agent's expertise but of the combined experience and vision of the group.

As a West Coast based agency, we follow a tradition of West Coast innovation in our passion for discovering new voices, in our efforts to make New York publishing more accessible and inclusive of voices from other parts of the country, and in our attempt to see publishing trends that result from this broader perspective. We combine this approach with access, standing, and visibility in the publishing community at large. Our agents make regular trips to New York, attend industry conventions, and participate as faculty at writers' conferences all over the world.

With the personal client attention of a small agency and the business acumen and clout of a larger one, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency brings the best of both worlds to the table.

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 represent authors and illustrators in picture books, MG, YA, and select adult fiction. Across age categories, I am drawn to high concept novels with captivating hooks, snarky characters with hearts of gold, creative magic systems, complicated relationships, and found families. I love well-plotted twists, being a little bit scared, and stories that explore the fluidity of gender and bring the queer experience to light. Regardless of genre, I am seeking inclusive, intersectional voices and gorgeous line-level writing with emotionally compelling narratives.

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in?

I am particularly looking for funny MG and YA. Something with an unforgettable voice, banter, and wit—something that perfectly balances snark and heart. In MG something that feels like Stand Up, Yumi Chung! or That Thing About Bollywood or in YA something like Not My Problem. I love seeing characters finding their individuality and owning their truth. In YA, I especially love to see characters doing this while also navigating hormones and first loves.

I’d also love to see a twisty YA thriller that not only surprises through the plot but also delves into the dark complexities of the human mind. For me it’s not just about the “who” but the “why” of it all, which is often more compelling. If it borders on horror or comments on our current social/political struggles, all the better.

Some other random things I love to see in books across age groups and genres: kids who love cooking or baking; girls who excel in martial arts; unapologetic protagonists; dogs; crystals and tarot; kids who love or are learning to love nature / gardening; mysteries and puzzles; old houses with their own secrets; multi-generational narratives (especially if it involves magic); old books in old libraries; and when kids challenge entrenched ideology.

What She Isn’t Looking For:

I am still open to the perfect picture book—especially if it’s an author-illustrator—but I am being very selective right now.

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in?

I am not the best agent for memoirs, sci-fi set only on spaceships, or books about eating disorders. I am also very selective and PB and that rhyme. Though sometimes the right project will change my mind. If you think we would be a good fit, go ahead and surprise me!

Agent Philosophy:

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent?

My mission as a literary agent centers on prioritizing an author's career, not just an individual title. I work with authors at every step of the publishing pipeline from the spark of an idea, to negotiating contracts, to post-publication marketing efforts. Together we will strategize benchmarks to secure long and short-term goals. I am also an editorial agent and believe in creating as strong a manuscript as possible before going on submission.

I approach agenting with a background in graphic design and marketing. I love utilizing these skills to make my clients' projects stand out. I gravitate toward books that instantly conjure a mood and visual in my mind, and I use this inspiration to pitch projects in unique ways. I am also dedicated to helping my clients strategize their marketing efforts pre- and post-publication. I believe that each book and author have a unique marketing angle and I strive to help my clients find the best approach to supplement a publisher's efforts. Overall, my goal is to help maximize a client's career with editorial, branding, and marketing support, as well as to open doors for film/TV, foreign, audio, and dramatic rights. 

Editorial Agent:

7. 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 am an editorial agent. I think it makes sense to have a strong manuscript before going to editors. It’s a very competitive market and a more polished project has a better chance to stand out in a crowded inbox. However, it’s a balance. I don’t want to burn out my authors—there will still be more revision once it’s acquired—and there should also be room for an editor to put their stamp on a project.

I truly think revision is magical. Stories evolve in amazing ways during the revision process, and I like to think of myself as your revision guide. With that in mind, I am pretty direct with my feedback, but I always try for balance—it’s just as important to know what is working as what might need more attention. I focus on big picture critique combined with specific examples and line level notes where changes might make the most impact. My goal is to ask the right questions which inspire the creativity to take your story to the next level. And I will add, an agent (even an editorial agent) is not a replacement for a critique group!

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting)

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter?

Please query me via Query Manager. The link is https://querymanager.com/query/PaigeTerlip/. A query is meant to hook a reader and force them to read more. Make sure your query showcases your story in a captivating way—highlighting the global issues and the personal stakes—and ensure your sample pages are as polished as possible. Additionally, use comps that show you have a good grasp of where your book will fit in the market.

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?

I’m pretty understanding about typos or small errors, but if the query is riddled with mistakes or grammar errors it can be a red flag. Additionally, the main reason I say no to a query is because the story or sample pages don’t feel ready yet. The premise might have amazing promise, but if the pages aren’t grabbing me, it’s a no—at least for now. Maybe the story isn’t starting in the right place or maybe the voice isn’t engaging enough, or the line level writing isn’t quite there yet. But these are all things that can be fixed.

One other thing to remember is that I often say “no” to projects I love. It’s honestly brutal to pass sometimes, but as much as I loved reading a project it doesn’t always mean I would be the best agent for it.

Response Time:

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript?

I try to respond to queries within 4-6 weeks, and for full manuscripts 6-8 weeks. I am the only one in my query box, I don’t currently have an assistant, so it’s just me reading. This means that there are times I might fall behind, but I always try to keep writers updated on my timeline. And remember I respond to everything so if you haven’t heard back, it just means I’m still considering.

Self-Published and Small Press Authors:

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them?

I am open to repping all authors, but if you are querying a project that has been self-published or published at a small press, it is difficult for me to work on that title. If it’s already out in the world, it is more challenging to sell it somewhere else. It can happen but the circumstances tend to be extraordinary. If you are self-published or publishing with a small press, I would recommend querying something that hasn’t been published yet.

12. With all the changes in publishing—self-publishing, hybrid authors, more small publishers—do you see the role of agents changing at all? Why?

Publishing is always changing and yet also not changing. The role of agents seems to be following the same pattern, but as long as there are traditional publishing deals happening Agents have an important role in pitching projects, negotiating deals and contracts, and supporting authors as they cultivate careers.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

I represent a variety of authors, from author-illustrators to novelists. I also work with people at various stages of their career from debuts to established names. If you are interested in seeing some of my deals you can visit Publishers Marketplace or my personal website paigeterlip.com.

Interviews and Guest Posts:

14. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you.

Some resources include:

Authors Guild
Publishers Marketplace
Publishers Weekly
Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
Writers Digest
Writers Market
Manuscript Wishlist
Literaticat: Ask the Agent

Update on 4/7/2023

Agent of the Month at Writing and Illustrating Part 1, Part 2

Links and Contact Info:

15. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web.

Please only query me through Query Manager. I get a lot of emails and if you send a query to my email, it won’t reach me.

My website is: https://paigeterlip.com/index.html

My agency website: https://www.andreabrownlit.com

My query manager: https://querymanager.com/query/PaigeTerlip

Follow me on social media:

https://twitter.com/pterlip

https://www.instagram.com/pterlip/

Additional Advice:

16. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered?

Persistence is key! The publishing process is a roller coaster. The people who are successful keep working and revising and persisting through all the ups and downs. I wish you all the best on your journey!

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Paige.

­Paige is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through March 5th. If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the 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.

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.