Literary Agent Interview: Sally Kim and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have associate agent Sally Kim here. She’s an agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Hi Sally! Thanks so much for joining us.

About Sally:

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

In 2023, after many years working in children’s book marketing I took a moment to regroup, think about my career path thus far, and determine what the future might hold for me. I felt that there was another proverbial mountain to climb but I wasn’t sure what that might be. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by brilliant friends and colleagues who nudged me in the direction of agenting. Fast forward to several incredible conversations with agents at Andrea Brown Literary Agency and the rest is history! Depending on what you count as my start date, it’s been roughly a year since I joined ABLA, and I’m thrilled with how it’s going so far. I’m learning every day, and I am so happy with my growing client list.

About the Agency:

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

I couldn’t be more biased, but I think Andrea Brown Literary Agency is the absolute best, and I count myself lucky to have joined this incredible group of talented agents. All my colleagues are wise, hardworking, and uber collaborative.

ABLA was founded more than 40 years ago here in California. Today, our agents span the country and represent hundreds of gifted authors and illustrators of both children’s and adult literature. To learn more, please go to https://www.andreabrownlit.com/ and follow us on Instagram and Bluesky. 

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 authors and illustrators of board books, picture books, chapter books, and middle grade, fiction and nonfiction. As a newer agent, I am actively looking to grow my client list and find talented people from all walks of life. Lots more below.

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

My taste leans a bit more literary and it’s not surprising that my current client list is strong in that category. To balance things out, I’m also looking for authors and illustrators whose projects have a more commercial bent. But ask me again in a couple months and that could change!

I’ve been telling folks that I’m hungry for smart or goofy (or smart AND goofy!) humorous picture book projects from authors and author-illustrators. I’m also eager to find an author who really understands what it takes to craft an exceptional chapter book story—this is high on my wish list. Also, my profile states I’m not the best fit for rhyming picture books but it’s more accurate to say that I’m waiting for the right one. I feel like it’s coming for me soon! Oh, and I also have a soft spot for wordless picture books.
Lastly and most importantly, I’m trying very hard to build a client list that is diverse in all possible ways. I jump for joy inside when I see someone with a unique background or underrepresented perspective.
What She Isn’t Looking For:

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

I’m pretty quick to pass on submissions that fail to center the child’s perspective or those that try to teach a lesson or reinforce a common platitude like ‘just believe in yourself.’

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 remind myself pretty often that there are many talented writers and artists out there, but that’s not reason enough to offer representation. Equally important are 1) my connection with the work. Not only should the project be publishable, but I must also feel genuine and enduring enthusiasm for it; and 2) a connection with the creator. When we meet and get to know each other in that first Zoom call, it’s important that we’re compatible in how we communicate, how we envision working together, and a similar vision for their future in publishing.

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?

If you had asked me this a year ago when I first started, I would’ve said no. But I’ve been rapidly developing my own approach to editorial feedback. While I’ll probably never be that agent that gives you a 10-page editorial letter, I do strive to give thoughtful feedback on both the big picture and smaller details of any given project. The format in which this feedback is delivered varies, depending on the project and the client and can include email, in-line comments, and/or video conference call.

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 through QueryTracker (link here). I read and reply to every query!

A standard query letter is great. Tell me about yourself, about the project, a short pitch and/or positioning statement, and comps. Anything more is great, but not necessary.  

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

I don’t have hard rules against anything, but I’ll admit I notice when folks skip over the letter, if there are multiple typos, and it’s also not uncommon that people mistakenly query me with an adult book or re-query me with the exact same manuscript, maybe hoping I don’t notice.

Response Time:

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

This varies wildly depending on what else in happening in my world. There are times when I can respond within a few days. Other times, it’ll take 6-8 weeks. In rare exceptions, I take even longer but that’s usually when I’m on the fence about a project and I want to give myself a break to come back and get a second, first impression.

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’m open to authors who have been published before, and I don’t recommend they do anything differently in the querying process. Honesty and fully transparency about one’s background is recommended for everyone.

Clients:

12. Who are some of the authors you represent?

My author clients include Britt Crow-Miller, Amy Reitz, Emilie Boon (author-illustrator), Talitha Morena Moniz, Nicola Schofield (author-illustrator), and Tom Witkowski. I look forward to adding to this list in 2025!

Interviews and Guest Posts:

13. 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:

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

Read about me on Andrea Brown Literary Agency: https://www.andreabrownlit.com/Team/sally-m.-kim

Query me at https://querymanager.com/query/sallyabla

Follow me at
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lh7ha7unltwskpvaqh27yzo3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallymkim

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Sally.

Giveaway Details

Sally 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 April 5th. If your email 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 follow me on Twitter or 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 email 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.

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

Tuesday, April 1st I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop

Wednesday, April 2nd I have an interview with debut author Lucia Damisa and a giveaway of her YA A Desert of Bleeding Sand and my IWSG post

Monday, April 7th I have an agent spotlight interview with Etsy Loveing-Downes and a query critique giveaway

Monday, April 14th I have an interview with author Mia Araujo and a giveaway of her MG Afia In the Land of Wonders

Wednesday, April 16th I’m participating in the Raindrop in Roses Giveaway Hop

Monday, April 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Carey Blankenship-Kramer and a query critique giveaway

Wednesday, April 23rd I have an agent spotlight interview with Rebecca Eskildsen  and a query critique giveaway

Monday, April 28th I have an interview with debut author Alby Williams and a giveaway of their MG Where There Be Monsters

I hope to see you on Tuesday!