Literary Agent Interview: Alex Slater Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Alex Slater here. He is a literary agent at Sandford J Greenburger Associates in their Greenburger Kids division.

Hi­ Alex! Thanks so much for joining us.

 About Alex:

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

 

After graduating from UConn in 2007, I answered a Craigslist ad (remember those?) for a Literary Internship in New York City. I interviewed and got the gig, for which I am ever grateful. As a result, I’ve only ever worked in agencies. That internship led to a full-time position as an assistant, where back then, I literally manned the slush pile: the big box of query letters, just a few years before they would all turn into emails. So long story short: after two years there (the Maria Carvainis Agency), and then twelve years at Trident Media Group, I am now thrilled to be bringing my passion for publishing and my expertise in its business to SJGA and GreenburgerKids.

 About the Agency:

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

 

Sanford J. Greenburger Associates is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and in all that time, the company has represented some of the most beloved children’s authors and illustrators, such as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (THE LITTLE PRINCE) and Felix Salten (BAMBI). To continue in that spirit of supporting and developing the next generation of classic books for young readers, we’ve launched GreenburgerKids, a new division solely dedicated to picture books, graphic novels, and middle grade and YA literature. GreenburgerKids’ vision is to launch and nurture the careers of today’s most dynamic and important authors with a passionate team whose expertise reaches every part of the complex and competitive children’s market.

What He’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?

Primarily, I represent MG and YA, across all categories: graphic novels, nonfiction, and fiction. I do some picture books, but there are others on my team who are the true experts at that age group. And as always, I am looking to represent passionate projects from writers who have been systematically held back. I love horror, thrillers, off-beat humor, and moving and meaningful rom-coms.

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

I would love to see more middle grade horror. I think there is a lot of interest in that space right now, and I love books that push the envelope, but for substantial, and thought-provoking reasons.

What He Isn’t Looking For:

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

I am not interested in high fantasy, even though, especially when looking at the bestseller lists, I sometimes wish I was!

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?

I have always been interested in working with authors who offer the respect that I offer them, for their time and their work, and who share a long-term vision for their career. Writers must understand that this business is not only slow, but extremely competitive. In regard to the types of books I represent, I have been known to say that when I’m reading new material, I tend to look to see if I’m engrossed in a voice first, in a character. And when I find that I am, and I witness this character come to a choice, for example, when they decide to do something that they know is wrong, but they do it anyway…that’s when I’m clearing my schedule for the rest of the day because suddenly, I must finish this book. I am forever intrigued by characters who take the harder road, who are messy, and who make mistakes, because I believe that the best readers are also flawed, imperfect, and redemptive individuals. We all want to see ourselves in our stories. We all deserve to. So, what moves me are these choices we make, the mistakes, the journeys and the changes that ultimately bring us to joy.

 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 definitely an editorial agent. It’s one of the things I welcomed the most when I moved from being a Foreign Rights agent to a domestic agent. Back then, I was handed the work, and I had to just sell it. Now, I get to roll up my sleeves and get to work on making a project as perfect as we absolutely can make it on our own. When we get there, when we go act by act and make sure that this house is standing tall and strong, so to speak, then I always prepare the submission very transparently. I share the editor lists with my clients, ask for their input, and discuss all the reasons for the potential buyers. I find working this closely always helps generate what could be unexpected ideas.

 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?

I would love just a straight query letter, modeled on the back cover copy of your own favorites books, emailed to ASlater@sjga.com.

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

Do not make it too long. Keep it economical. Think about it like this: most agents are reading these query letters on their smart phones, so you have the time it takes for someone’s thumb to swipe up to catch them.

Response Time:

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

A few months is much appreciated.

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?

Yes, I am open to this, but usually not for books that have already been self-published themselves.

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?

I see agents being needed more and more to help guide authors through this changing literary landscape. If self-publishing is your thing and you’ve got that down, great, do your thing. However, having an agent expand your business globally is something every author should consider. The same can be said about book-to-film, audio, and the graphic novel spaces. Things are changing quickly, and a good agent should be there with you for not just one project, but for the scope of your entire career.

Clients:

13. Who are some of the authors you represent?

Keah Brown, Frederick Joseph, Janae Marks, and Ali Novak.

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.

N/A

Links and Contact Info:

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

Please feel free to email ASlater@sjga.com.

Check us out on our website: https://www.greenburger.com/agent/alexander-slater

Or my Twitter page: https://twitter.com/abuckslater

Additional Advice:

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

Some brutal truth: prepare for rejection. It is the life of the writer. If you’re not prepared for the shock of someone not connecting with your work (as an agent, I experience this shock on behalf of my clients all the time) then you’re not ready for this life. Tip two: If you’re seeking an agent, research them. Flatter them with your knowledge of their books, style, and wish list. All literary agents are deeply susceptible to adulation, but more than that, don’t waste your time pitching to someone who doesn’t play your sport. Tip three: Have patience. Children’s publishing is not only extremely competitive, but it’s a long game. Even if you get a book deal for your debut novel, the chances of you earning out that first advance are low. The chances of you earning out your second advance are low. Most spines on kid’s books are thin, and the best way to see a return on your business is by building up your volume on that bookshelf. So keep working, but most importantly, keep doing what you love.  

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Alex.

­Alex 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 August 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.