AKA: SAS
Agency: Mulcahy Associates
Genres Represented: Every kind of children’s fiction, from picture books to YA/crossover novels, and I’m growing a small but fantastic list of illustrators too. On the adult side, I represent writers of a broad range of literary and commercial fiction (though not usually police procedurals or science fiction/fantasy) and am interested in memoirs and food writing.
Authors Represented: Published authors/illustrators include Aita Ighodaro, Barbara Fox, Caroline Finnerty, Claire Hennessy, Felicity Everett, Francesca Gambatesa, Jane McLoughlin, Mark Boyle, Nelle Davy, Ruth Frances Long, Sarah Painter, Steven Lenton.
Recent deals: Jon Walter’s literary debut CLOSE TO THE WIND to David Fickling Books, Kieran Fanning’s middle-grade fantasy adventure SCHOOL OF SHADOWS to Chicken House, Ruth Frances Long’s YA fantasy trilogy A CRACK IN EVERYTHING to O’Brien Press… and a few others that it’s too early to talk about.
Wish list: I often don’t know what I’m looking for until I see it, but I love when I’m surprised (in a good way!) by a submission. The volume we receive is high, so anything that can make me sit up and pay attention is very exciting – whether that’s because of an interesting concept, unusual setting, or a really fresh, strong voice. I also want to be moved in some way by the writing – my favourite novels are those that make me laugh and cry and I love to find a character (or characters) I can root for. Overall though, I’m open to writing in any genre and age group, and most of my authors have come from unsolicited submissions.
Favourite books:At the moment they’re HOLES by Louis Sachar, HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff, SKELLIG by David Almond and ELEANOR AND PARK by Rainbow Rowell. Growing up, my all-time favourites were MATILDA, UNDER THE HAWTHORN TREE, GOODNIGHT MR TOM and THE BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (and LITTLE WOMEN, partly because I’m the eldest of four sisters – but definitely more Jo March than Meg).
Agent style:I’m a hands-on agent and work with each of my clients according to their needs at the time. I love the editorial process of collaborating with an author to make their manuscript the best it can be, and it’s so satisfying to see a novel strengthened by each round of revisions. I’m also more generally the author and book’s champion, whether that’s in placing the novel with a publisher and securing the best possible deal for the author, in selling translation or dramatic rights, or in working with the author and publisher to ensure the publication process is as smooth and successful as it can be.
How to Submit: The synopsis and first three chapters to submissions@ma-agency.com. Submissions guidelines can be found here: http://www.ma-agency.com/submissions.
Submission tips: I think Philip Pullman said “Read like a butterfly, write like a bee”, which I think is great advice. Follow agency guidelines and personalize your query letter – this will get much more attention that if you send a “Dear Agent” email off to every agency. I’d also advise against following trends; write the story only you can write..
Website: www.ma-agency.comhttp://www.ma-agency.com/
Twitter: @sallyanne_s
Events: This year I’ll be at the Writers’ Workshop Getting Published Day on 1st March in Regent’s Park College, the Irish Writers’ Centre in Dublin on 8th March, Dublin Writers’ Festival on the 17th May, Winchester Writers’ Conference on 20th June and the Festival of Writing in York from 12th-14th September.
Do you have questions for Sally? Leave them here in the comments. You have more than 140 characters!
Read Nicola Morgan: How to find a good agent
 |
| Mel Katrina Tania, |
No comments:
Post a Comment