I met agent Caryn Wiseman at the SCBWI summer conference through my good buddy Greg Trine, who is one of her clients. As we all were dancing around the costume party that Saturday night, I got Caryn to agree to an interview. I give you Caryn Wiseman of Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
When and why did you start representing children’s authors and illustrators?
I started agenting in early 2003, as a second career. I had always been a voracious and critical reader, and had done a lot of business writing and editing. I knew that agenting would allow me to do the things that I love best - reading and editing - and that, as an agent, I could discover wonderful authors, and help them get their books published.
Seeing one of my clients' books in the bookstore still gives me goosebumps! I interned at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and fell in love with all of the amazing children's literature that I was reading both at work, and at home to my young kids. I quickly took on my own clients, and have now sold almost 100 books!
What is the most valuable advice you can give to a published writer?
Promote, promote, promote. No matter how great your book is, it's not going to sell without you being the primary evangalizer for it. Take advantage of viral media, do as many school and library visits as you can, drop into bookstores and sign some stock, shamelessly promote yourself to any person or group that you are in contact with, including alumni associations, social organizations, and any organizations that are tangentially related to something in your book. Blog, tweet, develop a great website. Do everything that you can to get your book out there.
In this economic climate is it better to wait to submit when houses will be purchasing more books?
No. Even in this climate, we are still selling lots of books!
What are some of your favorite children’s books that you'd like to recommend?
Any books by my authors and other Andrea Brown Literary Agency authors (see our website www.andreabrownlit.com <http://www.andreabrownlit.com> , FEED by MT Anderson, NORTHERN LIGHTS by Jennifer Connolly, HOW I LIVE NOW, by Meg Rosoff, HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins, WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead, just to name a random few. There are so many wonderful children's books out there.
What is your favorite dessert and why?
Anything involving dark chocolate; hazelnuts are a plus. Do I need a reason? :-)
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Great interview Tina! And great advice Caryn! (As if I need to be reminded that I need to promote, promote, promote!) As a client of Andrea Brown herself since the beginning of time, it has been wonderful to see the agency grow!
Caroline Arnold
Posted by: Caroline Arnold | January 13, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Great interview, Tina. Caryn is the world's best agent...I'm so blest to be working with her.
Greg Trine
Posted by: Greg Trine | January 12, 2010 at 09:06 AM
Caryn is wonderful! A writer absolutely needs an ally like Caryn if they're going to stay sane.
Posted by: Sam Riddleburger & Tom Angleberger | January 12, 2010 at 05:32 AM
Re: [Tales from the Rushmore Kid] Dee White submitted a comment to Caryn Wiseman - Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Thanks Dee,
She was so gracious to give me an interview. Boy was it packed with info too!
Tina
Posted by: Tina Nichols Coury | January 12, 2010 at 02:24 AM
Thanks Tina and Caryn for an informative and entertaining interview. Dark chocolate is definitely a must for me too - and no, Caryn, I don't believe you need a reason. But in case you do, I always tell people it's full of antioxidants. Isn't it?
Posted by: Dee White | January 12, 2010 at 01:19 AM